Summer break is finally here. Actually it began a few weeks ago, but I was still busy studying for my National Board test. I finally took that on June 6th. I am happy it is over with, but now comes the waiting game. I will not find out if I passed until November.

Ella took College for Kids the first 2 weeks of break. She really loved it. She is also still busy with gymnastics and wakeboarding. She finally got up!!!

Nate and I are busy training for a half marathon in Seattle. We leave in about 2 weeks. It will be fun to run someplace cool and green.

13.1, PR and Stress Fracture!

So last weekend I ran another half marathon in Phoenix. My 2nd attempt at PF Changs Rock-N-Roll. I must admit, I did awesome. I finished 31 minuts faster than I did last year, even with stopping to use the restroom and running by myself....2:19:05! The only down side, is the stress fracture that I now have in my left foot! I guess I will be taking it easy the next few weeks. I can't stay off of it for too long, I have another race to start training for. A group of us from Nautilus are planning on running/walking as a team for the Havasu Half Marathon. The proceeds are going to the high school for a new all weather track!

I am not good at this...

Well, it is already 2009 and I realized that since I started this blog I have only made about a half a dozen posts. Hopefully, I will be able to keep up better with this blog during 2009.

A lot has happened since my last post. One of the most important things is that Ella turned 6. It is amazing how quickly she has grown up. As soon as everyone left her birthday party she asked if next year could be at the bowling alley! Of course...that is a lot less work for me and probably just as much fun for her and her friends.

Ella and Aidan being goofy and Ella's Pirate Birthday Party.

Super Mario Cart for Wii!

I ran the Turkey Trot again this year with a group of women from my running clinic. I improved my time by 4 minutes, which I was happy about. Sara Park is a tough race, so I think any improvement is good.

Here is Ella running along side of me. She says that she is going to run the Turkey Trot next year. If she wants to try then that is fine with me.

Here are the girls from the running clinic.

I ran my second half marathon in Las Vegas the first weekend in December. I finished in 2:17 which is 35 minutes quicker than my first half in Phoenix. In 2 weeks I will be running again in Phoenix.

Here we are before the race started. I actually liked the fact that the race starts at 6 am.
Here I am eating my ice cream after we finished. Jackie and I ran the entire race together. I was glad to have someone to run with, even if you don't talk to each other.

And here is our after picture! Yeah, we all survived!

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. Christmas is almost entire month long in our house. We host our annualy Children's Christmas Party, Go to Sosey's Hay Ride, check out the lights, and have Christmas Day. Ella really appreciated and was thankful for all of the gifts. Santa heard her wish and brought her Play Dough. Oma and Papa got her a tether ball and us a Wii Fit. We have had plenty to keep us busy over break. We also went to Phoenix to watch the Cardinals play the Seahawks. Overall, I would say Christmas was a success.

Sitting on Santa's lap at the Children's Christmas Party that we host each year.

The annual Hay Ride at the Sosey's.




I hope that 2009 brings as much fun and excitement as 2008!

Halloween Fun

It is hard to beleive, but Ocotber just flew by. Ella was very excited about Halloween this year. She picked out the perfect pumpkin from the grocery store. A few years ago we had a pumpkin patch here in town. That was a fun way to pick out a pumpkin. Maybe next year.

Ella and Daddy carved the pumpkin. She was a little afraid of putting her hand in the pumpkin, but she did it.

She drew the face on a piece of paper and then I copied it onto the pumpkin. Two eyes, a nose, and just 1 tooth.

I think that pumpkins look best when they are all lit up.

She decided months ago that she was going to be a puppy dog. Of course it was not just any puppy dog, it was suppose to be like our neighbor's dog. Well, I did my best.

We went to McCulloch this year and it was very overwhelming. There are just too many people and some of them are not very nice. I don't think that we will go again next year. We did our regular houses too...Oma and Papa's, Amy and Nates, and Mark and Michele.


Another year of successful trick or treating fun!

Student of the Week

Ella was chosen as Student of the Week for her class! Her name was called on Friday afternoon for the whole school to hear and she received a certificate, pencil and a pin. Of course on the way home she had to call Daddy, Papa, and Aunt Amy to let them know. All night she walked around with that pin on, as if it was a badge! Too cute!

Her kindergarten teacher and I are working together as buddy classes. So they come in once a week and do some sort of reading activity with my 5th graders. Both classes are really excited about it. I am sure there will be plenty of funny stories.

WOW! Things have been so busy, that I have not had a chance to post anything. Ella started kindergarten and has been loving every minute of it. She is doing awesome and is tops in her class. She is a classroom helper, which I think she really enjoys. She even was selected for Principal's lunch for the 1st quarter. Pizza, ice cream, lemonade, and Mrs. Goodwin...what more could she want.

It is fall break right now, and boy I needed some time off. We took Ella to San Diego for a few days. It was the first time she has ever seen the ocean. Of course, she screamed the first time a tiny wave touched her toes. That only lasted for about 3 waves and then she was having a blast. We did dinner in the Gaslamp District at a place called Sloppy Joey's. When it was time to walk back to the train it was raining....it just added to our adventure.

The next day we headed out to Sea World...whales, dolphins, and of course wet rides. She has been doing the Shamu Shamu Soak wave since we got home, I think she had fun!

The San Diego Zoo was the last part of our adventure. It was a little disappointing though. Many of the animals were not on display and there was a ton of rude people. Ella still liked seeing the animals.

Yeah it is summer!

Summer is finally here! Ella and I have been spending lots of time at home doing craft projects, baking, and cuddling. Today we made a butterfly and a pineapple up-side down cake for Daddy.

She is taking swim lessons and is doing really well. Now that she is swimming in the "deep end" of the pool, she can't put here feet down. I think she is finally getting the hang of it. We are hoping that she will pass the Starfish level this time and be able to move on to Seals next. Today we went to Aunt Amy and Uncle Nate's to go swimming. She had a blast and is already asking when we can go back.

We took her out wake boarding on Monday. She finally was able to get up and go for about 15 feet before she fell down. I don't think she was nearly as excited as the rest of us about it. She is getting pretty close to mastering knee boarding...we just have to get Aunt Amy to pay attention to the buoy!