Brice and Hazel leaving for church. Hazel has just recently noticed my jewelry and was excited to wear a bracelet and bow to church

 We've started talking about the potty and wasn't sure if  Hazel was understanding and then I saw her on her own holding her baby up to use the potty! 


 This girl is obsessed with her sunglasses and asks for them daily by yelling "eyes, mama, eyes!"

We spend a lot of time drawing and coloring and on this specific day she asked for "kris" and "baby". It shocked us that she remembered her Uncle Kris, so we drew Melanie too so she wouldn't feel left out.


  I FINALLY cut my hair!

Cous-cous Salad...by far my favorite recipe from Cyndi Wright. I made it for the first time last week and it hit the spot!


Texas plates...what?!?


A few friends and I went on a quick tour of the Mary Kay Cosmetic museum. We weren't really sure what we find but the walls and walls of framed photos surprised us all!


Hazel at 20 months and loving life!

Monday: 8 miles (2 miles at 6:50 pace) and Insanity
Tuesday: 12 mile run @ 7: 20- 8:00 minute miles
Wednesday: 8 miles
Thursday: 8 miles and ab workout
Friday: 7 miles
Saturday: 13.1 miles in 1:42.00
Sunday: rest day

Miles this week: 56
Miles this year: 1265

After moving to Dallas I've had to make some adjustments to my workout schedule. Basically my only time to exercise out of the house is in the morning bfore Brice leaves for work. The last few weeks I've been out the door by 6:15 am. It feels so early, but to be honest I love exercising at the very beginning of each day. 

I feel a little off balanced as far as cardio and strength training because I usually only have time to do my run an not much else. I try to do ab workouts, squats, lunges, or insanity with Hazel around but then I feel bad for not giving her my undivided attention... it will be okay though. Monday was the first time I've done insanity in a month or so and I was SO SO sore all week! 

Lastly, the last few Saturdays I've done a longer run around White Rock Lake. It is a beautiful trail around the lake and is about 9.5 miles around. So I usually add on a bit and it feels so good! there are hundreds of runners, running clubs, bikers, and walkers and I love the atmosphere so much! I really need to find a running buddy!
The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ” 
(David A. Bednar, April 2005 general conference).

It's only Tuesday but this week has already been full of small, tender mercies from the Lord. 

1. We have really enjoyed moving to Dallas but are still having a hard time making friends that we just click with. Well on Sunday we returned to church after our vacation and two friends and their husbands we knew from Provo are now members of our ward! They're both only here for summer internships but I was so happy to have familiar faces and catch up with friends.

2.  One of those dear friends, Liz, watched Hazel so I could go run an important errand and then picked me so I didn't have to walk home. I know that is such a simple thing, but the original plan involved me taking Hazel and then walking the 4 miles home with her. We probably would have made the walk just fine, but it was a tender mercy to me to have a ride/babysitter.

3. And now, the Jetta. After moving to Texas we knew we would have to re-register our car, get new licenses, etc.. but our dumb check engine light turned on a few weeks ago again. We looked up the code and its not a serious thing but it is expensive to repair. I was dreading the costs of repairs because without them we wouldn't pass the safety & emissions tests. 
Plus, Brice needs the car to get to work everyday so when we could actually get the repairs done was stressing me out as well. 
...Starting today through the rest of the week, Brice has a company-wide training and was able to carpool with a neighbor friend. They don't usually work at the same location but it worked out this week. Well guess what?!? The check engine light was off last night so I told Brice I'd take it in first thing today. Hazel and I waited anxiously in the lobby of the mechanic and guess what it passed! Woo-hoo! 
I started to realize how big of a deal I was making out of a little thing and was kinda getting frustrated with myself for doing that, but then... two miles on the road after the inspection and that dumb light showed right up! 

I couldn't help but cry immediately, because i know its no coincidence. This is the second time in the last two years that we have prayed for that light to turn off just to pass safety & emissions  and it does- and then after the inspection it turns right back on.

4. Last of all, because of Brice's company training and carpooling dealio- I get the car this week! It has been so much harder for me to be at home all day without a car than I had anticipated, so this is such a blessing! Hazel and I got the inspection, registration, and grocery shopping done this morning and we have play dates and splash-pads to visit the rest of the week!

Costa Rica: part one

Costa Rica was such a fun vacation with my family! Hazel did great on the flights and as soon as we landed the fun started. There were black and green iguanas everywhere, including all over our resort grounds. Hazel was fascinated, but the rest of us were always taken back when we saw one.

We enjoyed beautiful views, beaches, pool days, horseback riding, Zip-lining, relaxing in Hot Springs, water volleyball as a family, church in Liberia (all in Spanish might I add), and just hanging out and catching up!

Hazel really fell in love with swimming and jumping into anyones' arms that would catch her! She even added a few new words to her vocabulary; hola, agua, ciao, beach, jump, pool, butterfly, BYU, cow, and "go-go-go."