October so far

It has been a really busy month for us. I have no idea where October has gone. I love this time of year though. It is always so fun to get in the spirit of Halloween and this onto the Holidays. Since we have been home from Leavenworth it just seems like my life has been crazy for a few weeks and it doesn't really look like it is going to slow down. I like it though!:) Here is a recap of what we have been up to.

A couple of weeks back was my neighbor and great friend Jen's birthday. I asked her if she wanted to do something fun and we decided on a little get together with a few of her and her hubbies friends. Nick, her husbands birthday was a few days after hers. Happy Birthday, Jen! Love you lots! Our wonderful family friend Marlo had her 40th birthday a couple of weeks ago. Marlo's husband, Ben decided to throw Marlo a Surprise party. There were about 40 or so people all at Marlo's house all ready for her to come for her party. It was a great time! Happy 40th Marlo! Here's to 40 more great ones! Love you!:)Ben, Jacob and Isaac waiting for Marlo to comeA couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go on Issy's first preschool field trip. We went to a farm called Blue Dog Farm. It was pooring down rain but that didn't stop all the kids from having fun!Issy and HaileyIssy and a couple girls from her class, Bella and RileyIssy and her first little crush Jace.Issy getting to brush the cow!:)

Our good friends the Conleys came into town for a weekend this month from Utah. We hadn't seen them in a couple of years and it was so great to be able to spend some time with them again. We miss and love you Mary, Bill, Grace and Katie. You as well Kala even though you weren't able to visit!A couple of Saturdays ago we were able to go to Remlinger Farms for the day. Every year the Snoqualmie Ridge where we live have a Ridge day at the Farm around Halloween time. It was a real rainy day but we still braved the weather and headed there. It was a lot of fun for Issy and we were able to meet up with a few of our friends. There was hardly anyone there because of the weather so Issy was able to go on all the rides without a wait and we were able to feed the goats and have a nice free lunch curtosy of the Ridge. Her favorite party by far was the pony rides. Our girl sure loves horses!That night after the farm, we had our annual Bailey Halloween party and this year we hosted it at our house. We carved pumpkins, had yummy food and watched movies. It was a nice time!our niece, EveyIssy and her cousin AddieFamily shot, I love Issy's face!:)Issy has been doing a soccer class all month with her little friends. I got a couple of pictures of her last week at her class that I loved. My sister Heidi turned 26 on the 18th of the month. We weren't able to celebrate her birthday that day because she was cheering at a Seahawk game. So on the 20th we went as a family to the Melting Pot. Man, my stomach feels full just thinking about how much that food filled us up. It was good though and it was fun to be able to celebrate my sissy's b-day. Happy Birthday sis, we love you so much!On the 21st of the month was Marlo's son Seth's birthday. He turned 4. My mom threw a little family party at their place for Seth. He is such a funny kid and makes you laugh anytime you are around him! Happy Birthday Seth, love ya!Last Friday night, my friend Mara decided to throw a Dare night. A bunch of the ladies from our ward got together. We divided into two teams and headed to Bellevue Square. We each had a list of dares to do at the mall. If you completed one, you checked it off. Some of the dares included standing on a bench and yelling for your child really loud. Another one was crawling all over the kids toys like you were a child. Also one was stand in the middle of a store and pretend like you have to go pee for like 15 seconds. There was a list of about 25 of them or so. We spent a hour and half at the mall trying to do all the dares. It was pretty funny to say the least. We had a great time. Afterwards we headed back to Mara's house and added up our points. Depending on your total we then had prizes and we had a bidding auction with our points for the prizes. It turned out to be a fun night! Thanks Mara!:)Last Saturday we decided to throw our good friend Ben Reynolds a Surprise party. He has had a couple of months with a bad back and such so we decided to do something special for his birthday. We invited about 6 or 7 couples and we all again gathered at our friend Mara's house for a fun Surprise and game night. We played Pictionary(Sommer Style) and then some Mafia. It is so funny to see how competitive certain people get in games. It was a fun night and we feel so blessed to have such great friends like the Reynolds. Happy Birthday, Ben!Last Sunday it was the Primary Program in our ward. First off that morning, Ty was able to go up with his parents and meet Dalen H Oaks. He was there to talk to Ty's parents stake and Ty was able to go with his parents before that and meet him. He said it was so amazing to be able to shake his hand and have that opportunity. I am so grateful he was able to have the spiritual experience.

Issy is a Sunbeam this year and this was her first Primary Program. She did great with her little speaking part. She said, "My mommy and daddy love me because I can do puzzles." She didn't really sing any of the songs but at least she stayed up there on the stand the whole time. My little girl is growing up so fast. We love you our sweet Issy!!!!!

My First Half Marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

This last weekend 5 of us couples from our ward ventured up to Leavenworth together. About six months ago, my friend Sommer encouraged me to sign up for the Half Marathon in Leavenworth. I decided that I was turning 30 and this had always been something I had wanted to do but hadn't. So, I signed up and the last 6 months I have been running and training for this day. Sommer also sent out a invite to other couples that we were friends with to make a weekend of it without kids and get a house. As this weekend was approaching, I was getting more and more nervous. Running just over 13 miles isn't a easy thing at all. This last week before we left, I came down with head cold. I haven't had a cold in about 8 months and of all weeks to get one, was not this one. I was so nervous all week that I wouldn't be able to run. I did run it though and made it! Here is the low down from our weekend.

Thanks to my mom and dad watching Issy, and Ty getting Friday off, we left in the morning for Leavenworth. We got there around 1:30 in the afternoon and met up with our friends Sommer and Ben Reynolds and Heather and Matt Smith in the downtown Leavenworth area. We walked around the shops for a hour or so. The weather was beautful and it was nice to not have kids to chase around. The 3 guys ventured in the cheese store and they were in there for almost a half hour tasting cheese of every kind. They all came out with bags of different cheeses and beef sticks/salami. They were crazy about their meats and cheeses all weekend. After hanging out at the shops for a bit, Sommer and Ben got the keys to our house we were staying at. We headed to the house and realized that it was a mansion. We were right on the river and it was a 3 story, 6 bedroom, 7 bathroom house. There was a media room as well with 2 plush leather sofas in it as well as a pool table. It was so nice because we all got nice rooms with our own bathrooms. What more could you ask for on a weekend away. Shortly after we got to the house, our other friends Shar and Steve Olsen arrived as well as Chelisa and Tim Tree. Once we were all there the guys hit the pool table and us girls(mostly Sommer and Heather) made a yummy Lasagna for dinner. All of us that were running in the race headed to get our registration and then back for dinner. We ended the night all play the Great Damudi(fun game) and then headed to bed for the big race the next morning.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling horrible. I couldn't breath, and was really congested. Ty gave me a blessing and slowly my nerves kind of settled down. I didn't know if I would be able to run the whole race but I knew that I was going to finish it no matter what. So, Sommer, Matt(Bishop), Steve, Chelisa, Tim and I headed out to run our race. There were about 1500 people there running. Once the race started, we all kind of hung together for the first couple miles(except Sommer and Matt). Sommer is very fast! After a couple of miles we all kind of seperated. As I was running the race, I couldn't believe that my sinuses had opened up and I could breath just fine. It was cold but there was no rain at all. We really couldn't of asked for better weather. The only time I walked was up a big hill and I walked briefly when I stopped at the water stations. After mile 10 I couldn't believe my legs were still going. All I could think about was just keep going, don't quit. Once I reached mile 12 and saw the cars and where the race was going to end, I got tears in my eyes because I couldn't believe I was actually going to finish this race. As I came to the finish line, I could see my sweet hubby standing there with his arms open waiting for me. I collapsed in his arms and couldn't believe what I had done. It was such a life changing experience for me. I set a harder goal and did it. Words can't express what I was feeling at that moment. I finished in just a little over 2 1/2 hours. Sommer blazed in at 1 1/2 hours. Bishop headed in just after 2 hours. Steve was about 10 minutes behind me and about twenty minutes behind him was Chelisa and Tim. At the end we got medals and a awesome zip up sweatshirt as well. My great friend Aubrey flew into town to run the race with her dad so it was great to see her too. We all headed back to the house to shower and we got a nice big sandwhich and settled in to watch afternoon conference in the nice media room. After conference, the guys got ready and headed into Wenatchee for the Priesthood session while all of us ladies headed back to the shops to do some more shopping and get a bite to eat together. The Trees had to leave that night which we were happy to have them for one night but sad they had to leave early. It was nice to sit down at a nice Cafe with Heather, Sommer and Shar and enjoy a quiet dinner. The guys picked up dinner on their way home. That night we all gathered in the media room and watched some comedy videos. We all headed to bed hammered from the busy day.

Sunday we woke up to a nice breakfast curtasy of Bishop and headed downstairs to the media room again for conference. After morning conference, we packed up and made some lunch and then watched afternoon conference. We all commented how nice it was to watch conference without the interuptions from our kids. After that we all headed home.

It was such a great weekend of fun with some great people. Thanks to the Reynold, Smiths, Olsens and Trees for a great weekend. We are already looking forward to next year!:) All of us runners before the raceTy got pictures of us passing our house which was on the running route at about mile 6. Sommer, Matt, Steve and I
All of us finishing the race in order of coming inMy friend Aubrey and I after the race

And so the fall begins........

Fall has begun and yet it doesn't feel like it yet. The weather has been wonderful. Not to hot, not to cold. We have been busy getting into a new routine of preschool and fun activities like dance and soccer for Issy. Ty and I have had a couple of chances to get out and have some nice dates nights together. Here is what we have been up to.

Back in mid September my good friend Laurie had a birthday. We planned a girls night at her house and a few of us decided to bring the birthday party to her. I got a ice cream cake and everyone else brought lots of food and we had a nice get together with a bunch of women. Laurie has been a great example to me and such a great friend. I am blessed to know her!
On September 19th, the Yankees came to town. I have the greates husband in the world who supports my love of the Yankees. He may not agree with it but without fail for all the years we have been together he always gets me tickets to the game when they are in town. We had such a great date night out together and although the Mariners lost, I was happy to see my Yankees win!:)Every year we try to make it to the Puyallup Fair. It helps that the Seagals have a weekend where they perform there. On the last weekend of the fair we headed down to Puyallup to go watch my sister and have some good food and fun at the fair. Issy was way more excited about it this year too which made it more fun! We ate yummy food, watched my sissy dance, Issy got to pet goats, rabbits and chickens and she got to go on rides. She was able to go on a rocket ride all by herself. It was the first time she has ever been able to ride a ride by herself. It was so great seeing her excitment over the whole thing. We had a great night at the fair!:)Issy has started up Dance with her friend Morgan on Tuesday mornings. My sister is her teacher again. She loves it! I haven't gotten any pictures of that yet but I will soon. Also on Tuesday afternoons she does a little soccer class at the Issaquah Community center with her friend Morgan again and her friend Taylor. Last week I brought my camera and got some pictures of her. She really does love soccer. I love that she loves soccer too!:)Last Friday as Ty and I were getting ready to leave for Leavenworth for the weekend, I got Issy all ready and just thought she looked so cute in her outfit. She also couldn't stop hugging her daddys leg so I grabbed my camera!Fall has just begun and we are having a blast so far!