Who says weekends are for resting....

Season opener for Purple Thunder!

Cheer clinic for Everlee....

Oh wait...no pictures!

Shocking, I know.

But Miss Everlee decided to NOT DO A DAMN THING!

Shocking, again.

Our most carefree child, who loves to perform, was so nervous I thought she was going to puke!  It was heartbreaking.

The kicker....she hasn't stopped cheering and dancing since we left the clinic!

Nor has she taken off her cheer shirt!  Except to go to church and school!  Even sleeps in it!

All the girls are performing at this Friday's football game....will I have pictures or a blank post?????

Saturday just happened to be Grandma Linda's birthday!!!  59 years young!  And we celebrated her by going to El Dorado and celebrating Charlee Mae, who turns five in just a couple days!

Charlee had a bowling party....need I say more?!!!

Saturday couldn't outshine Sunday, so as soon as church was over, we headed to the state fair.

It was all Grandpa's idea....he said Sunday was the last day to see the Clydesdale's.

We did everything BUT see the Clydesdale's....




























































































































































































































































































































































































All those memories....definitely worth no rest!

Running

Running was a constant in my life for quite a while.

Was being the key word.

Last winter, I really slowed down.

And no, I'm not talking about my time...can't get much slower than that ;)

Cold weather {and probably Netflix!} kept me indoors through the winter.  By spring, the kids' schedules were so crazy, I just couldn't find time.

Poor excuse.

It should have been a priority!  Not like I was a physical specimen, but it did enable me to eat pretty freely.  Not to mention, girl time with some of my faves!

Now, I'm heavier than I've ever been and I only see my running trio when we schedule margarita nights....I miss them :(((

I miss running too.  Just not as much as them.

So, with the kids in school again, I've made exercise somewhat of a priority, at least on MWF mornings.  I go to weight lifting classes....

and run.

Not in that order.

The first couple weeks, I'd do intervals of running {fast for me} and walking.  I kid you not, I only made it a mile and a half the first day.

How did I ever run 13.1 miles consecutively????  Twice!

I worked myself up to three miles of intervals, and I hated every minute of it!

I had a 5k approaching, I needed to get my a$$ in gear!

And then, the day before the race, {while at the Y} I decided not to worry about how fast I was running and JUST RUN!

And I loved every mile of it!

It felt so good to enjoy it again.

It eased my race anxiety...I knew my time would suck, but I honestly didn't care.

My bigs riding their bikes along side of me for those 3.1 miles might have helped too....they didn't let me go any slower than I already was!



The kids had their own race after the 5k...



All I wanted them to do was give their very best and have fun!





Cru was the first boy to finish!  And Reese wasn't far behind him!  I was SO PROUD!  But best of all, they BOTH already said they want to run again next year!



































I'm continuing my slow and steady attitude because the way I look at it is I'm making all you fast runners look good {you're welcome!} and lapping all you others sitting on the couch!

I always enjoy taking Reese out each year for a little {unprofessional} birthday photo shoot.  I was extra excited this year since it was the first time trying out my new big daddy lens Chet gave me for our anniversary!!!

SURPRISE!!!!  Yeah!  He did good!

She chose Coronado Heights for her shoot location, and I mentioned stopping at a sunflower field on our way there....only I couldn't find the field Chet and I had found a few days earlier.  We decided to give up on the sunflowers....we were losing light fast and I was pretty nervous about being at Coronado Heights alone with just the girls.

When we got there, a St. John's military school charter bus was parked at the bottom of the hill, and all the guys were running up and down it...cue more anxiety!

And lots of staring for Reese and Ev....

And then Evee had to pee.

Cue squatting in the grass as teenage boys run past us....

We survived though.  I was disappointed not getting any close up shots, but the lighting was just too dark.

Here's what we did get...

At the end, she insisted on me using the flash....



































"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."



Love watching you grow up, Reesee!

Officially 9!

Reese officially turned 9 on August 31st!

As hard as it is to believe Chet and I have been married for ten years, it just seems unreal that we can have a nine year old!

There was no "planning" when we got pregnant with her...there was no planning with any of our kids!  But with her, we had been married just three short months meaning parenthood wasn't even on our radar.  Funny how things work out.  Couldn't imagine it any other way!

She's such a great kid, and I hope she always knows how proud we are and how much we love her ♥


































She chose to have her birthday dinner at La Fiesta!





















































We are so thankful for the support of our families.  It always means the world to the kids having everyone be a part of our activities!








































































Cru and Chet had to bail early due to football practice.

After supper, we enjoyed cake, presents, and FaceTime!

Current obsession - big eyes!



































A new watch and pedometer


































SURPRISE! A Polaroid camera!




































































































In the middle of opening her presents, she got a surprise visit from her buddy, Reid....



































































Happy birthday, Reesee!  I know you're already thinking about how fun it's going to be to turn 10, but lets focus on making nine as awesome as possible!