Christmas

It's so strange. Since I've been out of school, I rarely get on the computer. It's been a surprisingly nice break from the internet. But I couldn't let Christmas pass without a little blogpost.

I'll just let this picture say it all.

One of the best Christmases yet!

Thanks and stuff

Turkey day started with a nice little turkey trot with the McPhies in South Chandler. It was fun, but oh so cold!

Dad cutting the turkeys, he even BBQd one of them. Yum yum.

The Taylor's came down for Thanksgiving, and of course we love it when they come to town!

We took the kids to see Tangled (darling movie!!) and then to see the big tree at Tempe Marketplace.

And naturally the day after Thanksgiving we put up the Christmas tree! The kids were so excited!! I totally bribed them to clean up their rooms and the family room by telling them we couldn't get out the Christmas decorations until the house was clean.

Drakey boy got to place the star this year.

we sure have a lot to be thankful for this year, like all the stress right now because finals start next week. Thankful for that because it means the semester is almost over!!

El Tour

Last Friday night we went to the Zoo Lights with our friends the Stewarts.

Apparently one of the monkey escaped and put on Gwen's clothes.

Then Gwen and Drake got to spend the night at the Stewarts because early the next morning Ryan and I loaded up our bikes and headed down to Tucson.

We had some good company. Gavin, Emily and Emily's sister Sari did it too.

And I know my helmet looks funny sitting up on the top of my head like that. But that's what you get when you have a $15 Walmart helmet.

At mile 6, we all had to get off our bikes and carry them through a dry creek bed. Even a 14 pound bike gets really heavy after a 1/3 mile hike.

At about mile 45.

People along the way kept telling me they liked my pony tail. I'd say thanks in a weird way, because what's so cool about a pony tail? Apparently this is what they were talking about. It was tucked into my number and didn't know it.

All done! We did the 66 mile course this year, but have our sights on the 109 for next year!

It was so much fun, but I missed my babies so much! When we finally got back into the valley, it was about 9:00 pm. The kids were with the Stewarts for 24 hours! But when we walked in, the kids were disappointed that it was time to go home, and wanted to stay longer. They had SUCH a good time! Thanks Drew and Amy!

just an average day

at ASU!!

You might have to click on the picture to see that this guy's rear is entirely out of his pants! Pure boxer butt hanging out. But here's the best part. As they're passing me, (and there are several people around to hear this too) he says to her, "I can't wait to do you!"
Lovely.

oh dear

Today, this...


led to this...

Don't worry, no one was hurt, and the monkey bread survived! But now I have burnt carmel sauce all over the bottom of my oven.

Oh, and my Shepherd's Pie was cooked to mush.

Mixing it up

Okay, so the Ramblings of a Punk Rock Princess thing is way too old. I mean I never talk music on this blog, I'm so out of the loop with that anyway. I think the last show I went to was Owl City last year!? I just don't have time anymore. That should be the name of my blog! I don't have time anymore. Like right now, I'm wasting time blogging when I should be writing a memo about what constitutes "knowing possession" and "conspiracy". But to be honest, I'd rather chew my arm off. Well, only if I could grow another one back. Instead I'll just change up the blog and go to sleep. Good night!

go Ryan

Casa Grande Triathlon 2010.
And I was on the sidelines. As much as it pained me to only be a spectator, it was Ryan's turn to do a race and have his family there to support him. And Ryan did really well. But I don't think we should take all the credit, although we were really good cheerleaders. ;)

Look at my adorable munchkins waiting for this thing to start. And notice the cow bell. I don't think anyone around us would have asked for more cow bell. Like I said, we were really good cheerleaders.

Drake kept making this face in all the pictures.

Ryan tearing through the water. Notice what a nice arm pit Ryan has. In his own words, "if you've got it, flaunt it." Well he's got it!

Coming in from the bike. And I know what you're thinking, "wow those water bottles coordinate with his bike so well!"

All done. My boys are silly. Good job Ryan!

And Ryan wasn't the only super star racer out there. Props also go out to Gavin (Ryan's brother who also did the triathlon) and Kaylani.

Halloween 2010

This year I was definitely not going to make costumes. so we picked these up at Costco back in August! I would not let them take the costumes off the hangers because i could just imagine them ruining them or what not. Still Drake managed to lose his helmet somehow. Oh well. Ryan took Drake to get a new helmet so his Iron Man costume would be complete. Gwen of course wanted to be a "pretty witch."

I don't know why our ward didn't do a Trunk of Treat this year, especially with Halloween being on a Sunday and all, so last night we crashed the other McPhie's Trunk of Treat. There was a Nanny McPhee there that the McPhies had to get a picture with.

And leave it to Emily to paint her girl's faces so cool. And too bad I didn't get a picture of Cloe's fish face! You would have died at how cute it was. These little monsters were adorable!

And then on Halloween we had to have our traditional Jack O'Lantern Stew.

Then since we didn't T or T tonight, the kids wanted to dress in their costumes and hand out candy. They had a blast.

We also watched Hocus Pocus a couple of times this weekend. I love that movie!! And now so do the kids. I love Halloween time.

video should work now

Ragnar Las Vegas 2010

Real Housewives of AZ. One of the most fun weekends ever! Loved it ladies.

Don't know what Ragnar is? It's a 200 mile relay. 12 people are on your team, 6 people in each van. Each person runs three legs of the race. We started at 10:30 Friday morning, and finished at about 5:00 Saturday evening...one runner is running the whole time! So we really didn't sleep at all. Can I tell you that there is something magical about running on a highway road at 2:00 am? Just your itunes and the stars. Oh, but watch out for tarantulas and snakes!

After the race ended, we headed to the Venetian for a relaxing night in the hot tub, ordering room service and a movie. Perfect way to end it. Oh, and I forgot to mention, we took 4th place for the women's teams!!

I'm a little embarrassed by how long it took me to make this video. I think because I had to listen to just about every song on my itunes before I finally picked my #1 running song anyway. I love Ben Kweller.

Also, don't hate the rose lenses people. They're totally hip. (and that's what happens when you buy your sunglasses from eBay)

Nike Women's Marathon 2010

Oh man. This was awesome! Did you know my bones are like chalk? I mean really, everytime I try to prepare for a marathon I get hurt. So this time was no different. This time my right foot. So do you know what I did? I took the last 2.5 weeks off from running! And I babied my foot. I even wore my boot! And it totally helped!
So cool things about this run. It's in San Francisco, it's all (well mostly) girls, and you get a Tiffany's necklace for a finishers medal!!
Here I am again with my name on the wall of Nike Town in down town SanFran. It's real, I'm gonna do it. Oh haha. I just said DO IT, and that's Nike's motto, and it was while I was talking about my name on Nike's wall for the Nike marathon, okay I'll stop now. And is my face really this big in real life?

And here I am shaking because I'm so cold standing on some parking garage in down town San Francisco at 6:00 am. Can You Still Feel the Butterflies. (throwin' in a little Eat World tribute)
But here's what's even crazier. My Ry-man and Buster Brown are up with me in the coldness to cheer me on! What a lucky girl I am to have these boys supporting me!!

And as soon as we got there, I got in the humungo line for the porta potties. And low and behold, here I am STILL when the gun goes off for the race to start! That's me in the middle of the picture with the pink socks. In line for the bathroom. Race started.
But I snuck over to the front and was able to start only seven minutes later! Probably before the rest of the people in my coral even.
Cute cheerleader son in his See Mommy Run shirt.
Golden Gate bridge in the background, around mile 6. And yep, it really is that big. My face, not the bridge.
Here I am giving my little man a smooch at mile 16. Ten to go!
Oh ya, did I mention how cold this was? Not too bad for me since I was running (although my feet were soaked and numbed out which actually was good because after ten miles my foot didn't hurt anymore!), but my sweet boys sat in the freezing cold rain to cheer me on!! I mean look how ominous the sky is! And when the wind would blow over the ocean?! Fa-reez-ing!
But they had fun still. Just goofin' off.


And Drakey always finding a dog to pet. He wants a doggy so bad!
but the long wait is finally over! Here I am coming in for the finish! And Tara, Andrew, Gwen, Drake, Aubrey and even baby Leo made it out for it! Don't I have the best family?!
And the only post race photo since again, it was sooo cold, and the kids were anxious to get warm.
And here's my Tiffany's necklace handed to me by a fireman in a tuxedo. Seriously.
So I finished. Which I'm happy about. I let go of any time goals since my training was minimal at best, but I was still able to beat my SLC Marathon time! It helped not having torn ligaments in my ankle this time. ;)

And then after the marathon, we showered, ate, packed up, hugged the Taylors good bye and drove home!!! Made it home at 5:00 this morning. Just enough time to get 2.5 hours of sleep and make it to my morning class. But walking isn't such a successful story. My knees don't like me right now. I can't blame them. San Fran hills are brutal.