Okay, I suppose I should have posted sooner...

Alright, so it has been FOREVER since I posted anything. I am always to busy reading about everyone else's life to put anything about my own. Lots has happened since I last posted. Enjoy some of the pictures, even though now they are 6 months old.

Here is an update on what is going on in our lives:

RD is enjoying working for Parson's Brinckerhoff on the UTA trax projects. He has taken up gardening and has been coaching Haden's flag football team. Amanda (me), I have been busy with photography, and being a Mom. I did run the SLC 1/2 marathon in April and about a week after became pretty sick. I thought I was prego so I went to the Doctor's and to make a long story short 1'm now 5 days post-op from heart surgery. I had a 1/2 inch hole in my heart that is now plugged up by a little titanium device. Blakely has been playing soccer with a team named the FLAMING CHEETOS, and is really becoming a good pianist. It is hard to believe that she is just finishing up 4th grade. Haden got his red/black belt combo in Hapkido, and took a break from that to play his first year of little league baseball, and then flag football. He excelled at both, and is going back to Hapkido this week.
Emery played soccer this spring on a 3-4 year old team. I was the lucky coach who got to run all of the field shouting, "run this way, kick it this way!"

All in all we are doing pretty well. Sometime life hands us experiences we never thought we would have, but they remind us to look around and be grateful for everything we have been given!

We lost our dear, sweet Granny in May. My family has had the privilege of knowing her and spending a lot of time with her. She was an amazing women and has left a legacy of love.

She was such a fun lady with a great sense of humor and just a pleasure to be around.

We never went away empty handed anytime we saw Granny. It did not matter if you just stop by to say "Hi," or if she came to church with you, she had something for you. She was always so generous and gracious.

I am so grateful my children had the opportunity to spend time with her. We miss you so much GRANNY! We will always remember our time with you and look forward to seeing you again.

Blakely on the field with the flaming cheetos.

Emery walking her favorite bunny.

Haden at the Dinosaur Museum

Emery's #3 Bday

Ouch!

Blakely's #10 bday (each candle represents 5 years, I am a lame MOM!)

The toothless grin!

Emery sledding & the rest our Christmas pics!

Typical Emery- we call her "pig pen" because she is one messy chick.

I need help with something...

I need someone who would has some crocheting experience to take on some projects for me - in trade for some photography sessions....any takers????

A new website for Bishop Images

Just wanted to let you know that Amanda has a new website (same address just new design). Check it out

www.bishopimages.com

It is official...

Nobody get excited (I am not announcing I am pregnant or anything). I am just sad to say that I attempted to run 3 miles today after taking 6 weeks off from running, and although I did complete the mileage I did not run the whole thing. I can't believe how fast you lose that "great" running feeling. I'm sort of starting over and I am going to run the SLC 1/2 marathon in April so if anyone wants to join me let me know!!

Holiday & other photos coming soon...

As of late...

Just a little of our life lately

Happy #7 Haden.

Flag Football stretches.

So you think you can dance in CONCERT.

Red belt awarded. Yes, he can do the splits.

What a girl on the uneven bars!


Once again I must apologize to the world of blogging readers that may wander to this page. I am a complete slacker but hope to do better on updating at story telling. I have many fun stories and experiences to share but very little time. I may also go private (still debating). 

Random Acts of Kindness/TAG

I have 2 friends who left me a little something with a note today. Thanks so much for thinking of me, I have been feeling pretty down lately and I really appreciate your kindness. I hope all of us can take a little time out of our very busy schedules to do a little something for someone else, sometimes just a smile in the grocery store can make all of the difference.

On another note, I was Blog tagged by a another friend with a CRAZY 8 theme. Here goes...


8 Favorite TV Shows (do I really ever watch these...)

1. LOST (by far my favorite)
2. The Office
3. Law & Order
4. Anything HGTV
5. Frasier
6. Seinfield
7. ER
8. Anything on Court TV


Things I did yesterday

1. Primary program practice
2. Attended a baptism
3. Attended a fun trunk or treat ward activity
4. Halloween party at my Mom's with my family
5. Swept & mopped floors
6. Edited pictures
7. Made brownies
8. Something with RD late at night (not what you think)


Favorite Restaurants

1. Al Forno's
2. Pizza Nova (in San Diego)
3. Market Street Grill
4. Niel's Halibut
5. Goodwood
6. Dragon Diner
7. Blue Iguana
8. Everywhere we ate in Puerto Vallarta (amazing food!)

Things on my wish list

1. Peace on Earth
2. Cures to any illness
3. More strength to endure
4. More patience
5. To be debt free
6. To see my kids grow & live happily
7. Go somewhere tropical often
8. More time & knowledge to complete everything


Things I love about FALL:

1. Football
2. Kids go back to school
3. Beautiful colors
4. Pumpkins
5. Thanksgiving
6. Sweat shirts & sweaters
7. Cooler weather
8. Pumpkin deserts (but not pie)


PEOPLE I TAG

1. Kim
2. Lyndee
3. Mindy
4. Sara
5. Andra or Barbara (get with the program & make a blog!)
6. Andrea
7. Kara
8. Jayme

Check it off the list...I DID IT!

I am just going to gloat about this for a day or two because I was not sure I was ever going to accomplish this goal of mine or not but........ I did it, I did it, I did it! Saturday morning I ran the St. George marathon. My goal was to first, finish and second, try to do it under 5 hours. It poured rain, and wind blew the entire time but I ran the whole thing (I only stopped once for a quick potty break), my finish time was 4 hours 26 minutes. Not too shabby for my first one but nowhere near some of the amazing runners ahead of me. The top finisher ran it in 2 hours 22 minutes (unbelievable, especially since he's not Kenyan). 

My Mom and Dad were there to cheer me on along with my awesome husband and my friend Kim. Thanks guys it was so much fun to share that experience with you and RD I know you sacrificed a lot for me to train. I can not even explain what a mental challenge it is to run that distance if you have done it before I am sure you know. I thought I would "hit a wall" at some point but I really did not. I do remember seeing the 24 mile marker and thinking "are you kidding me..." sometimes 2 more miles feels like asking your body for 10. I think the worse part of the whole thing was sitting in the ice bath for 20 minutes afterwards. I met a lot of great people along the route and I am just plain pleased to be a finisher. Don't get me wrong...I have been popping the Ibuprofren since yesterday and I am sure it will be a day or two until I can walk normal.

Here are some of my strange random thoughts and things I think about that keep me going during the marathon & training:  

I'd like to have a sign on my back that says "Yes these are love handles but they just passed you!"(ha,ha,ha) or I think about how a dear friend found out I was training for a marathon and said "You just do not look like the running type." My body structure is not Olympic caliber material but I am the little engine that could.

(this one is a little weird but it works for me) Sometimes when I really feel like stopping I think about the poor Jewish people that were in concentration camps and how the Nazi's made them work or they would die. So basically I pretend I am in the camp and being chased...strange I know but it is a good motivator.

Of course I think about RD and other awesome people I have met that live with  Multiple Sclerosis everyday, and how they have to fight to move, fight pain and fatigue constantly.   

READY OR NOT...26.2

Yes, I know I have been a major BLOG slacker but it is fall now and I hope to try to post things about our family weekly. Between training for the marathon (this weekend, oct 4th), photo sessions, weddings, church duties, and watching 2 extra kids I just plain have no time.

I AM RUNNING the ST. George marathon this weekend. I need inspiring words of encouragement, I am scared to death. I love to run but I am not sure if FULL marathon's (26.2 miles) are for me. Say a little prayer for me around noon on Saturday...

Poor Neglected blog

It is summer and I already spend way to many hours sitting in font of the computer (working on my secretary hips!) to stay caught up with blogging.  Here are some of the fun things we've been doing this summer. I've been reading everyone else's blogs and it looks like fun stuff. Happy Summer!

Yes, that is a one eye dog.

Grandma Bette & Granny

Kid bowling on the 4th

Lagoon

The West Jordan stampede

Thanks...

A little venting for myself (a hard day):

Thank you to the large dump truck that kick up a multitude of rocks that ruined my windshield while driving to work.

Thank you to the Highway Patrol officer gave me a ticket for driving 65 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour lane on the way home from work. I was not even in the fast lane, but yes I was five miles per hour over!

Thanks to my cat who decided to throw-up hairballs all over my hall way. Yuck!

If I drank alcohol today would be a day I'd have a nice cold one to sooth the nerves. Onward and Upward I always say...life is to short to sweat the small stuff!

A little of life for us...

Some of these are a little old but I do not download my little point and shoot camera everyday. We have a lot of fun stuff going on with the end of school and beginning of summer. I will post more stories and pics later.

RD made me post this...he just loved my crazy corn row hair from Puerto Vallarta. It took over and hour to braid and about 30 minutes to unbraid, and it was just a little frizzy...

The kids are my Grandpa's grave on Memorial Day

Emery with an interesting snack: ICECREAM & EGG ROLL????

Kindergarten Day @ the Zoo, we had a good time!