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!!