Thursday, August 25, 2011

There is a reason

There is a reason this girl came to us so cute. The other week Isaac needed a diaper change. I told Isaac to go get me a diaper (he is so good to help me a little). He disappeared in the other room and then I hear one of the kids say Isaac's diaper is off. This is not good since it was one of the very smelly nature and I was not involved with the removal. I went to inspect and found that Mique was so kind to take it off. I know she was trying to help but seriously, the carpet suffered...BADLY! I was not sure if I was even going to be able to get it out. It involved a lot of scrubbing and carpet cleaning solution, but I finally got it out. But, then the next day I told her to go clean her room. I went down to inspect and found that this 2 almost 3 year had made her bed all by herself. It is a queen bed with lot of pillows, and though it was not smooth and perfect she pulled all the covers up and all the pillows were in their right spot. It made the previous day melt away. And that is why she is so cute. When she is a holy terror I just stop for a minute when she is smiling at me and talking with her cute little lisp and we are good again.


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Lead Guitar

Jamison is doing Dance again this year. She has been very excited and I am thrilled she is doing something active. Miquelyn kept talking about how she does ballet (which I did not sign her up and was not ready to take that on with her quite yet.) On Friday Jamison asked me when her dance started. I told her Thursday. Miquelyn then looked at me and asked when her dance started. I told her she did not do dance. She then crumpled to the floor and began to sob. I caved and signed her up that day. She was THRILLED! I went to the store to get them both leotards, and this is what they picked: It is funny how what they picked is so......THEM! The best part is Mique calls it her Leegatar...so now Grant calls it her Lead Guitar. She wears it every day. Today was her first day and she got to wear it to class. And this adventure begins!!


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Love Hate Relationship

There was this commercial on television a couple of years ago. I believe it was a Nike commercial and it was all about the love hate relationship people have with running. At the time Britney and I were running together in the mornings and both totally identified with that commercial. I have a love hate relationship with running. I hate waking up early to run. I hate that feeling when I am tying the laces on my shoes and I am still talking myself into running. I hate how my body feels when I start. But.....I love how I feel when it is done (usually.) I love that I am being active. I love accomplishing a goal. I love how I feel when I am kicking my shoes off and know I did it. I love finishing a race, and love knowing I put in the hard work for it! In March I ran my 3rd Moab Half Marathon. Just weeks before my world crashed down on me and effected my body's ability to run. I ran my slowest time ever...and was frustrated! I kept telling myself I should be proud that I even ran (and I did run every last step with my body screaming at me and shutting down.) But, it was hard, I was upset and even shed a few tears. That race was not on the love list.

So, I decided to pick myself back up and prove to myself that I could overcome it and do better. I signed up for a race in American Fork in July. I trained and was really hoping (feeling like I needed a lot of hope) to beat my best time and pr. It was the most beautiful run ever! I felt great. I pushed myself, and I beat my best time by nine minutes. I DID IT! I admit I was very proud of myself. I was alone (probably a good thing because I was holding back a few tears-and anyone that knows me I am big on crying!) This is why I love running. It is something I do for myself. It gives me a goal, and most definitely a reward.

But now that I am starting up again after a two weeks respite, I am reevaluating this love hate thing we have going!


Monday, August 15, 2011

Our Unique Family Home Evening

Grant had the day off today (I love it when he does!) One the items on the schedule for days off is yard work, today was no exception. We had this out of control bush that needed to be removed, so we went to work. Grant decided that once it was done we should keep a little spot there for a pit to use our dutch oven for dessert. I thought it was a great idea. As we were cleaning the area we decided to use our left over retaining bricks and built a nice little fire pit into the ground in our back yard. When the kids realized what it was they insisted on foil dinners tonight. So after our fun day together we have dinner on the coals, survival bracelets being made for each of the kids (in colors that they picked for themselves) a dutch oven dessert on the menu and father's blessings to follow. A really good day!

p.s mind you we have a campfire in our backyard in 93 degree weather, I bet our neighbors are wondering what in the world!!!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Little Minds

I love to watch how the little minds of our kids work. The other day Isaac took a water bottle out of the case. I told him to put it back. He walked over to the case and tried to put it back. But, it was not fitting the way he was trying. He looked at it for a minute and then tried several different angles until he got it back in. It never ceases to amaze me (even with the fifth kid) how well they comprehend, can follow commands, and problem solve before they can say a word.

Grant and I were also witness to something pretty amazing in Asher's thinking (at least we thought.) He was playing a game with Jamison and Caleb. Caleb was on one side of a wall throwing a football over it to Asher and James. Whoever got to the ball first got to throw it back over. Asher was a tad slower than James and rarely got the ball. He was getting frustrated and a little upset. We just told him to try to get to the ball faster. After several times of James getting the ball first, he finally got it. Instead of throwing it over the wall he walked over to Jamison, extended the ball to her and asked, "Are you going to be nice to me now." She answered yes, took the ball, and threw it over. From then on out, no matter who got the ball first, they took turns alternating who got to throw it.

Seriously, what four year old thinks to himself, "You know what, I think I will give up an instant satisfaction for a greater return in the end. If I share with my sister after finally getting it, she just might share with me." The answer to that is our dear Asher. This kid's mind is AMAZING. My mom thinks the kids in these days need to be sharp for what they have ahead of them. I would agree, but there is just something about the way he works...it is something else!