RAGNAR DEL SOL 2012

Another RAGNAR down...success!

Brianne and I raced in our fourth Ragnar this weekend and loved ALMOST every minute of it.

2 vans, 10 runners, 200 miles, gorgeous Arizona desert, moonlight runs, crazy costumes, inside jokes (like the TT), GUs, chocolate milk, and emergency Glide- all adds up to RAGNAR.

We were TEAM RUNS 'N ROSES.

I started the race running over eight miles up a mountain in Wickenburg...feeling good.

My next run started at 10pm, a total of over 12 miles (did 2 legs) through suburbia...feeling nauseous and exhausted.

My final leg of around 5 miles ran along McDowell Mountain in Fountain Hills...feeling serious pain in my foot!

No, Ragnar isn't easy. I ran a total of 26 miles on bananas, bagels, and zero sleep.

I also spent 2 days with great friends and made some hilarious memories and

THIS is why I keep coming back!

RAGNAR LAS VEGAS...see you there.

PurpleStride

On February 11th, we honored my mom's memory by walking for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in their first ever PurpleStride Walk of Phoenix.

It was good to be surrounded by people who have also been touched somehow by this terrible disease.

It's hard to believe that it has been 4 1/2 years since we lost her.

Love Notes & Back to Blogging

My blogging has left little to be desired lately!

It has taken a back seat to all of my life's little important hobbies, jobs, and responsibilities.

Truth is... I love blogging and REALLY miss it.

So, here goes an attempt to get back in the blogging game~

This year, I decided to go ahead and make some homemade valentines for the kids' friends.

3 hours of cutting out 100 mustaches resulted in some pretty darn cute valentines. (idea from the Craft Monkey) and the kids loved them!

We also started a new valentine tradition in our home this year.

Love Notes!

Does Your January Feel Like My January?

When it's mid-July and 120 degrees outside, I may ask myself who I live in the desert.

Then comes January, and I get to do this!

And, I was getting a tad toasty in those arm warmers.

Yes, Arizona winters are amazing!

Our Holiday Greetings

Advent Calendar Days

Sometimes I look at my kids and wonder where the time has gone.

I miss the little versions of them.

I miss rocking them to sleep and carting them around on my hip.

But, time moves on and my babies are growing up.

This past week, we have been busy opening our advent calendar each day.

We've watched Jim Carrey's The Grinch while drinking hot apple cider.

We painted wooden sleighs and filled them with candy and the kids gave them to a child in their class who needed a friend.

We've made yummy treats and created some really cute decorations.

Some of the other things we have planned this month are:

I love this time of year and all of the very talented and creative people out there who share their great ideas!

My Oldest

Do you have a child that pushes you to your limits of parenthood?

I do.

His name is Max.

His name is spoken from my mouth more than any other word each day.

"Max, please..."

"Max, NO!"

"Max, why??"

He has more energy than his little body can contain.

He is too curious for his own good.

His creativity could challenge even the Greats.

And... he is as smart as a whip.

He is simply one of those kids who is hard to keep up with.

But, I know why God blessed me with this one.

He makes me a BETTER mom.

He pushes me to open my mind and accept that my child is special and unique.

He pushes me to change my perspective...

"Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

-Albert Einstein

Dumb Phrases Annoy Me!

Are there words or phrases that just get under your skin?

I have several...

"I don't mean to be offensive, but..." (Uh, yes you do!)

"You can't afford not to..." (Actually, sometimes you really don't have the $ CAN'T afford to.)

"Everything happens for a reason." (...or by chance or accident or really crappy circumstances?)

"Whatever." (or, I cannot come up with a witty comeback.)

"Money can't buy happiness." (Then you've never been broke!)

"I could care less." (translation- You couldn't care more. Is that what you meant to say?)

"Better late than never." (Ugh, this is for the habitually tardy and it's FALSE!)

"It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." (Come on! Really? It's better to have wasted time, money, your pride and have your heart broken into million pieces than to never have met that person?)

"110%." (100% is not good enough?)

"The Devil is in the details." (Isn't there another saying? "God is in the details." So, which is it?)

"Cross my heart and hope to die." (What the?)

"To be honest.." (So, you're usually lying to me?)

Some are unnecessary and some are just plain aggravating, but if you catch me saying any of the above, you have permission to slap me silly!