GIRLS WEEKEND AT THE BEACH

SUN TANNING

BOOGIEBOARDING

I was blessed to have a great group of friends while we were in medical school.These are a few of them. We all got together at some cottage on the beach up past Oceanside. It was so nice and relaxing. We boggieboarded, laid out, talked, went shopping and to dinner, talked, went running, biking, lots of eating, and just loving spending time with one another. We all had to celebrate that we had made it through internship. I have to say thanks to Brett for making it possible. He stayed here with the kids. They had so much fun. They went to Chucky Cheese, donuts for breakfast, swimming two times, Wendy's, Mcdonalds, Baja Fresh, the dollar store, and the park. So the bottom line is I should do these more often.:)

BRYNN STARTS TENNIS

Brynn is such a cute tennis player. She is not sure if she really likes it, but onces she is there she does a great job. My friend is the coach. Thanks Vicky for taking the time to coach her. :)

MOVIE AT THE BEACH

A few of my friends and their families got together for family night to do a movie on the beach. We had a little picnic and then when it got dark, they projected the movie onto the wall of the Navy Lodge. It was fun being on the beach watching the movie"Enchanted".

BRAYDEN STARTS SWIMMING LESSONS

Brayden and I started a little mom and tot swimming class. He was quite a trooper. He really likes the water, so it is pretty fun.

OUR GREAT FOURTH OF JULY

Getting crowned by a "princess"

face painting at the carnival

Parades and clowns

INDEPENDENCE DAY 15 K IN CORONADO

We had a great fourth of July. It started early with a 15k. I have never raced this distances before, but I loved it. I ran with Brett's new Garmin, so I ran pretty close to the pace I set. I ended up taking 8th overall, and third in my age group. Around here you never know who your competition is, so I googled the first three females, and they were all pro's. It is great racing here, because the competition is always at it's best. We then went to a parade. It was great for about the first hour, then we decided to leave to beat traffic. Then later in the day we went to a little carnival with a band.(Our ward meets there every year for the fireworks). The kids loved the rides and big jumpers. Then we went and had a picnic and listen and danced to the band. (The girls had a pageant girl give them a crown, and they were in heaven). We then ended with a wonderful fireworks show. Now that we are in the military the fourth takes on a new meaning. I am so proud of Brett that he is serving his country and I am especially proud of my brother who is in Iraq. I am so thankful we have the freedoms we do.

BIG NEWS... Brett is no longer an intern!!

We didn't take the kids to the graduation, but we did get them for the reception after. Brayden loved the cake.

We were so happy to see Brett graduate from his internship on Friday. It was such a nice ceremony. The Surgeon General spoke at it. His talk really made me proud to be a wife of a Navy man and a doctor. :) I truly am so proud of Brett for all his hard work and long hour. One of the attending doctors was talking to us after, and he said to expect nothing but great things from him. He said he has got so much heart, and that he will be a great doctor. I agree. Brett parents came down, and they really helped make the whole event so special.

While there were here we did some fun things. Brett and I got to go on a fun date. We went to the gas lamp area of San Diego, and had dinner. Then we meet his parents and the kids at Seaport Village. The next day Brett and his dad got to go golfing, and then they took the girls to the Padre's game. (Everyone who went got free jerseys). Sharon, Brayden, and I went shopping and then to dinner on the bay. As we were eating dinner we saw a fireworks show. It was a great evening. We had a BBQ here today, and then they had to go home. I feel so blessed to have such great in-laws, and ones that I truly get along with. Thanks Banks.

FRIENDS

We made a 10 day trip to Utah and Idaho. We always have such a great time. I got to go to dinner with my good friend Kara. I also got to get together with some of my college girlfriends. My cute friend Sunny planned a water play date at my friend Michelle's house. My other friend Reggie isn't in the picture because she was our photographer. Between the 4 of us we have 9 kids age 5 and under. It was so fun seeing my friends and getting caught up. I am alway so thankful for my good friends. They always so great to be around and I alway leave them feeling like a better person.

FUN TIMES AT THE BANKS

We got to spend a few days at the Banks. I think the kids favorite part of grandma and grandpa Banks is playing in the backyard. Brayden loved the tractor, Alan's Porche, all the golf balls and tennis balls. We also got to see Alan take second in the Strawberry Day tennis tournament. After the tournament we went over to his tennis and business partner house for a pool party. ( Notice how cool the scenery with Brynn on the slide. Every time I go there I am always so jealous of there beautiful location and house). My cute sister Kelsi came down to watch my triathlon, but she got so sick that she had to miss the race. She came with us swimming later that day, but she was pretty hammered. Earlier in the week I got to hang out with her at my parent house. It was so great to be with her. We had fun shopping together and just hanging out at the house. She took the girls on a date to the movie and then to McDonald and the park. They are still talking about how fun it was. I am so amazed at women she is turning into. She is the best sister ever, and although she is young I look up to her so much.

PROVO TRIATHLON

YEA!! My brother Jayson and I got to do a triathlon together in Provo. It was his first one and he did so good. He ended up taking 4th in his age group. I was so happy for him I got a little tear in my eye when he crossed the finish line. It was a great race, and I felt like I race well. I actually was lucky enough to win. It was a great feeling, and it makes all my long hard training worth it. I got a new citizen watch. It was so great also because Jayson and I had a great cheering section. My brothers, Shane and Daniel, and Jayson girlfriend Stephanie ( also our photographer), my cousin Dayne, and Eric were all there cheering super loud. It was a blast. My cute kids were home with my cute mother in law. I always have to give credit to the one who gets my kids for the day. ( Thanks Sharon). It is nice to take a vacation from being a mom, and just feel like I am a triathlete for a half a day. It is a nice escape.

SPENDING TIME IN IDAHO

We got to spend the first part of our trip in Idaho. My kids had such a wonderful experience. The first thing Brayden wanted to do was to get on my brother Jordan's motorcycle. The first thing the girls wanted to do was go in the garden and get strawberries. They also loved playing in the tree house, the playground, and the walk-in doll house. The second to last day we were there my sister-in -law Tina came with the kids. Brynn and Aubrey had so much fun playing with Ella and Bria. They had a slumber party. The picture of them in there room was when my dad came in and gave them all princess rings. They thought it was like Christmas , and all he gave them was a small ring. It was pretty cute. Around 12:45 I checked on them before I went to bed and they were still awake. (Good thing it was only one night. It was just so cute seeing them have such a good time with each other). Tina and I had a great time as well. We got to go to the temple together and on a great bike ride. I am so glad our trip overlapped. ( My sister is law is a trooper. My brother Brandon has been deployed since last November, and she is doing so great. I hope I can do as well as her when Brett deploys). It was a wonderful time in Idaho, and of course we had to go to Blast Off. Thanks to my parent for making our time in Idaho so great. I love my parents, and I am so thankful for everything they have sacrificed to help me have a great life. :)

Fun date in the Mud!

Brett and I did a fun 10K mud run. ( Thanks to Melissa who so kindly watched our kids). We had to run up LOTS of hills, got sprayed by firetrucks, climbed muddy walls, cross creeks and a river, crawled through pipes and low ground crawls. It was crazy, but as Brett put it "It was one of the best races". It was so fun doing a race, playing in the mud, and getting to spend time with my dirty husband. (I figure if I sign both of us up for a race we are bound to get a date :) ).

I had a great race and actually ended up taking 2nd overall and 1st in my age group. I was so happy to have done so well, but I have to admit I was a little sad that the girl that beat me only finished 14 seconds before me. Hopefully, it will just make me want to do better next weekend in my triathlon that I am doing with my brother Jayson in Provo.

It was so fun just hanging out together after the races. ( We almost didn't know what do with ourselves without having the kids around :)).

I got this awesome picture of Brett right as he was finishing. I love the mud on his face. He did so awesome. I was so proud of him that he did the race. He had bronchitis at the being of the week . He felt good before he did the race, but with being sick and never really having time to train he did so great.The girls and I got him a new Garmin 405 for fathers day. We let him have it early, so he could use it during the races. I think that was a real motivator for him! It was awesome to come home and track all of his data from the race. (After seeing everything it can do I am thinking I might need to get myself one). I also wanted to say how blessed and lucky I am to have Brett as my children's daddy. :) He is an awesome dad, and my little girls and boy can't wait to see him when he comes home from work. He is so good to GO and DO so many fun family activities. He had been so busy this year, but he has always put us first. WE LOVE YOU BRETT! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! I also wanted to say thanks to my dad and Brett's dad for being such wonderful fathers to Brett and me.

There was over 2,000 people in this race. This is the finish line. Once you cross the finish line you have to stay in order so they can pull your number. If you look close you can see how wet and muddy everyone is.

Here is cute Brayden trying to practice running with my medal on. We are starting him early in his training for running. :)

The girls did the cutest thing ever on Thursday. I was on the phone getting tennis and swimming lessons arranged. Brynn came in and got me. She told me her and Aubrey had a surprise for me. They had set up a little picnic breakfast outside with their "first" fruit salad. I couldn't believe how good they did making it. (I did cut the kiwis for them because they were trying to peel them with a butter knife, but everything else they did). It was fun we had a little breakfast salad outside. I love my cute girls. I like that my love for fruit has rubbed off on them.:)