I give Him all the glory......

for successfully finishing the half marathon that I have been training so very hard for in a personal record time for me. It was extremely hard during the race to keep going at times. I kept singing to myself the song, "You are my all in all." The words "You are my strength when I am weak, when I fall down You pick me up, when I am dry You fill my cup," kept repeating in my head throughout the race when I wanting to throw in the towel. It was a wonderful and exilirating feeling when I finished. All the hard work paid off with a race time of 1:53:41. I didn't make the 1:49 that I was aiming for to beat my husbands one and only half marathon time, but I was still pumped. My running buddies Alica and Heidi also helped push me during the trainings and Alica was there during the race slowing down when she could have ran so much faster. It was great to see Travis and the kids throughout the race and at the finish line cheering me on. Go figure that my camera's batteries were out even though I just had changed them. There were also so many of my OT friends that ran the race. These girls I went to OT school with and they are also big runners. It was so good seeing them out there running and everyone being together again (except Ash who was cheering on the Hogs). We all went over to Krysta's mom's house for some yummy Norwegian (sp??) pancakes. They were soooo good.
If you have never ran or walked a race, I strongly recommend it. Just start at training for a 5K, which is 3 miles, and sign up for a race with a friend. The reward of crossing that finish line is the feeling that all that hard work paid off. It is well worth it and you feel so good! Thanks for those who were praying for me! It was a great day!!

For all you moms with kids in school.......

how do you determine what papers to keep and what papers not to keep when they bring home at least 3 papers a day of activities they did in school? I have kept all of Noah's papers so far that have been sent home in his backpack, but his drawer is already getting full. I don't want to throw anything away, but come on, their are soooooo many. I know they will just go in a box one day and probably never be open again until he is grown and probably not by anyone but me. So, any suggestions on what you do?

More pumpkin patch pictures!

What a little ham!

My mamaw with some huge sunglasses on that Brian Kinder gave her.

My mom and dad and the kids!

My main little man and me!

Johnston pumpkin patch!!

Noah and his buddy Tess!

Noah, Ally and Anna Klaire

Yesterday we went to the Johnston Pumpkin Patch. My grandma's newphew owns it and we go every year! The kids had the best time yet this year. They had Brian Kinder there yesterday and he sang some of his well known kids songs. The kids got to dance and sing and they had a big time. We saw lots of animals too. Their were miniture ponies there that my Uncle Richard raises as well as pigs, bunnies and ducks. Noah really didn't care about anything except wanting to go on the hayride. He kept seeing the tractor as we were dancing and saying, "Let's go." They had a gorgeous array on sunflowers in the back. They were just beautiful and a perfect area for pictures if anyone needs a place to get some good pics for the fall. It was a great day!

I was tagged by Georgia....

So, here are the rules:
Thanks to Georiga (oh and by the way, I tried to copy and paste the rules box to my post, but it wouldn't let me), I have to list 7 weird or random things about me and then tag others at the end. So, here it goes!!

1. I love coffee!! I love to drink it and smell it. I drink it at morning, lunch and dinner sometimes. Travis and I love to have it on Saturday and Sunday mornings hanging out with the kiddos outside on the back porch with this awesome weather we are having right now.

2. After watching my sister give birth to her second daughter, Anna Klaire, I wish at that time that I could be an OB/GYN. I know that sounds funny, but I loved watching her come into this world and the joy on a mother's face. It was beautiful!

3. I want to take singing lessons and piano lessons again. I took piano lessons for five years when I was younger and gave it up. I wished I hadn't have though. I love to hear music from the piano. And I do wish I could carry a tune. I try really hard and in church I let it all out. I figure it sounds beautiful to Jesus.

4. My children sleep on a blow up mattress beside our bed.

5. I coincidentally named my children from the characters in the Notebook.

6. I bite my nails.

7. I enjoy running! It hurts my knees sometimes, but I love the way it makes me feel when I am finished and I figure that most people need some sort of knee surgery when they get older anyway.

So, now I tag all my blogging buddies: Ash, Amanda, Anna, Jennifer, Jill, Becke, Micaela, Jenny, Casie, Brandy, Heather and anyone I left out!

"I'm not a toy!"

Ally is always, I mean always, picking or wanting to hug on Noah. She just loves him so much and wants to play with him. Usually, he wants to play with her too. I know that one day it will all change, so I am trying to enjoy and cherish these times when they can play together. I never thought that I would say it, but I have really enjoyed having my babies so close together. They play so well with one another (usually).
So, yesterday we were outside talking with my sister and her husbands and there goes Ally trying to hug and love on Noah. So I say, "Noah, she is just trying to play with you!" Noah then responds with "but I am not a toy, Ally!" This isn't the first time he has said it either. He has told both Travis and I that he is not a toy to be played with. Isn't it cute how they think so literally.

My sister's third little girl!!

Amanda, Alexis and Anna Klaire

Amanda, Anna Klaire and myself

Amanda at 9 months pregnant!

Amanda, Alexis, Anna Klaire, my mom, Noah and Ally

My younger sister, Amanda, is having her third little girl anytime now. Her school teachers held her a shower today. She got so many sweet gifts. I am glad I got to go to help celebrate baby Ava Renae! I can't wait to hold her and give her lots of sweet kisses (maybe I will get my baby fix with her). It is crazy to think that my little sister is going to have 3 girls!! We are betting that this little girl will come out with brown hair since Alexis is blond and Anna Klaire is red. They are going to be great big sisters!

My sister and I have always been close. We are only 21 months apart, so we have had to play together and fight together growing up. We would share clothes (and still do), give each other ideas and confide in one another. She has had a few hard time like us all but has come through them with great poise and respect. I am very proud of her and her beautiful family. I hope and pray Anna Klaire and Ava can be as close as we were and still are. I am so happy that you are my sister! Congrats Amanda! You are a beautiful woman! I love you!
Shannon