Saturday, December 10, 2011

Overcome

Last Sunday our Sunday School lesson was from Revelations. I noticed the teacher constantly referring our need to overcome. It was one of those lessons that feels specifically for you-or rather me in this case. I love it when someone says something in a way that changes my perspective.

Because of that lesson I've been working on "overcoming" this week. Overcoming clutter. My Christmas to-do list. Sin and mistakes. A sore knee. My dislike of making my kids cold lunch. It's been good. Overcoming I'm finding requires change, though. Never an easy thing. Not only do you have to remember that you are trying to be different and better but you have to actually do something about it. Constantly. Even when you don't want too. Even when it seems impossible. But you do it because you have reached a level of commitment with yourself where there is no going back.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I'm really looking forward to sending my off-track kids back to school.  I've loved having them home (mostly), but I'm not getting any Christmas stuff done. Fortunately they go back on Monday.  Wahoo!!

Earlier this month we headed out to Denver to visit Jeff's parents.  Last time we drove I-70 there.  Yuck.  And I-80 back.  Double Yuck.  This time we flew.  Awesome.  The kids did spectacularly on the flight.  Even with the hour delay.  Going through airport security with 4 little kids is quite a feat, I'll tell you.  The kids were great.  Six people with one back pack each, plus laptop, plus purse, plus stroller is a lot of stuff.  It was totally worth it though to see the kids excitement through the whole process.  On the way home (a 7-something a.m. flight) we had several people compliment us on our well-behaved children and baby.  (Like I could control the baby's behavior. lol.)  If dirt cheap flights ever come up again, I'd fly with them again in a heart beat.



While there we took the kids back to the Natural History Museum.  This time we checked out an exhibit all about our bodies, health, etc. McKay loved it. No, he really loved it.  We went the first day and he asked to go back every day after.  We were able to take the girls to the American Girl store as well.  Let's just say there was a lot of love that weekend. :)  Sadly, we found out too late there is a Lego store in the same shopping center.  Next time, McKay.



How fun to run into good friends far from home.  Terry, our old neighbor, has been doing a lot of work in Denver.  Jeff called him up and invited him over for dinner.

And just for fun. Sophie was channeling her inner Lady Gaga.  Never mind the fact that she doesn't know who Gaga is. :)

Monday, November 21, 2011

1st Birthday- Twice!!

Chloe is one now.  Where did the time go?  It makes me a little sad that she's so big now.

Obviously she's a little sad about it, too.  But she is such a fun kid.  She loves to entertain our whole family.  She really loves to tease her big brother though.  And he eats it up.  :)  She's still crawling everywhere and toothless.  I'm ok with that.  She does stairs in both directions, cruises along the furniture, handles a sippy cup well and does a little baby jabber.  She is best at being the center of attention and pulling funny faces to make us laugh.

Chloe celebrated her birthday first with Gma and Gpa Maynes in Denver.  Jeff set a huge piece of cake down in front of her.  She poked around a little bit and then picked up the piece and started shoving it in her mouth.  It was Grandpa's favorite moment of our trip. :)

We celebrated again later with my parents.  She loved playing with the boxes before they were unwrapped, and playing with all her new things once they were unwrapped.  She cuddled her baby, read her books, and pushed lots of buttons. The exception would be the doll stroller/walker.  I think it scared her when it moved on her.  She still doesn't love it, but it will come.

We love our little Chlo-bug and are so glad she's a part of our family!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Hello, sad little blog

I've missed you.  A lot.  While we've been apart, I've done lots of fun things.  Both with friends and family.  Like having silly Twilight parties


Going to the pumpkin patch:



A trip to the cabin:


Celebrating Halloween:





In between all the fun stuff and yummy food I get to eat this time of year, it's just been the same-ol' thing.  Homework, dance, soccer, piano.  Oh.  Not for me.  My kids do all these things.  I just mostly try to keep the mess to a minimum, hunger under control (theirs and mine-hehe), and some good quality time with this cute guy I kinda like. ;)  Lyndsi has started her orthodontic visits at the beginning of the month and just last week she had her expander put in.  She's not loving it.  It's hard to eat and talk, and she has a new slurping issue that didn't existed prior to her new appliances.  McKay is doing well in school and is reading Harry Potter.  Sophie couldn't be happier to be in kindergarten.  K-kids are the best!  And Chloe.  My sweet little angel.  She's so big and is so delightful to have around.  She loves to entertain us all!  It's been a great October.  We really should catch up more.  Maybe we can do lunch sometime?  Mwah!

Love,
Me

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

September in a Flash

4 miles in
2 nights
4 miles out.
6 miles in between.
7 lakes (at least)
Too much trail food
Little Weight
No compass needed.
4 friends
1 awesome backpacking trip





Lots of junk
Giggly girls
Silly moms
Always a craft
Uplifting thoughts
Time away from boys
And presents! (Hey! That was mine!!)
Forever a good time
Marchant Girls Weekend in Park City





Butterflies
Fairies
Makeup
Music
Dancing
Food
Impromptu Fairy party/Costume Picnic



First.
Ever.
Principal Pride Award.
Happiness.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Reasons to NOT bring your iPad to church

Jeff is loving taking his ipad to church and having all his reference materials, scriptures, etc right at his fingertips. But last night we discovered a few good reasons not to take it to church. :)






The willing little sister:


 The unsuspecting parents:

These photos brought to you by a boy who was too quiet during church to be up to any good:

Friday, September 9, 2011

Sophie Turned 5

I love family birthdays.  It's low key, low stress for me.  Sophie really wanted a party, though.  I opted for a family party where we played games/did crafts like a regular party.  (Isn't compromise great?)  I made simple little invites and taped them to all the bedroom doors. 

This year it was all about the princesses.  We played fairy tale sculptorades which all the kids loved and made our own lip gloss.  Sophie wanted a pink princess cake, so (thank you Tiff!) she got one. 
Sophie and her magic pumpkin


The cake


Sophie got some new clothes (including a couple of shirts that had matching shirts for both her favorite dolls), a new Blythe doll, some books, the Play-doh ice cream maker, a Belle princess dress-up, and a cardboard castle she can color herself.  She was thrilled!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Top of Utah

This has been an exhausting summer.  I have done nothing it seems but run.  Literally.  Up at 5:30, out the door by 6, running 4, 6, 9, 13 miles, 3-4 times per week.  I didn't think it would be so tiring, but it was.  I also wasn't sure it would be worth it.  The thought of not meeting the goal (and flushing a $50 registration fee down the toilet) kept me going.  No one wants to not meet their goals, right?

Sat. August 27, I woke up at 4:30, loaded a bus sometime after 5, crossed the start line about 7.  I ran for 13.1 miles and finished in 2 hours 11 minutes and 38 seconds. 



Were all the hours and sore muscles worth it?  Absolutely.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Walt Disney

While helping Lynsdi with a project, we came upon these two quotes.  I really liked them, so I thought I'd share.

"When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."


"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."



Wednesday, August 3, 2011

First Day of School

The smell of pink erasers,  freshly sharpened pencils, glue, crayons, paper...I love back to school time.  That's before we even get to the fact I send children away for several hours at a time. My house stays clean and quiet.  Errands get done quickly or slowly, as I determine. :)

Ms. 4th Grade

Doesn't like being back in school.
Has her first man-teacher.
Brought home her first text book homework already. 

Mr. 2nd Grade

Loves his teacher.
Thinks his teacher is the best.
Wants to please his teacher.

Little Miss Kindergarten

Has the best teacher ever.
Loves that Mom got homework on the first day and she got cake.
Wasn't scared because "Mom, all my friends will be there." Insert dramatic eye-roll.  (Hers, not mine.)

Miss Mobile

Not just yet.
But she's trying.
Hard.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Random Babblings

Such a lame title.  Oh well.

Just hanging out in my room with Jeff's laptop, once again avoiding the work that needs to be done in the little girls room. I think I have managed to ignore it for two weeks now.  I go in there as little as possible.  The baby sleeps in the library in her pack and play for nap time, and there's a small cache of diapers on the main floor.  Today, though, I can avoid it no longer. Ugh.

Training for the Top of Utah half marathon is on-going and exhausting.  I'm up to 9 miles now and can run anywhere between a 9:45 mile/min and around 10:20.  Depends on who I'm running with.  I'm tired all day long, but a good hard-work kind of tired.  I am noticing benefits though and do enjoy the torture of running.  I'm getting stronger, faster, and leaner.  It's been fun.

The kids are on year-round school and will be starting next Tues.  I think end of July is a fabulous time for them to start.  Then again, they're only on-track for 3 weeks, so we'll get a extra bit of summer break later. 

Sophie starts Kindergarten this year.  I question this decision nearly daily, wondering if she really is old enough and prepared enough to take on being a kindergartner, most likely the youngest one in her class.  The only thing that keeps me sane about it is knowing it was a prompting.  Heavenly Father would not lead me or Sophie astray, so it's off to school she goes!

McKay just informed me there are only 117 days or 20 weeks and 40 days til Christmas.  Just in case you're wondering. 

Me?  I'm still enjoying summer.  I'm not thawed out enough to be anticipating Christmas just yet. Hasn't this been a beautiful, mild summer?  Loving it.

Ok.  Can't put it off much longer.  If I'm not back in 30 minutes, send someone in after me.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Playroom Poll

It's been a long while since I've done a poll.   I've been wondering about the effectiveness of having a playroom, hence the poll to the right.  Always, sometimes, never type surveys never tell the whole story, so feel free to share what works for your family and what doesn't with the kids play spaces.  Thanks!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Visiting Grandpa

My grandpa is not doing well.  My mom suggested that we might want to go visit, just in case.  Jeff and I decided to take the kids over last night and I'm so glad we did. 

Grandpa is at the point where the main goal is to just keep him comfortable.  He's on oxygen and seemed to wheeze quite a bit.  My parents visited with him on Friday and Mom said he barely said two words the whole time.  When we got there he was watching the end of Bonanza with my grandma. We handed the baby over to Grandma (she's a baby-lover for sure!).  As soon as Grandpa saw Chloe, he perked right up, playing with the baby, cooing at her, singing to her.  He held her without dropping her, even though she was a little heavy for his frail muscles.  Chloe was so good for him, too.  She was bright eyed and showed no anxiety being held by a strange old man with tubes strapped to his face. I'm really glad we took the time to go visit.



Friday, June 3, 2011

Denver Day 1-
Leave Salt Lake.
Sleep at Cabin.

Day 2-
Drive.
Stop at Colorado National Monument

Drive.
Clean up car sickness.
Drive some more.
Arrive and bombard G'ma and G'pa with noise and hugs.
Tour the mission home, pick rooms and explore the neighborhoods.
Float "submarines" down little stream and catch them further down



Day 3-
Go for 2 mile run in unfamiliar neighborhood.  (But Jeff came, so it counts as a date, right?)
Head to Denver Museum of Science and Something or other
Enjoy space, dinosaur, mummy, and animal exhibits.




View of the Denver skyline from inside the museum

Visit downtown LDS chapel, State Capital bldg, and the 16th street mall

Playing one of the many pianos down the middle of the 16th Street mall.
Toured some of the mission area
Play Disney Apples to Apples

Day 4-
Attend sacrament meeting.
Listen to Pres. and Sis. Maynes give wonderful missionary talks.
Lazed around out of doors and in on a beautiful, sunny, warm afternoon.
Toured the temple grounds.




Day 5-
Hiked in and around Red Rock Amphitheater



Picnicked at local park

Took the kids swimming (minus Pres. and Sis Maynes)
Froze.
Relaxed.

Day 6-
Said goodbye.
Met up with Uncle Andy
Drove through windy So. Wyoming.
Thought most of it was pretty (til So. Western WY)
Stopped in Coalville for ice cream
Delighted by the "locals" hanging out for their afternoon coffee.

Arrived home safe and sound.