...and SHE'S (we're) OFF!!!!

In just a few hours we will be boarding one of these...

To go here...

And stay at this hokey hotel....

To see this girl...

Run in this race...


But, please pray for me, because I am leaving this sweet little girl (in VERY capable hands) for the first time (for more than one day, I should say)...


I'm sure there will be tears...tears of sadness- leaving my "littlest", tears of joy/pride -watching Sabrina and RIGHT NOW tears of frustration- trying to pack...UGH!
See you all soon!

Success!!

This past weekend was the BIG RACE! If you have been following Sabrina's cross country progress, then you know that this was one of the most important races of the year. It was the 2009 USATF Region 15 Junior Olympic Cross Country championships that would qualify Sabrina to go to Reno, NV to run against all the top cross country runners in the United States, otherwise known as the 2009 National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships.

She had to qualify in the top 20 of her age group in order to go on to Nationals.

So here's how our weekend went.

Gian, Sabrina and I left Saturday afternoon to travel down to Escondido. We left Tabitha and Charlee with Tiff. We have some close family friends, The Seaton's, that happen to live in Escondido, so they were kind enough to let us stay at their home. Let's just say that it was above a 5 star hotel stay...The Seaton's home has a gorgeous view and is even more beautiful inside.

Sabrina, enjoying the veranda and view of Escondido.

This is the master suite...which had the same gorgeous view!

And get a load of this bathroom. Sabrina loved the jet tub!

After we dropped off our things at our "5-star hotel", we ventured off to Kit Carson park to check out where the race was going to be held. Luckily they also had a course walk-through and Gian and Sabrina got to "feel-out" the lay of the course.

Sabrina loved that she was going to run through the snake in her race.

After the course walk we went to the mall and Sabrina got to get a new Build-A-Bear as her reward for making it this far in the season. (Last year she got a watch with a stopwatch on it.) She actually chose a horse and named it Storm...the horse because she LOVES horses and because her old team had a horse in it's logo and the name Storm because she liked that name and because she has taken this season by a storm!

After the mall trip we went out to dinner and then went back "home" to sleep.

The next morning we headed off to Kit Carson Park to check-in, get warmed up, and do the course walk one more time prior to the race. I went to the coaches meeting while Gian and Sabrina did the course walk. When the meeting was over I was just sitting waiting for them to come back when I looked up and saw MY ENTIRE FAMILY (Drew, Tiff and their 6 kids and my 2 kids and 1 friend...and my parents) all decked out in T-shirts that said "TEAM SABRINA". I just started to cry! (and still do every time I think about it)

They must have gotten up at 6am and left shortly after to drive 1 1/2 hours to see her run...what a huge sacrifice!! It was a total surprise...and I am so grateful for this wonderful family that I have!!!!!!

Here's all the cousins....look at how happy Sabrina was to have every one there!

Oh yeah...they even decorated the van!!!

This is the start of the race. Sabrina is in all black on the left. She started off pretty fast...but consistently stayed in about 14th-16th place the whole race.

She ran her 1.8 miles with a time of 13:14 and ended up in 16th place to earn her a spot in Nationals!! Yep, I was still crying...

A very happy runner!


So, my friends, we are off to RENO, NEVADA in December (December 12th) for her chance to become a Nationally ranked cross country runner. And we couldn't be more happier for our sweet Sabrina!

A huge THANK YOU to MY FAMILY for being there for her this weekend...you have no idea how much that meant!

Thanks to The Seaton's for the 5-star resort!

And finally, THANK YOU to our Heavenly Father, who has blessed this girl with such a wonderful talent!

For you, Jalen.

P.S. Anyone have any suggestions for our trip??

I WANNA WIN!!!

So here goes...I am entering this contest to win a Sleigh-full of Goodies. First of all, is not the sleigh the cutest thing ever?? A Darling Madsen bike! Second of all, look at that those fun things to play with!! Oh what a dream come true!!! P.S. if I win, I'll share.....and if you win, will you share??

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
I'm such a practical gal with big dreams. So my Christmas list is a bit on the
"really? is that all?" side -along with- "come on, Amy. You are soooo NOT
getting that!" But, here goes... 1. a new electric skillet , 2. a new pair of
Oakley sunglasses, 3. a large size Yankee candle, 4. an iPhone (that's on the
"yeah, right list, btw) and 5. a zip-up black sweatshirt (practical, right?)

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
My mom made me a rag-quilt out of all the material leftovers from dresses
she made me when I was younger. I love that she knows how to sew, taught
me how to sew, and shares her talents with others. She's the greatest mom
ever.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
Not to kiss up to this contest or anything, but I can only imagine what fun
things I could make if I had the Cricut Expression Machine. The possibilities
are endless with that beauty!! (again, on the dreamer list)

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
I will always remember the Christmas that I got a doll in a stroller. I
remember vividly coming down the stairs to see that darling doll stroller!

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
My oldest daughter (age 9) would like, among other things, 2 cartons of
goldfish crackers. Practical. My middle daughter (age 6) would like the rest
of the pieces to her beauty salon, so she can grow up to be just like this gal.
And my 2 year old daughter would be over the top happy with Yo Gabba
Gabba anything.

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
Are you kidding??? What ISN'T my favorite holiday food?! But I absolutely
love when my mom makes 7-layer bars...graham cracker crust, butterscotch
chips, chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, coconut...Oh yummy
goodness!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
I don't want to spoil anyone's surprise...but it's bound to be the cutest thing
ever!! Maybe I hand-stitched it...

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
Classic. Frosty the Snowman and Ruldoph the Red-Nose Reindeer.

9. Favorite holiday song?
Mary, Did You Know? by Clay Aiken

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
Spending time making memories with my family.

SCA Junior Olympic Cross Country Race

Sabrina ran in the first of her series of 2 races to qualify for National Junior Olympics for Cross Country. This race was only for the Southern California section of Cross Country. She had to qualify in the top 25 to go on to Regionals next week.

The race was held at Mt. Sac...THE TOUGHEST course in Southern California. Lots of steep hills and hot weather!

Here is the bantam girls lined up waiting for the start. There was a total of 64 girls that ran in this race.

Does she look nervous to you? (Sabrina's the one in all black. The two girls on the right in bright green are the top two girls in her division. They have some height on her, wouldn't ya say?)

On your mark.

B A N G!
The gun goes off! (I love this official. He always picks Sabrina out and calls her "small one". He also gives the best pep talk to the kids before they race.)

This is a picture of the "switchbacks" hills. The course they ran was two "valley loops" and up the "switchbacks" and flat to the finish. 1.8 miles.

I didn't get any pictures of her running...camera issues, along with tears in my eyes the whole time. (I was the only one there with her, Gian had to work.) She ran strong...in the 10th place spot the entire race....until the flat to the finish where she picked up her speed and passed one girl.

YEP! She finished in 9th place out of 64 girls with a time of 12 minutes and 44 seconds.

This is my happy girl at the finish, with medal in hand.

And this is my even happier girl with a shaved ice in hand. She loves getting this special treat after she runs.

So we are off to Regionals next week in Escondido, CA. If she qualifies in the top 20 she will go on to National Junior Olympics in Reno, NV! Fingers crossed that she does well. Sabrina really would love to have the title of being "Nationally Ranked in Cross Country Running". What a wonderful talent this little girl has....she has been blessed!

This has been a tough year for her with losing her team, teammates, coaches and support system....but she has a passion, a love for running, is self-motivated and is determined! We are proud of her hard work!

Oh yeah, she wore this pink ribbon on her shoe for Jalen. (Click on his name to read about this wonderful boy. He was on her team last year.) She has him in her heart as she races and wishes things could be different for him. But she prays for him and his family and shows her support by wearing this pink ribbon. (And it hasn't come off yet.)

Good luck Sabrina. You are small, but mighty!!!

Madame Vice President

After some campaigning,

and a speech in front of all the 4th and 5th graders,
votes were tallyed for the Vice President of the SNAC (Student Nutrition Advisory Council)
and Sabrina WINS for the Vice President position (along with her good friend Lauren as the 4th grade Press Secretary).

Way to go, Sabrina! Let the meetings begin.

A Romantic Weekend

Gian and I decided that it was definately time for a little time away.

He booked a stay at the Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort.

We dropped the kids off at school and made arrangements for them to stay with family while we were gone....And then we were off for two days of lots of fun and relaxation.

We checked into the hotel...but our room wasn't ready so we checked our baggage and headed off to California Adventure.

Us, in the lobby of the Grand.

We rode Soarin' Over California and then went to Hollywood Tower of Terror.
The Tower of Terror is one of our favorite rides. The girls are a bit apprehensive of this ride so we never get to go on it when we are with them. That was the best part of this trip...NO KIDS to dictate what rides we went on!!!

I love the pictures that they take on the ride...they crack me up!

Next stop was California Screamin'. One of THE BEST roller coasters EVER!!

I always look crazy in the picture that is taken on this ride.

After lunch, someone (maybe it was me, maybe not) decided to go on Mulhulland Madness. Okay, NOT fun! I swear that bucket they had us squeezed into was going to tip over any time we took a curve! Scary!

And then, that same someone (maybe me, maybe not) got the bright idea of going on Grizzly Rapids. It sounded like a good idea. Sure, get a little wet, go back to the hotel and change out of wet clothes.

Us, at the beginning of the ride.

No picture of us at the end of the ride....because SOMEONE got soaking wet-like down to the nitty grittys wet- and was no longer a happy camper. As Gian put it, I was like a wet cat-pissed off and soaked to the bone. And to top it off, our room was still not ready. So there goes the plan of changing out of wet clothes. Instead, I tried to make the best of it and just dry off by laying on a lounge chair by the pool. That put me in a better mood, in fact while laying there I think I said something like "I think I've just died and gone to heaven"-completely peaceful and quiet.

Once our room was ready (which overlooked Downtown Disney) we changed clothes and headed off to Disneyland to go to the Blue Bayou for dinner. Yummy, as always!

Us, at the Bayou.

After dinner we rode a few more rides and then found a comfy bench to watch the fireworks. With a cookie and cup of hot chocolate in hand, we enjoyed the best fireworks show ever! Man, Disney can really light up the sky!!

We returned back to our room to find this:

Yep, we stayed at one of "those" hotels. Where they turned down your bed for you and left chocolate for you on your bedside table.

In the morning we enjoyed a great breakfast at the hotel and then spent some time by the pool again before we came home.

It was a fantastic romantic getaway!!! Oh, how I wish I was there right now!

Thanks Gian...I love you!

(and thanks to my family for taking care of the girls)

Halloween Happenings

Yes, just for the record, Halloween did happen at the Del Bello home. I am not a huge lover of Halloween (I think I just lost some friends by saying that...but it's just me). And this year I was not very excited about Halloween, or should I say the choices my children made for costumes. But...I gave up the reins and let them choose anyway. (lesson learned...next year they are back under my spell.)

So here they are:

This was the night of our ward Halloween party. Sabrina was a runner (like she's not that everyday anyways), Tabitha was Jasmine (at least we found a Jasmine costume that was somewhat modest) and Charlee was a Bumblebee (she did NOT appreciate that costume at all).

These are their costumes on Halloween night:

Sabrina as a goul (YUCK...but Tiff did a great job on her makeup!)

Tabitha as Jasmine and her cousin Devyn as Snow White.

Charlee, the Bumblebee

We also carved a pumpkin...so I'm not a total Halloween hater.

So there you have it...Halloween Happenings.

California Utah Women Boutique and Luncheon

I went with these 3 great women (my mom, Tiff, and Melissa) to CUW Boutique and Luncheon. This is a great day out that only happens twice a year (spring and fall). We get up early (7-8 a.m.-ish) and head over to the Disneyland Hotel to browse and shop at a wonderful boutique. It never fails that I come home with some terrific goodies!

Then we rest our feet and enjoy some fun conversation while we wait to go to the luncheon. The lunch is always delish...and this one did not disappoint. The Butternut Squash soup was fab...and I loved the yummy chicken. While we eat they always have a raffle for some great door prizes and this time I WON!!! I got a darling apron, some dishtowels and $25 gift card to Olive Garden. Woohoo!

The entertainment was Michael Ballam. He did a tribute to Broadway. He made me laugh, cry and really contemplate some things! Outstanding.

I love CUW...I love going with my mom and Tiff and friends every year (missed you lots Natalie)....I can't wait until March 20, 2010 for another fun day out.

If you are interested in going, contact me for tickets. I forgot to add that all the proceeds go to a great organization called Ettie Lee Homes for Boys...a wonderful cause.

Jump for Joy!!!

Tabitha chose to have her birthday party at Pump It Up. It is a big warehouse place with a bunch of big inflatables for kids to play on. (Why didn't I come up with that idea? I would have been rich by now.)

She was so excited to have a party this year (in our family we rotate who gets a party each year)...and she was very excited to be able to have a bunch of cousins and friends be there to celebrate with her.

The Queen on her throne.

The kids ran around and played for 1 1/2 hours.

Tabitha was a rosy cheeked, sweaty mess!!

Luke and Tabitha at the end of the slide.

I loved watching some of the older kids get a game of hide and seek going. They were so funny- first playing Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a dish to see who would hide...and then hiding and trying to find the person (some of them were EXCELLENT hiders).

After all the jumping and sweating, the kids all ate pizza and had ice cream cake! Tabitha told us on the way home that it was " THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVERRRRR!!!"

(Ahhh, to be 6 years old!)

Tabitha says the Pledge

Tabitha was chosen by her teacher to say the Pledge of Allegiance on the intercom for the whole school. She was so excited to be chosen and practiced many times. She did a fabulous job and we are so proud of her confidence!
That is the principal holding the phone for her while she said the Pledge. The principal gives all the daily announcements and then Tabitha had her turn to shine!

And that is one proud girl!