Wonderful Day

On August 28th our ward at church had a temple trip to the Los Angeles Temple. What was extra special about this ward trip was it included families. The youth did baptisms, the primary kids had an activity, and they provided childcare for infants/toddlers.
Perfect.
I decided to leave Petunia home with Luke and I took the boys for some special time together. Luke was also looking forward to having some alone time with "Jig Wig."
The boys and were going to drive down ourselves but last minute decided to ride with a friend of mine --who was also leaving her hubs and kids behind.
Even though we had to leave the house by 6:30am, the car ride down was very entertaining! :)
We dropped the boys off at the temple apartments for their activity at 8:30am.
Our temple session started at 9:30am after the 9am chapel session.
We made sure to take lots of pictures to send to Luke and Petunia through the day.
Just arriving to the primary activity. It was a little chilly this early in the morning!

Bubba has his name tag on and he is ready to go!

After our temple session and on our way to get the boys.

The boys had a GREAT time.

Next stop: Sprinkles Cupcakes. The temple is on Santa Monica Blvd. and only a 5-10 minute drive from this bakery....so we had to go!
These nice ladies were sitting out front with their delicacies and were nice enough to take our picture together.

Tubbs got a milk chocolate cupcake and Bubba wanted a vanilla with milk chocolate frosting. We mixed his up with the peanut butter cupcake that looked similar, but he didn't mind. It was so good....of course.
I took it "easy" this trip and only brought home a half dozen cupcakes....as opposed to my normal 1 1/2 dozen!! :) (You have no ideas how hard it was!)

YUMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!

Next Stop: Cafe Rio.
Another friend from church gave us this tip and we knew they were heading over.... so we thought we would give it a try. (We ate at a Cafe Rio once when we were in Salt Lake City last year and it was pretty good, but I couldn't remember much about it.)
This time around...its was un-beeeee-liev-able. I was talking to Luke about it for DAYS!
This is what I had:

I was trying to get a good picture of it, and I know it looks like a bunch of lettuce, but there was plenty of shrimp....and the homemade flour tortilla was warm.....and the best I've ever had.

The boys decided they would rather have Mickey D's on the way back home so they sipped on beverages and listened to Joy make jokes. They were very entertained and were telling "Joy Jokes" and comments days later as well. Thanks Joy! Haha.

I think Tubbs was entertained the most. He loved asking Joy questions and laughing at her questions.

Sending kisses home to Luke and Petunia.

If you are ever in southern California you have to go to find a Cafe Rio.
Trust me. (It was only a 10 minute drive from the temple).

Finally--after the boys took a little cat nap in the back sewe stop in Gormanat  so the boys can eat! They now have a "Mini McFlurry" so they ate that first! (Of course)

A perfect day!
Thank you Joy for spending the day with us and chauffeuring us around all day. I had a great time visiting with you and I know the boys did too!!
We missed Daddy and Petunia though and we were so happy to see them at the end of the day.

Still Running

Exactly two months ago I blogged about my new found love of running and  set the goal to run in a half marathon by summer of 2011.  Of course, things never go as "planned." In August, after immense pain and swelling in both ankles, I finally broke down and went back to the podiatrist. The last time I went was August 2008 and I didn't like what I heard (surgery) so I didn't do anything. I stopped exercising, got pregnant and pretended my ankles were fine. This time around the news wasn't any different and surgery was recommended to break my foot in two places. Luckily, Dr. Etcheverry is so fantastic and wanted to enable me to keep me doing what I love (even though we both know surgery is the inevitable option). I now sport fancy-smancy orthotics in my running shoes for my really high arches. Those, along with steroid shots in the ankle, have helped immensely!! I am feeling pretty good.
My orthotic insert:)

So...today I ran my first 5K race and it went so much better than I could have hoped for. Also, being that it falls on September 11th, I will never forget the date. Its a special date for all of us in this country!
How it started:
Three weeks ago a co-worker tried recruiting me to participate in the Volkslauf mud-run in October. When I informed her I was not insane and do not run and climb obstacles in the mud, she e-mailed me about the "5K/10K Safari Fun Run." I was really excited because the short notice meant I didn't have much time to worry about it or reconsider. I filled out the registration form and mailed it in the next day. Super excited!  (Call me silly....getting excited about exercise) :)
Luke has been super supportive of my running and that helps keep me committed when I start to hit a lull or doubt myself.

I have been tracking my runs in nikerunning.com and since July 14th I have ran 86 miles. I can hardly believe it! But I have a lot more to do....a half marathon is 13 miles. AHHHH!

Luke dropped me off at the race check-in 30 minutes before the face and he took the kids to get donuts. When he pulled back up I had a few minutes before the race started. He snapped a few pictures and I tried to give silly poses to keep my mind off the race.

I did manage to get out of the "out-house" about 60 seconds before the race started---thank goodness. Apparently I wasn't the only person who thought it would be a good idea to hit "the can" before running, because the line was LONG. When I stepped out, for a second I thought I missed the beginning of the race. That would of sucked. :)

And we're off......

  















I finished the 3.1 mile race in 27:22 with an 8:49 pace. It felt good to see the family there smiling and cheering me on. I am very blessed to have my supportive husband and family encouraging me to do my best.
Blowing kisses at Luke and the kids as I cross the finish line. xoxo

Tubbs was first in line to give me a squeeze after I finished. Thanks Tubbs.

Petunia was next in line for a squeeze......

Bubba was too busy playing with his friends, but thats OK.

Tubbs participated in the 1/4 mile kids' dash....and he loved it. I don't really think it was quite a 1/4 mile, but the kids had fun! It was fun to watch the expressions on their faces. Tubbs was motivated to do the race when I told him all of the participants got a ribbon. Bubba couldn't be bothered with it! :)

There were a total of 92 runners in my 5K race and 54 runners in the 10K race. Surprisingly, I got third in the my age division (30-39) for women--- so I got a ribbon too. Tubbs was really excited because we both had ribbons. It was a great way for the morning to end and to make "our" first race even more memorable.

I was also very happy to be able to run with a few friends. They really helped calm my nerves before the race.....so thank you!! I am looking forward to our next race.

Zip Zabba Day

This post is a lil' old (8/9), but better late than never....
When Luke went back to work in August I had the luxury of taking a few days off to spend with the kids. I wanted to do something fun and had a few ideas. But with Luke's help I came up with a special day that I hope will become a summer tradition with the kids and I.
When the boys woke up that Monday morning I asked them each to give me one crazy or funny word.
Tubbs picked "Zip" and Bubba picked "Zabba."
I announced "Today is our first official ZIP ZABBA Day!"
The both looked at me really strange....like they probably do all the time behind my back.
ZIP ZABBA Day contained six envelopes for the day. Each of us took turns opening an envelope--- and the next envelope couldn't be opened until each "event" was completed. (Luke gave me the idea to have the boys name the day AND envelope idea.... He's so crafty!)














Envelope #1 - "Breakfast at Panera"
We ate on the back patio and it was delicious.

I love this look---since its so typical for Tubbs. (Its officially captured--and I hope he has a child who gives him this look!) :)

Envelope #2 - "Go to the library OR go to Barnes and Nobles."
Of course the boys picked the bookstore.
They each picked out a book...... and managed to finagle their way over to Starbucks for a cookie.

Petunia even found a little friend from a book I used to read to the boys.

Envelope #3 - "Pack a lunch for a picnic"
(This one was not executed since neither of the boys were hungry for lunch.)

Envelope #4 - "Swim at Grams' Pool"
Luke's grandma lives in a gated community and it has a HUGE pool and country club. The kids loved that we were the only ones there...and they could go back and forth from the hot tub to the pool.

Thanks Grams for spending time with us and letting the kids enjoy the pool!

Envelope #5 - "Ice Cream of your Choice"

I suggested Dewars, but that idea was shot down. They decided they want Baskin Robbins. Petunia was ecstatic because she got her own cone. (Its ZIP ZABBA day---eat whatever you want Petunia!) :)

Envelope #6 - "Pick out a Movie of Your Choice from Blockbuster"

The boys tried to pick out a video game, but the rules of ZIP ZABBA indicate that you have to do what is stated on the paper! So, they each picked out a movie.

Bubba picked a Harry Potter flick and Tubbs picked out a Super Mario Brothers cartoon.

Their sister tried to help reorganize the shelves, but we did what we could to contain her.

Well--our first ZIP ZABBA day was exhausting....but a lot of fun.

I am looking forward to next year!

Shaver Lake Fun

Luke had planned a one day Jeep trip up to Shaver Lake with the boys and I couldn't let him have fun without "the girls!"
Thursday afternoon I told my boss the guys were headed up to his neck of the woods for a Jeep trip. Being the nice guy he is, he offered us the use of his second home in Shaver Lake for the weekend. We have used it a few times in the past so we had to take him up on the last minute family trip for the holiday weekend. It was a great opportunity to get out of the heat and get a change of scenery.
The only downside to the trip: squeezing the five of us and all our crap-ola into Luke's Jeep.
Yes...his Jeep seats five.
BUT...there is only so much space in the back of that rig.
That also meant Petunia and I would be without a vehicle Saturday while the guys were off wheelin'. Fortunately for me, I enjoyed not having the temptation of running around or going anywhere. I savored the peace and quiet because like most moms, its RARE.
We left town as soon as Luke got off work Friday and eventually pulled into Shaver after 10pm.

Saturday morning Petunia woke us all up bright and early (as usual) and we headed 2 miles up the road to town for a few groceries. (It would have been a perfect day (and distance) to run/walk with Petunia if I had room to bring the jogger stroller) :) But that's ok.

Luke and the boys took off for the day at 8am after dropping us off back at the house. Petunia and I played and played and played...and napped...until the boys arrived home around 3pm. It was delicious, but we were all smiles when they pulled up to the house.

I am always happy to see them back, safe and sound! 

Girls photo shoot on the back porch:

Playing on the swing set near the cabin

Heading to the Farmers Market in town. Ice Cream for everyone as an appetizer before dinner.

A nice old guy offered to take a picture of all of us when he saw me taking pictures of everyone. Thanks old guy!! :) (I tried to cut the Budweiser neon sign out of the background!) hahahaha.

We ate dinner at the usual spot---Shaver Lake Pizza. The pizza is REALLY cheesy, but the boys loved the video games and quarter machines.

Tubbs wanted more quarters....so he had to give me 20 kisses. I puckered up and he thought I was silly.

Waiting for the pizza....after running out of quarters!

The boys loved learning to conquer the world, via "Risk" with daddy. Fortunately for us there were plenty of games at the house to keep the kids entertained.

While the boys played games, Petunia modeled her new pajamas. She is such a ham for the camera. I should of gotten this girl an agent and made some $$ off those dimples and button nose. She eats it up!

Its only 150 miles to home, but Petunia wasn't a big fan....as you can tell.