Injuries

Oh boy. Injuries stink. Just when you think you got it all figured out....

Every day I would run, I would think to myself, "Wow I am so grateful that I can get up in the morning and that my body can run all these miles. I don't take this for granted at all. Because one day, I won't be able to do it."....

Wow those words are a hollow voice in the back of my head!

I really hate being injured. All I do it sit on the couch and eat bon bons, take naps, and occasionally clean:).

WELL I have found something else to do lately. It has taken my bon bon eating, nap taking self to a whole new world of physical activity. Are you ready?

Biking.

Who knew I could get such a GREAT work out riding my bike (and pulling a 25lb trailer with a 25 lb child.... not be compared with my 'running/biking' partner who is pulling the same 25lb trailer AND her TWO 35lb and 45lb child..... thank goodness for small disadvantages, I can actually keep up with her :))

I used to see bikers while I was running and think, boy I sure wish I could get on one of those and hop on home, but to no avail. I was stuck 7 miles out with 7 miles back and nobody was offering their bikes to me.

On average so far we do about 12 miles. A small amount in comparison to people who do this all the time, but come on, they have a street bike (WAY better and easier than a mountain bike) AND no kids AND no trailer :). We could easily do 20. LOL. NO really we could.

So if any of you out there have some tips, tricks, treats, you would like to share on my new hobby, that would be AWESOME! Because it looks like I may never run again. Hopefully NOT true, but alas, one must accept a reality, if in fact it is a new reality. Or something.

Love ya!

Why Do I Blog?

This is the question of the day?

My dad is always saying,

"Blogs have too much information."

"You know too much about me."

"There are so many 'weirdos'"

"Why would you put all that on the internet for so many people to see?"

ON the flip side, my mom complains that she doesn't know what is going on in my life.... but then she reads my blog (where EVERYONE can see) to see what is going on.

It is quite hilarious actually. Get. Over. It. :) LOL!!!

So anyhow, I have been pondering this question. Why do I blog?

Well sometimes it is just easier to write my feelings down: When I am having a bad day, I can just write it and feel so much better. If I have a good day I want to share it with all of you!!

I love positive feedback: I love it when you leave a comment. I check my emails for DAYS!!! To see if I have a comment. I like to feel like you are listening. Like you care. It is my way of getting it out there.

Keeping a journal: I am not a great journal keeper. I used to keep one in junior high and high school and college... ok maybe I am better than I thought. But before blogging (after I got married) I have VERY FEW entries. And so it is helpful I can log onto my little computer from my living room in front of American Idol and blog. A journal.

I just read an article on from Michelle Glauser who is a masters student who did a these on Mormon Mommy Blogs. Read HERE

Lisbon Portugal

Bet you all don't know where that is?

Me neither....before tonight.

My brother opened his mission call. And this was where he has been called to serve.

SO cool.

I can't believe that my baby brother is going on a mission. He will be a great missionary. He is a stud. He is a gem. He is always there. He helps me when I am in a pickle. He helps me when I need a break.

My kids love him. Especially Isabella. Especially Daxton.

Daxton was called to serve a mission and now Daniel has been called to serve a mission.

I think that Daxton will keep an eye on him.

I am so proud of you Daniel! May the force be with you!

Guys and Dolls

Must say.

HILARIOUS!

SO good.

Loved it.

If you want to be entertained, this is the show for you.

The lead is AWESOME!!!

Hale Center Theater

HERE

Sometimes

Sometimes it is hard.

Sometimes I hold her tight.

And think about him.

Sometimes I kiss her.

And think about him.

Sometimes it hurts.

I hold her tight each night.

And pray HE will not take her away.

Mikenna's Musings

"Daddy, I know what you don't do to someone who crosses their eyes."

"Oh ya? What."

"You aren't supposed to punch them in the face, because then their eyes will stick."

(me in the background laughing HYSTERICALLY)

"Mikenna, we aren't supposed to punch people in the face."

(me still in the back room laughing HYSTERICALLY)

I mean seriously? SERIOUSLY? How funny is that?

So. Funny.

Ruby Red Slippers

I just spent 5 fun days in Utah with my brother, his wife, and his VERY cute baby!

It was a blast.

But there is nothing like coming home.

Just like Dorothy. In the Wizard of Oz.

There is no place like home.

When I got home, there was a beautiful bouquet of tulips on the table and a note from Mikenna.

"Dear Mom,

We are glad you are home.

We made you something Yummmmmmmmy.

Love, Mikenna."

So cute.

Holidays Happened

Here I am. The first week of March.... posting about the Holidays. It will mostly be pics, more for the sake of journaling than for my readers sake. :) But maybe you will get a few ideas for next year. And then again, maybe you won't.

This year we started our Annual Gingerbread House Making Contest. There were 3 categories: The best theme, The yummiest, and The Best Architecturally Sound. It was fun. Loads of candy all over the table, covered in frosting, and sprinkled with frosting. There were only a few rules: 1) one can of frosting and 2) one bag of graham crackers. We actually did this last year and it was a serious nightmare. We ran out of graham crackers because people got a little bit crazy and there was a war over the frosting.... so we decided to set some parameters. Here are the results.

Dutifully planning, designing and putting together. My favorite part was Nat looking around and giving Logan a play by play of what we all were doing... and in turn Logan cussing her to focus on the project at hand.... He is by no means competitive :).

We put one together with the girls before the actual contest. And then we put them to bed :)

Here are the results from our contest.

This is Jeff's I think....

Logan and Nat: Best theme - The North Pole

Lauralie and Derek: Made a great bridge (No award) But very good still. They drew plans, organized their materials, and meticulously put it all together.... Engineers. They are kinda nerdy :).

Daniels: Once again, no awards, but SERIOUSLY a great replica of the cabin. He poo pooed that he got pity votes, but I really liked his design and I don't give pity votes. LOVE YA!

Brittany and Doug: Yummiest. Ok I am not going to lie. When I decided what the themes were I had this one in mind. I knew I didn't stand a chance to the architectually sound or the best themed. But I knew I could add a lot of chocolate to make a yummy treat..... The lucky recipient of this beauty were the Duncans.

Not sure where the rest of them went to but it was sure a fun night! Oh and we had 45 minutes to build them. We missed Adam and Chelsea, but we will catch them next year! Or this year. Or whatev!

You might be wondering why we are all gathered around this particular game. Hungry Hungry Hippos. Funny choice of a game for several grown adults, but it is what it is.

We have decided that the gathering place the night before my brother and his wife leave town (each time they are here) would be our house and we would stay up late and play games. So we decided to start it off with a little bit of Hippos. It was Hilarious!!!! I think that Logan was the champ? We did single elimination. I am not sure what that means, but it went quickly.

The Holly Days were good to us. Good times.

Reality T.V.

Lately I have been a little disappointed.

I really like reality TV. Seriously. How can you not love watching 25 women pathetically pining over 1 hot dude? (Bachelor) or How can you not watch 1 person manipulate a group of people and win or not... I didn't watch it this episode? (Survivor) or watch the "American Dream" of kids singing their heart out to get that record made? (American Idol)

But lately. I have been sadly disappointed.

Bachelor- How in the world could Jake choose Vienna over Tenley? SERIOUSLY?????? Grrr.

American Idol- REALLY? you have to go through 3 auditions to GET to the judges and then it is narrowed down to the top 24. REALLY? What show am I watching because these 24 are sadly disappointing. Where are the David Cook's or the Adam Lambert's or the Carrie Underwood's or the Kelly Clarkson's? I am sorry to say we might end up with a Taylor Hicks. (sorry if you though the was brilliant. I was just thinking he was mediocre)

Where is the GOOD reality TV? I just might have to go back to watching trashy drama...... Please o PLEASE don't make me go BACK to One Tree Smut, Desperate Housewives, and Greek!!!!! (Yes I just admitted the smutty shows I used to watch. Yes. I did. )