Happy Birthday to My Little Man

I cannot believe a year ago we welcomed this little guy into our lives.  If only I knew he would be as crazy and fast as labor and delivery was!  He brings such happiness into each of our lives.  He is full of smiles all the times.  He is fast and into everything.  Nothing slows him down unless he is sleeping, when and if he sleeps!  He still is rarely sleeping through the night.  He still adores his sister and is usually on the hunt for her.  He refuses to talk, he just yells jibbers.  He loves to play.  He loves things that move.  He loves to throw things and has quite the arm. 

Easton, I hope you know how much we love you.  Your hugs melt our hearts, but we could do without our hair being pulled.  Sometimes we wish you would just slow down and watch a movie while we are trying to get things done, but I know one day we will miss these crazy days.  We love you baby Figaro, we are so happy you are finally ONE!!!

 

 

The All Around Models

Isn't this family gorgeous!?  I remember meeting this momma in 5th grade.  She came straight out of Texas, had tall skinny legs, long gorgeous hair, was tan, had a southern accent and was a dancer.  Oh I wanted to be her.  Fast forward to today and she is still one of my very best friends!  I am so happy she asked me to take her family pictures.  They are such a stunning family!  Plus, her cute parents jumped in on a little action as well!  I could sense some true love radiating out of this whole family!

 

 

Energetic E

 Sometimes you meet someone and you know you will be friends forever.  Well, this little boys mom is just that!  She is the kindest, most in tune, giving and best friend anyone could ask for.  Not to mention, we share a deep love for baseball!  Did I mention she is the best mom too!?  Anyway, this little E is the cutest!  He is so busy and loves balls, cars, trucks and LOVES trains!  So here is a sneak peek of this Energetic almost TWO year old!  Happy Birthday big guy!

 

 

Every once in a while....

I get the over whelming feeling of how blessed I am to have two great kids.   I sometimes get a great feeling of the luckiest mom that Kendyl was my little girl who made me a mom.  I must have done something right to get such a sweet, tender hearted, hilarious little girl.  She genuinely cares about anybody and everybody.  She is quick to find me a blanket if she thinks I may be cold.  She insists that I eat with her in our living room picnics.  She is always giving hugs and kisses.  She makes sure to tell Cinderellas mice not to eat me at night. 

The morning after the race, she had woke up pretty early.  She came in to snuggle, she watched the school kids get on the bus yelling for them to have fun at school. She was dancing, singing "let it go" from the top of her lungs and being a great little girl to let me rest a bit longer.  When I woke up from my in and out of consiousness there was something next to my face.  She had drawn the best picture of Olaf, with arms 3 x his size.  Next to Olaf she had set a nice pointy carrot. 

The imagination of this little girl is incredible.  She can transform from little mermaid, to cinderella, to Elsa in a matter of minutes and NAIL their characters. 

The other night she was eating grapes and making us eat ours as well.  Jase was on his third or fourth grape when Kendyl said, "Dad, dont eat too many, these will make you poop."

She tucks her baby doll into Eastons cradle.  She feeds her baby a bottle, changes her bum, swaddles her, puts her to bed with a little toy then literally tiptoes out of the room and whispers the rest of the night. 

I think the thing I love to watch most is how she loves her brother.  In the car she holds his hand.  She is first to want to feed him a bottle.  She checks on him while he is napping. She reads him books.  She is careful of who is "allowed" to hold him, or even comment about him.  I know she cannot wait for him to grow up and play.   

 

So sweet Kendyl, never forget how much We love you. Stay a little girl forever! 
ps, arent these pictures amazing by Renee Jacobsen Photography?  We love her and she did such an amazing job!

Disney Princess Half Marathon 2014

While I was pregnant with Easton I made the decision to run a half marathon.  I have always wanted to do one.  Plus I gained more then enough weight with him, I thought it would be great motivation to lose some LBS! I knew I ALWAYS wanted to run a Disney race. All the stars lined up because the race sold out rather quickly.  I found a way to buy into the race through a travel agency  ( runwiththemouse.com ) (thanks Jim).  I rounded up my friend Cassie to do it with me and we did it. 

Everything that could go wrong while training did.  I already couldn't train until 3 months before the race because I was still recovering from Labor.  I caught cold after cold.  Then I got a stress fracture in my foot. UGH.  Then I have had some major pelvis/uterus pain.  Still need to go to the Dr.  Anyway, training was less than ideal and I was getting really worried.  I had heard about the "Balloon Ladies" and getting swept and not finishing.  To say I was nervous was a serious understatement.

The corral placements went to P and I got amazingly lucky and scored C.  For Real?  I was the 3rd leg to start the race!

We woke up at 1 AM to get going.  I had to pump, makeup, hair, get ready, eat and then it was an hour drive to Disney.  I thought I would be dead tired, but i wasnt.  I didn't even nap when I got home!

 

 Getting to the race wasnt bad at all.  We read everywhere that traffic was going to be awful.  I dont know if we got there early enough or what, but it wasnt even backed up.  There was a big party going on when we got there and it was so fun.  I have never seen so many port a potties in my life.  ha ha.  Of course it is Disney and you have to stand in lines, so we picked one and took this picture.

Everywhere you looked there was a Sea of people.  Over 25,000 runners!  To be honest, they make YOU feel so special, like it is YOUR big day.  Plus Disney is so used to tons of people that it didn't feel like there were that many there.  It sure showed in the energy and excitement though.

 The Fairy Godmother did her bibbidy boppidy boop to send us off...Not to mention the fireworks as well! 

 Here I am before the race!!

 See those spots in my pictures?  It was beyond humid. I almost cried when all my pictures were starting to do this.  My hair did not stay straight at all!

 Running through Magic Kingdom I think was my most favorite part.  I would dare say it was a favorite for most.  I either ran fast through it, or I wish it was longer through the park.  Running up mainstreet I could feel the magic of Disney.  Every emotion was right there.  THIS right here is why I chose to run this race.

 Magic happened more because I have never got a picture with them both at the same time.  More magic happened when the himidity cleared up and I got no spots in my picture.  I think I will frame this picture. It means so much to me.  Am I getting too sappy?  #sorrynotsorry!

 After Magic kingdom you came around to these handsome fellas.  One of them was in the middle of the road singing magical songs to the runners.  Seriously, is this real life?

 I loved the army guy.  He was so in character.  He kept yelling move move move and was very entertaining.

 They had trumpets playing at the castle.  they played the royalty entrance thing.  Seriously, still real life is going on here.

 Sophia was in Epcot.  I knew Kendyl would be so sad if she found out I didn't stop at her.  So here is ms Sophia the first.  (Ironically, were watching this show right now!)

 Running through Epcot was so fun.  I have never been there.  This ball was HUGE!  I never thought it was really this big.  It was also quick in this park too.

 THE FINISH LINE!!!  My time was 3:18  not bad for stopping at characters, and walking a little more then I wanted from the achillies flaring up.  This is not a race to want to PR in anyway.  It is all about the magic and nothing to do with time.  Just cross the finish line and that is ALL that matters.

 They then sprinkled you with magic fairy dust, because we are all PRINCESSES.

 They had row after row of these Medals. 

 I earned my medal through and through. When I crossed the finish line I started crying like a baby.  Never in my life have I done something so hard.  Never in my life have I wanted to accomplish something and I did it.  The Disney magic was amazing.  I hurt like crazy and all my emotions just flowed out. 

Then I finallly found Cinderella!  She was at the after party where everyone was taking pictures.  I wish I would have known that because I kept saying, I wont stop at this character because I want to wait for the princesses. 
There was woody, buzz, the Heroes, Pirates of the Caribbean, Snow White, Mary Poppins, the Genie etc.  I never did see Ariel, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. 
I would 100% recommend this and any other Disney race to ANYBODY.   They even have Diaper Dashes for the babies.  Disney magic is so real and it is the best.  I cannot wait until I can do another race.

Disney Christmas party

Well, we FINALLY got to take Kendyl to Disney World.  We went to Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party! Im telling ya, this is the way to do Disney!  Plus you get all the free Hot Chocolate and cookies you want!  This year we got rained on the entire time.  Good thing it wasnt a down pour, just a steady rain.  Since we were at disney, the rain was magical, and i have never enjoyed getting rained on until this day!

Kendyl about died in excitement!  During the parade I thought her arm was going to fly off from her waving so hard at all the characters.  Her favorite ride was the carousel.  When we were getting off she turned and laughed and said, my horse just pooped!  (what the!?) 

She was a little scared of Belle at first but then warmed right up to her.  Our favorite was when she ran and gave Minnie the BIGGEST hug!  Seriously it could have been a commercial! 

We rode a few rides and met a few characters. We watched the parade, the castle light show then the fireworks.  I of course had to ride space mountain...solo!  It still makes me giggle.  I secretly think Jase had the time of his life, even though he wont admit it.  Easton was a trooper and just soaked it all in! 

We didn't even get to do everything we wanted to do.  I already cannot wait until we go back!  After all, we have to soak it all in while we live close! 

So here is our trip in pictures!

 

                                                        First arriving to the castle!

                                                    After Kendyl warmed up to Belle.  She was Chip in the play.

                                                     Jase was a guard.....he knows he loved it!

                                                   Kendyls magical minnie mouse moment

                                          I was star struck and a little teary eyed myself

                                             kendyl on the carousel...that is her horse that pooped.

                                                    Here was Easton being a trooper!

                                                 Castle Transformation

Us on Main Street.  AHHH we love Christmas