Tiny DaNcEr & her Ballet recital~

I took Liv out of Ballet last fall/winter because she seemed to have lost interest. She started talking about it again this spring so we gave it a go. She has enjoyed it so much more this last quarter and wants to continue(to my surprise.) I have to say I am thrilled. I love the art of ballet, I think it's a beautiful dance. I love that it teaches little girls about etiquette, strength, resilience, elegance, and grace~in a sense a few great tips on how to be a little lady. It's also a great way to exercise and very cute to watch!

Okay, I know, I went a little camera crazy! Especially after she got ready. I love PiNk, and how sweet, and delicate her costume is. Most of all, I LOVE this girl, tiny ballerina's are precious!

I don't have time to add details to the pictures tonight. I do want to say that the other ballerina in the pictures with Olivia is her friend Lilly. They have danced together for the last year and a half.

Noel's Visit May 2010

Gosh I can't believe it has almost been a month since Noel went back to NY! He was here for a week in May and it was WONDERFUL! Noel has a way of getting everyone together while he's here, and the Hennessy & Garcia family is HUGE! He is an amazing cook and hosts lovely dinner's at my parents house when he's in town. His meals consist of only the best, most healthy, & hearty ingredients, and everything is from scratch. Shane always requests his chicken enchiladas. It's more like a Mexican fiesta. He makes homemade guacamole, beans, rice, all the fixing's. Not to mention there was also a very expensive bottle of Patron(tequila,) which made for an entertaining night! We always have such a great time when he's here. We mainly eat, talk, and laugh so hard our bellies hurt! He is such a free spirit and lights up the room! The kids and Shane just adore Noel too, and can't get enough of him.

My brother has such a kind, compassionate, and loving heart. I have never met a person who does not fall in love with my brother immediately. He lives life so passionately! I so wish he didn't live so far away, but at the same time, NY is the best place for him in this chapter of his life. He is working for a designer, Steven Alan, and has a great job! Every few weeks he gets set up in the East Hampton's while they are promoting, and setting up the latest Steven Alan boutique. I've included some of my favorite pictures taken while he was here, some of which he took of the kids, family, and I. He is one of my best friends, and best people I have in my life!

ViCtOrY~I finished my 1st half-marathon!

There is something really intense, crazy, fulfilling, and rewarding about doing something that you never would have imagined yourself doing. Running long distance was never on my life-time list of to dos. However, it was on my bucket list and I figured this was a great time to tackle it...it's now crossed off =)

There were times that my training felt very intense, and uncertain. But each time I felt that way I reminded myself that this was one of the first times I've done something for me, and only I could make it happen, this was all Kelli! I really do feel very accomplished. I give a lot of the glory to God. There were several months in my life that I felt like my body was inadequate and didn't work, truly. The Lord showed me that that wasn't true, and that I AM STRONG, and HEALTHY! I had a really fun time during the 3 months I trained. Mostly because I spent that time with my friends! However, 4 weeks before the race my knee started acting up :( I was in physical therapy 2 times a week there after to get my knee at best before the Windermere. My physical therapist Kelli S. is such a blessing! I wouldn't have been able to run as well without her help. So the main downfall for me going in to the race, is that I wasn't 100% which was really discouraging. So now, I'll have a re-do one of these days, when I am 100%! I will never again run a race when I'm injured.
Here's the scoop on how the race panned out~
Mile 1-8 Were awesome! Actually at mile 7 we were at 1:15 in time so I knew that would have been close to my Bloomsday time(remember, Bloomsday was a disaster!)
Mile 9~Still feeling pretty darn great, smiling, talking, laughing a little!
Mile 10-13 Are another story! My bum knee wasn't very fond of me anymore, and my body wanted to QUIT. No joke, you hear about people hitting a wall during long distance running, and I can vouch for that! It is a strange feeling. I had lots of long runs in my training and never "hit a wall." I even ran 14 miles during my training and didn't feel that bad. This was terrible. Instead of sprinting to the finish, I was praying to God, that he would just glide me over to the finish, I was a limp noodle! BUT, I did it, and for all that I encountered during my last 3 miles, I'm even happy with my time, 2:30 almost on the dot. THE BEST part of the finish was all our friends and family cheering us on at the end. My sweet Shane, Olivia, Nolan, my Mom, brothers, friends, it was the best! Oh and my friend Rachel with the chocolate milk that saved my life. I will run this race again, and of course would love to beat my time. My running partners have all signed up for more 1/2 and full marathons. D just turned right back around and ran the CDA 1/2 marathon and beat her 1st half marathon by 6 minutes! Really amazing considering she only had 2 weeks between the races. She's got wheels! And Siri, & Chris are signed up for 3 more marathons! AMAZING! I'm not quite ready for another one just yet.

To my training TEAM~I love you all and am so proud of each and every one of us! I NEVER would have made it through without you. D, thank you for dragging my BUTT(my J LO,) to the finish line, literally, and giving me all the inspiration and encouragement I NEEDED to finish. Chris & Siri, thank you for teaching me how to run, literally. Chris you're an awesome coach! Tab, you amaze me and I think you are a TOTAL natural who doesn't even have to train hard, and can RUN...hard, and FAST~you were born to run! Lord, thank you for giving me strength, healing, and peace within me~to you be the glory!
My team~GO Children's Choice! We are anxiously waiting for the START!

Mile 9 and feeling good!

13.2 miles later~2:30:04.1~my official time!
Love this one too~my Mom & Noel cheering me on(they are on my left.)
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Crossing the bridge inching towards the finish. An emotional moment for sure! I love this picture our family & friends are to the left, very sweet!

Here I am at the finish & like I said, there was no sprinting-LOL!
My friend Rachel~who is also a HUGE inspiration to me, and I really needed her at this moment!
Noel caught me just as I finished =)
D & I seconds after the finish!
Woot Woot!



Our friend Heidi came over from Seattle to run the Windermere as well.


I am so happy that my brother Noel was able to share this experience with me! He lives in NY.
Siri, the one who got me in to this running "thing" =)
My brother Joe, Tab, my Mom, and Noel after the race.
Tabitha & I
The Luvs of my life!
Olivia made these signs for me and brought them to the race. So funny & cute, all the little people running.

My BROTHER'S!

I have a ton of family pictures and things to share from my brother Noels visit! Can't get to it right now, but came across pictures taken of the 5 of us over the last few years and was comparing it to this years. We haven't changed that much =) Maybe a few more grey hairs, and give or take a few pounds~ha! I wish Noel lived closer, he still remains in NY, but it's the perfect spot for him in this chapter of his life. I love these boys so much!!
June 2007~you can't see my BIG ole' belly, I was about 7 months pregnant with Nolan in this picture!
April 2008
May 2010

Mother's Day Tea

Olivia's Kindergarten class hosted a Mother's Day Tea last week. It was sweet! The tables were all set up so cute, and the kids made placemats for their moms. On the tables for each of us were a picture & frame, pink flowers, and a light snack(strawberry's, grapes, cheese/crackers, pretzels, and pink lemonade.) The frame is adorable, Mrs. T. had the kids use their fingerprints to make caterpillars, butterflies, bees, ladybugs & flowers. The kids sang songs and one of my favorite things, recited the very hungry caterpillar(Olivia's part was "he at one lollipop," & "he was a beautiful butterfly.") It was really cute. Here are some of the things Liv put on my placemat~
MY MOM
My mom is 32 years old.
My mom always says go brush your teeth.
My mom is funny when she laughs at Nolan.
My mom is happy when I color something for her.
My mom loves to eat healthy food.
My mom goes to the store when I am at school.
My mom loves me and my brother.
Thank you Olivia for a special morning with you! I LOVE YOU, MommyOur Table
Kids singing songs for their mamas

The Very Hungry Caterpillar



The 4 Kindergarten girls(Olivia, Mercedes, Ellee, Abby)

Barely 5 days left!

This is the cute little jersey the Herzog's ordered me. They ordered the jersey for all the girls I've been training with so we each have our last names on the back. I really love the rainbow, because well, I love rainbows!!

I mainly wanted to say that I can't believe I will be running the Windermere 1/2 marathon this coming Saturday, May 15! I started training on a Monday, February 15 to be exact. So it will have been 3 months to the day come Saturday. I did have a set back last week which landed me in physical therapy. The GOOD news is that I now have a brilliant PT who has helped my knee tremendously! I have had 3 pain free runs since she's worked on my knee, THANK THE LORD! I was a mental/physical mess last week wondering If I'd even be able to run. I see her 2 more times before the race so hopefully my iliotibial band (IT Band) will quit wigging out and let me finish the race the way I've been hoping for. Wish me luck, or better yet, say some prayers!