Kids Gladden Farms Duathlon

We have a great friend here is Gladden Farms that has spent a of of time putting together community events to encourage people to stay active. She put together an after school program called  "Run like a girl" at the elementary school that Bailee participated in last year. She also put together a kids duathalon so the kids could run and bike. There were different distances for different age groups.

Before the race ... Lexi and Raden figured it would be smarter to run with helmets on so they didnt have to waste time putting them on before they rode their bikes

Jadie's group lining up at the starting line

 Finishing the last run - she is crying in this picture because she crashed on her bike - but she finished the race anyway! Love that she is running with her helmet

A cold drink and medal made it all worth it 

Raden and Lexi's group lining up to start

Racing on the bike

Lexi isnt far behind - with Daddy cheering her on!

High fiving Daddy on the last leg of the race

Almost at the finish line!

 

She did it! 

Finished!

Bailee's group lining up - the shirts Bailee and Kylee are wearing are from the run like a girl program

looking good!

Almost there!

Finished!

New struggles

I know I'm jumping around time wise with these posts but I just needed to post this before I let busy schedules get  in the way. Its crazy having two different school schedules now and we are still trying to get the hang of it all. So Bailee started junior high this year - 7th grade. Its just amazing to me that she's that old. In fact as I type this she is doing her homework in the other room while waiting to wash out her hair dye - got rid of the red streaks. Last week was the first week of school and it seemed to go really well. I thought to myself - what was i worried about - she's doing great! Well today was the first rough day and it broke my heart. As she was telling me about her day all i kept wanting to do was put her in a bubble somewhere so she doesn't have to deal with things of the world. Now nothing major happened - just normal junior high stuff - worries about being late to school, locker issues, boys ( it seems thats all anyone cares about is getting a boyfriend- she already has a boy that wants to go out with her) , having to change in the locker room, softball tryouts, late night homework, busy schedules ... you get the idea. She has always been a perfectionist and I know she is pretty overwhelmed with everything.   She does have some good friends though and I know that will help. She is strong and I know she will get through it and  probably actually enjoy it - but I am starting to realize the importance of making our home a sanctuary for our family. Where we can leave everything at the door and feel loved and safe. Lots of prayers, hugs and kisses! Here is to a new chapter and adventure in our lives!

Summer 2012

Let the catching up begin! Today is August 13 and the kids are in school - except Koston. I have a week till my classes begin so I am going to catch up as much as I can with what we have been up to.


We had a bonfire for St Patricks day at a friend's farm - the kids loved playing on the hay

Jadie loved the zip line! They took her about half way up and let her go by herself. Then Jared took her all the way to the top and went down with her

Bailee flying down!

Raden lovin it! Jared was there to catch any one that let go :)

Kind of blury but thats Lexi coming down too. To get to the top the kids had to climb hay stacks that had been set up like stairs - about 30 feet high.

For dinner we cooked hot dogs  - complete with kids finding sticks to cook them on - and all brought a green side dish.

Raden and Cameron Hatch - behind him - braving the heat to cook their dinner - or maybe smores 

This summer we also celebrated my grandpa - Marshall Smyth's 90th birthday! He is such an amazing Man! 

Just too cute not to put in the post - When Koston gets tired he cuddles with his blanket on the floor. This time I was getting ready in the bathroom and he decided to lie on the floor in there with me. 

Or he will just fall alseep in his high chair

In April we also celebrated my mom's 63rd birthday! There are no words to describe how much I admire and love my mom!

Whats been going on in March

Im still trying to figure out how to use our new computer and cell phone - so blogging has taken a back seat. But here are somethings that we have been doing in March:


Raden finished flag football season

We got a special surprise for St Patricks Day

Koston learned to talk on the phone

Training for the kids duathlon  on April 7th

Run Bailee Run

Still smiling after riding laps

Jadie complete with with skirt and cowboy boots

Koston being cute

Finally turned the carseat around and he loves watching movies while we travel

Bailee and Koston and Brilynn's birthday party

Tata is Koston's favorite now that he shared his ice-cream

Future drummer

Tied herself to the tree and then couldn't get untied - that's my jadie

Brother story time

Raden started baseball

Homemade kites - they were supposed to be using the bags to pick weeds

just chill in

Already just about March

Well needless to say the first two months of 2012 have just flown by.  It has definitely been a trying past couple months for us. But that is for another post when I am awake enough to write it all down. Here are just  a couple pics to update what we have been doing.

Going for morning walks complete with hot chocolate, snacks and toys. Gotta be prepared!

Raden played flag football for the winter season - the teams name was Decepticons.  Here he is with Cameron Basaldua and Camron Hatch

Being the "Shadow"

Koston walking with Grandma at the game

 The team and their awesome nicknames!

 Rade's class went on a field trip to the Desert Museum and we were able to go with them.
Jadie waiting for the bus to get there

Taking a little break with Raden's friend Drake

mans best friend - 

Jadies playgroup/preschool. May, Jaylee, Kate and Jadie - making crowns for Queens on "Q" day

Raden's first Pine Wood Derby! His car was named BBW - Black Block of wood

The beautiful flowers Jared brought me for Valentines Day

At Raden's game - Koston enjoying the sucker Aunt Gina bribed him with to get him to sit with her.

One happy little man!

Faith and Trust

I thought this was a good thing to tell for my last post of 2011. This is something that has really stuck with me -


The van was having problems starting and it turned out that we needed a new battery and some other things. Dad looked at it at the fire station and  while he was trying to figure out what was going on with it, it died - we were able to jump start it and make it back home but when i went to start it again to roll the windows up it was completely dead and the engine wouldnt even turn over.

The next morning I was supposed to take the kids to school since Bailee's cello cant go on the bus and I forgot that the car was broken - so after getting in the car Bailee came back inside and reminded me that it didnt work. The kids were all pretty bummed since they dont like being late for school but we didnt have any choice but to wait for dad to take them to school after he got home from work. I went back to my bathroom to finish getting ready and after a couple minutes  Raden came in with his backpack on and told me that I needed to try to start the car. I told him that I was sorry but it wouldn't work. He kept asking me to try and I finally got frustrated with him and told him to trust me - that I  knew what I was talking about and that the car wouldnt start. I took him to the garage to show him that I was right and then he even told me to open the garage so the car fumes wouldnt get into the house. I just sighed and maybe rolled my eyes and got in the front seat - and wouldnt you know it the car started right away. So now I am scrambling yelling at everyone to get in the car and there he was  just standing there smiling with his back pack on and quietly told me - "I prayed mom". Well that stopped me in my tracks - He ,first of all, thought to pray and then when I kept telling him to trust me  he knew better than that and trusted his Heavenly Father.


My hope for this coming year is that we will be able to remember that experience and the faith and trust that Raden showed me so when the world is telling us that we need to trust it and that it knows what its doing that we will know better than that and turn to our Heavenly Father and put our trust and faith in Him. If He will help  with something as small as getting to school on time then how much more will he be willing and wanting to help us when greater issues and trials come. We just have to know who to turn to.