CRYSTAL RIVER

Well to celebrate Tyler finishing Tri-5 (which is the half way point of Chiropractor school) and to celebrate Tyler getting his Bachleor's degree in Anatomy; we decided to head to Crystal River, Florida. Tyler's uncle has a summer house there right on Crystal River. We were there for about a week and it was by far the best vacation of my life! My friend Sarah from college flew all the way from Montana to vaca with Tyler, and his friend and me. We went kayaking where we got to see a Manatee (it literally swam right under my kayak, so fun!) We got to see a dolphin, baby alligator, bull shark (kinda scary, but manly cool since we didn't get hurt). I got to learn how to surf at Cocoa Beach and got to go to St. Petersburg. So much fun check out the pics.




















































Here are some pics of Tyler's graduation party I threw for him. Congrats Tyler!



























I had fun making his banner!

HOPES AND DREAMS

Have you ever been so determined to do something that you completely immerse yourself in that something? Am I making any sense? Let me back up.....

A few months ago I was sitting in church listening to a Relief Society lesson about "Talents". I was sitting there thinking about how I used to have a lot of talents that I utilized daily, when I was in high school and did all my sports but now I am a stay at home mom. I hardly ever use those talents. I kept pondering.....I had to be good at something else. Then someone raised their hand and said that sometimes people can posses a desire to learn new things or try new things and that in itself is a talent. And that's when it hit me, that is 100% my talent, my gift from God. I absolutely love trying new things. I love pretty much everything I try, not instantly, but I try really hard to find something to love in everything I do.

For example, my husband loves to play golf. Have I ever played golf? Did it ever intrigue me? NO. But since my husband played it and loves it, I wanted to learn to play so we could play together. My husband loves a lot of things I had never tried before I met him, such as: playing guitar, wake boarding, snowboarding, surfing. So of course I had to try them. Now I absolutely love all of them.

Anyways long story short, there are 2 new things that have been keeping me up at night, yall are going to think I am such a loser because yes they really do keep me up at night. I just get so excited about it that I can't sleep, or when I finally do get to sleep I dream about them. And what are these 2 things.....crafts & running a marathon! I know I know I am such a loser. Its just that I have always wanted to be this crafty person and make things from scratch, which has never really been me. I can find what I like in the store, buy it, and set it up nicely when I get home; but never do I make things. But lately I have been having all these dreams about different crafts I wanna do. My most recent craft is a paper bag wreath and ballerina cupcake toppers for Ashlyn's 3rd birthday. Yall must be laughing at me by now. It was the same with learning how to play the guitar. I had always wanted to learn how to play, I love singing, love the guitar, but have never been very good when it came to playing musical instruments. But then all of the sudden I started having all of these dreams about me playing the guitar and singing. I felt so alive in my dream, so fulfilled. I woke up excited and ready to take on the guitar that day. Tyler has been teaching me ever since and for my birthday he bought me my very own red guitar. I just love her!

Anywho the 2nd thing, the marathon. This little bugger is always on my mind, and I don't really know why. I curse the ground, every time I run while training for this thing. I have never loved running but do it to stay in shape. If you know anything about me you know I am competitive and love a challenge. And to me this marathon thing is a huge challenge that I must conquer. I get all gity just thinking about crossing the finish line, and in that moment I will know that my mind has ultimately conquered my body. I own my body not the other way around. To understand my deep passion for this subject I guess we have to back up a little. A few months ago I decided to turn my life around physically. I have never been what I consider fat but I definitely was at my heaviest and was always feeling tired, and sick. Headaches began to plague me. I didn't like what I saw in the mirror either. And it really didn't have to do with what I looked like physically, it was what I had let myself become. I saw a woman who had completely forgotten about herself and her needs. Was concerned about everyone else but herself. And I was running on empty. I could feel my body falling apart. I was always getting sick. And the funny part is that I didn't even eat that bad. I just wasn't necessarily eating well. Plus I wasn't working out. Plus I wasn't getting enough sleep. But when I saw myself in the mirror that day and saw the scale say 150 lbs. I was disgusted and the one thing Kimberly is good at is being determined. At that moment I was determined to lose weight, to get down to 140 lbs. in a month. There was one stipulation. NO DIET! It had to be a lifestyle change. Nailed it. Ever since that day that I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a pathetic version of myself I have never wanted to be that person again. I mean if I am always sick who is going to take care of my family?!

I am determined to conquer mind over body. Wish me luck. I am going to do some research and find a marathon that I want to run and start my training. It is my hope that I will be updating yall on how the training goes at least once a week so again I say wish me luck.....oh and stop laughing at my corniness haha!

IT'S OFFICAL

Well it's official I am terrible at blogging. I am sorry guys I have been super busy with traveling this summer but I am back now so yeah! Tyler, Ashlyn, and I traveled up to Utah in the beginning of July to say a goodbye to his brother before he left to go on a mission to the Marshall Islands. We had so much fun hanging out with his family they are always so much fun. It was hard for everyone to so see Trenton leave but we are all excited for him to do the Lord's work.






















When we got home to Texas it had climbed to 111 degrees and the humidity was
outrageous,so needless to say I was sooooo excited to leave again in a few days to go to Colorado for my Family Reunion trip. Ashlyn and I had to leave Tyler behind this time though because he had school. We sure did miss him. We had lots of fun hiking, swimming in the river, doing crafts, making and hitting the pinata, playing volleyball, etc. so much fun. See you guys in 2 years.

THE BREAK

Well we have officially started TRI 5 I can't believe it, after this tri we will be half way done, considering there are a total of 10 tris. Tyler just had a break so his mom, brother, and brother's girlfriend decided to come visit us in good old Texas. We had so much fun we went to the zoo where we got to hold some parakeets, see the lions roar, come face to face with an alligator, and had the opportunity to be mooned my a gorilla...spread eagle and everything lol! We also got to go go-carting, golfing, and eat at Babe's, Dickey's, and good old Cristina's Mexican grill! We had so much fun! WE MISS YOU GUYS ALREADY!

















































Easter was fun, we got to spend it with my family. We colored Easter eggs the night before and got to go on an awesome Easter egg hunt! Ashlyn had lots of fun, thanks for the sweet eggs, candy, and toys Easter bunny!

















































Tyler and my 4 year anniversary was May 5th, I can't believe that it has already been 4 years...and that we have been together for 6 years, amazing time truly does fly when your with the one you love and having fun! Tyler and I got to go golfing, see a movie, and go out to eat, and to top it all off after all was said and done we got to lay our heads down on the Hilton Hotel's pillows, located in no other than downtown Dallas. It was beautiful! I had so much fun! Tyler got me the best present ever.....a bright red.....wait for it......GUITAR!!!!! I have been having so much fun playing on it, thanks love. I have been learning to play the guitar for a year now and have been slacking on my practicing until recently, so as my reward Tyler decided a new guitar would be perfect and he was right! She is like my 2nd child, now if I could only play better =(

TOY STORY 3 ON ICE

Well with my new nanny job I have acquired some perks, which is a welcomed surprise. For example my boss has a suite at the American Airline Center where all the NBA, Hockey, and other events are held. And it just so happens that she gave me tickets to go see not only the Dallas Stars hockey team play with my friends but also I had the chance to take Ashlyn and some of my family to see Toy Story 3 on Ice! It was so fun, she had a blast seeing Woody and Buzz skating around. Oh and Tyler had fun buying Ashlyn and me some souvenirs too, but I think I enjoyed them more than Ashlyn, sad! She was so mesmerized by the lights, fireworks, and music. She definitely had a blast!

UNEXPECTED

Well, Tyler and I have been wanting some sort of toy in our backyard that our whole family would be able to use, since spring is here. Our grass is finally growing now and turning green, and it has been consistantly warm outside......so we decided on a trampoline. Tyler did the research and finally found a tramp for $50 on craigslist. What a steal of a deal! But when he got to the seller's house to pick it up he didn't realize he would be walking away with a bunny too, that's right bunny! They were giving away a bunny with its crate and food for free and asked him if he wanted it. So he called me (which in retrospect probably wasn't a good idea if he didn't want a bunny) and of course I said, "HECK YES!!!"

Anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for animals, especially ones that have been rescued, which this bunny had been! So Ashlyn had 2 surprises when we got home that day! So fun I love surprises, especially when I am part of the giving process. Ashlyn just loves the bunny she will sit there forever just singing the bunny to sleep and stroking its soft fur. And she just loves the trampoline too, but I'm pretty sure its Tyler's new favorite toy. He is like a little kid when he comes home from school, just runs out to the trampoline and starts jumping, so funny/cute!

Anyways we named the bunny Jasper. He is so cute black with long floppy ears! Adorable. Oh and for those of you who were wondering, yes I can still do my back flip and aerial on the trampoline ha!

I will post pics soon!

Exciting News

SHE DID IT, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT!!! SHE USED THE POTTY ALL BY HERSELF!

Just to update you guys I am not only a mother which is a full time job, but I am also a nanny and have another job where I teach a parent toddler class. I haven't started that job yet though, hopefully I will start next month.

Anyways I was putting the little boy to sleep that I watch and had been trying to get Ashlyn to go in the potty all day. I would say "Ashlyn you don't wanna make your panties sad do you, they don't like it when you go tee tee in them." I had tried this last week for a day and 3 panties and 2 pants later I realized she wasn't ready so I waited a week, and started again today. She tee teed in her panties once and the rest of the day I was on top of it. Rushing her to the bathroom every 15 min. and asking her every 5 min. if she needed to go. But nothing was happening. So I was putting the little boy to sleep and after he was asleep I walked out of my bedroom to find Ashlyn had pulled her panties down all by herself and she was sitting on her little potty. "Mom look yellow!" she said. I ran over and to my surprise she was telling the truth. I don't think I have ever been so happy. Hooray!