A Crazy Life...

Our January in Pictures!

2012-02-05T20:16:00.001-06:00

1. The Morning Light of a new year- Happy 2012

2. The glow over Miami before we headed out to run Ragnar Florida Keys

3. The Speedway at sunset getting ready for the funnest part of Ragnar - the night time!

4. Teamwork at it's finest- pimping out the van :)

5. Hi Ali!

6. Dance parties & teeth brushing on the dirt roads through the Everglades in the middle of the night

7. Exchanges points, always a welcome sight

8. Strike a pose girls!

9. Quick Chik - well at least one of us {hint: it's not me}

1. Jorden had her artwork choose and displayed at the district building.

2. Found a really fun photo challenge here where she gives you a prompt for every day, you interpret it as you want. Most people are posting them on instagram or twitter but you can also blog them Facebook them or just keep them for yourself. This will be a fun way to track the year. I stumbled onto it on day 12 so my plan is to do it through the 12th of January 2013. This picture was {close up}.

3. Day 13 {in your bag} too much stuff!

4. A day off of school included a little private gym time

5. Something in this pictures is not where it belongs. Can you see it?

6. Day 14 {something your reading} This particular day it was the score board at a gym meet

7. Day 15 {Happiness} family and a couple of crazy dogs

8. Day 16 {morning} most of my mornings begin here

9. Day 17 {water}

1. Day 18 {something you bought} Some of my favorite somethings I bought come home in these bags

2. Day 19 {sweet} as sweet as it gets doing a whole30

(this was very short lived but I will be trying again VERY soon)

3. Jorden's arm! After 10 days of antibiotics for a sinus thing this showed up on her arm causing us and her doctor to be VERY VERY concerned to say the least!

4. Day 20 {someone you love} a someone I love who was not having a good work and who's day was about to get even worse

5. And those lovely arms caused us to spend an evening down at Dallas Children's. Good new she is as healthy as a horse but we still have no real explanation for the mystery bruises.

6. Day 21 {reflection} at the gas station - always on the go!

7. Day 22 {your shoes} 80 degrees means flip lops

8. Day 23 {something old} our old Singer machine

9. Day 24 {guilty pleasure} dove chocolate, trisim, new running shoes and red toe nails

1. Day 25 {something you made} Pulled pork tacos from a recipe found on Pinterest and they were good! Speaking of Pinterest are you on there? Want to follow me? Here I am!

2. Day 26 {color} I love all the color i am surrounded with every day

3. Day 27 {lunch} It was just one of those kind of days

4. Day 28 {lights} a cautionary one reminding me to fix the lights on my car

5. Day 29 {inside your fridge}

6. Hunter got his First and Second class for scouts. He is in a race to get his Eagle before his dad did!

7. Day 30 {nature} Grapevine Lake

8. Day 31 {you again} a day of errands like getting the nail out my tire!

9. It is January right? I will take the 82 degrees!

Insta Friday ~ Edition 10... 11/18/2011

2011-11-18T11:04:00.001-06:00

Linking up with Life Rearranged... to find more insta-friday's click on the cute icon!

21 Red balloons sent heavenward with wishes and dreams for Uncle Micheal's 21st birthday. Oh how we miss that kid!

He actually read the owners manual for his bike! We found some very very amusing things covered in that 'book'

Channelling her inner fish

He was a trooper through the swim

We have 2 new triathletes in the house! They were awesome!

You never know where an angry bird is going to show up

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas

His favorite resting place

a little bit of a wild soul

Pumpkin guts- Gross!

One of the many beautiful churches we saw in New York

Life size ugly {an 11 year old requested I bring this home for him}

We came - I ran- it was an AMAZING race as far as the energy and excitement.

My breakfast as of lately. Scrambled eggs sautéed onions and avocado- YUM!

Maybe if I sit on her chair she will play more with me!

A little ruffled

What's on your play list today?

Favorite sleeping spot... no one can sneak in or out

Seriously ... my grace and cooking abilities are just sometimes too much for each other!

Top Dog?

'Tis the season for a little window shopping!

2011-11-15T19:13:00.001-06:00

A Christmas list of sorts.... some not so realistic and maybe a few easy ones!

A new tri transition bag. I am really liking the Race-Lite bag from Amphipod.

This SPEK case for my phone. It is RED! :)

I think I really want to be a watch wearer. The Fossil Stella Resin watch looks like a fantastic way to start.

The Ribbon Spot would really love a Mac Book :) You know where to find that!

New Nike Free's in this color size 8, please, mine are almost to the end of their life span :(

While I still LOVE my Ralph Lauren Romance, it might be time for a change. Burberry Brit is on the list.

Black Glitter TOMS in a size 7 :)

An indoor bike trainer so maybe I can cut some time off my riding.

The Modern Pearl Rosette necklace in the original size in plum, pacific, berry, off white, gray, navy, rich red, moss green, avocado, fuchsia, clementine or raffia! (yes I love them that much!)

Money to spend at Lulu is always nice. I can always find something there :)

Loving this top in a medium

Pullup Package (One each: Bands #3,4,5) from Rouge fitness! Unassisted pull-ups are a 2012 goal of mine!

A trip back to Dublin? :)

So what is on your list this year?

Insta- Friday Edition 8 & 9

2011-10-28T06:46:00.000-05:00

Linking up with Life Rearranged... to find more insta-friday's click on the cute icon!

Boys were camping so centered out to let the girl try sushi. The verdict = she is not a fan :(

Boys still camping = a little girl time

Monday = Mooyah night at this house after a late night of gymnastics

Angry bird in the house... and soon trick or treating around the neighborhood :)

Starting down the long road (hopefully) of band concerts.
Amazingly they sounded really good after only 8 weeks of school.

We really should re-name him chunky!!!! 17 weeks and 29.8 pounds!!!!

this house is having a love affair with Honey Crisp apples at the moment. We can't keep enough of them in this place.

Early morning before school cuddles.

11 pm dinner company after making it to Austin!

hey look it is a sleep number bed - no not a vibrating bed!
Might have been the funniest thing Katherine mumbled all weekend.

The front desk said no partying - they never said anything about no biking at midnight on the 12th floor!

Finally relaxing!

Our view of Austin - not too shabby!

Thanks guys for the hands on lesson on changing a tire. No one else would get on board with the "that is what the sag wagons are for" plan! Happy to report I didn't need the newly gained knowledge this weekend.

Racked and ready

We are still trying to figure out how they can use marathon and fresh together - nothing about running a marathon makes you smell good or 'fresh'

I guess Austin school kids are really fast.... I mean why else would the SCHOOL ZONE speed limit be 50 MPH!!!!!

The race really didn't go anything like it should have for me, but you pick up and learn the lessons you were meant to learn that day. And then you go to dinner with some of the funnest people out there who think they are really funny when they let the waitress know it was my birthday. (which it really wasn't)

No rest for the weary at this house - The kids have their tri this weekend so off to the pool for a little more swim practice.

Field trip day with my favorite 4th grader. A day of outdoor learning and of course the
temps drop almost 40 degrees just in time!

Took about 3 minutes (maybe) on the buss for her to be out cold on the way home.
She might be just a little exhausted!

Insta-Friday ~ Edition 7 ... 10.14.2011

2011-10-14T17:35:00.000-05:00

Linking up with Life Rearranged... to find more insta-friday's click on the cute icon!

Small small picture week... been a little busy getting things done :)

Had a week filled with this.... RIBBON.... I know you are shocked by this!

Kind of a cruel joke.... Got this in the mail and my IronMan participant email IN THE SAME DAY!!!! Good grief this is actually happening!

Look close near the top.... even IronMan has a bit of a sense of humor..."No form of locomotion other than running, walking or crawling..."

As of yesterday! So yea it now says 9, 23, 41, 72, and 79.....

So hang on folks- this next week promises to be a week filled with Halloween preparations, First Band concerts and hopefully not a lot of freaking out about the 70.3 miles coming up next Sunday!
(and I will take more pictures)

Insta-Friday ~ Edition 6... 10.7.2011

2011-10-09T09:11:00.001-05:00

As always linking up with Life Rearranged... to find more insta-friday's click on the cute icon!

I'm not going to lie.... It is REALLY hard to pass these up!

Well now that is an odd place to find a pin - In the fan?

Little bitty figured out how to get up on the furniture.... no where is safe now!

They are back! - It's pomegranate season!

Giving the cooking thing a try ;)

Coming over the seat on the way to the vet

cook book's are for cooking- not for eating! Thanks Winston!

Learning to shoot an AR-15 at the all women's gun clinic :)

After my little brother's comments to the previous pictures on Facebook I had to get one of me with the cheetah print AR in my purse :)

My little expiration date keeper.... noticed the dates on the Jello and built a tower out of it

Insta-Friday ~ Edition 5... Hawaii Style!

2011-09-30T22:16:00.000-05:00

As always linking up with Life Rearranged... to find more insta-friday's click on the cute icon!

Coffee Beans - before they are beans - at Kauai Coffee Plantation

Coastal View from Spouting Horn

An ode to the coolest little brother 'Uncle Matt' for coming to be me for 11 days so I could come be in paradise

Our across the street for the week - told you this was paradise

Our very tech savvy way too cute for words house mate - Brynn

Sort of gives new meaning to the term 'Costco Chicken'!

The beautiful stained glass windows of the little 175 year old church we stopped in while driving the coastline.

the sun setting on a fantastic day

Wailua Falls- Kauai

Hanalei Valley Overlook

Brynn = an awesome flower girl even if she didn't do 'the mommy walk'

The beautiful bride and a very proud dad!

Beautiful setting for a beautiful wedding

Our last sunset in Kauai - for now anyways :)

Hello Honolulu!

Pearl Harbor

Remember!

Oil is still leaking almost 70 years later!

Insta-Friday Editon 4 ~ 9.23.2011

2011-09-23T22:49:00.000-05:00

As always linking up with Life Rearranged... to find more insta-friday's click on the cute icon!

Waiting room entertainment for a potentially sick girl

Negative strep test... a good and a bad thing... now on serious allergy meds!

Friday night date night.... with my favorite 11 year old!!!!

of course he chose Mooyah

a corner we see WAY too often through out the week when running everyone to and from their activities

A Saturday morning 10k. Of course it was hot and sticky.... 4 years of this race and it is ALWAYS hot and sticky! Why are we always surprised by this.

Uncle Matt is here! Let the party begin....

They says birds of a feather flock together.... these two should be nesting together

At least I know they will have clean teeth when we get back. He can even make brushing their teeth fun!

An 8 and a half hour flight is made much more tolerable with lay flat first class seats.

Dinner on it's way and a movie. Oh how I love first class.

A little Hawaiian flare served with our dinner.

Woke up to this beautiful sight this morning - Aloha!

Insta-Friday... Edition 3 ~ 9.16.2011

2011-09-15T23:11:00.000-05:00

Maybe someday I will blog something other than Insta-Friday..... But until then here is edition 3. Enjoy!

As always linking up with Life Rearranged... to find more insta-friday's click on the cute icon!

While ~~digging~~ cleaning out Hunter's room this was some of the hidden treasure! 13 pairs of headphones! Seriously kid how many ears do you think you have????

Pretending to not want a picture taken.... Seriously he never learns that I always win :) (notice you can see the top of his dresser!)

Jorden claims the only way to get him to stop whining/barking is to get in the box with him?!? I think she just REALLY REALLY loves him

10 years! I don't know about you but I was glued to the TV as if it was happening all over again. Still unbelievable ...

Harvey's and Heels for church.

Trying so hard to out walk her mom on stilts! Didn't even come close! Yes it is a little known skill I possess!

Look kids still know how to play even with no cords or plugs or computers ... just good old dominoes.

Much Much needed rain. Didn't last very long but it was a good little reminder that maybe someday soon Fall will get here

Their first walk together. Me and Mini ME!

Aftermath of the previously mentioned walk.... 2 tiered puppies.

Trying out a new way to be a little bit more organized. fantastic little tote that lives in my car and comes in my house and into meetings and the office....... We'll see if this helps.

Insta-Friday Round 2!

2011-09-09T00:53:00.002-05:00

Hey maybe this one will stick around! Linking up with Life Rearranged for her Insta Friday link Party.

What do you mean - everyone doesn't have a paper mache rhino ornament in the cup holder of their car?

Yes he did just decide to park right where everyone is supposed to be driving - seriously dude you are not THAT special!

Pavers- it's what we do every flipping Saturday! And yes that means right through the hottest summer ever in Dallas!

Getting used to the fact that a majority of their homework this year is all online. Even their text books a re online now!

Who ever said running can't be cute?

YUM - it's what's for dinner!

Speaking of dinner... he is so lazy he has to sit down while he eats?!?

Hydration station

A quick learner - Favorite sleeping spot is right up against the door everyone comes and goes from.

Look maybe they are starting to tolerate each other.

My favorite big doggy!

likes to cuddle with anything... especially the wall

A tricky mommy hides the good stuff in the outside freezer to pull out at midnight

Walls, fences, nothing will stop him from finding dirt to dig in.

Insta-Friday!

2011-09-01T23:57:00.001-05:00

What is Insta-Friday?
Share the silly, the everyday, the random using nothing but cell phone pics!

Any cell phone pictures work, it doesn’t have to be an iPhone!

A happy smiling start to 4th Grade!

The resident 6th grader... meaning he is in Middle School!

Happy first day of school - what better way to celebrate other than new toes?!?

Sleepy puppy

Almost touching... but not.... heaven forbid we touch!

trying to be just like Jackson

are these "the right" shoes to have when you are in middle school?

getting in some TV time before bed

Work... lots and lots of work!

see that top one on this list! :)

Really really getting worn out with the way this list looks!

Maybe this is ok.... for just one second though!

So teeny tiny! and sleepy (but only because it is day time)

Almost makes me want to be a clog wearer!

Meet Winston!

2011-08-21T15:21:00.004-05:00

Talks of adding a second dog had been happening for a while here at the Bailey abode. But the plan was wait until we get back from a trip this fall and then get our newest addition. When the breeder we got Jackson from posted 6 new puppies this past week we couldn't resist, and he arrived Friday. Can you blame us for not being able to pass him by?

Fourth of July - Instagram style!

2011-07-05T08:37:00.008-05:00

There was downtown Jackson Hole parade watching and candy collecting.

There was cousins teaching each other the finner points of gummy worms at Music in the Hole.

Hey look I got all the way up..... hmmm now how do I get down?

And there was waiting for the amazing Snow King fireworks - techy style!

(really would you expect anything less?)

Independence

2011-07-04T08:43:00.005-05:00

Happy Independence Day! Today we will start anew... free from the guilt of not blogging since November. We will not try to catch you up on the last 8 months, instead we will begin again with more resolve to keep up rather than catch up!

So for today celebrate our freedom and tomorrow will be a new beginning.

November 18, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-18T13:43:00.003-06:00

Today it is the to-do list app on my phone. May seam trivial but today it is the only thing keeping me on track and remember all of the things that come to me in the middle of the night. It's a good thing there is not a limit on the number of items that can be on the list.

November 17, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-17T13:43:00.002-06:00

I am thankful today for a husband who works really hard for our little family. I am thankful that he has also learned how to take some time for himself and do things he really enjoys.

November 16, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-16T13:43:00.004-06:00

Today I am thankful for pictures, pictures, pictures. I will be the first to acknowledge that my memory is shot. I have a hard time recalling things. I am thankful to be able to capture those moments, the good ones and the not so good ones, to help bring those moments back to life and remember those that have been in our lives. Now while I love looking at pictures and even taking them, I am not so good at being in them, so in an effort to face life head on I sucked it up and decided to have pictures taken of just me. No kids to steal the spotlight no one else to focus on {might be the single most nerve wrecking thing I have done in a while}.

All of these brought to you by the very talented Madison! Go check her out HERE!

November 15, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-15T13:43:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for a strong body that lets me physically challenge myself and keep on going. Nothing quite like running my fastest marathon yet {by quite a bit} and jumping right back into our insane hectic life.

November 14, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-14T13:43:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful for brothers and sisters! Today it is a rough thing to be thankful. Today makes 2 years! Today I will run 26.2 miles to honor a little brother who taught me a lot. Both about life and also about myself. He continues to teach me things, maybe even more important things not that he is gone from this life.

November 13, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-13T13:42:00.003-06:00

Today I am so thankful to have these 2 little people in my life. I love what good friends they are and how they truly watch out for each other. They teach me new lessons every day and show me how much love my heart is capable of.

November 11, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-11T14:24:00.001-06:00

Today I am thankful for all of those who have fought to give me the right to live freely, raise my children without fear and pursue my dreams.

November 10, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-10T13:42:00.003-06:00

I am thankful today for the ability to finally after 12 years be a 2 fridge family

and just in time for the holidays. Isn't it pretty? :)

November 6, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-06T13:41:00.002-05:00

I am so thankful for wonderful scout leaders for Hunter! The ones who willingly give up their whole Saturday to spend time with the boys letting them be boys, earn badges and learn important life lessons in a fun environment. So thank you to all of those who spent the day at Webelos Woods with Hunter!

November 4, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-04T13:40:00.002-05:00

I am thankful today for school book fairs. There is a little girl in this house that can not get her hands on enough books. School book fairs help her focus in the right books for her

instead of at the huge overwhelming book store. so off I go to drop some change to

encourage Jordens' healthy imagination.

November 3, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-03T13:40:00.002-05:00

I sure am thankful to live in a climate that is nice enough to walk 1 crazy dog

without having to bundle up!

November 2, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-02T19:15:00.002-05:00

Today it is the rain that is reminding me to be grateful. It is no secret that I LOVE the rain - even though it makes school pickup take 45 minutes with normal people who become crazies with the first drop! I love the renewal it brings, the cleansing, the release of what weighs the clouds down and how it can do that for my life.

November 1, 2010 - Today I am thankful for...

2010-11-01T19:11:00.002-05:00

Today it is great music that I am thankful for. It tells the story of our lives with the memories it makes us recall- where we were when we first heard a specific song or the song that was playing in the big moments of our lives. Happy November ~ now off to see Sarah McLachlan! {only one of my favorite singers!}

If you could walk a mile in my shoes....

2010-10-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

Or let's just say if you could have spent the last 4.5 months in our shoes you would have seen....

The final pack meeting of the year....

The 2nd grade field trip to the Fort Worth Zoo...

{she loves all animals - she even talks to the birds}

You would have seen us trying to teach Jackson to swim...

There was fishing at Lake Grapevine...

{Crazy eyes}

You would have been as thrilled as us to find out the Rita's near us - well it is the same one that was in Pennsylvania! You would have also seen us frequenting there a whole lot!

Then there was getting my mystery wisdom teeth out followed by Jorden's spa day...

There was end of the year parties....

{hula hooping and tattoos - right up this girls alley!}

Of course there were handmade teacher appreciation/new baby gifts - oh how I love their teachers AMAZING individuals!

Obligatory last day of school pictures

You would have seen one small girl snuggling/invading Jackson's personal space on way to many occasions to count...

Then there was loads of pool days - but look close and you will see Hunter behind the old lady water aerobics class working it with the ladies...

Of course there was Ragnar Wasatch Back....

{exchange 19 was AWESOME}

Then you would have found Hunter at day camp....

we then treked west to spend the 4th of July in Wyoming....

{a dog and horses - this girl was in heaven}

Then a little south to Utah...

There was a special Grandma dress for one special girl....

{signature jorden in a fancy dress move}

You would have found this sceen a few times too many to count...

What do you get a puppy for his first birthday? Well a bone the size of him of course! {remember he is HUGE}

Then there was the first day of 5th and 3rd grade! Big year this year as someone will be in middle school next year!

You would have seen this bed head on a sick day ...

Then we survived 2 days of 5th grade outdoor school!

... team building activities ...

... learning the fun way ....

... the chaperone who was smaller than quite a few of the kids there! How did that happen? ...

The school fun run... always fun!

And that is how I came home to find them today.... sitting in a tree watching a movie and bouncing like a wild woman on the pogo stick

Now that we are all caught up lets try this whole blogging a little more regularly thing again - promise!

Life by the numbers......

2010-05-24T06:26:00.003-05:00

in the last 17 days I have run 140.8 miles trying to secure an invitation to a sold out race... I think I might just get one too :) really looking forward to June 1st when I feel like I can do something other than run though

there are only 12.5 school days left - everyone is pretty excited about this one

I get the daily countdown from Bart "only 39 days until vacation"

24 days until Wasatch Back - nervously excited - only 15.3 miles of crazy uphills I should be training for - but the are no HILLS in Dallas!

how can you do 11 loads of laundry in 1 weekend and still have clothes that need washing?

Jorden is moving from 2 hours of gymnastics practice to 4 hours a week in a few weeks - do you think that will make her tiered? (I am not betting on it)

1 fish was caught this weekend by Hunter during the father's and son's camp out

there are 31 weeks left of me being 31 so I need to come up with some things I want to get done - I have a few floating around my head but could use some suggestions - you got any?

Today I...

2010-05-11T20:52:00.007-05:00

{in bullet points & maybe a few pictures}

*Started my day when the clock next to my bed read 4:17 with no dot next to the pm

*Got in my 5 miles with a few hills in preparation for my impending meeting with a little hill nicknamed RAGNAR!

*showered, packed backpacks/lunches/homework, fed the dog, dried my hair, woke and fed the kids and got the dog back in his box ALL in 47 minutes!

* Check - boxed & shipped orders and back to the school all before 8:30

*Got to the Stock Yards without getting lost - (this is well out of my normal 15 minute radius)

* spent a very enjoyable day with my favorite fourth grader and a few of his friends...

* Walked previously mentioned dog in some seriously oppressive humidity his normal 4 mile loop with 6 million "I am just going to lay down over here in the shade until I am ready to go again" breaks

* shuffled small girl to gymnastics and got some grocery shopping done in those few fleeting minutes before she was done

* Got the 7 loads of laundry and counting done folded and put away that were screaming for a little attention - this will be a very good thing at 7 tomorrow morning when we start this crazy cycle all over again

* worked on a diorama - oh how I love school projects!!!!! (seriously can it not be summer yet)

* managed to stay awake long enough to say good night to the other half in some other state right now (yea I have stopped trying to keep up with where he is)

* it is now 9:54 which means I have 6 minutes to get to bed so that my eyes will open at 4:17 when that thing on my nightstand starts beeping again get in my 8 miles and then the office and then the dentist and then probably another walk with the crazy four legged member of this family...

Is your head hurting yet? Mine is!!!!! So what did you do today?

Monograms, Pearls, bumblebees and Sauconys.....

2010-05-09T15:00:00.008-05:00

Happy mothers day! Today caused me to pause and reflect on how I am a mother,

how I learn to be a mom to these crazy two kids.

How I continue to evolve into something closer to what I want to be.

Each of these things reminds me of beautiful, strong, patient, problem solver, chauffeur, peace maker, chief, independent, tough women and mothers I have known. They have taught me to be who I am, I couldn't be here without them. There are days that these women make me laugh when all you could think to do is cry, they help keep the not so normal things of life in perspective. So to all the women who I have had in my life, past present and those still yet to come, Happy Mother's Day - you help make this journey a whole lot more fun!

A couple little clips to enlighten your mother's day. I hope they can touch your soul as much as they did mine.

Welcome back!

2010-05-07T13:29:00.013-05:00

Welcome back! After a much need but very unanticipated or planned blogging break I am back.

Here is a quick recap of what has transpired in the months since last I wrote....

December: We had a fantastic Christmas here in Texas. We even got snow on Christmas eve! We were enjoying each others company so much we all forgot to pick up our camera - oopps!

January: Officially entered into my thirties by turning 31. Started taking a picture everyday. I am hoping this will help my photography skill but also be an interesting look back through the year. I have missed a few days here and there but seem to be keeping up pretty well which for being 4 months in is pretty good. Want to see them? The Bailey Daily Life Through the Lens

February: Jorden turned 8. We got some EPIC snow and Jorden began her first gymnastics meets on the team.

March: Jorden got baptized. Spent a perfect week in Jackson Hole for Spring break - lots of relaxing and enjoying our beautiful surroundings. Hunter made it to double digits, and spring soccer started. The smaller set of people got glasses.

April: We ran the Salt Lake Marathon, again! Got a PR of 5:09:01 even without properly training. Can't wait to see what I can do in November with the right training... stay tuned!

So now it is May, we are all caught up and on our way to discovery, laughter, peace and joy.... come along won't you!

...one year...

2009-11-14T10:25:00.000-06:00

In one year we can...

Have Thanksgiving - even when giving thanks was next to impossible

Celebrate 10 years of marriage with a cruise

Try to remember the true meaning of Christmas

Finally get out of my 20's while ringing in the 2009 year

run one of the most Goofy races on the planet in the happie st place on earth

Freeze with some fantastically fun friends

Become the mother of a 7 and 9 year old

Crossed a marathon finish line hand in hand with a little sister

Said good bye to 1st grade forever and managed to make it through the first round of 3rd grade

Made that epic long drive to Utah

Fell in love with Wyoming and celebrated our independance at the sam e time

Played long and hard with our uncles and aunts making some great memories

Started 4th and 2nd grade - how did they get so big?

Celebrated a very special birthday in an unusual way.

T rained and swam/biked/ran a half IronMan!

We have even started decorating for the holidays

In one year we have shed so many tears

For the last 365 days we have tried to figure out how to be in this word without you in it.

In one year it still doesn't feel any better that you are gone. We all miss you terribly and long for the day we will see you again!

Day 4 of 30.....

2009-11-04T23:20:00.000-06:00

Today I am grateful for my gadgets! My gadgets that add music to my life, the ones that help me remember kids dentist appointments and the 3579 other place I need to be every day, the ones that allow me to have my own business, the ones who tell me just how fast I can get my heart pumping, the ones who keep us connected to loved ones far away and the ones that keep organized Christmas lists password protected from curios little folks. (Yes there is even an App for that)

Day 3 of 30....

2009-11-03T22:11:00.004-06:00

Today I am grateful for the un-related adults that are helping me shape my kids lives! Prepared teachers every morning, the most patient encouraging soccer coach on the planet, fun primary teachers, gymnastic coaches that can have as much fun as the girls while training them....I know I couldn't get these two little people to productive adults without all of you - so THANK YOU!

This generations version of sponge rollers?

2009-11-03T00:35:00.003-06:00

There are a few people in miss Jorden's life that can truly appreciate this post. I have found the torture equivalent of sponge rollers that actually manage to curl her hair! Just thought I would let you have a little chuckle :)

Ironmom!!!! I did it!!!!

2009-11-02T22:55:00.012-06:00

I did it! I did it! I did it! And yes I will do it again :)

So here is the report....

2100+ of us gathered in the pre-dawn hours with all of our gear (and there is a lot of gear) to be crazy together for eightish hours. All of us there for different reasons and goals.... all of us reaching for the same finish line. All the work that lead up to this moment was about to be put to the test. Would it be enough? Would it get us to our finish lines? My reason, My Goal for this race? This was my happy birthday to Michael! His birthday was the 28th so on the 25th I would push myself harder than I ever had for him, I would learn what I am made of.

For those who don't know what this would entail here is the low down...

1.2 mile open water swim + 56 mile Bike + 13.1 mile Run

Due to the enormous amount of people racing this race was a wave start by age group and gender, except the pros. They got to go first. That was so awesome to have almost an hour before it was my turn to start and have the chance to see the pros. They flew around that lake. We were right on the shore where they swam right past us into the finish. It took them about 17 minutes!!!!

Green caps were the pros.... purple/pink caps was my division. The swim went ok. Swimming has never been my strongest point but I did get through it close to the time I thought it would take. 48:27 and I was climbing out of the water and heading to the wetsuit strippers and onto transition #1 - this was a two transition location race.

We then headed out for a long hill filled full of head winds 56 mile bike ride. I felt pretty good heading out. The swim didn't get me too disoriented. Grabbed my bike, strapped on my helmet and out I went. I can truly say I have never felt like just quitting in the middle of a race but there were moments on the bike near the end when I learned what that feeling feels like. Every time though someone would ride up behind me and ask about my "Running for Michael" tag that I had on my back and it was just enough of a reminder of why I was out here, and I pedaled on.

I finished up the epic ride in 3:50:34, right about what I realistically thought it would take. Pulled into transition #2 racked my bike, switched my shoes, grabbed my PB&J and headed out for my run. The course was changed a few days before the race due to the drought conditions in Austin this year which made the run a 3 loop course! Could they make this any more mentally challenging? The first loop was mostly walking due to feeling like I was going to throw up. Drank a ton of water on that first loop trying to flush out my system. It seemed to work, loops 2 & 3 I felt much more capable of running - albeit not very fast. 2:54:43 I rounded that last last and into the finish line in the stadium. I have never been so happy to cross a finish line, but at the same time there were so many emotions that I carried with me across that same finish line. I had done it, but not without my little brother cheering me on, carrying me through that line through the words and encouragement of others out on the course who cheered for me when I needed it the most, when I was so close to not finishing the volunteer picking up cups on the side of the road looked up and told me "Michael is so proud of you" and I knew he was there at that moment.

7 hours 49 minutes and 28 seconds!!!

Will I do it again? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Not next year but October 2011 I will be back out there on the road and in the water. Will you be there with me?

Day 2 of 30

2009-11-02T01:07:00.001-06:00

Today I am grateful for the encouraging words of good friends. There is something special about people who remember special days in the lives of their friends, not just birthdays, but big events and the days that are going to be hard to get though for one reason or another. I am astounded at the phone calls this last week to make sure I survived my race, the friends who searched me out at church and passed on words of encouragement and little messages left for me on facebook and in my inbox. I hold dear my friends that make themselves somewhat vulnerable in their words in an effort to help me reach my goals and dreams.

So here is to you, my friends, I don't always know what to say and I am not great at returning phone calls but your words are held very dear!

Thirty days of thankful!

2009-11-01T00:55:00.002-05:00

It is November, the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. This year I want to spend the next thirty days being thankful, grateful.

Today I am grateful it is finally November! Christmas is my most favorite time of year and now that it is November, signs of the season are now allowed to start creeping out :) I know many of you feel it should stay put away until after we gorge ourselves in turkey and cranberries but the magic I see in my children's eyes and the warmth it brings to our house are something I treasure and want to enjoy as long as possible. So today it is November that is making me smile.

Harry Potter, Dorothy and the roosterdog that didn't happen!

2009-10-31T22:37:00.002-05:00

Happy Halloween from 1 miss Dorothy...

and 1 Harry Potter...

and Jackson was going to be a rooster but really preferred to just chew on the costume and really hasn't figured out how to be a good walker on the leash so he went one block and retired for the night.

Meet Jackson.... the crazy puppy!

2009-10-17T22:43:00.002-05:00

So within a few days of loosing Cooper we were fortunate enough to find a new breeder who had a perfect dog. Same golden doodle breed just a new color, twice as big as Cooper was (even though he was born a month later) and has much more of those new puppy tendencies that I had heard of! (ie. chewing on everything, jumpy - very very jumpy, fun things like that)

Not a good day!

2009-10-08T21:19:00.002-05:00

There will be an update (very long) post coming oh so soon, but today was a horrible day! After welcoming Cooper (see the cute little puppy below) into our house only 12 days ago we had to say goodbye to him today. The poor little puppy that had totally worked his way into our hearts in these few short days was very very sick with several different things but mostly a congenital (genetic) disorder causing his body to not use protein. He fought so hard for the last 24 hours to try and get better, but it just wasn't in the cards. This afternoon the kids and I went over to the vet to say goodbye and let him go and keep uncle Michael company for a while. The kids are devastated and want to know why "everyone we love keeps dying" to which I don't have any answer other than life can be hard.

It was that time of year again (wooohooo)!

2009-09-01T00:42:00.001-05:00

Let the whirlwind of 4th and 2nd grade begin. Great teachers again this year! And we are off!

Help us name this new addition!

2009-07-30T12:41:00.003-05:00

This little puppy is going to be joining our family in September! There are a few names floating around but none of them seem to be just right. Suggestions?

A Photo Story (and proof we have been alive) of the last 8 weeks!

2009-07-30T11:13:00.004-05:00

How time flies when you are away having fun. So here is the run down on where the MIA Bailey family has been.....

Rows and rows of goody boxes must mean one thing...

Another Ragnar!

Our night before meet up at Chelle's house. It isn't easy to co-ordinate 24 strangers from around the country :)

I feel so lucky to have done this and gotten to know these 23 other amazing ladies!

Kelly's stinky shoes riding on top of the car... yes they were that bad :)

when you feel like flipping off mother nature... she fights back!

There were frantic clapping games with crazy fun uncles!

There was lounging in the backyard

(she was smiling right before this and then pinched her fingers)

Then we all (21 of us) made the trek up to Alpine Wyoming for the 4t of July! Fun abounded everywhere. This just might be the new family tradition!

Crafting in the cabins...

They even got to be in the Afton Parade!

Earl just might have had the biggest truck too!

Crazy candy collecting....

Becoming a true local!

Then there were the games. Popcorn races, flag relays, and water balloon parachute volley ball which quickly deteriorated into just water balloons.

Hunter got to be big and go play paintball with the guys!

We hiked up to inspiration point and hidden falls after a

beautiful ride across Jenny Lake.

The buffalo that we watched some lady make some very poor decisions around :)

We celebrated Papa's birthday with tinfoil dinners in little Gray's canyon

followed by fishing.

The benefit of Granny and Papa still having a place in California is fresh squeezed grapefruit juice in the beautiful surroundings of Wyoming!

Megan took us to this great little splash park in Herriman.

We did the midnight showing in full costume of Harry Potter!

We hung out with Brendan for a couple days, and nights, while Lauren worked on getting little miss Jane here!

And she finally got here!

Look at all that black hair!

She has super long feet

We enjoyed Draper Days! 5k with the whole family, the kids at the carnival with Grandpa, swimming and a bb-q at the Malmrose house, the horse pull and Fireworks!

A priceless moment of a second generation of friends. Kora even gave Hunter her address so they could write to each other.

Never to early to get in on the family tradition of Wacky Six! 5 days is a new record.

Cowabunga Bay. The kids saw this for six weeks and begged and pleaded until we finally gave in 3 days before we left.

On the way home we spent a day in Moab. We went to Arches, swam in Mill Creek and got part of the way out to Michael's crash site. The dirt was just too soft and the impending rain clouds over head made us hesitant to go any farther. Next time we will rent a Jeep and get all the way out there.

Other things we did that we don't have pictures for:

~ The Oquirrh Hills Temple Open House

~ The Jon Schmidt Concert

~ Taking the kids to see a group called Eclipse at the Sandy ampitheater.

~ The Lehi Rec center with Megan and the kids

~ Watching Jorden play basketball with Deitrich (who is 6+ feet tall)

~ Meeting and holding Brynn

~ Jumping on the trampoline with Lauren to try and get that baby out!

~ Pulling off Sandy's surprise birthday party

~ Raspberry shakes at bear lake

How my little girl reminds me she may be little but deals with big things!

2009-05-20T19:15:00.007-05:00

A few Jorden things of note...

1. The other day the kids and I were in the gap outlet waiting to see a movie and they were looking around for a couple of summer things. Jorden found just what she wanted, a shirt that reads "Little girl, Big dreams". She told me she really needed this shirt because she really liked what it said. She does have big dreams.... she let's me know about them everyday and if you know her.... she is not all that big :)

2. The kids school has a publishing company where the kids can write a book and they will make it into a real bound book. Well Jorden heard of this and HAD to do one. The catch... she found out about it the night before the deadline! So we stayed up and got it done. She wrote a little story, and drew pictures of a dog named Pokers. These books are due at the begining of the year and quite honestly I had kind of forgoten about it... until yesterday. She came bounding around the corner, skipping with the biggest smile on her face, out of school with her book in her little hands. She was so proud of herself. We got home and she got distracted and finally set her book down. So I picked it up to take a look at it. I opened it up to find this....

She came down stairs and noticed the tears in my eyes. She climbed up on my lap and told me she wanted to go and leave her book with him when we go home this summer. I asked her if maybe we could just take it up there and have a little picnic and she could read it to him and she thought that sounded like a good idea, trying to hide how happy she was that she could keep her book and share it at the same time.

3. Such a little girl, but handles big things the best she can. She is trying to process loosing her Uncle Michael in her little mind. She is trying to express herself, her feelings the best she can. I get new pictures and notes everyday. Sometimes they are for Grandma.. (Yes we have a bunch to send you) sometimes they aren't meant for anybody, but always straight from her heart.

This looks fantastic!

2009-05-12T13:19:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's day to me!

2009-05-05T13:42:00.003-05:00

Thanks to some not too subtle hints.... The kids and Bart got me my mother's day present this last weekend.

I know most people might not be too excited about a treadmill, but I really am. With Bart traveling now my mornings (even the wee hours that I normally lay claim to) are not available for me to put in some miles on the road so now I can keep up with my training/new years resolutions/ keeping my sanity. The kids are even excited and love taking their turns every day!

Sparatic at best!

2009-04-27T05:44:00.027-05:00

Sorry for the lack of regularity around here - May is going to be a re commitment :)

So here is the scoop on what we have been doing since our last real (informative) post!

Hunter turned 9! So yea - he can be done getting bigger! Every day he seems to get up and be a little bit less of a little kid and it is making me sad. So goes the life of a mom of a pre-teen. He is quite the gadget kid and has been begging and pleading his case for an iPhone. (YEA RIGHT!) So instead for his birthday we became ultra cool parents and got him the next best thing, an iTouch! He loves it and never doesn't have it in his hands :)

He really thought we had given in and got him a phone!

Easter was a blur. We were getting ready to go home shortly after but we did manage to get the obligatory Easter pictures.

We had the 3rd grade invention convention, and we survived and passed with flying colors. He created 'The Detector' a system of mirrors and a laser beam to know if I am coming to make sure he is doing what he was asked to do. :) Lets just say we will not be recreating it in full size.... I like to have the element of surprise on my side :)

Bart quit his job! He is consulting now and traveling but is really enjoying what he is doing. And for us, that is important so we are making the travel aspect work :)

And then there was the 56 hour whirlwind trip to Salt Lake City! Hang on folks we are going to see how many things we can pack into 1 quick weekend!

6:00 Am Friday morning and we are on our way to the airport. Flight leaves a little late but must have had great wind helping it once we got going because we made it into SLC 40 minutes early. Got the rental car, all of our luggage and we were off to pick up Bart's rental bike. Got to the Bike store and oddly enough the bike they had for him was purple! Well either it is a really cool bike and the color doesn't matter or they thought when I called and said I needed to rent a bike for my husband I was kidding and really needed a bike for me. Either way this is what he was getting because everything had been rented out for the weekend. So load up the bike with the luggage and the kids and down to the Salt Palace we go! Found Lauren, who is really cute pregnant (I didn't get to see her last time), got started collecting packets while we were still waiting on the rest of the crew. Still waiting so we went and met Bart's dad to drop him off with so they could go shooting while we did party preparations. Back to the Salt Palace, found Mom, Megan and the heard of small folks.

Collected the rest of the packets - 11 in all - and got everyone back into a seat belt.... off to Costco! 3 adults and 6 children under the age of 9 isn't such an odd site there but seemed kind of chaotic to me but we survived and managed to get out of there with 3 carts off food too! Off to Mom's to find an email from channel 2 news wanting to do a story on us! Holy smokes are you kidding me?!?!?! So I got tasked with the job of talking to them and figuring out what was going to happen. By the time the conversation was done the anchor of the 10 o'clock news and a camera guy would be out during our family pasta party to get some footage. Food for 30+ was prepared, cousins started rolling in, excitement started growing for the following day, and all the while the reason for our gathering in the front of our minds. Pictures of him at every turn, he was there, you couldn't help but feel him. The news came and went, then it was the family meeting to spread the meet up information and to have the all important 'what are you going to wear' conversations. Prayer was said and all dispersed. For some in was a unisom and bed, others it was play time in a hotel, for Mom and I - curl up on the couches in the media room and watch some tv, lay there wondering if the other one is asleep or if they are awake with the same nervous energy you have. 11:00 PM Lights out (in case you were trying to keep track that means I have been up for 19.5 hours today)

Hunter totally rocked the 5k! I think I might have a runner living in my midst!

The crew getting ready for the kids race!

One way cool dude!

3:45 AM - I didn't even know that Megan knew this time existed but she showed up at Mom's just as planned. After all she did make the schedule for everyone so she better stick to it. Mom , Megan and Sandy were off! Holly smokes folks we are really doing this! Bart, Matt and I were in the next vehicle that was planned to be leaving in 30 minutes. Got the 2 sleeping beauties up. Neither of them really like that hour of morning either but we got off. We got Bart as close to the start as we could, and then headed out to park and take trax back up. We made it back up to the start line after and exhaustingly long trax ride with our vertically challenged balloons. Good thing Matt is tall so he could hold them and still have them be seen. And they worked! Met up with all the cousins, Shauna and Morgan, Kelsey, Lacey and Cody, John and from all accounts Katie was there just in the lines :) I even got to see Ang from the Marathon Mommies! That was fun! Now that we had collected everyone it was off to line up at the start line. We ditched to balloons on the handle of a cop car (so a Michael move) and we were off. Matt and I had planned to hang together and a moderate pace at the start.... well 2.5 miles in at a 9 minute pace I told him to just go! And off he went :) I got back to my original plan of a moderate pace. Was feeling really pretty good. Every time I saw someone with Michael pinned on their backs it gave me a great little boost. Between miles 4 and 5 we went into Sugarhouse park. It was fun to hear Katie yelling for me, had to stop and give her a hug (hadn't seen her yet) and kept on going. At mile 8.6 I was my first sign! (From all accounts I missed the first one) My mom's trainer had gotten pictures of Michael and made great posters for us to see along the way. They were such a lift for me.... it was as if I was given wings to keep moving forward. Alison and I ended up syncing up with Mom, Megan and Sandy at almost mile 13.

It was here that the purpose of this race became very clear to me. It was not going to be to get a great time, or to race the clock into the finish line. It would be to cross that line hand in hand with my sister. She was struggling, but was a real trooper! She had a huge blister on the bottom of her foot all ready by mile 15 so those last 11 miles were going to be tough ones! We laughed, we talked to people who asked about Michael, we ate jelly beans... oh yea and we maybe facebooked a little :) (hey a girl can multi task can't she)

Our support/cheering crew!

We would hunt for the next poster, stand and tear up, touch it and be on our way. Bart rode back and met us with about 7 miles left and gave his legs a big work out riding that slow back into the end with us. We got into Liberty park and got Megan to at least let Angela take a look at that blister, and oh boy it was huge! She started to doubt herself at this point... but oh boy we were GOING to finish this dang race if it killed me. Blister treated off we went. We would run (or at least move a little quicker) from one light to the next and walk to the next one. Once we dealt with a little dehydration and couple quick and small panic attacks we got to mile 25, and there was my sign. The one that was meant for me, even if it wasn't done on purpose. That one was coming into the end with me! Had to exert some freaky amount of strength to get it out of the ground but I wasn't leaving without it, oh yea and Megan! So sign in one hand leaned up against my head and shoulder (the wind was not co-operating) and Megan being drug with the other hand we were on our way! Hunter and Papa found us right before mile 26 and my little man took Michael and carried him in right there next to us. I collected my flag as we rounded the corner into Gateway and our support crew behind us running us in. It was a moment that can not even be created in my dreams. The overwhelming emotions that came over us as Megan and I crossed that line (at 6:07:00 not that it mattered) was something that words will never be big enough to explain. Not only did I finish my 2nd Salt Lake marathon with my little brother, I got to help my little sister cross one more thing off her life's goal list.

That night we partied! A BBQ more like a block party. 100+ people, kids everywhere. A celebration of life! Ironicly as we were having a beautiful night my mom got word from a good friend that as we were out honoring Michael's life that morning her husband had met the same fate in an ATV accident. So many life lessons were learned this weekend but one that is for front in my mind is that my children will never ride an ATV. I know they can be fun, I have ridden them safely but there is too much risk involved with them that has been given to me in a very real form.

We are home now, but not for too much longer! 5 1/2 weeks until we head back up and there are two little people at this house that are counting down the days!

We made the news!

2009-04-20T20:20:00.002-05:00

SPT.... The final crazy 8!

2009-03-31T15:17:00.007-05:00

While looking around wondering where I could find another 8 to do for this month.... I finally found one... oh wait I found 4 more on my day's until app! Thank you iPhone!

18 Days until the Salt Lake Marathon...

68 Days until the Danskin Tri...

80 days until Wasatch Back Ragnar...

208 days until Austin Ironman! {more on this in it's own post soon}

Look at all those eights in my life today! Thank goodness it is the last day of march... I am all out of eights!

For the last round of eights go check out Lelly's blog... oh yea and watch for April's theme and join in!

SPT - not 8 anymore!

2009-03-24T12:28:00.002-05:00

So the number 8 isn't totally in this picture.... Because the 8 left our house for the next 11months on Saturday. This is our birthday lunch to celebrate no more 8! (I know it isn't a great picture but I haven't perfected the hold the iPhone out and not see what we are getting yet)

Go see more SPT posts here :)

-- Post From My iPhone

2009-03-19T13:18:00.005-05:00

A friend posted this on Facebook earlier today. It brought me to tears. This song holds a place in my heart that is still so broken. My cousins sang this at Michael's funeral, and the bagpiper is astounding! Enjoy ~

Il Divo - Amazing Grace / RUS from ILDIVORUS on Vimeo.

Signs of Spring!

2009-03-19T10:16:00.008-05:00

How do you know it is spring in Texas? Well there are the 50 degree swings in high temperatures from one day to the next.... the being slammed by the return of allergy season.... hail storms and tornado watches.... the return of 3-5 soccer games and 2 practices a week.... a really jam packed race schedule..... oh yea and all of this (which makes the others so worth it)!