New Website

Hello!

I just started a new website, letskeeprunning.com 

This is a blog about how busy and crazy life can be as a mom and what we all can do to enjoy life, feel great, and uplift each other.  Sometimes every day feels like a marathon!  It’s hard to find time to be healthy, entertain kids, clean, chauffeur, cook, and do everything on our list!  With four beautiful and energetic kids, this is a challenge for me every day, but I love it!  This is a place where we can all share our ideas and help each other out. 

Come check it out for some running tips and healthy whole food recipes, with the occasional dessert!

letskeeprunning.com

New House and Disneyland!!

These last few months have been busy but fantastic!  I love our new house; it is so great to finally be in our own place again.  Moving is stressful though.  I'm glad to almost be finished unpacking.  And here's to hopefully not moving again- at least for a few years!  Just as a side note- Brandon and I have been married 7 years and moved 9 times!!

Our trip to Disneyland with my family was fantastic!  Many many thanks to Mom and Dad.  I LOVE Disneyland, and it was great to share it with my family!!  The kids were enchanted and LOVED seeing everyone for a few days.  We really miss everyone in Utah!

Getting ready for the Toy Story ride which was soooo fun!!

 We saw many characters!  Tinkerbell and Ariel were two favorites though!  I can't wait until we can go back to Disneyland, so magical!!

So far California has been great! We really like it here! We celebrated Saydee's 3rd birthday at the end of July, went to the coast and saw the Redwoods with my parents, celebrated Canon's 6th birthday in Aug, and he started school!!  We've had a great summer!!!!

Moving to California!

I am promising now to be better about updating, especially since we are moving to Redding, California!  Brandon recently accepted a job with Shasta Community Health Center up in Northern California.  It is an amazing opportunity for Brandon professionally, and we truly feel like we have been guided to this point.  We are sooo excited and nervous all at the same time!  We, I especially, will miss our families and friends so much!!  Utah has ALWAYS been home for us, and this is going to be a HUGE change.  But we know this is right for us and will be an amazing experience!  We are leaving this Monday, and I am going to continue to post about our lives in California!

Lots has happened since I posted last!  Last summer I got my CNA and in October I started working for a Home Health and Hospice company.  I did home visits all over the Wasatch Front and some behind the mountains.  I was nervous to work as a CNA but actually LOVED it!  I met some amazing and inspiring people.  I was able to work just in the late afternoons and evenings, and then eventually I just did night visits.  Since we are moving, I am no longer working- which I have mixed feelings about- but mostly relieved that I can just focus on my four AMAZING children.

In March, I returned home from work one evening, and Brandon dropped a bombshell on me.  He wanted to start eating a whole food plant based diet.  Never ever ever ever in my life did I think Brandon would give up meat!!!  Totally shocked me, but we are 4 months strong, and I don't think we will ever go back!  We no longer eat any animal products or processed foods.  Just plants and whole foods!  I was skeptical at first about finding some delicious foods, but there are some amazing recipes we've tried and LOVED!  It has been an exciting and healthy adventure for us!  I am especially proud of Brandon who has lost about 30 lbs!!  I will probably be sharing more about this little eating adventure too has it has changed our lifestyle a lot!  Anyone who is interested- I highly recommend watching Forks Over Knives, Food Inc., and Engine 2 Diet.

These last few weeks have been jam packed full of playing and spending time with family and friends!  It's been amazing, THANK YOU  to everyone who has planned fun parties and play dates for us!!!

Here's just a few pictures of my little sweeties!

 Mj turned 4 in January!!

 Mady also had her first birthday in January!  Love these SWEET girls!

 More recent pictures of the kiddos at the zoo!

Get Ready....

Get ready for a super long update!  

Brandon finally graduated in April!!  It has been amazing being able to spend more time with him.  He graduated the same day as his mom!  It was a fun day!

 We blessed sweet Madelyn Lucy in April as well.  She was adorable in her pretty dress!

 Whenever we put Mady down, she always holds and holds and holds this position.  Abs of steel baby!

 My sister, Laurie, had her cute baby Cedar.  He is a lot bigger now and still so cute!!

 Saydee May turned 2 in July.  She has a FUN FUN FUN personality and says the CUTEST things!  I love this age!

 Canon turned 5 in August, I can't BELIEVE I have a 5 year old!!  Canon is a thoughtful and SWEET boy!

He is an AWESOME older brother and a BIG help to Mommy!

 Canon started playing soccer this Fall, and OH MY, it is HILARIOUS!!  Brandon and I laugh almost the entire game.  These kids are soo fun!!

 One last picture of my little lady Mady.  She is the PERFECT baby!  She is one of my little tender mercies since I would go CRAZY if she weren't so content.  I LOVE this little girl to pieces!

Madelyn Lucy

My sweet Madelyn was born Jan 24. She is beautiful and a wonderful baby!!

Family Vacation!!!

To celebrate Brandon finally getting his MBA, we took a family vacation to San Diego back in Aug. It was so fun and a much needed break! My parents and Michelle came with us, (we wouldn't have been able to do it without them!) and we all enjoyed the fun attractions of San Diego. We went to the Zoo, Safari Park, Sea World, and the beach!! Loved it!!