The Happiest Run on Earth?? I think NOT!

My sisters and I competed in the Disneyland Half Marathon 2 weeks ago! By now - I am sure most have seen my sister's blog and rendition of the event - So I will make this short and sweet

Basically - all they said was true . . .we had a great day at Disneyland the day before our race (probably not the wisest of choices, but still fun) . . .we had the perfect carb-smart dinner . . .got back to our hotel early to mental prep and get a good nights rest . . . woke up on time ( 430am) and made our way to the starting line! We were ready for this to be over!





I was well trained and ready to go! We wanted to finish the race together and discussed our options the night before if "someone" decided to give up or get grumpy. I was the one OBSESSED with finishing this race in under 2 hours and took on the role as "team leader" (or maybe just bossy big sister)! I had the mile times mapped out in permanent marker on my forearm and was going to lead us to success. :) . . . Yeah . . . that was the plan at least! We wove in and out of "running traffic" like crazy, and somehow missed our first mile time by 20 seconds! I let the girls know we were "way" behind and took off . . . at mile 2 - we were still off, and by mile 3, I learned that Sharpie Permanent Markers aren't so permanent on the forearm when mixed with sweat! My anticipated mile times were now just a giant smudge mark! I was pretty bummed, and told the girls I was fine not making the 2 hour mark. We found a steady pace, and ran on together (and were now "allowed" to stop along the course and pose for picts - which makes me super happy now)!

By mile 5, I was dead! On any given practice day - 5 miles was basically an easy run . . .and here I was not sure how I was possibly going to complete another 8! At this point - Molly (the "someone" we expected to give up or get grumpy) was in the lead and pulling Shawn and I along. For the remainder of the race - this was basically our placement! Molly . . . .Shawna . . . .and Bonnie, as the caboose! In the end - it was Molly who had an amazing race and could have most definitely ditched her "well trained" sisters and gotten the much anticipated time! They both pulled me along, and together we crossed the finish line ( actually, I may have crossed first, oops) and finished our race at 2:09:22! My bummer time was quickly replaced with happiness knowing we were done! Oh well . . . there is always next race :)

2,749th place out of 11,643 ain't too shabby

One day she may kill me for posting this. . . but I couldnt resist :)

My Aubrey is getting older and has official entered the preteen stage of life (attitude and all)!

1st stop. . . .SHAVED LEGS!!

We went the "Nair Route" and were surprised at the stellar results!
Not much else to say, but thought I would share and shed a tear or two with you . . . I'm getting OLD!

Summertime Ends . . . and School Begins

The kids had a busy and hectic summer full of fun and adventures but I believe we were all ready to get back to the daily grind of "scheduled lives" and start school! Cayden started the 2nd grade and absolutely adores his teacher! He has had two rough years with teachers, and subs, and long term subs, and more subs (you get the picture??), and I am hoping and praying things will be super this year! I cant wait to see what the year holds for him and all the knowledge he will gain. My Aubrey started the 5th grade, and had her Last, 1st day of Elementary school :( Where did my little girl go?? We are thrilled that she has the same teacher she had last year and know her last year in elementary school will be great! Wishing my kiddos an amazing year :)

Cayden's Birthday Fun

My little Monster turned 7!! I'm still in shock and feel my baby grew up in a snap, but I am very much enjoying this big kid stage in life. He is a wild and crazy kid, full of energy and ideas. I love him more and more each day!!

So the PARTY you ask??
I had this "brilliant" idea to celebrate with a backyard birthday campout at grandma and grandpa's house. I would love to tell you I stopped with just "the idea" and took my Cayden to Disneyland, but I didnt. I planned and executed this party . . . .and next year we will be going to Disneyland :)
Boys are SO SO different than girls. I was lucky to have the help of my parents and a couple close friends - without them, I would not have survived the 17 LONG hours with 8 young boys and 3 preteen girls :) I was in over my head from the start, but Cayden had fun (or at least we think??) and I lived to learn NEVER again - So I suppose we call that success!!

Highlights included pillowcase decorating, a hike at Dixon Lake, swimming in the Kelly Lake, Campfire with mallows, bug ice cream cake, and BEDTIME (wahoo) in tents :)





The following morning we loaded the tents in the car and headed to a "Farewell to Summer Campout" with friends. I was beyond tired and not thrilled about night #2 in a tent but it turned out to be an AMAZING trip!! We ended up with 6 families and some stragglers and had lots of fun hanging out for the day! This was Cayden's actual birthday, so again we celebrated with cake and presents from mommy! He was SHOCKED and ESTATIC to receive the paintball gun he has been saving up for months to buy. He cant wait for his first "battle" but got to spend the next morning after campling shooting rocks at the campground! The kid is in heaven!!

Dr. Cayden

I cant remember how it exactly it all got started but a year or two ago Cayden decided (or was perhaps persuaded by his mother) to become a dermatologist when he grows up! Since then - ask the boy what he wants to be and that's exactly what he will tell you. So a couple of weeks ago - after a long, unsuccessful battle with a hand growth AKA wart- I sucked it up and decided to go see the dermatologist. I was given the 1st in a series of shots and sent home. When Cayd found out I had visited the Dermatologist without him he was bummed out, and I promised next time he could go. 3 Weeks later - it was back to the office and at 8 am, on Summer vacation, Cayden was as excited as ever to be there in that office! We took some picts and I showed him some lovely "skin disease" pamphlets as we waited for the Doctor to come in and check my hand. Of course - Cayden (my little character) greeted the doctor . . . "Good morning Dr. (and without a second breathe) I'm going to be working here with you soon!!" I told the doctor his "dream" and the doctor gave Cayden a pep talk - a "do good in school and work hard in college" chat. . . it was very cute and Cadyen is still thrilled to drive his Porche to work one day - even after all those years in college:)
Cayden was the photographer here - although, I think he was hoping the doctor was going to let him actually give me the shot! Crazy Kid!

Yeah for Family Week . . . I think my dad is referring to us now as the "Fabulous 13," I'll let you be the judge :)

Okay, Maybe I made the" fabulous" thing up . . . I guess I think we are pretty fabulous :) The night prior to our big family vacation to the river, mom took us all (minus the grown up men) to see Wicked!!
The show was amazing . . . the rest of the night is still not being talked about (maybe a couple of us got a little "wicked")! No comment. . . THE END!!




I'm a little late on blogging this event, and am sure most of my "followers" have seen my families rendition of the "Annual" (or not so) Kelly Family River Trip - so I will make my version short and sweet!! Like always, put our family together and we have a pretty grand time. Overall - I think we like one another (maybe more so on a cruise ship and not at the hot river) and and have fun together! Our trip was pretty short but the memories shall last forever (haha, trying to be a little cheesy here)! Enjoy my chosen picts. . .




The Joys of Road trips . . . . attempting to entertain ourselves (even while driving and focusing on the road :)




Dad and the windstorm . . . us after the long day and battling the "wind storm"

Random LONG tangent to a funny SHORT story

I dont especially love to play games, but when I do play - I am always changing the rules and making up knew ones in hopes of winning . . . Just ask my dad, I dont think he is super fond of playing games with me. I lOVE to win (there is something great about a little competition) and my inventive rules usually get me there:)

So back in the day when me and my sisters lived in the same casa, we unsuccessfully started to run in the mornings. The worst thing about running in the morning isnt the actually running, but the initial task of dragging your butt out of bed and putting on those shoes. It was super easy to talk each other out of running as the snooze button was hit and we all rolled over and went back to sleep. I honestly dont really remember who came up with the successful method of getting us up - but its my blog and I like making rules, so I'm going to take the credit here . . . I came up with this rotation, and on your given day you were responsible for getting the other 2 out of bed. You did whatever it took (blanket stealing and cold water all fair game), and if for some reason you failed, and the 3 of us didnt run on your morning - you paid a fine to your "fine Jar!" At the end of a given number of weeks, the person with the least amount of money in their jar acquired the money in the other jars. The method worked like magic and we were successful early morning runners. Over time - our running fine jars have become our "break all our bad habits jar" and occasionally (you may have been a part of one of our "fine jar competitions" at one point or another) we start up month long competitions with all sorts of rules and regulations (it can get complicated. . . we have rules and exceptions for all sorts of situations. . . diets, eating out, running, sit ups, sweets consumed, cleaning the bathroom, etc) and pay fines for breaking our personal rules.

I swear this is about to tie together. . . .

So I am making dinner the other night . . . shocking I know, Bonnie cooking dinner? Yeah yeah, I am cooking partly because it is National Lasagna Day (but that's for another blog) and partly because it is one of my rules for our current competition-in a desperate measure to eat out less, my sisters have insisted I cook dinner twice a week (its all about the baby steps)- anyways, back to the cooking. . . this whole cooking thing is still new to my kids - we have only been doing the rules for a couple of weeks and if you take a look at my jar (above)- i have obviously paid a few fines. . . so I'm cooking and Cayden comes wandering in the kitchen, observing the dinner making process and makes a request that went something like this . . .

Hey mom, tomorrow (yeah right, I for sure dont cook 2 days in a row) can you make that stuff - you know, like they show on tv. . . when you get all the stuff out of the fridge and put it on the table and you get to pick what to eat, or mix it up - - - whats it called?? he is thinking. . . .

LEFTOVERS honey??

Yeah mom - LEFTOVERS!! (like its the coolest meal on the planet)

My kid is requesting leftovers? Shawna was in the kitchen with me and we both laugh! Little does Cayden know - his mom has to cook more than every 3 weeks to build up enough food in the fridge to give him his awesome leftover night! Kids are so funny! And that's the abrupt end to my long story :)