19

Oh my the weekend flew by fast!

I had sick kids all last week with fevers, croupy coughs, chills....

You get the idea.

So alas I am behind on my thanksgiving journal.

Day 19

I am grateful for my three.....
BEAUTIFUL, SMART, DRIVEN, PASSIONATE CHILDREN.

Almost 11 years ago in February I became a mother.
Diana rose changed my life for the better.

Being a mother made me.....
 become closer to my heavenly father
a better wife....
more driven...
want to become a better person...
more empathetic...

As my eldest, her and I have a very close relationship.
Her sweet testimony and friendship have blessed our home.
She brings peace and love to her siblings.
I am grateful that she is my oldest because she is incredibly giving and nurturing; a wise older sister who provides a shinning example to her siblings.

3 1/2 years later Taylor entered our world.
His birth was an accomplishment beyond all comprehension.
Without pain meds, a head off the charts, a cracked tail bone and hip later....
The world welcomed my handsome son.
He was such a HAPPY baby.
He made me laugh everyday with his big brown eyes and endless energy.
My favorite time spent with him was singing to him as a toddler.
He would say "one more mommy??"
I would end up singing to him for hours sometimes.

Last of my three is lil'miss Chloe, who is....
full of fire, passion and has such a desire to be better!
As a baby Miss Chloe was sick with chronic ear infections.
It became such an issue that hearing loss and speech was discussed with her doctors
After ear tubes and minimal hearing loss....
You see a happy little girl who honesty has the drive and ambition to go anywhere her heart takes her.
She always tells me
"Mommy I am going to be a doctor someday so I can take care of you when your old."
I do not doubt someday there will be a Chloe M.D.

This is why I am a mother

♥

Diana, Taylor and Chloe

Each one changed me

Each one is a blessing from the lord, so slow down each day and enjoy your kiddos....

♥

Life is too short to miss out on the blessings of motherhood.

 

18

Day 18

I am thankful for my healthy body....

and my....

♥

CURVES!!

♥

17

Day 17

I have lived in Oregon since I was 3....

So you could say I am used to the rain.

I am thankful for rainy days where you can snuggle up with your little ones to read books and play board games for hours!

♥

16

Day 16

I am grateful for modern medicine.

Last night when my kids had dark croupy coughs.....

Their inhalers were a blessing!!

Without them it would have been a scary night with my son. 

Finally found it!

Source: styleathome.com via Dwi on Pinterest

Oh  my goodness!

This creates shivers just thinking about it.

Someday this kitchen will be a reality :)

♥ it!

Lunch dates

Day 15

Today I am grateful for LUNCH DATES.....

♥

with Mr. Nye!

* Picture from camping this summer 2011*

We ate at Panera bread in C town and loved every minute of it.

It's nice to steal a romantic moment away in the middle of the day with my man.

14

Day 14

Today I am thankful for my children's teachers.

At school

At church

Their coaches

It takes a village to raise a child

We've been blessed with teachers and leaders who have given my kids the direction

and attention to be better people!!



13

Day 13

Today I am grateful for my faith...

my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ.

Mt relationship with him is sacred.

He is not only my Savior but my brother who has carried me  when I could not walk, giving me the strength and love I need to get through.

♥

Please watch this amazing video.

♥
Rach

12

Day 12

Today I am grateful for time spent with friends!

and believe it or not...

I have a husband that is going to let me out NEXT weekend too to see the new movie.....

BREAKING DAWN: Part 1.

Yes I know roll your eyes....

♥



10 and 11

Day 10

I am thankful for health insurance!

Even though our premiums went up UP UP UP.....

We are lucky to be protected if one some has a broken arm, surgery, pneumonia.....

It is more $ than last year but hey...we have it....

and Keith's employer is helping soften the blow financially!

Day 11

I posted this on FB this morning and on my blog a couple of years ago; it truly embodies how I feel about Veterans Day.

So today for day 11 I am thankful for all the men and women who keep this country safe!

I  will be thinking about my Grandfather, Marvin Simpson today who served in the Korean war

and

Nathan Christensen who is currently deployed.

 I have German lineage. I have ancestors who came through Ellis island to find the American dream. I have ancestors who walked across the plains for religious freedom from the mobs. I like many Americans have many lines, Indian, German and what ever else melted into the pot because that is what we are. A melting pot. This great nation brings people from all over the world to its borders with hopes and dreams that they can have a better life. It brings religious, political and ethical freedoms to each new immigrant as they stand to take the oath of citizenship. Everyday I live in this country and I question, how did I make today a better place? What did I do for my country?

Today is veterans day and my heart is with those families who have their husbands, mothers, and grandfathers overseas. Honor them today by making this country a better place. Lets serve one another to make this world just that must brighter; to make this great nation, the united states of America as a whole that much brighter, to be a beacon unto the world, so that our light might shine unto those that need it. God Bless America and Happy Veterans Day unto all who have served and will serve to keep this great nation and its values safe.

♥

Rach

8 and 9

I guess life is so busy for me I forgot yesterday....again...but hey....I am here blogging now....better late than never, right?!?

Day 8

I am grateful for my job and the fact my husband has full time employment!

We may not be $$$ but we have a warm home and cars that work.

This blesses us beyond measure.

I work with the MOST incredible person.

Deb. your a blast to work with and honestly it is not "work" with you.

Thanks for being the best co-worker.......EVER!

♥

Day 9

I am grateful that my kids have loving and caring grandparents.

♥

I grew up with basically one set and to have TWO sets that live only 10 minutes apart from each other is honestly a blessing now only for our family.

Life is good!

- Rach



Day seven

Today I am thankful for the power of prayer.

It brings....

peace

knowledge

comfort

love

a friendship with my father in heaven

and direction in my life.

With out it I would be lost!

Sisters and trails

I guess I missed yesterday....

I came home and enjoyed my kiddos after a beautiful trail run!

So for day five I would like to say I am grateful for trail running.

I'd never run on a trail over three miles.  Yesterday I had the wild chance to run 13.1 on the Silver Creek trails. It turned out to be one of those "Ahh" moments where you discover a secret passion that excites you all over again about your favorite hobby.

Running in the NW not only provides endless beauty but being able to run about waterfalls and the breathtaking views of Silver Falls State park was a blessing. I am grateful for not only a great friend from church to run with me (THANKS T.) but the health and strength to do so. Four weeks before I had run the Portland marathon with my friend A. To add to this craziness I decided oh why not sign up for a Halloween half marathon the weekend before....yeah....it's true.

But in all its craziness I discovered something new about myself.  I am thankful for that! Life is too short to not discover new passions and open doors just waiting for us to open them.

For day six I want to say I am thankful for my sister.

Never a day goes by that I do not pinch myself for finding that "bosom friend." - Anne of Green Gables

Love ya girl!



Eternal

Day four

I am thankful for my husband.

If you did not already know.....

We were high school sweet hearts.

From day one he has swept me off my feet.

He is my best friend.

My support.

My confidant

and best of all...

I get to spend the rest of my life with him. 



Giving thanks

Nothing is impossible for the word itself says's "I'm possible!"

- Audrey Hepburn

From today until Thanksgiving I wanted to write down what I am thankful for because I have been blessed beyond measure in my life. Oh yes there are crappy things that happen but in the big picture of life I am blessed and those trials start to look small when you look at what is really important. Today I start out on this journey of gratitude to reflect, ponder and learn more about what I can give back.  Feeling gratitude for our blessings is only half the equation.  It is giving back, digging deep within ourselves to see what we can offer is what really brings ones complete gratitude and peace in this life.  

Since it is November 3 I will write three "gratitude's."

1. My parents.  Ah yes. With out their love and support many of my goals and ambitions would have never come to reality in my life. It is with that, I was able to succeed in college, have a mentor when I needed it and the most obvious; their love. Their love gave me a good foundation from which I could learn and grow.

2. My Trails - Our trials in life are an opportunity to gain perspective, gaining a better understanding on a subject we might not have learned had we not been given that trial to bear. With out my trials I would not be who I am. Each event changed me, giving me the opportunity to choose the better path.  No I am not perfect and some of my trials are self inflicted BUT each one taught me more about me; giving me an opportunity to turn to the Lord.  Trials are not fun but if we have the right attitude they can be blessings in disguise.

3.The beauty of the Pacific NW - I have pretty much been an Oregonian my whole life minus the three years I lived in Utah from birth to three years old. The lushness of the NW and its rain brings a way of life I have become accustom to. I relish in it and the beauty that surrounds the tranquility it brings to its landscapes. I honesty would miss it if we ever had to move (not planning on that anytime soon!).

So there you have it!

What are your gratitude's?

♥

Rach

Summer sweetness

We're having too good of a time to worry about tomorrow by enjoying....

Water pistols....

Slip n'slides......

Popsicles....

Soaking up the (what we can get) sun......

Being carefree.....

And of course lots of laughs.....

Summer we ♥ YOU!

Independance

On July 4th, 1776
"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness........"

 Because of 56 courageous signers of the Declaration of Independence who dedicated their lives for our freedom,

we are able to celebrate our Independence today!

I am so grateful to be an American.

To celebrate the Fourth of July .....

I ran with my cousin Jennifer in her third half marathon.
It was awesome to spend the morning with her and support her.

It was another HOT race that morning.

With all of the cold weather we have had in the NW,

as a runner it has been difficult to acclimate to the hotter temperatures.

Thanks Jenny for the AWESOME morning.

It was a lot of fun :-).

♥

Later that day we had the chance to spend the day with the Christensen family at their families farm.

What a blast! The food, activities and fireworks made it a pretty amazing fourth of July that will be hard to beat. Thanks Nate and Amy. You and your families rock!

♥

The morning after the fourth Keith helped his father work on the restoration of his 1944 Ford pick up.

I have been so impressed with all that he has done. He is restoring everything to its original state. It should be a LOT of fun to see when its all done by the fall.

♥

And what better way to end the Fourth of July weekend than to see the Broadway show "Mary Poppins." We got all dolled up in our dresses, curls and bangles and headed out onto the town. We went out to dinner at the old spaghetti factory and ate out in the trolley car (always a fav. in our house). Then we headed on downtown for the show. It was a great show full of fun props, effects and songs.  It was not my favorite Disney broadway play I've seen but a lot of fun!

FANTASIC WEEKEND!

I am very blessed with life long friends and family.

Life is good!

♥

Rach

Bulletin Board

There is a bulletin board at Periwinkle Elementary with the AR reading goals. There are different reading club goals you work on to attain IE: 50,100, 150, 200...etc. You get the idea.

Most kids in the school reach around 300 or less.

Diana rose has always been a little bookworm from the time she was a baby.

I would read and read to her, even in the bath tub with her bath time baby books.

Then she entered kindergarten and alas she was onto reading.

She read chapter books before I knew it and off she was into the world of imagination

This year she told me in secret she was going to get to the 1000 point club.

The previous year she had attained 550 and that alone took MANY long hours of reading THICK books.

So at the beginning of August she started on her goal.

Her hard work every week paid off quickly and the librarian had to start ordering more books from other to schools to EVEN keep up with her appetite for good literature.

Her favorite book of the year was when her and I read "Little women" by Loise May Alcott.

Her and I cried when Beth died.

By February she was a school superstar, even the first graders knew who Diana Nye was.

Her bulletin board grew and each award had to be added, soon the teachers were squeezing them where there was even a space.

By Mid-May she bounced out of the doors when I picked her up from school

with the LARGEST grin on her face.

SHE DID IT!

She was Periwinkle's Elementary TOP READER!

Diana says' next years goal is to shatter the school record

She wants to make it hard to ever break again.....oh boy!

I am proud of my baby girl.

She learned the lesson of hard work

and gained a love of books and writing.

I tell her someday I want to be the first in line for your book.

Way to go baby girl. 

Your family is very proud of you and your determination.  

A check off the bucket list

When I was 16 years old running track I remember running 10 miles at the end of the season. It was in that run that I decided one day I was going to run a marathon. To run a marathon is not an easy feat. It takes courage, digging deep with in yourself because it becomes a spiritual mind game to overcome that voice and declaring "Yes I can do this!"  Twice I tried to train for the same marathon. First time I became pregnant,  male runners do NOT have to deal with this situation. Second time it was just not the right timing or mindset. Third time I said to myself  "This is it." I was not pregnant, I had been running for close to four years and I felt in my heart it was time.

My training started the first weekend in Jan! It was a time of renewal and growth for me.  I was able to PR in a half marathon, gain strength from speed training and learn about the important of yoga for my body. Although I have MUCH more to learn about my body and strength training, more details on that later.

RACE DAY

Well what can I say. I DID IT! I ran the NEWPORT MARATHON! It was a beautiful day, 81 degrees, very humid and the heat off the estuary made for quite the opponent.

Mile 1-19 went GREAT!! I ran at a 10:20 pace the whole way and was feeling great. I drank a cup of Gatorade and water at each mile (aid stations and out of my hydration bottles.....SO grateful I brought it, IT WAS HOT!). At mile 5, 10, 15 and 20 I took a gel packet.  At mile 4 ate 2 banana's.
What happened at 21....I have not a clue.....

When I left around the aid station between 20 and 21 I was feeling tired but good....I kept thinking " I am going to do it!!"

I hit 21.5 and it hit me!!! I threw UP. I was dizzy and did not feel too hot. I felt like going to the bathroom and started crying BIG TIME. I was so close I thought " Why now?"

Out of no where an older gentleman tapped me on the shoulder wearing his marathon maniac shirt helped me up and said "YOU CAN DO THIS!" He proceeded to walk with me and honestly became my angel.

Mile 22.8 (close to the 23 mile marker) - My knee gave out to the point I could not lift it. I started to jog a 14 min mile and realized I could walk a 12.5 min mile so I started to fast walk. I WAS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP SO CLOSE TO THE FINISH!

Mile 24 - Threw up. Again.....end of story.

Mile 25.5 I said a prayer to the lord to help me as I was about to seriously puke again.

Mile 26 - As I came to the top of that hill I was lifted up and was able to finish the Newport Marathon!!

My Garmin time said 5:16. Official time since Newport does not do chip timing 5:20.Am I disappointed that I did not make my 4:40 goal???? I am NOT DISAPPOINTED!!! I am happy and so proud that I finished. I know everything happens for a reason and now I know hopefully next time will be better. Not every race will be our best. Not every race will we PR. Each race happens and ends with results that are there to teach us something as an individual and as an athlete. I now can say " I finished a marathon :)."

After results:

I have whats called  Illiotibial Band Syndrom. Its not fun and I have MORE strength training to do obviously  if I am going to keep up my current training.  I guess as I look back I had a sore knee after my 15 and 17 mile run but did not know this was a signal of it since I could run through it with out much thought and pain. I do get discouraged sometimes with running because with my hypoglycemia and uneven hip bones it has made it a rough journey. Crossing the finish line is so much sweeter knowing I have concurred trials and bumps during my training.  My physical therapist, doctor and yoga instructor have all make it possible, each one of them helping me discover how to become a better runner. Running takes you to a different place if you let it. It is not just a way to exercise, it is a way of life, a way to better yourself as a mother, wife and individual. The medal is a lot of fun but what really is the reward is the journey you took to get there. From that is the real gift of running. I hope all of you one day get the chance to run a marathon. Although it did not end up how I wanted it to, I look at it as a chance to learn from what happened and go on. I will run more marathons and who knows one day maybe run Boston :). The road has no limits.......


                                                                                ♥
                                                                              Rach



A summer moment

All is peaceful at first....

Then she realizes Mom is taking pictures...

Tickling proceeds....

Sister tries to hide....

But it does not work so well....

Instead mom catches a beautiful picture mid-giggling :)

The Nye's are having LAZY summer days full of lemonade

 LOTS of allergies (were keeping Kleenex in business) and....

DOING ABSOLUTLY NOTHING!

IT IS AWESOME =-)

Blogging

I seemed to have lost all love for blogging this year.

I am thinking it was maybe the CRAZY busy schedule ....

full of little league

board meetings

church callings

volunteering at school

VT

renovating

training for half marathons

and for the Newport Marathon

Going back to work as an assistant preschool teacher

Organizing a relay team

Being team mom

Fundraising

The kids sports and games and activities

and most importantly being a Mommy!

I honestly took a good hard look and there is probally more I am forgetting.....

BUT

honestly....

I am burnt.

I over did it and how do I know that??

I was living life in the fast lane before I knew it,  "CRASH and BURN" happened.

I am slowing down.

I admit it

Its true

I honestly have an addiction to being busy.

If I am not doing something I start to fidget and get going on one project or another.....

I mean it's good to be busy

 Life would not be worth living with out meaning

What I am saying is....

I need to PICK and CHOOSE

what is best for MY FAMILY and for MYSELF

So keep me in check people

I am getting a button that say's "NO THANK YOU!"

And if you see me say " Yes."

Please kick me from behind....

You have my full permission to do so :).

New beginings

Its 2011 and its been four months since I touched this blog. Time flew before I knew it and here I sit, shaking my head at all that's happened inbetween now and then. Christmas, New years, marathon training, Diana's birthday, our anniversary, and so much more. Our life seems to be a never ending craze of events filled with sports, dance, jobs, church commitments, community service to various organizations.....I am looking forward to summer when all I will do is be barefoot and free in  my backyard with my three brown eyed love bugs.

To catch up this blog I am going to go at lightening speed and quickly post a few key pictures from the past few months  with captions....as someone commented on FB, I should really just write "some stuff happened!" and leave it at that but it being me and who I am....and as funny as that would be, I can't for memories sake. So hold on to your seats and here's the Nye family catch up!

CHRISTMAS 2010

Christmas eve tradition: Making sugar cookies as a family! A must-do yummy activity.....

Christmas morning baking

Clo-bear decorating her sugar cookies. I just love her smile =-)

Wearing the necklace big sister made for her!

Matching pajama's mommy made! =-)

♥ I LOVE THIS MAN!!! ♥

My three hooligans and their Christmas eve  pajama's I made.

Christmas dinner with my whole family!  It was a easy going, good food day with my family. What more could you ask for!

Zoolights with Godmother Karina

To read what the Oregon zoo zoo lights are, read about it HERE.

Auntie Karina with her nieces and nephew

So sad that this family picture did not turn out more clear....

Me and my sis on the zoo train.

♥ Chloe bear ♥

HA HA HA....I just love Chloe's expression in this picture, "Mom, I am so done. I just want some hot chocolate and my cookie!"

Great experience if you have a chance to take your family during the holiday season. We've now gone twice with the kids and love it. Each time we've gone there seems to be something new and fun to check out.

Hood to Coast

I gathered 12 ladies together and said lets run 197 mile together from Mount Hood to Seaside, Oregon :).  It happens they made a documentary about this world famous relay I am running this summer as Captain of my team "The Miss FITS".

Check out the movie http://www.hoodtocoastmovie.com/

FABULOUS movie. It really caught the spirit in what this relay is all about. It will make you cheer, cry and giddy with excitement to go run 6 miles.

My team at their luncheon in January.

Our T-shirt logo. It is going to be on a gray dri-fit shirt to let the logo really stand out.

Julia D. from my ward at church did a FANTASTIC job!

Keith has his birthday!

Chloe started Ballet

She is doing ballet once a week at a professional dance studio, working up to her dance recital in June! I can not wait to see my little bumble bee dance away on stage ♥.

Diana turned 10....yes you did hear me right!

She had friend over for a favorite things birthday party. It was a smashing success!

I made the most incredible peanut butter chocolate cheesecake for the birthday girl.

We had the most incredible anniversary week!

I stunk at taking at pictures but what I can tell you is everyday for 10 days he did something romantic everyday starting with a poem, roses, framed pictures, diamond earrings, weekend away....LONG STORY short, I have the most incredible husband. I do not know what I did to deserve him but I am holding tight.

♥ you babe!

Marathon training

11 weeks until the my first marathon!

I am EXCITED and SCARED out of my boots all at the same time, does that make sense???

Wish me luck!!

♥

Albany Little League

At a board meeting in December, Keith was voted in to be Albany Little League president. It has been a BUSY last few months for my husband and our family. He is gone many nights because of his position in LL. I am proud of him and all of his work for the League!!

Now to get opening ceremonies over with and done, after that things should slow down =-).

Well there are a lot of things i could blog on but I am missing my kiddos so I am signing off and hoping to better blogging because it really is fun to look back. Thanks for still reading now that I am Private.....

♥

Rach