Friends

Today my friend Andrea and I went to Saguaro Ranch Park to take some photos of her kids for Christmas. I of course could not resist shooting some of Miss Morgan as well.

Morgan and Alli

Ever since I found out I was having a girl I have wanted to take a photo like this. I started looking for matching shoes as soon as we knew Morgan was coming. I did not want to take them last year, because Morgan wasn't walking so we saved this fun photo for this Christmas season!

These are Andrea's kids...Aiden, Marcus, and Alli

They say it's your Birthday....

Today is the day Shawn celebrates his life, and it is the day we celebrate having a wonderful husband and father in our lives. Happy Birthday Shawn! You are an amazing husband, and father. You provide for us and enable me to be able to stay at home with our kids. You make us laugh, smile, and shed good tears. Here's to you and the next 32 years of your life! We LOVE You!

Annual Thanksgiving Lunch

Every year for as long as I can remember my dad's work has hosted a Thanksgiving lunch the week before Thanksgiving on Wednesday. I think I have made it to all of them except one...when I lived in Happy Jack. Yesterday I loaded up the car and Morgan and I went to pick Zach up from school early so he could join us. Dad has always been in charge of cooking the turkey. The shop always smells so good on this day (and this day only)! We sat down together and enjoyed the smoked turkey and ham along with wonderful side dishes that everyone brought in. Morgan even shared some Pumpkin Pie with Grandpa.

After lunch Zach went to play in the trim room. This is the room that collects all the edges from the paper and it seems that EVERY kid LOVES to play in that room. Zach was jumping and rolling everywhere!

Calling all Barbie fans...

I have been collecting Barbie's since I was 8 years old. Every single Barbie is still in the original package and the only think that has happened to them is they have collect some dust. I want to sell ALL of them, because I do not want to move them anymore! If you know anyone who is interested please let me know!!

Sole Sisters

Well we are now up to 5 miles. We had to run against the wind on Sunday and that slowed us WAY down. We all finished in about 50-60 minutes. This weekend we will run another 5 miles, then move it up to 6 for the following. I have planned our 1/2 way celebration party at P.F.Changs. I am so grateful for the 50 women on our training group, our team that put together awesome shirts for our "SOLE SISTERS" team, and for the many friendship that are forming from the team. My energy levels are way up, my eating habits are so much better, and my water intake has improved. I think I may have found a new hobby...running!

A "Blingful" Weekend

This weekend Shawn went to the Dunes and Zach is with my dad, so Miss Morgan and I decided to have a fun "BLINGFUL" weekend. We started off Friday night at a friends "Bling" Party. I brought our own shirts and the ladies put Bling on them. Then on Saturday we had another Pedicure Party and we all got "ROCKSTAR" Toes. We visited with Grandpa and Grandma, ate some Fall sprinkled donuts, did a little shopping, and tomorrow we are ending our "Blingful" Weekend with a 5 mile run and some play time at the park. I just LOVE mommy / daughter weekends with my little Princess!

Morgan and Alli at our Pedicure Party.

Our matching BLING!

More BLING and shopping purchases!

Mommy's BLING...toes, nails and a clean ring! I LOVE SPARKLES!

My little Ballerina

My mom bought Miss Morgan and new pair of ballerina pj's and my friend Dacia gave her a little pair of ballet slippers...this is Morgan this morning when she woke up...she was waiting very un patiently for her breakfast to cook!

A day at the Zoo

Yesterday my friend Liz and I decided to take a trip to the zoo with our kids. The kids did not have school yesterday because of Veteran's day...so we had a mommy/children day! It was a perfect day to head to the zoo...not too cold and not too hot! We walked the entire zoo, enjoyed a rowdy lunch by the grass, took a journey to the petting zoo and Little People's Playground, then to the Sting Ray exhibit, enjoyed a snow cone and headed home. Morgan took her first ride on the carousel...she rode the dragon and LOVED every minute of it. All the lights were up for Zoo Lights...we will be going back for that in the near future! I am so thankful for the friends and family in my life. We had a great day!

Broncos vs. Steelers

Last night we went over to my sisters house for the Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game. My task was to make a dessert for the party. So I decided to bake a cake...not any ole cake...but a Broncos cake...It also just so happened to be one of our friends daughters 4th birthday and we call her Bronco Chloe, just to give her mom a bad time. So I put orange and blue swirls in the cake batter so that when you cut the cake it would be orange and blue inside....

Then I decorated it to look like a play on the field. I used marshmallow ghosts for the players and straws for the goal posts!

Shawn really isn't a Denver fan...but he didn't want Pittsburgh to win so he just laid the shirt on him...he said he couldn't bring himself to actually wear it!!

Morgan and her Crazy Denver Fan Grandpa....His hat, shirt, shorts, socks, and yes even shoes were ALL Denver!!

We had to try the hat on Miss Morgan!

and yes...Denver lost...they are now 6-2...BOO!

Meeting Mickey and Minnie

When I woke up yesterday I had a plan in mind for Saturday...that was to do a 4 mile run in the morning then come home and have a relaxing day with my family...well plans changed around 7:30p.m. last night. Today I woke up and did my run...made it in 42 minutes...that's about 10 minute miles...then headed home for a shower and to head to the mall. Mickey and Minnie were at Arrowhead Mall today celebrating the Grand Opening of the Disney Store. As we waited in line to see Mickey and Minnie I noticed that they both were not up there...it was only Mickey at the time I looked. I was so bummed because I wanted Morgan to get her picture taken with at least Minnie if not both. So, as I continued to pout and move to the front of the line I heard that Minnie was coming back out. As soon as Morgan saw her she was amazed and all she could say was "WOW"! As you can tell from her picture she just wanted to stare at her in amazement.

After our photo we headed into the Disney store and purchased a few fun items to put away for Miss Morgan for Christmas! It turned out to be a great day and tomorrow I am planning on doing my relaxing, after my interval training at 8:30a.m.!

Step-Motherhood

I have been told that being a step-mom would not be easy, but it would get better. I am NOT writing this for you to feel sorry for me, just simply to get it out in a place I know where I can count on my friends to give me good advice and help me stay positive. Also, to be able to show Zach one day how much I REALLY do CARE about him!

I became a step-mom to Brandon and Zachary in July 2005. Shawn and I had dated in 1998 and after we went our separate ways we both married. The lady Shawn married already had a son, Brandon and then got pregnant with Zach, so Shawn and her got married. Brandon's real father was and still is in prison and Brandon and Zach's mother passed away in the year 2002. From day 1 Brandon tried to run me out. Not only was he without his "real" father, now he is without his "real" mother. He did not want me in the picture. Things progressed with Brandon so negatively that the summer of 2007 he decided that he wanted to go live with "blood relatives". We have only seen him 2 times in the past 2 years. VERY SAD for Zach.

Zach began giving me a hard time in 2007...it wasn't too bad, but it just felt like Brandon was prepping him for his exit. I try EVERYTHING that I know how to do to be here for Zach. I do NOT want Zach to EVER forget his mother, but I would LOVE to be treated with just a little respect to start with, then move forward from there. How do I do that, when for the last 2 1/2 years I keep getting pushed away on a daily basis...no exaggeration there...I am bitter, frustrated, angry, sad and mostly heart broken that Zach will not let me in even to be a friend. How do I put aside these feelings and try again the next day if all I can think about is getting pushed away some more. We have some good days, but they are so few and far between. I know he has been through a lot of traumatic events and he is only 10. Please say a prayer for Zach, ask that he be given an abundance of love to share with his parents, ask that he open up and get all those thoughts and feelings out of his heart so he can stop aching, and ask that he'd be given strength to conquer this and come out "ON TOP OF THE WORLD". Say a prayer for me, ask that I'd be given the right kind of love to share with Zach so he understands that I DO love him, and ask that I'd be given strength to conquer this and become the best "BONUS MOM" (not step mom) that I can.

Thank you for taking the time to say a few prayers. Zach and I need them right now!

Such a BIG girl!

So this morning when Morgan woke up I made her some waffles. Usually she eats her breakfast in her high chair...but not this morning. As I was putting her waffles into a bowl she kept pointing at her table and signing please. So I put her bowl on the table and went to pick her up so she could sit down...she pushed my hand away and crawled onto the seat all by herself. Then she looked over and smiled the cheesiest smile ever. I said to her "Ok, I get it...you want to be a BIG girl today!" She just smiled again and started to eat her breakfast. Tomorrow marks her 15 month celebration. Each and everyday that goes by I am just amazed at what she has learned. She is starting to mimic EVERY word that you say. When it is time for bed she likes to crawl up the stairs all by herself and walk to her room. She still has not gained any weight since her 12 month check-up, but she eats well so we are not worried. And her hair...yes it is out of control most days. When she gets a bath at night before she goes to bed, she wakes up with some serious bed head! These past 15 months have been the most joyous months of my life! I can't wait to have another...hopefully I have Shawn convinced that another is a good idea!!

A special post for G-ma

While we were in Colorado my Grandma built a miniature snowman for Miss Morgan. I forgot to post these pictures with my original Colorado trip blog because they were taken with a different camera and put into a different folder. I am sorry Grandma!! The first couple trips we made to Colorado Morgan was un-sure about her Great-Grandma...this trip Great Grandma is who Morgan wanted MOST!! They hung out and played each day. Morgan even went to her over me! I think Grandma enjoyed building the snowman for Morgan more than anything else that weekend! We sure do miss you Grandma!

A ghouling, ghostly weekend

Our Halloween fun began on Friday morning. Two of Morgan's friends, Bryce (sitting) and Tyson were over to play. Morgan just LOVES when other babies are here. She always tries to feed them their bottles and if they are crying she will pat their backs and say "pat, pat".
Friday night at Zach's school they had a Fall Festival that we attended. There were games, a haunted house, and of course LOT'S of CANDY! Zach's first game was the Pumpkin Ring Toss. He was the fourth person in line and no-one in front of him could get the ring on the BIG pumpkin for the grand prize...Zach wanted to get it "SO BAD"!

And he DID! He was VERY excited!

After the ring toss we Shawn and Zach headed into the Haunted House, then over to the water balloon toss game. Yep, Zach got wet...I think it was on purpose...you know how boys are!! My dad and I played too, but I did NOT want to get wet...and guess what...I did! Dad just smiled...he had it all planned! :)

Next we headed to the line to get Zach's face painted. He was also showing off the fish he won in another game.

Zach sat very patiently while the art teacher painted his face.

Miss Morgan had cat's on her shirt today so we decided to have a cat painted on her face. She sat very well, but was not too sure about what was going on her face.

Zach got a spider web in his favorite color...blue!

After the Fall Festival we walked back over to my sister's house for our family Halloween dinner. We had to do it on Friday because my sister worked Saturday. Our menu consisted of the following items:

Pumpkin Grave Yard (Spaghetti Squash and Sweet Potatoes with Green Beans).

Ghost Grave Yard (Shepard's Pie with Ghost shaped marshmallows and spiders).

Coffins with Guts (Zucchini with red, green and orange peppers, red onions, and parmesan cheese).

Witches Fingers (bread sticks)

Cupcakes for dessert!

Labels for our drinks.

Also, a Pumpkin cupcake, cake for dessert too!

Our family dinner was a smash! My mom planned the entire thing and prepared the main course with my sister. I prepared the dessert. Next month is at my house...hmmm what to have....


On to Saturday
Saturday morning I raced in the Monster Bash race with a few ladies that I am training for the 1/2 marathon with. We arrived at the park at 7a.m because we were told our race would begin at 7:30 SHARP...what a mess this race was. The first part of the race was a kids triathlon event. We over heard that some of the kids had gotten LOST, yes LOST on the route because it was not marked properly, then we heard that one kid was even hit by a car and taken to the emergency room (he is ok). Our route was not marked at all, there wasn't even a map. My timer bracelet was NO-Where to be found. We did not start our race until 8:30a.m. I finished in 36 minutes...that is an okay time...I figured it was about 11 minute miles and with me being injured and not running very hard for the past 2 weeks, I will take it. It was great to see the girls, but the race was an overall disappointment. Her we are pre-race!

Time for Trick or Treating! Morgan was ready to go!! We headed out to my parent's neighborhood for Trick or Treating this year. We met some of our friends up their who were also at their parent's house. Morgan was our Bronco's Cheerleader!

Here is my dad and Morgan, My Aunt (pushing the stroller) and Zach (1/2 of him)

Morgan just LOVED going up to the houses with her little Pumpkin bucket. Every time she saw a pumpkin she would point and say "Pumpkin".

Zach dressed up as a soccer player. He LOVES to play!

Here are Ashlyn (our cousin) and Morgan giving Loves to each other. Morgan has started to give out LOT'S of hugs and when she does she always says "awwweeee".

Grandma and Morgan

Grandpa and Morgan (can you tell we are Bronco fans....hope they win today)!

Our Halloween weekend was great! We LOVE to see our family and friends. Now it is time to relax on this beautiful Sunday and watch some football with my hubby!