WHY IS IT?...

Splashing in the tub can make me laugh or rage?
I can take on a mountain of laundry or not even manage to put on clean clothes?
Just one serving or serve me one of everything?
Blogging is like a journal or blog-stocking makes me crazy-insecure-I-suck-at everything-so-why-even-post?

WHY??? anyone?

Proof

As one who never shies away from praise and adoration, it is almost inconceivable that I have waited this long to report on my accomplishment! Well, we did it!



It was the perfect day for running..did I just say that?No really, it was. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it but I think the end was my favorite! (for obvious reasons)
It was such an accomplishment, I didn't even think twice about our El Torito excursion (or the other million calories consumed this past week). It was 13 miles! I at least have another million yet to enjoy...my pants say otherwise...


Aren't they cute? Now, back to me..

I convinced myself it was ok I wasn't losing weight, because I justified it(it-being the the 3 other stomachs that somehow found their way into my body) by the hunger pangs that seemed to overcrowd my thoughts by mid afternoon UNTIL I saw the REAL marathon runners...Holy Crap! They were finishing as we were hitting the middle miles, and they were bean-poles. So, I guess you COULD do this to lose weight, but based on my experience, I'll stick to WW. Darnit! Back to counting...

Coming soon: a look back at January. It's now time to move on from me. Can I even do that? We soon shall see.

Happy Trails-hopefully!

The countdown is on! In a little over 17 hours, I will be beginning the half marathon--that is, 13.1 miles. And all I have to say is...
What the *#!?* was I thinking?
So, if this should be my final post...I love you all.

CAUTION! I'm not sure how this one's gonna come out.

I'm trying really hard not to give into the beast. What I really want to do is curl up in fetal position (as long as I can still pig out and see the TV) and give into the self beating I've got forming in the back of my mind. Why? you ask?
Here are a couple of conversations I've had this week:
JJ: Mom, can you please put him down and pick me up and say, "Sorry, Gibby, not right now."
-AND-
Grace: I'm the only baby you wanted. You wanted a sister for me and got JJ, and Gibson...well, you don't like being pregnant.
However, I am CHOOSING to find Joy in the Journey. Thanks, mom.
I've decided a new year is a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to set some goals and get myself in check.
These are just a few:
#1-Hold ALL of my babies.
#2-Attend EVERY ward temple night.
#3-Count my many blessings-and complain only in my prayers or to Jared, and only when Grace is not listening.
#4-Make sure I finish those stories I start...yes, I really wanted a baby girl BEFORE I found out I was having a baby boy and BEFORE I knew what being a mother to the two of them could be.....and no, I don't like being pregnant. That is why it literally took both Jared and I to know that Gibson was exactly what our little family needed. (Sorry, I felt the need to explain.)
#5-More meaningful Family Nights.
And of course, a recommitment to daily scripture study, exercising and eating right, and probably most important
#6-Act on the Spirit-immediately.
Happy New Year! It's gotta be, right?

Oh please, let SOMEONE relate...
After working until 10:30 last night, then not falling asleep until 12:30AM, then waking up 3 hours later to serve as Bessie, the milk cow, then just staying awake for my 5AM run, then showering, ironing, feeding and dressing my whole family, then carpooling, cutting my mom's hair, eating with the King-Burger King-that is, and braving two stores with 3 very wound up children, (plus 3 more sessions of mooing) this is how it played out...
BESSIE:"S***, S***, YOU LITTLE S***s!!"
GRACE:"MOM?"
BESSIE:"I SAID, NOT ANOTHER WORD!"
GRACE:"MOM??"
BESSIE:"SERIOUSLY!!"
GRACE:"MOM???"
BESSIE:"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?"
GRACE:"UM, WHENEVER, UM, SOMETIMES WHEN I'M FEELING ANGRY, UM...MAYBE YOU SHOULD PRAY."
Thanks, Grace.

Veteran's Day Getaway

Have I mentioned ever how lucky I am to live near so much family? I'd like to spout about how we have the BEST family, too, and really, who could I offend? I'm somehow related to just about everyone (yep, even Jared...7th or 8th--don't worry, so far our kids are okay) so I am really complimenting any who read this. And if I'm not, I hope you can too appreciate the family you have, because I sure love mine. I got to spend Veteran's Day with my family. Dave and Bec thought it would be fun to go have a picnic and climb around a mini-Valley of Fire called Redstone. What a blast! The kids had so much fun and because of my super sister, Kristin, I did too. Jared had to work and Kristin had the day off(gotta love those federal holidays) so she braved the kiddos with me. And even climbed around a bit:


I was a little slower due to 25 extra pounds on my back:

Fortunately, Uncle James and Uncle Dan were available to save the kids from any sticky situations:



Even our "tailgate party" was a blast!



Seriously, our little trip was just what I needed. So thanks, Dave and Bec, for the great idea! We can always count on you to help us make memories...

PRE-trickortreating:

POST-trickortreating:

I know TECHNICALLY Halloween is over, but I'm still burning off my sugar-buzz. Last night we all met at James and Natalie's for a family Halloween traditional meal(carrot chowder and rolls) and then ventured out on our trick-or-treating. Gibby was sick with croop(sp?) so he stayed and helped Jared pass out treats at our house. It was kind of nice having free hands so I could do this:

Lily, Min, Elaina and Grace

Bec and Z

Min, Elaina, Thomas, Avi and Nathan

the CREW

CJ getting some loot

Nathan and Thomas

Janie Rose and JJ

Sidney

Grace and Avi

Tiffney, Dan, Lucy, Elaina, Thomas and Nathan

Grace celebrating her loot...
Maybe I should have done a slide show--maybe I will! After the Gibson family fun, we headed over to Jared's sister, Kristin's ward Trunk-or-Treat, but like you saw, JJ was already undressed and was ready to gobble his goods. So after one more stop at Grandma and Papa Lamoreaux's (costume reluctantly replaced), we were good and done.



What a GREAT night!

Summer's Over...Or Is It?

After much begging, the girls were victorious. Every day on the way home from picking up our kindergarteners, the strategizing begins...and every day, we either hear how mean and unfair we as their mothers are, OR we are showered with praises and thank yous. Today I am the mother of the year(and so is Tiff, cause that's how it works ya know) because the girls got their way. I have to say, I absolutely LOVE every day they play together-don't so much LOVE the days they fight together-and today has been a great time. Usually they just play in dress-ups, but today they felt the warm sun and thought swimsuits were appropriate:




And of course they had to eat outside

SO SO FUN!

It's not JUST about time...

I can come up with all kinds of excuses why I haven't updated.
-my keyboard banging 8 month old
-my amateur photographs
-great ideas, not so great follow-through
-cup is half empty moods
-A.D.D. (self-diagnosed)
Well, I could go on and on but like I said, ADD.
Jared turned the big 3-0 on the 6th. My plan was to throw him a surprise 30,flirty and thriving party where everyone had to wear pink (in honor of his metro flare) but he caught wind of it, and I had to respect the old guys wishes.:) Got me out of planning a big hooplah-who can complain? (one of my half-empty days..)
So instead, he thought Macayo's sounded great and he requested a homemade german chocolate cake. Here's one of those not so professional photos-


JJ started soccer and finally after 3 games and 4 practices we can say he's loving it. I think we probably should have waited until next season for his dad to be coach--he's not too hip to sharing his attention. This is what the first game looked like:

At least in this one he's not crying!

Gibson has been keeping me quite busy. He is such a great baby, but he has become quite the mama's boy. Fortunately, Jared won't let him get away with it and he helps a ton when he's home, but UNfortunately, that isn't all that often...o well.

This is right before he realized he wasn't in my arms.

Grace is doing so well in school! She is the Newton Navigator this month and I am so proud of her. She got to pick a gift certificate and she chose In-N-Out (so proud) and insisted we meet her dad for lunch. Wish I'd had the camera-she was pretty excited. This will have to do:


I think Gibson has cried enough for one morning-and JJ has only asked for a bath 3 times...wish me luck!

I guess I should have already known, but I just had a big realization that I am no longer--cool.
For a long time, the missionaries coming to my house for haircuts have just been that-missionaries getting free hair. But today, I actually said, "You kids.." Who says that? Only really old, dorky soccer moms such as myself. Now there are plenty of good things about being an old soccer mom. For instance, I am at one with all-yes, ALL-of our bodily fluids and functions. I can, in fact, fix a well balanced meal in very little time, just from what is currently stocked in my home. Though more is desired, I can actually survive on 2 hours of sleep. So what if I wore these clothes yesterday? I didn't get dressed until 5:30pm, so technically they are still clean...that's just a little spit-up..
No, young ELDERS, I don't know of much fun to be had unless it involves a park, some lunch and shade or water. But I CAN make up any rhyme or song that teaches some fun lesson about not picking your nose, but do pick up your clothes...
So cool? No, but fun, I am! Booyah!