a half:half-way and other goods...

i love mornings when the sky just GLOWS with the sunrise and I'm up to see it
...SOOO pretty.

car show in Mesquite...becoming a yearly tradition...
we are the minority in this crowd but its killer for Charlie!
he is in HEAVEN here...he even had a twiner model car...

our early valentines get-a-way.  we stayed at the honeymoon trails "cave"
-right here in town
such a cool place... thanks ricki for taking our kids! 
we went on a little hike the next morning that overlooked george
such a great 'relax' time!  

then my parents came to see us! they stayed longer than they ever have!
 yay for mom and dad!
of course we went hiking, cuz the weather was rockin' compared to up north in snowville.

went out for pizza...kids love grandma time...

went hiking again...to Johnson Arch or something like that ...near the scout caves trail, near the entrance to  snow canyon...

celebrated Charlie's birthday yet again...
i am officially changing his birthday celebration to January 26th..there, its done. 

and while my momma was here- she came to my OB appt where we found out we're having a GIRL!!
rube's is way excited...wants to name her ginger...we'll see about that:)
we went out to eat several more times while they were here
...it seems like that's all we did...eat and hike.

this little man is an awesome potty goer!!  it took only about 3 days.  thinking it would never click and then it did! just like that.  there were definitely some frustrating moments...like thinking he would need to sit and play monkey games on my phone for an hour each time he had to go.  but that all passed with time and he now wants to just get on and get the job done. no fuss.  it's so worth waiting till their ready/ and usually when the 'boy' turns 3 is about the time they can handle that! i would definitely changes diapers for an extra 6 months till they are 3 then deal with accidents and set backs and the like!  gag.  

so i thought i might not be able to pull this off...cuz i hadn't been training that great and i never really ran much past 12 weeks with my other pregnancies but this great gal ran with me and made these awes shirts- we are due at the same time in JULY- so it was super fun and doable to run with someone in the same 'situation' as me.  we just took it easy and didn't PUSH for a certain goal/time.  it was a relaxing, fun race!  i am so glad i did it.  and other than being pretty hungry that night and having a nasty cold hit me pretty much right after the race ended  ...my body felt great and i'm not really sore or anything.  thanks heather for being my partner in crime and running a HALF marathon =on our exact HALF way mark of pregnancy...
great times!!

here is the start line...with my running, training buddies/peeps-whom i dearly love-bri and ricki-even though they kicked my butt in the race
and my, so fun, i love her to death, sister in law...who is my sister by heart-JAMI and her brother Brody- they came down from layton to run it and it was jami who got me to sign up for the dang thing in the first place...we ran a half in the fall last year in vegas...see HERE   i think we should make it a ritual to run halfs' together every couple months...she's a great to run with and motivate me!!  Brody did awesome, it was his first run ever! and he finished under 2 hours!

finished!! such a good feeling...such a high...
ps. this cute little blonde thing is also preggo -12 weeks!
so the 3 of us-me, heather and jami ran -all fat and sassy together!!
okay i am the only fat and sassy one but still ...

Love this group, even the tinies..who couldn't let go of their mommies once they were in sight! ha!  

lots of festivities...

making gingerbread houses, crafting gingerbread men, getting in hot tub, watching a movie, playing in the "dusting of snow", running around and screaming with cousins...it was quite a day we had at grandmas...!

we had christmas early at my parents.  around the 15th...
 caroling at a couple neighbors homes,  we might have to make it a yearly tradition.
the kids loved it.



we did a manger scene of course...
then we had a christmas program and all the families participated-loved that part.
  ruby and liam sang, "it's beginning to look a lot like christmas" and" pine cones and holly berries"- separately and then as a duet...they did superb!  so proud:)

everyone got angry bird shirts (ha!)
 from grandma and grandpa-among other gifts from them
they really try to 'tone' it down every year but it's like they can't help themselves! :)
we got a nice keyboard and an awesome blender from them-thanks momanddad!!



ruby in her school play as a 'happy helper'.  so fun

grandpa lee and nana merry came by for a night on their way from cali to northern utah
they spoiled the kids as well.!!
we loved having them stay the night...it was such a blast. 
kids were in heaven with them
liam was telling his friend the other day how when his "grandpa lee comes-he picks me up and bounces me and turns in circles and says- yippee! yup! scoobedy doo! yikies! "  it was so cute... he loves his grandpa lee and all the energy that comes with him...

the tinies all polished up for church services!

and the adults...i know i look WAY pregno here, but its just the angle yo'

christmas eve with the Chambers family.  we had an awesome dinner that we both contributed to and the kids put on a program that night too.  so fun. 

santas cookies/milk, christmas pj's and pillowcases from their aunt echo in south carolina!  they loved them!

oh, christmas morning... 3 gifts to each this year with an additional one from each other and a pile of three for all of them to share.  it went over pretty well...their stocking was almost enough without the wrapped gifts!  ruby got an american doll and i was a little nervous cuz she is kind of a tomboy and the other gift was a doll carrier with clothes...she wasn't WAY thrilled when she opened it but later that day we played together with her new doll and the other one she already had; and she LOVED it.  later that night she said the doll stuff were her favorite gifts! it was kind of bonding too that we played together, i never really 'play' dolls or make believe with her anymore...it was a special day.

of course his fav was this huge police car from costco with lights and noises and the whole bit. 
could have EASILY stopped there....

christmas bath after getting home from a chilly dixie rock hike!!

we arrived the next day in CALI wha-whoot!!  aunt kimby was instantly attacked!

grandma di made the cutest little scarf for rubes and kimby made the hat...they are SO dang talented.
liam was in high heaven with imagine X planes and charlie, well you know the story...CARS=HAPPINESS

we went to golden gate park in san fran the next day.  WAY crowded and hard to get around and park...gag.
but it was pretty and we still had a good time!
liam got this shiner on his head after being tripped by cousin anthony...that's what he says anyway:)

riding in the "BIG" bike at golden gate park

yes we DID celebrate charlie's birthday...
i feel so bad, its gonna stink the rest of his life to have a december 26th birthday!
i really am changing it, i really am.

day 3 we ventured out to the beach! man was it pretty cold...but the kids had to have their go in the water still...

chasing waves and getting chased... 



i could have stayed ALL day had it been just a titch warmer or if the sun had been out...
i love the ocean so much...

of course we had to stop by Phils Fish Market for lunch...
the best were the deep fried artichoke hearts...yummy
clam chowder and calamari...

what a happy bunch...  thanks anthony for smiling!!

we went to a DRAGON-HOW TO TRAIN production in San Jose..
thanks rocky for hooking us up with tickets!! 
it was way way way cool.  i loved it as much as the kids.
here are their scary dragon faces... ha!

ruby so loves her aunties!!

the night before we left -which was our 'new years eve' night since we were traveling on that eve back home
we played games, had italian sausage spaghetti and an amazing salad with goat cheese, craisins, pears and yummy dressing and CRAB (marty about died) ... what a fun time! during the games, russ entertained the kids by watching americas funniest home videos...
yay for 2013~  another one bites the dust. 

randomness and 1 long term commitment...

I love this dear soul.  Her and her amazing husband are
 in the market for adopting a baby!
They are truly two of the nicest people I know.
..check out their profile... HERE

The temple is so beautiful here...and we live so close!  What a huge blessing!
I probably take it way too much for granted...

Especially in the FALL!

Thanksgiving took place at my Brothers house in Nibley, UT.  We had a fabulous feast. 
And fun-GIRLS- crafting that Marty is so nice to help me out with.
He is a pro at 'antiquing' something....:)
My incredible, beautiful, talented sister made this Fruit Turkey
 AND she is having a GIRL in April after 6 BOYS!!
Yeah!!!!  We are all ecstatic...

We got to spend some-much needed- time with Diane while she was in town from Cali
 and with Ryan and Becca-thanks for hosting us!
Here we are at City Creek Mall. 
And met the REAL santa, not the mall santa, the real guy...

talk about a long term commitment!  ha~  
someone please tell me 4 is doable!  please.
think about someone who is not very patient-like me- and still tell me 4 is doable...
but really, we are very happy and excited to know that it is NOT twins:) j/k
and we can expect this little one around mid July...
we feel very blessed.

Charlie making our countdown Christmas chains...yearly tradition...
but this year I was smart and made each kid count out 25 HALLOWEEN candies...
saving me from having to buy MORE candy for this!  So smart...

hallo & color me...

gutsy pumpkins...eeeewwh! 
 good thing daddy came home and helped you gut out the rest -
poor children..

school party-mummy wrapping!
and ruby's annual school parade...

the real deal, this ain't no ward party!
charlie parked himself right down on the street with his little friend max
 after just 4 or 5 houses- to pick at his treasures...
he was happy... and done!

color me rad... or sad(that's how my kids acted anyway)
me trying to keep ruby warm at the start line...
vERy COld day!!

charlie was a trooper...liam was at a soccer game
ruby and dax also rode in the stroller-on the back end-most of the 5k distance
remember folks, daxton is not yet 6 and ruby will be 8 in march!
she'll have LOTS of choices for a spouse...height will never be an issue.

 

pretty scenery! i love the snow capped mountains with red rock landscape...
 that is marty in the right corner pushing the stroller!
what a stud. 
dax rolling in the pink haze...

mom and son chambers...oh~
three crazies trying to look cool as we throw powder on each other..

unrecognizable ruby...she suffered through the cold,
it wouldn't have been so bad withouth the wind!...

i'll just say it was really nice to go take a hot shower after this!!!!!
ps. thanks dixie direct for getting us into this race! may the savings-force be with you!!