B.Y.U.

We went to the BYU/SDSU football game in Oct. and we had a lot of fun with a bunch of families from our stake and Brad's family...and I think I even got to watch a couple of plays. SCORE! (one for mom!)

My toothless wonder...seriously, how could you not think he is so stinking cute! Have I ever told you about him? Well, there's A LOT to tell. But he is one goofy, silly, smart kid!

and these two? well, Reid is following in his older brothers foot steps with a little bit of his own personality thrown in there, and Lucy...well, *sigh* She is simply put: adorable. I can say that, right?

BYU won and we got to hang out with some pretty cool people, so all in all a very good day!

An Apple a Day

it started out like this:
and this:

Then Reid started with his antics/loving on Lucy....I missed the picture where she was straight up annoyed by his arm.

But, then it usually ends like this:

and this:

Now apply that to any given situation during the day and that's how I spend most of my time! and I love it!

me and my feet

These puppies and I have been through a lot these past few months....3 different pairs of shoes, tendon issues, Intense hip and knee pain, and more miles than I EVER thought I could run....5 months and give or take 400 plus MILES total training....WOW!!!!! So, so glad I did it. So, so ready to do it again(depending on the day). Ready to change my training, add more miles, be more dedicated and cross another finish line.
Funny, really...because while I was running I said to myself "What was I thinking" and "I would rather have 10 more kids without anesthesia and 10 hour labor than do this again"...but after I was done....There is VERY little that compares to the sense of self accomplishment that you feel, The only other times I can attribute it to is when you have children...Like "I am woman"!!!!
You know that feeling?


*Can't wait to do the Southern Cal. RELAY race...what's better than a bunch of women spazing out, running, laughing, possibly some crying by me of course....186.8 miles in 24 hours...we have got to be crazy!!!!!

My awesome welcome home sign made by Rach and family!

4:30 am....very little sleep the night before, I was so so NERVOUS!

My body is all twisted weird in this photo, oh well. Trying to wrangle the kids to get them in a picture, see how well that worked! :)

Holla!

He got to stand up in front of the whole school to get his award, then he was student of the week in his first grade class...big day for him!

Who's got a Husky Hero in their house? I do, I do!!!
What does it take to become a Husky Hero? Well let me tell you what his award said: "A 'Husky Hero' of the week is a student that has been a shining example to others. You were chosen because....Of your good citizenship and awesome reading skills. You excel in your academics!"

Way to go Jack! We are so proud of you and your love of learning, making friends and your enthusiasm for life! Love you buddy!

Moon Man

Brad was telling the boys about the moon, and then showed them a close up of the moon. Telling them all about the craters in the moon, he then asked Jack and Reid how they thought the craters were formed....Jack said "yes, the craters were made by aliens" then he asked Reid and Reid said
"I know they were made by monsters" of course we told them how they were formed by meteors, but I love the way their minds think....

Summer is almost over

and I wish I was here.....quite possibly my favorite pic of summer 2009.

Lucy and Trent.

Plug your ears...it's time to rock!

We piggy backed our Del Mar race day on a concert...it was a family affair....Gharring style! The Flaming Lips played and of course they didn't dissapoint...we made a few friends along the way and we had a good time.

Memorable moments:
* The anticipation of the concert only to find out we were oh about 5 hours early....
* Junk food
* Frozen Lemonade
* Our picnic table that we claimed for the day, under big shade trees.
* The concert finally starting and Reid & Lucy FELL ASLEEP!
* Jack was so excited he kept telling me what he was going to say when they started "Flaming LIPs ROCK!!!!"
* Only to turn around and look at us and say "Is this it?" and "When can we go?".....
* My reply: "We can leave, after you've rocked out!". and Rock out we did!

Take a NAP!

I don't care how he does it, ALL I care about is that he does!

Del Mar Race Track

This summer was filled with lots of firsts for our little family and we (Brad excluded) had never been to the Del Mar Racetrack so off we went.....

Killing some time in between races, Reid is winking at me with yummy Ritz in his mouth.

Jack and Lulu, I am loving her smile, she is so funny.

I had no idea they move the starting line around depending on the distance so we ended up seeing quite a few starts....so I had to get a picture in front of it, before they moved it again.

Before the races started they introduced some of the horses, they were beautiful and so strong...

Dad and Reid enjoying the horses.

San Diego Super Chargers....

A few weeks ago Brad heard about a Chargers Practice being held on a Saturday, so we packed up the kids and headed to the stadium.
Can't beat 1$ hot dogs and soda's and watching our favorite football team in action.

Lucy not very happy about being stuck in the stroller, can you tell she's not happy?

Jack and Reid watching practice, but mostly excited about the food, go figure!

My boys in front of the stadium. So handsome if I do say so myself.

Check it....

I am re posting about my super talented, cool, funny, beautiful photographer friend because she is hitting her 1 year anniversary! I am so proud of her and consider my self lucky that she still wants to take pictures of my family...so,

why don't you check out her work already, maybe book her, in fact you should be doing that now....You will love how they turn out.

Plus if you go to her website, you will get to see my cute kids! ( I know I am slightly biased!)

www.allysonrandlephotography.com
www.allysonrandlephotography.blogspot.com

say "cheese"

My amazingly talented friend Ally took our family pictures at the Santa Monica Pier the other day...and it was a first for our little family, and we LOVED it! It does help when you have a super talented patient photographer and a willing husband (to make his wife happy!) and kids that are pretty easy going....it just all worked out so well! I'm not going to lie...I am so happy with how they turned out! Thanks again and again Ally!

(all pictures property of allyson randle photography...don't steal!)

WILCO

Brad and I before the concert...he didn't let me take my camera in, which I totally regret!

Photo from Wilco's website!

So Wilco is by far one of our favorite bands and they are REALLY hard to get tickets to...but I was determined and when I saw that they were going to come to s0. Cal by way of Pomona I was going to get us tickets..gosh darn it! So I waited until they went on sale at 10am by 10:05 they were SOLD OUT! ( I told you they are hard to get!)...and guess what? We got 2 tickets....and I was so excited....I could hardly wait, It would pop into my mind randomly and get me all anxious!!!
It was such a good concert...Brad and I love concerts, but we have been on an unintentional hiatus from them for the past year or so...but not anymore!
It was at the Fox Theatre...so cool!
Besides Brad's complaining...(he's getting old) about how he should have worn his running shoes instead of his Chuck Taylor's...blah blah...It was rocking...They came out for 2 encores and it was so dang awesome! I have however decided that I have turret's of the body at concerts...I can't help my self, I just dance the whole time!

Muddy Momma's

Well we did it again...the mud run. We got muddy, we ran
(walked/ran) up suicide hill, made it up the 2 6 ft walls, tunnel crawl and army crawl mud pits, swam across lake O'Neill... and had a blast doing it. We all were a little anxious to do it ( Rachel and I third time, Julie's 2nd, Jason's 2nd and Eric's first). But Rachel put it perfectly it's like giving birth; you forget how hard it is until you have to do it again!
Julie rocked it and did it only a few months after giving birth to baby Troy!

So here's to doing it again, and again... and again!

Whould you rather...

We often play this with the kids, Brad and I laugh so hard with the ones that the boys come up with...so this was Reid's version tonight at dinner...I wanted to write it down so I don't forget.

Would you rather...

Drink a drink or.. Eat flowers. {hmmm. hard one.}

Eat an apple or.. Eat a monkey. {I'll have to go with the... monkey. yum.}

Drink water or.. Eat a seal. {What?}

Eat a head or.. Eat an eyeball. {Now that is what I'm talking about.}

Eat a hat or.. Eat a Crocodile. {There he goes again. I will go with the obvious, the croc.}

Eat a shoe or.. a bum bum. {Now there is a Gharring for ya.}

Game over...It all went DOWNHill from here...you start mentioning bum bum's and the level goes to potty talk.

Male Bonding

Well it was that time of year again, when Brad takes the boys to Father and Son's...they all get very excited....We made their meals the night before (tinfoil dinners of course!) and got all of their stuff packed and away they went...

I am NOT naive to what happens at father and son's...the men talk, don't hover around the children like us mother's do...they let them wander....away. And let them climb on fallen trees to get across streams, and let them eat red vines and Doritos's for dinner ( why do we even make them dinner?) and do man/boy stuff...throwing rock's into water, getting even more dirty and play with fire.

Even with all of the sarcasm...Brad loves it and the boys love it and get excited when it's that time of year...Thanks Brad for being a good, relaxed and loving father...

Some of they boys after their "adventure" across the fallen tree....notice all wet on the bottom half of their bodies. Stinkers!

Seriously though...check out their faces.....DISGUSTING!!!
*notice Brad clean as a whistle.*

My super handsome nephew Trent...

S

Jack Jack butt crack...

Jack...what can I say about him lately? I have two funny stories and pictures about him...


The first picture is obviously Jack and Brad...but this is Brad talking with Jack about his sassy attitude...especially toward the female parent...uhmmm..me. He gets attitude with me sometimes and talks back...so Brad was having a talk with him about changing the way he sasses and he has a CHOICE...etc..
The thing that was funny to me, is just the way they look...
Jack's UPSIDE DOWN and they look like they have these heart to hearts like this all the time..
maybe they do....
maybe all the blood rushing to his head will reset things. ;)

We have had these 3D glasses around the house since Brad took the boys on a movie date...and Jack has been wearing them around...not just around the house...we were at the store the other day and he wore these in, he was getting all these comments about how cool he looks, etc...he even had teenagers say you look cool...I just think it is so funny! He has this swagger when he wears them...he stands a little TALLER. It's so cute.

I hear Lucy crying from the play room and as I'm going in there...I hear this:

Jack: LUCY!!! Don't!

she had apparently ruined his puzzle....so, he pushed her away!!! Oh no he didn't!

Mom: Go to time out! You're being mean...

Jack: No I'm not mean... Mom you're being mean! Meaner like a WIENER!

Did he seriously just say that?! Yes! I couldn't help it...I just laughed!

good thing he was already out of earshot and sight, because that was FUNNY!


so I guess today I'm "meaner like a wiener!"

Are you SERIOUS?

ch. 1
Rachel gets email for ticket voucher to American Idol...so Tues. Rach, Hayley, Su and I head up to L.A. for the taping of Tues. Night's performance show...except when we get there, it's for the dress rehearsal...we were so bummed, but resolved to get into the night time performance too...

All of us outside CBS studio's after the dress rehearsal taping and live show....

CH. 2
We headed into the lot to wait to get into the dress rehearsal...and asked our new BFF Mike how we can get tickets to the live show...He said wait here...put us in front of everyone else, right by the studio entrance...us still not knowing what was going on, just did as Mike told us...thinking this is good right?...all the while getting looks of death from literally everyone else...a woman even came up to talk to him and said "don't think I don't know what you're doing...we have been here all day and you are letting people in front of us...blah, blah, blah...."
We got taken in and put in the mosh pit area in the front....danced our booties off, laughed and had such a good time....after the dress rehearsal one of the other staff members came up to us and asked us if we were the four that Mike had told to look for after the show...we said yes, she told us to go back outside, he was waiting for us out there, so we did....so excited to get into the live show...

Ch. 3

Mike hooked us up!!!
He had us stand off to the side...and came back with four tickets to the show....we didn't know where we were sitting and didn't care...we were so EXCITED!....until they led us back inside and showed us our seats....LITERALLY right behind Simon's head...WHAT?! Are they serious? It just kept getting better...they started bringing in all of the celebrities and the contestants families, we were dying...to the left was Anoop's family, Right; was Adam's family and "friend" :)...Kristen Bell was in front of us...(she is beautiful), Colbie Caillat and her mom (Su totally read all of her text messages, so funny!) and Vince Neal (singer from poison?) and his plastic sex bot....

Ch. 4

First things first..everyone sounded so good live! Everyone is way thinner in person...seriously Allison, so skinny! and the studio is nothing like what I thought...stage is a lot smaller, the audience is a lot smaller...

After the show, we headed over to The Grove mall and heard saw a band playing by the fountain...um, yeah it was Derek Hough and Mark Ballas' band...with Shannon Elizabeth off to the side ( what? they are STILL dating? crazy!) and a girl from American Idol that is dating Mark Ballas...Just when we thought the night couldn't get any better....

All of us at The Grove...

Rach and Hayley!

Thanks Rach for inviting me...I had the best time...good company always leads to an exciting time! Can't wait to do it again!