17 days Til Bike MS ~ Bay to Bay Tour 2009

You read that title correctly folks....17 days and counting til Leonard and I ride for a Cure for MS. This time we are testing our limits and riding 150 miles in two days! We start the ride in Irvine, CA and finish in San Diego, CA!

We have been training for a few months. I am getting more nervous as the days get closer. But EXCITED at the same time. Leonard & I are riding with Team NetApp again. Our team has grown from 6 riders to 29 riders. So exciting! It is definitely going to be a challenge, but well worth it!

We believe in this great cause and support the MS Society in assisting those living day to day with MS and funding research for a cure. For those of you whose friends or family have not been affected, MS interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body preventing people from moving. Hundreds of thousands of Americans with MS cannot walk, see or speak…let alone ride a bike. Please join the movement to bring us closer to a cure!

Team NetApp's goal is to raise over $20,000 to fight Multiple Sclerosis. We are getting close to our goal. I have to personally raise $400 to ride and so far I have raised $235 (THANKS)

....I only need to raise $165 now. I am shouting out to my friends, family & readers to help with this great cause. If you can spare $10-$20 (or more) it would really add up fast! Click HERE to make a donation to my page. THANKS!!!

Leonard & I rode the Bike MS Round Up Ride back in March 2009 in Florence, AZ. It was an AWESOME experience. It was my first Century ride, or 100 miles in one sitting. The best part was accomplishing this HUGE goal completing it with my sweetie!

I really love road biking! I smile every time I get on my bike! I give a little shout out of my love of riding every ride...just ask Leonard ;) It is great exercise and I love to feel the wind in my face as I blaze across the asphalt. I especially enjoy testing my limits, going further than I ever thought I could and in a ride like the Bay to Bay Tour ...Bike to Finish MS it feels pretty darn good to help others along the way!

I am hoping Leonard and I will be wearing these SMILES as we cross the finish line in San Diego on Oct 11th! Thanks for your support and well wishes! Just a few more Long training rides to go as we prepare for the big ride! 17 days and Counting!!! WOOO HOOO!

Here Comes the Bride...

Wow! Who is that Beautiful Bride???

This Dress looks VERY familiar!?! it is a bit wrinkly....

Well Looky here, It is my Beautiful daughter Kaitlyn in MY WEDDING DRESS. My girls have been begging and pleading for me to get out my wedding dress and veil for them to see for MONTHs and Even YEARS. So tonight I FINALLY made their wish come true. It was in a box in the top of my closet and has been there for almost 9 years never opened. Truthfully, I was scared to open the box fearing my dress was yellowed and ruined because I never did spend the money for it to get cleaned and pressed and packaged properly for years of storage. But tonight I decided ahhhh what the heck...we all held our breath as I cut open the tape on the box and there she was all folded up nicely in her little dressing bag. Sleeping peacefully for many years on the shelf. ( I bet my little dress was so happy to be free and even better someone was going to try her on and feel like the prettiest girl in town.)...I am pretty darn sure that is EXACTLY what my dress was thinking ;)

The girls squealed and giggled in delight. They oohed and aaahed and told me they can't wait to wear MY DRESS on their wedding day. It was pretty cute! I was tickled pink ;) When I saw my dress I fell back in love with it! I love it like I did when I put in on in the dress shop and my eyes lit up. THIS WAS THE PERFECT DRESS FOR ME!!! hmmmm MEMORIES!!!

Take a Look! Almost 13 years ago with the man of my Dreams! On the HAPPIEST day of my life! The Dress is AMAMZING!!! :)

It kinda freaks me out a bit because my Kaitlyn looks alot like me in this dress. WOW talk about Flashbacks :) I am NOT HAPPY about my girl growing up so fast and having her twirl around in my wedding dress isn't helping that fact. BUT she is BEAUTIFUL and I know before I blink my eyes she will be wearing a dress of her own (or mine if it she chooses ;) in really a few short years if you really think about it. YIKES!!!

TENDER!!! ;)

Looking just like a PRINCESS!

Ohhh, even trying on my RING to make it more official ;)

aaahh so sweet!

She melts my heart!

Carly was SOOO EXCITED for her turn to be a bride and she was a bit disappointed that it didn't fit? she is too funny. I told her - cutie pie you are 8! It is gonna be a few years before you will even get close to fitting into my dress. But you are still one GORGEOUS GAL!

Yes, she is standing and the dress is swallowing her up! It is too cute! She LOVE the ring too ;) who wouldn't ;) JK

Ohh La La, FANCY STUFF sister!

I think my dress is still Fabulous even after 13 years, Wrinkly and ALL! I would totally wear it again! Carly is like a little doll in it! LOVE IT!!!

Man oh man! She feels so pretty! The Dress is very Happy too :)

What a princess! DEFINITELY a Princess!

Sweet moments to remember!

She LOVED the Veil! Carly you melt my heart too!

I am so blessed to have such beautiful daughters. It was a fun night together, making new memories. I sure love these girls! They bring such joy to my life. Daughters are WONDERFUL! I can't wait to be there with them on their special day when they are married in the temple to a worthy Man who holds the priesthood someday...a LOOOONG time away! They are already making plans. They want to get married in the SLC temple! Sounds Great to me! but not til you are graduated from college and 25 ;) Your dad agrees with me :)

PS... I thought I heard my dress whimper when I put her back in the closet tonight :( oh how sad!

R.I.P My Favorite Tool!

It was bound to happen! My faithful and FAVORITE crafting tool has officially BIT the DUST. It was dying and yesterday while making my latest scripture tote. It finally quit on me :( it was quite sad. My Favorite Tool has been with me through 100's of projects. We have been best crafting buddies for almost 13 years.

My goopy glue gun finally melted it's casing and the inside of the gun fell out while I was using it. Luckily, I wasn't burned BUT I had to put my project on hold. IT WAS DEVASTATING!!! ;)

Ever wonder what the inside of a glue gun looks like??? well go ahead and look why don't ya! Looks to me as if I had a MAJOR FIRE HAZARD on my hands. I was probably minutes away from burning the whole house down. YIKES :) I guess I am glad it died when it did. hmmph!

Here I am in MOURNING for my Favorite Crafting Tool! My Buddy, My Pal. You will be missed GREATLY!

Don't worry little gal! I won't throw you out or your goopy pie pan. I will keep you and admire all the memories we had together. I am sad we won't be creating anymore together. R.I.P little buddy! There is only one thing to do now....

REPLACE you right away with a New, Shiny and Clean one. I will even start making a new goopy pie pan for you MY NEW FAVORITE CRAFTING TOOL! :) HOORAY!!!!!

Happy day!!!! Oh Boy Oh Joy!!!! I couldn't even last 1 day without you my new favorite buddy! What would I do without you??? ;)

See how pretty! Now let's get CRAFTING!!! I have lots to make!!!! WOOOO HOOOO!

Laura's 40th B-day Bash

I sure love my friend Laura! Yesterday, Saturday Sept 12. my good friend turned 40!!! A few friends got together to celebrate this special day with her. Don't you just LOVE her Glamour Glasses? They look Smashing ;)

She decided to open presents in the car on our drive to Scottsdale. I could have gotten better pics IF she had waited ;) but Presents are so FUN - it is hard to wait. Her good friend Kathy ( don't know if it is spelled with a C?) gave Laura an AWESOME Camelbak backpack! I didn't get pics cuz I was using Christy's camera at the moment. Then I remembered I had mine and switched out...anyhow back to presents...Christy gave her this CUTE Fall decor sign and some yummy candles and I was excited for Laura to open the present I gave her. She looks excited....It's a SCRIPTURE TOTE!!! Made especially for my Bold, Bright, Beautiful, & Happy Friend. Happy Birthday Laura!

*L-R: Angi, Laura, ME, Christy, Kathy & D A (Laura's AMAZING Mom)

Girls night out at Oregano's for some delicious food :) and we got right in on a Saturday Night. Lucky Us! We sat outdoors on the patio. It was a pretty warm night but the restaurant cooled us down with some AC fan or swamp coolers thing blowing FULL BLAST. Our hair was all wind blown after our meal. Can you see our hair whisping around :) It was WILD ;)

After dinner we went to Theater 168 where the BEST Improv Comedy Troupe performs....The Jester'z. Check them out HERE. Clean & Hilarious!!! Better than seeing a movie I think. We laughed and smiled till our cheeks hurt (on our face)...although my cheeks that you sit on were a bit sore from my 50 miler bike ride that morning :) I'm in training :) can't wait to tell you more!

My beautiful friend Laura!

Awwww! Friends Forever :) it sounds very teeny-bopperish but it is true. I knew when I met Laura, she was one of those special people that you connect with and will be a forever friend. We met about 8 years ago. She moved into my ward and then we served in Relief Society together. We became close and then our ward split and it was devastating for me. What was I gonna do without my Laura? Through the years of being in different wards and the craziness of life, whenever we get together, we pick up right where we left off. That my friends is what you call a FOREVER FRIEND. I feel so blessed to have her in my life and I look forward to the many years to come having her in my life. I sure love ya Laura! Thanks for being my friend :)

B is for BLAKE & H is for HAT

Let me just say that Pre-School is a HUGE hit with the Blakey Boy! He wakes up everyday soooo excited to go to Pre-School at Miss Katie's House. Unfortunately for him, it is only on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Last week he came home from school sporting this super cool HAT!

Blake loves his hat he made and decorated himself. He cracked me up. He wore it all day long, SERIOUSLY all DAY! I had to get a picture of him is his SWEET Hat.

He is one funny kiddo. He was being so silly as I was taking his picture. Making all kinds of faces and I had to post them all! This little guy is a HOOT!! :)

Isn't he the cutest boy ever??? I KNOW!!! :)

Oh Blakey Boy! I am so Happy you love Pre-school and your teacher Miss Katie and all your little pals. I can't wait to see what other fun things you make at school! :)

PS...KATIE YOU ROCK!!!

Lookin Good for School Pictures

Last week was SCHOOL PICTURE DAY for the girls. It is my tradition to photograph them FIRST after they are all dolled up & before we head out to school. We all like MOM's pictures the best ;), but it is my tradition to also purchase the straight head on - deer in the headlight - not coached my me - pics the school takes so we can have another "collection" :) But the class pictures are always fun to look back on and remember our friends and teachers.

Wow!!! How did I get so LUCKY to have such good looking kids??? :) Who knew Leonard & I could create such amazing little humans? Pretty Sweet!

I sure love these 3 kiddos. They mean the world to me. They keep me extremely busy and I wouldn't change it for anything! They all look so CLEAN and SPIFFED up. Love it!!!

Oh Carly! You Beautiful Girl you! Stop growing up I tell ya! HEAVENS!!!

3rd Grade & 8 years old. ~ What a Doll!!!!

This picture melts my heart. So beautiful! Love you Carly Girl!

Ahhhhh Kaitlyn! You are one beautiful little gal!

10 3/4 yrs old & 5th Grade ~ Such a Sweetheart!

This Gorgeous girl is such a Delight! Love you Kaitlyn!

~ SISTERS ~

On the good days & bad...occasionally ;) These girls are friends and are such a joy in our lives. Thanks for being who you are! YOU are Both so Beautiful!

Rainy Day Adventures

It is 5 am & my alarm is singing to me...( I get to wake up to Jack Johnson singing me some tunes on my iphone :) it is AWESOME!) Anyhow, I am up and ready for my LONG bike ride this morning. I was planning on a 3 hour ride this morning. I am training for another Century and a half ride in October...more to come about that :) My ride this morning was gonna be SOLO since my Lenny is in Montana on a camping/hiking trip. I don't mind solo rides they are great for the mind :) So it is dark when I head out for my ride. It kinda looks cloudy, but I can't tell...it is dark. I have my cool pink shades in my back pocket since I can't see anything in the dark with them on. I say my prayer as I head out for safety and protection....A girl can get all the help she can get :) I can tell it is gonna be a great ride and I AM PUMPED.

I head out and I feel a little drop of rain. but just a tiny drop. I smile and think, this is gonna be great!~ I am not even a mile down the road and the little tiny drops are getting a little more consistant and a little heavier. NO BIG DEAL! A little sprinkle will make my ride nice and cool....aaaahhhh gonna be a great ride after all :) Onward I pedal. Then I start to hear the thunder crack.... then HUGE FLASHES of LIGHTNING. I hurry down the road to beat the storm right? Ya SURE :) The rain started to pick up and I am getting many many rain drops in my eyes. You know it is hard to see with raindrops pelting your eyeballs? I made it 3.5 miles and then The HUGEST CRACK of THUNDER & LIGHTNING directly over my head. It SHOUTED to me LOUD AND CLEAR to me it is time to turn around and head home. So I did just that. I WANT TO LIVE :) and it was hard to see.

Well boy oh boy! Things got fun real fast. The storm I was trying to beat was in full force as I was riding home. It was funny! I laughed and wished Leonard was here with me so we could laugh together in this crazy rain storm together. The roads are pretty much flooded now and I am drenched from head to toe. I put on my cool pink shades to keep the rain from my eyes. I rode the 3.5 miles back home in the POURING RAIN and it was actually pretty fun. I have never experienced that before. Everyone loves FIRSTS right? It was an ADVENTURE for me and I loved it. Although I would love to have got my 3 hours of training in this morning. 30 minutes will do and I will hit the gym later to make it up. I did burn 222 calories. not too shabby :)

Once I got home SAFE & SOUND & SOAKED I pulled out my camera to document this great morning rainstorm.

See it is still pretty dark.

The streets are filling up FAST with water!

I turned on my Night shot setting on my camera to lighten things up a bit. The rain is coming down hard and fast!

This is me SAD.... I wanted to ride my bike for a long time this morning and the RAIN has FOILED my plans! RATS!!!! PS... i am soaked but you really can't tell. :)

But don't get me wrong... I LOVE the RAIN! I just don't want to ride in it. call me a wimp! :) but on second thought...DON'T ;)

But I am HAPPY it is raining too. We NEED it here in AZ!!! But couldn't it wait till 8am before it began? Come on now, that isn't too much to ask is it??? Gotta Love my early morning rainy day adventure!