We Still have time!!!

Boston & Maine

Casey wanted to go visit her friends in Boston so Kenz and I had to go with her because Boston is the greatest! Casey has the funnest/nicest friends in Boston. Meg is the greatest & her and her roomates were so wonderful to let us crash with all our crap in their family room for the weekend. I love our country's history and Boston is a perfect place to get a little taste of that. I love the trees and the scenery. Boston is so beautiful!

One of my favorite movies is,"Little Women". We got to go visit the Orchard House and Josephine March's school house where Joe March was inspired to write her book, "Little Women". Casey was always Joe, Kenzie was poor Beth, Courtney was of course Amy and I was always bummed because that made me boring Meg who married the dull Mr. Brooks. The house was so cute!

We had some extra time before we left so we decided to go up to Maine because we had never been there before. Maine is so cute, we loved all the lighthouses and the homes. We only had like an hour to play there so we will go back and visit again someday and eat seafood.

The funnest sister trip ever! Except we missed Courtney and Kember): Next time girlies!

Mom, Dont do it!!!

My kids found a worm the other day.

I decided it would be funny to freak them out and tell them I was going to eat it.
Then I looked over to see their faces almost in tears, "Mom please don't do it".

I would have been so good on fear factor...too bad.

Swim, Bike, Run = We had fun!

Unfortunately Dane cannot say that he is an Ironman...YET. He will have to settle with being a half Ironman until he gets a second chance to prove himself to everyone just how capable he is of the Ironman title. Dane had a good swim and everything was looking good until the bike course where he had two flat tires on the first of three laps followed by another two flat tires and a broken spoke on the second lap. By the time he had all the quirks worked out on his bike (about 45min of repairs) he made it to the top of the hill in record time missing the cut off by 3min. So Dane helped load all the other injured or exhausted contestants into the van who had also missed the cut off then he loaded his injured and exhausted bike into the van:) Overall we can definitely say it was an awesome ride! Danes training for this Ironman was perfect he worked so hard so I was so sad for him to not have the opportunity run through the finish line and hear the announcer say, "Dane you are an Ironman!" But to be able to even compete in this atmosphere with athletes of this caliber is amazing! Dane is hoping for a second chance and Dane knows that YOU ONLY FAIL IF YOU DON'T TRY! I woke up this morning with more love and appreciation for Dane than ever. I love his attitude, I love the fact that he will never give up...never! He is an Ironman to me for that reason alone! I am so proud of him! He told me this morning he wants to finish an Ironman with Matt Hoover (Biggest looser winner season 2) who also missed the the cut off by 3min while doing Ironman in Hawaii. I would be first in line to see that race! Dane and I learned a ton from this experience and are stoked for the next big event! We have PF Chang's next, 26.2 mile run in January. We will keep you posted. Great job on your fist Ironman Babe, Someday you will hear the words"Dane Patterson you are an Ironman!" Dane will be working everyday to make sure that happens, I don't think he knows how to quit anymore:)

Here are pictures of the first two events: He completed his 2.4 mile swim and 95 miles of the bike course.

It was an incredible sight to say the least. Thousands of spectators, hundreds of competitors not only willing but some begging for the chance to put their body through the toughest 17hour workout of their life. It was so fun to just hangout for the day & cheer everyone on. This competition means so much to people and I felt like tearing up a couple time hearing some of the contestants stories and the motivation that led them to Ironman events. Dane lifted a man into his wheelchair who had made his fourth attempt at completing an Ironman and had missed the cut off again by only 30 seconds. I also saw a paraplegic man swimming, biking, and running and later finishing as an Ironman. I have so much respect for these athletes and now I know first hand how much heart and dedication truly goes into preparing yourself to be an Ironman, and what that title really means.

Thanks again to all of you who have supported us! It means so much to Dane and I & we couldn't do it without you!

Dane's Ironman schedule

By tomorrow night Dane will be an IRONMAN!!!

Dane's bib number is 2903 He is wearing all black(MIB), and he has a blue bike.

For anyone who wants to come and support him, here are the ETA's :

6:45 am they get in the water
7:00 am gun goes off
8:20-8:40 Dane will be getting out of the water for transition to the bike
9:00-4:00ish bike and transition to run
10:00-12:00 Dane will be finishing!!!

I will be there most of the day tomorrow off and on you can all call me anytime to see where Dane is at or where to see him. We apprecitate all of you and your support:)



If you want to see him online the website is

http://www.ironmanarizona.com/

Thanks,
Carli

Happy Thanks giving!

Halloween

Halloween pictures:

My kids and their pumpkin
Cruz was a Dinosaur
Cotter wanted to be a Dinosaur for the third time, but he was way excited when he got to be Bumble Bee the transformer.
QJ was a princess Bumble Bee
Here is all of us and our mother-load of candy.

Another Gecko Encounter

Do you ever wonder why birds sit in the middle

of the road and fly away only seconds before you hit them with your car?

{Is a game they play?}

Well I'm wondering why every Gecko feels the need to hangout by my back door.

{Are they trying to freak me out...it's working}

I've killed some by squashing them in the door jam, when I open the door they plummet to the ground, and worst of all they have on occasion landed on me! I'm trying to get over it, but one time a particular Gecko landed on my head and it's tail landed on my shoulder. Which poses another question: Why do their tails have to fall off!!!

{Ugly, sick, disgusting DEVILS}

Tonight a gecko landed on my leg. Dane says, "They eat other bugs, they are good to have around".

Me...not so enthusiastic

"Hey Geckos! Go eat yourselves!"

Sleepover in the playhouse

One Crazy & Amazingly fun night!

Homecomming

Cotter, Gage, Quinci & Elsie were the flower and crown givers at the homecomming half-time show this year this year. They were adorable and it was even more special because this years 2009/2010 Homecomming Queen was:

Courtney Cotter!!!!

{and so worthy}

I can't think of a more deserving person than Miss Courtney. My sister is such an amazing person and she is such a great friend to me and everyone! She is so humble and sweet, fun loving and inspiring! I love her and I am so glad she is my sister! Congrats Snourt I love you!

Hey Cardinals Fans

Dane and I

Hangin out with

Deuce Latui, Anquan Boldin and Bertrand Berry

Watching a football game...

Yah it was awesome!

Go Cards!

{ for once Dane had to ask for the picture...it was a humbling experience for him :) }

clothes are just

Does anyone have an extra $1300 laying around? I just went shopping, saw these outfits and I don't like my clothes anymore!

Anthropologie...I really hate you!...You suck!

Just kidding I didn't say that...I LOVE YOU!

I'm a soccer Mom

I Love Love Love being a soccer Mom!

Watching Cotter score goals

{in our goal & theirs}

He feels so big &

he is so proud of himself

Go Hot Kickers!!!

...I can't wait for T-ball

"I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who know it", -Will Ferrell

This girl has to put up with so much of my shenanigans and is patient through it all.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel like the luckiest man alive.

I Love you Babe

Daney

Luch with cotter

Last week we got to go to lunch at Cotter's school. It was a blast! He loved showing us his school and friends. He had come home from school the day before and said that he didn't want to go to school tomorrow, I was so surprised cause Cotter loves school. He then told me he got lost after lunch walking from the cafeteria to the playground. I thought that was so sad. So We had to go with him to make sure he didn't get lost again.

Yummy spaghetti and apples. Cruz couldn't set his chocolate milk down.
Cotter's Class

Cotter's girlfriend Emily. It was so sweet, he was so excited to introduce me to her. She was cute to!

Cotter showing Quinci how to recycle her lunch trash. My kids are so Economically friendly!

Cotter and QJ held hands all the way to the playground. He was so happy to show her off.

Such a fun day! Thanks for lunch Cotdog!

QJ's Princess Party

Once upon a time there were 3 princesses and a fairy godmother who wanted to make a little girls birthday dreams come true.

The little princess was turning 4, and she wanted to party like never before. She was the fairest in the land, with Queen like qualities. She invited her friends to tea.
It was the tiniest tea, absolutely perfect for her beautiful company. She had the fanciest Cake, Made by her friends in the woods. A bird, a mouse and fox. Sandwiches, crackers all kinds of good eats, strawberries cookies all kids of good treats.
They started to eat not a sound We could hear. We knew it would happen Happiness was near. Sprinkled with fairy dust they began to glitter. Outside the animals began to twitter. They finally had their magical powers, to free and to help all the poor souls in towers.
A day to remember filled with Royalty. Her friends brought gifts to show their Loyalty. She had everything her precious heart desired, her Friends were so thoughtful even though it wasn't required. Then the ball began and they Danced all around. Where was their prince charming? He was no where to be found. They sang and they played they didn't care at all. They were beautiful and they knew it. Boys would just ruin it. After the party was over the princess still twirled. She felt like she was in a cloud above all the world. She laughed and she smiled and she started to say, "thank you, thank you for this wonderful day"!