Family Pictures

My mother in law hired my very talented and dear friend Marianne to take some family pictures of the McCombs Clan. Here are some favorites of my fam... Me and the Joelster.

Trying to get the kids to take a decent photo in the heat takes a lot of patience. I love Jenna's eyes in this photo.

This picture cracks me up because Joel doesn't like having his photos taken but was being a trooper...we were cracking up at the end.

And whoa-LA...my sweet family. I love them to pieces!!! Thanks Marianne!!!

THE HALF

Around Thanksgiving I got it in my head that I wanted to run a half marathon. I had been running to loose my baby weight and was starting to really enjoy it. I always enjoy a challenge so I though...hey, why not. Now for all of you that know me...this was not easy because I AM NOT A RUNNER. In fact I always told my sister Natalie that she was crazy when she ran cross-country in high school. I would sometimes follow her on runs on my bike and nearly die...so the thought of having to run it...well, IMPOSSIBLE!!! But I am happy to announce that I DID IT...I RAN (I NEVER STOPPED) A HALF-MARATHON!!! It was a challenge but I loved every minute of it!!! So here is a list of the top ten things I loved and learned about running a half marathon.

10. I loved the rush of running and passing and weaving around other runners.

9. I learned that there are two kinds of drinks being passed out: water and HEED (YUCK)!

8. I loved that they passed out gummy bears at mile 8 (kind of weird?).

7. I learned about the "runners runs"...self explainitory.

6. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED running along the Spokane River in the city in which I was raised and love so much.

5. I learned that it was not my new running shoes that made my toes hurt insanely bad (I have horrible feet and possibly bursa).

4. I loved running with my dear friend Cassandra and have developed a running friend for life!

3. I learned that slow and steady really does win the race AND that the winner of the full-marathon doesn't run...he freakin' sprints!!! Who was I to really think I would run next to him for a minute. Try a nano-second!!!

2. I LOVED SEEING MY AMAZING FAMILY AT THE END OF THE FINISH LINE...IT WAS HEAVEN SENT!!! ALL I COULD THINK OF THE LAST 3 MILES WAS...FINISH THE RACE SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR KIDS AND HUSBAND!!! THE REAL REWARD OF THE RACE, THEN GETTING TO RUN THE LAST 100 YARDS TO THE FINISH LINE WITH JENNA!!! THIS MIGHT SOUND WEIRD BUT IT WAS KIND OF SPIRITUAL.

1. I learned that I am a runner and ANYONE can be a runner!!! I learned so much about myself and my determination. This was a big goal of mine and was so happy and emotional that I DID IT!!!

Moving on up the blogger list...finally...

After months and months of no blogging...finally a post...and a picture just to prove that we are still alive and doing well! So here is a little McCombs family update...

This was on Mother's Day. My most favorite thing to do is go to Manito Park with my kids, so that is what we did on Mother's Day. It was beautiful and green, but not many flowers. But there were Koi fish in the Japanese Garden, thank goodness!!! Drew would have been very disappointed. It is always an adventure between trying to keep the boys out of the ponds, "off-roading" with the double stroller down a very steep, dirt hill, and feeding the ducks--that were pre-occupied, so we just fed the giant catfish!

Joel Update: A miracle happened in the McCombs household this last month. After 4 years of waking up an going to work at 4am every morning...Joel was promoted at UPS to the Business Development team at UPS!!! This happened literally two weeks after he told UPS that he was putting in his 2 week notice. His bosses' boss talked to Joel and told him that he might want to reconsider and that opportunity for promotion could be anywhere from 1 year to 3 years, but it might be worth the wait. Amazingly enough, Joel decided to stick it out a little longer, and two weeks to the day is now an Account Executive at UPS!!! His first day was yesterday and he LOVES it!!! We feel extremely blessed!!! The best part of the job is that he can now stay up with me to watch Desperate Housewifes on Sundays!!! Just kidding...he does that anyway!!! Don't tell him that I told you that.

Another tradition of mine is to take a picture with my kids on every Mother's Day. They NEVER cooperate, but someday I will look back at these pictures and remember how crazy and fun (most of the time) they were when they were little.

Amber Update: After months and months of training, I will be running my first half-marathon this Saturday. Prayers would be appreciated (and needed). I am really excited. I just hope that whatever causes that extreme pain in my toes, possible Bursa, decides not to show up during the race.

I took this picture of Jenna a couple of months ago...I love it!!! I just need to figure out the picture editing thing and post some more of this little beauty!!!Jenna Update: This little girl is loosing teeth like crazy!!! The amazing thing about it is that she has me pull (rip) them out of her mouth! She is one tough cookie. She is LOVING first grade still and is participating in a running program at school where the kids keep track of how many laps that they do at recess. When I asked her how many miles she has done already her reply was, "Like 40 miles." Maybe 40 laps...but it was cute. She is also reading soooo well! She loves to draw and write stories about unicorns and pegasus'. When we were at Manito I told the kids that they needed to touch a Japanese fountain and put a drip of water on their forehead and make a wish. I asked Jenna what she wished for...a pegasus and to be rich. Not bad. She also asks questions like crazy and when you give her an answer she says, "Why?" and questions our answer which drives her mom and dad CRAZY!!!
Drew, my little "regalon"...or whatever that Spanish word for favorite is. Joel says that Drew is my favorite...and some moments he really is...I would like to bottle him up and keep him 3 forever! He can be soooo cute and funny...I just can't get over him. But then sometimes I would like to give him away...like this last Saturday when he knocked his pop over at Costco 2 TIMES...on a SATURDAY BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY!!! CAN YOU SAY CRAZY!!! I quickly remind Joel that all of my kids are my favorites...but I am enjoying Drew right now.

Drew Update: When he is not being totally sweet and oh, so handsome...you can find Drew running around in his underwear and snowboots. And if you can't find him in the house...just look outside on the trampoline. He loves dragons (we saw "How to Train your Dragon"), preschool, and fruit. He is looking forward to his Dad taking him to see "Iron Man 2"...which Dad has promised with out telling Mom. When Dad asks Mom, "Do you want to come?" I reply, "No, thanks. I don't want everyone to look at ME and say...why then heck did that MOM bring their THREE year old child to see IRON MAN 2!!! What kind of parent is SHE!" I will leave that up to Joel.

And last but not least is Ethan...there will be another post for Ethan...he is crawling all over me and demanding attention...stay tuned.

My Girl

THIS BOY LOVES THIS GIRL MAKES A MOM HAPPY JENNA'S BUS STOP IS IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. DREW RUNS OVER TO THE FRONT DOOR AS IT PULLS UP AND YELLS, "MY GIRL IS HOME, IT'S MY GIRL!" WARMS A MOTHER'S HEART.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, THIS MORNING MY HAIR LOOKED CAPITAL CRAZY WILD...DREW GOES, "MOM, YOUR HAIR LOOKS LIKE A...BUTTERFLY." EXPECTING THE WORD MESSY. THEN I SMOOTH IT OUT AND THROW IT IN A PONYTAIL AND HE GOES, "THERE, NOW THAT LOOK LIKE MOMMY." THREE IS A FUN AGE.

DREW IS THREE!!!

DREW TURNED 3 ON THE 11TH!!! HERE HE IS GETTING USED TO THE FEELING OF HOLDING UP 3 FINGERS...A LOT HARDER THAN 2... WAY TO GO BUDDY!!!

HE IS EXCITED ABOUT HIS PRESENTS..."YAHOO" HE WOULD SAY...I WONDER WHERE HE GETS THAT SORT OF ENTHUSIASM (JOEL).

BAKUGONS ARE A HIT!!!

TURNING GREEN LIKE THE HULK!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

MOM GETTING OUT HER CREATIVE JUICES ON ANOTHER CAKE...DIDN'T WORK LIKE I WANTED...BUT DREW WAS HAPPY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!!!

YOU CAME INTO THIS WORLD WITH A BANG...

AND YOU ARE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY!

WE LOVE YOU AND EVERY"BIG" THING ABOUT YOU!!!

THE OTHER DAY WE WERE AT PLAY GROUP AND I TOLD ONE OF THE MOM'S THAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOISE CONTROL WITH DREW (BECAUSE HE IS SOOOOO LOUD)...DREW THEN STARTED TO TELL ME SOMETHING AND AFTERWARDS SHE GOES, "HAVE YOU HAD HIS HEARING CHECKED?" YES. WE HAVE. AND IT IS FINE.

Our 2009 Holiday in pictures

DON'T BE SUCH A POOR SPORT JOEL...YOU KNOW YOU LOVE THE GIANTS DEEP DOWN. BESIDES THEY DIDN'T DO MUCH WORSE THAN YOUR BRONCOS...JUST KEEPIN' IT REAL. JOEL WAS EXCITED TO SEE A COOL NFL SHIRT FOR ETHAN UNTIL HE SAW WHAT TEAM IT WAS FOR...CLASSIC. JOEL WAS HAPPY WHEN HE GOT HIS 50 INCH PLASMA THOUGH...

ALL IS QUIET ON CHRISTMAS MORNING...

THEN THEY AWAKE AND THE RACE IS ON...DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE ONE DREW IS HAPPY WITH A WALKING, TALKING DINOSAUR...AND SLIPPERS

JENNA IS ON A ROLL WITH NEW ROLLERBLADES, SHE IS PUTTING THE SPORT COURT TO GOOD USE...ZHU ZHU PETS SOME HOW LANDED UNDER THE TREE...AND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CAFE!!!

We had a wonderful post-Christmas with my parents who were in Arizona visiting my sister over Christmas. We of course were totally spoiled by all of our Grandparents-McCombs, Marks, and Shields.

Ethan got his license to drive. WATCH OUT!!!

Joel caught the holiday spirit and we (meaning both of us-but mostly Joel) put lights on the house this year. We only blew the fuse two times!!!

TOTALLY A CHRISTMAS VACATION EXPERIENCE FOR US...WE HELD A LIGHTING CEREMONY WITH THE KIDS...THEY DID LIGHT UP FOR A MINUTE...THEN GOES THE FUSE...PRETTY FUNNY.

ANYHOW...I AM TIRED OF UPLOADING PICTURES, SO THIS WILL HAVE TO DO FOR THIS PAST CHRISTMAS....HAPPY POST HOLIDAYS....ONLY LIKE A MONTH LATE, OR SO.

Holiday re-cap

Well, it was a very eventful holiday season and I have to say that we had a blast but I am glad it is over. So here is a little re-cap of what kept us busy during the 2009 holiday season...

Jenna-7

Jenna, Drew, and Ethan--such a classic picture. Jenna happy, Drew picking his nose, and Ethan not cooperating. Pretty much our life.

Cute pic of Drew-2.

I started off the craziness of the holidays with My Mom and sister Natalie. We all braved the crowds and did some Black Friday shopping. We couldn't sleep the night before so we decided to go to Toys R Us since they opened at 12am. I thought for sure that there wouldn't be anyone there...man was I WRONG. We ended up pulling an all-nighter!!! We were CRAZY but not as crazy as the lines we stood in!!!!

We made a long and cold trip to the North Pole the day after Thanksgiving to make sure that Santa had put all the kid's names on the "Nice List" and sure enough...he did!!!

We went with the Marks and had a great time!

Pictured Me, Drew, Jenna, Joel, Ethan, Scott and Asher, Cassie and Pheonix.

My best friends Jeana, Adrienne, and Marianne (who lives here) all came into town so we had to go to PF's to celebrate!!!

Santa came to our house and spoiled us rotten!!! --I got an awesome new Canon Rebel xsi camera!!! I have wanted one for years and Santa surprised me with it!!! I was totally telling my Mom how Joel hadn't gone out and done any shopping--really he hadn't--but to my surprise he had after he gotten off work one morning and she totally knew about it.

We stayed home all day on Christmas (which is a first) and I made my very first Turkey. I was surprised when it turned out and was edible. That was a prayer answered seeming we got it two years ago from UPS.

We saw some some movies...Avatar and The Princess and the Frog (for the kids of course).

And really just spent it with friends and family...no better way!!!