Hailey counting

I was shocked one day to find out Hailey knows how to count....I didn't teach her. I have no idea where it came from. She will sit down and have cards or something and just count her numbers. I find it so cute since she just looks so little in my eyes still. It is so hard to believe she will be 2 in February. Where has time gone? I took a video of her counting and she was distracted so it didn't turn out as I wanted it. Plus it is a little dark due to the bad lighting in our living room. But you will get the general idea. Enjoy.

The Happenings

Finally I have put some pictures up... I know it has been way too long. So I just uploaded and put whatever was on the camera on this post. Random, probably. But at least you get to see some faces and stories to go with them. I have a LOVE of shoes. I just love how they look, and I really love boots. Granted I only have three pairs now, but every winter I save up and find just the right pair. Well I found my winter pair early this year at Marshall's. How I love Marshall's. They have the best stuff and it is so much cheaper. I found these boots that sold for around 120 for only 30 bucks. Yes they have a skinny heel, but I don't mind. My friend Cynthia thinks I am crazy for wearing heels everywhere we go. But I just love the way they look.

And I also remember my sister-in-law talking about skinny jeans last year. Well I finally have a pair and they are wonderful for boots. I wouldn't wear them with some sneakers, and they are really comfortable.

And you can't have a post without Hailey in there. We were on our way to church and I turned around to find her sporting her sister's shades. I guess there is more than one way to wear them.

Gabe came into the kitchen the other day and just stood there like the following pictures laughing. I couldn't figure out why until I did a closer look....

Do you see? Yes he colored his nipple red, I have no idea why. But I had to laugh because it was so unexpected.

This is my favorite. Went to go take a shower and get ready. This is dangerous because I never know what I am going to find when I come out. This day it was to this picture....

The first thing I see is her sitting on the floor eating a bag of Doritos that Gabe threw in the trash the day before. Then as you pan out....

Looks like she did a lot more dumpster diving while I was in the shower. Half eaten orange peel on the left. An empty soda can on the couch and then the random screw driver behind her. We have learned that nothing is safe now.....I mean nothing.

Auto Pilot

I am sorry I have been so sporadic lately. I feel like my life has been on auto pilot lately. Every day is assigned certain activities and I do them then rest and get on with the next day. It doesn't help that Corey works so much, then does school, then gets his lesson done for Sunday. Sometimes he can squeeze a football game in. We really haven't seen too much of each other lately which makes me sad. But I just keep thinking of others who don't see their spouse as much and I know I am not alone. He just works so hard all the time.

I try to keep busy with working out, kids and now MMA classes three times a week. I take the noon class and the owner allows me to bring Hailey and she just runs around getting into stuff. He doesn't seem to mind, so I keep coming back. These classes are brutal and as I got hit in the face a couple of times and then kicked over and over again in the legs because I forgot to block, I ask myself if I really like this. Weird that the answer is yes. After class was all over I was sitting on the bench trying to catch my breath and the instructor came over and told me I had dirt on my shoulders from the huge tractor tire that we mess around with. I look over and start laughing and told him that it wasn't dirt but bruises. He didn't believe me till I tried to rub it off. I guess I look like a really ripe banana now. But when I looked online it seems to be normal for MMA and that eventually my body will adapt and not get so bruised. Good thing it is starting to get cooler or people would think I was getting abused at home.

I organized a child's clothing drive at our General R.S. broadcast, and had a ton of people drop off their clothing (and of course other stuff that was not supposed to be dropped off). Then we had no one take anything. So even waiting till after Sunday meetings for people to take these clothes I had to bag it all up and haul it down to Goodwill. My Pilot was packed. We had small numbers for the actual broadcast, but I am so glad that I went. It is amazing to me how you can just feel the love of the Prophet as he speaks. There is nothing like an uplifting talk to help you through your rough patches. I encourage those who didn't watch it to watch online or make sure and read it when the conference issue comes out.

I wish I had pictures to go with this post, but the camera is out in the car and it is pouring rain right now. So I will upload some later.

Hancock Half Marathon

I ran today!! It was a perfect morning for it. Chilly, but once you start running you never get hot. I didn't think I was going to get to run it, my running partner hurt her hamstring and wasn't going to do it. But last minute she decided to go ahead and I went with her. I am so glad I did. I had a wonderful PR. I finished at 1:49. My last half in May I finished around 2:05, so I made a pretty big improvement over the summer. It was a pretty small race, but I placed 2nd in my age group. Granted I can hardly walk now, my muscles are so sore from pushing them to the limit at the end. I am only sad I don't have pictures. Corey had a conference and I had a wonderful friend come and stay with the kids. But even with no pictures I was so happy. My average pace was 8:22.

No bruises, No gain

So I have wanted to get in and do some of the martial arts myself since we are all included in the membership. Of course I always have Hailey and I can't take a class with lots of people and bring her as well. I was stuck and thought I would only get an occasion class in there on Saturdays if I was lucky. Well the owner's name is Master Mike and he noticed that I have never came to a class. He asked when I was going to come and I told him my situation. I guess he has six kids and understands how it goes. So he actually said he would meet me three times a week in the mornings before his advanced class and work with me. I thought I was lucking out because I could also bring Hailey and she could just run around because no other students would be there.



I have been twice and all I can say is ouch. This stuff is tough. Extensions that I thought I had down were not even close. Getting socked in the head when I forget to duck. And I guess they do A LOT of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. So I have been doing mainly that for the past two days. So here is a pictures if you don't know what that is:

So basically it is a lot of floor work rolling all over the place trying to get the other person to submit. I have to admit I felt awkward that first day with Master Mike and getting all tangled on the mat. Today was a little less awkward and so hard. I can't seem to think and remember what move to make while I am in the head lock and this guy is not holding back. He said that is the hardest part is not freaking out and relaxing and breathing and thinking about what move would serve you best in that certain position. The point is to make the other person submit to you by tapping out. Have I made Master Mike tap out yet.....uh no way. Only when we are doing slow motion moves and he allows me to get a head lock or an arm lock, but when I am actually sparring with him there is no way I will ever beat him I don't think.

And for those who are freaking out about getting so close to another male and rolling all over the mat. There is nothing nice about trying to get some guys head in a lock and he is all sweaty and nasty. But I get to take these babies home for souvenirs...

The Sound of Silence

You know there is mischief a foot when you hear nothing in the background. And when I don't have Hailey getting caught up in my legs all day I know she is up to something. Didn't hear her for awhile, thought I would go sneak a peek and this is what I found:

So cute and innocent right?
Still doesn't seem so bad....

But that closet is supposed to stay shut because I have stuff I DON'T want her playing with. She basically throws everything on the floor and sits there all cute and happy.

Kid Break Down

So I know that I have been without pictures for awhile. I guess I just was not in the mood to take and post a bunch of happy pictures. But I finally got a sports collection that I thought deserved the spotlight. We are going none stop Monday through Friday with sports practice and then games on Saturday. I feel like the past couple of weeks has flown by due to this. I even forgot about my half marathon next weekend, and so my kids will just have to miss a game. Corey has a conference he has to go to in Frederick for work so they will have to take the back seat next weekend.

Things are going great with Logan. He loves football. That kid lives for it anyways, too bad he is a little too cautious in the field. It also doesn't help that he is not really good at running. But there is a cross country practice at his school for a cross country run in October that he asked to be a part of. I figured this could only help his running in football. After the first running practice he got in the car all sweaty and proceeded to tell me that running sucks. But in the video he got a tackle and we were so glad.

Logan also takes Karate when he can. Usually this is if practice is cancelled or on Saturdays if he doesn't have a game early. He really actually likes Karate I think more than Gabe. Go figure right.

Gabe begged and begged us for Karate. So I found someone close and although it required a one year contract (sigh) I still went for it. The whole family can go anytime and so you can get your belt as fast or as slow as you want. I would love to go more, but during the week I have Hailey which makes it impossible. Master Mike (the owner) said he would be willing to meet me during the week for a private lesson and Hailey could just run around the gym. I thought that was really nice of him, knowing that I couldn't participate any other way. I finally took my first class this morning. I had just gotten back from my long run and hurried and got dressed. I thought it was easy, and then about an hour afterwards I can hardly move my upper body. It will be nice to switch this up with all my other routines.

Don't wanna mess with this....

Gabe got his 8th class tape today, when he gets to 20 he gets his yellow belt. Go Gabber.

Lexie, well you never really know what you are going to get. She opted for soccer this year and Corey and I were both thinking yeah this won't last long. She did Karate with the boys a couple of times and was doing more twirls and mirror watching than anything else. But guess what.....she is GOOD. She kept scoring goal after goal and her ball control is amazing. The coached kept telling her she needed to take turns with the other players. Who knows, maybe she might stick with it.

Gotta check that hair, make sure it stills looks good.

Isn't she just the cutest girl ever? She really is beautiful, I am dreading her teenage years as I am typing this.

And I can't have a post without my Hailey in there. She is getting so big so fast. She keeps surprising me with words all the time. I just keep thinking is she really that old now? Her vocabulary consists of : No, Yes, Stop, Bye Dada (always together), Poo Poo, Stinky, Uh oh, Wow (after she rips one), Please, Welcome, Thank you, Love you, shoes, socks, quack (for ducks). I am sure there are others, but I can't remember right now. She loves to sing and dance and I catch her all day long doing both.

Good morning sunshine.

Chocolate chip pancakes are the best.

And just for your enjoyment, here is little Hailey grooving in the car.

I am sorry if some of the video's don't work. Can't figure out why, but I did try.