Camryn's very FIRST 5k... in the freezing rain!

        It really was FREEZING!  The rain didn't let up.  In fact, I think it got worse as the race progressed.  We were drenched, we were frozen, but we had a GREAT time!  The entire race Camryn kept whispering, "I hope Dad comes, I hope Dad's here, I hope Dad makes it."  Dave had several places to be at once this particular morning and the younger girls had a primary program practice, so we weren't sure that they'd make it in time.  Right before we saw Dave Camryn said, "Mom, I don't think I can sprint to the finish line like I did in the practice run."  Just seconds later we passed by Dave and the little girls cheering and with a huge smile on her face Camryn looked back at her Dad and then  just took off in a sprint to the finish.  I hope that Dave is always able to give her that support she longs for.  I dream that she will always want him around as much as she wanted him there for her that day.  They share a special bond those two!  

 She was excited to earn a medal and she worked hard for it!  She totally deserved it!

Picture with her biggest fans taken by her other biggest fan, her Dad!  I am proud of you Camryn for making a goal and working hard enough to achieve it. 

Picture Day

 Camryn Third Grade

 Jamie 1st Grade

Trick or Treat 2010

Bryleigh made the cutest rainbow witch I have ever seen!

Strike a pose!

Jamie makes one gorgeous gypsy! She was so excited to wear LARGE hoop earrings. It was the highlight of her week, at least until the candy feast began.

Camryn was Dracula's wife and he's sure lucky to have such a beauty for a wife! She enjoyed all the "dark, real mama makeup".

Me with my "twin". Bryleigh wanted to be "twin sisters" with me.

Each girl drew out what they wanted their jack-o-lantern to look like and dad took the time to bring their vision to life!

Make a scary face!

Halloween Pictures 2010

I know I am the mom but I just think they are so darn cute!

Girls on the Run

Camryn joined an after school running group this year and it's been tons of fun. They are training to run a 5K in November. Last week they had a practice run and Camryn did GREAT! Her time was 26 minutes, and she ran the entire 3. whatever miles. I am really proud of her time and her endurance! Each girl has a running buddy and I am luckily enough to be Camryn's buddy. We've had fun "training" together this season. Here's some pictures of the practice run. She's all smiles!

We are trying to explain the course to the girls.

Anna's little brother and sister were giving out high fives! They are such cute kids! They make everyone smile.

She did it! Yeah CAmRyN!!! She sprinted through the finish line!!

First Day of Preschool 2010

Yesterday was Bryleigh's turn to have her first day of (pre)school. She loved it! She loves having friends around, she loves singing, doing crafts, coloring, and everything preschool. I just love that she enjoys it! Bryleigh and I participate in a co-op preschool. We have a super group of ROCK STAR mamas this year. I am pretty excited for this year to start!

This is one of my favorite pictures. She looks very big girlish! There's no more baby left in this little lover. She adores her Daddy so much. The best part of her day is when Daddy gets home from work. It's still the best part of my day too!

People tell me that she looks exactly like me. I've never "seen" it. I thought that they were saying it because of the simple fact that we both have curly hair. In this picture I kinda see that we do have more alike characteristics than I originally thought.

The night before her big day she went into her room and selected her outfit all on her own. While I was in the kitchen doing the dinner dishes she was in the living room "ironing" her clothes so that they would be all ready for school.

She's a great little worker when it's her idea!

First Day of School 2010

The first day of school is finally here! Jamie was so super excited that she woke up at 5am! They both picked out their own outfit and I think they looked adorable! Jamie got to wear dangly earrings! She's been looking forward to that since the start of school last year. Camryn is in 3rd grade and Jamie is in 1st grade this year.

This is Jamie with her teacher Mrs. Mizushima. She seems like a sweet, soft spoken teacher. When Jamie first found out that Mrs. Mizushima was her teacher she was a little sad looking. Since we didn't know anything about this teacher and she had lots of friends in the class I was wondering why Jamie was so upset about having this teacher. When I asked Jamie why she wasn't happy she replied, "What if I don't understand what she says, is she going to talk in English?" Camry got the same teacher as last year and she couldn't be happier!

Camryn Turned 8!

Camryn's baptism (August 6, 2010) was PERFECT. I could not have imagined it to go any better! The spirit was so strong during the entire program. The support and love from family and friends was tremendous, my fantastic husband baptized our little girl, my mom was here, my sister was here, we had an amazing photographer capture the most tender moments, and Camryn loved every minute of her big day. Camryn has a very tender heart and is easily able to have the spirit touch her. It was very apparent that she felt the spirit during her baptism ceremony. I hope that she never forgets the way she felt on her special day. Camryn has the raddest primary teacher that just happens to be an AMAZING photographer. We were luckily enough to have her primary teacher (Vanessa) take some gorgeous pictures of Camryn a few days before her birthday.




There were so, SO many great pictures to choose from. Camryn and Vanessa make a great team!

My sweet little girl was able to get baptized in the same exact dress that I was baptized in so long ago! It meant so much to Camryn to get to wear the same dress that I did.

This was the most incredible encounter that I have ever witnessed! The few minutes that Dave and Camryn spent talking just before her actual baptism and the long embrace they shared right after will be etched in my heart forever. I am grateful and extremely lucky to have these two wonderful people as part of my eternal family.

Families can be together FOREVER! It was a long crazy day, but Vanessa with her talented skills was still able to capture a family photo worth posting. She even got a smile out of little Bryleigh who was very worn out to say the least!

Camryn wanted "fancy" cupcakes that she designed herself and just water! Her request was simple, and the cupcakes were delicious!

It really was one of the BEST days of my life! I love you Camryn! You are such a joy to have in our family.

Summer Gymnastics

The girls were enrolled in a summer gymnastic class and they all really enjoyed it!

Bryleigh has some natural tumble in her! She picked up the skills easily and did a great job! This little girl as so, SO much extra energy. Once she gets it channeled in the same direction we are going to have to watch out because she going to be going somewhere good!

Camryn was able to soar through her level this summer and pass off something like 28 exercises. She's got the one handed cartwheel down solid! She's also getting pretty good and the balance beam. She's got her signature pose all figured out! She loves to flip, slpit, and cartwheel where ever she find the open space.

For Jamie's first time in gymnastics she sure did great! She developed strength, flexibility, and coordination. She's got a killer summer salt and she's getting very close to getting into tripod position. She's also very close to doing the full splits. For Jamie, the best results were the friends that she made. She is a social little thing that loves to make new friends.