NEW YEARS EVE!

We carried on the tradition of New Years Eve and went over to the Parrys and ordered our variety of food from Cheesecake Factory and hung out. Emma and Maddie went to the dance in Queen Creek and the littles ran around wildly. Blake ended up being sick so it was a low key night, but a good night none the less!

1,000 MILES!

On January 1st of this year while I was scrolling on facebook, I noticed a couple of friends had "liked" a page called "I love running". In my boredom, I went to the page and checked it out - before I knew it - I had signed up and committed to run 1,000 miles this year.

In January - I only ran 40 miles, but it was good, because I had to learn to run all those by myself. In February, I stepped up my game and ran 60. In March I did the math and realized I was well off the course of completion so I ran 101 miles! I told myself, if I did not run 500 miles by July 1st, I was going to quit.

July 1st came and I met my goal. I had to run 100 miles two other months during the year. Then holidays came and things got crazy. The last 2 weeks of December I had to run 59 miles! Ha ha! December I also ended up running 100 miles.

BUT I COMPLETED IT!!! I have never been so proud of myself. I freaking did it! I told Jared when I went out to run my last 3 miles, that I was super excited to come home and see what surprise

he had set up for me because I knew he would have put time and effort into this because it was such a big goal and I was finishing it. Of course being Jared - he hadn't given it a second thought - while I was out they hurried and made me a toilet paper finish line, had "We are the champions" song playing and Tyson made me a note while all the kids cheered - they weren't quite ready when I came home so I ran another minute while they finished! Ha ha!

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN!

I always heard about people going and serving at "Feed My Starving Children" but I have never had the opportunity to go and do it. Finally I got the chance and I was able to take my whole crew with me too. When we first got there and had to sit and listen to the talk and the directions - Tyson was NOT feeling it - he wanted to go home and he was a grumpy gus. Jared wasn't thrilled either - he wasn't complaining, but he was a little annoyed. When we finally got to split up into our groups and get started - they LOVED it! FMSC makes it fun a little friendly competition between each table so you are racing against them, rocking out to music, serving while had the best time! The time went by so fast and the kids all loved it and want to go back and do it again sometime! All of our food packed that day went to the Philippines and the other stats from the night are in a picture. Can't wait to go back!

ASU HIKE!

I was feeling a little adventurous and decided to take the kids to hike ASU mountain. Someone said it was a really short hike -  I thought they were wrong - oh ya, top to bottom .90 mile! The kids had a lot of fun doing it but we were done pretty fast so we walked over to Tempe Town lake and walked around and then we decided we should do the paddle boats! It was a great day together. We missed daddy though and were sad he was at work and not playing with us!

CHRISTMAS!

Christmas was filled with magical memories like every year and the regular traditions that we enjoy!

Christmas Eve with the Rodgers with gifts and fondue.

Christmas day with the Jensens with gifts and dinner.

Letters to Santa!

Gingerbread decorating contest with Nathan and Jenn's family.

Getting up at 5am on Christmas morning to go serve the homeless people in downtown Phoenix. This year we passed out clothes and hygiene kits. The kids couldn't believe that people live on the streets in all those tents like that. We were really in the heart of it this year.

The Young Women left Buddy the Elf for me at house for my birthday!

Jingle Jog at Haley Elementary - luckily the kids finished just as the storm came in and it started raining - we all booked it inside!

Ugly sweater Christmas party at the Bells house.