ACTUAL Birthday...(Part III)

Saturday night, the boys after their story went right to sleep, the girls... hardly slept. They got separated around 9pm by Aunt Becca (so Aunt E didn't have to the bad guy) and they woke up the Nana around 2am and were still up when Papa left at 5am. They fell asleep sometime after that and woke up around 7:30am. I calculate, at most, they got 4 hours. Crazy girls! 

The boys were up around 6:30am and ready to play!

 After a pancake breakfast, I got out a puzzle that the girls worked on while we waited for parents to come pick up. I was barely moving. I was so sore from all the games/exercise the night before.

 I was also barely awake, obviously.

 Dad had come home from meetings by the time the kids left and was on the other couch catching up too.

 This girl on the other hand was WIDE awake!

 and wanting me to wake up and play.

 I eventually got up, sort of and took it easy until it was time to get ready for church. After church we ran a couple errands, saw my siblings and then came home for dinner. I love this pic Mal took, the lighting is so cozy and I love my birthday banner.

 I also love this pic of the birthday girl. 27 years old and still SEXY!

 Mom making dinner and chatting it up with us. I seriously love hanging out with my mom.

 After dinner, Mal and I had to get on the road back to Phoenix. It was a great weekend, a great birthday, and great drive back. Thanks to everyone who was a part of the greatness!

PS, Heres what my knee looked like the next day. This picture doesn't not do it justice, it was GROSS looking! Stupid concrete but I still love you Red Rover.

BIRTHDAY!!! (Part 1)

Been said before, but just so you remember... I'm a tax accountant and my birthday is April 15th. Yes, ironic. So this typically means from now until eternity I will be crazy busy all the way up to and on my birthday.

I love my birthday and I love to celebrate my birthday in at least some way or another. (yes, I maybe should have picked a different career.) So this year, I have been EXTREMELY busy and had one of my worst weeks EVER right before my birthday. BUT, this combined with April 15th being on a Sunday meant I had time to make a quick trip home and CELEBRATE!  I made a quick appearance at work Saturday morning and by 10am I was on the road with my friend and college roommate Mallory headed home to Yuma.

I know planning your own birthday party is typically seen as tacky, but it was a fairly last minute decision and I wanted it to be something fun for me and my family. I also love the games I played as a child and haven't played in awhile. So I went Old School this year.

(Side note: Mallory was the BEST person to bring along, great to talk to on the drive AND she took TONS of great photos, so I didn't have to worry about that, thanks Mal!)

Right before the 4pm start time, calling the pizza place.

I don't think I've actually ever worn party hats before so I bought some for people to wear.

4:15pm, wondering where people are and calling the correct pizza place this time. I promise I was not mad, just looks that way.

Becca arrived first, but that wasn't caught on camera. My brother Nathaniel and his family. The kids loved the little banner on the door (dollar store purchase).

Putting our party hats on, the kids also loved these.

So these things are totally made for children, while it fit on my head, the string was so tight it hurt too much to wear for more than a couple minutes.

I love this picture of Nathaniel Jr. helping his brother Tanner get his hat on.

Another party guest arriving, Matt Thomas, and the girls in their party hats.

I love this family photo. I wish I had thought of getting photos of all the guests in front of the banner. Shucks.

(Again the dollar store).

My brother Quentin was out at a scouting thing with my parents, his wife and kids came without him.

My sister Becca and Isaac.

Hanging out before the real fun began. Also notice the little bit of crack from one party guest, this was mild compared to the rest of the evening, haha! My family knows how to party ;)

I love this picture because Jr. looks so focused and intent.

We then headed outside to get the party started! I'm surprised Matt's hat is still on, that string was painful.

I should have thought ahead and read the directions to hopscotch before hand. I haven't played since I was about my nieces' ages.

Isaac

While some played hopscotch...

we also got the jump rope going. Got some air there, Nathaniel.

Becca and Matt at the same time, Matt still in his hat.

I was always scared of running into the jump rope but I thought with Becca I could do it. We tried 3 times unsuccessfully, before we gave up and just started in.

The little boys wanted to jump rope but they couldn't so I offered to hold them and jump. Me and Q (Quentin Jr.)

Me and Isaac.

 I, obviously, was having a great time and had NO CLUE where his little hand was gripping. haha.

Crack! Told you.

Even Nancy, 8 months pregnant got in on the action.

The oldest girls are actually getting pretty good at it. Autumn is so cute because she jumps SO much higher than she has to.

Autumn, Eliza, and Kate.

Lexi and Kate hopscotching.

How sweet, Aunt Nancy holding newest niece Kelsey.

Then we got Bocce Ball started.

(Side note: not a game I played as a child, didn't even know it existed until I was in college but I love it and hadn't used the set I bought.)

Isaac's sweet face.

Awww - Aunt E (me) and Lauren.

Their serious game faces.

Boys against girls, mostly, girls currently out-number boys.

Feet!

Matt, Mal, and birthday girl.

Favorite quote of the night: Nathaniel Jr. "They're my balls, I want all my balls." Lol, boys!

Also notice the sagging pants.

Despite how many times and how high you pulled those pants, it didn't help. But I still tried.

After the first round of games we breaked for dinner...

Part 2 to come.

Get excited!

I'm Going to Die

and I started the process tonight! At work one of the auditor's client is Mountainside Fitness, hosting the first Urbanathlon here in Phoenix. So we were emailed the information and asked if we wanted to sign-up. The auditors already had a group signed up and as well as the corporate tax people. In the real estate division (where I work) a few guys immediately wanted to do it and everyone was all hyped.

I immediately said no, the urbanathlon is a 5k (3mi.) with 10 obstacles in the course, I wasn't worried about the miles, just the obstacles. But then I started thinking about the weight I've gained in the last couple months and wanting to get in shape and be healthier, and 3 miles didn't seem so bad. So in the heat of the moment I signed up!
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So to see where I was and see how fast I could do 3 miles I went for a run tonight. I'M AN IDIOT! I only did 2 miles and I didn't even run half of it. It took me 28 minutes for the 2 miles and I was wheezing like a fat kid with asthma. Though I did get several honks and whistles, so that made me feel a little better about myself, and as I came into my complex some guy at the mailbox asked me if I had been the one running on 40th street, I said yes and he said, "damn, you're fast!" But when its a 300 lb. guy telling you this, how good can you feel about yourself, really?
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It was nasty out still from the haboob and I felt filmy with dirt and had grit in my mouth and wheezing like a fat kid, like I said I've started the process of death. Now I know I'm not fat, but this is the heaviest I've ever been and I am DEFINITELY out of shape! So by November 5th I'm hoping to have shed a few pounds and feel healthier.
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Here are my pics after I ran, I'll post ones in November when I've finished the race. The picture of my arm will hopefully show a little muscle definition come November, if I haven't died yet :)

But HERES the really great part. Richard William Sorenson of Sorenson Co. has agreed to sponsor any of his children wishing to participate in this extremely challenging event. I personally would LOVE if you did. It is Saturday, November 5th, in Scottsdale at the new baseball training place. Here is the link, it shows all the details and the obstacles and you get a running shirt for participating, if that helps to incentive you. Now when you sign up and go to pay put in the code JUMP to get $10 off and save dad a little money. I hope at least some of you want to do it, I think it would be super fun!