hale

McKay:  "Elle, Hale is a place where bad guys go and there's only graves there.  So there will be cheetahs there and all animals that are bad.  Every bad person who is bad goes to hale."

Elle:  "Okay, I don’t want to die."

McKay:  "I don’t want to go to hale, I want to go to heaven."

Elle:  "McKay please don’t go to really dark places.  I don’t want you to die."



Just a typical conversation in the car between these two.

Hale sounds pretty scary. . .I definitely want to avoid those cheetahs.

thoughts on a sunday

Three babies in a crib.  Carson, Layla, Gemma.

• I'm here, on a Sunday!  Still trying to keep this up, even though I am quite irregular.

• Summer is almost over and yet I still feel like I'm waiting for it to start.  We have not really slowed down much since we moved in, and I just don't think we will.  By the time the next couple reunions are over, it will be time to start preparing for school to start, so basically this summer has been a wash, as far as summeriness goes.  I know that's not a word.  We've had fun and been busy with good things, but haven't had many of those lazy, outside, summer days.

• Our little Ellie girl is as sweet as can be, but she can turn on you in an instant.  One day Brian sent her to her room for one reason on another and she came unglued- got very upset- and then changed all the words to the little song "My Dad's the Greatest Dad" to reflect how she felt about him at that moment, which was not at all great.  It was quite funny, although she intended for it to cut him deeply.

I rarely brush her hair in the summer, and that is Sparkles, who I don't have the energy to tell you about right now.  She's a guinea pig and here she is wearing one of Barbie's crowns.

• Oh, I remember now why she was in her room.  We were all going down to the church parking lot to ride bikes (we live on a hill) and me and Mack rode ahead on our bikes while Brian pushed Layla on her bike and Elle tried to maneuver down the hill on Starburst (her bike).  Something happened on their way down that made Brian send her to her room and made her turn on the greatest dad.  This is a big long story, but I wanted to share it because I was a little bit happy at how it turned out.  McKay  and I rode our bikes all around the church and our neighborhood and had races and looked at different dogs that we passed.  It reminded me of how important alone time is with each child.  It's hard to make time for that, but I notice how good it feels every time I have alone time with one of them.  They need me and/or Brian all to themselves sometimes, without trying to compete for our attention.  I need to be better at making that happen more often.  It was a sweet little evening with just me and my boy.

• This week was Pioneer Day.  Brian and I got to speak on Sunday about the pioneers.  I am happy that it's over and now we don't have to worry about when we get that phone call, or in this case, that handshake at church.  I don't get nervous like I used to about speaking, but I do hate how preparing for a talk kind of takes over your life for a little while.  

• On Pioneer Day our neighborhood has an annual BBQ/party.  I did not want to go, and surprisingly, Brian had to convince me.  I am so glad we went.  First of all, it was right across the street so it would have been really weird if every house on our street gathered just outside except for the rude new people.  Second, it was really fun.  We got to meet some neighbors that we hadn't met yet, which was really nice.  Our kids had SO much fun making then shooting off rockets, running around with their friends (and making new ones- go Ellery!) and participating in the bike parade.  I am feeling better about our ward and neighborhood and I just know that it will take time. . .and maybe a calling or two :)

• At this little gathering the old owners of our house were there.  That's always just kind of an awkward relationship, I think.  This was actually really good though, because we got to talk to them for a long time and get to know them on more of a friend level instead of a "we live in your house" level.  They are nice people and I'm glad that awkwardness is lessened.

• We had the Whitney family reunion this week.  We camped at Thunder Mountain for a couple days and the kids had an absolute blast.  I honestly feel like I hardly did anything with them because they were so busy with cousins and new friends and their fort.  We all had a good time.

• I have been forgetting my camera all the time lately.  I forgot it when we went camping and so I just had one day of my phone to capture pics.  Layla loved our little house (tent).  

• Today was a good day at church.  The youth in our stake just got back from the pioneer trek.  Today everyone who went wore their pioneer clothes and sat on the stand.  The whole meeting was devoted to hearing their testimonies of trek and the pioneers.  Aside from wrangling our three monkeys, it was a good meeting with a very sweet spirit.  Young people are so impressive sometimes.

• I was also grateful to also feel the Spirit during the last hour of church.  I don't always prepare for church the way I should and sometimes feel so undeserving of any enlightenment or impressions that come when I haven't done my part.  Today was one of those days, but like I said, I'm grateful for them. 

• Layla often puts "ie" on the ends of words.  Drinkie is probably the most regularly used one.  This week I had a bag of crackers and I asked her if she wanted one.  She looked at me and then at the crackers and said, "I want crackie, mommy."  Crackie.  It's a new one and I'm loving it.

• My parents and Nonnie and my one cousin Amanda came over for dinner tonight.  It was fun visiting and the kids sat and read with Nonnie for hours.  I didn't think Nonnie would ever see my house, but I'm so glad she came tonight.  

• Brian is now married to the Olympics.  That is what he will be living and breathing for the next two weeks.  I miss him already.  I have never been a huge Olympic fan.  I don't know why.  I don't not like them, I just don't go crazy about them.  Maybe this year I'll try to get more into it and we can be married to each other, but watching the Olympics.  

Happy Sunday!

thoughts on a sunday (or thursday)

• I've been writing little things down on sticky notes for the last few weeks.  So this is kind of a catch up of all the things I've been meaning to blog about for my thoughts on a sunday.  

• A couple weeks ago the house was buzzing with. . .snails.  It was all about snails around here.  I was weeding early one morning and instead of helping me, the kids busied themselves with snail hunting.  They caught about 25- all in one tiny container- and they were as proud and enthralled as I've ever seen them.  Much to my disgust, they were both quite affectionate with these snails.  Kissing, stroking, smelling.

• McKay wasn't too attached to these snails though, because one day he and his friend Dawson decided to have a lemonade and snail stand.  Snails went for twenty-five cents.  Lemonade for the same.  I think they sold three cups of lemonade, and Ellery bought a snail.  

• I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you about Snaily.  Or Shelley.  Snaily is his name, Shelley is his nickname- the two are interchangeable.  Anyway, Snaily was an empty snail shell. Ellery found it one day and it quickly became her. . .um, pet?  Constant companion?  I don't know exactly what he was to her, but I do know that he was perched on her thumb at all times.  She would make him little beds at night, and then the next morning he would resume his perch on her thumb.  I must admit that I got very tired of seeing Snaily in that position.  Sometimes I would forget he was there, but then I would be quickly reminded when we were out in public, or when Ellery was talking to someone who didn't know about Snaily, and just thought my daughter went around with a snail on her finger.  I guess my daughter did just go around with a snail on her finger.  At any rate, Snaily is lost and forgotten at this point.  But he and Elle had a serious relationship for about two weeks.  I don't miss him.

I can't believe this is the best picture I have of Shelley.  But there he is, stuck on that thumb.

• The other day we were passing the Timpanogos temple.  McKay sat straight up and said with a hint of alarm in his voice, "Elle!  Sit up and put your hand on your heart.  We're passing the temple where mom and dad got married!"  Then they both sat stick straight, hands over hearts, while we drove past, relaxing only after we had passed the parking lot.  It was serious stuff.

• We had some birthdays a couple weeks ago.  Thirty-one.  Our birthdays were pretty low-key this year.  On my birthday, Brian sent me a sweet text every hour telling me what he loves about me. It was the highlight of my birthday.  I love when he does romantic things like that.

• McKay has a new phrase that he's using quite often.  "That's odd."

• Ellery is still not super keen on playing with friends.  Did I just say keen?  She is still quite a homebody and says she doesn't want to miss anything at home.  We've been praying about it with her and we set goals to play with someone every so often, but whenever we've tried, the girls in the neighborhood haven't been home.  She is content just to play or follow me around the house and has declared Layla her best friend.  It is sweet that they are starting to play more, and they sure love each other.

• My favorite thing is hearing Layla call her sister Ellie Jane.  She calls her that, or Elle most of the time, but when she says Ellery, that's pretty cute too.  

• Another thing Layla says "Shhh, quiet," when she doesn't want to hear what you're saying.  

• She is proving to be quite an independent little thing.  We just barely got Ellery to start buckling herself in the car, and here is my not even two year old who loves buckles and tries often to buckle herself in her carseat.  Could not  be more different from her sister in this way.  If it was up to Ellery, I would be buckling her and wiping her bum until she was eleven.

• Layla thinks that any sort of a dessert with frosting is called "happy birthday".  She also thinks anything with a flame is happy birthday too.  

• We get the big bags of pirate booty sometimes and this last time we had it Layla really enjoyed it.  She would continually ask for more "shake your booty," as she called it.

• Here are some actual thoughts that I've been having lately.  It has been hard for me to find my groove in this new home.  Cleaning it takes me FOREVER.  Like if I cleaned the whole thing, it would probably take me seven hours.  I am used to cleaning my whole house in less than two.  What is wrong with me?  I cannot understand why it takes me so long.  Maybe because there's kids to feed and clean up after and entertain in between cleaning, but seriously, I've got to find a better way.  

• Aside from cleaning, I've been in a weird place anyway.  There is a lot to do to get our house how we want it.  A lot to buy.  A lot to plan for.  Then on top of that, it's summer and the kids need my attention more often.  I am finding it hard to find a balance of doing house things and being a fun, attentive mom, and I'm afraid I'm not doing very good at either.  I have decided to relax a little on the house stuff and just enjoy summer.  I can wait until Fall to get things done.

• Ellery told me that instead of being a missionary she would like to be a visiting teacher.

• McKay  was lamenting that he did not have a brother the other night at dinner.  He asked us if we could have another baby so he could have a brother and we said, "Probably not".  Then he said, "If there was one that I liked for sale could we just get him?"  We told him adoption didn't work that way.

Happy Sunday!

pictures on a sunday (phone dump)

I wanted to make skirts for my girls to wear on the 4th of July.  So I did.  I am not a seamstress at all, so I am proud of these little circle skirts.  Maybe I can do more of this sewing thing after all.  Thanks to Adele, Jenn and Missy- definitely needed their help/machines/support to do it! 

I turned 31!  I thought it would be hard to turn 31, but it wasn't.  Instead of a birthday cake, I requested shaved ice.  It was delicious, as always.  I loved being out a little later than usual with my family, eating my favorite treat.  The three kids played under these cool trees while Bri and I watched them let their imaginations go and it was the perfect ending to my birthday.

Brian's sister Jaynann got married two weeks ago.  As we waited outside the temple I suggested we take a picture.  We took about five and each time I asked him to just make a normal face.  He never did, so I hope he's happy with this shot.  

I swear I was still up to my neck in boxes when Brian decided to plant a garden.  Remember, he's the yard man- but I didn't know that the garden fell under his jurisdiction.  It does, apparently. . .which is fine with me. . .except I would have liked a little more thought to go into our garden.  We, and I say this in the most loving way possible (Bri), know nothing about gardening.  So for me it was a little premature.  After about a month, I'm happy to report that tomatoes have made it, some kind of melon or pumpkin is thriving and everything else, including our basil plants, have died.  The weeds are also doing quite well.  That's our garden. 

These guys decided to be triplets one night.  I had to take a picture because it was too cute to not capture.

The kids went to the dentist.  Elle is still in the no cavity club, although at this dentist it's not nearly as big of a deal to be in the club.  Layla's lower jaw is not growing as fast as her upper- it should catch up.   Mack had three little cavities between a few of his teeth, so he had to go back the next week.  I talked up laughing gas like you wouldn't believe and aside from not liking the "pinchy water" he did great.  I'm sorry McKay, for giving you my teeth.  

 And this child?  She wants to be naked ALL the time.  Wherever she is- as soon as the idea strikes- she says to me, "Naked-naked dance?" which means, "Mom,  I would like to remove my clothes get naked now."  I don't always let her, especially when we're out, but at McKay's game this week she found her own way out of her dress.  And she naked danced all over the field.    

meet the senator

Layla's hair was looking a little mullet-y to me and I thought I'd give her a little trim.  I didn't quite intend to give her an undercut (bob) but that's just what I did.  I didn't even know I had that skill set.  

Brian, a die-hard believer of long hair, was not a fan.  In fact, it earned Layla a new nickname from her daddy:  Senator, or Hillary Clinton on occasion.  

I stand by my  undercut and think she is still as cute as she ever was.  

*this post is old.  She's since had her hair professionally cut into an a-line- something her mother could never pull off.  Also, Daddy's still not a fan.

But. I think he still kind of likes her.

thoughts on a sunday

Strawberry Days Rodeo crew - bad phone picture, but it's all I've got.

• Since we live in Pleasant Grove now, we decided to abandon the Lehi Roundup and give the Strawberry Days rodeo a try.  Really, we will be out of town for the Roundup, so it wasn't that hard to abandon it.  But we went on Wednesday with Ken and Missy and their girls and we were pleasantly surprised!  It was a pretty good rodeo.  My favorite event by far?  Wild cow milking.  It was the most entertaining thing I've ever seen at a rodeo.

• We have been enjoying those Alaska grown girls this month.  I cannot believe how fast Ellery and Adele became best friends.  They are both girly-girly girls and hold hands and sing made up songs everywhere they go.  We all just adore watching them together and I'm already sad thinking that soon they'll be split up.  

• Addie and Elle might be best friends, but that doesn't overshadow the fact that Elise fits in perfectly with the boys.  She is very similar to them and they have such fun playing outside and doing lots of wrestling.  Elise is the best wrestler of the bunch.

• Brian's sister Jaynann got married on Friday.  It was a great, busy day.  Sadly, I forgot my camera all day and didn't get a single picture.  Jaynie was beautiful, of course, but what I really wanted to show you was how cute my kids looked in their wedding garbs.  I have no idea if I used the term garbs right, but it sounds good, doesn't it?  Anyway, McKay had a bow tie and suspenders, and the girls had beautiful dresses that Adele made.  All the kids looked adorable.  Wayne in suspenders and a bow tie?  I am dying just thinking about him.

• Layla was quite active during the reception.  She was running around, being loud, demanding ice cream, asking to do the naked dance as she tried to pull off her dress. . .you know, the usual.  But she really made me proud when she loudly declared over and over and over, "Shut the L" while looking out the eight story window.  We have no idea what she was meaning to say, but everyone within a ten foot radius sure knew what it sounded like.  It really made people wonder about us when she then started repeating a word that sounded a lot like another sh word. 
•  
• That girl talks so much, I am amazed by it every day.  The other day Brian asked her where I was.  She responded, "She's upstairs."  What not even two year old says that?  I think she's really smart.  

• Ellery was in heaven getting to spend her evening in a room full of roses, plus a bride too.  She definitely has a soft spot for weddings and carried my bouquet around the whole night, as well as any other flowers she could get her hands on.  You can bet that Addie was right by her side, doing the exact same thing.  

• McKay was bummed that he couldn't wear his suspenders to church, but his outfit was in the dirty clothes.  He is not above wearing things out of the dirty clothes hamper, and it's something I have to monitor on a daily basis.  He has his favorites and always asks me the status of my laundry doing.

• Our kids are super naughty at church lately.  I read somewhere that in order to get  your kids to behave in church you take them to an empty classroom, turn the lights off and sit them on a table and just sit there silently.  I give this a shot with Layla today, and it kind of, sort of worked as well as you could expect from a one year old.  Brian then tried it with Ellery (yes, we were in and out twice today) and it didn't work as well.  I feel like we are a circus.

• Speaking of naughty, today we heard some commotion from the basement.  When Brian went down to investigate he found Ellery locked in the playroom closet with the lights out and McKay against the door saying, "I won't let you out if you tell on me."  Apparently he punched her and then tried to hide the evidence in the closet.  He ate dinner in his room, and spent quite a bit of time there.  They've since made up, but wow, what are we supposed to do with these two?

• I don't want to sugar-coat my children.  I think it will be important to remember their struggles as well as all the good things.  They are naughty sometimes, and lately fighting a lot more than usual.  Brian and I feel a bit out of control and are re-evaluating our discipline tactics.  It's hard though.  Compared to a lot of families, we are quite strict with our children- we've been told this many times.  And knowing that we are pretty strict makes it harder to know what more we can do.  More follow-through.  More serious consequences.  No earning things back once they're gone.  I guess those would work.  But I wonder if there is more that we're missing- that we don't even know about.  

• What's hard about discipline is what is effective with one child can be completely in-effective with another.  I am just thinking out loud here, and probably not making a lot of sense.  What does make sense is that I have good kids.  No matter if they fight or punch or tattle, I wouldn't trade them.  They are good and I hope to be able to teach them how to get along better.  It's more a reflection on us than it is them.  We are the ones teaching them.  

• That was super boring and if I were you, I would have skipped it.

• The only thing left that I can think of is that it's this kid's birthday tomorrow/today, depending on when you read this.  

Happy Birthday Sweetie!  I love you today, even more than yesterday! (hehe)  

Enjoy your two days as an older man!

• And, Happy Birthday to Brian's twin and my favorite girl born on June 25th, Buffy.  I sure love you!  I'll call you later...

Happy Birthday to Bri and Buff and Happy Sunday too!

thoughts on a sunday

• This doesn't really look like a girl who had been vomiting all morning, does it?  But sure enough, Ellery burst into my room early Friday morning and said she was going to throw up.  And she did. . .about every 5-10 minutes for a couple hours.  Sadly, this is totally normal for her.  My friend Maurine (hi Maurine!) told me about a disease awhile back called cyclic vomiting syndrome that her little girl has, and after reading about it I am fairly certain that Ellery has it too. I really have a moronic understanding of what this is, but basically certain things can trigger an episode of vomiting, like excitement, anxiety, certain foods, etc...   I don't know what's going on with her lately, but she had an episode last week and then again this week.  Maybe the move?  Meeting new friends?  Cousins and swimming happening?  I don't know.  I am starting to feel like I should take her in and discuss this with an actual doctor, although Maurine, I would love to talk to you more about it. 

• Ellery is pretty much a pro at throwing up.  We keep a bowl under her bed and she never makes a mess of it.  After a few hours, she is totally normal and ready to eat and run around just like an energetic four year old should.  

• I am so in love with my new house, but I must admit that it has been very overwhelming for me to live here.  I don't know how to clean such a big space (part of that could be due to summer activities) and I am finding it hard to "complete" any rooms at all because there is so much that we want to do, but don't have enough funds to do it all at once.  Also, Brian has put me in charge of weeding (haven't totally agreed to that yet) and I haven't pulled a single one yet.  So yeah, I'm feeling a little small in this house.  And wondering how I am ever going to keep it clean.

• We have finished the family room though!  I know it's not healthy, but trying to find an accent chair for this room has caused me such stress and frustration.  Did you know that chairs can be- and most are- more expensive than a couch?  It's true.  I scoured stores in Orem, Salt lake and poured over the internet for hours looking for one stupid chair and the ones I liked were super pricey and the ones that were cheaper were not really what I wanted.  So it was a miracle when I found one at the RC Willey Outlet store in West Jordan.  It was still pricey, but not as much as a couch.  I love it though, and am so happy that the room is done.  We needed at least one room to be done!

 Updated our pillows and our new chair.

• I have to acknowledge my sweet sister Lisa who came over and helped me get some organizing done and things put away.  She is really talented when it comes to organizing and getting things done.  I'm glad I get to benefit from her skills.

• So far I have not been sure that we are going to love this ward.  Sometimes, when I'm new, I just assume things about a place/ward/neighborhood.  We met some really nice people at church today, and even noticed some our age-ish, so maybe my assumptions are wrong.  I hope my assumptions were wrong.

• There is a cute neighbor two houses down named Bett, who gives out candy and cuts flowers from her garden for the kids if they come over.  I love her already.

• Since we don't have cable, Brian's only program of choice is Pawn Stars.  Any non-cablers notice how that is on ALL the time.  I am sick of it.

• This week we went to the splash pad in Highland with my sisters.  Splash pads are such a great idea.  The kids love them and I love sitting in the sun on the sidelines.  We got shaved ice after, which is always a good idea in my book.

• We also went swimming with the Matthews clan on Monday.  I think Layla might love the water more than my other two- and that is a lot.  She could bob up and down in the pool for hours and hours.

• McKay's two birthday parties were successful.  One was a science party and they made all sorts of weird science-y things and the other was seeing The Lorax.  

Love this bed headed girly.

• Layla has been taking morning naps this week instead of her usual afternoon.  I don't really mind it, as it has fit into my schedule quite nicely.  

• Brian and I are alternating weeks spent in the nursery with that little one.  She is not a fan of going solo, at all.  It's pretty annoying, actually.  I hope she gets comfortable soon because the nursery leader is not a fan of just having her cry it out as long as it takes.  I can't blame her, although part of me thinks that would be the fastest way.  Oh well.

• McKay and Ellery seem to be fighting a lot more lately. I am not happy about this.  I know it's stupid, but I really thought they would be nice to each other forever.  They lasted quite a long time, I know, but those days are over.  Except I am not wanting to accept that!  I am thinking/praying/hoping for a way to teach them otherwise.  I'm sure I'm fighting an uphill battle, but I'm still going to try.

• Ellery has a boyfriend.  It all happened so fast.  She met him at one of McKay's baseball games.  He's the son of another CRNA who works with Bri, and the brother of one of McKay's teammates.  His name is Adam and he kissed her on the cheek and they spend two games a week together.  

• Brian and I had a night to ourselves on Friday while our girls had a sleepover at Grammy's and McKay played with the Allred cousins all night.  We went furniture shopping (bought our chair!) and then out to dinner and to a movie.  I don't remember the last movie I saw, probably something at Christmas time, but it was so fun to sit in an actual theatre.  

• The reason we were kidless for a night was because Brian's sister went to the temple, so we all got to be there early Saturday morning.  It was great to be a part of that experience for her, and we are so excited for Friday when she and Tyler get married!!!

McKay testing out the new toy.

• I should acknowledge Father's Day.  Brian got a ladder.  Also the kids picked him out some other great things.  We are sure grateful for such a good father in this home.  I'm not sure he was grateful for us, as it was a fairly stressful kid day, but we love him just the same.  

Happy Father's Day Sunday!

thoughts on a sunday

• My boy lost one of his front teeth this week.  It has been loose for weeks, but this week it really started wiggling.  On Wednesday morning we knew it was close- he couldn't eat with it, it looked all crooked and creepy dangling there by just a couple threads.  Then while I was running errands Brian did a little twisting and a pulling and out it came.  I got a message to make sure the tooth fairy had a dollar and now my boy has a hole in his head.

• I must admit, with his summer buzz and his new toothlessness, I am missing him a little bit, and anxious for his hair to grow back and his gap to fill back in.  I don't know if I can talk him into letting his hair grow- he wanted to buzz it SO bad- but we agreed that by August he had to have some hair.  

• Maybe it's the awkwardness that losing teeth can bring, or maybe it's just that I'm realizing that he is no longer my small boy.  He is a big, long, skinny boy who is starting to understand how to use sarcasm and who is watching Myth Busters at his friends house and who is reading all over the place.  When did my baby start doing that?  

• It's been interesting to observe my two older kids as we've moved into a new neighborhood.  McKay has been really anxious to make friends and wants to play with someone all day long.  That is really no surprise to me.  But Ellery's behavior was a little unexpected.  She hasn't really wanted to play.  She's been content to stay in the house and just play with Layla and her toys.  She had a couple of sisters over to play last week and they played for over two hours and had a great time.  I've suggested several times that we ask them to play again and she is not at all interested.  I am just giving her time to figure this all out and she's pretty easy to have around, so it's fine with me.  I know she'll get to want to play with friends eventually.  

• McKay has already been invited to a birthday party, so he is thrilled about that.

• We haven't met too many people in our neighborhood yet.  I don't want to assume that I'm not going to like this ward, because I know from experience that it's not always how you assume that it is at first, and also I know that what we make of it can make a huge difference, but I am definitely feeling new and shy and weird about being the new, shy, weird girl.  It will happen- I know we'll make friends and feel comfortable- I just know it will probably take awhile.

• My niece Rylee cut the girls hair this week.  Ellery got an inch cut off her long hair so you can't even notice, except it looks healthier and more even on the ends.  Layla got an A-line cut, after seeing how cute my niece Elise looks in hers I finally had the guts to do it.  She looks really cute, but Brian still does not condone short hair on either of his daughters.  We don't really care what he thinks about hair though.

• Yesterday was a big day for the Matthews side.  It was Summerfest.  We were amused yesterday as we realized that Summerfest for this family is bigger than the fourth of July.  It has been a tradition since Brian and his siblings were little, and it seems to just be getting stronger and stronger.  It is a happy day though, and we didn't let raging wind and bitter cold hold us back!  We celebrated all day long!
 

• The morning started off with a marathon for the boys- no big deal, right?  And a kids 1K race for all the kids, including the babies!  We waited at Riverwoods for our boys to run by, and it was so exciting to see them.  We had signs and donuts and plenty of cheers for our runners.  

• I was worried that Brian was going to end up in the ambulance because of his knee injury.  He had been training so hard for this race and it was shaping up to possibly be one of his best.  He would wake up early before work and run several times a week for months.  Then his knee started acting up about a month ago and he couldn't rest it enough to get it better in time.  He ran the first 19 miles without pain, but then it set in and he ran the last seven miles while his knee ached with each step.  I am proud of him- I was worried he wouldn't finish.  I also feel bad for him because he was really looking forward to this race and this really changed it.  

• Layla loves to be naked.  Whenever she has the chance to be naked, she runs around saying "naked! naked! naked!" doing a little running dance.  

• Missy and Ken and their girls are here for from Alaska for a whole month and we are so happy about this!  It's been really fun seeing all the cousins play together.  Addie and Ellery are two peas in a pod- instant friends!  They are very similar and they hold hands all the time and love flowers and princesses and they are just precious!  Little Elise can hold her own- actually more than her own- with Sharp and McKay and they have fun playing all sorts of things together.  I wish they lived here all the time.

That's all for now!  Happy Sunday.

home

It's late.  But I can't sleep.  Probably because I slept most of the day.  I had a weird stomach/achey/lethargic sickness thing going on today and I really laid around almost all day.  I had a  giant nap while Layla slept and the others were at church.  So now, here it is, almost one in the morning and I was just laying there wide awake. . .so I thought, maybe I should blog?  So here I am sitting at the desk in my dark kitchen while everyone else is sleeping.

So this is our new house.  We've been here for one week.  It's funny, when we were looking at houses I told Brian that I hated those square cap things that some stuccoed houses sport on the corners, and look what we ended up with?  But I love this house so much that I hardly notice those squares.  There is a lot to love- the beautiful view of the valley, the mountains just a couple houses away, a fenced backyard that I have been craving for six years, a beautiful kitchen, a playroom, double sinks- I could go on and on.  I have felt very grateful this week as we have tried to settle into this new home.  I really love it.

We are definitely still settling in though.  We have unpacked all rooms except one in the basement.  We have hung zero pictures and haven't decorated a bit.  We are still getting used to living here and just being here and we're all feeling the adjustment of a move.  The kids have made a few friends, but they are still cautious and it isn't that instantaneous playing that they were used to in Grandma's neighborhood.  They are a bit timid and still trying to find their place and meet their people.  They are extra whiney, especially Ellery, and I can tell Layla is feeling a bit out of sorts.  We all just need time.

Brian has surprised me and jumped head first into his role as "keeper of the yard".  I think I was up to my neck unpacking boxes in the house and he had this undeniable need to mow the lawn.  I almost asked him if he was crazy to want to mow the lawn when there was so much else to do, but I could see that this was a big deal for him, and mow he did.  He mowed and trimmed and weeded and who knows what else happened in that yard.  I am glad he is so into it.  I don't think either of us expected him to be.  He has admitted that he doesn't enjoy yard work too much, but refuses to let it get out of control- so control he did.  He is particularly frustrated with a large patch of crab grass in the back.  In fact, he can't really stop thinking about it.

I am slowly trying to make things feel like home inside.  We have a few extra rooms to fill so I am finding it harder than our other moves in that way.  But I think that's a great problem to have.  We'll just add furniture a bit at a time and one day it will all be done.  We joke that we are hemorrhaging money, what with buying new couches, a washer and dryer and a kitchen table, plus everything that it takes to keep up a yard- of which we had absolutely zero of.  So yeah, we've been bleeding for awhile now.  Thankfully, we're about done with the big items and from now on it's just little things here and there.      

So I guess that's my late night update.  Now that we don't have anyone to chat with on Sunday nights, I might actually get back to my thoughts.  I feel bad that I haven't kept them up- but I wanted a break and so I took one.

Happy Sunday!

mother's day 2012

I'm really glad I get to be the mother of these three.  They are my greatest joy.  I am one lucky mother.  

mckay the snake and the championship game

This is McKay holding McKay the snake.  Some neighbor boys caught him, much to McKay the boy's dismay.  You see, he really wanted to catch a snake in neighbor's yard.  He was pretty bummed, until the boys decided to name their snake McKay and give it to McKay.  Things immediately looked up and then McKay the boy began to beg me and Brian to keep McKay the snake as a pet.  After far too much begging, we finally convinced McKay the boy that McKay the snake would die if we kept him, and he released him into the backyard.  Not before a quick photo shoot, of course.  

McKay the snake was good inspiration for McKay the boy's animal report/diorama, so he was quite useful in the end. 

You would have thought Jimmer himself was coming to the neighborhood by the way our boy was talking up this championship basketball game.  We don't really know how there was a championship game without any previous games, but we went with it.  Brian was the ref, I was the press, and Ellery was a cheerleader.  Everyone in the house was invited to come and be the audience.  I think Grandma was the only one who showed.  No matter, the game was still on!

Gracie and Si were on one team, and McKay and Bensen were on another.  I think both teams were the BYU Cougars.  The Cougars won!  They were all pretty serious, except Gracie was a little bewildered because she was just recruited minutes before the game started.  

It was a big deal.  And it was adorable.

i feel like sharing

What is my blog?  I don't even know anymore.  But today, it's a place where I want to tell you (whoever still stops by) about a couple things I feel need to be shared.

First, this book:

My mom was getting rid of a box of books and Lisa handed me this book and said I might like it.  She was right.  I couldn't put it down.  You know when you have a book and you want to read it all the time so you treat yourself to it to reward yourself?  Like, when I put the kids to bed, I can read my book after I fold all the laundry.  That was this book for me.  I treated myself all over the place.  It's a little weird/disturbing, but I loved it.  You should read it.

Disclaimer/Intriguing tidbit:  there is a breastfeeding child in this book.  Child, not infant.  If that gives you the creeps, stay away.



Okay, moving on to a couple of recipes from Pinterest that are complete winners in our house:


Balsamic Chicken Tortellini Pasta

One of Brian's favorite flavor combinations is balsamic vinegar, tomatoes and basil.  We have many recipes with this flavor combination, but this one is our newest favorite.  It's a really great, light meal for summer.  Also, it looks really beautiful with all the different colors.



BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad

This is another one that we all really love.  And when I say we all, I not only mean my little family, but the big family that we currently reside with.  I was afraid of quinoa for awhile, but really wanted to incorporate it into our meals.  This was the recipe that made me fall in love with it.  Here's a tip in cooking quinoa (or how I do it anyway):  Soak it in water for 10 minutes or so, then rinse a few times, then drain.  Put it into a frying pan and toast it on the stove until it looks/feels pretty much dry.  Then cook according to package directions.  Also, I cook it in chicken broth (buillion+water) instead of just water.  I think it adds to the flavor quite a bit.  I love quinoa!  Try it in this recipe and you will too!

Okay, this is a weird post that took me way too much time, when I should be blogging about my children or something, but it's done.