Inspired Creation

I have a tendancy to go through sewing ruts, and lately it seems like I have been in one. I just need a project that would give me the "itch" again, and finally, I indeed found it. I saw a tutorial for this pillow while I was blog-surfing stranger's blogs one day (you know you do it too!), and I decided it was just what I needed to help make over my bedroom set. You see, in the 9 1/2 years we have been married, we have never had a bedding set. Partly because the ones I like are so expensive, and partly because we have a Cal King matress and everything I find that I like does not come in that size. So, we have a make do neutral colored comforter, and I have decided to start dressing it up.  So, (drum-roll, please) this is the first pillow that will help dress up my bed:

 I am amazed that it turned out exactly as it was supposed to !

Here is the corresponding fabric on the back.

Now, all I have to do is finish up the second flower pilow, then I am going to use corresponding fabric to make some pillow shams. Hopefully by the time I am done, it will at least look like I have a matching bedding set!

Middle child

Gavin. my poor middle child. I just realized he doesn't get much love on my blog....poor guy. I PROMISE that is not true of real life. I adore him, and cannot believe he is growing up so fast! He is going to be 4 in August - 4! Seriously, that doesn't seem quite right. In my head he is still my little chunky 2 year old. it just seems weird. He is learning so much too. He started pre-school this year just barely after he turned 3. He was a little behind....atleast in my head. When Kade started preschool, he knew how to write his name, and knew all his letters. But, I had worked with him, and he was already almost 4 when he started school. I kept comparing them in my head, and feeling guilty that Gavin barely knew his ABC's! But Miss Chrissy assured me that he would catch up and be totally fine. She was right! He can write his name all by himself now, and he is so proud!

He had been practicing so much. I didn't help him at all :) (he did this back in January...like I said, middle child, just now getting his post!)

Look at this face....oh how I adore him! (And love that he is a little bit of a mama's boy!)

A few weeks ago we went to a Superhero b-day party and the kids had a blast (Great job on the party Kel)

Batman was there...

So was Superman!

And did you know that supergirls where tutus when they save the world? Well, they do!

RAGNAR 2011!

Ragnar baby! I did my first Ragnar Relays last year with 2 of my good friends from high school. While we ran, our husbands got together to hang out, and decided that they were going to do it with us the next time. Well, they held to their word, and so our co-ed ragnar team was born: The Honeymooners! Two cars of 6 people, 6 couples, all slightly crazy to be running a relay race from Wickenburg to Tempe - over 200 miles.

We left Friday morning after I dropped the kiddos off with two great friends (Thank you Cathy and Lori!) and headed up to the start line up in Wickenburg. Prior to the race us girls made our "wedding outfits", afterall, we were the honeymooners!

Me, Kristin, and Kaylani

Ryan was our first runner, and Kristin met him along the way to cheer him on

His first run was almost all up hill! He did a great job, especially sporting his tuxedo shorts

Jake was up next. He was even sporting his bow tie!

I was runner 3, after Jake. I am getting ready for my first run, 7 miles.

Joel is ready to cheer me on ( he hadn't changed into his Honeymooners outfit yet)

Joel went after me, but I didn't know where he had put the camera, so I have no picture of it. His first run was 6.5 miles and he did great.

Crazy Kristin was runner 5

Kaylani is gearing up for run, she was our cars last runner before we handed off to the other car of honeymooners.

Jake and Kaylani got a little caught up in the moment!

A big part of the fun of Ragnar is seeing all the different teams, their themes, the fun decorated cars and vans (why did I not take a picture of our car...it was awesome!), and the awesome costumes. Their were some really good ones too! Some of my favorites were: The Assercisers, Let's get Physical (things 80's leotards and jane fonda), the Pacemakers, and one group totally devoted to the movie Top Gun. Here is an example of some of the crazy groups out there:

Kristin never turns down a challenge!

After our first round was done, we went to go eat and then it was time to rest before our second leg started. Joel didn't waste anytime! At about 6pm Joel was already out cold.

He can sleep just about anywhere!

Our next set of runs did not start until about 9 pm, so we all had to run with reflective  gear on. I think it worked!!

We finished running about 2:30 am, and we were all ready to crash. The boys camped it outside while the girls slept in the car.

Those are our 3 boys right in front

Ya think Joel was tired? He was the last to wake up out of all the runners who were sleeping in the lot!

All of us were tired, but still in love! Gearing up for our 3rd and final leg of the race. It was chilly outside!

Kristin and Ryan, married 8 years

Kaylani and Jake, married 11 years

I finally got pictures of Joel when he did his last leg of the race. He did so good. I think people were surprised to see someone that large out there running. He surprised himself  too, by not only keeping his pace, but even going faster!

Us happy Honeymooners, married almost 10 years

and still in love

ok now he is just showing off! I think he was just happy that he was done running!

 When our car was done with the third leg we passed off to our second set of runners, and went home to shower up and get the kids. Then we headed back to the finish line at Tempe town lake so we could all run it in together!

love this pic of the family! The boys were so excited to be able to run through the finish line with us!

Think Joel likes to pick people up?

When we were all done we had to finish with some wedding cake!

Zoey liked the cake too!

All in all it was soooooo much fun, and we all can't wait to do it again next year.

In a 24 hour period Joel ran a total of 16.5 miles, the longest he has ever run before! I totalled 23 miles when it was all over. I think I might be a little crazy....but I'm hooked!!

A boy of many talents...

Determined....I think I will be using that word to describe Kaden for many years to come. We have been watching a lot of Minute to Win it in this house lately. Kade is convinced he can easily do any of the challenges with no problem. We tried a few of them (he was convinced it was easy until he tried them) and when we got to the cups he found something he was good at!

 This is his "bring it on" face :)

 On another note, guess who signed up for real tackle football starting in March?

 He is so excited, and man does he look like such a little man in his uniform!

Last week Kaden went with his friend to Awana class and he loved it and begged me to join. So, I figured out a carpool with my wonderful friend Lori, and he signed up. He worked really hard to remember his first memory verse so he can earn his coveted vest. He really loves his vest and is so proud!

I am so proud of him, and I love that he is excited about learning and memorizing God's Word ( he may be partly motivated by the money he earns to spend the the Awana store too!)

Girlfriend has moves......

OH my sweet Zo Zo....already 15 months and so stinkin cute. I swear just in the last few weeks she has totally grown up. She is babbling so much more, points to everything, and understands a LOT!

 I discovered a couple days  ago that we can finally fit her hair into pig tails.....I am in love with her chunky cheeks and pig tails! Sometimes I just want to take a bite of  her! ( but I won't)

This girl also loves her pink football and loves to run and throw herself on Gavin's bed with it and then yell. I forsee a little PowderPuff in her future!

She has also discovered music and likes to shake her little tushy! If she is in the car and can't move her hips, then she moves her shoulders and head around instead. I think there is a constant beat going on in her head sometimes!

 Here's a little taste of her "moves"(she doesn't do it right away so be patient!)

Enjoy!



I got a few things checked off my list...

Last year I made a "little" New Year's Resolution list, so as 2010 came to an end, I decided to check back through and see how I did. I checked off a few right off the bat, #'s12, 18, 19-done! I still need work on quite a few others, but this week, I was able to check off #11. Now, I realize that technically I didn't complete this in 2010. BUT, I did do all my training for it in 2010 so I think it counts :)

My Dad dropped me off at the start so I wouldn't have to drive home at the end. I told Joel to come cheer me on at about the half way point .

 Here's Gavin waiting for me to run by!

 at mile 14, and still feeling pretty good.

 It was so nice to have my babies there!

at mile 20 (but Kaden was more interested in introducing me to his new friend!)

Unfortunately, Joel got caught in traffic after mile 20, and he didn't make it to the finish line in time. I was so bummed...I was planning to run accross the finish line with the kids. But, on a good note, I felt awesome during my race, definately my best marathon EVER! And, it had been 6 years since the last time I ran a full marathon so I did not have high expectations.

 When I finally met up with the kids

 My finishing medal! My time was 3:47

If you were wondering where Zo Zo was through all of this, she was there too. but Joel was holding her most of the time, and when I finished she had fallen asleep in the car. This was her wake up "do" when we got home!! I love this girl :)

Crazy Kid

I don't know why his dare-devil ways still surprise me...I blame Joel for teaching him this!