My heart is FULL !

The way I start off my Thanksgiving, going on 9 years now, is by running the TURKEY TROT! I roped my cute cousin into running with me, so together we made up TEAM GUNNER!

Last year I ran WITH Gunner.......

This year I got to run FOR Gunner!

What a special privilege that was! I thought of my baby every single step, of all 6 1/2 miles! I just kept telling myself, this if for him, run fast for him, keep going for him, you can do something hard for him! It was so motivating to hear people yell "Im a runner for Gunner too" as we would run by them! He truly put the pep in my step, it was by far the best run I have ever had!




We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Goodman's this year! We truly have much to be thankful for! Here is the most updated pic, including the family's newest addition, little Rusty! A lot of people think the traditional Thanksgiving meal is overrated.. I have to beg to differ! I love and look forward to having a belly full of turkey, green bean casserole, and mashed potaotes with gravy!



The arrival of Thanksgiving brought much anxiety for me. The day after brought even more. I knew EXACTLY what I was doing at what time on that day last year...the more I thought about it, the more it consumed me, the memories came flooding in, and unfortunately so did the sadness! I just couldn't get over at how HUMBLED I was by how much ones' life could change in just a short year... truly, everything I once knew, really was no longer. I had no idea that I could be so HAPPY one minute, and so SAD the next. So, ironically, at about the same time I gave BIRTH to my special boy last year, I was crying my eyes out about the LOSS of him this year. My REALLY bad days, truly are getting fewer and farther between (which I am most grateful for) but, its on days like those that I find I am most grateful. I relish the moments I get to sit back and ponder about my baby and let my thoughts be FULLY consumed by him. I go through all my pictures of him and smell his clothes. A good cry is so cleansing! After, I felt empowered! I was determined to make the next day, his birthday, a good day! And it was.... it really was!



We couldn't wait to go pay our sweet baby a visit! It still seems so surreal that we own a little plot of land at the Mesa Cemetery...every time I drive there I still have to pinch myself. When we pulled up to the cemetery, my parents and sister with her hubby were already there visiting, so they got to join in on the fun!

When I went to go buy Gunns some flowers I couldn't decide which kind, so I decided to buy him mommy's favorite, ROSES! Nothing but the best for my baby! :)



We did a little balloon release for Gunner... we watched those balloons till we couldn't see them anymore.





To celebrate Gunns' birthday, we wanted to give him a present. We went shopping as a family and bought a shopping cart full of baby items. The girls had fun each picking out different things that they thought were a baby "must have".....

We put everything together in a cute basket......

Then delivered it to Banner Gateway, the hospital where Gunner was born. We told the OB nurses to give our "gift" to a special baby that was born on that day.

What an amazing feeling that was, even the girls felt it! Gunner is our little gift, that just keeps on giving! We decided we would do this every year in honor of Gunner's special day! As his memory continues to touch our lives, it will continue to touch the lives of others as well!




HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY MY GUNNER GENE! Your family misses you SO much! I can't help but wonder what you would look like or if you would be walking yet??..... I think about you every second of every day son! You are my drive that makes me want to be a better person! You make me focus on the things that are TRULY important in this life. You make me love and appreciate your big sisters more than ever! You make me love your daddy more because you looked so much like him, when I look at him, I see YOU and your big, blue eyes! You are missed my love, I hope we are down here making you proud! I LOVE YOU BUDDY!!

Dance Addiction!

This is the name of the cute little dance group the girls are apart of! The gals all got a chance to show off their skills last week by performing in the Veteran's Day and Gilbert Days parades!



Travis was the only guy amongst all the girls! He was the lucky one that got to pull his truck and trailer with all the girlies on it. To represent, I made him even wear pink and black! The little girls loved it...deep down, I know he did too! :)




For the Gilbert Days parade we got to sit on the sidelines and just kick back and enjoy the show! When I saw our girls float coming down the street I got so excited! I was such a proud little mommy watching my cute girls march down the street, shaking their little pompoms while smiling and waving to the crowd!




I think the Gilbert Days parade will be a fun new tradition for our family! A fun, free family activtity where you get all sorts of candy thrown at you, what could be better?

October at a glance!

I really didn't mean for October to come and go and never do a post... Life has been busy. And for me busy is good! So, better late than never, here is our October!

55 & Still Alive!
Happy birthday pappa bear! My mom threw him a little birthday fiesta, which, as usual the grandkids got to enjoy it more than him! Happy birthday daddy-O! I love you!

Mr. Pinata hanger/landscaper!


Seriously, how fun are pinatas? We had a little premature pinata burst, so we had to tie a big white bag around it, to give the rest of the kids a chance to hit it!



I always associate my dad's birthday with the arrival of fall! To me, this brings many mixed feelings... I'm so excited about the upcoming cool weather, and the fun holidays but I'm very anxious about the arrival of many hard "anniversary" days (for lack of a better word.) This time last year I looked like this

I was so excited for November to come, that meant I was that much closer to welcoming a new, long awaited member to my family. I was so happy and so excited. It's so humbling to look back. It's crazy to think how much my life has changed in just a short year. Life has forever taken on a new meaning. I can still say I am excited for the arrival of November, not sure if I'm ready to tackle the hard days that lie ahead but I know I have definitely endured worse! So bring on November! I know I'm not in this alone! :)

October {BREAK}

We welcomed this year's October break with open arms! This past month has been a trying one for many many reasons....for not only me, but for many people that I love and care about so much! I don't know what's harder, going through an exceptionally hard trial myself, or watching someone I love and care about go through one?? Needless to say, we were in much need of a break and we took full advantage of the time off! Thank you Grammy & Pappa G for making it all possible! Here is what this October break had in store for us.............

Disneyland!
We spent the first half of the week at the "Happiest Place on Earth"! I really believe there is a lot of truth to that! You guys already know what a big Disney nerd I am, so you can imagine how much I was looking forward to this part of the trip! I wasn't let down! We had a blast riding every ride, seeing every show and just taking in all the "magical" surroundings that Disneyland has to offer! Disneyland during Halloween time, was en exceptionally WICKED good time! These pictures don't need a lot of explanation, they really do speak for themselves and

I am SO sorry about the picture overload! I obviously had a hard time leaving any of them out!

Day*1*

Almost there! They could barely contain their excitement!






The looks on the kids faces riding Space Mountain is PRICELESS! (We were too cheap to buy the actual photo, so we just took a picture of it instead!)

Day*2*

The token picture inside the Toon Town jail!



Grizzly Bear rapids! You hate it...but you love it!



DAY *3*

The tower of Terror! (Once again, we were too cheap to buy the picture!) :)

Oceanside!
As if a few days at Disneyland wasn't fun enough, we got to spend the last half of the week at a condo in Oceanside! I was having some serious De javu cause it felt like we were just there! We loved it and were so excited to be back, only this time with an all new set of familiar faces!

Nothing brings me more joy than spending time together as a family. We certainly accomplished that and enjoyed every minute we got to spend together with all the Goodman family!
I especially enjoyed my time I got to spend with these three crazy characters!


Here are some HIGHLIGHTS from our trip!




Congratulations to the newly engaged couple Melinda & Stephen! We had so much fun getting to know Stephen a little more on this trip! We love you guys both so much and are so excited to welcome a new addition to the family!


No trip to Oceanside is complete unless you get to spend a Day at the Beach!




Monkey see...monkey do.... Tatum gets buried in the sand,

Peyton gets buried in the sand! The joy of having two girls so close together! I wouldn't' trade it for the world!



IF there could be a soundtrack for this trip, it would be LEMONADE clap clap clap CRUNCHY ICE clap clap clap!





If there could be a theme for this trip, it would definitely be LOTS OF YUMMY FOOD!
Every night was spent walking to a new yummy food destination, whether it was......


enjoying a DQ treat.....

eating out at a yummy restaurant....

Or an in-hotel homemade breakfast!
It was ALL good!
What's the weight limit in this elevator?

Every night was a slumber party!


We did a little sight seeing and took a walk out on the pier!

The kids were most excited to Swim in the hotel pool!
Check out this amazing view!....Oh, the ocean view isn't so bad either! ;)


Our last night together was spent playing "Werewolf"! We had some serious laughs in the process! First time Werewolf players are the best to play with!

All packed up and not so ready to go home! This picture is deceiving... I kept trying to do a sad face, but always ended up laughing. So NO, I was not happy to be heading home!
Awwww, nothing like the ride home after a long, fun-filled week!

Thank you Grammy & Pappa G and to everyone else who helped make our October break a most memorable one! We love you all so much! MMMMMMUAH!

Boo Bash #1!
This is one of the highlights of all the grandkids year.. My mom's annual, over the top SPOOKtacular party!

No party is complete without monster hands and witches brew!


The kids had fun decorating their pumpkins to look like themselves!


Gotta love the classic donut eating contest...powdered donuts are a staple at our house, so it's no surprise that Peyton came in at 1st place! We really know how to pound our donuts! :)


All the grandkids! (except one of course) My sweet Gunner Gene!


All the kids got to experience the "haunted room" where "Mr. Running man " lives! I told you it was over the top!

Sugar cookies anyone? Nothing like a little frosting in the hair, I lost count on how many times they licked the knife then put it back in the community bowl of frosting! Yummy!



Our cute little pumpkin family, Tatum, Peyton & Gunner!

BOO BOO's! {no punn intended!}

What are the odds of both my parents, both getting surgery on the exact same day? Probably pretty slim, and yet here they are! My dad went under the knife for knee surgery, and my mom went under for carpal tunnel surgery on her hand. They say it was a total coincidence, but I still say it was a conspiracy, so they both could be laid up at the same time and have to be waited on hand and foot (literally) by us! :)



Don't they look cute in their matching hospital booties!

Boo Bash #2!
You think we'd be Halloween partied out.... sadly, not the case! We couldn't miss my Grandma Rush's annual Halloween bash, complete with a spook alley, games, and lots of yummy food!

This is my mom and her sister Joan, or Helga and Inga as they called themselves! These two are two peas in a pod, and there's never a dull moment when these two are around!

Look at these two new additions, that got to join our family! Since Trav wont let the girls get a dog, these will have to do for now!

All the kids got to bob for apples...or as my uncle said, "Bob for swine flu!" Ha ha, we are family, we all have the same cooties right? :)

The kids...ok, maybe the adults too, had a little fun in the mummy wrap contest...
Maybe a little too much fun..
Why is it that this activity always ends up in huge T.P. fight?

There is something very wrong about this picture!

Schnepf Farm!

When I was in school I LOVED it when one of my parents would go on a field trip with my class, so any time my girls get to go I jump at the chance to join in on the fun! It was so fun spending the day with my Peyton Sue, her cute little class mates and some of my other nieces and nephews!



Of course Peyton's highlight of the trip was the petting zoo! You know how much us parents LOVE the petting zoo (hence the sarcasm) :)

BOOtiful Day!
To start Halloween off, my lil sister Polly and her hubby Brandon were sealed in the Mesa temple! I love the temple so much, it was so awesome to have almost my whole family in the temple together...Im so happy for P&B! I love you guys so much!


Thanks to our Wild West reunion, we were able to cross Halloween costumes off the "never ending list of things to do" in September... what a relief that was due to the crazy month we ended up having!

Every Cowgirl needs a TRUE Cowboy!

Happy Fall Y'all!!