First Triathlon

Last weekend we went to California to try out our first experience in a triathlon. It was at Huntington Lake in central Cali, just northeast of Fresno. It was so beautiful and breathtaking, literally, being at 7000 feet in the High Sierra Mountains. Neil did the full sprint triathlon on his own. Brandon joined Troy and Chad in a relay; Chad swimming 1/2 mile, Brandon biking 15 miles, and Troy running 3 miles to finish. It was so exciting and such a rush even being a spectator. You could feel the energy and excitement from all the participants. The race went really well for them. They finished in an hour and forty three minutes, taking 3rd place out of all the relay teams. Way to go! Neil did it all in an hour and fifty eight minutes, very impressive for his first sprint triathlon!

We both want to train to do a sprint or an olympic triathlon next summer, if we can wait that long. It was so fun, we already want to do it again!

Back to school :-)

Yah, I'm so excited!! Last night I registered at SLCC to start school again this fall :) I will be doing some prerequisites for now that will eventually get me into the Surgical Tech Program there. My goal is to be certified by the time I'm 30. I'm pretty sure it will happen before then, hopefully within the next 3 or 4 years I will be done with the program. But I'm very excited and motivated to do this and start a career as a surgical tech soon!

I'm Forever Grateful!!

This is a bittersweet time for me...and its not what I thought I'd have to do anytime soon. This week is my last week as a nanny :'( About a month ago I found out that I wouldn't be watching Lily (one of the girls I nanny) after May 1st. I have been a nanny for the past 4 years and I have absolutely LOVED every minute of it. My heart is so full of love for the kids I've watched and the families!! I've gained friendships that I know will last forever! I couldnt be more grateful for the chance I've had to be a part of their lives and watch them grow...Its crazy how fast kids grow up! I have loved every moment and never took the experiences I've had for granted. I've learned so much that I would have never been able to learn anywhere else...I'm so grateful! I am so sad and can't believe this day has come :(  I know that I need to accept that things are changing for me and it'll be different from here on out. I am excited to start something new...But my heart will always be with watching these children. Nothing can replace what I've gained from being nanny and nothing will compare to how GREAT these last 4 years have been for me. I hope Charlie, Finn, Lily, and Lola will always remember me and know how much I loved them and always will love them! I never thought being a nanny could bring so much joy and light to my life! I love these children and all I have gained from them I will cherish my whole life! Its so hard for me to think of what it'll be like for me without seeing their faces and giving them hugs and kisses everyday. But the best part is knowing I will always be a part of their lives and the love I have for them will never go away. Thank you all for the best years I've had with your children and for loving me and making me a part of your families!! I'm forever grateful!

Baby Quilt for Cambrie!

Brandon's brother Jourdon and his girlfriend Shireece had a baby girl on January 24th. They named her Cambrie! She is so adorable! I have been wanting to make a quilt, so I decided to make my first one for her. I went to Hobby Lobby with my mom and Traci and we picked out this super cute fabric. She has a ladybug themed nursery so we coordinated the others around this ladybug fleece we found.

I cut all the fabric and then laid it out to make a pattern we all liked. Then sewed an X on all the squares with the polka dot print on the back and batting between the two, and sewed each row together. After it was all one quilt, I cut the ends to have it fray and "rag" and we had to wash it a few times to get it to rag really well. It all turned out so cute! I loved it and they did too! It was a lot of fun and simple to do. I can't wait to make another one! Thanks Mom for all your help!! And Traci for helping and taking the pics!
(I forgot to get a picture of it after we washed it, but you can get an idea of how it looked)

Five Years!

Today is our 5 year anniversary of the day Brandon and I met!!

I just have to say thanks to Gandolfo's and Sports Center! And if it weren't for my family opening up a Gandolfo's I wouldn't have applied at the Herriman location where Brandon was talked into, by his former students at South Hills middle school, to go eat lunch that day...

Thanks to Sports Center for starting up a conversation that led to the "can I get your number" line that led to dates and fun times together, that led to falling in love and then eventually to a marriage of eternal bliss! I am so blessed to be with the man I love!

My life has never been better since the day I first saw Brandon... in Gandolfo's, ordering a sandwich (the new york ranger, no tomatoes, no onions...i still remember!), and watching SC! I know it all happen the way it was suppose to and when it was suppose to. I'm forever grateful!