BRINGS ME JOY!!!

There are a couple of things that have brought me so much joy these past couple of weeks...

#1 my little girl started crawling about two weeks ago and is all over the place now. I can't believe we are already here and at this stage of her life. Today she also wowed me by letting go of my hands while she was standing and stood on her own for about 5 seconds. It was so cute to see how proud of herself she was.

#2 was the last couple of nights I have gone for a walk while the sun was starting to set so it was a little dark outside and I could see into peoples homes that were watching T.V. and I kid you not, every T.V. that I saw on was watching the Olympics. It brings me such joy knowing that truly the whole world is cheering on these athletes. The huge amount of training I put into my half marathon does not even come close in comparison to what these athletes do to make it to the Olympics, they are such an inspiration to us all. Today was even more amazing as I watched our Canadian team win our first gold medal.

FUNSANITY

The term my Mom used near the close of our family vacation. It is fun but it is insanity. The final chapter of our family time was almost everybody coming up north to our house for the Vermilion fair. Everybody arrived Wednesday evening so we could get up nice and early and head to the Vermilion fair parade. It was quite the gang 53 family members in total for the parade, next it was off to Aunt Tina's for a bbq then the fair for chuck-wagon races.  Friday morning again was early so we could head out to Clear Lake with this time over 60 family members. It was a gorgeous day and everybody had a blast on the boat and playing in the water. We all then came back to our house for a huge pot luck supper with yes all 60 family members. This is where the term funsanity was used by my mother.  Once all the extended family left we ended the evening with some good laughs and fun games. The game with no name was played a few times and a couple rounds of Monopoly deal. This morning Trent and Amber and my mom and Terra's girls all headed home leaving us with Keltie and her gang until tomorrow. It was such a good time and  I love spending time with this crazy huge family of mine.

yes this is all my extended family

Macie has already been to three parades.

the gang at the chuckwagons

loving the lake

watermelon football

THE NEXT STAGE

The next stage of our vacation was going to Waterton on Monday with my sister and my brother and their families.  We went for a nice family hike then had a great picnic, the weather was a little windy which made it no fun for babies but the older kids had a blast. Tuesday we then meet the rest of my family at the Village Square Leisure Centre in Calgary and has a blast at the waterpark. Mom and Dad had all 19 of their grandchildren there including three new babies under 3 months. It then got a little chaotic going back to my sisters house for pizza and a picture of all the grandkids but we managed and somehow everybody got some food.

GLENWOOD DAYS!!!

It has been 8 years since we have been to Glenwood days,  but with some time off Mark and I decided to make the trek down south for some visiting with family and friends and re-living Mark's glory days. We arrived at Dani and Diane's around 3:00 and started with a wiener roast at there house and visiting and catch up. Mark's mother came and brought Corrine's kids and one of Mark's best friend and his wife and there kids showed up as well. After the wiener roast we headed to Glenwood for the very end of the dance and then watched one of the best fireworks display's I have ever seen. Most impressed especially for a town with a population of 300. Saturday was a packed day that started with a pancake breakfast then the shortest, yet cutest parade I have ever been too. Next was off to a talent show at the Glenwood school where Mark went to school for 9 years, then off to spring glen park for beef on a bun, games, and more visiting with friends and family. We ran into so many friends from when we were dating and married and I meet yet more new people that Mark new as a child. It was such a great weekend and definitely need to do this more then every 8 years.

at spring glen park with the Skoien's and Mark's family.

the parade

the talent show, these men where the Glenwood synchronized swimming team that they were sending to the 2012 olympics. This was seriously the funniest thing I have ever seen.

BOO-YAH

Well I did it and not being cocky but I totally rocked it too. I don't think I can put into words the feelings I felt as I crossed the finish line with not only a time of 1:59:12 (my goal was to do it in under 2 hours and 15 minutes), but I also got 2nd place in the womens open, that is any girl under the age of 35 and if you don't believe me which I don't even think I believe it yet I totally have a metal to prove it. Besides getting married, and having a baby this definitely goes down in history books as the most amazing thing I have ever done. I want to take a quick moment and do a shout out to all those that helped motivate me and get to this day.

#1. my hubby for all the support and help
#2 Macie, I do this for you little girl to be a good example and hope you have the same desires as me
#3 My two amazing friends Royall and Kristi who have trained and felt the pain and joy from running a half marathon
#4 my mother you are amazing for motivating yourself to get healthy at the age of 60 and our such a good example to all of our family.
#5 my father and brother in law (ryan hall) these two men are the most athletic people I know and if I can impress them with doing a half marathon then I am one happy girl
and #6 anybody else that has ever run one of these, it is a lot of work and effort and discipline but so worth it when you cross the finish line.

getting ready

Mark thought this pic would be cool, he said you look like a giant Kalinda

my motivation to be healthy and fit

ready to go

this is just the beginning girl that smile won't last

waiting for Mommy

almost done

finished

metal for finishing and flowers from my hubby, what a sweetheart

on the podium yes that is right a podium excepting my 2nd place metal

the ride home with my main man

my 2nd place metal.