Look Who's 7 today!

I know this is a little past due, but my Sammy is 7 years old! She is growing up way too fast and she reminds me of that every single day. We celebrated with our family the day before her birthday and she was so excited as you can see. All year she asked for only one thing... an ipod! I was not about to spend a lot of money on something she was likely going to lose within the first few months. So, we gave her my old one... sort of as a trial period. If she can take care of it then maybe we'll think about getting her a new one. I told her right away that it will be used as leverage and if she is being disobedient or unkind I have the right to take it away. So far it's worked well, but we're barely a week into things. And of course she picked out a cake to match her wish!

This was definitely not my best work. I didn't have time to let the cake chill and then the whole thing split right in half. Whoops! She was still very pleased with it, though.

On her actual birthday we decided to through a pizza party. She invited a bunch of her friends over and we had pizza (thank goodness for Monday night deals) and then they watched Despicable Me. Afterwards they had cake that looked like pizza, and ice cream. Then she opened presents and the kids were all ready to go home and crash! It was the easiest, low maintenance party and a huge hit with the kids!

This year Sammy has changed a ton! She is doing very well in school and loves to read and do math. A few of her favorite things at school are recess and eating lunch in the cafeteria. She LOVES her teacher, Mrs. Massimino and comes home smiling on a daily basis. She lost her first tooth this year and has also learned to tie her shoes. Some of her favorite things are Bratz dolls, drawing/coloring, playing the Wii (mostly Just Dance), playing with her friends, listening to her ipod, and bossing her sisters around. She loves to babysit when I need to get things done around the house. She tells me weekly that she wants a baby brother, but would be fine if she had another little sister, too. She is so great about getting up and ready for school. I don't ever have to fight her to go to school and that is such a blessing. (Last year it was quite the regular battle.) She can be very helpful around the house and loves to do extra especially when she can earn some money. We love her dearly and she has brought such joy into our home. Happy Birthday, Samantha!

"Achmed the dead terrorist"

This is for you, Becky! Last night Sarah called a few of our girlfriends and we all went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. We had a great time and Achmed was the funniest topic of the evening. Becky had never heard of him so I told her to look on youtube and type in Achmed the dead terrorist. She asked, "How do you spell Achmed?" I couldn't resist... "A-C-Flem." We were laughing so hard we were crying. Thanks for the fun girls night out! So, Becky, please pause the music to the right and enjoy a good laugh.

***This does have some swearing so please don't watch it if it's going to be offensive.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob

My SIL had this posted on her blog. I thought it was pretty amazing! So pause the music to the right and get ready to get into the Christmas spirit!

Thanksgiving 2010

Most years Andy and I travel to Utah for Thanksgiving to spend the holiday with his family. This year was no different... except we went down for the whole week to get first pick for bedrooms. We continued tradition with a few of the grand kids included this year. It's always fun to hear the different things others are thankful for as we make fun of each other for crying over silly things and telling Mindy or Lisa they have to go last next year. So this is for my family and friends that couldn't be at the table.

I know this will sound incredibly silly but I am so thankful for all the races I was involved in with my family. For years I felt like I couldn't be involved because I was either pregnant, nursing, or I was not up to par with everyone else. By the time I was ready to run they had moved on to more mileage than I felt I could endure. Since last year I was part of a relay race of 185 miles, three half marathons, and one full marathon... all of which I did with at least one family member. The marathon was truly amazing to me for many reasons. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life and when things went horribly wrong my sisters-in-law were there to help me get my head back in the game. They encouraged me to do what I had trained for and said, "Here take some of my gum. And here's some energy beans." I couldn't have even completed the training without there support. Many, many times I would call and say, "Guess what I ran today? I had to call and tell you so you could be my cheerleader."

Through all of the races and training I was able to endure pieces of a trial Andy and I have struggled with. It helped me to not worry so much and keep my mind off things that I didn't have control over. Just over a year ago I lost a baby. I was not that far along and it didn't really hit me till about a month after the fact. I heard the news that my sister was pregnant with twins and her due date was only a week apart from mine. Her pregnancy was rocky and it seemed the family's prayers were focused on her. Then I received news from friend after friend that they were expecting. For a solid week I cried and lay on the couch feeling sorry for myself. I would talk to others who had miscarried before and asked what to do. For a long time I blamed myself since I had done a race the week before I miscarried, and to this day it is one of the most intense races I've ever done. (A few months later I am pretty sure I miscarried again, but I can't be positive since I didn't ever take a pregnancy test. It was just like the first one and I hit another low.) It wasn't until Emily called me and asked if I wanted to run the marathon with her and Amy that I finally picked myself up and tried to move on. It was very difficult when Andy and I had never had problems in the past in that area and I wanted another baby so badly. It was something that we had talked about for almost a year and never thought we would have complications. I don't know if our family is complete or if Heavenly Father has another plan for us. However, being part of something with people that I love was by far the best thing to help me gain a different perspective on my trial.

I am also very grateful to Andy this year. He has stood by me through all of my training... with very little complaint. He has let me cry on his chest many, many times this year. When I am extremely moody because I start thinking about our baby he'll just give me a hug and knows why I'm hurting. He tries to help me look on the bright side of things when I forget. He reminds me that we have 3 beautiful little girls that are happy and healthy. (He used to say, "You keep killing off the boys." That stopped pretty quick once I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.) And when we are traveling he points out all the good things about the ages of our kids. They really are at such fun ages and I get to enjoy each of them. They are my final things I'm grateful for this year. Each of them are different in their own ways and I love them all so much! Sammy is my little helper all the time. She is learning and growing so fast it's hard to think she's in first grade. Ashley is still my little molly. She is always wanting to give hugs and kisses no matter what. And Katie is so fun! She goes around the house making up songs and sings to herself ALL THE TIME. I love her little voice and I hope she never stops.

Something's MISSING!

Sunday morning Sammy came in to get her hair done and said, "Mom, look. My tooth is getting more wiggly." It was a little more loose than it had been but still was set in her mouth. I told her that if she kept wiggling it, it would come out soon. When we walked into the chapel she again asked me to look. That time she pushed her tongue against the tooth and it pushed all the way forward. She wanted to go show Bryce and he encouraged her to pull it out. So she and I walked to the bathroom, I got a piece of toilet paper, and held onto the tooth. It fell out! I didn't even have to pull. She was so excited!!! She was telling everyone that she lost her first tooth. (I forgot to take a picture on Sunday, so these were taken later.) Sammy said, "Mom, I think the Tooth Fairy might bring me a dollar." Is that inflation or what? I thought the Tooth Fairy only brought a quarter. And now Sammy is trying to wiggle her other teeth to see how many will fall out so she can get more money. In her words, "I'm saving up to buy a Bratz doll." That's a lot of teeth darling!
What a cute little smile!!!

Quadruplet Babies Laughing

Halloween!

This month has gone by so fast with Halloween festivities! On Wednesday I put on another Wanda Witch Party for the Young Women in our ward. They had a great time... but I'll try and post about that later. And for Halloween this year we decided to do something different. So Friday we headed down to Utah and celebrated with Adam and Cindy. We started off the weekend by going to THRILLER! It was a lot of fun!!! If you ever get a chance to go don't let it pass you by. One of my favorite dances was Frankenstein. It was amazing to watch the girl being flopped around the floor like a rag doll. The guy who did the Ghostbusters was pretty fun to watch, too.
Andy was being silly and it took a few tries before he would just smile for the camera!

Saturday morning Cindy and I ran another race. SHOCKER--- I know!

We met up with Emily, Sarah, and some of their friends from Saratoga Springs. This was Sarah's first half marathon and we all wanted to support her. Cindy wanted to try and finish under 2 hours and we were cheering her on!

This was at the end... Cindy finished in 1:57!!! And Sarah finished in 2:01!!! We are so proud of both of you. Awesome job, girls!!!

It was so hot during the race. It was super cold at the beginning and I wasn't sure I would be warm enough. I wore 2 long sleeve shirts plus all my crap for my costume. Somehow I managed to unzip my dress, unpin my stupid necklaces, take off my gloves, and take off my top shirt... while running! Cindy thought it was pretty funny. I tried hard to keep up with Cindy but she was hauling butt. After awhile I slowed way down. I ended up walking a ton of the race, but I really didn't care. However, I feel pretty good about my time. I didn't train for this race AT ALL! I ran once since my marathon and it was only 4 miles. When I finished the clock showed 2:07. My legs are killing me today and I think I may have pulled a muscle in my left leg. I think it's Carma laughing in my face because I didn't train. (My wig looked awful at the end because it was all over the place even though I tried to pin it down.)

We then took the girls up to Grandma and Grandpa Wyne's house. And then we finished the night with trick-or-treating. The girls had a lot of fun and it was perfect. We did one loop around Adam and Cindy's little neighborhood and Katie kept saying, "Are we going home now? My hands are fweezing." They were on quite the sugar high and ran around in the basement for a long time. Hopefully they'll calm down by tomorrow. Thanks for an amazing weekend Adam and Cindy. We love you!!!

Fasting for Shelby

My niece, Shelby, was in an accident awhile back. You can read about it here. Later Sarah took her to Primary Children's Hospital down in SLC and saw a specialist. They learned that she had a piece of glass stuck in her brain. She had surgery on Friday and there was a family fast for her. Andy and I talked to the girls about what was going to happen and that we needed to keep her in our prayers. We told Sammy that she could fast for one meal if she wanted but that we understand if she didn't want to. That's a lot for a little six year old to skip a meal. She first told us she would just pray for her, and we said that was fine. Friday morning Sammy came in to me (no school that day) and said, "Mom, I think I want to skip breakfast and fast for Shelby." I told her that would be great. Maybe an hour or two later she came back in to me and said, "Mommy, I think I want to skip lunch, too. I really want to fast for Shelby. I just want her to be okay." I had to hold back my tears as I hugged her. I was so proud of my little girl. She fasted all day long and didn't complain even once. I know that her prayers were heard and that her faith was strengthened. All of our prayers were answered and Shelby's surgery was a success. It turned out that there were 3 pieces of glass they extracted, but they were able to do it without opening her skull. That was such a blessing and she is now home and doing very well. You can read about the details here. She'll go back on Wednesday for a follow up appointment. I just had to share the amazing love my daughter has for her little cousin. We love you Shelby and we are so glad you are okay.

Wanda Witch Party 2010

We had our annual Wanda Witch Halloween Party this last Friday. We had a really good turn out and things went pretty well overall. This year instead of doing traditional clues we decided to give names of an intersection and a distance they had to go... but didn't tell them which direction. It turned out to be harder for them than I thought, so that was a plus. If we ever do this party again we'll go that route for clues. It was much easier to get out my Garmin running watch than to figure out a poem or something similar.

There were so many great costumes this year it made it really hard to decide on the winner. The slide show below is only missing one couple that was late and I didn't have a chance to take a picture. And I really wish I had a group picture... whoops! There were a total of 20 couples!!!

I can't reveal most of the challenges, yet, in case some of my YW check out my blog. We are going to do this next week for our combined activity. But one of them I knew for sure they wouldn't stand a chance doing. The clue led them to a friend's house, they picked a paper bag with a secret ingredient, and then had to play a short version of Zilch, a dice game. If they made the goal they didn't have to put the ingredient in, but if they busted then they had to add it to a milk shake. After everyone rolled the dice then they could reveal what was in their bag. Megan mixed it up and then it had to be completely consumed, but it didn't matter who or how many people had to drink it. The items were chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup, chow mein noodles, 2 hard boiled eggs, spam, Wasabi horseradish, minced clams, and the worst of all... sardines in tomato sauce!!! Disgusting!!! I couldn't believe we actually had a few girls drink the revolting shake!

In the end the Scarlet Spiders joined the Grand Witches Council. Congratulations! A big thanks goes out to all the couples who participated and made the night enjoyable... and gave positive feedback. ;) Of course I had to show our costumes. I was Cyndi Lauper and Andy was my 80's rock star. (He put his hand up and pulled on my wig... dang it!) I wish we had more pictures because I don't think I will ever get Andy to put those pants on in public ever again! It was totally worth it, though. I even had "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" playing with speakers attached to my belt (thanks Becky). Underneath my awesome white rimmed sunglasses was amazingly bright blue eyeshadow up to my brow. Maybe for Halloween I can talk Andy into dressing up again... maybe.

Oh, and funniest story of the night...

Shuck's came as Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf. While at my mom's house for one of the challenges my girls asked Valerie if she would tell the story. At the end Ashley looked at Darren and said, "Is Grandma naked?" Valerie was a little stunned and confused and then it clicked that Ashley noticed Darren was wearing "Grandma's pajamas". She quickly said, "Oh, no. Brother Shuck got these out of Grandma's drawer. Grandma is still wearing her pajamas." Ashley is my little thinker.

It's official!

Okay, so I know I've been a slacker at blogging... but I have reasons. If you noticed my countdown to the right you might have seen, "Today is the day" for my full marathon. It's official, I have joined that small 1% of people who will ever run a full marathon. Am I Kenya? Heck no! Did I finish better than average for first timers? Yes I did! And considering all the things that did not go as planned I am proud enough of myself.

The race was about to start for all the runners and within 2 minutes or less I lost my running pack. It was holding all my energy beans and gum... or my lifeline essentials. I tried to hold it together and failed miserably. I lost control and began to cry. Amy grabbed my face and said, "Focus! You are going to be fine! You have no choice but to run without it." Emily gave me her back-up pack of energy beans and both gave me some gum. I dried my eyes and tried to shake it off. Although, it did mess with my head.

I crossed the start line and realized I forgot to start my garmin watch to keep me on track. I stopped and allowed it to locate the GPS. (I was so mad I was wasting time!) It located and I put my headphones in to find that my new iPod was not working at all!!! Boy was I ticked!!! Thank goodness I had a thought the night before to put a back-up iPod in my pocket... not my running pack. I thought that maybe I would want to toss my pack near the end but forget I had my iPod inside, so I stuck it in my pocket. However, I didn't know how much battery power it had since I never charge it before the run.

I was off and decided that I should preserve the battery life of my iPod and just try and talk to people running my same pace. I immediately found a girl I met the night before at the expo and was able to talk to her for about 10 or 11 miles. After that it was one girl here and another girl there, but only for a few miles. I made sure to drink 1-2 cups of Gatorade at the aid stations and dump 1-2 cups of water on my I was still thirsty I would drink a little more water. And I forced myself to eat the cliff bars.

Between about miles 17 and 22 I was running a pace of 9:16 and feeling great. I thought, "I can totally run this the rest of the way." And then... my iPod DIED!!! That's right, my back-up died when I had 4 miles left. Fortunately I saw Adam and Sarah at mile 23 waving my bright, hot pink poster! It was enough to get me through the rest of the race. If you want to see a blurb click here. (I am wearing a green tank top, black shorts, and a pink visor. And I swear I'm not ignoring Adam... you just can't hear my voice very well.) This was actually my favorite part of the race. It was so fun so see my poster along with a cheering section. Thanks so much for coming to support us Adam and Sarah!!!

I sprinted across the finish line and wandered for about an hour trying to find my crowd. NONE of them saw me cross! I was pretty upset at first, but now I'm just bummed. Once I found the rest of the group Amy, Emily, and I went to get our picture taken together. I saw this girl limping horribly. I said, "Oh, sweetie, you look like you're in a lot of pain." She looked up and I was thrilled to see my friend, Devry Krahenbuhl, whom I haven't seen in years! It made everything else worthwhile.

Today is the first day since the race that I feel mostly back to normal. Saturday and Sunday were the worst! Every part of my body hurt... from my head down to my pinkie toenail! After all that I still get asked, "Do you think you'll ever run another one?" And my answer is the same, "Ask me in 2 weeks. (Ha, ha.) In all seriousness, I might do another one just to see how well I could do if everything went as planned." But I only had two goals this time around. The first being to finish and the second is to do it under 5 hours. I finished, and in 4:53:07! And I'm so sorry I don't have any pics uploaded. If you would like to see the professional ones click here. There is also one of Amy, Emily, and I together, but for some reason it didn't make it to my photos. And if you are still reading I owe you a big thank you along with a candy bar!

Thanks to all my supporters! I was thinking of all of you while I was achieving my goal!

5 Years Ago!

Our little Ashley was born! She is so full of spunk and we love her for it. She makes our life very interesting and she is constantly surprising us! She says things that throw us off guard and we have to turn around before we laugh. We love you Ashley and are so grateful you are a part of our family. Here are some random pictures of Ashley... (Chillin' at Roaring Springs during the first Koeing/Pearce reunion)
(All dolled up for her date with Daddy on Valentine's Day)

(dressed up for Halloween as an "Evil Witch")

(Out to dinner for her 3rd birthday at Cafe Ole)

(Fresh out of bed one morning and checking out the damage from wrestling that darn elephant)

We sure love you Ashley!!!

Any ideas?

As of this week I am watching the little girl across the street twice a week for a few hours. She tends to get a little stressed when there is a change such as new people coming over or going some place new. So I feel I need to have a structured shedule while she is here to help her feel comfortable and there aren't any surprises. I think I want to do a preschool type activity on the two days that she is here. Any ideas where I can find a lot of activities for such? I'm sure I could come up with a few... but I think my creative juices won't flow as quickly after the first couple of weeks. My idea was to do the preschool thing for about an hour, feed the girls lunch, and then they can play till daddy shows up. Keep in mind I will have my three year old, too, who will need to be involved. So LOW maintenance activities, but something that still teaches them at least their letters and numbers 1-10. Anything would be helpful!

"Icky" moments (It's LONG)

What we've been through lately...

On our way home from Spokane Ashley told Andy she needed to go potty. It was almost time for us to stop for lunch so we asked her if she could hold it for a little longer. She was okay, and we were grateful, since we were in the middle of nowhere. After about 15 minutes she starts telling us again that she needs to go potty. So we start to look for any sign of a bathroom... nothing! Ashley then starts to dance like crazy and is now in tears. We finally saw an Inn up ahead. I told Andy to stop and we ran in to this really rundown Inn. The guy at the desk tells me that they didn't have a public restroom but to go down to an open door and the housekeeper would let us in. We run down to the last door and HE let us in. I took Ashley into the bathroom and it had one of those doors that slide into the wall. Keep in mind that this place was already creepy, so I didn't want the guy watching us. I started to close the door and saw that the handle on the inside was broken off. I closed it just enough that I thought I could slide it back open. Ashley did her business and as we tried to slide the door open it got stuck!!! The housekeeper left the room and we were trapped. I tried prying it open but I could barely get my fingertips in at this point. I tried wedging my fingers through the crack at the bottom of the door to slide it... no use. I started to panic and I was SCREAMING for help!!! I was pounding on the door and walls and nobody came to our rescue. I didn't have my phone, otherwise I would have just called Andy to get us the heck out of there. We were only in there for about 10 or 15 minutes but it seemed like much longer. I finally had a thought to stick my fingers under the door and pull it toward me. It started moving and I was able to hold it open with a gap big enough for Ashley to crawl through. I tried to explain to her how to open the door and sent her through in hopes she would let me out. It took her a few minutes, but she did it! When we returned to the car Andy said he was getting nervous and was about to come in and see if we were okay. At least he was thinking of helping us. :{


Last week Katie woke me up screaming. I went into her room to find her eyes were still shut. I figured she must have had a nightmare, so I pulled her out of bed and brought her to ours. She was awfully restless and Andy was getting pretty irritated so I switched places and climbed to the center of the bed. After about 2 hours I was so hot and sweaty that I couldn't stand it. I climbed back over Katie and thought, "Man, I don't usually sweat that much." I pulled the sheet back over me and the corner flipped me in the face. I was fuming at that point! I jumped out of bed and said to Andy, "She peed the bed!!!" Andy responded, "Are you sure?" What? I then yelled, "Why would I joke about that at 2:30 in the morning?!" I stripped the pee soaked clothes off me and started taking care of the bed. Andy stripped the pee soaked clothes off Katie and took care of her. It was not a fun night and we decided she is NEVER allowed in our bed again!


On Sunday we sat down as a family and watched the movie Swiss Family Robinson. The girls were enjoying it thoroughly until it came to the part when the boys are in the river and they get attacked by a huge python. They got over it quickly and finished the movie. Since then Ashley is convinced that she saw a snake in her room and refuses to sleep through the night. Last night she convinced Katie that she was scared, too. I was able to get Ashley to go back to sleep and Andy took Katie downstairs for a bit. He said he wasn't feeling great and couldn't sleep anyway. A few minutes later they came up and Andy said, "Katie threw up." I asked if he was serious. (Why would he joke about that at 2:30 in the morning?--- I asked for it.) I took Katie and bathed her while Andy cleaned up downstairs. We laid her back down and dealt with Ashley screaming... again! We thought they were both settled down and a few minutes later we heard both of them screaming. I threw the door open and found out Katie threw up again. I bathed Katie and Andy cleaned up the mess in Ashley's bed. Apparently Katie missed her bed and got Ashley's on the way down. Yuck!!! We finally laid Katie in our room on a blanket on the floor. About 10 minutes later I heard the barf sound and shot out of bed. Katie missed the blanket and got my floor with bright pink puke!!! It was the worst so far. We went through the motions... again! It was about 5 in the morning before we were able to get some shut eye. Poor Andy, he had an early meeting and had to be up at 6.

Sammy's alarm went off at 6:50 and I went in to get her started for the day. She said, "Mom, my tummy hurts." Was this a strategy to stay home from school or was she really sick? I told her to take a shower and get dressed and then tell me how she was feeling. She agreed and then about 5 minutes later she came in and said, "Mommy, my tummy really hurts. It feels like I need to throw up." Great! I grabbed the bowl that was useless to Katie and told her to aim if she needed to spill her guts. About an hour later she did just that! I was so tired I was barely coherent when I think I called the school. I assume I did because they didn't call me, but I could have been dreaming. The puking has finally stopped, but I'm waiting for Ashley, Andy, or myself to start. Needless to say it was a very long night and morning and I'm ready for peace because we are sick and tired... literally!

S2S

I just got back from Washington and I had to share my experiences! I ran the Spokane to Sandpoint relay race with 12 other amazing people! Our team name was Pillaging Pirates and it was so fun!!! Normally there are 12 people to a team but my father-in-law wanted to run a few legs so he joined our car to make 13! (We started on Friday the 13th! Ah!)

Emily and Nate waiting for the race to begin at 5:30 in the morning!!! (Emily organized our team) And below is Sarah Smith-sister- is the one on the far left in the blond wig.

Sarah Smith (aka: Barb)- friend participating in the brightest outfit contest.

Sarah, Emily, Sarah/Barb just hanging out!I was runner 12 and my first leg was in the heat of the day and mostly on a trail. As part of this leg I participated in the tattoo challenge. My brother-in-law, Doug, used markers and colored all over my arms, legs, neck, and face. My favorite was my right arm. He drew a huge skull and cross bones at my shoulder and then made it look like a treasure map going from "Spokane" to "Sandpoint". (The finished look! I wish I had more close-ups. They looked pretty cool!)Amy finished with her second leg and just waiting/resting her legs.

Below is the hand off from Lisa to me. I didn't know Amy got a picture of this so it was fun for me to see.

I was so tired and hot and near the end I felt like I couldn't finish. I looked up and saw my brother, Nate, from a distance and I almost broke into tears. He ran with me all the way to the next exchange. It was so nice to see my big brother there for me.

From there we got something to eat and headed back to Nate and Emily's house for showers and a short nap. I got in the shower and was nervous because only the first layer of the markers came off! After A LOT of scrubbing most of it came off, but you could still see some of the tattoos. The spider web on my left arm is still somewhat visible. We got the text from Emily to meet them at the next exchange and we were off.

Back row left to right: Lisa, Doug, Nate, Emily, Sueanne

Front row left to right: Sarah (sister), Joaquin, Adam, Sarah (friend), me, Dad. Amy was off doing her second leg. It was beautiful in this area!!!

***I have to add one of my favorite parts... and I'll try and paint a picture for you.

During Sueanne's leg at night we drove behind her to make sure she stayed safe because it was so dark. She kept getting passed one by one, and every now and then she would hold up fingers of how many had passed her. We laughed and she really didn't seem to care. Well this guy came up behind us and we didn't realize we sort of got in his way. As he came up behind Sueanne she started weaving across the side of the road with her arms spread out and said, "I'm not going to let you pass me!" It was so funny to see from behind!!! The guy just said, "Is that so?" and kept running. We don't think he was as amused as we were.***

My next leg was at about midnight. It was pitch black and I was not feeling my best. I had a headache that wouldn't go away. It was seconds before the hand off, I threw up in my mouth and then Lisa was only a few feet away. I took the bracelet and ran into the darkness. I felt great, my headache subsided, and the cold air was refreshing. I felt like I held a pretty good pace and I even had one kill!

The exchange was at Silverwood theme park where our whole team rode the Tremors roller coaster! (We're all waiting to ride. Not the best picture of me... but keep in mind I just finished my second leg.) It was one of the scariest roller coasters I've ever been on!!! It was so fun, but I screamed the entire way!!! Our car then went to find a Denny's to eat and get some protein in our bodies. There were some interesting people there and you would think that at 2:30 in the morning it wouldn't be busy... there were a lot more people than I expected.

After getting food into our bodies (which by the way, didn't feel great in my tummy) we went to a school that was supposed to be open to runners for sleeping. By the time we got there the gym and halls were full. Someone gave us a small tarp to lay out on the grass and we were able to lay out under the stars... we even saw a few shooting stars. We got about 2 hours of sleep before car 1 showed up for the exchange. Emily was so funny to see because she was so pumped every single time we saw her. She said, "Okay Ally, are you ready to take us across the finish line?! I want to see full on sprint, arms swinging, and head down!" Sarah handed off to Amy and we were in the car again. It was fun to be in car 2 since we were not as competitive and we all had a goal just to finish. Our team members were encouraging and fun. We joked with each other and really had a great time.

My third and last leg of the race I started off with one kill right away. I didn't see anyone else till I reached the bridge and there was a girl WAY ahead of me. The bridge was about 2 1/2 miles long and she was about 3/4 of the way across. There was no shade and the water, though beautiful, was irritating to see because I just wanted to jump in. I kept thinking, "I really want to stop... but if I do then it's going to take me longer. I'm not stopping no matter what it takes!" (It was absolutely beautiful to run across the bridge, though!) I couldn't believe it, I caught up to the girl!!! We ran together for a little while and chatted to keep our minds off the heat. I saw the "1 mile to go" sign and took off! I saw Andy at the corner and when I got to him he said, "We weren't expecting you for 20 minutes!" I thought, "Yeah!!! I must be bookin' it!" I got to the end and saw my team. They formed an arch for me to run under and then we were all supposed to finish together. I SPRINTED to the end just like I was told and got one more kill right at the end!
(Adam and Sarah in their full pirate attire... they are so funny!)

We all had our pirate gear on (black bottoms, our pirate shirt, skull and crossbones bandanna, one big hoop earring, skull necklace and ring, finished with a sword) to take pictures! We ate food, bought some S2S shirts/sweatshirts and drove home to Nate and Emily's house. By dinner time we were all smelling much better, but walking funny for some reason. Most of us crashed once our heads hit our pillows. And by the time I woke up I could barely walk up and down the stairs. I'm feeling better, but still walking a little funny.

1 roller coaster

2 vans

12 runners

36 legs

185 miles

248 reasons to run Spokane to Sandpoint!

If you want to see any more info on this awesome relay check out their website here. The pictures of the major exchanges are so pretty and if you look at the last one you can see part of the bridge I ran across!

****My heart goes out to those who lost a loved one. My prayers are with you and I hope that you will soon find peace. I pray for those that were injured and ask the Lord to be with you in your time of recovery.

An adventure of a reunion!

Andy and I returned Monday from our annual Wyne reunion. (Sorry it took me so long to post.) Anyway, there's way too much to talk about and if I wrote it all down you might be here till next Monday reading. So I decided to just make quick notes of favorites... and not so favorites.

Not so favorites:

• Finding out there was a mouse nest in one of Sarah's mattresses. (I really don't know how you did it! I would've left right then and there! It still made my skin crawl!)
• Hearing the mice scratching at night
• climbing into our bed with only about 18-24 inches of head room (we put an air mattress on top of the mattresses provided on the bottom bunk due to a guard rail on the top bunk.)
• the bugs and flies
• seeing a mouse in the bathroom!!!
• no water from Friday night till Saturday afternoon
• Being really sore from running 10 miles in an hour and a half
• trying to contain my children in the lodge during pictures just so they wouldn't dump dirt on their heads... again!
• Finding a half eaten Starburst IN MY BED!
• Sleeping in the car the last night because the thought of a mouse in my bed was enough for me... I would've gone home had the girls been awake.
• Getting sunburned and looking like a lobster even after applying sunscreen twice!
• Andy committing us for next year's reunion
• Andy losing his wedding ring while golfing

Favorites:

• visiting with everyone
• watching Andy climb into bed... ha, ha!
• playing kickball in the rain (why does it rain every time I go camping?) even with a horrible "kickball"
• smores
• yummy food
• Shelby's reaction when she opened her gift from Katie, "Mooooommmmyyy! I got a Barbie!!!!"
• Katie's reaction when she opened her gift from Shelby. It was the perfect gift of a cell phone and a pair of sunglasses. She doesn't let them leave her sight... even at church!
• Minute to win it--- watching Lisa try and suck up the M&M. I couldn't stop laughing.
• going on a nature hike to see this amazing tree and being able to talk to Maria for a long time... she lives far away and we only see them at the reunion.
• doing tie-dye shirts, and having purple tinted hands for a week
• playing family feud, Koenig style
• seeing everyone run around in their capes and masks for Brown's activity
• seeing how well the cousins get along--- I hardly saw Ashley and Sammy the whole time we were there.
• playing indoor "Wyne" which is the game "spud" but I just changed the name for the night.
• Running 10 miles with Amy and Emily
• Seeing the result of Katie dumping dirt on her head. I would touch her hair and a cloud of dust would poof! She looked blond!
• playing horseshoes and winning every time... that really was because of Andy.
• Lava Hot Springs
• Cafe Rio twice in one week! Mmmm! It's my favorite!!!

Funny things said:

• (Andy to me) Did you have a running dream last night? Your feet kept twitching, and they would alternate. (I think I was just wigged out by the mice.)
• (Ashley) Mommy, I was so fweaked out by the skunk. I thought they were only in books and movies. I didn't know they came to life. I was so fweaked out.
• (Sammy) Mom, this place is not like our house at all! There is dirt everywhere! Our place only has grass. And there is no carpet!
• (Sammy when we returned home) Awe, carpet feels nice.

All in all we did have a good time, but I don't know if I will venture there again. If I were guaranteed there wouldn't be any mice then maybe I would consider it... but I really hate those little creatures! Or maybe I would just bring a tent. Thanks for planning Dana, I know that was a lot of work and we appreciate it!

Look Who's 3!!!

(Sorry this is the most recent photo by herself that is uploaded to our laptop.)

We welcomed this beautiful little girl into our family three years ago and she has blessed our lives ever since! I love my Katie Bug so much that I can hardly believe it! Every single day she makes us laugh. She is always giving hugs and kisses and says the most random, funny things that I can't help but smile. She loves her baby dolls and Barbie dolls, but doesn't mind picking up a toy car or ball every now and then. She changes her clothes at least 5 times a day and keeps me busy with laundry! She loves anything that involves princesses and getting all dolled up. Thank goodness it's never a fuss to get her ready for church. She loves going to nursery and adores her teachers, Brother and Sister Barr. She was able to talk to a few people on the phone today and she would say, "Hi _____, it's my birthday!" The girls and I went to the movies this morning and then spent the lunch hour at the park. We'll be celebrating with a "white castle cake" and ice cream per Katie's request later this week. I love you so, so much, my little Katie Bug! I'm so blessed to be your mommy and I'm glad you were born. You'll always be my baby and I hope you stay a mama's girl forever! Happy Birthday!!!

I'm Ba-ack!

I'm back in a couple of ways... I got home from girls camp last week and had an absolute BLAST! I am so thrilled that I was able to go and spend the whole week with such amazing girls. I LOVE my calling!!! I'll talk on that more later.

For now I wanted to say that I'm back to running! I have officially started my training for my full marathon. I'm a little behind in my own schedule but ahead of the schedule on www.marathonrookie.com so we'll see how I do. I have run on the track a few times and then started running on the roads this week. The best part is I have found a new running buddy!!! Angela had to skip out on running due to medical reasons. It really put a cramp in my style. :) But a few weeks ago Alysa was at the track and I suckered her into running with me. We had a great time and now she's training for a half marathon and has agreed to run 3 times a week with me! Yahoo!!! I'm so glad and now we'll just have to see how the bum knee holds up. Thanks for sucking it up, Alysa!!!

I'm annoyed!

Okay, first I have to say that we love our neighborhood and we've had zero problems in the past. Everyone seems to get along and are very pleasant. With that said I have to mention something that really annoyed me.

I'm sitting here trying to do some work while watching You've Got Mail... minding my own business... very late at night. When all of a sudden I got a tap on my door. It was midnight for crying out loud! My first thought was, "Should I go wake up Andy?" My second thought was, "Maybe it's Brandon or Brigetta... no, they would've called first." So I peeked out my front window. (This has happened before and it turned out to be teenagers being immature and they ran off.) Peeking out the window was practically useless. My porch light is burned out and I could barely see a silhouette. My heart was racing and I stood there for a second and thought, "Well, they already know I'm here. I've looked out the blinds and the light is on." I didn't really know what to do and then I saw a woman standing at the edge of the lawn. (This next part I realize was absolutely STUPID on my part.) I opened the door! Thank goodness it was our next door neighbor... but he wanted to tell me that our backyard sprinklers were causing a flood. What?!!! You scared the poop out of me to tell me that you want me to turn off my sprinklers? That really couldn't have waited till morning? And here is the dumb part--- I turned off our sprinklers and our neighbor behind us has his going and there is a run off from his, too. So really I don't think it's just ours, if any that's causing his flood. Maybe they are just watering too much!

Am I crazy for thinking that common courtesy is even if a light is on--- you just DO NOT knock on someones door late at night? They could have called first! I'm sorry, but I'm totally annoyed!

Goin' down memory lane...

Tonight Andy and I were watching a movie on television and one of the lines made me laugh and think of something that happened about 12 years ago. The line was, "Thunder Cats a go!"

When my little sister was about 2 we rented a movie and she loved it!!! She would yell, "Funder, funder, funder cats a hooooo!" It was so cute! Remembering that now I might have to give her a call and tease her about it later.

I need input!

I'm thinking of going private with my blog, but I can't quite decide. I like that when I visit a friend's blog and see someone else I haven't seen in years, then being able to catch up if they are public... and vice versa. I've found lots of friends that way and I am now able to keep in touch and read about new jobs, weddings, babies and lots more. Plus, it's another source of putting my business out there since it's linked on the right.

However, the other day I happen to see a Criminal Minds episode that freaked me out. I know it's creepy I like that show, but this particular one was really freaky. It started out that the unsub was able to find his victims through public facebook pages. And the second part that had my heart racing was that it was happening in a City not too far from here. I know we all secretly hope our parts of town are safe... but deep down I think we all know they are just the same as any other city.

And here is the one that is a kicker... literally the day before I watched that episode I received a comment on my blog that was totally normal and encouraging, but I had no idea who it was from. When I clicked on the name, it linked me to a public website (not a blog) that I didn't recognize. That has happened before but then usually the next comment is something along the lines of, "Hey it's Jane, btw... I was on my sister's blog."

I try not to give specific details of where I live, but do you think I'm being way too paranoid by going private? Lend me your thoughts, please!

SURPRISE! It took longer than we expected, but...

We are finally done with these!!! Yahoo!!!
I think it's safe to say that Katie is officially potty trained!!! It took a heck of a lot longer than the other two... maybe longer than any child. It literally took her 8 months. I know there are moms out there thinking, "You're insane!" They're probably right. At times I was so tempted to give up and put her back in those awful diapers, but then I remembered how expensive they are. Katie knew how to do it the whole time but she would have at least one accident nearly every day. I don't know if she would just get distracted or if she was lazy and didn't care. She went a whole week without accidents, including nights, so I took her to do this... Waiting so patiently, and maybe a bit nervous...


She only cried for a minute....

She picked out the pretty pink ones...
That's right! We got her ears pierced. Andy was the one who said she could do it when she was all potty trained. And when Katie met the agreement Andy was the one who got her all ready to go. After the lady gave her a sucker and a "Certificate of Bravery" she calmed down and was ready to show anyone and call everyone to tell them all about it!

I know it seems silly to say this but I am so proud of her for finally getting it down. She does it all by herself and it makes me so happy!

Oh, and if you are wondering about the headband... it's her favorite and she wears it even though St. Patrick's Day is long gone!

I've been busy

Life has been so busy around here that I haven't had a chance to post anything new. I've been doing shows like crazy for work... but it's my own fault. About a month or so back I went to a booking class and participated in a competition with my manager and her down line. She said whoever got the most shows booked before noon the following day got $100 in free jewelry credit. There is a part of me that said, "I am going to win, dang it!" I started making phone calls like crazy and by noon I had 12 shows booked (10 of which were in the next 2 months). My competitive side pulled through and I got a few new items that I "had to have"... Now I'm in the process of doing all the shows. In addition to those ones I've had about 5 or 6 other girls book parties, all of which before July. I quite literally only have 2 days even available to do any more shows. Thanks to all you wonderful hostesses that keep me busy with my business.

I'm down to my last few sessions of physical therapy and I've been given the okay to test run on Saturday. We'll see how that goes and then I'll add training for a marathon in the mix of my busy schedule. I'm thinking I might have to start doing morning runs just so I don't have to skip days of running. But before I do that I have an appointment on Tuesday to see what the orthopedic doctor says.

Now I have to tell you as quick as possible about a few crazy days of last week. After returning from physical therapy and lunch with some girlfriends, I picked up my girls and Brandon dropped off Porter and Mikayla. (Brigetta and Brandon went on a motorcycle ride that ended up being a bit longer than I expected.) Not long after we got home Sammy and Sophia, the neighbor friend, got off the bus. I immediately noticed Sophia's arm was very swollen. When I asked her what happened she basically told me she hyper extended it the night before, but assured me it was fine. I was not about to believe her with the size of her arm and being pretty warm to the touch. I called her mom she came to pick her up. She left her other two kids with me and then around 8:15 she returned with Sophia's arm in a splint... it was broken! (If you're trying to count that's 7 kids ages 6 and under.)

The next day I had already committed to watching a friend's baby. Brayli was dropped off around 7:30 in the morning (I know Emily is gasping somewhere that I was even conscience that early). Well, a little later Ginger needed to take Sophia to the doctor to get her arm casted. She dropped off her two kids and the two kids she watches every day. Life was a bit hectic, but relatively calm considering how many kids were here. (If you're doing the math again that's 8 kids ages 6 and under and then when Sam left for school it was 7 kids ages 4 and under.) It turned out that Brayli's grandma picked her up early and then Ginger returned shortly after. It allowed me just enough time to clean up and get ready for work. It was all worth it when I was lucky enough to be the first person to sign Sophia's bright pink cast!

Oh, and did I mention young women's? Between lessons, girls camp stuff, and Wednesday night activities, I've been just a tad busy. I'm hoping life will start to settle down... but who am I kidding? I've been thinking that for about 6 years!!! Maybe in my next life I'll get to rest.

Jumping for joy!!!

A few months ago I posted about a full marathon idea that Emily planted in my brain. So Emily, Amy, and I registered for the St. George marathon as a team. It's a lottery and the deadline to register was May 1st. We found out yesterday that WE GOT IN!!! I know there are lots of people out there that think I am totally insane... or as I've been told, "Off the record, but what the hell are you thinking?" I don't care because right now I am jumping for joy! I still can't believe we got in. There were 11,000 applicants this year that they said was a record high. Go team runningrocks262!!!

2:22:12

I was quite nervous about my knee before I left for Utah with only days before my race. I felt I had done everything I could and that it was time for the Lord's help. I asked Andy to give me a blessing Wednesday morning before he left for work and put my faith in Him. I know that Heavenly Father was watching over me without a doubt in my mind. I was able to run the whole race with Cindy and stay side by side. My knee did not cause me any pain during the race and we finished in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 12 seconds! I am so proud of Cindy for this huge accomplishment! She did such a great job and has amazing determination. The girl is so focused during her race she hardly talks or even smiles. ;)

We bought matching shirts the day before and I had to show it off! (Yes, I realize I look like I'm flashing my brother.) After coming home from Kohl's we noticed the security tag was still attached and we had to pry it off with pliers. The green had to show in at least one of the pictures. Great security they have there, right?

Last year I ran this race in 30 degree weather while it was snowing... This year wasn't any better even though it was a month later. It was slightly warmer, but it snowed... rained... and hailed! That's right, it hailed!!! We were absolutely drenched by the time we were done. Cindy didn't have any gloves so I let her borrow mine every now and then. They were wet, but at least they added some warmth. We didn't even stick around for any of the after party (and they were serving HOT breakfast) because we wanted to get out of our wet clothes. Adam was worried we were going to get hypothermia if we stayed in them much longer. By the time we got back home and started shedding clothes we realized how wet we were. All three of my layers were soaked except a tiny part of my shirt where my arms covered it. Wow it was cold!

I'm so proud of Cindy and it was so fun to run this race with her despite the yucky weather! I love you tons, Cindy! I can't wait till I can run another race with you... whenever that will be.

A side note: I thought my knee was back to normal since I felt great and I even wore heels to church today. Later this evening it hurt so bad Andy was carrying me around. We all laughed, but really I'm looking at my stairs now wondering how I'm going to get up them without Andy's help. Yikes!!!

This is how I know that the Lord was watching over me during my race.

Couple funnies!

As I've mentioned before I love to sleep so often I might be considered a "lazy mom." Well, I was mentioned on The Lazy Mom blog! I submitted a tip for being able to sleep just a little longer than your kids. Why is it that the days you have to get up earlier than usual your kids sleep in? I just have to say that drives me CRAZY! Anyway, it's confirmed, I'm a lazy mom!

The other funny thing occurred this morning. While doing the girls' hair I had to get after Katie. I told her that if I ask her to do something she needs to do it immediately. Sammy said, "That sounds like something a queen would say." I replied, "Yeah, and who is the queen of this house?" Sammy said, "You are, and daddy is the king of this house." Ashley had to chime in, "Yeah, and me, Katie, and Sammy are the princesses of this house." I had a hard time controlling my laughter when Sammy said, "Mm, no... I'm the servant!" Such a hard life to be a six year old and only have to unload the dishwasher every other day to earn your keep! It was pretty funny!

Shot through the knee...

... and plica's to blame! You give running a bad name! (Sorry, that was lame.)

After going in for physical therapy yesterday I was told it's time for the cortisone shot (too much "crunchy" scar tissue). Yikes!!! I am such a pansy when it comes to needles. It really is one of my biggest fears and I was not looking forward to the shot, even knowing it will help. So this morning I covered my eyes, tried to control my shaking nerves, and got the shot in my knee!

The shot wasn't that bad. There was a big pinch and some burning and then it was gone. Right now it just feels swollen and full of fluid. Hopefully things will be better in a couple days and I'm back to normal. We'll see... wish me luck!

Running Yet?

I saw the physical therapist this morning and she gave me the "okay" to start running tonight. She said, "Just a jog! Short... only 2 miles... 3 if you are feeling really good." I was also given instruction to run with a patella band for support. I went right out and bought what I needed and called Angela. I was so excited to get back to running and I thought I might have to be forced to stop after 3 miles.




Wrong! I only made it half a mile and said, "Okay, I have to walk!" We walked for about a mile and then I was able to run the last mile. My knee is feeling pretty tight and sore so we'll have to see what tomorrow brings. Wish me luck that I can continue to run! I really, really want to do my races coming up!

The Verdict

After protest-- but too much pain in my knee-- I saw an orthopedic doctor Tuesday. I'll have you know I was up with all 4 of us girls cleaned up, ready to go, and out the door by 7:45! (New comers to this blog that almost never happens!) And the verdict is knee plica syndrome! (If you want to find out more information click here. If you're a runner this would be a great thing to read.) So much better than I was expecting. I was afraid they would have to do an MRI to rule out damage to my ACL or meniscus. The doctor prescribed a strong anti-inflammatory that I take twice a day and if it's not feeling better in a week I have to go back in and get a shot of cortisone. Yuck! The thought of a needle going into my knee makes me cringe so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I don't have to do that. In addition I have to go to physical therapy twice a week for six weeks. I went to my first session this morning. The therapist agreed that I had plica but she also thought I had a bit of tendinitis and scar tissue built up. She scraped my knee and the area around it and then the fun part, ultrasound. (This is not the fun ultrasound that you get to see what's inside... it kind of burns. If you want to know more about it click here.) Not only does my knee look like there's a balloon inside it, it feels like it too. There are a few bruises and where the patch was placed for the ultrasound I have a white circle, and where the stabilizer was placed it's still a bit red and tender. It's not fun, but if it's what I have to do to get back out on the road then I can handle it.

Shut the front door, that hurt!

Today as Angela and I were heading out for our 17 mile run my knee started to give me problems before we even went half a mile. In Ashley's words, "What the?!" I was so frustrated but thought I would work through the pain. Well, we only made it about 2 and a half miles before my knee popped... hard... and I almost fell over. I tried to walk it off and said, "Let's make it to the mail box and I'll try running again." Angela said, "Are you sure?" I was determined. The mail box came and I only made it a few feet running before I couldn't even walk. Ouch! So Angela tried calling Bryce to come get us... no answer! I tried calling Andy... no answer! Luckily I was able to walk the rest of the way home, but it still hurts enough that I nearly fall putting any weight on it while it's straight. Going up the stairs is the worst! I know I should get it checked out by a doctor but I am also hoping the pain will go away with ice, a brace, and rest. Wish me luck with my half marathon only weeks away! I want to at least make it to that point and then think about the full marathon.

I need to learn to relax...

... my shoulder that is. Lately the muscle in my right shoulder has been sore. I find that I tend to tuck it up a little in several activities but mostly running. It seems to be fine for about the first 13 miles. However, when I run more than that it feels really tight when I'm done running. I know that I just need to relax but I'm not sure what to do in order to relax it. My left one doesn't give me any problems and I don't know what I do differently.

So my question to you fellow runners, what can I do? Are there any stretches I can try before, during, or after to help? Are there any techniques I can try to loosen or relax my shoulder? Any advice would be great! After 16 miles I'll try anything!

Happy Easter!

This year for Easter we started a new tradition that my SIL, Maria, mentioned here. We egged some houses! Our egging job didn't look nearly as cute so we didn't take pictures. We were afraid we were going to get caught in action so we literally threw the eggs on the lawn, put the sign on the door, and ran! Sammy loved it and said we should do it again. So we did! We were able to get two families that we absolutely love! And we can't wait to do it again next year.

I talked to Angela this morning since her hubby brought us "conference rolls" and she said that her daughter loved it so much they went and did it to someone else this morning. So fun!!!

I recommend doing it next year! Your kids will have a great time. It's simple, easy, so cheap, and it brightens their day! We love you tons Thueson and Arnold families!!!

New Calling

After being in the Primary Presidency for a year and a half I grew to love that calling. The other girls in the presidency were in for 2 years longer... I think. Two weeks ago we were all released and a new presidency was called. We new for nearly a month before we were released and it seemed to be a bitter-sweet last few weeks. We all had not been in RS for 3 years or longer and were excited to be able to go back. However, we will miss our calling and the sweet spirit those children bring. They truly are blessings from Heavenly Father. I'm confident the new presidency will do a fantastic job. I laughed because even though I knew who the new president was going to be I actually had a dream the night before the change and dreamt of which girl would get what calling. When I went to church that afternoon my dream became reality! My dream was exactly right!!!

Andy and I joked around that it won't be long before I get a new calling because Bishop Bledsoe is determined to put me to work. Well, we had stake conference last week and then yesterday I was called to be the new Mia Maid Advisor. I didn't even have one Sunday to go to RS! I am so excited, though!!! I haven't been in YW for nearly 5 years and I was so disappointed when I had to be released due to a move. No plans of a move in the near future so I hope I stay in YW for a long time! The funniest thing about the change in callings... my running buddy, Angela, that I so often talk about took my place in Primary and I took her place in YW! It has been a pretty easy switch I think.

Just a funny side note... The Sunday I was released my phone rang and I didn't answer because I didn't recognize the number. I thought it might be someone calling to ask if I would say a prayer in sacrament meeting. While at church Jason Hammer asked if I got his message. I told him I did and that I don't answer my phone Sunday morning to avoid being asked to say a prayer. He laughed and said, "No! You didn't! Well, it's Brother Ashcraft who makes all those phone calls. He's in charge of prayers and talks. So he's the one you need to avoid." So when I got the call from Brother Ashcraft I told Andy, "He asked if we would speak on Sunday." Andy said, "Are you kidding me?! I swear we just spoke a couple months ago!" I really had him going before I laughed and said, "I'm just kidding. He wants to come over tonight to talk to me about a calling." Brother Ashcraft got a good laugh about it, too.

Anniversary Lunch-Date!

Okay, I know these are not the best pictures ever, but our camera has failed and we are still looking for an inexpensive one to replace it. We went to one of our favorite restaurants, Tucanos, and had lunch with a bunch of friends. It's not lame to celebrate your anniversary with other people! We had such a great time! Thanks to our friends who joined us!

(Right to left) Shawn & Roslyn, Devin & Christina, Andy & I, Brandon & Sarah, Bryce & Angela, and Maria & Paulo (Angela's sister and brother-in-law who were here visiting). The more the merrier!

Stuffing our faces with yummy, yummy food!!!

And of course we did spend the rest of the day together. We later went to the Bullock's house so we could visit while Dana was here. Afterward we did a little window shopping, went to the movies and saw "Bounty Hunter"... so funny! And of course we finished our date by going to Walmart. No date is complete till you visit a grocery store! My mom was so kind to take the girls for us so we could have a night off. They loved it!!! My step dad cleared his schedule to spend the day with the girls. When we dropped them off he said, "There's really not much to do today with it being so windy except... FLY A KITE!!!" They were so excited! My mom said they got the kite up and it did a nose dive and broke on the first flight. So they ventured out to buy two more. Sammy offered to trade Ashley for the kite... and Ashley agreed! They got to keep the kite without trading. They ended up going to church with my mom and she said they were wonderful for her. It sure makes it easier knowing they were on their best behavior. Thanks so much, Mom (and Dale), for taking the kids for us!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just a little shout out to say Happy St. Patrick's Day! I love to celebrate SPD mostly because it's close to our anniversary, but for other reasons, too. It's fun to watch the girls get excited about it now that they're getting older.

Yesterday I started a new tradition of the "Legends of the Leprechauns" with the girls. Check it out here. (My SIL posted it on her website) Anyway, you decorate a box and leave it in the moonlight for the leprechauns to fill with treasure and hide in an unusual place. I also was telling the girls to make sure to wear green so you don't get pinched. I pointed out that I was not wearing green so if it were SPD already they could pinch me. Katie turned and punched me! I laughed and said, "I said pinch, not punch!" She laughed and punched me again. What a nice little girl. So we decorated an old shoe box and left it on the table in the moonlight.

This morning the girls found their first clue and went on a scavenger hunt. It was really fun to watch them run from place to place and discover the box on the shelf of a closet. Even Katie got excited! The box was filled with candy, green headbands, green cups, sidewalk chalk, and a small activity toy for each of them. Sammy said, "When I get home from school I'm going to unload the dishwasher and then show my friends my stuff." (It's been a fight to get her to do her chores, so I was happy with her response.)

I hope you all have a fun and lucky St. Patrick's Day!!!

7 Years Ago From Today...

Andy and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. It was one of the best days of our lives and I'm so glad that I get to spend forever with my wonderful husband. He is such an amazing daddy to my girls and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I am so glad that he holds the priesthood and is the protector of our family. He works so hard to provide for our family and it has been such a blessing for the opportunity to stay home with our girls. I love you forever!

As for you who are wondering what we did to celebrate... nothing yet. We are planning on shipping the girls to grandma's house Saturday and going out with some friends to Tucanos! Yummy!!! For our actual anniversary Andy got off work early so the two of us could have a meeting with Sammy's teacher, principal, and school guidance counselor. Afterward, since it was such a nice day Andy and Bryce spent the rest of the afternoon playing tennis. And then of course I still have my routine of running. It seemed like a rather normal day... I know we're boring. Bryce is still teasing me about running on my anniversary. Why not? It makes me happy.

(Andy and I both stink from our exercising and when I mentioned that we both need a shower his response was, with an upturned lip, "Do you really care?" Happy Anniversary!!!)

Sorry I don't have pictures up and running. Our camera will not take pictures, we can only view what's on our memory card... and I can't figure out how to download those. However, if you would like to see a slide show click here. I laugh because we basically did the same thing last year. One of these days I'll upload some of our recent pictures, but really nothing has changed. Till then, I'm sorry.

How do you answer the door?

Last Sunday we pulled into the church parking lot and the Wadsworth family parked right next to us. Jeff immediately started calling my name impatiently. He told me a story that I just had to share! With it being fast Sunday Jeff was going around with the deacon boys collecting fast offerings. One of the boys, Jared (who is also the bishop's son), had only been a couple of times and always went to the door with Jeff. Last Sunday was his first time going to the door by himself and he was so nervous. He told Jeff, "I don't know who the Wyne's are." And of course Jeff being the good leader that he is reassured Jared that he would know who we were as soon as he saw us. So he timidly rang the door bell and waited. (Ashley, Ashley, Ashley... I love you, but sometimes you embarrass the heck out of me.) Ashley answered the door stark naked!!! Poor Jared after a few minutes of waiting inside for someone to come downstairs, with no luck, he returned to the car and asked, "Brother Wadsworth, what do I do?!" Jeff was laughing and said, "Hey, at least her pony tails were done. Go back and ring the door bell and maybe someone will come to the door dressed." Ashley didn't even come and tell us someone was waiting in our living room! When I asked her later why she answered the door naked she told me, "My dress was downstairs." Well then... I guess that makes it okay, right?

What did I do?

One of my faithful commenting friends asked, "Now that it's been a couple days, how's it going?" since the room switch-a-roo. Well, I was so upset with Andy that night I couldn't even look at him so I slept in the other room. When Andy was leaving for work he came in to kiss me goodbye... the nerve! :) He asked why I slept in there and I told him to take a wild guess. His response you ask? "I didn't do it on purpose." What? The bed didn't dissemble and reassemble itself! "Well, I didn't mean to make you mad. I just thought we would try it out. I didn't think it was that big of a deal." Oh? Then why did you deliberately wait till I was out of the house for a couple hours? Hm. What did I do? I would show you if I could get my pictures to download on my computer, but I can't. So I did something I thought would tick Andy off just enough to show him how I felt... I took Ashley to get her ears pierced!!! The worst part was that Katie looked up at me with her big, beautiful, brown eyes and said, "Mommy, I pwease get my eaws piewsed?" I didn't for the fact that I thought Andy would divorce me. We got home the same time Andy did and he at first said, "What the heck?" My response? "I didn't do it on purpose." Andy said, "You can take down the bed in 5 minutes." I said, "You can take out the earrings and the holes will be closed in five days. I just didn't think it was that big of a deal." Apparently it wasn't because that was about the end of his argument. I told him I almost got Katie's done and he said, "Why didn't you?" What?!! He told Katie she could get her ears pierced when she is all potty trained. She is now more motivated and excited about the learning process.

The girls are all in the same room still, but that doesn't mean Andy has won the argument completely. I'll admit the girls have gone to bed much better for the past couple days, but the mess issue has not been resolved. I'll keep you posted on the updates.