Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Color Me Rad 5K

COLOR ME RAD
5K
FAMILY TIES

I heard that my cousins and their kids were doing this 5K race at the campus of
Utah Valley University.
As you run you slowly turn into a rainbow of color!
I thought it sounded so fun so I asked them if I could join their team.

We met up with each other the evening before the race and picked up our Pre-Game Packets.
Which consisted of a T-shirt, Sunglasses and a color packet!
We were all excited to experience this event!



We all met bright and early at the campus wearing PURE WHITE!!!


 Here are my cousins.  Stephanie, Mandie, Me and Chris!
Wearing our AWESOME...RAD...SUNGLASSES
They gave us


Here is the group of us getting ready to run!
We were all so excited! 
It was so much fun to just be there and experience all the excitement!
It was a PARTY!
COLOR ME RAD knows how to have fun!


Here were are at the finish line!!
So how the race works is you start out at the starting line.  As you run you reach different
COLOR STATIONS.  This is where rows of people bomb you with color powder and hose you down with color spray!  We weren't expecting the spray but that is what made the race.
There were 5 color station and each station was a different color. The people bombing you with color were called
COLOR BOMBERS!!!
You can see the people in the background that are in yellow...
THOSE ARE THE BOMBERS!!!
So as you progress through these stations you get more and more colorful!!!



 We took a picture with one of the bombers.  Then right after this picture he went crazy and tags us all... he had the black paint.  Out least favorite one!

Here we are in all the Colors of the rainbow!!
We were so grateful for those AWESOME...RAD sunglasses.  They saved our eyes but at the end of the day we couldn't even see out of them.

Here was one of the best part of the day.  Every 10 minutes after you cross the finish line people gather together and they have a countdown.  Then all at one everyone throws their color packets up in the air or at each other.
We did that three times!!!

Getting ready to head home and figure out how I am going to make it home without totally destroying the car.
Oh you should of see some of the looks I got from people on the freeway!
It was a great time by all...
We are totally going to make it an annual tradition.
So if you want to join in on the fun and see what it is like to REALLY taste the color of the rainbow...
join us!
On to the next race, THE MUD RUN
Then in August we are doing a run that is totally made up of FOAM!!!
What a fun way to get your run in!!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

BEST SALAD EVER...

YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!!!!

I would have to say that I came across the best salad that I have eaten in a long long long time.
Spinach, black beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, balsamic vinaigrette, and Italian seasoning.
IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!
I would say that the only think I would add to it would be some grilled chicken maybe a few red onions. 
It is packed full of PROTEIN!!!

Glenwood Springs, CO

SPRING BREAK 2012
GLENWOOD SPRINGS w/
THE BRANNELLY'S

We decide that this spring break that we would take the 5 hour trip over to one of our families favorite spots.
We were all in need of some R&R.

We took off Friday morning and by 3 pm we had checked into our motel and swimming the 93 degree water.
So for the next three days we swam, ate, explored, swam, sleep, swam, ate and swam some more!

Here is a picture of all the kids before getting into the pool.

The two best buddies!!!

The two other best buddies.
We are so lucky to find friends that have children about the same ages as our kids and EVERYONE likes each other.  They have been a blessing in our whole family lives.


When we first got to the springs we kept asking Derek if he was finally going to take the jump and go off the diving board.
It took a little encouragement from dad but after a few minutes at the pool he decided to go off the diving board.
By the end of the trip he was doing front flips and misty flips.
The second day we were there he asked Cameron if a front flip off the diving board was about the same as a front flip on a trampoline.  He said it was about the same but just make sure he don't over turn or you will belly flop.
He said that he wanted to go try a front flip and do it before Courtney.  So he got out of the pool and walked the long walk to the diving board and just did it.  He is become such a little dare devil.

I was a little upset I didn't get him doing his flips!!!


Cole loved swimming.  I thought after a few times at the pool that he would have gotten tired of it... but NOPE... he was such a trooper and loved every minute of it.
His favorite spot was over in the "HOT" pool where there were metal chairs and when you put a quarter it it starts to bubble and you have your own private jacuzzi.
HE LOVED THE BUBBLES!!!
There were a couple of times that he practically feel asleep in our arms.



Here is just some of the pools.
The one pool that is about 93 degrees is the size of two city blocks and the hot pool that is about 112 degrees is the size of an Olympic size pool.
They are huge.
One of the mornings we woke up to snow and we were so excited to get out and swim in the snow.
It is such a gorgeous place.

I got a few pictures from the Internet...

Here is the picture of the front of the springs... our hotel
THE HOTEL SPRINGS LODGE is the building to the left and then
THE HOTEL COLORADO is the big building to the right in the back.
The HOTEL COLORADO is said to be haunted so we decided to go and take a look around.
Here are the girls scaring themselves to death.

This is the suite that President Roosevelt said in!

On the Internet we did a little research and searched out the rooms that were said to be the most haunted!
This room was said to be the room that produced the most ghostly activity when the ghost watchers or whatever they are called came to do their research.

This room was a room that whenever they try and redecorate with wallpaper in the past that the next day the wall paper would be off the walls and rolled back on and placed in a pile on the floor!!!
CREEPY!
People actually still stay in this hotel and there was actually someone staying in this room. 
There are some rooms that are totally locked up and you cant get into them.
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!!
The crazy thing about this hotel is the last time we came as a family we walked through it and we just felt like it was a creepy place.  When we got to the basement Derek started to throw a fit and wanted out of the scary place.
We even told ourselves that we thought it was haunted.
It wasn't until Maddie searched it out that we found out it was truly a haunted place!!! 

This was a staircase that led up to a few more rooms that were locked up!

This was down in the basement where the jail was and then later the mortuary!
It just felt weird!

This was a picture of what one of the hotel rooms looks like inside!!!

One of our bathroom break stops!!!


The adults left all the kids back at the hotel the last night and we went out to dinner.
We decided to eat at
THE GRAND...
and this was our waiter.
HE WAS SMASHED... PLASTERED... TOTALLY DRUNK.
But it made our dinner experience memorable!!!
We told him that we wanted to document our trip and wanted a picture of our waiter.
We just wanted to remember him!!!
He was hilarious!!!


We extending the invitation to anyone who wants to go with us next year!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Easter 2012

Easter 2012

We celebrated Easter a couple of days early this year.
We didn't have Courtney and Derek Easter Sunday so we decided to do it Thursday.

Courtney has wanted Color jeans for the longest time.
I found this really cute store (Fashion Corner) that has so many different colors of jeans.
But with spring and summer sneaking around the corner I got her some color jean shorts.
They are really cute and some cute sandals to go with them.

We got Derek a Backpack bladder.
Cameron and Derek have wanted them so they can store water easily when they go riding!

I was trying to figure out what I wanted to get this little guy.
So we decided to get him something that he could use outside.
HE LOVES IT!!!
and
HE IS REALLY GOOD WITH HIS SCOOTER!!!

FUN TIME WITH THE EASTER BUNNY

Cole's new favorite thing when I pull out the camera is say
CHHHHEEESSEEEE as long and as loud has he can.
SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!
I wanted to get a cute picture with Cole Easter Sunday but I have to remember to not take pictures in the sun or wear some sunglasses... that scowl is awful!

My AMAZING NEIGHBOR invited Cole of right after church for an Easter Egg Hunt.
It was so cute and soooooooooooo awesome for Paige the put it all together!

Cole using his charm to woooo a cute girl!
He has skills

And....
well this picture says it all!
He wanted those eggs and didn't want to wait!

READY..... SET.....GO.......

LOOK WHAT I FOUND MOM!!!!



We had to get a picture of Cole and his girlfriend!
Aren't they so cute!!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Freezer Meals

I was invited a couple of months ago to go to a
WILDTREE FREEZER MEAL Workshop.
I was a little hesitant at first because it was a good chunk of change at the beginning.
But I decided to do it because at the end of it I would have 10 freezer meals all prepared and with healthy ingredients.
I am so glad that I did it... not only did I end up with 10 freezer meals but once I got the shopping list and the instructions on how to put them together I realized that I can separate a lot of these meals into 2 because some of the time it is just me, Cameron and Cole.  So I ended up with 16 freezer meals.
I kept my eye on meat sales and price matched a lot of my items.
We all cut our meats and veggies and separated them into freezer bags before we got to the party.
Once we got there we had all our oils and spices that we purchased waiting for us.
We just followed the instructions and put all the other ingredients in the bags.
Placed a label on the outside that had the cooking instructions and we were done.
What a fun night hanging with friends, laughing and being productive with making meals for the next 16 days.
I am going to be doing a party in May.
I THINK IT IS A FANTASTIC IDEA!
If you are interested I can send you over the contact information to my WILDTREE Representative and get healthy and organized!

These are my left over spices and oils... so I can make all these meals again!!!
I can even get on the WILDTREE website and type in the spice or oil that I have and it will give me even more recipes!

Here are my 16 meals before the party.
Here is the list of meals that I made...
they all smelled so good once all the spices and other ingredients were in!
Tomorrow we will be trying the ITALIAN FLANK STEAK ( that is what Cameron choose)

Honey Balsamic Chicken
Italian “Medallions” (chicken tenders)
Italian Flank Steak
Chipotle Lime Fajitas
Meat Potatoes Skillet Meal
Smoked Mozzarella Chicken with pasta
Smoked Mozzarella & Tomato Meatloaf
Adobo Grilled Chicken
Spanish Style Garlic Shrimp
Best Burgers EVER