Bryce's Blessing

Mardi Gras 5K

A few months late, but this was back in March.

From left to right: Jenna G, Me, Camille, Amy, Jenna L, and Jenny

The Results-

19‑29 Results ‑ Women 5000 Run

1 Lisa Murphy W Saugus 7:24.4 23:00.60
2 Amy Shillig W Canyon Country, CA 8:09.1 25:19.56
3 Stephanie Sulstrom W Castaic, CA 8:18.3 25:48.16
4 Jenna Livingston W Canyon Country, CA 9:00.8 28:00.17
5 Lindsey Kontra W Santa Clarita, CA 9:11.5 28:33.36
6 Susan Alfaro W Alhambra, CA 9:29.8 29:30.22
7 Kristin Tayo W Canyon Country, CA 9:30.6 29:32.64
8 Nicole Holcomb W Castaic 9:33.5 29:41.81
9 Kristin Brekke W Canyon Country, CA 9:55.8 30:50.96
10 Vanessa Dinedas W Santa Clarita 10:00.7 31:06.31
11 Sherry Gottfredson W Canyon Country, CA 10:44.1 33:21.07
12 Brigitte Swenson W Castaic, CA 10:44.8 33:23.09
13 Heather Kennedy W Valencia, CA 11:02.7 34:18.76
14 Kelly Nish W Santa Clarita, CA 11:36.9 36:05.07
15 Tiffani Ward W Castaic, CA 11:43.1 36:24.33
16 Jessica Slechta W Thousand Oaks, CA 11:44.6 36:29.05
17 Jenna Gunson W Canyon Country, CA 12:58.5 40:18.53
18 Krystal Reyes W newhall, CA 13:11.5 40:58.89
19 Leanne Schuetz W Valencia, CA 13:12.5 41:02.04
20 Gretchen Van W Santa Monica, CA 14:21.4 44:36.26
21 Ari Slauson W Castaic, CA 14:29.7 45:01.95
22 Brittany Swenson W Castaic, CA 14:29.8 45:02.18
23 Stephanie Smith W Valencia, CA 16:46.1 52:05.60
24 Ashley Butler W Phoenix, AZ 17:22.1 53:57.66
25 Ali Neill W Castaic, CA 17:45.5 55:10.22

I surprised myself at how well I did, 11th place in my age group and it only took me 33 min to complete 3 miles. Thanks to my ipod and pumped up music. I have to admit Justin Bieber got me through the last leg. "Never Say Never" :)

I am happy for the friends I have to challenge me to do things, I've always wanted to do.

Mini Vacation

I love how we can have a Mini vacation every time Jason has to go out of town for work. His job has taken us to Hawaii, New York, Connecticut, Anaheim, and San Diego.

Our recent trip was to Anaheim, Jason had to go to a 3 day training so I decided what an opportunity to get a break. So we picked a more family friendly hotel for us to stay at, for the same price his work was going to put him up in. The decision was Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel.

Every morning we dropped Jason off 15 min away to his class. And enjoyed the rest of the time swimming, watching movies, and exploring Downtown Disney.

My kids love swimming, and I am always happy to take them to the pool on a beautiful day.

The pool area also had a water slide but Kaleb decided not to try it out.

The best part of the Hotel they had a mini movie theater in which they showed classic Mickey Mouse movies.

Hoover Dam

On our way home from our recent Utah trip we got to stop and take a tour of the Hoover Dam.

New Years in Utah

It has been a long time since Jason and I went out or even stayed up for a New Years. But when we were invited to My Mother and Sister in laws performance downtown in the Joseph Smith Building, I am not going to lie I did hesitate a little because their performance was at 11pm. My bed time is usually 10pm and I didn't think I could stay up that late plus I was nervous to leave Bryce. But it all went good and we enjoyed the night. The performances were amazing!

My Mother in law Shawna is Classical singer and did an amazing job.

My sister in law Amie has a beautiful voice and sings Broadway.

This couple is a married couple and did a great job together. I leaned over to my brother in law and jokingly said I wounder what it sounds like when then fight? Do they sing it out!

The whole group, did a wonderful job.

Princess

I have to admit having a girl is so much fun! Jazelle is a total princess, she loves anything girly. Jazelle's hair is crazy curly and a big fro, on the days I do not do it, but I do get compliments from strangers and friends. Anytime I get together with my family they always want to "fix" her hair haha. My cousin Nisha has a talent with doing hair, she has a beautiful daughter the same age as Jazelle and her daughters hair is always so cute and styled. One day we planned a pllaydate and after she came over with my Aunt's and I asked her if she can do Jazelle's hair in beads. I remember as a little girl having beads in my hair.

It only took her a little over an hour and Jazelle sat there the whole time hardly fussing. We loved the the style. She would swing her head around and listen to the clinking of the beads.

When it came time to take the braids out she would not let me, so I had to leave them in a little longer. I wish I had the talent and patience to do that kind of work. But until then I will count on my cousin ;)

Jazelle and her cousin Semaj.

Soccer

Bryce enjoying being outside.

Kaleb showing off his skills.

Jazelle was invited by her buddy Chase to join him in a free soccer class. We put Kaleb in the same class at the same age and she didn't do as good, but had so much fun anyway.

Mommy needs to teach this girl not to use her hands in soccer.

Jazelle and her best buddy Chase.

ELLEN!!!

I absolutely love the Ellen DeGeneres Show, awhile back (December) I went to her sight and requested tickets wanting to get into her 12 days of giveaways, like everyone else in the country. It is on a 1st come 1st serve basis, so when I saw "Tickets available" I jumped right on it. They called me about the date I had requested and said they had "stand by' tickets. So I gave it a try. I invited my good friend Gen Whitely. We stood in line and waited to see if we could get into the show, they only take a hand full of standby people, once again 1st come 1st serve. We weren't able to get into the live taping but got to sit in the "rift raft room" off to the side. Not so much fun, but Ellen did come back and stood at the top of the stairs to acknowledge us and waved! :) The plus side of this room is that you pick a date to come back again for a guaranteed audience seat!

3 months had passed and we got our guaranteed tickets! We were so excited, we had made friends with a mother and her daughter the 1st time we went, and met them again this time and sat with them.

Jason stayed home and watched the kids both times we went which I am truly grateful for.

We got in and they told us that we were taping Ellen's 1800th show! We knew we had to get a giveaway :)

They sat us and I was told to sit in the isle seat. I guess I looked good enough for the camera haha. I love to dance and Ellen's show you do a whole lot of it, seriously it was a workout. I was even called to go up in front and show my moves! (Before they started taping) I had the time of my life. They started taping and came dancing up to our isle and stopped right next to us. I am seen on TV for a few, and yes we got a giveaway, a flip camcorder!

8yr Anniversary

While also in Utah Jason and I celebrated our 8 yr Anniversary, and got to go out on a lovely date without the children. We made reservations to a fancy buffet restaurant downtown, called The Roof. We had been there once before and it was delicious. It had a beautiful view of the Salt Lake Temple.

SNOW!!

While in Utah it snowed! and pretty good :) Kaleb LOVED it. He practically ran outside to play in it. His cousin Landon joined him.

A few days later we all decided to go out to the local park and go sledding.

I was not prepared for the snow and had no appropriate clothes, so Bryce and I spent most of the time in the nice warm car.

Snow Angel :)

It looks like Kaleb threw a snow ball at Jazelle and she didn't like it very much.

My little snow bunny.

Nona, Papa G, Aunt Amie, Uncle Luke and Jazelle.

Kaleb and his cousin Jace.

Jason going down with the kids.

Jungle Gyms

While in Utah for Christmas vacation we visited an indoor amusement park called Jungle Gyms, it was so much fun! The weather outside was cold and snowy, this was a great place to get away from being in the house.

Kaleb's favorite activity was the Bumper cars.

Daddy had to get on the action too even though he was 10 times too big.

I dreaded this ride. You could pull the lever up and down and the car would lift up and down while going in a circle. It seemed like the ride never was going to stop I felt dizzy the whole day.

Jazelle is a thrill seeker, she was the only one on these swings.

I just love how happy they are.

We played a giant version of Hungry Hungry Hippo! and I won.

Jazelle with her cousin Dallin

I think Nona regretted this ride. It was the kind that spun around so fast, then stopped and started to go backwards really fast. It was comical, Jazelle looked like she was going to fly out.