Women's Fitness

I did the Women's Fitness last Saturday. This is such a fun race - it's all women and they get 20,00 women doing it every year. I did it with 4 other friends - Kim, Andrea, Alison, and Stacia. As we drove downtown the rain started to fall. By the time we parked it was really coming down. By the time we parked, walked to the start line, and the race actually started we were soaked - literally water was dripping from our hair (luckily we were all wearing our pink camo hats we got for joining the radio station Mix 106 team - the Mix Chicks)! We were dying for them to start the race early - but no luck! Running in it didn't seem bad and kept us warm. It wasn't until we finished that I started to get cold. It rained every minute we were outside. When I got home I looked like a drowned rat - I told Derek there wasn't a dry spot on me and he pointed out that the knees on my pants were still dry - but that's it! That race was one to remember!

Bailey Starts School

Bailey started preschool this year. She's in a neighborhood preschool with 4 of our friends. We each take a week teaching - 2 hours, 2 days a week and then we threw in a playgroup week just to make it even better! We've planned some holiday parties and field trips throughout the year. It's the cutest group of 5 little girls. Bay loves going to school and every day asks if today she can go to school. Yesterday when I told her that she couldn't go because she was sick she cried! She loves going to school!





There's my girls before they each go to school!

I Love Cha Cha

Ok, here's my public service announcement - I love it when people share their good ideas and tips so I'm sharing mine. Derek found this service called Cha Cha. It's a texting service that lets you text them any question and in 5 minutes they text you back. It's just like having the interenet on your phone for those of us who don't have the interenet on our phones! You just text them at Cha Cha (242-242) your question. Here's a scenario: Derek and I were driving to Twin Falls and we were talking about a Saturday coming up. I was asking him what time BYU was playing (it dramatically impacts me what time BYU plays every Saturday!) and he didn't know. So I just texted Cha Cha: What time does BYU football play on Saturday? 5 minutes later I had my answer - 1:00. Awesome eh? And Cha Cha is totally free - I don't get why or how, but it is. Sometimes I use Cha Cha just because I'm lazy and I'd rather have someone else spend the time finding the answer. I wanted to know what the weather was going to be like in Florida in November - now I could have found this out for myself - but why not text them, work on dinner, and then get the answer!? So I just texted them: What is the average high temperature in Orlando in November? 5 minutes later (and my dinner closer to being done) I had my answer of high 70's. It's also become a verb at our house - if Derek asks me something I don't know my answer is now - "I don't know, Cha Cha it". It's awesome - get cha cha'ing!

Go Mavericks!

Go Mavericks!

Emmy started cheerleading last month. It is the funniest thing ever! Her squad consists of 8 girls ages 5-10. They have practices twice a week where they learn lots of cheers and dances. Who do they cheer for you ask? They cheer for a football team through Optimist. These boys are 12 years old and our girls cheer at all their games. It's so funny that Derek and I take all our kids to watch Emmy cheer at a 2 hour football game - but that is where every Saturday finds us. Poor Tyler gets so bored! We went to a cheer camp that was 2 days and had all the Optimist Cheerleaders there (think 400 cheerleaders!). We're the Mavericks and our colors are maroon and white. Emmy cheers all the time at home and Bailey and Tyler both know all the cheers - so do Derek and I (Bay's favorite is Cookies and Cream: Cookies, Cookies, Cookies and Cream - what's the matter with the other team? Nothing, nothing, nothing at all, they just know how to (clap, clap) FALL! Complete with all the cheerleaders falling down of course!). They have the whole uniform they wear, they take turns being the Cheer Captain every week, they have a Cheerleader of the Game (Emmy was it last week and she couldn't have been more clueless as to why some football player was calling her name to give her a treat!). Emmy's really liked it - way more than soccer (the worst!), gymnastics, or dance. It's been really fun - GO MAVS!

Home Sick

I've taken quite a break from blogging the last month - this wasn't a voluntary thing, we had some serious computer problems going on at our house. We bought a laptop last summer and then a month ago it started freezing up - I mean, to the point where you couldn't turn it off - that's when you know you have problems! And I'm no computer wizard so the computer would freeze and it wouldn't turn off so I would let the battery die so I could start it back up (I know that would give some respecter-of-computers a panic attack but I did it anyways). Derek was out of town and I was complaining about it and he asked me why I wasn't just taking the battery out - good point, my friend. So we limped along like this for a few weeks until it was freezing all too frequently and I made Derek call his good friends at HP and get some help. They told us we had a bad hard drive, so they mailed us a new one, Derek installed it, no improvement to the ol' computer. So the next step was to mail it into them and let them fix it - and now I am back in business.
None of this has anything to do with the reason for the post - my little Bay being sick today. In the middle of the night she woke up, went to the bathroom and threw up, and then came and got me up. She and I then spent the next 2 hours throwing up. After she'd throw up she'd say "wash it out" - and she wanted me to brush her teeth. So I'd brush her teeth, and then she'd throw that up! After brushing her teeth 3 times (and throwing up 3 times) I put an end to that and made her suffer through it.
I hate when your kids sick. They are so miserable and you're so helpless. I hate when you're up in the night with a sick kid thinking about all the things you need to cancel in the morning (I'm guessing my Visiting Teachers don't really want to come today). I hate that Derek is out of town this week and missing out on all this. I hate laying in bed . . . listening. Listening for a cough . . . a sneeze . . . worse. Listening for tiny footsteps headed your way. Listening for other kids who might be waking up sick, or just waking up.
I am so grateful though that I'm a stay-at-home mom today. I'm so glad that while I have to call my Visiting Teachers, I don't have to call some boss and explain why I can't be there. I'm so glad that I am the one taking care of Bailey today. I'm the one giving her her blanket, letting her watch Barney, and holding her. I'm so thankful a babysitter or a nanny isn't taking care of my little girl. But I am open to the idea of sharing the night shift . . .

Aren't they sweet?

Today I was getting Emmy ready for the day and I said, "let's do your hair" she responded with, "why?" and I said (in my most loving, kind, gentle, motherly way) "Because you look like an orphan". She just looked at me and said, "Orphans aren't real." Isn't that funny - what does she know about orphans anyway (or the lack thereof?!)
Then Tyler was playing Wii today (how long he'd been playing is not relevant to the story) and I asked him if he was tired of playing Wii. He told me that was impossible - he'd never get tired of it. Then he adds, "but my hands are getting sweaty". I told you they were sweet . . .

First day of School!

This week we started school. Tyler started 2nd grade and Emmy started kindergarten. We'd done the kids' "Meet and Greet" at the school earlier to meet their teachers and drop off their supplies. Everybody was excited - school starting puts such a thrill in the air - everyone's excited about it and there's so much to talk about - it's really a fun time of year. I was getting ready to back into a schedule and have things going on. I will miss our lazy days of reading and playing games - but I like the excitement of school starting. Tyler was really excited to have Emmy there this year. Emmy has afternoon kindergarten so Tyler gets on the bus at 8:30, Emmy goes at 12:30 and they come home together at 4:00. They were excited to see each other at recess and sit together on the bus. Tyler seemed a little quiet at the bus stop that morning - but never said a word about being nervous. He's got some friends from other years in his class so he's in good shape.


Now Emmy starting kindergarten is what's a killer for me. I just can't believe she's old enough to go - she is so ready though. The first day the parents had to be there for the first hour to go through some policies and things. Since I had to be there anyway I assumed I'd just take her. No, she wanted to ride the bus and meet there. The first day wasn't so bad because I practically followed her there. When I met her at the school we went into her classroom and the teacher was talking to all the parents - after about 45 minutes Emmy asked me when kindergarten was going to start! When it was time to leave I gave her a big hug and started tearing up - all she could say was "BYE". She certainly wasn't missing me! She came home with Tyler on the bus and they were both happy and excited about school.





The second day was harder for me with Emmy because she rode the bus there and left me at home. The bus came around the corner and I went to give her a hug and she couldn't be stopped on her way to the bus. The bus driver just looked at me and said, "well she's ready isn't she?"

It's weird to have 2 kids gone 5 days a week - good thing I've got 2 more at home! I hope they have good teachers and good friends.

Birthday Party!

Bay's Birthday

My little Bay turned 3 last week. I can't believe she's already 3 - she's just turned into big stuff lately. We celebrated her birthday at my parent's cabin. She has been talking about her birthday cake for a month - and all she cared about was that it was chocolate. She told everyone she saw that she was going to have a chocolate birthday cake. She picked a princess cake (though the princess was extremely secondary - it had to be chocolate!) and we had her party. In honor of her turning three here's three fun things about Bay:
1 - She asks 'why' a thousand times a day - it doesn't matter what, she'll ask you why. And there's no end to this fun game - it can just go on and on. But now Derek and I have started turning the table on her - and we ask her 'why' all day. Her standard response is "love it!". It is hilarious - why are you going to bed, eating dinner, going to the bathroom, wearing pink, - "LOVE IT!". It doesn't matter what you ask her - she loves it.
2 - Bay has a blanket she really likes. It's pink fleece and she likes to have it when she takes naps and goes to bed. One Sunday I was getting her ready for church and she asked if she could take her blanket to nursery. I asked her what Sister Long would say if she showed up with a blanket - she responded, "hello blanket!"
3 - Bailey gets into ruts - or tracks of a sort. She'll start doing something - running around the couch, going down a slide - whatever it is, and she'll just do it over and over. She gets stuck in a rut. This summer we were at the water park and she got into a rut at the kiddie pool. She'd go down a slide called Kiddie Cowabunga and then back up the hill to come down again (dragging her own tube in the process!). Every time she'd come down she'd just say, 'bunga' and off she'd go again. She must have done it for 30 minutes.
Bailey is as fun as they come - Happy Birthday Bay!

Cousin Camp

Cousin Camp 2008

Every year my mom holds Cousin Camp at her cabin. All the grandkids come if they can and we have great time every year. Parents are optional - how great is this deal?! My sister Allyson came just for the fun. It's one day and one night with tons of activties jammed into it. This year she kicked it off by taking us all to Starlight Mountain Theater to see Cinderella. She made the kids all matching Cousin Camp t-shirts that the kids wore proudly to the theater. The kids loved the show. Then we all headed back to the cabin where we tried to get kids to sleep. My mom has a big bonus room with 4 twin beds and one queen - she lovingly calls it 'the bunkhouse'. So we sent 7 of the kids in (Logan opted out of that craziness!) and told them to go to sleep - are you laughing yet? My theory on the situation was as long as they stay in there I don't care. Eventually they did go to sleep - I think . . .
The next day we started the day off with a bang, or a hiss - breakfast was snake pancakes. Then we made bird feeders, tin foil boats, water gun games, 4 wheel rides, playing in the river (of course a movie or 2 so the adults could catch our breath!) and tons of fun. That night the kids who were still there went to bed a little easier. We had a great time at Cousin Camp - and my kids are asking how long until Cousin Camp next year (hint, hint Mom).

Thanks Emmy!

Today I got pretty fancy in doing Emmy's hair for church - I did a ballet bun (braided hair in a bun) for my first time. Emmy went to primary and I heard her tell her teacher, "My mom did my hair. She did the best she could." She's totally right! Maybe it wasn't as fancy as I thought . . .

Farewell 3:00 Church!

Today my family went to our last day of having church at 3:00 - that's right . . . we've had church at 3:00 all year. It's been rough having church so late - our first day of 3:00 church in January we blessed Logan. The rough time paired up with Mother Nature to dish out some meanness that day. We had company here from Utah and Eastern Idaho who had to go home that day, 3:00 church, and a snow storm. My family had to leave right from sacrament meeting to get on the road - leaving me with one big dinner (that my mom did all the work for!) and not many eaters! Oh you're mean you 3:00 church! This 3:00 church also had us coming out of church in the dark throughout the winter - literally totally dark coming out of church. I remember being in Primary and when the kids were dismissed they were told to go home and go to bed! All we had time for was dinner before bedtime. So what glorious time did we move to?! 1:00 - normally a time I'd also complain about, but now I know it can be worse. So to you 3:00 church I say good riddance!

Twin Falls Temple

Yesterday our family took a road trip to Twin Falls to see the new temple and go through the open house. We also met my two sisters and their families. The kids had a great time meeting their cousins there. It was such a neat opportunity to take our kids through the temple - something they hear a lot about but aren't able to fully understand because they don't get to go there. The tour started with an 11 minute video about temples throughout history and their importance. Then we had a 40 minute tour of the temple. The tour was really good - I loved that everywhere you turned their was someone bearing their testimony of the gospel. This was awesome to be able to show my kids things they've heard about. They loved the baptistry (especially the oxen), the celestial room (because of the giant chandelier) and the sealing room (or the marrying room as Emmy calls it). The kids certainly noticed how beautiful it is inside the temple and what a reverent place the temple is. The Twin Falls temple is beautiful! What a great way to spend the day.

Twin Falls Temple

Dollar Store Delights

Anyone who thinks slavery was abolished in 1865 (and yes, I had to wikipedia that) is wrong. Slavery is alive and well at my house this summer. I have three little slaves who call me Mom, and I'm one mean slave driver. This summer my kids have really worked - making their beds, putting away their laundry, taking out trash, washing cabinets, cleaning windows, and watering flowers - they've really worked this summer. So of course every good slave driver has to have some sort of enticement for their little slaves. My kids have earned different things like treats, snow cones, dates with me or Derek (all three picked Derek . . . maybe that has something to do with him not being the slave driver . . .), rent a movie, and the reason for this post: going to the dollar store.
The up side to the dollar store is to hear your mom say - you can pick anything you want in this entire store. So Tyler picked a plastic mean-looking gorilla. You'll notice no picture of this gorilla because it literally broke into many pieces while we were still in the parking lot - the poor kid hadn't even buckled up yet! That's the down side to the dollar store . . . it's junk.
Well Bay and Emmy picked out something that cracks me up every time I see it their room. Emmy picked the dog - his name is Smelly (I had to ask some follow up questions on his name so I wouldn't be confused - his name is Smelly because he's good at smelling things, not because he stinks). Bay picked the cow - his name is Cow (no follow up questions were needed). So thank you Dollar Store for thrilling 2 out of 3 kids and one mean slave driver.
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Fourth of July pictures

Mutton Bustin'

Over the Fourth of July weekend we went to my brother's ward rodeo. He lives in a little town where EVERYONE has horses, cows, pickups, boots - you get the picture. So every year they have a ward party that's a rodeo. And it's a real rodeo - everyone brings their horses, sheep, bulls, and other rodeo necessities. We might have stood out as outsiders - look at Tyler in shorts and sandals - and the kid next to him. (feel free to sing 'One of these kids is not like the other . . .') Then they hold events - pole bending, barrel racing, steer riding, (I couldn't even name a rodeo event before this), and of course, mutton busting. On the way there Derek and I were asking the kids if they would want to mutton bust - we of course had to explain what that even was! Tyler says he's game, Emmy says no way, and we're all set for our family's first mutton busting.

I'm all excited for Tyler to ride this sheep as he's line with other kids. When he's 20 kids back, I'm all game for this idea. I got to see a lot of other kids go before us and they had cowboys clowns (I'm sure just Preists from their ward!) run alongside with the kids, so when they fall off the clown makes sure they don't get trampled. When he's 20 kids back, I'm all game for this idea . . .but as he inches closer I'm starting to rethink the intelligence of this. Then it's his turn. I told Derek I wanted him to run along with Tyler - trusting Derek more than cowboy clowns who don't love Tyler, but Derek assured me that he in his sandals wouldn't really work out. So Tyler mounts this sheep and is waiting in the chutes (are you proud of my rodeo terminology?). By now I'm starting to have a heart attack - I'm sure this is a bad idea now - but way too late for a mom's intution. And he's off . . .
Tyler held on so good while that sheep went the entire length of the arena. He even stayed on longer than any other kid! I was completely hyperventilating until I saw him get off his sheep and walk back to us in one piece. When he got back to us we asked him a hundred questions about how it went - all he told us was that he wondered if the ground was hard or soft if he fell off. He also told us that while he was walking back with the clown he said to Tyler, "nice work pal". Our first participation in a rodeo was a hit. Consider that mutton busted.

Fourth of July fun

We had the best Fourth of July. We headed to the mountains to my parent's cabin. We got there in the early afternoon and went straight to the river to play. The kids and Derek had a great time playing in the water. When the kids were done playing they headed to the cabin while my parents tended them and Derek and I got to float the river. Then we had a BBQ and headed into the small town for the parade. This parade is the funniest parade there is - the whole route is maybe a mile and anyone can be in it - there's lots of trucks, motorcycles, and a few horses - there aren't however many actual floats. Because it's so short the parade goes up the street, then turns around and comes back! Who's ever heard of that?! What they lack in floats they make up for in water. Everyone in the parade comes armed with water balloons, water guns, even fire hoses. The spectators also come armed and it becomes quite the town water fight. I was holding Logan so I thought it was understood that babies were off limits - apparently not . . . we were getting it from all directions until I got out my big shade umbrella for some protection. My kids kept running to our van - I'm telling ya, it was save yourself. The parade was a riot. After the parade we went back and rode the 4-wheelers, made a campfire and had s'mores, and watched the fireworks from the cabin. Saturday was a repeat with 4-wheeling, hiking, swimming, sleeping in, and eating. What a great way to spend a holiday weekend.