A blessing to me

So, as you all know, I like to run, and have been doing so for the last few years pretty consistently. Running to me has been my release, my exercise, my breath of fresh air, and a challenge when I run in races. But it also is time away from my family when I train for a race. This has been a spot of contention in my marriage over the last couple of years, and mostly because my husband did not understand what running means to me, and was not happy with my absence. So as we worked and talked through this rough spot, Chris began to let it go, and at least partially understood why it was so important to me, and became less angry with me for taking runs. This year has been even more amazing, as God has now given my husband a desire to be more healthy, and he has lost 40-50 pounds, by eating healthier and RUNNING! I had secretly hoped that one day I could run with my husband, that he would see the joys of exercising outdoors and that we could do this together. It is hard to get away for runs together with small children, so when my mom came to visit in June we went on our first run together, and I must say, I got a little emotional. I feel like I have a new husband, and it is so wonderful to enjoy running together! Pics of weight loss will come soon :)

California in 2010

We took our annual trip to Cali this last week, and drove our little family down to Camino,Ca instead of Santa Rosa this year, as Chris' mom and step dad were there with family on a vacation from Morocco. So we spent a week in Camino. Where, you might ask? Up in the foothills of Tahoe (about 45 min from South Lake Tahoe). It was beautiful, and we had a really great time relaxing in the beauty that this small town had to offer, and catching up with Chris' mom and step dad that we haven't seen in a year! Plus some very needed stress-free time together as a family. Not to mention two very gracious hosts: Glen and Gigi Gentilin who let us overtake their home for a week. Our week of adventure included:

Good down time with Grandma Precious and Papa Tom
Many family meals out on the back deck
A visit from Amber's mom and sister
A visit from tata and uncle Kevbo
A 4th of July picnic at our hosts' church
Hula hooping
Art lessons
Visiting good friends
Running on a new trail
Watching a family of Turkey's roam the neighborhood
An air conditioned home
Two lost teeth
Lake time
Swimming
Hot sun
In N Out
Really yummy ice cream
Sushi and amazing homemade Korean wine
Toy Story 3
Cool new Hello Kitty and Disney princess sunglasses
Sleeping in new princess sleeping bags
1000+ miles driven with 4 and 6 yr. old girls
A nights stay at The Days Inn

Growing.....and cutting

Annabelle couldn't take the excruciating hair brushing I put her through each morning, any longer! She has been asking for short hair for quite some time, and I kept saying , lets wait until summer. Well summer came. We have a neighbor who is a hair stylist, and offered to cut Annabelle's hair. Annabelle is the most excited that she has bangs. I have never done bangs on her before. It also just so happened that we went over and did the hair cut at our neighbors house on the last day of school, so watching that haircut was almost more than my heart could handle. Last day of Kindergarten, and a haircut. Not only all that, but now all she wants to do is run around the neighborhood park, playing with all the neighborhood kids. We have entered a new phase of life. It is bittersweet to say the least. I made a last day of school cake for Annabelle, congratulating her for a job well done. I am so amazed at how academically inclined she is! It is so fun to see her love to learn. She tested off the charts in all things with words/phonics/reading this year, and is in a summer reading program through the library. New beginnings are good. God is good. Amen.

Before

During

After

Ella turns 4!

Our baby is no baby. It is unbelievable that I have a 6 and 4 year old. Where the heck have the last few years gone? We celebrated our spunky little monkey last weekend. My mom and Dad and Andi and Kevin came to join in the fun, with a family BBQ pizza extravaganza, complete with margherita pizza, BBQ chicken pizza and mac-n-cheese pizza, courtesy of the birthday girl. Not to mention she had mac-n-cheese for lunch. She can inhale that stuff. I really need to start making it homemade, and freezing it. Then the next day I teamed up with a good friend whose 4 yr old had a birthday a couple days before, and we did a joint birthday party for Logan and Ella. It was a big carnival party at the park, that would have been awesome, but it of course downpoured, so we did it indoors, and it turned out great anyway! A glimpse into who Ella is at age 4:

- LOVES mac-n-cheese
- chews off her finger nails and toe nails with her teeth (she has nubbins for fingers)
- loves to play dolls and loves any dolly accessory.
- her best friend is another little girl named Ella.
- she still enjoys a good cuddle with her mommy.
- she continues to be a shoe thief and is especially attracted to high heels.
- she really does say the darndest things, alot of the time.
- she has a tender heart and can be very nurturing.
- she loves to be read to.
- candyland is her favorite game with go-fish coming in as a close second.

goodbye Tuesday night addiction...

We began watching LOST with the rest of 'em back when it began in 2004, and have been hooked all 6 seasons. So fun to watch a show with so much depth that makes you think and talk about it afterwards. I mean, I am all for a good comedy with no thinking involved, but this was a great hour each week that Chris and I really enjoyed together! We will miss LOST and all it's complexity. We had a LOST finale party last night to finish off the series, complete with Dharma Beer, and some REALLY amazing chocolate oreo truffles thingies (thank you Sarah!). It was so much more fun to geek out with other LOST fans!

Amazing deliciousness :)

glued to the tv...

Mmm...dharma beer

Monmouth, OR

Chris and I took the opportunity (thanks to a cheap groupon rate) to go away for a night at a B&B in Monmouth OR. It was MaMere's B&B, New Orleans style. It was a gorgeous place, and we would love to go back. We did a little wine tasting at Eola Hills Winery, had a nice relaxing dinner at a steakhouse, had some dessert at a local winebar, shopped main street, and read in the park. It was such a great time to be together and to enjoy one another's company, something we are finding harder and harder to do with small children! A wonderful weekend, and we thank Aunt Andi for entertaining the little ones so we could have this much needed time away.

Breakfast on the porch of "the Pink House Cafe"

MaMere's B&B

A pic at the River

Koi Pond at Eola Hills Winery

The Yard

Here is what has been in the works for our garden/yard this year: lots of flowers (cause I love 'em), an ornamental crab-apple tree, roses, cucumbers, broccoli, jalapenos, sugar snap peas, cilantro, parsley, basil, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, strawberries and pumpkins. It is quite a lot, so we will see how it all turns out! I am already on my second batch of cucumbers and basil, cause something underground ate the plants all up! Here's a few pics of what I've got planted so far: