Mi Linda Lily

I was reading an article the other night regarding the importance of teaching your daughter the  intelligence over beauty. Instead of telling a girl how beautiful or pretty she is, you should say how smart she is or ask her questions regarding her intelligence. Though I agree with the importance of promoting intelligence and independence in young women, I also believe beauty needs to be re-defined. My daughter is beautiful. She will always be beautiful to me. Beauty is held both inside and out, not just based on the physical, but ones personality as well. Lily is beautiful because she is kind, intelligent, happy and physically a very pretty little girl (I'm biased). I want her to always know what it means to be beautiful and never doubt who she is. With that being said, I took some pictures of her this afternoon. She brings happiness to everyone around her and kindest and sweetest little girl. If you doubt me? Then you've obviously never met mi Linda Lily :)

Eating grapes from the grape vine.

The light of my life, the sunshine in my sould

Loves her daddy!

She is truly beautiful

Total Lily pose!

My happy girl

2013 GTX Crossfit Competition

Saturday, June 15th I competed in the 2013 GTX Crossfit Competition. GTX is a crossfit gym which Mark and I attend, and we have really grown to love this gym.

I was very nervous to compete in this competition for many reasons. A) I have never competed in an athletic event with less then 100 people and was not a group competition. B) I did not think that I was capable of completing a total of three crossfit workouts in one day. And C) It was going to be freakin' hot!

You can revert to previous posts for the details on the work outs.

We competed and we killed it :) We did not win our events, but placed in the top three.

Mark placed first in the Mens scaled Helen event, Second in the mens prowler event and Second Overall in Mens Scaled. He did such a good job and I'm so proud of him!

I placed third in womens weight lift and third in the womens overall scaled.

We had tons of fun meeting new people, cheering each other on and kickin' bootie! We will most definitely do this again, but next year...we are placing first :)

Here are some pictures from the event:

 



What  a hottie

 

To cap the event, the prowler event. Killer on your legs! I almost got second...almost!

First place Helen event. woot woot!

Second place prowler

Second place mens overall scaled

Third Place in Womens Overall Scaled

Third place weight lift

This is not the heavist weight, but I lifted 100lbs and got third place

 

Little sweetie lasted all day! 8am till 4pm, and was our #1 fan.

Our GTX family

 

TMC Meet Me Down Town 5K 2013

WE DID IT!

Finally, I can cross off 'Running a 5K' from my bucket list. I have had this goal on my new years resolutions for about 10 years now and finally got the courage to do it. Kind of strange, it's only 3 miles which I have ran many times, but I have always been afraid to run in an actual timed race with others.

Mark, Lily and I ran the TMC Meet Me Down Town 5K race on Saturday night at 7pm. Mark ran with the jogging stroller and Lily enjoyed the ride.

It was 104 degrees at the time the race started, so the run felt A LOT harder then my usual practice runs.

There were a total of 2,035 people who actually ran the 5K, not including the children which made it a total of 2,500. So we were packed into the streets like sardines! It was kind of difficult at the beginning to get a good start because we didn't want to run anyone over with the stroller.

I had told Mark to run his normal pace and not wait for me, because he runs at a pace of 9 minutes, where as I run at a pace of 11 minutes (I'm a bit slow). So once the race started, Mark bolted...he is so fast! It was a strange felling to run with all of these people, surprisingly it was not as motivating as I'd hoped. I was actually getting annoyed every time someone passed me, but my goal was to not get discouraged and NOT STOP RUNNING! No matter how hot I was, or how tired my legs felt, I was not going to stop. I could run slow, but not stop. At one point, an older gentlemen who looked like he was running in slow motion passed me. I thought 'if he is running that slow, how slow am I running!' It was kind of funny. But no matter, I kept running. People from their homes were spraying us with hoses, it was so refreshing!

It was pretty encouraging after the second mile to see people who had been passing me in the first mile start to walk. Helped me to keep on running. Once I turned the corner to view the finish line and the last 10 meters, Mark and Lily were there waiting for me to finish together. I was hoping that Mark would finish by himself so he could be proud of his time, but I was also very touched that he would wait for me, it meant alot to me.

We finished together, not at the time I was hoping for, but we finished!

My best time running a 5k, by myself, in cooler temperature was 34:21. My worst time was at the race, 36:31. I placed 91 out 158 for my age group, 581 out of 1256 women and 1126 out of 2035 runners overall.

We are definitely going to run this race again next year, hopefully my time will be a lot better, but I am proud of myself for not stopping, that was my goal for this race and I achieved it.

The best part of the race? The end!

End of the race!

Beginning of the race

Lily didn't get a bib, so we made her one. 1328 1/2

Team Daddy and Lily

Marks mother and grandmother made us these cool signs, so supportive.

Crossing the finish line

Us with our support group at the end of the race. So grateful for family!

 



Relay For Life 2013

Yesterday I participated in an event called 'Relay for Life' of the American Cancer Association.

My employer decided last month that we would be participating in this event and would raise money for the ACA. I was really excited to be able to be apart of this fundraiser.

I have not been directly effected by cancer. Nor has anyone in mine or Marks family line. However, those who know me, know that I am a hypochondriac and have a constant fear that I will have cancer someday. Seems silly and crazy? It is, but I can't shake the feeling. Since becoming a mother, it has increased to the point where I fear Lily will have cancer. I know, I need a therapist :)

Which is why I felt so motivated to be apart of this event. I do not want to fear cancer, I want to have hope that someday we won't have to fear it, we will understand how to cure/prevent the disease or that we won't have to hear the words 'you have cancer' and feel it is the end.

I've spent April and May fundraising. Selling luminary, asking for donations and having a pancake sale at work. With our efforts (combined sites Tucson East and West) we managed to raise $2,599 for the ACA. Yay!!

Now, to explain how Relay for Life works...

The event was at the Empire High school, teams from all over Tucson participated. My team was Awesome People Against Cancer. The point is to have one person from each team, taking turns walking the track from 6:00pm until 7:00am the following morning. Because cancer does not sleep, and for one night we won't either.The event starts off with the celebration ceremony, celebrating those who have survived cancer.

Our Canopy, we sold water, apples and oranges for more fundraising

Lily enjoyed all the fun activities :)

 

 

 Then when the sun goes down, the Remembrance ceremony begins. Luminaria are lit, representing those who have lost the battle to cancer and those who are currently battling. It was very moving. I am amazed by the many number of people who have been effected by cancer. Hearing their stories make me cry. Though I feel blessed to have my health, my heart aches for their pain and losses.

This luminaria is in honor of Little Diego, grandson of our friend Ricardo. Diego is 10 years old and currently battling lukemia, he may lose the fight. :(

This luminaria is in memory of Allison Spackman who lost the fight to leukemia in 2006, she was a great example to me as a youth and was a new mother when she passed away. She is loved and missed. The other is in honor of Andrew Lemos (10) who is currently fighting hard to win against leukemia, he is a strong little boy and I pray he wins.

My heart goes out to all who are effected by cancer.

 

The morning comes the fight back ceremony, where we celebrate our fight against cancer.

It was such a special experience to be apart of this event. Even if the walking for three hours straight around the track was boring, it was worth it. I want to find more opportunities to participate in fundraisers such as this. Even if myself and my family never end up with a terminal illness, at least I can help others who may not be as lucky to celebrate more birthdays :)

 



Up'n Coming

I have committed to compete in three physical events by the end of the this year...I may increase it depending how everything goes. So here they are, documented so I have to follow through and not flake.

Relay for Life-- May 17th. An all night run/walk relay in support of Cancer research and to remember those who lost to cancer. My work is participating, and it is something I've always wanted to do. Cancer is the only illness that you can be the most healthy person on the planet and still get it...really sad. I am running for all my fellow coworkers who have cancer and for friends of mine I've lost.

Meet me down Town Night run 5k-- this will be the first 5k I've run. Every year I say I am going to run a 5k, and this year I am going to make it happen. Mark and lily will be running with me. I'm excited! June 1st

GTX Fitness Challenge-- June 15th. Three events, 1st-- doing an exercise called 'Helen', it is 3 rounds of 400 meter run, 21 American swings w/26lb kettlebell and 12 rump up pull ups. 2nd-- ground to over head w/bar, get to your max weight by 7 minutes. 3rd-- 50yrds starting with Prowler run, Farmers walk w/35lbs and sprint. Best overall score for all three events wins. This is the one I am most nervous about because I will actually be competing against people who know what they are doing. I am practicing with my trainer twice a week, but I am still nervous. I guess the point is to have fun, but I am still aiming to win.

So there we are people, three events. I am thinking about doing the 'Run or Dye' 5k, and a few others...or maybe I will continue with cross fit events? Not sure, but I am definitly going to continue competing to keep myself motivated.



Easter 2013

 

This Easter was a little bit different then most. Saturday night Lily came down with a stomach bug she caught from her 2nd cousins and was throwing up all night. We were coloring eggs in between catching vomit in a bowl. My poor little sweetie, it was so sad.

We spent the night in the family room, I slept of the big giant gorilla with lily and mark slept in the recliner. Needless to say, it was a rough night.

All night I prayed that she would be better by morning so she could enjoy Easter. In the morning, she was fine. Eating candy from the Easter bunny and getting into the drawers like usual. It was such a blessing. I know heavenly father listens to prayers!

Lily looked adorable in her Easter dress from her Auntie Clarice and she got lots of goodies from the Easter Bunny.

I am so grateful for a loving heavenly father, who was willing to allow his first born son to come to earth, and suffer for our wrong doings so we can strive, everyday to be perfect to live with him again. I don't know how he could bear seeing Jesus suffer in that way, how painful that must have been. But I am grateful he allowed it to happen, so I can be with my family forever and enjoy the blessings of living a healthy life as I repent, everyday.

In her big red wagon from the Grammy Easter Bunny! Filled with lots of clothes, books and candy...spoiled bunny!

We went to the mall and she met the easter bunny...she is a natural, no tears!

OH MY HEAVENS! IS SHE NOT THE CUTEST!!!!

Our egg pile

Mark and Lily searching for eggs

Chocolate mustache! no more sickness!

Me and my pretty baby

Exploring the Easter Goodies!