Christmas Trees

So I am a person who REALLY enjoys the smell of fresh pine trees, but can burn a candle with that scent and be JUST FINE with it. Shawn on the other hand REALLY enjoys the smell that actually comes from a fresh pine tree. So my mom had asked if we wanted to go cut down our own tree this year and start making it an annual thing. I thought...sure, how fun for all of us...but do I really have to put that tree in my house?? Shawn said YES YES YES, Let's do it, I CAN'T WAIT!! Well, the weekend of Thanksgiving I got ALL my Christmas Decor out and starting decorating the house...AND putting up my small, but LOVELY fake Christmas tree. I heard comments from Shawn and Zach saying...why is she putting that one up, what about the one we cut down, etc... I turned to them and said I would be happy to put it up OUTSIDE for them to enjoy through the window, but I REALLY did not want it in the house...so I continued with my fake tree...It LOOKED fantastic!!

Needless to say I completely was out-voted and the fake tree came down and the real, fresh tree made it inside...I tried to turn the camera to make the tree look better. I even tried to decorate under the tree to help it out...but I can promise you IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE THIS IN THE FORREST!! This tree was the "Perfect" tree when we were out there amongst the other millions of trees. :)

The memory of the day was worth it, but next year the FAKE tree stays inside and decorated and the real one goes up OUTSIDE!!!

Family

On Saturday we went up north to cut down or Christmas tree with my parents and sister...more pics to come...it was a mere 34 degrees and windy while we were there. My plan going up there was to find snow...any amount of snow because that is the theme of my Christmas cards this year and I wanted our family photo to have snow in it...well as we were driving along the rim I looked out the window and saw this fantastic view of the mountains and pine trees. My cards will still be snow themed, but our picture is a look before snow hits. The air was so crisp and clean, and the noise was that of the wind and the trees...so peaceful. We had a chilly, but FUN family day in the woods!

PF Changs Celebration!

Last night marked the 1/2 way point of our training for the P.F. Changs 1/2 Marathon. We have about 40 women that are still training together and about 25 of us went to celebrate at P.F. Changs last night. It was a great night to share some of our training stories, make plans for the Expo, and there was even talk about getting hotel rooms the night before so we are all together. We voted on a team name and the one chosen is Sole Sistas. Our shirts are hot pink :) with a logo of shoes and the team name on it. I am so excited to be training for this and I am looking forward to continue my training after the marathon and hopefully run a full in the near future!

Here is Christie and Brenda...look at all the food!!

Jeni (the one standing) is who we give credit to for putting together this amazing group! She was toasting for all of us!
Down the table...only my camera only captured the first few...but like I said we had about 25 of us there!
Brenda and I...we usually run every Sunday together along with 2 or 3 others. Sunday's are our LONG run days!!
This experience has not only helped me get back into shape but it has helped me accomplish a task that was long overdue. I am so grateful for all the prayers that everyone prayed for me and for the friendships we have built! God brought us all together to help one another in very special ways...it is so rewarding when you see the accomplishments, not just running, that we have made! Keep up the hard work ladies!!

We have had family here and have been so busy this past week. My Uncle and Grandfather from Colorado came in for Thanksgiving. My Grandpa built Morgan an amazing toy box while he was here...more pictures to some once it is painted. We decorated for Christmas, I ran a 5 mile run and a 6 mile run, and we enjoyed a movie in there. We are enjoying all the festivities of this holiday season and have our next few weekends book for more fun! To top it all off we have started to potty train little Miss Morgan...she has showed some interest, so I went with it and she went pee 5 times in her Princess Potty Chair the first day. Hopefully it will continue to be an easy milestone!

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!