"I'm Lovin' San Diego... This place is off the Shizam!" - Marty from movie Madagascar

Kennedy has been saying that all week. We're here in Escondido and Lovin' it!  The weather has been less than stellar, but we've had enough sun to feel like we're really on vacation.  It was raining the moment we arrived on Sunday (after a 2 hour detour because we had NO map, NO GPS, No IDEA where we turned wrong from our printed directions, some nice people in Julian CA directed us 60 miles back on track!!).  We finally made it to the Welk Resort in Escondido.

 Monday it rained most of the day, we made it to the grocery store and Costco (which if you thought it was busy in AZ, you ain't seen NOTHIN"!).  We stopped by the beach at Buccaneer park in Oceanside to check the surf, and it was higher than we've ever seen, and higher than the locals had seen it too.  Probably related to the tsunami and the moon being closest to the earth in 20 years.  They said it was 6 feet higher than normal.  It was crazy, but beautiful.

Tuesday we went to Sea World.  It hasn't changed much, except for commercialization.  It was great for the kids, and the dolphin show was part "Cirque De Dolfin" and it was great, Shamu show was a bummer because the trainers can't get into the water due to the accident a while back where the whale killed the trainer.  So, that was a bummer.  All the whales did was jump out of the water and splash.  Oh well, the kids really enjoyed it.

Wednesday we stopped by the beach to check it out, and couldn't help ourselves.  We didn't have any swim stuff or towels or anything (or camera), so after the kids ran around in the surf and soaked themselves in their clothes, we went back to the resort and went swimming.  It was great.  Tim has been cooking like the amazing gourmet chef he is and the food has been spectacular!!

Thursday (today) we hit up the beach (after all night rain and hazy morning, the weather after 10 was sunny but the surf was high, and riptide was strong. We all just ran around the surf and sat on the rocks because there was still no dry beach.  The girls loved it, and Audrey actually got washed upside down and took it like a champ.  So, then we came home after a few hours and ate lunch and went back to the pool where we played another couple of hours till the girls were almost asleep on the poolside chairs.  Now we're back resting getting ready for the evening and the next few wonderful days we have here.  I will figure out how to make a public album to share all the pictures. They are great!

Time for Me

Does that exist?  If it does, where? What would I do with it if I found it?  Here I have maybe 3 minutes, that's if the internet works and I don't have a daughter crisis.  I wanted to post that I need to compliment myself.  I had an awesome weekend at Ragnar, then a full week of work until Friday morning at about 10 where there was a situation wherein things were done/said and I was sent home and layed off.  It was really crappy.  I loved working at that office in Fountain Hill and had been there 15 months.  I felt really crummy all day Friday and Saturday, but Sunday the lesson at church was amazing about pride from Conference 2010 and 1989.  It made me think a lot about myself and my attitude and now that it's been about a week, I feel much better and am looking toward the future with a huge smile.  There were some crazy things about that work situation.  I had given my notice to the other office I worked in and was scheduled to start full time in Fountain Hills, and that was all cut off.  I am blessed to be able to work again at that office Dr. Smith because he allowed me to come back.  I really didn't want to leave, but they made me a great offer in FH, and it took me 8 months to accept it.  Now I know why I felt so hesitant to take it and put all my eggs in one basket. Never again.  Dr. Smith is wonderful, and I can find other work as needed and stay with him from here on out.  He was so understanding when I called him sobbing about what had happened and he told me I could have my position back.  I am so blessed to have the support of my wonderful husband through this.  I think it's harder on him to see me get fired, because I'd be absolutely LIVID if he got fired in the manner I was subjected to.  He is my best friend, and he had a birthday this week and it was crummy because I saw him for all of 45 minutes.  I am so grateful for the physical and mental strength I have gained from running that helped me through that blow last week.  I love to run.  I hope my body will allow me to do it for a long time.  I'm starting to ramble and the kids are calling me and... more later... I hope.

more ragnar pics

Here we all are at the finish line. Yay! We did it, Ragnar 2011

Carolyn, Marinda, Shauna, Machell, Collette, Julie, Jarrica, Amy, Kellie, Misty, Jane (not pictured: Wendy)

Ragnar Pictures

I Rocked at Ragnar! I had a great time and ran 21.2 miles. It was a great experience and I would do it again for sure. I'm addicted to running, and had such a great time with the girls I ran with.

If I were...

I really want to learn how to use my camera.  We had our door open last night and the moon and clouds were AMAZING!! After all the rain the air smelled so clean and the wind in the pine trees was so peaceful.  I had to get a picture, but of course it doesn't do it justice.  It was beautiful.  The rain all weekend was wonderful and I went out for a run yesterday morning and it was perfect, 55 degrees, no wind, cloudy, just perfect.  Good last long run before my Ragnar Relay on Friday/Saturday.  I'm excited for that, but it could be because I'm not sure what to expect, I just know I love to run and I'm excited to see my friends I haven't seen for a while.  Hopefully the moon will shine on for me on Friday night at about 2 am when I'm running on a trail non-supported in the middle of the desert somewhere around anthem.  Here's hoping!  Happy running, and moonshining (in a clean way ;)

Actual pictures

So, I have these, the most recent pictures of the girls, but I finally got the pictures organized, but need to figure out a way to make them faster and better sized for the blog.  This is a start though. I have pictures from before Halloween last year to post. Events to cover:

Half Marathon

Moving

New house (at Harper's)

Thanksgiving

Christmas

New Years

New school for Emma

Bike riding (CHECK!!)

Here's the bike riding pictures.

Here's Audrey riding free.  She is growing up so much.  She's had the most difficulty with the move and the change with our family.  She is so sweet and tender and this was a huge thing for her to build her confidence in herself.  She's amazing.

Kennedy riding the bike she inherited from Audrey.  She is a peddling fiend. Watch out, here she comes. 

Emma giving her "I love you"/"Rock On" hand sign.  One handed riding on her bike from Santa.  She is rocking on two wheels. 

pictures...

I really need a tutorial in how to be faster with this dumb blogger thing.  It is simple, no frills, but I would rather cut off my arm than sacrifice the precious time to "cutify" it.  That's my own word.  SO, if anyone has a short tutorial on how to make a slideshow, or upload pictures quick, I  mean Lightning fast, or even how to organize my pictures so I can find the good ones to share.... do you sense my frustration.  I haven't given up on the blog, just overwhelmed by it.  I'd rather be running. I should be running. Ragnar is 4 weeks away.  I'm getting my shoes. Later

Where in the USA?!

We are settled (98 and 3/4 percent) to quote Dr. Suess's "Oh, the places you'll go!"  I can't belive it's been so long since I posted.  SNAP!  Now that I've scolded myself, on to other news... Our new address is

1302 N Constellation Ct.
Gilbert AZ 85234.

 Our cell phone numbers and emails are the same. 

We love our new ward (old ward  really, It's 6th ward, Tim grew up in this ward).  Everyone is amazingly friendly and outgoing and we feel so welcome.  The girls love it too.  Primary is wonderful.

Emma's last day at Haley Elementary was emotional for her. She ran in the school fundraiser Jingle Jog and placed 11th in the whole school!  Way to go EMMA!!  She was also awarded for "Character Counts" and she was so pleased.  It is a very special award.  She is going to miss her wonderful teacher Mrs. Cummard and all her sweet classmates.  She cried for a few hours after school when the realization hit that she isn't going back to Haley.  She is a tender kid.  She is really sensitive to the needs and feelings of those around her and I'm so proud of her for that.

Audrey will stay in her amazing preschool at Ms. Becky's.  She loves it.  She loves to play rock star and cowgirl.  She thinks she's an official cow girl now because we are surrounded by horses and chickens and dogs.  She spends hours with Kennedy riding bikes and playing in the dirt.  Tim couldn''t be happier.

Kenndy is amazing.  She speaks so well.  She loves her sisters.  She told me today with all the enthusiasm of a 2 1/2 year old, "Mom!! My friends are here playing with me!!"  I asked who are her friends? She says," Audrey and Emma!!  I'm so happy her friends are her sisters, even if only for a few moments during the day. 

Tim enrolled in his Masters program.  Phew!! The school marathon continues.  I'm so proud of him.  He is my BEST friend.  I'm so glad we've been together through this challenging year.  My family makes it all worth it.  I do it all for them.  They are amazing. 

I am so grateful for this Christmas Season.  We are appreciating everything so much more because we are so much less cluttered with worldy things.  I wouldn't have said this 6 months ago,  but I'm so thankful to be out of the burden of our house.  It was preventing us from dreaming and moving on in so many ways.  We are so  blessed to have sold it.  We miss our dear friends and neighbors terribly, but we know this is part of the plan for our family at this time.  It is wonderful to have that sweet assurance through tough times, and also to have the love and support of family to get us through.  It makes me realize that with family we can get through anything. 

Last but most, I'm so grateful for the healing balm of the Savior and his amazing gift of life and the Atonement. I feel it's healing powers each day, especially through trials and challenges.  I am so grateful to celebrate His birth and life with those I love and care for.  May we all find room for him in our hearts this Christmas season and keep him in the center of our lives.  It is unlikely I'll post again before Christmas, so Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year as well.