It Really Is A Small World After All!

As most of you know I've been training for a half marathon coming up. I've recruited two girlfriends from the ward to train with me... still working on convincing them to run the race. Since we all have kids it's hard to work our running schedule around them during the day and end up running at night during the week. Last night a new route and five miles was on the schedule. Angela told me she was scared of dogs because she has been attacked way too many times. I said, "I'm not so I'll fight them off for you!" Well, we started our run and just after a mile on our new route we heard a dog. Angela started to slow down a bit and I really thought there was a fence that separated us. When I realized there wasn't a fence and the dog was chasing us I SCREAMED like a little baby!!! It scared the dog and he stopped in his tracks. We laughed so hard about me being a pansy and decided to change our route again and go to a familiar neighborhood. It was a good run and we ended up running a total of 6 miles! Wahoo!

Now to the small world... Angela and I were talking while cooling down and found out she grew up with two girls in my old ward in Colorado! What? Angela grew up in Hood River, Oregon and now we both live in Nampa, Idaho! How funny is it that I lived in Brighton, Colorado... met some cute sisters... and then moved to Nampa to find a fabulous running friend who grew up with them? To add to our funny connection... we found out just a few weeks ago that Angela's husband's uncle was in the bishopric in Utah at the singles ward Andy and I attended. It really is a small world after all. So Emily and Tamara Leavitt, if you're reading this Angela (Hornbeck) Thueson is my fabulous, fun, and cute friend. I've decided that we were meant to be connected somehow... and of course she's my visiting teacher... I'm just that lucky!!!

I was tagged...

I've been so busy lately that I normally wouldn't follow up with a tag... but it was from Jane. How can I refuse such a darling lady?

8 TV shows or movies I watch regularly:
1. Survivor
2. The Office (Jay, I understand the humor)
3. CSI (Las Vegas and New York... I actually hate the Miami)
4. Cold Case
5. Psych
6. Gary Unmarried
7. The Big Bang Theory
8. How I Met Your Mother

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. Checked Ashley's temperature (She was running a fever of 102 during the night)
2. Went running with Angela and Melissa (8 miles!!!)
3. Took a long shower to get the stink off my body (again, 8 miles!!!)
4. Went to a Stake Relief Society thing... sorry I can't remember what it was called... my brain was fried!
5. Picked up a pizza
6. Put my kids to bed
7. Cleaned up a bit from the night before (we had our party Friday night... post later about it)
8. Crashed at 9:00! I told Andy we are either getting old, or we are way too lame to be sound asleep that early on a Saturday night.

8 of my favorite places to eat:
1. Cafe Rio!!!
2. Tucanos (One just opened in Boise!)
3. Cheesecake factory
4. Jalapenos (yummy little place in Nampa)
5. Costa Vida... when Cafe Rio isn't available
6. Andy's mom's kitchen (she makes the best roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy)
7. California Pizza Kitchen
8. Training Table

People I tag: Only those that want to... I've been so busy that I understand if others don't have time, too... but maybe I should tag Shiloam so she can continue to update her blog... hmm.

No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed...

...But they are sliding down the stairs in their toy boxes! Andy and I were lucky enough to sleep in on Sunday since neither of us had early meetings, and Katie slept in late. We kept hearing something going down the stairs followed by a thud. We thought they were sending their toys down. Well, that was the case for awhile. Sammy then convinced Ashley to go down the stairs in her toy box. Once Sammy saw it was "safe" she went down herself. They thought that was the funniest thing ever. I still can't believe it didn't wake up Kate! Andy then drilled it in their heads that it was not okay to ever let Katie or their friends go down like that. I'm now waiting for a broken bone from the landing at the end!

Valentine's Day Celebrations!

I have to start off showing everyone Sammy's first shiner. She fell down the stairs the other day and I'm not exactly sure how she got the black eye, but she did. I was upstairs and heard this enormous thud followed by a piercing scream. This is what her poor eye looked like the next morning, but now it's a little bruised and scabbed over. She asks me to make sure everyone knows about it.

Yesterday, we had a very busy, fun-filled day. Sammy had her Valentine's Day party at school and then we took yummy treats to Andy's work. One of the ladies there stopped me and said, "Okay, I've been bugging your husband for your sugar cookie recipe. They are so good!" I laughed and replied, "You want to know my secret?... I get in my car, drive down to Walmart and pick up a sugar cookie mix in the baking isle." Apparently I can bake sugar cookies. (wink)
After we got home Mallory came to spend the afternoon with us so her mommy could help out at her sister's school. We had a lot of fun!

We made Valentine cards... (I love you with my whole heart. The flower is heart shaped chocolates.)

Ashley liked hers so much that she gave it to her daddy and then said, "Now I want it back." Sammy seemed to part with hers pretty well and wanted to make more.

We also attempted to make a chocolate bowl. It looks a little shabby but the concept was grasped. During the process two balloons popped. Chocolate went everywhere and Mallory gasped, then laughed!

After chocolate, then came the rice crispy treats! We all thought they turned out cute enough to send some home with Mallory.

Later the girls went outside in the freezing weather to play in the backyard. After about 10-15 minutes they came in shivering and said they had enough.

So I bundled them up in blankets and let them watch the movie Mallory brought over.

How cute are they? Don't you think Mallory and Ashley could pass as sisters? We loved having Mallory and she is welcome anytime!!!

Today was pretty great, too! I started my day by running 6 miles with Mallory's mom, Melissa. I was actually dreading it before I started because I thought I would be dead by the end. I was pleasantly surprised and finished feeling great. Melissa and I stayed at the same pace and neither of us felt like we were slowing the other one down. We ran almost the whole time (walked at the beginning to warm up, in the middle when we stopped for water, and then at the end to cool down), talked the whole time, and got to know each other better. I've never been one to like running, but I have to admit that was the best run I've ever had and actually enjoyed it. When I got home I had a few laughs... Sammy told me I stunk so bad that I better take a shower right away. As I was about to get in the shower I noticed something. While on the run I told Melissa that my belly was cold... when I undressed it looked like I had a nasty burn/tan line from my pant line up. About 6 inches of my belly was purple! Even Andy laughed at it.

For our Valentine's date we went out with our usual crowd (Brandon, Brigetta, Corey, and Hollie) to Tucanos! We were so excited because it just opened and we were able to get reservations... granted it was at 1:00 but we were stilled tickled pink! We ate ourselves sick and to add to the happiness we ran into our friends, Stephanie and Jason Hammer. They were seated right behind us.

We went home to find 3 out of the 4 girls asleep. We woke Ashana and took her home and then decided to follow their idea and take a nap ourselves. Awe! To end the evening... our usual crowd came over and we laughed till our cheeks were sore while watching Ghost Town! All in all it was a wonderful Valentine's Day Celebration!

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day, too!

Less than 24 hours till...

That's right! Survivor starts tomorrow and I'm so excited! If anyone is interested there will be a party going on at our house for the premiere! I hope you are all as anxious as I am... and if you're not... I don't care! 'Cause I'm so excited!

Which will it be?

I really should work on Primary stuff... I really should work on party stuff, since it's less than two weeks away... I really NEED to do laundry, you know, so we have clothes to wear tomorrow... I should clean up some of the house... I should work on Ashley's blanket since I've been telling her for almost a year now that I'm going to get it done... I should work on my mother-in-law's cross stitch since it's been years (plural) that I've worked on it and still not done, and I have only till the summer to finish it... Somehow I have so many things to do, but my body is telling me to go to sleep! I'm tired and dragging today!!! What is wrong with me? Grr! I think I might do some of those things listed, or I might crawl into bed and sleep. Hmm.

Back from Utah!

I just got back Sunday night from Utah. My sweet hubby let me take a time out and visit family for the weekend. I stayed with my brother and his wife... She rocks!!! We went shopping, out to eat at my favorite Cafe Rio with sisters (Shiloam, Cindy, Emily, and Kim), saw Bride Wars, did some more shopping, played games, watched movies at home, went to Gardner Village to shop some more, and played some more games! It was a perfect time out for me. I rested, rejuvenated, kicked some butt at Bananagrams (although mine was kicked at Rook), and had a great time all together!

On my way to Utah I ended up sitting by a guy a went to a few dances with in high school. It was so random! We chatted and caught up with each other and friends we still keep in touch with. On the way home... I was walking through the Salt Lake airport feeling a little hazy when someone gently grabbed my arm. It was my friend, Roslyn Graham, from Nampa. What a coincident! I actually talked to her that morning about our party we're having soon and she told me she was flying to Utah in a few hours. But seriously, what were the chances I would actually run into her... in a different state? Andy always teases me that we can't go anywhere without me running into someone I know, but this is a new one even for me.

My sister-in-law, Cindy, also sent home a few items for my girls. They look so cute in them! And this is what they had to say...

And since the video was a little dark, here are a couple pictures

Please keep in mind that I just got home... hence the crazy hair styles.

The girls LOVE the dresses!!! Katie wants to sleep with hers and couldn't hardly stand still for me to zip it up. Every day they ask if they can wear them. Thanks Cindy! (And Cindy's parents for bringing them back from Vietnam.) You're too kind!

Andy also wanted me to add a few things about how nice he is... on the drive home from the airport he said, "You better know how much I love you! How many husbands do you know that will go and pick up their wife from the airport during the Superbowl game?!"

... And today I had to exchange my running shoes (ugh). While I was searching for the box I couldn't find the receipt. I knew I had it in our room before I left for Utah and then it was no where to be found. I called Andy and asked where it was. His reply was he didn't touch it. Let's just say he got an earful. I was able to exchange the shoes, but when I was getting ready for bed tonight... I came across the receipt. Whoops! Yes, I apologized and Andy said, "You better post that on your blog!!!"