Happy Valentine's Day

Well, the concert was our Valentine's Day present to each other and after being away from the kids Thursday night for that and again on Friday night for Lacey's birthday, we decided to spend Valentine's Day as a family. I mean, it's all about love right?! :) We got the kids a preschool book (they love doing school work even when they are not in school!) some markers and some candy, Kelly got 6 or 7 Valentine's animals out of the claw machine for them in the past 2 weeks (she rocks!), Lauren sent them a package full of treats today, my mom sent them $5 each to buy something (they thought they had won the lottery!) and my dad also gave them a ton of candy and stickers and a stuffed animal. So, the kids were pretty spoiled on Valentine's Day! We had a great day together and we went out for dinner at the local Chinese restaurant for dinner. This morning, Chloe said she wanted to put on a pretty dress and take pictures so I thought I would put red on them and make them Valentine's pictures! Enjoy! And Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!!!!!!!!

Celebrating Lacey's 30th Birthday!

Last night, Lacey and Desiree celebrated Lacey turning 30! We started at Applebees with a lot of good food and some yummy drinks (perfect margarita anyone?) We stopped by Walmart to get some Valentine's gifts for our families and then headed to Desiree's house where Kelly was watching all 9 of our kids (thanks Kel!). After the kids were sleeping, we had a few more drinks, some chocolate cake and some wine and listened to some 80s music and took some fun pictures. It was a fun night with great friends! Thanks for having a birthday Lacey! :)

Who's Ready to Rock?!

Last Thursday, Saving Abel, Papa Roach, Avenged Sevenfold, and Buckcherry finally made their way to Rapid City. They were supposed to be here last November, but a blizzard stranded them in Moorecroft, WY and they never made it. Luckily, they were able to reschedule and come back with the exception of Shinedown not coming and Papa Roach coming instead. I REALLY wanted to see Shinedown, as they are my favorite band, but Papa Roach was a great alternative. They rocked! Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry also put on an awesome show. I didn't want it to end - I could have listened to them all night long. Overall, we had almost 5 hours of rock music to listen to, which was awesome. Living here, we don't get many good bands come, so we have to take advantage of when they do come. It was a great Valentine's Day date - a couple of days early! Me and Chris at the concert

Saving Abel

Jacoby Shaddix-Papa Roach

Papa Roach

M Shadows - Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold

Josh Todd - Buckcherry

Buckcherry

Buckcherry

"Sorry" - Buckcherry

February Freeze 5K

Today I ran the February Freeze 5K in Rapid City. The cardiac division at the hospital puts this race on to raise awareness for Heart Heath. I wasn't sure I was even going to run this race as I haven't been feeling very well the past week, but the Runner's Club had cancelled their Valentine's Day Race next weekend and I had made a goal to run a race a month so this was my only option. Chris drove to Rapid (about an hour from our house) and I tried to sleep off this nagging headache I have had for a while that never seems to quite go away completely. I felt okay when we got there so I put a smile on my face and figured I would try and make the best of it. Right before the race, the race director lady announced that they had 400 runners signed up for the race; way more than in the years' past races. We all go outside to start and right at noon, off we went. We started right away going up a hill and the up and down of the hills never stopped. And boy my legs were feeling it. Since I have been running on the indoor track most of the winter and haven't been doing much "real-life" running, the hills definitely got me. I of course started off way too fast like I usually do so by the 2nd mile, I was pretty spent. I had to walk up the last hill and I hated myself for doing it, but my legs were just burning. At the top of the last hill, I could see the hospital and all of the people so I knew it was almost over. In the last stretch, I could see Chris, Caiden, and Chloe and then I heard Caiden yelling for me to "GO!" so I sprinted it out at the end and passed the lady in front of me, which Caiden thought was just awesome. I finished in 31:21 which is slower than most of my other 5Ks, but with the hills was to be expected. I did learn from this race, that I really do need to try to get outside more to practice hill running....Chris thinks we should invent an indoor hill track. Maybe I'll get to work on that......

10 years ago today.....

Chris and I went out on our very first date! We went and saw the movie, "At First Sight" Who would have known that 10 years later we would be married and have 2 kids. :) We met at the University of Montana at the Cascade Country Store. We worked together there, making sandwiches and tacos when one day we started talking about football; he told me about when he played in high school and I told him about my brother playing. I then told his ex-girlfriend that I thought he was really nice and she told him to ask me out. :) And he did - while I was being a sandwich artist. Fifteen months later to the day, he asked me to marry him in the exact same place that we met and that he asked me out the first time. And the rest is history. Happy Anniversary to us! :)

Finally Some Nice Weather!

We are currently experiencing the 3rd day in a row of warmer temperatures and sunshine! I don't know about you, but for me, the sun seems to make everything better sometimes! We have been playing outside every chance we get and the kids had a blast at the park yesterday with Dad. I ran outside on Tuesday and Wednesday, which means it must be nice because I'm a wuss about running in the cold weather! I know all good things must come to an end; I mean we do live in South Dakota after all, but we are enjoying it while it's here! Here are some pictures of the kids playing outside yesterday. Chloe was busy planting her flower, who she has named Rosie, and Caiden was practicing for the upcoming T-ball season. We are SO ready for Spring!

Long Time, No Blog

Wow! It's been so long since I have blogged about anything! And I really don't know why. But I am going to be better about updating! And if I start slacking, you let me know! :) So, in past month, this is what you have missed:

I turned 29! My friends and family spoiled me and I really didn't deserve it! You guys are the best! My dad bought me a Wii Fit for my birthday and I have become addicted. I love that thing. Caiden really loves it and has logged in more time than anyone else. He loves to run on it and will do the 30 minute run like it's nothing.

I am scared out of my mind to turn 30 next year. Just to say that I am in my 30s instead of in my 20s is very frightning to me. I am running my first full marathon in August while I am still in my 20s to prove I can to myself. Chris bought me new running shoes for my birthday and I love them - Brooks shoes are the best - I should get a sponser from them or something ;)

Chris and I decided that he will be going to Boston by himself in April. It was just too expensive for all of us to go and it was for such a short period of time and the kids are too young to remember the experience anyway, so he will just have to qualify again another year so we can all go one day!

My neice, Madison, turned 1 on January 27th and I have yet to send her her present. I always seem to buy presents and cards early, but always mail them late.....I will get it to her before she turns 2 though!

Chris ran a 4 mile race on February 1st and came in 2nd place! This same day, Chloe and I get the flu. This same day, the Superbowl is on and MY team is playing and I can't eat or drink anything without getting sick....a great game, but not a great day. Go Steelers!

Chloe and I recover from the flu and today Caiden wakes up with it. Hopefully this is where it stops and Chris doesn't get it too...maybe he should check into a motel now....