Miscellaneous catch up

The day after Christmas Preston's side of the family has a mini race called the Butler Bolt. His uncle breaks it up into age groups and then all participants receive a prize. Nathan got 2nd out of 4 for the 7 year old group. They are getting ready to line up here. Taylor really wanted to race but no other 3 or 4 year olds wanted to so she didn't get to. So I guess you could say she got 1st place. I also ran with the adults and I got 7th out of 8 adults for our 2 mile run. I think every other runner has done marathons or participate in 5k runs regularly. I am definitely a greeny when it comes to participating in races. I am going to give myself a pat on the back for even doing it. I also had a major cold that day and my lungs were burning when I was done.

The Tuesday before Christmas we shut the shop down early and had our Company Christmas party at a bowling alley. We fed the guys pizza and they got to bowl for 2 hours. Then we had a drawing where everyone won a gift card of their choice to different places. Here is Preston, Steve (our dispatcher) Johnny works in the lockshop and Russ one of the on road Techs.The lone 2 women of the 9 employees. Danielle helps me with the books. She comes in 2 mornings a week and does the work at the shop that needs done like filing, invoicing etc. It makes it a lot easier for me, this way I can work from home and limit how often I drag the kids into the shop.

The kids came to the party with us.

Taylor and Nathan actually bowled for the first part and then they got tired of it and played arcades for a while.

Weekend Recap

Last Saturday I ran in another 5k. It was the Lifetime Fitness Reindeer Run. Here we are posing with a Reindeer and Mr and Mrs. Clause.

Taylor with the Reindeer.

Here I am before the race. Actually I am waiting in line for the bathroom before I run. I chose not to wear the race shirt so my family could spot me easier while I was running. Also the shirt was long sleeve that they gave us and I didn't want to be hot. I chose to wear Preston's bright green shirt. To be honest I look rather slobbish.

Here I am nearing the finish line. I ran the race in 36:39. My goal was 35 minutes so I was frustrated that I didn't make that time and wished that I pushed myself a little harder at the end (when I couldn't feel my legs anyways). Then I realized that I shaved about 6 minutes off my time since my first 5k on Halloween. I was proud of myself for that and now I have a goal for next time. Listen to me NEXT TIME, I must be nuts. A year ago I couldn't even run a mile straight when I made my new years resolution to run a 5k and lose 30 pounds. I am proud to say I have now accomplished those goals.

Eat my dust :-) I was very relieved to finish this race. There were a lot more hills in this course then my last race. The 2nd mile was definitely the hardest for me. I didn't think I would ever see the flag for mile 2.

They offered a kids K that morning too that Nathan ran. Nathan and I posing with our numbers and matching bright green shirts. This was right after my race and right before Nathan's.

Here we are stretching before Nathan's race.

Start of the race for Nathan.

Nathan nearing the finish line. He is quite the little runner. He has a great stride. I think he got 3rd place. He was proud because he passed 2 kids at the very end. Look at his big grin. He really is nuts because he enjoys running and can be smiling at the end. He ran hard the whole race. Never let up once.

A big THANK YOU to my Mom and Dad and sister Sherri for coming to watch the races. And a big THANK YOU to Preston for being so supportive of me and my goals. When I was voicing my frustration at not reaching my goal time he said "Julie you did it, be proud of that."

Saturday night we had a Christmas party for my immediate family. We started with a really delicious Mexican dinner. Then afterwards we decorated sugar cookies.

See all of those sprinkle containers on the table. We used up A LOT of sprinkles. The kids went a little overboard. But they had fun so that is all that matters right.

Natalie didn't decorate her cookie but she was sure enjoying it plain.

Eventually I captured Natalie long enough to get a picture with her. That little girl rarely holds still these days.

After cookies we dressed the kids up and had a mini nativity.

Taylor was an Angel and Nathan was Joseph.Originally Taylor was going to be Mary with her cousin as Joseph but we had a last minute casting change. But Taylor still wanted to dress up as Mary after the pageant was over so here she is as Mary. I really liked the lighting effects of this snapshot.

Funny side note. When I picked Taylor up from sunbeams on Sunday I was told by the teacher that she had learned some interesting things from Taylor.

Teacher: "Does anybody know who Mary is?

Taylor: "Yes, she wears blue and white."

Taylor: "I got married last night."

Teacher: "Do you mean you dressed up like Mary last night?"

Taylor: "No I got married. I married my cousin."

We should probably be careful who that info gets to or the morning headline may read.

MORMON 3 year old girl marries her cousin.


Sunday night we finally went to see the Temple Christmas lights. The weather was perfect and the lights were beautiful.

More Christmas Activities

We have had a busy couple of weeks but I have not been very good at taking pictures. Here are some that I do have. Today I took the kids to get their picture with Santa. We have a car dealership by our house that takes the picture and gives you a 5x7 picture for FREE and they let you take your own picture too. We have done it this way for the past 3 years. As you can see Nathan was happy to visit Santa, Taylor was trying to be brave but still not quite sure, and Natalie we'll just say the picture is worth a thousand words. All part of the experience right :-)


Nathan telling Santa what he would like.

Last week I went to my parents house so the kids could play, and I also helped put their Christmas lights up. Nathan is playing basketball with Grandpa.

A really cute snapshot of Natalie.

Last Saturday we had a Christmas party for Preston's Mom's side of the family. There are A LOT of us at these events so this year we did it at a Church building. One of the uncles has a train that he made out of big water buckets and it is pulled by a golf cart. The kids LOVE it. Taylor as the Caboose.

Taylor sharing a seat with her cousin Ryan.

Preston once again was the elf at the party. Something quite strange about the elf being about a foot taller than Santa.

Yesterday I went to Nathan's school and ran the jingle jog with him. It is a mile course that the whole elementary school does. The PE coach has a son with Diabetes so they do this every year to try to raise money for JDRF and also raise awareness of being healthy and active. I of course forgot my camera to take pictures of this event.

Fun filled day with Trains Santa and an Elf

Last Saturday we were invited by my brother and his family to see the Polar Express at the IMAX. His work does it and they had enough tickets to invite us too. It was really cool. Before the movie started we were able to get some hot chocolate. We were given a golden ticket and Conductor Phil (pictured with us above) punched our ticket. The movie was in 3D so we were given some really cool glasses. (They were HUGE I wish I got a picture with us wearing them)

After the movie there was a special visitor Mr C. Himself in the lobby. We posed for a picture. Taylor was so proud for being brave with Santa. Natalie was terrified.

Then we were each given a bell. I tried to take a picture of the kids with their bells. Natalie would not hold still long enough.

Another failed attempt at all 3 kids. If you can't read it Nathan's shirt says "Dear Santa, My sister did it." Taylor's says "Dear Santa, I want it ALL" Both phrases very fitting.

What Natalie kept doing while I was taking the picture. The whole thing was really cool and it helped me get into the Christmas mood.

Saturday night was our ward Christmas party. Some of the kids sitting down after a yummy dinner for the program.

Nathan and Taylor and the other Primary kids sang a few Christmas songs for part of the program.

After the program the most handsome and TALLEST Elf I have ever seen came to hand out goodie bags to the kids. The whole bishopric was supposed to dress up as Elves but the other two forgot so Preston was the lone elf.I had to get a picture with him. It is not everyday that I get a picture with an elf that is actually taller than me.

The whole costume. Preseton was really a good sport to get in costume. We owe a big THANK YOU to his Mom who made the coat and shoe covers for the costume especially because she was really sick while she had to make it. I found the other items at Wal-Mart. We got many compliments on the outfit.

It was a fun filled day.