Triathlete?

I swam 20 laps tonight at the gym in about an hour. That's a whopping 500 meters or 0.277777778 miles!!! I am so proud of me. And it was nice because the kids got to go to the gym to (and get out of the house for once this winter) and play in the playroom. Everyone wins!

I really would like to start training for a triathlon to take place this summer. My brother thinks I am crazy, but we have already established that I am; so let's not beat the dead horse, shall we? I have "wanted" to do a triathlon for several years now, but between babies, moving (yes, I know that was 2 years ago) and my aforementioned craziness, I have not done it. I just think it would be so cool to say, "I am a triathlete" or "I have done a triathlon."

I believe this could be one of my life goals. Some day I need to write down all such goals; I have a bunch of them.

So anyways, I really enjoy swimming and biking. I hate running, so that will be the last part I train for. But the benefits are great. There's this chick at the gym who does triathlons. She's gorgeous; granted, she is Brazilian, so she has that in her favor. But I was talking to her one day and she was like, "I know I am crazy, but I really want to do an Ironman someday." AN IRONMAN??? Those are like impossibly long triathlons. She's my idol currently.

On a side note, there is this adorable young man who I would love to set one of my gals up with. Send me a note if you're interested. Here is what little I know about him (I haven't gotten his name yet): He looks to be about 21 or 22, I run into him often while swimming, he has done some triathlons, he's completely bald but it fits him (think of the bald guys you see on the Olympic swim team), he is in the Air Force ROTC at BYU and graduates next year (I think), and he really wants to go to Afghanistan when he graduates. Doesn't he sound dreamy? Brittany, I'll have to get a height check on him, he may be a keeper. One thing I don't know about him is if he is married or not... it hasn't come up in the conversations we have had (they've mostly been about swimming and triathons); however, I haven't noticed a ring.

Random thoughts and counting blessings

I am much happier today (and in general the past few days) than I was the other day when I unfortunately posted my woes for all to see. But you know, I have never been the kind of person who can keep up a perfect facade (not sure where the squiggly thingy goes on that word). I can't keep a perfect blog with videos, photos and daily updates... well maybe I could but it's not that important to me so I won't. So folks even though you're probably not expecting perfection from me, I expect it from myself. However, on this blog I will be posting what I am. But probably a whole lot of what I hope to become.

OK so that was totally random and not what I intended to post at all.

So on to the blessings...

I posted on FB that I am happy today for many reasons. Here are some of them: Dean doesn't have to work on Christmas or Christmas Eve. That makes me really happy because I was afraid with this new job that EVERYTHING would suck. Actually, as far as all that goes I am actually doing pretty well. Last night, not only did the kids get fed, but they were in bed by 8:30 PM. Let's face it, that almost NEVER happened when Dean was home every night. Not that it was his fault... it wasn't; but I guess we just always waited around for the other to initiate the bedtime process. Not that I like initiating, but let me tell you... I AM MOTIVATED when I am by myself with them. Also, I got them to bed without once yelling at them. So I am also happy because the past couple days I am feeling like a halfway decent mother. Though we could use some clean dishes at the moment.

I was going to write more about what I am happy about, but it's 12:45 PM and I need to get my babies lunch made. Suffice it to say LIFE IS GOOD (even though it's not perfect).

Keeping it Real

I am kind of sad tonight. But first an update... Dean found a job, and we are really grateful because although it is not the ideal job, it will provide enough for us to stay in our home while still allowing him to stay in school. The downside is that he will be gone five nights a week till 10:30 PM. This means I will be in charge of dinner and bedtime-- two things with which he helped me greatly. I say he helped me, but really I just issued orders and he brought them to pass. I know some will say to count my blessings, I have it pretty good, some of the pioneers husbands died on the trail yada yada yada etc, etc. And don't get me wrong, I do count my blessings, but I am a selfish person and knowing all the blessings I enjoy doesn't help me miss him less.

Random Thoughts

Yesterday the whole fam (sans Michael; he was at school) went to Temple Square. It was a good time. S & S had fun running around and climbing the stairs at the temple. I got a picture, but D currently has the camera, so I can't upload it. D is working on a paper (which is actually a lesson plan kind of paper) about temple symbolism and he needs to include visual aides... hence the photos.

This morning I am again supposed to be on my way to the gym. My fabulous friend is back from Mexico and can take them Wednesday mornings again so I can have a break. WOOHOO!! Problem is Seth is still asleep (again). I swear that boy is ruining my workout regimen because if I can find any excuse not to work out I usually will. Even though I really do LOVE a good workout. This particular excuse is not really a small one though because if I wake him up and try to quickly get him ready, I will find myself with a whining, yelling, uncooperative little boy on my hands... ALL DAY. So I wait and tell myself that I will go as soon as he gets up, because after all I don't need reservations today (like I did Monday, when I also didn't go for same reason). But Monday I was going to go at about 10:30 when the popular morning classes were over and I wouldn't need a reservation as there would be space in the playroom.................. I should probably just wake him up now.

Did the grass grow???

Yes it did!!

Here is Dean with a few of our scouts... we teach the Wolves!

A couple of our scout boys just LOVE Sadie. Don't know why, she's 2 they're 8, interesting LOL.

Heaven Help the Future Homemaker

A dish towel in the flour, you ask? Well, my little Sadie just LOVES to clean the floor. Just never thought she'd do it with flour.


I realized I have much to be thankful for after my friends husband asked if she had used water too. OH MY!! Thank goodness, no!!

The culprit declined her photo op at the scene of the crime but consented to this one.


How can you get mad at that face?

Testing...

Tried cleaning off the lens... did it work?


It appears so. Therefore, let me explain. This my friends, is my-- or rather the kids' playroom. The towels on the floor are my attempt to start picking things up and take them downstairs. One towel is for dishes... yeah, what happened to the no-food-upstairs rule??? The other towel is for dirty clothes. WHY do I not just dress my kids downstairs!!!?? Pink splotch on right side of window, Sadie's artistic creativity... the girls in this family suffer from artistic differences... her art is everywhere else too. Child #3 in photo is my friends child... you know the one who I mentioned swapping with... tomorrow is my free day and I am doing the gym then lunch with Meg. Ahh sweet, temporary freedom!!

Watching the Grass Grow

Yep sure looks like the kids might have messed up my lens. GAH!! Is nothing safe? Anywho, here is the grass growing.

Memory Lane

I got this off of a friends blog and as she said I also lack the creative ability to come up with something like this on my own, so please play along.



MEMORY LANE
This will be fun! This is just too fun to pass up. Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! I guess good or bad, but be nice!!!!!!!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Backyard is started!!!

Yesterday, our backyard finally got hydro-seeded! YAY! For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about... we had grass seed mixed with a bunch of green fibrous goo laid in our backyard, so in a couple weeks the kids can go out and play on the grass. Before this time they can really only play on the trampoline (which we got because our kids never got outside). They could play in the dirt, but I really discourage this because I really only like to bathe them Saturday nights. OK I bathe them more, but I try to as seldom as possible and playing out in the dirt just sounds like a lot more work for ME!

My mom and sis-in-law were here again last night and stayed the night sans niece who is now up at college. Poor thing thinks she was just dumped in the middle of nowhere... well, she is in the middle of nowhere, but she was hardly dumped. Mom and sis-in-law kindly took everything into her dorm for her instead of leaving it on the curb. No worries, ABA... you are LOVED!!

I am off to take pics of hydro-seeding so you can all educate yourselves. Will post them in a bit!!

Not Quite Ready to Show Photos, but...

As of today, I have lost 3 lbs. I know it's not much but it's a start. Eventually, I will post photos (took two today in my gym clothes). But I would like to post them, when I have some visible improvement to show, even if it's the teeniest amount.

Last night, my mom, sis-in-law and niece stayed with us on their way to take niece to college in Idaho. We got some really cute pics and I will post them when I have them. Unfortunately none were taken on my camera and by the time we got it the photo opp was gone... Sadie was done.

So folks, lots of photos coming... keep checking in!!

Keep us in your prayers, please!

Whoever might read this might already know that my sweet hubby has been out of a job for a month now. However, he has had little jobs here and there he has done, so we have been able to stay afloat financially. It has been stressful, but I have handled it amazingly well thus far. Well, today we discovered his dream job has opened up at the Dept. of Transportation. Ok, it's not really his dream job, but it's as close as were going to get while he is still in school.

So anyone who reads this please keep us in your prayers, as we felt we have been guided by an Unseen Hand to this place in our lives. And we have faith that it hasn't been just our imaginations.

I may be learning!

This morning was heaven! I got up, got on my gym clothes, got Michael up, dressed, and off to school, got the little ones dressed and took them to my friends house!!! Then I went to the gym by myself and WalMart by myself and didn't even lose any precious time with my husband. Usually, when I go to the store by myself it is because he is watching them. For some reason, it has taken me nearly 7 years to realize how important good friends are, especially when you are a mother of young children. By the way, I'll be taking her kids on Friday, and we will be doing this for the unforeseeable future. We're each going to have a kid-free morning each week. It will be FABULOUS!

So maybe I can keep my sanity through these next several years. And I am sure my friends and I will adapt to our changing situations, because we'll need friends after our children are not so young, right?

More old and random pictures

Here are some random photos taken when we went to CA for a visit and a couple afterwards. Totally random but cute nonetheless.

Photo #1: Playing scum at Grandma's, aka the game with a new rule every five minutes.

Photo #2: Seth and Sadie doing their favorite thing. Nope not bathing, that would be too predictable. They LOVE to toss the water out of the tub.

Photo #3: Michael doing his favorite thing... playing on the computer.

Photo #4: Me and the kids outside a friends house after swimming. Mmm... I love my look, don't you?

Photo #5: Seth helping Sadie over the treacherous weeds to the garden or trampoline, whatever the case may be. See them holding hands... aww, how cute!!

Friendship

Ahh, a moment of peace in at Grandma's house. Taylor and Sadie just have this natural camaraderie. I don't know why, especially considering the age difference, but they just love each other.

Yeah, OK. The picture was taken about 2 months ago, but I am making an effort here, people. Watch for more to come.

Do the kids really need to be dressed?

I made myself a list of to-do's last night. First on the list was to have the kids dressed and fed between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. It is now 8:45 and I am thinking, "Do the kids really need to be dressed?" Fed, yes... but dressed? I don't foresee us going anywhere today, so what's the point? I would like to spend my time doing more productive things, like blogging... hehe. Oh eventually I'll get them dressed!

I am sort of busy online this AM looking for at-home work. Dean will more than likely be out of a job as of July 31, so it's time for him to go to school full time and some how make enough money to live on. With him working part time, I have a feeling it will take both of us to make ends meet. It sure is a bummer, but we'll work it out somehow. We have definitely been through worse.