Happy Inauguration Day

So to be honest, I didn’t vote for the chap, but on this day, all that is put behind us, and we join as a nation to back the President of the United States 100%! My kids are super excited with the new president and like millions of kids across the country, got to watch the ceremony and Obama's speech in class. I myself was in a 5th grade classroom as we watched history unravel today, as the nation welcomed the 1st black president of the United States. After the speech, the teacher of the class I was in told the kids that they would probably remember this day for the rest of their lives. Although they may not have been entirely interested today, as they get older and learn more about the world, they will realize the importance of the day and remember being in that 5th grade room. So true!! We often remember crazy details of important events for years and years! So on the way home tonight, I grilled my kids about what they had learned today. I was asking them questions and asked Cayd if he remembered learning how many presidents we have had. He was convinced Obama was number 5!! Aubrey corrected him but he was sure . . . No way mom, he is #5. . . President Lincoln, President Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, President Hinkley (the former president of our church) President Bush, and Obama (which would actually make 6)!! I assured him that Obama was the 44th and those former presidents were just memorable to him . . . . Fine mom! Name the others!! . . . haha, sadly I realized I suck and rambled out just a handful of other former presidents! I guess I should buy those president cards and together Cayden and I can learn something :) Welcome President Obama!!


After 100 picture attempts, this is the best I got! The kids werent thrilled, but certainly a cool one to have years down the road!

Going on Vacation with BIG Kiddos

We leave for our big Family Cruise on Friday and I am so, so, so, beyond excited to go on a vacation with self sufficient kids! We have gone on 2 of these family cruises . . . once when Aubrey was 2, and once when Cayden was 2 (Aubrey 5)! I know I had fun on those trips, but I cant imagine how great it will be with my big kids!! They can both swim, and walk, and play without my constant guidance. I dont need to worry about adjusting to different sleeping arrangements, napping, changing diapers, crabby babies, late dinners and most important, I wont have to fear they will fall overboard (okay, maybe still with Cayden who will most definitely go looking for trouble)!! Did I mention I am stoked?? Here are a couple picts of those past trips! They definitely were cuter back then, but so much more work!! Bring on the vacation :)

Lissa's Public Comment

For some reason I wasnt able to comment directly on Lissas post so this seemed like the next easiest option. . . .Congrats on wedding descisions - we all know how decisive our little Lissa can be - glad you were able to choose so quickly!! We are excited for your big day and will be sure to mark the calendar!! I took the virtual tour of your wedding location and it looks beautiful - its very familiar, and I am sure I have been there for a wedding before?? Who Knows!! Let me know if I can do anything for ya - like book a florists, hairstylist, or help with the invites :)

Life with a 2nd Job

I had a rough start but am happy to report I have survived week 2 with a second job.Things started rocky. . . I some how managed to miss my very first day at my new job. . . .who does that?? I got a message on my cell that Monday morning asking where I was. . . guess some one forgot to tell me when I started! And although that totally wasnt my fault, it started this new chapter in my life off on the wrong path. 10 days later. . . .I think I have adjusted to it all! Learning new faces, knowing my new responsibilities, juggling my old responsiblities, my family, and my attitude! My social life, tv watching and running have been put on the back burner til I figure out how to create a couple more hours in the day (or maybe more than a couple. . . the kids start softball and soccer next month)! My apologies for all those who I may neglect by default . . . hopefully June will be here before we know it :)

Happy 2009 . . . no sugar, no soda, too much running. . . it's bound to be an exciting year!!

Like most, I got lost in the festivities of December and have neglected my blogging duties :) All in all, 2008 ended great!! We were lucky to spend lots and lots of time with our friends and family this holiday season and look forward to a new year and many more adventures! Here are a few of Decembers highlights













Some friends and I took our crew of kiddos to the last Festival of Lights at the Wild Animal Park! As always, the lights were fun but my kids especially loved the face painting, snowy hill and hot cocoa!


Like always, Christmas at the Kelly house treated us well! I am truely blessed and have a family who definitely has the givng aspect of the season mastered!! We planned Christmas to be small since we my whole family leaves on a 7 day cruise in a couple weeks . . . . surprise surprise the Kellys dont do anything small . . . I am lucky to be in such a wonderful family with parents who take good care of their kiddos!! Besides the cruise, my favorite present is a toss up between my new dishwasher (what could possible be in the running with a dishwasher you ask??) Yep. . . my new Uggs! Cant wait til I have the sizing issue worked out and I get to have warm feet :)


























Molly and Shawna did the flowers for a good friends wedding, and the day after Christmas turned mom and dad's house into a mini flower shop. We all tried to be helpful but basically watched as talented Molly created! Like always, her flowers turned out amazing and mom and dad are finding out the real reason they put in a ginormous fridge . . .















We rang in the New Year with Auntie Molly and Shawna, Cousin James, and Aub's friend Jamie at Legoland! We got there late in the afternoon, rode a couple of rides, ate apple fries (one must do if you ever visit Legoland), and then gathered for the 2009 Lego brick falling (Yeah, we never found this) and fireworks display at midnight (6pm kid time)! Legoland was beyond crowded and loud (a trillion kids blowing those noisy horns!! YIKES!) but we had lots of fun taking pictures and being silly!















We then went to Islands for dinner and then back to mom and dads for our traditional appearance in the spa, and played wii til midnight!!
I hope everyones new year has started off exceptional and you havent quit on those new year resolutions quite yet :)

1648th Place and so so SORE

I got home today from my weekend trip to Las Vegas where I ran my first half marathon with my sister Shawna. I may not have won (sorry to disappoint Sarah), but I survived and crossed the finish line, and suppose that is all that truly matters!! The overall experience was really good and am glad to have it crossed off my list . . . next up . . . the FULL marathon. Yikes!! After Sunday and crossing that finish line, I couldn’t imagine having to turn around and do the course all over again, but maybe with some hardcore training, I would live through it too?? I sure hope so.

I am new to this Marathon thing but I imagine the participants in Vegas are a little more costumed-up, than participants in any other city. The "entertainment" and people watching along our run was quite enjoyable and really helped pass the time. . . Elvises (and Elvas??woman), Fat Santas and skinny Santas, sleezy dresses, feather boas, green tutus, corners filled with peeing men?? . . . . There are definitely some crazy people in this world and I think 99% of them venture in Las Vegas. Our course even featured a run-through wedding chapel . . . Only in Vegas right??

My goal was to finish in under 2 hours (1 hour, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds would have been acceptable) . . .sadly, I missed it by just a hair . . . my final time was 2 hours, 1 minute, and 44 seconds (and my sister Shawna, who supposedly wasn’t as trained as I, finished 11 seconds before me! BLAH). I would like to believe that changing a few factors that morning would have eliminated that extra 104 seconds (waking up at 4:50AM after a sleepless night on a deflated air mattress, weaving in and out of walking participants and slow runners (20,000 people on one road makes for a crowded mess) those first couple miles, stopping to pose with my kiddos along the course, a couple too many crowded water stops, and not knowing the course - I swear the last .2 miles had 12 corners to turn- where the heck was that finish line!!) but overall, I am very happy (especially to be DONE)!!

Mom and the kids drove out with me to Shawna's house in Vegas on Saturday (we wanted some sideline cheerers) and Molly flew in to Vegas on Sunday morning after our race. The weekend was fun and fairly relaxing (with exception of the Sunday morning run)!! We bowled, ate, went to the movies, played games, hobbled in pain, and napped a lot!! It was fun to see Shawn's new house and town and spend time together.

Finding Jesus . . .

Happy December. . . I have been promising this post and hope it helps remind everyone what's important during this magical time of year . . . . The true meaning of Christmas finally clicked for my Cayden this year and he is constantly reminding me that his favorite part of Christmas isnt the presents but spending time with our family and celebrating Jesus!! He so gets it, and I couldnt be prouder!! This last weekend we started decorating the house and made a trip to Lowes to add something to our outdoor lighting collection. The isles were filled with singing reindeers, dancing santas, flashing trees, and giant inflatable Christmas this and Christmas that! Not interested in any of it, Cayden pulled my arm and insisted we find something with Jesus . . . We have to find Jesus mommy!! He looked and looked and came to this "lovely" 3 foot carving of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus . . . he was in awe . . . Mom, we have to get it!! This woman had been watching me and my little regilious boy and gave a little chuckle and smile as she waited to hear how I was going to get out of buying this decorative "tree trunk" (she too saw how beautiful it was).
Luckily my quick thinking was with me, and I explained that we were looking for outside decorations today, and this was clearly an inside piece (hideous I might add) that we may come back later (actually NEVER) to buy. Phew . . . the excuse worked and we left with some cute little glittery snowmen, and I didnt really give the outting a second thought.



So a few days pass and I find myself in the Christmas section of Kohls with the kids, and again, Cayden begins his quest to find Jesus! Within minutes he runs up to me and is SUPER excited with his find and pulls it from behind his back . . . can I get it mommy, pleeeease?? . . . I'll think about it honey, maybe if youre good (thats usually my answer to everything and definitely bought me some much needed time with this one). From behind his back he pulled this shiney, tacky, cheap, large . . . the right words to explain are not coming to me. . . ornament of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus! My tree is far from beautiful but I kind of have a color scheme and theme going on, and this ornament was just not going to fly. We wandered the section for a while longer, and it finally hit me. . . here my 6 year-old (wild and crazy boy) is begging for an ornament of Jesus, how can I possible deny him this (and I admit a bit fearful that we may come across a giant inflatable nativity scene, that I am unable to get out of, at the next store)?? so I give him the good news and of course he is so excited. . . SO excited that. . . . the beautiful ornament goes crashing to the ground (I was being rewarded for my clarity on the subject)!! He gives me that puppy dog face and I assure him we will find another (totally stoked knowing that there is no way we are going to find another one in this horrible mess of ornaments) Aubrey and I offer him "classier" manger scenes, but he searches and searches and finally finds his ornaments "home," and lucky for me, there are 2 left :) YEAH!! His face is cheerful again, and late for a party, we rush to the front of the store to make our final purchase. But the story doesnt end there . . . the lines are super long and as soon as I get to the front. . . . CRASH!! Ornament #2 becomes pieces on the ground. . . . sad faced, but late for the party we purchase the other items and go on our way.

So in an attempt to make a long story short . . . .yesterday we return to Kohls (knowing for sure that last ornament would still be there - who else would possible want it). . .I detoured Cayden to the bathroom and Aubrey found ornament #3, hid it in our cart . . . Cayden was sad when he saw the last one is gone. . . . I paid and we were on our way (yes, without the ornament crashing to the ground)! We got home and I really, really, really wanted to give it to him but this year I began doing the 24 days of Christmas for my kids and knew this would make an excellent present (especially following a morning of decorative tissues that were definitley not a hit on day #3) so had to wait til this morning to see his face (needless to say he LOVED it and was so surprised)!! Thanks Cayden for helping me remember what Christmas is all about :)