Christmas photos

Christmas report

AJ has been reminding us periodically over the last few weeks that his life will only be complete if he gets this Excalibur sword that he fell in love with for Christmas. Connor really wanted a sniper rifle air soft gun and of course Matt asked for some butterfly knife. Kirk has been telling them there probably won't be weapons for Christmas this year. But who can resist AJ saying in all seriousness, 'My life won't be complete without Excalibur" hello? Adorable. The kids woke up at 7 which is actually a early Christmas morning for us, But one of my favorite things is waking up to them whispering to each other while looking for the banister! Once we went down AJ ran for any "sword shaped presents". I reminded him we do the stockings first, he grabbed his, dumped it out and ran back to a sword shaped present. Which wasn't a sword. He and Connor both got this long gripping gizmo that they love to play with at target, silly but cheap and they loved it. He did like it but ran to find another sword shaped present, which was of course Excalibur. He held it and stroked it and held it up saying I have the power, not like Ken and He-Man but with all due reverence. He then sat on the couch completely content with his sword. We got a real smile out of Matt when he got his stereo system for his room and a laser light how that attaches to it and plays lights with his music. When I pointed out a huge present with AJ's name on it he hugged it before opening it, and once he pulled back the paper and saw what was in the box he was completely speechless and didn't move for maybe 30seconds which is a full hour in Aj time! It was the drums that he has asked for I think for over 2 years. We kept telling him how expensive they are. But my goal with my first check was to buy AJ drums and I did, it felt very good. they are perhaps a little big for him, but I have a drum teacher lined up and we'll ask if it's ok. When Connor first saw AJ's sword he said, AJ gets a weapon? Needless to say he was beyond thrilled when he got is sniper rifle. It can shoot a mailbox flag all the way down the street, and he has promised to not prove it again :) Elle got a desk with a hutch to replace the small desk she has been using for the last 5 years, it's the little one Dad made me when I was her age. All in all it was a crazy but amazing Christmas morning. Everyone was happy and they are still playing with everything. I helped Elle put up her wall stickers this afternoon, she wore her new silver locket with Kirk and my pictures inside and the shawl Grandma Judy made her to church, Kirk is helping Matt and Connor built something like a radio bug, and AJ is carving AJ was here in Christmas boxes. Last night AJ had a long box and every arm and leg and was walking around the tv room, finally one creaked and snapped and he fell as I was taking a picture, I admit I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants. Not something I should admit, but somehow it made it all the funnier and the kids commented that I was cracking as I laughed hysterically at it all. Needless to say it felt good! Matt loves his stereo surround sound, new itouch etc, Connor loves all his stuff including the spy camera now mounted outside his door. Kirk got some parts to finish up his AR-15 and I will be going to costco this week to get my garmin sport watch that is on sale and hopefully still there!

One of my new favorite things!

Apple Dumplings

2 Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescant rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescant roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

I'm not the Griswalds either!

Ok here are our totally weak lights! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA but at least I tried!

Christmas Eve

Well we had the annual Christmas Eve party here at our house. We had our favorite pizza, pasta salad with lots of veggies to make up for the pizza and my favorite punch! I also made the pretzel rollos and blonde brownies especially for Connor and Ryan! Grandma Susan recited her favorite Christmas story of Pedro. The kids acted out the Nativity story and then the opening of Christmas pj's!! It was lots of fun and I can't wait for bed! Which will be awhile I guess since I have lots of wrapping to do and the kids just started the Elf movie!

Gingerbread houses!

Elle made team!

well Elle was pulled aside in gymnastics today and auditioned for the girls gymnastics team and she made it! They can't believe how fast she is learning and of course how naturally talented she is :) This is a good thing in many ways. One, she sometimes got a little bored in pre-team because they don't do the fun exciting stuff, it's pretty basic and Elle was a little more advanced to begin with. Of course this means, more expenses, different practice times which could have me at the gym for 3 hours 3 days a week between AJ and Elle, but she is thrilled and of course we are honored! The girls coach is of course Russian and totally amazing! So we'll try it out and see! (of course the girls team leotards are gorgeous)

Did that door close or slam?

Well after lots of serious thought and discussion I resigned from my job today. I really loved working with the pianos and I had the opportunity to meet some cool people and amazing musicians. I would have really liked to have continued working there but there were factors that made it impossible. I would have really liked that all expense trip to New York to tour the Steinway factory! I told Kirk someday he is going to have to buy me a Steinway with a player system!! I'm going to miss playing on them and watching them be played and appreciated by other music lovers. Guess I'll look for the next adventure.

Teenage angst

Today was a frustrating teenage day. Don't know why sometimes they just wake up crabby and make life difficult for everyone. I guess I understand, after all I can't explain PMS but I know it's real. So Matt was threatening to leave home because his life is soooo terrible here, and I said ok but you can't leave with anything we've bought for you. Off came all his clothes but his boxers. I reminded him as he reached the front door that I bought those as well. He stood there for what seemed like a long time watching the snow fall, and finally decided being sent to his room wasn't as bad as leaving naked in the snow. It took a lot of restraint to not take a picture of him standing there in his underwear because one, it was a tense moment and two it really was a tough moment for him and I would always feel that looking at the picture. But the picture in my head I am able to giggle at. But I won't tell him thats why I am randomly giggling.

AJ's gymnastics meet

My little stud!!

Leftovers

This morning I was cleaning out my fridge which was packed top to bottom with leftovers. And strangely enough it didn't gross me out, it actually made me hungry! Now I'm craving au gratin potatoes and beef stroganoff! lol

AJ's first gym meet

So this weekend was AJ's first gymnastics meet. He's only been on the team since August so we knew it would be a learning experience. We also keep in mind that he is doing this for fun, we aren't trying to raise the next gold medalist, although I would never stand in front of his dreams lol. He was such a riot to watch, he salute to the judge was sometimes more of a wave and while waiting for his turn instead of standing at attention he was usually dancing or bopping to the music. He rocked on the floor routine which is his biggest strength since most boys at his level can't do back flips. But he adjusted his hands on a push up once and that knocked him down to 4th. His strongest score today was a 1st place on the vault. Which is funny and we all kinda make fun of it, because you run down and jump on a spring board and land on some matts. Period, thats it. The key is height, keeping the legs together and sticking the landing. It's not a hugely hard thing, but apparently AJ was the best at it today! The funniest part of the day was we were waiting in the stand for almost 2 hours while the teams warmed up, all of our backsides were getting sore. SO Kirk gave Connor 2 dollars and told him to go buy 2 raffle tickets for something called the best seats in the house. Right before the meet started they read off the winning numbers, and with each number Kirk and Connor are cheering. When the final number is called Kirk jumps to his feet and yells Yah Eat it we won!! He was so excited he couldn't contain himself. I turned so red I could actually feel it, which hasn't happened to me very often. But we got to sit on a pleather futon right up front and got 2 free drinks, popcorn and candy. It was actually a lot of fun. My friend Jackie that I carpool with came over and sat with us or stood by us and took pictures, so that was cool as well. After the meet to waste time before the awards they had all the gymnasts have a handstand contest in their age groups. Of course AJ totally rocked it and won a duffle bag. His team mate Josh who is 6 and amazing won for his category but he is so short they didn't see he was still on his handstand and gave the bag to someone else. Luckily Kirk was filming the whole thing and we took it to the judges after and Josh got his bag :)

Priceless

AJ's new jacket

AJ got his clothes for his gymnastics competition this weekend.

Monday Blues

I am exhausted today. It was a long holiday week, which I worked everyday but one. At times it was fun, I was the only one there and I went around and played on every piano! Other times it was either boring or discouraging. Then yesterday I was released from my YW calling. I think I handled it great until I got to church and saw Britt who is the President and one of my best friends and all of sudden I just couldn't pull myself together and cried the rest of church. I know it's going to be a good thing, I am so busy and it was hard to give my calling a 100%. Now I am the Primary teacher for the 10 yr old girls. Today it's gloomy and rainy and I feel like I went through a breakup and the other party already has a replacement. Pity party in bed is what I want to do, but the house is a class A disaster, dishes, laundry and Christmas stuff spread from one end to the other. But I have wassail simmering for my cold, a sudafed digesting alongside with a excedrin for my headache and Elle's ipod blasting and I'm getting started on the kitchen. Is there anyone out there who wants to come sit on the one clean corner of my couch and talk to me while I clean? Lonely on a post breakup-bad weather-sick-monday isn't so fun! (and Celeste wouldn't even go to lunch with me!)

need i say more?

Nothing like ending a tough day at work then going to a gun range and kickin Butt with the AR 15.... that's what it is right? The gun store guys were a bit speechless when I walked in, my red requins and heels and asked for ear covers to go back on the range. I had to ask 3 times ;)

New driver!

Well it's happened, Matt has a driver permit. I took him this morning and sat there so nervous for him I couldn't even read my nook that I brought along. He ended up missing 5 questions which is of course the max you can miss. He was just excited he got the sign section 100%. He was shocked and appalled that I wouldn't let him jump right into the drivers seat to drive home, on the freeway that very minute. I took him to get a gyro, our favorite lunch and he complained and joked and tried everything he could to get to drive. Finally about 1/2 way to his school on the back roads, he was actually quiet. Which allowed me to think, so I let him drive the last 3 miles to school, down giant hills, through misty Seattle drizzle, through a left turn at a light onto a 4 lane divided hwy for 200 feet and into a parking spot at school. The whole time, he was smiling and yelling intermittently how great it was. I was not yelling, but saying loudly to watch his speed, stay on the road, don't worry about the rude people tailing him since he was going the speed limit and they didn't want to. It was a harrowing experience, but his smile was worth it. A 15 year old kid needs some triumph in his life, right?

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts....

I bought a totally cute, very new looking Ann Taylor sweater and pants at goodwill for 7 dollars. Does that weird anyone out? It was a great deal. And you can't tell they are preowned, whats to argue with?

Our athletic boys!

Connor had a boat race on the Chattahoochee very early on this frigid morning, it was gorgeous with the steam rising off the river and the sun coming over the trees. He sits right behind the worst rower so the poor guy got soaked, but he is a good sport! We all laughed when the boat hit a goose, silly thing just wouldn't bother to get out of the way. Then Matt had his very first wrestling tournament! He weighed in at 119 and 8% body fat. But right on the line for hydration, clearly that kid needs to drink more! Anyway he was paired up someone very very good and so he lost, but he put up a good fight and learned some stuff! I worked today so I didn't see the match, and I'm not sure I want to. I could barely watch my brothers wrestle, how am I supposed to watch my baby boy do it? wrestling is just so mean!! Now we have 3 weeks until AJ's first gymnastics tournament!

My day off

So my day off goes like this.
6:00am wake up AJ and Elle
6:50 miss the bus and drive them to school
7:05 rewake up Kirk, wake up Matt, and Connor
8 go to AJ's Veterans day program.
9:30 Matt dermatologist
10:30 stop in mall for new shirt for MAtt
drive 1/2 way to dmv, 20 minutes, to realize Matt forgot a important piece of paper. drive home and drive again to Dmv
12:30 get to DMV to realize I am a moron, it's closed on veterans day.
Drive home so Matt can get him back pack and then drive him back to school by about 1:30.
drop my business card off at a music store to ask for referrals
get groceries and YW activity stuff for tonight.
2:30 get kids off the bus, snack and homework
3:30 make dinner
4:30 meet at target to get 2 extra boys for carpool to gymnastics
5 gymnastics start, 25 minutes away
6:30 leave gymnastics early to get to yw where I am teaching something, as soon as i come up with it.
8:30 yw end
9:00 i should be home to finish kids homework and finish cleaning dinner.
Gosh I'm so happy I had a day off :)

Send ME Love

Stayed up way too late reading the "Five Love Languages of Teenagers" could use all the help out there!

Happy Birthday baby!!

Happy 15th birthday to my oldest baby!! Just can't quite believe he is this old and getting older everyday! We spent his birthday weekend in Calloway with Kirks annual firm trip. He was sung to by everyone in attendance which was about 150 saturday night as he was sitting next to a partners daughter who has thought he was cute for years! they walked into the room together and sat together, it was adorable. And scary. I know there was more I wanted to say, but I'm little mushy brained this evening. I mostly wanted to show the baby picture compared to the birthday picture!! He sat on my lap so of course I took a picture to memorialize it!

Books

So to save money I try really hard to use the public library. However it doesn't always save money. For instance I had to pay 12$ in late fines last week, I could have bought several used paperbacks for that. And I have been waiting on a list since 3/15/10 for my turn to check out a new release and I am finally number 1 which means sometime in the next 2 weeks I'm going to get the book. Unless this person keeps it longer and owes 12$ in fines.
Matt in a grumpy mood giving my ultimatums isn't my favorite morning.

Thankful tree

This is the coolest idea ever and I am totally making a thankful tree of my own this week! I don't know where I have a empty wall but I am making one!!! I love this site she always has the most creative ideas!!

My first business card!

Ok I've sent this to fb and blogger who else can I show?? I'm so excited! ;)

Sad endings

Well I had to tell my piano students I couldn't teach anymore right now. I kept telling myself it was the right thing to do and I knew it, but I really didn't want to. Some of them have been with me for 2 years and I really love teaching and watching them grow. Everyone was really nice and asked to talk to me after Christmas to see if my schedule changes. I just really have no time. So is the pressure in chest just sad or too relieved to take a breath?

We love you Spike!

Our beloved pet Spike passed away last week. It was a disgusting smelly death and I will never stop being grateful that it was Kirk who discovered it and not me. Although I may have smelled something earlier, I was in a hurry and didn't look for the cause. Spike will forever be remembered as the lizard Kirk smuggled onto a plane bound for Georgia. He was a great pet and Connor loved him very much. We've known for awhile now his time would be short simply because he was so old and he couldn't climb onto his favorite perch anymore. we are very grateful that Connor has 2 birds he loves dearly to comfort him in this time of loss.

My Monday randomness

well one of our pumpkins completely rotted and slowly sank down on itself so when someone touched it last night it basically exploded rotten pumpkin guts everywhere. We never got around to carving which the kids were kinda bummed about. I got my first sleep in the morning in 2 weeks, well it was kind a sleep in. I had to get up and help Kirk find his keys and tie but then I got to go back to bed. I'd still be sleeping since the kids don't have school and they are still sleeping but Matt had wrestling practice at 9. And Matthew in a good mood is a beautiful thing! I'm reading the 5 love languages of teenagers and loving it.
thats all, thank you.

Seminary breakfast

So I'm feeding the seminary kids today. It is a class of 45 students.I was going to make moms cinnamon rolls but I spent 6 hours at church last night with Young Women in Excellence. So seminary gets honey nut cherrios, bannanas, pillsbury cinn rolls, oj and hot chocolate. I was a little stressed out but now I realize it was silly, they are teenagers... they love all food at 6:50am! I bought 45 bannanas nbut it looks like 4 were eaten. Good thing I like to freeze them for my protein shakes!!

look this is my fellow bloggers halloween page and there I am!! HAHAHAHA so cute!

My pretty shoes that aren't the most comfortable about halfway through the day

Shoes and happy endings

So i spend a large amount of my time at work on my feet walking through the store. I love all my shoes, but they don't all love me after a couple of hours. So I went to Macys with my very first check to buy some comfortable and yet still cute black shoes. They had them in 1/2 to big and 1/2 too small so i ordered these shoes. After asking 3 or 4 random strangers what they thought of course. I was so excited when they came in yesterday and this morning I was so bummed to be going to work on this beautiful Saturday but I was excited to wear my shoes. So i took them out of the box and put them on and was immediately disappointed, not only were they not comfortable, they were awfully uncomfortable!! I tried walking around and was so bummed, took them off and then noticed I left the cardboard still in them. Once the card board was gone they were fabulous just like I hoped they would be! And they are shiny black like a beautiful piano!

My new adventure

So we have decided to try a new adventure. I am working. We have been feeling very strongly that we need to be out of debt and yet seem to be sinking in it rather than rising. We read the Dave Ramsey book about money and I'm been cutting coupons and trying to not forget them every time I go to the store, which is harder than it sounds. But we just couldn't get ahead of all the kids needs and bills etc. So I began sending out my resume, I sent a lot of them. I was on craigs list a lot since they have job postings. Finally about 2 weeks ago I sudden;y got 2 offers to work part time at preschools. But then I saw a craigs list posting for piano sales at Steinway gallery. So i applied and t make a long story short I talked them into hiring me and they talked me into taking on more hours than I originally was looking for. It has been a lot of work and a lot of fun. I got to sit at a desk and listen to the Five Browns practice for 3 days, I got to laugh and joke with them, I also got my picture with them! I got to meet Franz Mohr this week who had the most wonderful stories about the world famous pianists that he traveled the world with. He is one of the most pure souls I've ever gotten to spend time with. And the crowning glory? This weekend I sold my first piano! A very expensive very wonderful piano! AND I was the top seller of the sale :) out of 7 very experienced salesMEN. It was a wonderful addictive feeling! Now I can breathe a little better and see the hard work paying off and I am grateful. I am most grateful for Kirk and I my kids who really stepped up to the plate this week, got their homework done, did the dinner dishes and got a long! It was a beautiful thing! Kirk gave me a wonderful blessing on Friday and I took notes and will find peace and comfort in during the months to come!

My attempt at pumpkin cake pops

I know better than to assume that I can make something that looks like it does in a catalog! I mean really! And yet when I went off to YW last night armed with this recipe I expected slightly prettier results. And the girls ate so many of the cake balls before we stuck them in the freezer that several felt too sick to even put on the orange candy coating! Note to self, Kristen's recipe was better, 15 minutes in the freezer is NOT enough time! they kept sliding off the sticK Plus the churches freezer is pretty week.
*On a very important side note, they tasted fantastic!*

So Mom and I saw a book of things to do on 'ondays. 8t was actually a great book and I wish we had had more time to read it, but it was in the office of the elementary school. Anyway we got to thinking, I could clean a drawer in my house every Monday for a year and if they stayed done, don't laugh, then it'd be great! So here is drawer #1, a easy one since I forgot my goal until late Monday night. I'll post before and after pictures as I get to the bad ones!

AJ's flipping talent!

Here is our bouncy boy! He is the one in green, if you watch from the end he does a cute impromptu dismount :) His couch is the one in white who gets up and shows him something.

Yeah our 1/2 Marathon!!

Ok so Mom and I ran our 2nd half marathon this year in Nashville Tennessee! It was so awesome! We had about 13 women from my ward run with us along with some friends and neighbors so it was a big fun group! Nashville is a riot! Jodee Messina sang the National Anthem before we ran and it was so amazing we all had goosebumps! Mom and I ran with a pacesetter set for 2:15, we loved it and would do it again! He ran alto of 10 and 9 minute miles, about mile 11 we needed to walk for a bit. At mile 12.4, I kid you not was straight up the steepest bridge in Nashville! Everyone started walking once they saw it but I had this urge to just run and finish! Mom told me to just go and I said no we have pact to stick together but she reminded me it was only .7 to the finish so she was ok so I started sprinting, I ran as fast as I could to the finish line, up the hill around 3 or blocks! About 30 feet from the finish line my legs turned to rubber and I almost fell, I thought of all the pictures I've seen of runners falling at the end and cringed but somehow managed to stay on my feet. I crossed the line at 2:15:02 and turned right around to get Mom but before I got even a block there she was running across the line at just over 2:17! we loved it and are already looking for our next race! We have decided that the year she turns 60 and I'm 40, about 3 years we are going to run the Princess 1/2 marathon in Disney World, so all you Moms and Sisters out there come and join us! It's going to involved running in tiaras and sparkle skirts, possibly some fairy wings!!

Lack of time and cute ideas

Ok so I am guilty of not having the time to write all the wonderful things that have happened in our family in the last few weeks, and I promise to take the time to write them... however since I only have a minute I wanted to show this totally cute idea I saw! It's towel holders!! How clever are some people? I did the kids initial on a wood letter with a heavy hook attached, but I thought this was adorable!

Bangs!

Matt wisdom

I was trying to tell Matt how to do well in high school, don't laugh, and he says "Mom you don't understand, you went to high school like 15 years ago it's harder now" Brahahahahahahahaha 15 years? Do i look that young or does that seem that long ago to him? I explained I went to college, I should understand how hard his hs homework is and isn't no matter how much it's changed. I don't think I helped him.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Elle got a box of "My Pet shop " bobble heads that she collects, a book with beads on how to make jewelry and a magnetic white board that I found at Costco at the last minute. Elle loves to draw, and write, and draw and write everywhere and then tape pictures all over her walls. So while walking the aisles at Costco I saw the bulletin board or the white board and knew this was the right avenue. Of course once I had it wrapped and she was home and salivating over the large present in back I started to doubt myself. It was worry over nothing, it was her favorite gift!! She draws over and over, she writes the date and what she plans for the next day, it's adorable! Here she is posing with her leotard waiting to go to gymnastics by drawing some more! At bedtime she prayed a thank you for all her gifts and that Mom got the one she forgot to ask for! So sweet! Can you believe she has celebrated all 8 of her birthdays in this house??

Birthday season is upon us!!

So it's birthday season again! Yesterday the Sunday dinner was at my house. I made the best beef stroganoff ever if I do say so myself. Kirk and I really wanted home cooked food after spending a few days at the beach. Susan and Bill brought a cake for Connor and Elle's b-day so we could all sing to them. It was a ice cream cake, that they stored in the fridge. So it was very fun and squishy to cut and eat... Today I've made cupcakes and we have the family presents for my beautiful baby girl to open! After Dad and the kids take the soft shelled turtle they brought home from the lake, back to the lake... then cake and presents!!

AJ done with Cub Scouts!!

AJ earned his Webelos badge and his Arrow of Light a week or so ago. This marks the end of cub scouts for me! It has been a long hard run, and we will continue our hard work in boy scouts now! Kirk made the plaque for him, since Matt's original leader made him one, Kirk has continued to make them for our boys. It's been a fun thing for them to put on the wall. If you notice that the arrow is pointed the wrong way, it was a well meaning, helpful Grandparent who didn't know when he glued it on :)

My tall men in uniform!

Here is our latest Court of Honor, Connor earned I think it was 9 merit badges, so his sash will be significantly fuller the next time you see it! I was very proud of my boys. We did our official measuring in our bathroom closet and Connor is now taller than me by a whole inch and Matt is taller than Kirk by 1/2 an inch! The troop had the opportunity of retiring a giant flag. It was the size that car dealerships fly over the car lots. It took our whole troop to hold it and cut it into manageable pieces to burn in the fire. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk about the flag and what it stands for.

Getting babysitters, difficult. Deciding if I can leave kids, very difficult. Watching kirk fish while reading on the beach? Priceless

I love my kids, I love my washing machine and dryer, my yard, my friends, my fridge, my stove, my computer, our pets...my kids... and I will love them even more on Saturday afternoon. :)

Beautiful labor day on the hoche

Ode to medicine

I tried coming up with a clever poem about the marvelousness of modern medicine, but alas couldn't! After having Elle lay in bed with a raging fever for a day and a half, put her on amoxicillan and the next day she is running around normal, that is a wonderful beautiful thing! Both Matt and Elle have strep throat and I'm holding my breath that no one else gets it. Especially me, since Elle spent 2 sick nights curled up against me breathing on me! Its hard to complain when I know she is going to be 15 someday, I'm hugging everyone a lot more lately, knowing that for awhile they will stop. I'm of course also grateful for epidurals and excedrin.

Family Picture

Here is our latest family picture. I debating making it the picture at the top of my blog, but I just couldn't do it. Even though that photo is a few years old, it's just so cute! Is it time to put a new one up there, or keep it as a memento for when I started the blog?
I also thought of using it as our christmas card, but Matt doesn't have a shirt on and Kirk is wearing a dude rag, although he calls it something else.

My friday excitment

So Matthew texted me from school today to let me know he is a vegetarian now, and would I please make him a veggie burger for dinner. Good thing it was a text because I laughed so hard my stomach hurt like I did a 3 minute plank! I wonder which girlfriend of his is a vegan and how long this one will last.
Elle stayed home with a high fever and some throwing up. Weird she was totally fine all afternoon and then came home from gymnastics sick. Kinda like when she used to go to the neighbors house to play she always came home and got a fever, what could do that? Yesterday was her first day going with a friend who wants to carpool to gym, does this mean something in their car makes her sick? weird

Ever have one of those days where you trip in the garage while carrying bags of groceries, twist your ankle, bang your bad knee, break 2 jars of spaghetti sauce and a jar of jalapenos since the grocery store didn't have cans of them? Yah me too.

Our super busy awesomely wonderful Saturday

We had the best time on Saturday. we knew we needed some happy family time for our teenagers who think everything is out to get them right now. I went and ran my 10 miles with girlfriends, which is the best way to start any day! Then ran home fed the family a quick breakfast threw sandwich's together and got the kids in the car to drive to Tallulah Falls in norther Georgia. There is even a sign welcoming you to north Georgia, which was funny. This place is so amazing. I've been making fun of Georgia waterfalls and this put me in my place. You can only hike to the falls if you get a permit and they only give 100 out day, and only if the weather is good. Which we scoffed at until we hiked it. It's a 3 miles hike round trip over boulders and trees and through rivers with no bridge, up and down 1062 steep stairs!! It is a crazy workout but some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. As you can see from the videos below you hike to this natural rock water slide, you slide down and land in this beautiful basin of water. The hardest part if the slick rock face that you have to climb back up, but it's worth it. One time Elle was still nervous so I had her on my lap which weighted me down funny so I hit a rock and I have the most awesomely horrible looking bruise of red and black. I'd love to show it to you, but since I was sitting you can guess where it is. A shame really, it's great! After that we raced home changed our clothes and ran to the Braves game downtown. We missed the beginning because of a car accident but the kids still had a great time. we took the kids down in the 9th and they stand in line and get a turn running the bases down on the field! It was really cool to be on the field. They won't let you touch the grass, but they give the kids a tee shirt and certificate saying they ran the bases. Elle has worn hers for 3 days, I finally had to pry it off her. We got some great video and pictures of it, I'll post later when I have more time!!
And the best part? Not a single whine or complaint from the teenagers, ahhh success

Batteries not included

Nothing like having my battery die at seminary. I guess I left it on enough to see the time, but I didn't even think about it. Luckily there was a dad there waiting to drive the kids, but I had to go into the seminary and ask the kids if they had cables and then go back in and ask a girl to move her car... sigh. Then I almost ran out of gas so I went over to the gas station and I had the thought "maybe you should do your other errand first so you don't turn the car off", which I ignored. Got my gas and the car was dead. Went around asking everyone for cables, talking to strangers in the morning with no makeup or bra on is my favorite thing of course. The next jump took 4 tries and finally worked. Ran home got Connor ready for school, with the car running, took him to school, stopped at the auto place where they tested my battery and what do you know?? It failed. So I now have wonderful new battery, less money again and I'm having trouble pulling it together to run. MAYYYYBEEEE later......

tallulah gorge

Elle went and had her picture taken in her baptism dress. It looks like a wedding dress, she choose it.

update

I have written very witty and timely blogs in my head the last few days while I didn't have a computer, but now that I have one I can't remember one of them. Today was one of those days. I ran at 5 so I could get home and get everyone going but it is nonstop until about 10:30 tonight, I will admit I had a coke. But the first in a week or so, which isn't bad. I think aliens have taken over my first born, he doesn't seem to be anything like my son anymore. I am hopeful this will chance, I am told it does. It could be as short as a month or 2 or until he is 19-26. Or even 34. I have apologized over and over to my parents for my own teenage years, but it seems the curse of having a child just like me can't be removed once it has been uttered. Please I beg all of you, don't do this to your children, it's harmful to their mental health.

Oh where, oh where has my time all gone??

So I haven't been able to blog a lot lately. I had a witty post I wrote in my head about how sad my life can seem when I find myself reading the consumer guide to what kind of dishwasher soap works best (Finish quantum tablets followed by Finish powerball tabs). But then I never got around to it. We are 2 1/2 weeks into school and life is chaos. We took a few lovely years off doing sports except for tumbling here and there. Now AJ was accepted onto a boys gymnastics team that practices 3 days a week and so Elle is taking a preteam gymnastics class that meets during the same time 2 of those days. Somehow I need to find a time when Matt can still do guitar lessons and then I need to figure out how I can get Connor to the rowing classes he wants to take, which of course meets some of the same days AJ goes and 20 miles in the opposite direction, impossible you ask? Yes, yes it is. Has life come down to whose dream is more important? It feels like that sometimes, so I'm looking for options. I really need a Alice, someone who cooks, cleans, drives and always seems in a cheery mood. Anyone, anyone?? Bueller, Bueller?

Morning of the 4th day of school

So this is day 4 back to school! It was so cute the first day I went to wake her up and she jumped out of bed and was like wow I'm like so wide awake now, clearly bleary eyed. The 2nd day a smaller bounce out of bed, today I had to pull her. Still very cute, she just needs 5 or 20 minutes to wake up and shes ready! Matt is so-so on seminary, he has been sitting by a friend who doesn't want to be there and it is wearing off on Matt a little, not sure what to do. Meanwhile since my kids started school and seminary and my running friends school has not started, so they are running in the am with out me :( I ran today by myself and I have never been so unmotivated. I feel like I'm suffering from a break-up. Clearly I am a needy person with issues.

Connor asked Elle if she was swimming or drowning... a rather good question...