Wonderfully Warm

It hit 73 degrees here in Fort Worth. We had the windows open in the car on the way to kid’s club and Sam got these pictures with his itouch.

Lake Benbrook Half-Marathon

I ran in another half-marathon. I didn’t break my record but I was close. My time was 1:52:51, which was only a few seconds behind my New Years Half. I was eighth in my age group. The course had a major hill but it was really pretty. The weather was beautiful and warm.

First Attempt

Gavin is eight now, so I thought he should start loading the dishwasher. This was how he ran it with the sink still full of dishes.

Gavin is 8!

Gavin had a very busy birthday. He started the day with an eight pancake. Carter and I brought cookies and juice to school. After school Sam took Gavin to the shooters club and he shot a 22 for the first time. He loved it and came home all excited. We went to Jalapeno’s for dinner because Gavin loves to go out to eat for Mexican. I think it has to do with bottomless chips. After dinner, the Nelson’s came over and we ate dirt cake and Gavin opened his presents.

8 pancake

We brought cookies and juice to Gavin's class.  The class was singing to him when I took this picture.

At the Shooters Club

Gavin's target after shooting at it.

Eating dinner at Jalapeno's.

I couldn't resist posting this one with Carter's mouth so full.

Gavin requested dirt cake.  I put it in mason jars so he wouldn't blow cookie crumbs everywhere.

Crafting

I love to make stuff, but for the past few years, I just haven’t made time for it. I have decided to change that and start crafting again. This is what I made in January. Tip Junkie has a how to date your husband series, and these “kissing balls” are one of her suggestions. I hung them all over the house to promote kissing. My kids found them fun and I got a lot more kisses sitting at the computer. I also made some Valentine’s Day decorations. The wreath is made out of felt circles that I pinched and hot glued to a flat wreath form. The garland is made of felt and ribbon. I combined the building technique of the kissing ball with something I saw at Michael’s.

Who doesn't want to kiss in the closet.

or in the shower?  hehe

My Valentine's decor.  My mom made me the quilt for my 30th birthday.

The Other Sheppards

The kids had a four day weekend so we spent part of our time in Austin with Sam’s brother and his family. The kids love seeing their cousins. When I am with my sisters family, we say, “Sheppards get in the van.” While we were there I said, “Fort Worth Sheppards get in the van.” Up until then, my kids didn’t know that they had cousins with the same last name.

Sam and Coco.  She doesn't cry when he holds her anymore, but she sure doesn't look pleased to be with him.

First Snow

It snowed while I was in Utah. The kids are always so excited to play in it. As you can tell that there wasn’t much, but that didn’t stop Gavin from trying to make a snow angel.

Visiting Utah

Southwest had a flight sale and Joi asked me to come with her to visit her grandparents. Grandma and Grandpa Fritzsche were so kind to me while we were in college, that I always make it a point to see them when I am in town. At the time I was overwhelmed with my life and Sam thought it would be a good idea for me to get away for a while. I arrived Thursday afternoon and Jacalyn picked me up from the airport. Jacalyn and I met in Maryland and have been friends ever since. That night we toured Park City, ate a fantastic dinner, and perused the local art galleries. Jacalyn was also able to show me one of the remodels she designed in a penthouse apartment. It was beautiful.
The next day was play in the snow day. We went snow shoeing for two hours all over the property where she lives. She lives in the guest house of one of her past clients and the setting was just gorgeous. We got quite the work out and had a great time. After lunch we headed to Soldiers Hollow to go snow tubing. It was so much fun. We felt like kids again and the greatest part was that they pull you up the hill! We met Jace and Jenné for dinner and Jacalyn got to meet them. It is always fun to see one of my sisters.
I spent the rest of my trip with Joi. The only problem was that her grandparents were sick. Grandpa had pneumonia and grandma had a cold. That meant that they stayed in their room and we couldn’t really visit with them. Joi and I made the best of it and even stayed with Joi’s in-laws one night. While together we went to a play, saw the Joseph Smith movie in temple square, ate at Café Rio, and crafted a ton. I don’t have many pictures of the two of us because we spent most of our time in our pajamas. It was the relaxing two days that I needed.
I am so glad that I got to visit with Jacalyn and Joi. They are fantastic friends and I feel blessed to have them. I am also grateful for a loving husband who understands me and my limits. I came back refreshed and ready to tackle seven more months as a single mom.

This is the view of Park City from the St. Regis.

St. Regis art dog. 

View from Jacalyn's window in the morning.

Another view from her window.

We are geared up and ready to go.

It was so beautiful outside.

Me by all the chunks of ice in the river.

We took this picture using a timer and I had a hard time getting back with snow shoes on.

We added a little climbing to our snow shoeing. 

There were ice crystals all over the trees.

The snow was so sparkly.

We were walking a long and Jacalyn just fell over.

I tripped in a hole.

Ready to start snow tubing at Soldiers Hollow.

On the way back from Soldiers Hollow I made Jacalyn stop to I could photograph this view.

Jacalyn and I before heading to meet Jenné and Jace for dinner.

Jenné and Jace at dinner.

Me and my second to youngest sister, Jenné.

Joi and I before the play we attended. 

Our crafting results.

Kid Life

"Will we come back as grown ups when we are resurrected?" - Renée
"Yes" - me
"Awww, I like the kids life." - Renée

Happy New Year

I started the New Year with a Half Marathon. A couple of guys in my ward put together a group and started running together. I joined them for long runs and I really had to push myself to keep up. It worked and I beat my previous half marathon time by almost four minutes. My time was 1:52:43, which put my in second place in my age group. I was awarded a Champagne glass that says WINNER. After a long hot bath, Alycia, Sam, and I made pork, naddles, mashed potatoes, and sour kraut. It is our traditional New Years German feast.

I don't know the first three people, but they are Scott's friends.  Tim, me, Ben, Scott, Brett, and Jonathan.  We call ourselves the Heritage Running Club.

My winners glass and medal.

Jonathan and Brett took first in their age groups.  Ben and Tim beat us all.

I even let them eat in the dining room.