Merry Christmas!!

Wishing all our Family and Friends a Very Merry Chirstmas!

Sweet 6

Happy Birthday to my sweet 6 year old! I was happy to find that my little girl was 6this morning when she woke up and not 16, like she said she was going to be! Thanks to all who helped her celebrate and make her birthday even more special!

July 4 Weekend

(Of course I don't have any pics of the weekend, but this is the scenery we got to enjoy on our 4-wheeler ride)

Firworks, BBQ, Pow-Wow, Parade, 1/2 Marathon, 4-wheelin, Boating!

Just a quick note of our July 4th celebration. What we would normally do in a summer, we packed into the past 4 days. Friday we headed over to Fort Duchesne for the annual Pow-Wow (yes we go every year) and for some fry bread. Somehow Macey talked Grandpa into buying her shaved ice, cotton candy, and a ring. Only for "Grandpa's Girl". I ran the Neola 1/2 marathon Saturday morning with about 100 other runners. I loved the run, and I loved that you new most the people running, and that you had so many friends there running with you. I met a girl (Cami) that morning and caught up with her about 2 miles into the run, I turned off my i-pod and ran just about the rest of the way with her and we just talked to whole time. It made the run go by so much faster, I loved being able to run it with her. I was hoping for 2:15 and actually came in at 1:55. I think that is a good system, give yourself plenty of time and be pleasantly surprised when you surpass your expectation. Steve brought the kids up and it was fun to have them there cheering for me. We stayed and went to the Neola parade, my kids loved the airplanes, and we came home with lost of candy. We then headed up to Dry Gulch Canyon with my parents, Jason & Lindsay and went on a 4-wheeler ride with them. The country was so green and just beautiful. There was this little side trail with 3 little rollie hills, and Steve would jump them, we had to go over them about 4 times, and after each time Caleb would say "1 mo, 1 mo". Love that kid! After we stopped in Bluebell for ice cream and to play. Later that night Steve and Macey went up to Aaron's to watch fireworks, while Caleb and I stayed home and went to bed. Sunday we went to Justin and Tenisha's for a BBQ, with some of their family and Kay & Kathy. They cooked just about anything that you could BBQ, and we celebrated Kennedy's birthday with her. Monday we went to the lake with Mindy and Aaron's family, and got a good ab workout from laughing so hard at "the girls". We got whipped around pretty good in the tube, and even Macey, Avery and Caleb took a turn on it. That night my Mom had a BBQ for my family, rode 4-wheelers, rode some more, and had fireworks. It was a busy, but ALL fun weekend. We are so lucky to live around family and to get to spend so much time with them and to also have such good friends!

Ragnar 2010

It just gets more and more fun! I was in van 2 this year and runner 12, and the country was just as amazing as last year. In our van was Carol, Jamie Lamb, Kim Weaver, Amy Taylor, Loralee Reary, and me. There is just something about being in a car for 30+ hours with your girlfriends, no sleep, running... what us Moms will do to get a break! At some point you become delirious from lack of sleep and everything is funny, I think that's what gets you through. We were looking for our rest stop about midnight on Friday and we couldn't find the school so we decided to go to the next exchange and get some sleep. We arrived, got our blankets and pillows and tried to get some sleep on the damp grass before we had to get up at 2:15 to start our next run. Saturday we stayed over night at Stein Erikson Lodge for some much needed sleep before coming home to greet the kiddos and hubby. Kim and I got into bed and were talking and I think that we both just fell asleep in mid conversation, we were so tired after being up for 39 hours. Another awesome year with an awesome team! Did I mention it was Awesome?

Desolation Canyon

We tried to fit Caleb into the dry box but he was a little big!


coolin off and chillin in the water


Ben just being himself!


Michelle and Dave hiding from the wind.. and the kids! They were never alone.

Ryann, Cadin, and Macey playing a serious game of Sorry

Macey and her new "cousin", she tells everyone "Hey you know I have a cousin and her name is Ryann. You spell her name R Y A N N."

Steve was our fearless rower


5 of the cutest river kids! Cadin, Ryann, Corbin, Macey and Caleb


My sister and brother-in-law invited us to go on a river trip with them down Desolation Canyon. We took them up on their offer and headed out last week with a couple of Dave's siblings and their families. Dave pretty much did all the hard work, we just had to show up and have fun. I think that Steve originally went because he was promised amazing food (which it was..even scorched). Despite the wind we fought for a few days we had an amazing time, the kids LOVED it, our group was the best, the food was amazing, and I came to the realization that a week of camping won't kill a person. On our third night camping the wind was blowing so hard that it busted the pole holding our tent up so ever night after we had to come up with a new way of putting it up, which was fun. I was a little worried about taking Caleb but he was a champ. He loved it along with all the other kids. We loved being on the river, camping, the canyon was amazing, and we were able to go on a couple of fun hikes. Thanks Michelle and Dave for adding some adventure to our lives and making the trip so awesome!
Out of all the pictures I can't believe that we don't have a group photo so here is my group photo! Michelle (Dave's sister) found these glasses on a hike and had everyone take a picture with them on!

Mother's Day

I was gone for the weekend and when I got back Sunday night I came home to a super clean house (Steve always cleans better than me - seriously), laundry done, some coca-cola, and chocolate. Steve is finally getting to know the way to my heart! Macey has been asking me some questions all week, and telling me that she is making me a surprise at school but can't tell me what it is. She came home yesterday with gift and was so excited about it. Steve said she hit the "cook" right on and I should try for cooks, and the one is "clen the haows", which is not so true. Just for the record I'm not 38! It was a great Mother's Day surprise!

Moab

A few weeks ago we went to Moab with my family 4-wheeling and jeepin. It was a little chilly, but we still managed to get sunburned and had a great time. We went on a cold ride Friday afternoon and when we were done and headed for town Caleb was crying and saying "4 we-wer". I really think he could live on a "4 we-wer". He has to sit right on front too and hold the handle bars. He figured out how to start the machines and push the gas, so now he thinks he needs to drive. It was the car show that weekend and Saturday night we sat on main and watched the cars. Macey was right out on the curb with Logan and Jackson and they would all be waiving their arms around in circles cheering the cars on. I will definitely say that in Moab you can see just about anything that can be done with a vehicle.

another day

I was being really productive this morning, getting my closets cleaned and dejunkified, and then I noticed there had been a long pause of silence. What I found next was not so pleasant. My two angels had taken food coloring and smeared it all over my couch ottoman, had it all over their hair, faces, hands, and left some cute hand prints in my carpet.
Notice that Macey is smiling, and Caleb has this little look of panic on his face.

Macey kept scrubbing her hands, and the coloring would not come off. She went to school wearing gloves and told me she would have to wear them all day so the kids wouldn't think her hands were gross. This is how Caleb looked after getting scrubbed down. Anyone know how to get food coloring off skin?

So while cleaning is not typically a part of my everyday, everything else was just another day!!

Coming Soon...

(drumroll)

my return to blogging and a better post than this! Is it to late to post our Christmas?!

First Day of Kindergarten

Macey was awake, dressed, backpack on and ready to go to school by 8:30 this morning, too bad she went in the afternoon..it was a long morning. The Backpack Fairy paid a visit the night before to fill her bag with some school goodies and that made her all the more excited. I, however was not so excited for her to go, I have not done well with this school thing. Her teacher is Mrs. Riser, that made it a little easier to send her. She had to wear her "Hanna Montana" outfit today, she looked pretty RoCkiN!

Swimming

I've been a widow this week while Steve has been away to Scout Camp, yes it's been nice, but we are ready for his return. Yesterday Mom called at the last minute to see if we wanted to go to Provo to Scera Swim Park, we were in the car and on the road in 30 min. The kids had a blast, Mom and I had a blast watching the kids have a blast! After it was to Target to buy Macey a few school clothes. This age is great, I pick a handful of clothes show Macey and if she says she'll wear it it goes in the cart, and if not it goes back on the rack, easy peasy! Macey was eating an ice cream bar on the way home, and she'd tell us "sorry Grandma but it sure is messy, it just keeps making messes." I love that Girl! Then it was home with 2 sleepy kids.

FRUSTRATED

This blog is really making me mad right now. I can't figure out what I want to do, and my computer is slow. I'll attempt it again when my patience returns!

A Treat

1 Lick for You...1 Lick for Me

Happy Birthday

Happy Happy Birthday to my sweet 5 year old! Macey has been so excited for her birthday and has been announcing it for the past week. She is finally is as old as all her friends (which is apparently a big deal at that age!) She got 2 hugs from the pool lady; one last week for it almost being her birthday, and one today for her birthday. You are growing up way too fast. Macey we love you more than the world and you are so special to us. Hope that you had a wonderful 5th Birthday. Love Mom and Dad.
Macey is
Energetic Independent Stubborn Obedient Caring
Sharing Motherly Smart Sassy Adventurous Lovable Sweet

Macey Loves
Swimming Dolls Tomatoes Friends Church Caleb Movies
Helping Candy Peas Diet Coke "Driving" Cheese Laughing
Grandmas Papas Aunts Uncles Cousins Shopping Park Swinging
Bikes Mom Dad Sleepovers Teasing Strollers Walks Playing
Kisses Running Pretending

RAGNAR

188 Miles
12 Girls
2 Cars
30 Hours
Rain
Sweat
Vomit
Pain
Food
Music
No Sleep
I'm Addicted!

WBR 2009..What happens in the car stays in the car!! Wasatch Back Relay was awesome, with perfect weather to top it off! I ignored some wise advise and did not train as much as should have for hills, thought I was in good enough shape (haha). The 7.4 miles of constant uphill on a gravel road was very humbling. I'm already planning my revenge on the hill for next year! Also made a bad judgement call and slept on the wrestling mats. Lesson learned from WBR...listen to advise from wiser people than myself! Run Lucky you girls Rock, can't wait for next year!

Preschool Graduation

Macey graduated from ABC Preschool this past week, and kindergarten can not come soon enough for her (mom is not so excited). She has had such a fun year, Avery (her cousin) was in her class, and she loved Ms Angie, and Ms Barbara as her teachers. She said the funnest things about school were going to see the dinosaurs, playing with bubbles, and making stone soup. Angie told me that Macey is the mother of the group (no surprise - when Macey was 2 she would go around in Nursery and wipe the other kids mouths off at snack time). She's as bossy as her own mother too.

1st 1/2

Somehow Carol talked me into running a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles), and by some miracle I finished it! Last Saturday, Carol and I went and ran the Ogden 1/2 Marathon. It was my first race, and I loved it! The course was awesome, the whole atmosphere was just awesome. The night before we finally went to bed around midnight, and I swear as soon as we closed our eyes, the alarm was ringing (at 4:15-I can't believe I woke up that early to go running). We loaded the bus at 5:00am, and when we arrived at the starting line, we got to wait 1 1/2 hours in freezing cold weather. We were all huddled up against each other freezing, trying to steal a spot closer to the fire (that was probably the funnest part). The race started at 7:00, the first 10 miles were not too bad, but the last 3 kicked my butt, I really wanted to quit, so I was really glad that Carol was running with me and made sure I finished the race. I really wanted to finish under 2 hrs, and that was the goal (um run 13 miles in under 2 hours - I was not too confident in myself), so I was totally excited when we finished at 1:48 (I think it was closer to 1:49, but I'm sticking to 1:48). There were 1295 women running the 1/2 and we came in 89th, pretty cool.
Nancy (Carol's aunt who also ran the 1/2), Carol, and me

MOAB

A few weeks ago we went to Moab with my family. Macey was packed about four day in advance (as long as we are going somewhere that girl is happy). We had a blast, it was so fun to go and spend time with the family. On Friday we went 4-wheeling for about 4 hours, and on Saturday we rode about 48 miles. Every time we stopped Macey would switch riders, and Caleb hung out inside Grandma's coat (it was a little cool, not the beautiful weather I expected from Moab), he went the whole day without making a sound. My kids loved it! The scenery was amazing, and it was great to just go and relax. The car show was also that weekend so at nights we went and sat on main street and watched the old cars cruise up and down the street.
Michelle will probably not be too happy with me posting this picture, but it's too great not to. Saturday afternoon, Michael and Jason took Steve, Dave, Michelle, and Dad on one of the harder rides in the jeeps. It was raining and blowing, and I guess they were trying to find whatever they could in the jeeps to stay warm, this is how they looked when they came back (rough ride!)

Virus

My computer caught a nasty virus and has been down for about a month but with the help of a computer genius (no not me) it is back and working! Now life can get back to normal.

Windy Day

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick and tired of the wind. It started out to be such a nice day, and then the wind has to come and ruin it, my patio furniture is blown across the yard, and dirt is flying everywhere. While we were eating dinner today, Macey started singing this little song that we sing a lot at our house, it goes something like: wind wind go away we don't want you here today. Macey and Caleb want to play so never come here again! So it's another day cooped up.
Macey has been sick the past couple weeks, which the wind has actually made it kind of easy to hang out and watch movies with her, and a good excuse to just be lazy. I hate when my kids are sick, but I won't complain about getting to just sit and hold them. Along with being sick, her lymph nodes swelled to the point that I decided to make a trip to the Dr's, where he was quite impressed by the size of them. She's been on Antibiotics, which has helped, and luckily an abscess had not formed. Thankfully, she's pretty much back to her little self again.

Macey has really amazing teachers at church, and it's been really fun to hear her tell us what she's learning in class. On the way home she was telling us that they learned about promises. We asked her what does it mean, and she said "well I told the class that I promised that I peed in the shower this morning, and Caleb pooped in the bath, I promise." So I wonder who learns more, the kids or the teachers?