Izzy starts 1st grade

We enjoyed a fun summer, but the girls were ready an excited for school to start.  We decided to have a Fashion Show, complete with red carpet to show off the new outfits they got for school. 

Izzy striking a pose!

Ready for school!

She looks so grown up!

She is lucky to have her best friend, Ellie in her class. 

Love this beautiful girl.  She has such a sweet, kind spirit.  She is sensitive and tries to be kind to others.  She enjoys learning and loves to read Amelia Bedilia books.  She loved her first day and is excited for a good year of school. 

My first half marathon

My whole life, I have hated running and always said, "I'm not a runner."  I remember in high school our tennis coach would make us run around the high school and I would try to find any corner I could cut because I didn't want to run.  The past few months, I have been exercising regularly and eating really healthy.  Part of my workout regimen included 20-25 minutes of running (prior to this I had not run more than a mile).  I got to the point where I could run the whole time without walking and thought this isn't too bad.  Then my friend, Bethany, mentioned she was going to run Hobble Creek.  I thought I have never done a half before and I'm in good shape right now, so let's give it a try.

Before the race started.

I wasn't too sure what I had got myself into. 

Friday night we stayed the night at Ryan and Bethany's house since it would be a lot closer for the race.  We got up at 4 am so we could be at the buses by 5am.  Then there was the drive up the canyon and then we had to walk about 1/2 mile to the starting line.  It was a good little warm up.

All summer I had lots of good runs and really found a groove.  Then about 3 weeks before the race my right leg IT band started bothering me.  It got to the point where I couldn't run or if I did I would limp for days after.  We were traveling in Canada during this time.  I tried dry needling, chiropractic care, and physical therapy. It all offered some relief, but the most helpful thing was rest, which isn't what I wanted to be doing with an upcoming race.  My longest run before the race was 8 miles (I was hoping it would be 10).  Originally my goal was to finish under 2 hours, due to my lack of training near the end, I was hopeful to just finish the race. 

My good friend, Manina, was planning to meet me at mile 10.  I stayed with Bethany for the first 4 1/2 miles which was great.  Then around mile 7 we ran together for a few minutes.  Then I was on my own.  I kept thinking all I have to do is get to mile 10 and then Manina will be there and it will be an easy 3 mile run with her.  She actually met me at mile 9 which was a great surprise.  It was awesome to have a friend to chat with.  At mile 12, I noticed I could still get my goal of under 2 hours if I sprinted the last mile.  So I told her let's try to do it.  I finished my last mile in 8:37, which gave me a finish time of 1:59:50.  I made it by 10 seconds; I was ecstatic!

I could not have made my goal without her help.  Thanks so much Manina!

So glad Bethany convinced me to sign up for a race.  I would have never done it without her!

So I guess I can't say I'm not a runner anymore.  I actually enjoy it and look forward to run days with friends!

Almost 3 weeks in Canada

On Wednesday, July 27, Manina dropped the girls and me off at the airport.  Mike had already left in our car for the beginning of our East coast adventures.  He had some meetings out there so he left about 5 days before us.  Luckily, that meant he had most of the clothes, so I only had to bring the stroller, car seats, and one bag. 

We got there only to find our flight was delayed 1 1/2 hours.  Not exactly the news you want to hear when you're traveling solo with 3 young kids. So what do you do? Eat ice cream!

Trying to pass the time at the airport.  We were supposed to leave at 5pm landing around 11:30 pm.  Instead we didn't leave til 6:30 and landed at 1am.  The flight was a bit of a train wreck.  Brielle did not want to fall asleep until about 30 minutes before we landed. Daddy was there to pick us up and then we drove about 1 1/2 hours to a really cute house in Newport, Rhode Island. 

Daddy loved his lobster in Newport and this is what the girls thought of lobster. From Rhode Island we drove to Mike's Uncle Robert's house.  

Brielle quickly warmed up to Cora with ice cream cones. 

Cambry loving her ice cream at the reunion's food truck. 

Sunday night we had a dinner at Lucie and Alan's house.  All of the cousins loved spending time with each other. Sunday night we drove to Mami and Papi's house.

Monday, Cambry slept til 1.  At first, I thought she was really tired, but when she woke up she was feverish and I knew she wasn't feeling well.  Unfortunately, she spent most of the week sick.  On Friday I finally took her to the doctor and she had a UTI.  She was immediately put on an antibiotic and felt better within 24 hours. YAY!!

This little cutie had lots of fun with cousins to play with.

On Thursday we got out and went on a little walk.  Cambry still wasn't feeling good, but she wanted out for a bit. 

Abi, Izzy, and Benson enjoyed swimming in the pool and racing each other.

This girl is all smiles. 

Mike and I attended Youth Conference in Ottawa, where Mike was a keynote speaker.  He did a wonderful job and really connected with the youth. Then we drove to Mont Tremblant to spend a week with all the Bergeron's under one roof.

There was a swing set in the backyard, which of course got lots of use.

A few of the mornings, we went for a run and got in some workouts. 

There were lots of fun activities and games that the kids played.

Practicing some dance moves.

Papi reading with Brielle.

Some of the cousins on the pier.

Tyler, Elodie, Benson, Izzy, Cambry, Charles, Abi

Cambry, Abi, Izzy, Benson

All of the grandkids:

Bottom: Leah, Cambry, Zeke, McKenzie, Charles, Kayla, Tyler

Top: Elodie, Brielle, Izzy, Gideon, Benson, Abi

Bottom: Zeke, Elodie, Charles, Kayla, Tyler

Top: Abi, Izzy, Cambry, Benson, Gideon, Richard, Leah, Brielle, Louise, Kenzie

This lake was gorgeous.  It was basically the backyard from the house.  It was perfect.

We went to Mont Tremblant one day.  We rode a lift and the kids loved it.

Elodie, Cambry, Abi, and Izzy.

These carts could get going fast!!

Izzy thought the tramp was awesome!

Cambry loved the trampoline.

She went so high!

Lots of fun time was spent on this lake.  The kids enjoyed the paddle boat. 

Love this guy of mine.  He loved all the fishing!

Izzy adores her older cousin, Benson.  Spending a whole week with him was heavenly. 

All these cute kids wanted in on the popcorn. 

Elodie, Brielle, Cambry, Charles,  Zeke, and McKenzie

We celebrated Guillaume's birthday while we were there!

The Bergeron Siblings

Catherine, Christina, Guialluame

Mike and Matt

We got photobombed!

One rainy afternoon we put a movie on for the kids and told them to enjoy! It kept them entertained for almost 2 hours.

Charles, Cambry, Zeke, Benson, Izzy, Elodie, Abi, and Matt

We went to visit Mike's Grandma in her nursing home. 

Cambry, Abi, Grandmaman, Penny, Mike, Elodie, Izzy, Brielle, Cat, Gideon, Benson, Blake

Mike left on Thursday with the car and we stayed in Canada til Saturday.  Richard dropped us off at the airport and the girls ate some breakfast. 

It was all smiles and laughter on the flight home.  The girls were great and Daddy was there to pick us up at the airport when we landed.  It was a great vacation, but we were excited to come home!