Pat's Run

Yesterday I ran the Pat Tillman Run. It's a 4.2 mile run, held annually in April at the ASU Football stadium. Pat Tillman left his professional football career and enlisted in the United States Army, where he was later killed in combat. This run is to honor his memory and raise money for the Pat Tillman Foundation. Luckily, I got to go with my friend Breanna who takes care of my kids on Thursday, and Fridays! She is so adorable! These pictures are terrible of me but the only ones we have. Next year we will have to bring along a photographer! haha!

At the start of the race I didn't really know what to expect, as I waited in my "corral" they played the national anthem and had a moment of silence in recognition of Our Nations Armed Forces and Pat Tillman's memory. I couldn't believe the wave of emotion and energy I felt all around me. During the anthem I got all choked up and teary eyed. I don't have any connection to Pat Tillman and really not much of a connection to the military either but I did feel super patriotic at that moment! As the race started I was filled with emotion and adrenaline. There were men/women in army uniform, men carrying full size American flags, Cardinal Football jerseys, some men even running barefoot with a Tillman jersery on (not sure what that was all about?)... I felt really inspired. I even choked up a few times through out the race. I know I sound like a mushy baby but it was an amazing experience and I look forward to running it next year!

Here's my stats! Considering I have had an injured leg muscle (in an embarassing spot!) I am proud of this time.

4.2 miles 32:49 mins (that's 7 min 48 sec. mile times)

A highschool friend (and fellow cross country runner) contacted me AFTER this race and we realized we finished the race with in 5 seconds of eachother! Kinda fun! Kaycie Macias is going to start coming to my runners club this week! Should be fun to go down memory lane! :) 

Bib

FName

LName

City

State

Div

Age

Sex

ChipTime

ClockTime

Overall

SexPl

DivPl

Pace

1Mtime

1Mpace

2Mtime

2Mpace

3Mtime

3Mpace

4Mtime

4Mpace

3425

Shelly

Huber

Mesa

AZ

FEMALE 3039

30

F

32:49

37:28

1551

215

81

Biker's Club

Mason learned to ride his bike with OUT training wheels this month! He is so proud of himself, and so am I!

For the past couple months I've met with my sister Maddy and her kids almost every week to ride bikes and hang out! We figure it gets the kids outside, they burn off some energy, AND it makes them tired! It's a Win Win situation! Mason loves ALL his cousins, in fact until recently, he was calling EVERYONE he liked his "cousins".

It was actually really sweet when we would meet with his cousins they helped coach him and helped him ride better! Owen and Corbin actually had some really good advice for him. I wish I had a video-recorder when they where instructing him. Such good boys!

 Biker Club 2012!!!! VROOM! VROOM!

Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. Filled with egg coloring, Easter egg hunt, Easter Pageant, baskets and church! We even managed to get a quick family picture after church!

I had the "NOT-SO genius" idea of attempting to attend the Easter Pageant this year. I usually go every year but have never taken my children. There's a reason for that, it was a disaster!

MISTAKE 1: WE CHOSE TO GO ON FRIDAY NIGHT (WAY too busy)
MISTAKE 2: We didn't go early enough. We went an hour early but it was PACKED! The only blanket space availble was WAY far back and had a huge Palm tree blocking our view!
MISTAKE 3: We HAD all 3 of our kids with us. I think Mason and Noah would have been fine if we had been closer and they could actally see the Pageant. But Callie not so much! :) When it started and the stage curtains opened, you saw Adam and Eve in the Garden. At this point Noah was sitting on my lap and he said "Oh. Awesome! It's like a movie!" Haha
About halfway through the program we called it quits and started leaving. As we were walking out we found some "standing room" along the side of the Pageant. So, we watched the rest from a closer view (but standing!) Oh-well. Lesson learned!

The Easter Egg hunt was very successful and a lot of fun. We had all the Faler Grandkids over at our house. I was surprised at how fast Callie caught on to putting Eggs in her basket!

 Grandma and Grandpa provided eggs with Little Ceasar's gift cards AND money inside!!!! Super cool!

Mason enjoying his Easter spoils! Side note: we did learn that we need to teach Mason the value of money! Haha! He was trading his money for candy!!!!

My Child's Ready

For about 1.5 years now, I have been part of the 'MyChild'sReady' program. MyChild’sReady is a FREE in-home support service for pregnant mothers and families with children 0-5 years old living in Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek. MyChild’sReady offers resources, developmental screenings and support to parents to help ensure kids are prepared for school before they enter kindergarten.

Basically a parent educator comes to my home 2 times a month. We play games, do crafts, and mostly just focus on my kids! I love it because (as sad as this may sound) it is designated time that is scheduled JUST FOR MY KIDS!

My boys LOVE Harmony (our parent educator). She always brings a bag full of fun activities and games. To Mason and Noah, Harmony brings a magical bag full of new and fun things, aka Mary Poppins. Haha poor Harmony can't even make it to the couch before Mason is asking her what she brought in her bag this week.

During their birthday months Harmony performs different screenings including hearing tests, an ASQ (ages and stages questionair)... etc. These help me figure out developmentally what level my chldren are at.

 

I love these visits because Harmony has a lot of ideas and helpful tips that I can use and try out with my children. We talk about discipline, socialization, intellect and just discuss my role as mother and caregiver. I know this progrm probably isn't for everyone but I'm really happy to be a part of it and grateful for the help and support it has given me.

Thank you Harmony for all your hard work!

Callie is 1!!!!

I can't believe my baby is 1 year old! It's crazy how time flies! Mason was just talking last night about how he remembers going to see me and Callie in the hospital when Calle was born. She is such a little spit fire! She has been walking now for a couple months. The past couple weeks she has been walking more than crawling. (Crawling is pretty much non exisitent now!) We had her 1 year well-check at the pediatrician today and here are her stats:
Head size: 18in. (slightly above average size)
Weight: 18lbs.(which is 7%)
Length: 29 1/4 in. (which is average)
Translation of her size: Basically she's skinny, normal height, and has a big head! But if you ask me she is perfect! Although I would like her to grow a little I'm sick of the 6-9 month size clothes. I have some really cute 12 month clothes I want her to wear but she's just to little still.

I love how every child comes "pre-programmed" with their own personalities and temperments. She is definietly a bit of a drama queen, and has thrown a good number of temper tantrums. She knows the full meaning of the word "NO!" and doesn't like it! :) My sitter Brianna says that she is tougher than both the boys, and I think she is right. I guess she has to be with 2 older brothers calling the shots! She is a very good eater, but always wants what you are having no matter what that is! I've never had a baby drink from a straw as early as she did. Ice water one of her favorites, she LOVES to drink my water. She is a pretty good sleeper as well.

Words she can say:
Mama (this was her first and most IMPORTANT word!)
Dada (her favorite word)
Mase (Last week she started saying Mason she pronounces it "May-ssssssss, she wanders the house calling him over and over again! I think he is actually her favorite person EVER! He is the best big brother to her, always playing, talking to and helping her. I can't tell you how many times Mason has saved Callie.)
No
Go (She loves this word because it usually involves going ouside!)
Baby (sometimes she will repeat this word when I ask if she wants baby food, and also she calls her doll baby)

For her Birthday I made a giant Cupcake. Her cake crawl wasn't as exciting as I had hoped. I think I put too much frosting on it and she got "sugared out"! :)

5k Famly Fun Run

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
This weekend our stake sponsored a 5k Family Fun Run & BBQ. It started at 9am with the 5k run first. The remainder of the day was spent in bounce houses for the kids, playing kickball, eating food, an obstacle course and potato sack races to compete at. We had a really good time.
I have started a little runners club on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the MHS track. So far it only consists of about 3 steady attendees. :( I hope to get more participants because its a lot of fun and great exercise.

Our Runner's club trio!

Amanda Wruble (an amazing dentist I work with), Allison Hallows (a friend in the stake) and me!

It was such a beautiful day! Very windy and perfect for kite flying!

Girls NIGHT out!

I have the most wonderful husband! He watched the children so I could go and enjoy an evening out with some friends. We stayed at a resort in Scottsdale, ate lots of food, stayed up way too late talking and laughing, then returned home on Saturday. I had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Friday night we ate at the White Chocolate Grill in Scottsdale. Yummy food!

 

Then of course we needed snacks for the rest of the evening so we went to Fry's and bought just a few necesseties:

 OK maybe we went a little over board! Mmmmmm junk food!

Christi had the genious idea to take goofy pictures. Try taking a picture while you are making a "motor sound" with your lips! I don't think I have laughed so hard in my entire life! It was hilarous! (But also maybe because it was late at night and everything is funny that late!)

Of course I brought my Wii and we played Just Dance 3.

 

   I was VERY impressed with this prego girl and her dance moves!!!! Corissa is due in just a few weeks! 

 While we were shopping for snacks we decided to dye my hair. I've been wanting to for a while because I'm getting a few grey hairs. This is the BEFORE picture:

At about 2am Christi, being the angel that she, became my hairstylist.

AFTER:

The next morning we checked out and went to breakfast at Crackers and Co. Seriously the BEST French Toast I've EVER had!!!! Holy delicious!

I think my favorite part of the trip was just hanging out in the hotel room talking and enjoying the company of these amazing women. We had pretty deep conversations and some silly moments. I'm grateful for their friendships and the strength and encouragement they give me!