January 2012...Yep, I am that far behind!

To start off the year right, we thought there was no better way than to crash the Hadfields house and keep their little boy up way to late for a 3 year old. It is so fun to hang out with this family!! We love them.

The night was complete food, games, fireworks and movies...The perfect way to ring in the New Year! 

Brynlee was invited to an all girl birthday party the first part if January and let me tell you, this girl was in heaven! Dresses, make-up, tea party, cat walk, boas, purses...any and all things princess! 

January also met us with some extremely warm temperatures for that time of year and we took full advantage of those warm days. Parks and playing outside were welcome after being coped up in the house all winter long, even though we had a very mild winter. 

Christmas in Kentucky

This year we decided that a trip home for Christmas, just didn't sound all that fun. The airports are nuts, people are grouchy, germs are everywhere and the kids get so far off schedule that they are cranky little stinkers, so we stayed in Kentucky. I had mixed feelings at the time, but I am glad that we got to stay home and just enjoy each other.

Christmas eve started off with Santa and Reindeer pancakes, bacon and fruit. Then it was off to the church for dodge ball and volleyball with some friends that were also hanging around during the break.

That evening, we had the Millars over for some intense gingerbread house making and decorating. I wish I had a picture of Drew's mansion complete with cobble stone driveway and stone wall. Bryce made a stable with horses. Some of the best houses I have seen yet!After the Millars left, Brynlee helped put out the reindeer food. She kept saying, "I hope the reindeer like oatmeal."

Before we read the night before Christmas and tucked Brynlee into bed, we also decorated some cookies for Santa.

Christmas morning is always my favorite! Christmas is so much better when you are the mom. It is exhausting, but so worth it. I love to watch the kids so excited to see what Santa brought for them. Logan didn't really know what was going on but he was really happy anyway. Brynlee was thrilled! She loved handing out all the presents and gushed over everyone she opened. It was a good morning. After all the presents were unwrapped we filled our bellies with warm Monkey Bread, we headed to church. What a great way to spend Christmas! We missed our family terribly and skyped them to show off all the kids loot, but it was so relaxing and nice to spend time with our family.
The only down fall was that Bryce had to take his written boards on the 27th of December so several hours of his day were dedicated to studying for that. LAME! But he passed so YAY!

Winter Dance Recital

Brynlee has been taking dance this year through the parks and rec department. It's only a half hour once a week, but it is so fun. It has been good for her and she loves going. Sometimes she follows directions and sometimes she is all over the place acting silly. I'm just glad she has a very patient teacher, Miss Mindy, who we love.

Brynlee was so cute during her winter recital in December. I thought she would freak out when she saw that she would be dancing in front of a whole auditorium full of people, but she totally ate it up! He little class stole the show, they were so cute! We are excited for the Spring Recital! and are hoping for better pictures, Sorry Grandmas.

Thanksgiving...a little late

Every year our little family makes the trek West for Christmas, but something extraordinary was happening over Thanksgiving that we just couldn't pass up. All of my brothers would be at my parents house with their spouses and kids in tow!! We hadn't been all together for FIVE years.

While we were all together my little nephew turned two so we had a little party at the park for him. It was a simple little party, but it was sometimes simple is the best. The kids had a blast.

We ate lunch.

We took a couple whacks at a homemade pinata.

Played on the playground and dug in the sand.

Thanksgiving in Arizona is awesome! My brother and I ran a 5K on Thanksgiving morning in preparation for our feast later in the day, but sadly didn't get a picture of the two of us.

With so many people, the house was a little tight, so we took the party outside and enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal there. The kids were in heaven to be able to run and play and the adults had a chance to sit back and chat. It was so fun! Lots to be thankful for this year!

Friday we opted out of Black Friday shopping and instead headed to the kids museum. All the Grandkids love this place!! I totally forgot the camera this trip which is so sad because the cousins had a blast together.

Saturday was family picture day!! This was a little surprise to my mom and dad. All they wanted for Christmas was and updated family photo from each of the kids. Well we did one better and got a photographer to take pictures while we were all together. My dad was so happy!

To bribe all the kids into behaving, Grandma planned a little backyard cookout post pictures. We ate hot dogs and roasted marshmallows. What a great time!

One morning, we were surprised to find that my parents road was being resurfaced. Big trucks in the front yard = entertainment for the kids.

After my brother Ryan and his kids had to leave, we had one more adventure with the remainder of the Lancaster cousins. JAMBO! It's a cheesy little indoor amusement park, but the kids had fun. We were literally the only people there, so the kids had free run of the place.

While mini golfing the kids thought the hippo looked a little hungry and decided lions and tigers where best for lunch.

To top off the best trip home ever, my amazing SIL gave birth to my newest little niece! She is adorable! Long fingers and incredible hair! Such a cutie pants!

Halloween

I love Halloween! I love it! I love dressing up! I love the weather! I love the parties! I love how excited all the kids are! I love that everyone that works at Kroger dresses up. I love making Halloween cookies and treat. I love carving pumpkins. You get the idea.

I knew this probably would be my last year of picking Brynlees costume so I had to make it a good one. We have a Papa, Mama and Baby and one blonde curly haired girl so the obvious choice was Goldilocks and the Three Bears!
Brynlee's dance class had a Halloween party. Isn't her teacher fun! Brynlee really likes Miss Mindy. Next up was the Ward party. It was a carnival type party and AnnMarie Grigg and I worked on this photo booth together. She is a great artist and drew this out. I just help paint.
Of course Brynlee found her Best Bud Evan aka Woody.

Hey you two, what are you doing under that hat!We had the Hadfield's over for some pumpkin carving fun. This is what we came up with. So from left to right we have Evan, Erin, Brandon, mine and Bryce's.On Halloween we went to the Grigg's house for Soup and "Snake Sandwich". Brynlee went as a cat because it was a little cold. She was a cat last year so it was pretty easy. She had a BLAST trick or treating! She was so cute running up to the doors. By they end of the night her bag was so heavy she was dragging it. I had so much fun watching her trick or treat. Logan was pretty good to hang out in the stroller and take in all the action.

Cincinnati Half Marathon

Its been a long time and a baby since I ran a half marathon but I thought it was time to lace up my sneakers and get running again so I rallied the girls and we started logging the miles. We decide that the Cincinnati Half Marathon would be a great race for us. It was on a Saturday, flat and a great course through Cincinnati and along the river. It really was a great course! I was pleasantly surprised at how the scenery really helped the miles fly by. We ran along the Ohio River, through downtown and past both the Reds and Bangles Stadiums.(Brynlee waiting in the cold for Mama)

But lets take a few steps backward and start at the beginning of that day. Erin, Julie and I stayed in the same hotel so we met up and headed out the race together to meet Mindy. Well, we were literally locked in the parking garage. The attendant was not there yet and the self pay machine was not working so after a little freaking out and some quick thinking, Erin lifted the arm and I drove on a curb and with an inch to spare, literally, we squeezed out of the garage. We drove to the start, as I ate a banana, and our preplanned parking area was no longer and option so we had to park and run to the start. After a quick pit stop at the bathroom we heard the announcer say. "Two minutes to the start." Perfect timing!I lost the girls right from the get go. It was a beautiful day! The weather was great, the city was quiet and I felt awesome. I was running a great pace. At mile seven I started to see the Elite runners coming back and I hit an hour of running. Both big boosts, still feeling great and chatting with a few runners around me. Coming up on Mile 11 I could feel my energy level starting to drop so at the water station I decided that a little Gatorade wouldn't hurt. Remember that banana I ate in the car, it made a reappearance before I got to mile 12. Yep I threw up several times before I hit mile 12 and a few more time before I finished and after the race. My great pace and PR were splattered all over the road just like my puke.

(Julie Hill, Mindy McQuivey, Erin Hadfield, me)

You might think that because I was throwing up for 2 miles, that I would have had a bag experience. Not the case! I loved this race! It was fun! I know, I am crazy.

Official Time: 1:54:22 not a PR by a minute

Ok so now onto the second half of our day.
We took the kids to the Cincinnati Zoo for trick or treating. We went with Erin, Evan and Ashton. (Brandon was at a funeral and yes, Erin managed amazingly without him.) Brynlee was a pumpkin because her real Halloween costume wasn't done yet. We didn't take many picture but Brynlee had a great time. Through out the zoo were treat stops where the kids could trick or treat. They also had a few other special things set up like the Little Beauty Shop of Horrors. Here you could get a tattoo, a braided extension and your nails painted. Obviously a winner in Brynlee's book.A special thanks to my A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. husband! He is so supportive of me and my crazy adventures and the hours and hours of training that take me away from my chores and family at home. I could not do these races without you babe. THANKS!

7 months going on 2 years

Our little handsome boy is 7 months going on 2 years. It is so fun to see him learning new things and his personality coming out. He is really so sweet and happy! While we love to watch him grow, he is growing up way to fast!

Logan seriously thinks that he is two just like his sister. When she laughs, he laughs. When she goes in the kitchen, so does he. He is always watching her and trying to figure out what she is doing. He loves his big sis and most of the time she really enjoys having a side kick. I hope they will always be little buddies!
Logan is learning some new tricks too. He is scooting all around on this tummy and getting into trouble. This boy is fast and determined; not a good combo. Standing up was next on his list and he has mastered that. He pulls up on everything he can. When he does stand up he gets the biggest smile and looks around the room for me. I could watch him do that all day long.