My Sister, The Miami Wo-Man!

My sister Jamie came to visit us this weekend! She's made it a point to come see us every year, which I have loved! This year she has been really into competing in tri-athalons, duathalons, and half-marathons. She found out that Miami was having a half-Iron Man competition around the same time she comes every year in November. She previously did a half-Iron Man in Utah and loved it, so she decided to do another while here with us. This competition was huge - over 2000 contestants. The run part of it went through the Miami Metro Zoo, so we were excited to get to see the crazy contestants along with the animals. For those of you who don't know, a Half Iron Man is a 1.2 mile swim, then a 56 mile bike ride, followed by a 13.1 mile run.

This is Elliott at 5:30 a.m. at the race site. We had to get up at 3:45 a.m. in order to get ready and get down to Miami for the race. It was a little hard to get up, but we were excited to cheer on our favorite racer!

I don't know what my hand is doing in this picture, but it was just as dawn broke, so give me a break! I was so excited to cheer her on!

The racers were assigned swim caps according to their start "wave." Jamie was to start at 7:25 a.m. and was in the red group. I made her pose for this picture b/c the caps were so cute. They were little sharks/pirana things with fins! She's definitely a fish!

Let the race begin!! Here is her wave starting!

I think this was her, but there were so many swimmers out there, I definitely can't be sure.

Elliott and I ran around a lot to try to get good pictures...actually, we were sprinting around a whole lot! We found this spot where I could take a cool picture as she was going to her first transition. I was waiting with my camera ready and everything, and this is the shot I ended up with! Guess she is just WAY fast!!!

Here was my last ditch effort at getting the transition shot!

Here she comes on the run! This is just outside the Metro Zoo and about 2 miles into her run. (We never saw her on the bike, though we diligently searched!) She's cheering on the other contestants as she goes!She caught site of us. Elliott tried to anticipate her run, and she must've slowed for the pose, hence the side shot. I like her enthusiasm on the last leg of the race! What an athlete...I'd be dying...or probably dead.

Lookin good in pink, black, white and grey!

Look closely and you'll see African elephants in the background! Just before she got there, the elephants were really close to the edge but they moved by the time she got there...geez, Jamie, can't you pick it up?? ;) J/K!

Here she is at about mile 10 on the run! Almost done! She's concentrating and throwing us her soaking wet bike gloves.

The home stretch just before the finish line! Still running! You go girl!!

IT'S OVER!!! Go Jamie!!! Her finishing time was 5:41:03! She placed 6th in her age group (one away from a prize, darn!), and placed 22nd in women's. I think she was 126th overall! Very competitive!

Catching her breath and eating a banana to avoid cramping!

Trying to eek out a smile while catching her breath...I'm sure she was like, "Ok Molly, enough with the camera!"

Proud brother in law after the race!

Go Jamie! We are so proud of you!! We miss you already!!

Happy Halloween!!

This year Halloween was quite the event. I had a work costume party, a murder mystery party, Trunk or Treat, and a Halloween party to attend! Elliott had the idea to be the Joker. The Joker has a girlfriend named Harley Quinn, so he bought me her outfit. It was not flattering at all, so I made up my own Joker costume to go along with his. I think it turned out pretty good!

Work Party...Stephanie was the Lollipop Princess from Candyland, Joe was our file clerk Carmen (who was out of town), Ketsia was a cereal killer, I was Lady Joker, Wanda was a baseball player, and yes, my boss Charlie was a banana! Haha!

My mom sent me some hand baggies b/c she just knows I love to do funky treats on holidays. These were perfect party favors. I filled the ends with candy corn to look like fingernails and then popcorn for the flesh. I was not original in that idea, it was on the cover for the baggies.

Haley gave me the idea to do a 7 layer bean dip with a spiderweb. I think it turned out great for my party.

The Joker and the Lady Joker at Trunk or Treat!! It was hilarious because some of the kids were scared to come up to us. They'd rather pass on the candy than deal with the creepy Jokers. I think Elliott looked especially creepy. Some people didn't even recognize him.

The Joker and Batman. This little guy, Hayden, must think Elliott really is the Joker because the next day at church, he leaned over to his mom and said, "Mom, the Joker is sitting right over there!!" So cute!

The CJ Pirate Family!! AKA Peter, Barbara, and Justin

Ipod earbuds! AKA Susan and Matt

Cowboys and their sheep herder! AKA Micah, J.D. and Jonnie

Doctor Family! AKA Justin, Toshi, and Taija

Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize! AKA Steve and Emilee

Luke Skywalker, Princess Leah, and Yoda! AKA James, Lindsey, and Jem

Nurse and H1N1 patient! AKA Dano and Jeremiah

Michael Jackson and Soccer player! AKA Jake and Mallory with baby Schumers almost here

Air traffic control and NACHO Libre! AKA Morgan and Chelsey

Secret Service and tired Mom! AKA Alex, Heidi, and Greyson

Yes, folks, there was an awesome pinata at this party!! I felt like I was 5 again and loved every second of it!

Emilee got me super dizzy and I was seriously about to fall over in this picture!

Lady Joker giving that ghost some grief!

I just love this picture of Dano. She had to interrupt her swinging b/c the ghost fell off the rope.

And last, but certainly not least, a performance by Michael Jackson!!

Hello, I'm a Mac

Check out our new big pimpin' iMac!! The best part about this baby is that it was 100% FREE!!! That's right, I said Fa-Ree!! Elliott was so kind enough to participate in a Gallup poll for his school. In doing so, he was entered for a chance to win an iMac. Who ever wins those things anyway? Well, then he got an email that he won a Mac, so he went to the school administration office like 3 times to claim his so called prize. No one knew what he was talking about, so he just figured the email was just some gimmick or something. Then this weekend one of the administrators at his school found about at it and told him to go check one more time. So he did. It was open house weekend, so everyone and their mom was there to see him haul out this big huge box with MY new computer!! :) Yes, mine. He doesn't really know that yet...

I'm so excited to try out the Mac world. So far it has been complete bliss. Storing photos and songs has never been easier. I just might leave PC's forever!!!

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy

Elliott and I have been wanting to go deep sea fishing for a while now. Luckily for us, one of our friends did too and organized a day of deep sea fishing. They call it "drift fishing." Basically we were in this big group and we were all on one side of the boat and cast out lines. We were fishing for snapper and king fish. Unfortunately, the night before there was a full moon, which apparently means that the fishies get confused and eat at night since it's so bright. Then they're not hungry come morning when us fishers are out. In our big group of like 30ish people, only 5 fish were caught...mostly king fish. The lady fishing next to me worked really hard to reel in her fish, only to find that it was a big coral ROCK! HAHAHA! I died laughing. It was nice to just relax and wait for a fish to bite. Too bad I didn't catch anything, though. Next time I'm going to make Elliott take some Dramamine before we go; the poor guy doesn't have sea legs like me. He was cranky the rest of the day, too! :) Also, next time I'll be sure to track the moon cycle....


Me and my honey trying to catch a big one!


The only fish I caught...ok, so it's the bait, whatever.


The boys eager to catch some dinner.


My buddy Dano...the only other wife that was brave enough to go!


Alex...his wife was too preggo to come.


Jeremiah and Elliott...Jer was the one to organize it all. Thanks Jer!

I Heart Crafts....

I love creating things...especially when they turn out so awesome. I threw my friend Heidi a baby shower this last weekend. It turned out pretty good. I was lucky to have my mom here to help with the food, decorating, and with this quilt. Together we made what is probably one of my favorites of all time. Matter of fact, I liked it so much that we started making another quilt so that I could keep this one and give a different one to Heidi. But, then, I decided that was selfish and I had originally planned it with her in mind, so I gave it up. I just hope she likes it as much as I did...

Here is the aforementioned masterpiece of a baby quilt. The back side is black minky so it is super super soft. Hope you love it Heidi...or better yet, I hope Greyson will like it when he comes to the world!


Here's the bulk of the party...too many people to name off! It was really fun, and I think she got some good things.

Blogworthy Moments 2

We went to Washington, DC in June for an optometry convention. Elliott's parents met us there, so I got to tour with them while Elliott sat in boring classes! :) He did get to come to some things though. This is me and Elliott's mom at the Washington Memorial. We had a great trip. There's something about DC that makes you so patriotic...maybe because it' "Da Capitol!"


Elliott's sister and her two boys, Josh and Ethan, came to visit us in June. We did tons of things with them including going down to Key West. It was so fun to see them! Thanks for coming guys!


A bunch of my girlfriends took me out for my birthday in April since my birthday always seems to land on Elliott's finals week! Barbara (somehow not in this picture) planned the whole thing and made me feel so special on my big 2-5 day! We went bowling...I love bowling. Dano, Emilee, Me, Cami, Heidi


Mallory and Jake went with us to Siesta Key, which is on the west coast of Florida. I've been wanting to go to this beach since we moved here. I'd heard it was the softest beach in the world, and they called it Siesta Key since people fall asleep on the soft sand. Let me tell you, it totally lived up to its name. It is a huge white sand beach. It is the softest sand b/c it is actually made of quartz. Quartz also never gets hot, so you put your feet in cool sand all day. I totally want to go back...tomorrow... Anyway, this is Jake doing the hard work while his cabana boy Mexican Elliott holds the shade over him. LOL.


Mallory and I buried Jake in the awesome sand. It was great.