Welcome Baby Sinjin!

Andy and I received a phone call from Nate letting us know that Gwendolyn had their baby. He was 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long! Gwendolyn was such a trooper and went through 22 hours of labor without the epidural and then the next 4 with the drugs. (Andy asks when I can get the epidural the minute they admit me to the hospital.) Sinjin Nathanael is the 40th grandchild for the Wyne's. Andy and I now have 48 nieces and nephews, total, and at least one more on the way! Congratulations Nate and Gwendolyn, he's a keeper!

Half Marathon!

If you haven't noticed the countdown to the right... it says hooray! I ran the Provo City Half Marathon race on Saturday! The drive down to Utah was scary and frustrating. Our portable DVD player died on us and if any of you have traveled with kids you know what a life saver that can be. We also hit a blizzard near Snowville... our favorite place! We made it to Utah finally and the fun began.

The whole week before the race I was dealing with shin splints again. I was worried that I would even be able to run at all. So the night before I asked Andy to give me a blessing. After my blessing I felt a little more calm, but not restless. During the night I had several dreams that something would go wrong... mostly being late and forgetting to pick up Shiloam and Angela. In the morning I still was debating on what to wear because we heard there was a 40% chance it would snow. I decided to wear pretty much everything I brought and I would take off layers if I needed to. Uh, yeah, it was snowing a lot when we got outside! We picked up the girls and were early for the race.

My group included my sister, Shiloam, my girlfriend, Angela, and myself. Along the way we picked up two other girls. One girl, Liz, was actually neighbors with Shiloam about 6 years ago and they hadn't seen each other since. Another girl, Morilla, was right in front of us most of the way and we started chatting with her. This was my first race ever and it turned out to be really fun! Even with the snow, wind, and 30 degree weather! I was very bundled and stayed warm for most of it. (2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, a jacket, gloves, visor, and 2 headbands!)

Some of the best things about the race:

-Andy, John, and Cindy were at the water stations every two miles to cheer us on!
-Angela traveled all the way from Idaho to run with me!
-Our hubbies totally supported us in our training, and race!
-Shiloam didn't bail on us and stuck with us the whole way!
-We RAN the whole race!
-No shin splint pain whatsoever! At least not on race day!
-I didn't have to use any kind of energy gels! They are so gross!
-We finished before Mohawk dude! He was the guy that Andy, John, and Cindy would look for to see when we were coming up. We were behind him by about a minute until the last leg and then we passed him.
-Passing a lot of people at the end!
-We finished in about 20 minutes shorter than we expected!
-Shiloam, Angela, and I crossed the finish line holding hands!
-Andy, John, Bryce (and Brenton), Cindy, and Emily were cheering us on at the finish line with roses for all of us!
-I can now say I've run a half marathon, and I have a shirt to prove it!!!


Some of the bad things about the race:
-Seeing girls pull their pants down and take a dump because they don't want to wait for an available potty.
-A ton of people passing us!
-Feeling out of energy and not finding stuff to talk about (off the top of our heads) to get our minds off the kill.
-My legs are super sore!
-Now Angela and I have to get back to normal life! Maybe we'll train for something else so we can keep running together without getting flack from our hubbies... hmm!


Thanks to all of my supporters! It was fun to talk to you and take your encouraging energy with us to the race. Thanks to our hubbies who supported us and watched the kids many days and nights so that we could run. Thanks to our groupies who cheered us on every two miles! That was seriously one of the best things about the race! They missed the 12 mile water station to go and get the roses and we were totally bummed... until we saw the roses. Thanks to the girls that stuck with me on the race and didn't leave me in the dust. And most of all, thanks to Angela! She stuck with me through the training and has become such a great friend. She helped me learn to love running! When I run with her I find my troubles disappear and I am a much happier person all together. I totally love that fabulous girl!!! I think she and I will be friends for eternity! I love you tons, Angela!

Our official time was 2:27:04! Our overall place was 482 out of 561! I know we are slow for some people but we didn't really care about that. We just wanted to finish in under 3 hours and actually run the whole thing. We did it!!! Another really cool thing... In our training we ran over 200 miles! How awesome is that!?!

If you want to see other perspectives go to Cindy's blog or if you've been invited to Shiloam's blog you can check out her thoughts, too... as soon as she posts.

April Fools Day!

Late last night we heard something scratching and banging against our window in the living room. I went downstairs and asked Andy what it was. He didn't know, so we opened the front door to see what was going on... This was my reaction. (Can you guess what it was?)

I bet you couldn't guess! Well...

This is what we found!

There was a live chicken tied to our doorknob! That's right! A live chicken!!! There was also a note attached that read, "April Fools! Eat me!" We knew right away that it was Brandon and Brigetta that put it there. A friend of theirs put a chicken on their doorstep a few years back while we were visiting... plus, we saw them drive past our house. So I called her and said, "Ha, ha! Very funny!" Well, we got the idea to go and put it on someone else's door... so Andy and Brandon walked down to another friend's house and tied the feathered devil to their door. They thought it was teenagers knocking on doors and running. So they ran to the back door in hopes of catching the "teenagers" and when they didn't catch anyone they went to the front door and found the chicken! Ha, ha! They laughed about it and then turned around and put it on someone else's door. How funny is that? Needless to say, this psycho chicken has been passed around the ward and lots of people don't even know who started it all! Ha, ha! One girl didn't know what to do with it so she started calling people asking if it was them and if they wanted a chicken. While at mutual tonight she even got clucked at... so funny! I think this April Fools Day joke tops the charts! Andy made sure I posted this one... especially me screaming at a chicken flying into our window that separated us. Happy April Fools Day, everyone!!!

Fun-Funny-Filled-Weekend!

This weekend we were lucky enough to have my brother and his family come stay with us. Saturday was a fun, and funny, day. It started off with running 9+ miles with Angela and my sister-in-law, Emily. About 4 or 5 miles into the run Emily said, "Okay, where's a business? I really need a bathroom." We run in the country so there are no businesses around, but my cousin's house was just around the corner. So Emily ran ahead and knocked on the door. My cousin had no idea who she was and was in his bathrobe! She said, "Uh, hi... I really need to use your potty." He was totally confused and said he was about to get in the shower. I love Emily! She said, "You're going to have to wait, because I really need to pee!" The poor confused guy let her in and then she was on her way...

After showering and getting ready for the day Sammy came up the stairs crying her eyes out. I asked her what was wrong and she said someone peed on the floor. I asked her if it was her and she snapped at me that it was most certainly not! So then I asked her why she was so upset. Her response was, "Because I fell in it!!!" So I headed downstairs with a towel in hand and asked where the pee was. Emily told me they thought the half bathroom flooded. I walked to the bathroom and found the most revolting mess!!! The toilet not only flooded pee... but poop, too! Disgusting!!! I cleaned up the gagging accident and meanwhile Andy was getting out of the shower taking care of Sammy. He asked her what happened and she said, "I fell in cigarette pee!!!!" Where that came from I don't know... but it was pretty funny.

Later that evening Nate was laying on the couch while Noah, his 2 year old son, punched his hand. Nate said, "You punch like a girl... you punch like a girl." Noah started to punch as hard as he could and as Nate turned for a split second Noah socked him right in the eye! Nate said, "Okay, that was a good one." It's rare that I see Andy laugh as hard as he did after the "girl" punch to the eye.

We had a great weekend with the Koenig's and are glad they came. We miss them so much we made Nate stay with us all week and then we're driving down to Utah tomorrow to see the rest of the family... :) (My race is on Saturday... and Nate had to work in Boise this week.)

What do you think it is?

The girls had finished eating and this is what I found. Sammy had drenched her own hair with water so I assumed that's what was in Katie's hair... NOPE! Want to take a guess as to what it is?

Syrup!!!

I had to wash her hair about 4 times before it all came out. Yuck!

6 Years Ago Today!

Then...

and now!

We went to one of our favorite restaurants, Tucanos, and stuffed ourselves sick. We thought we were pretty lame, though. We were finished with dinner by 6:30 and didn't know what to do after that... so we did what most married couples do to finish their date. We went to Target! After that we borrowed a movie from my mom and headed home. I know, kind of lame. We had a good time looking back on our 6 years of marriage. We did end the night by playing a little bit of Dance, Dance Revolution 2 and went to bed early. We didn't actually fall asleep till a wee hour in the morning. :)

The Trouble With Angels

The other day while at Walmart I saw this movie on sale for $4! My sister, Brigetta, and I used to love to watch this at my Aunts house when we were little. When Andy saw it he was, of course, not as thrilled as I was. When I told Brigetta about it she was so excited and I laughed and told Andy, "I told you Brigetta would be happy!" So Wednesday we had a girls/movie night! I let Sammy and Ashley stay up to watch it, which I paid for the next day, and Brigetta stayed as well. It was fun to see the girls get excited. After it was over we asked Sammy and Ashley what they thought of the movie. Sammy's response was, "It was so funny!" Brigetta and I really enjoyed it as well. We both hadn't seen it since we were little girls and it really brought back memories!

What Funny Girls!

These are some random funny pictures of my girls... Katie was putting her face in the bubbles and thought it was pretty cute.

Sorry this picture is really fuzzy. I only had my phone and she turned right as I took the picture. Those are Sammy's boots she decided to put on herself.

I think she wanted to go to Utah with me... she's small enough for a carry on piece right?Ashley was making faces at me and I couldn't resist getting out the camera.What a cute girl!All smiles!This is how I found Sammy sleeping last night... Yes, she was really asleep!She grew her boobs early! Not really. She stuffed a towel in her shirt and came to show us her uni boob. She made herself well endowed don't you think? Uh, hate to break it to you toots, but that's not going to happen with your genes.And of course you can't forget the ginormous shoes! All my girls love wearing my shoes around the house... Heck, they would wear them out if I would let them!

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!!!"