Party for Brookie!

 We had a fun party for Brooke with some of her cute friends.

She of course wanted a Doc McStuffins party.

She had so much fun. And hopefully her friends did too!

Parties are so fun, but also a lot of work! 

Glad I have six months until the next party:)

Brooke is 5!

 Five years ago was one of the best days of my life. Brooke Renee Ellis joined our family and made us complete. She has been a joy since day one.

I only wish she hadn't grown up so fast...

Lucky little lady was able to spend her first birthday in Alaska!

We had a fun little party for her 2nd birthday.

She had her third birthday surrounded by our best friends, and one last hurrah in Minnesota, before moving to Idaho.

My grown up little four year old.

And now she is no longer my little baby. All grown up, and my little sidekick.

Happy Brithday to this sweet fun loving little girl.

We love you Brooke.

Celebration.

 This year the twinsies got to have a party of their choosing. They thankfully unanimously chose to go to IJump. That I could do!

They each invited a couple friends, and we had a blast! I had so much fun watching all the kiddos having a blast.

 As tradition, they each got their own ice cream cake.

Thanks to my friend Katie, I survived this party. Don't know how I would have done it without her.

The group shot of the kiddos!

Eight years too fast.

 I can't even believe that it has been eight years since my life dramatically changed with two crazy, spunky, energetic, funny twins entered my life.

There are some brief moments when I wish that I could go back and steel a moment and hold these precious little babies. Because this picture below is how I remember my life... tired, and exhausted, and treading water!

 But just look how tiny and precious they are!?!

They were so much fun, and always kept me on my toes!

  

These two loved to try my pacience with many messes...

I was always following them with cleaning supplies in tow.

Before I knew it they were all grown up and leaving me all day for school.

Kylee,

You bring so much laughter, joy, and a spunkiness like no one else could do.

I love your passion for the things you love, and am so happy to call you mine.

Brandon, I can't imagine life without your fun loving personality. You are the glue that holds this family together with your tender heart.

Happy Brithday to my sweet, fiery twosome. So glad they came together!

Love, mom.

Party Time.

So for Caden's birthday party, he decided to pick a few friends, and head up to Rexburg Rapids.

We had gone with my family a few weeks back, and had a blast, so we packed up and made an afternoon out of it!

Caden invited his friend, Carter from the neighborhood, and Carter, our friend from Minnesota, our on vacation visiting his grandparents. It was perfect timing!

Brookie is a little fish!

These boys knew just what to give Cado for his birthday. I guess you can never have to many Bayblades....

Kylee was in heaven, having Allie there to play with!

It was a great day with friends, and so fun to celebrate Caden's birthday.

Double Digits.

I can hardly believe that this tiny little face entered the world 10 years ago, and made me a mamma.

He was my first little buddy.

He is a smart little dude, lover of legos, books, video games and friends.

My little buddy is not so little anymore. How did this happen?! When did this happen?!

Love this kid to the moon and back!

Of course Buffalo Wild Wings was the choice for birthday dinner.

Which made fans for life from his sibblings.

Happy Birthday Caden. Thanks for your sweet spirit, the joy you bring in our home, and for just being you. LOVE YOU.

35.

 Ryan has turned 35! So I thought we should throw him a party.

I recruited a few friends, and we surprised Ryan with a fun trip out into the wilderness to a fun little Hot Pot spot.

 We swam in the warm little pond, hiked around the area, and had fun on the ATV's and bikes!

Missing a picture of the whole group, but we had a blast! What better way to spend a birthday than with your closest friends.

Trip to Logan

 Poor Kylee was tripped at school and got quite the fat lip.

Saturday after Caden's basketball game, we headed down to Logan for a quick trip for Cynthia's birthday. The kids were excited to see grandma and grandpa.

We had a fabulous dinner at Texas Roadhouse, and yummy cake from Backers.

The kiddos were disappointed that we weren't staying the night, but life called us back to Idaho!

Last Hoorah!

 This weekend we took a last little trip down to Utah before school started.

We headed down Friday to Logan, to run the Top of Utah Half Marathon.

Ryan and I were supposed to run together, but poor guy was suffering from IT band issues, so he decided not to chance it. I was bummed cause I think we would have been able to run it together, it would have been so much fun!

So this race was a warm up for October, I was supper excited to race. I have only done Ragnar this year, other than a 5K, so I was excited to see how a longer race would go for me. 

I was a bit nervous, since I've been training by myself all summer. I didn't know if I could run like I did last fall without the group, and the coach right by my side.

The course was a net down hill, so I knew I could at least (or hopefully) match last years race.

It seriously was the funnest I've ever had in a race!

The first half was a gradual down hill, through a canyon, and so beautiful! I just took in every moment of it.

Here are the stats, for those of my runner friends:

Time: 1:37:12

Pace: 7:24

Age Group Finish: 7/333

Female overall: 25/1427

Overall Race:104/2083

Seriously the best race ever! The Monster Dash that I did ranks up there with this, but since this had much better weather, it's passing it up in the favorite category. A PR for me by a little over three minutes ( thanks to the downhill), and I couldn't be more happy! It definitely boosted my confidence for Chicago. I'll be honest, I've been getting nervous for it, letting the mental part of running get to me. But after this I am back!

Some of my cute friends from Ragnar also ran, so we bussed it up to the start line together, and celebrated afterwards:

 All three of us PR'd. Yeah for us!

I then quickly showered and we headed down to Salt Lake to celebrate Ryan's grandmother's birthday. Lucy is by far one of the best ladies on this planet. She is simply amazing. And at the ripe young age of 97 couldn't look better!

Brookie sitting on Uncle James lap. She just loves him!

 Ryan and Lucy.

She is the sweetest person I know. So glad I got to live with her for a week or so before I was married.

The twins wanted in on the picture action with Grandma Lucy.

( Even though their expressions don't really show it...)

After lunch we went and walked around Temple Square.

I really can never get bored of going here.

Now school starts tomorrow, and boy are my kiddos beyond excited!

And so am I. I sure love spending time with my kids, but I am so ready for a routine, and a schedule back in my life!