Highlights

We just passed our 1 year anniversary in our new house. I can't believe it! I still love our home and feel incredibly blessed for all the ups and downs we have experienced since moving here. Here are a few highlights of the past year (in no particular order).

Our first "Real" Christmas tree. Yes it is crazy to have a real one in Las Vegas and yes it died before Christmas.... but I so loved the smell.

Girls Dance Recital

Hosting Thanksgiving

Boys after dinner nap

Camping at Pismo Beach

Deer Hunting

Sea World

Awesome rock climbing feats for the girls

More 4-wheeling trips

La Jolla

The Blog Will Live On

Was it seriously August since I last posted? I'm sitting here thinking I should just end this sad blog. I don't ever post and rarely check in with fellow blogger's awesome posts. But before I act, I am reminded of all the many times a thought or idea passes through my overactive brain along with an urge to commemorate it somewhere and ultimately decided - the blog will live on. To kick off the blogs triumph I decided to make a list of all my favorite things right now.

A record of celebrations.

Here's to: early morning runs and watching the sun rise; playing Just Dance and Super Mario Bro's with my girls; Friday night dates with Joe, even if it is just going to the gym together; Tony Sly's voice that never fails to move me; a really hot shower; watching Downton Abbey on PBS and Man vs Wild on Netflix with Joe and the kids; discovering awesome YA books and adding to my list of crushworthy fictional characters; my new calling teaching Relief Society; finishing the Book of Mormon, again; planning home decorating projects thanks to Pinterest; the sound of all my kids laughing and playing together; sleeping; watching the sunset off my balcony every night.

I won't lie....challenges and discouragement are plentiful but life is so so beautiful.

Guilty as Charged

I don’t like when cops hide their cars on a street behind bushes or in blind alleys awaiting unsuspecting speeders. I know they are just doing their jobs and trying to enforce the laws but I wish they would just park out in the open. They would still be able to pull over speeding cars and fill their ticket quotas for the month. But when they hide I immediately feel like a hard criminal. I slam on my breaks ready to throw my hands up in the air like a suspect in a well orchestrated stake out.

Airing of Driving Grievances

Not many things get me worked up but for some reason when it comes to driving....particularly other peoples driving abilities, I get all bent out of shape. If you are guilty of either of the following I advise you to change your ways!

1. Driving with your dog on your lap. I mean seriously! All this talk about not using cell phones while driving, well this to me is way worse. How can you possibly pay attention to what is going on around you with another living thing moving around and sharing the steering wheel and drivers seat with you.

2. Speed Bumps! I hate hate hate when people come to a complete stop before passing over a speed bump. Sure the point of them is to slow you down but it is not the same as a stop sign. And the worst part about it is I don't even think the people who do this are worried about being cautious to their surroundings, I think they are somehow protecting their cars. Please, I think your car is a little more durable then that.

Opposition in all things

I have been sick for two weeks. It started as a cold and turned into a nasty sinus infection. I am really stubborn about going to the Dr. I hate going. I'd rather do just about anything else. But when I woke up last Monday with a pounding blinding headache, snot so thick and green it seriously looked like slime from the Ghostbusters movie and a neck ache so intense I was positive I had meningitis, I swallowed my pride and dragged myself to the quickcare to get some drugs. I've been miserable all week as I've taken it easy to let my body get better. The problem is I sort of hate doing that too. It makes me anxious. I like to accomplish, to be motivated. And I missed out on probably the best week of the entire spring of perfect running mornings. So this morning when I finally felt good enough to workout, it felt awesome. Though I'm still fighting through the end of my infection it was such a drastic difference from how I felt a few days earlier. I came home elated. Happy. Satisfied. The scriptures tell us more than once that there must be opposition in all things. And for some reason though I've had sickness before this experience made me appreciate this concept in a way I never had. I'm so grateful for the trials to more fully appreciate the joys.

Tender Mercies

It has been nearly six months since my last post. I won't even attempt to recap all the details that have occured in our lives except to say that the majority of this time was spent house hunting, buying a house, packing and moving. Any creative archiving was devoted to internal debates about whether or not to hold onto my pre-baby clothes that I swore I would fit into by now, (but of course do not!).
I will say however that I love my new house! I am so happy in it. Many little events took place to make this move possilbe for us. Gerald Lund just wrote a book called, "Divine Signatures" and it is about how sometimes Heavenly Father gives us blessings that are so individual it feels like they are personally signed by him. This is how I feel about my house. It was a tender mercy from him because he knows me personally and knew how much I needed and wanted this. I feel like this house was tied with a big red bow at the top and signed by Heavenly Father at the bottom.
I'm sure any readers have long wrote me off as a blogger but I am officially back in business. I don't know that I will use it the same as before (so don't hold your breath for pictures or updates), but more as a sounding board for all the crazy thoughts that are constantly running through my head.

Rain Rain Go Away

No we aren't enjoying a day at the river, this is actually what the street in front of my house looked like today. The rain has been crazy. At least we are all safe and no harm done.

Halloween Fun

October just flew by...sorry about the sideways pics...don't feel like changing them. Hope everyone's October was good.

I heart power tools!

After weeks of waiting around for Joe to find time to trim the bushes in our yard, yesterday I couldn't stand it anymore and I ventured into the males' sacred territory (the garage) to find the clippers. I had no luck finding them in his piles of tools but did stumble upon an electric hedger. I'm talking a hedger with blades longer than my arms. Hmmm...did I dare? I immediately had visions of the powerful engine being too strong for my X chromosomes and accidentally slicing off one of my limbs. But one glance back at the Texas Rangers creeping over into my neighbors yard had me reaching for an extension cord.
Needless to say, an hour later all my limbs were still attached, my bushes were groomed and my Christmas wish list this year may actually be coming from the pages of the Home Depot ads.

Farewell Summer

Where did the summer go?

I'm not sure, but to sum it up... HOT, BUSY and WONDERFUL! Here's a few highlights:

• A week camping on the beach
• Sea world
• San Diego Zoo
• Backpacking Griffiths peak
• A week at Girls Camp
• Camping trip at Jacobs Lake
• 4th of July in Kanab
• Havasupai
• Train ride through Grand Canyon
• Birthday visit from Aubrie, seeing O
• Rock Climbing at Mt. Charleston
• Witnessing the incredible birth of Ridge Lincoln - I was able to be there to see my amazing sister-in-law have Ridge while my brother, who is deployed to Iraq and couldn't come home for the birth, watched via Skype. Awesome
• Girls Dance Recitals
• Tea parties
• Lots of hot afternoons playing games of Mario Bro's on Wii

and finally, much to my dismay, back to school. Zoey started 2nd and Olivia is a big Kindergartener.

Wasatch Back

I had so much fun running the Wasatch Back last weekend with awesome friends and family. It was the hardest physical thing I have ever done but I loved every minute of it. I ran 3 different legs over 32 hours totaling 15 of the 188 miles our team did.
After 2 red bulls, 3 powerbar chews, a cliff bar and some motrin, my favorite fun was my second leg of 6 miles that started at two in morning. The whole thing was so empowering. I saw alot of teams doing crazy stuff, laughed a ton, enjoyed the amazing scenery of the Utah mountains and worked my body to the bone, then flew home to my lovely family who had decorated the house for my return....couldn't ask for more than that.

This crazy beautiful life

Is May really half over? I keep thinking life will slow down and I'll be able to put more of myself into this blog, or all the ongoing home projects, or the thousands of other things that could and should be done. But so many details make up my life that they fill each day until it overflows and in the end something has to be let go. It is overwhelming and finding a balance that I am comfortable with is essential for me to exist. But I have decided that I wouldn't want it any other way. I have everything I have always wanted for myself: a great husband, beautiful children, a home, the gospel. I get to squeeze in a few minutes everyday to exercise and read good books and snuggle with my kids. I get to serve the young women in my ward and stretch myself in ways I didn't know I could.
I know Mother's Day was a few weeks ago but lately I find myself doing certain things my mom did when I was growing up, things that drove me crazy....like having a purse that is so messy and you can never find anything in it...or singing my kids the same annoying good morning song each day ...and even though I have been a mother for 7 years, I feel like I'm just starting to 'get it'- the whole essense of what it takes to be a mother. And it is crazy and hard and beautiful. I can't help marvel at my own mom and all the details of her life that overflowed each day and all the sacrifices she made. And I think of all the trials that so many are going through and I wanted to say THANK YOU to my mom and all the other women who inspire me through their faith and strength.

March

Olivia turns 5! She is all registered for kindergarten and can't wait.
Zoey turns 7! It was her year for a birthday party and she chose to go to Olivia's Dollhouse tea room and have a tea party with her friends. So cute, and the girls loved it.

And finally Kellen learned to walk. He is nearly 15 months and has taken his sweet time with this. He is still unsteady and still crawls alot but we are so excited he is making progress. (sorry about the annoyingly high mommy voice in the background)
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Red Rock

I did the RedRock half-marathon last weekend, a feat I didn't think was possible. I have always wanted to be a runner but it hasn't come very easy. I have slowly been working on it the past few months and finally was able to accomplish this goal. In the process I have learned to LOVE running. I like how it makes me feel both physically and mentally. I think I do my best thinking while I run. Here are a few pics from the race.This is me about to cross the finish line. Good thing you can't see my face, it would't be a pretty sight. I was on the verge of tears and nausea at this point. You can't really tell from the picture but the finish line is actually on a hill. How mean is that? On the trail
My cousins and uncle that also ran the race.

Erin and Spencer

Up next: Bryce Canyon half-marathon. Any takers?

Darn you Mars Candy Company!

My New Weakness:I have never been tempted by the candy lingering in the checkout aisle....until now. This little pop of chocolate coated coconut goodness is the perfect combination of flavors to bring my perfect self control to its knees. Now everytime I go to the store I see that little green M&M temptress with the hybicus behind her ear staring me down. Darn you Mars Candy Company!
At least it is for a limited time only.

Kellen turns one

My baby turns one! I can't believe it. The past year has been full of trials and blessings but we are truly grateful for Kellen and the spirit he brings to our home. Kellen loves to get praised and even eating his birthday cake he has to take time out to get praised.

Too Sweet!

From Olivia's dance recital

Truth about Pox

Olivia has chicken pox! She had the vaccine for them but apparently a small percentage of people vaccinated still get them. Leave it to Liv to be in that group. Fortunately, if vaccinated people who do get it, the case is very mild. Liv's spots only touched her face and neck and are already in the last stage.

I love December

I love December (even though I hate the cold, serioulsy how did we live in Minneapolis for 3 years?). I love Christmas trees and goodies and songs and lights. And I love the anticipation of Christmas morning. But I especially love that Christ is in my thoughts more. And I love that even amidst promises of Santa coming to visit, my kids seem to be more in tune spiritually. Last night Zoey fell asleep reading her scriptures and Liv's prayers have suddenly become so thoughtful. This morning she prayed on and on about real, sincere things and ended with a plea for us to serve others today. She is 4 years old!!

complain-athon

This morning was off to a good start when a cut on Zoeys heel started bleeding and she trailed blood across my newly mopped bathroom floor and down the carpet and through her room. Then Olivia kept telling me she didn't feel good, that her 'stomach hurt.' I thought she was just making up an excuse not to have to unload the dishes. (It brought back too many memories of a certain brother who used the same excuse everytime we had to do the dishes growing up). But sure enough 10 minutes later she was laying on my bed and the puking began. Of course I felt bad, I hate when my kids are sick. But I have to admit that a close second to the immediate concern for my daughter, was for my brand new white comforter that was soaking up the orange colored throwup. The ironic thing was the previous time I bought a brand new duvet cover, the next day she colored on it with black sharpie. I think there is an unspoken rule about parenthood...that you are not entitled to have anything nice. Lastly Kellen has a cold and will not let me put him down for even two seconds. He scoots after me crying and pulling on my legs. It is so hard for me to be patient when I have to hold him constantly. Of course in the big picture, when my kids are grown and gone, I will miss mornings like these, (or so my in-laws keep telling me).

So I put thoughts of my now peach colored comforter aside, I forget about the blood now drying in my carpet because I am in charge of carpool today and need to take kids to school. So I load everyone up and head out. When I return home, I am just getting out when Joe calls needing me to take him a document at work right away. So forgetting the mess at home, I load Liv and Kellen back up and make the hour trip, grateful I at least took time to put a bra on. And while driving I eat 4 chocolate chip cookies to compensate for not having breakfast which now make me feel like I am going to throw up.

It is nearly noon and I am still in pj's (which is rare, if not nonexsistent for me by this time of day), I haven't put in my contacts or brushed my teeth but instead of continuing my complaint-athon, in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season I will write a few things I am thankful for today to try and boost my mood.

1. After dropping Zoey off at school, she comes running back to the car. I thought she must have left a school paper or something but instead she says, "I forgot" and reaches over and gives me a hug. It made my heart melt.

2. I am thankful for a washing machine and oxyclean that may have actually saved my comforter.

3. But the most important thing I am grateful for today is the plan of salvation. They installed my dads headstone at the cemetary yesterday. It has been hard for me because it is a very blatant reminder of him really being gone. But more importantly, it reminds me that life does not end at death. It goes on forever and I can be with my family forever. And that blessing and knowledge overrules every sad or discouraged feeling I have today.