thoughts and stuff.

Spring is here. It's a lovely 90 degrees out today. I believe Beckham's beautiful creamy skin is going to require a major sunscreen investment this summer.

We've changed banks. Not so official as the accounts at the former are still open and the current are not really "new," but previously dormant. But a switch nonetheless. Loved wamu, but chase? Not so much. Bummer.

Stinkin' Shellie and the scrapbook convention brought all kinds of new products into my house and wouldn't you know it, I've been drawn to use them! I just may make progress in documenting this family's existence yet.

My ice maker is broken. Let's just put my bad habit of munching on ice through the day out there and be honest... it's killing me. How is one supposed to drink ice cold water or get their crushed ice fix? Buying ice is ridiculous, but justified because we had dinner guests. Not that I've made my way through that stash, it's time to get this baby fixed!

Seneca organizes things. She lines up dominoes and then rearranges them. She stacks up the toilet paper rolls and then does it again. She carries all of the tupperware lids around arranging them just so and then stacks them to do it again. Is it a problem that she found a new box of tampons and has added them to her "stuff to organize?" They get sorted by color on the lip of the easel and across the stair and sometimes I find them in the most random places!

Bex has hit 15 months. When in the world did that happen?! He's in the 80% for height and 20% for weight. Seriously. He's visiting a special doctor in a couple of weeks to see if there is anything concerning about his "cool guy" swagger. One leg a little longer than the other is cool, right? I'm not incredibly concerned.

Speaking of concerned, our pediatrician told me today that I was such a relaxed mom. I laughed out loud, yes I did. Does she know me at all? But in all reality, I'm much more relaxed now than I was with child numero uno. Denten is the one who suggests we call the doctor for things. I figure everything will be fine unless there is a significant amount of blood or eyes rolling back into the head. Guess you can say I've come a long way!

Coop is loving life. most of the time. I had his preschool teacher pull me aside this week and ask if we were moving. What? No. Why? Apparently cooper has been talking about how we're moving to California and his teacher wondered why I hadn't said anything. Keep dreaming of the beach, coop. It just might come true! Boston and his cousins are a big draw westward!

Denten is an official triathlete. He's not messing around. I think the financial commitment says it all. In the last month, we have a new tri-bike, a new wetsuit and new running shoes residing in this house, as well as several smaller accessories. He's getting so fancy. I still like the tight shorts myself and am waiting until he shaves his legs.

Cooper has also decided he'd like to be a triathlete. Saturday he went swimming with his dad. Then they got out and went for a bike ride and finished with a running race. Lovely.

I'm going to Utah tomorrow. I should probably pack at some point. Dent's mom is graduating from college. It's cool, right? We think so. It's a reason to pile the lot into the car and make the trek northward. We are also planning on seeing Seneca's birth mother on this little journey, which I'm really looking forward to. I have more thoughts on that one, but good grief, look how long this is!

Have a lovely weekend. Hope you have crushed ice, tampons in your kitchen and a bank that is easy and convenient. See, I wish you all good things!

local grandparents

What did we do with our children, you ask, while we had friends over for dinner? Well, let's just say that local grandparents come in handy! Especially ones that your children adore.

Sandi's recap: It was very interesting that after Tarzan played hats with Beckham, and then walked out of the room, Beckham started to cry. I reach out to pick him up and his two little hands purposely pushed me away. Tarzan carried him around until he got distracted again. The fire was a big hit. However, since we were not roasting marshmallows Cooper sat for about 15 minutes and then said, "Actually, I'm through with the fire." He took a flashlight and explored the dark.

I couldn't get the slideshow to upload here, but you can view photos of the evening here. Thanks a million to Tarzan and Sandi... picking up happy, exhausted children is every mother's dream!

couples dinner group

Whenever we host a dinner party, I always end up having such a great time preparing and getting ready that I wonder why we don't do it more often... then I remembered the three little people that live here. Ah. That's why!

Anyway, it was our turn to host couple's dinner group this week and we had a great time. Thanks to all of you who shared favorite recipies, it has been fun to try some new ones!

Our menu was as follows:

Cheesy Zucchini and Red Onion Flatbread

Mixed Salad with Vanilla-Pear Vinaigrette and Toasted Walnuts

Delicious Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Potato Gratin with Goat Cheese and Garlic

Green Beans with Carmelized Shallot Butter

Em's Decadent Brownie Trifle

recipes and notes follow...

A few notes about couple's dinner group: I opted out of our girl's gourmet group this year in favor of a smaller group including our husbands. I was looking forward to planning and preparing with Denten and while our ideas didn't match up in the begininning, it ended up being just what I hoped for. I really enjoy cooking with him. Denten has his own particular tastes and opinions in the kitchen and often ends up being much more precise in his preparation than I do. He kindly allowed me the head chef position yesterday and sucumbed to the soux chef position, but made sure I understood that was not on a permanant basis! Anyway, he grills a mean pork tenderloin and is always good for clean-up help. We also have a wonderful group of friends here that are flexible, kind, honest and sometimes pretty hilarious.

The missionaries had the benefit of eating the leftovers tonight and were equally hilarious, and good for my ego as they kept calling the meal "gourmet!" Their eyes about popped out of their heads when dessert was served... I don't know if they were impressed or just too full to eat anymore!

Cheesy Zucchini and Red Onion Flatbread

Recipe and photo courtesy of Ashlee Miller, Bon Appétit August 2006.

Nonstick vegetable oil spray

1 10-ounce tube refrigerated pizza dough

3/4 cup garlic-and-herb cheese spread (such as Alouette), divided

3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided

3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided

1 small red onion

1 7- to 8-inch-long zucchini (yellow or green), cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick rounds, divided

Olive oil

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper; spray with nonstick spray. Unroll dough onto parchment. Spread half of herb cheese over 1 long half of dough, leaving 1/2-inch plain border. Sprinkle with half of Parmesan and 2 tablespoons parsley. Using parchment as aid, fold plain half of dough over filled half (do not seal edges). Spread remaining herb cheese over top; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan. Remove enough outer layers of onion to yield 2-inch-diameter core; cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Arrange 1 row of zucchini down 1 long side of dough. Arrange onion rounds in row alongside zucchini. Arrange 1 more row of zucchini alongside onion. Brush vegetables with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake bread until puffed and deep brown at edges, about 24 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon parsley.

* This was easy and delicious. We decided while eating this that mushrooms or sliced tomatoes would also be great on top.

Mixed Salad with Vanilla-Pear Vinaigrette and Toasted Walnuts

from Cooking Light, via Taisey

Canned pears and prechopped greens make this tasty salad convenient. To cut prep time, toast the walnuts in the microwave at HIGH for three minutes or until done. Serve remaining dressing with baked ham or grilled seafood.

1 cup vertically sliced red onion

2 (10-ounce) packages Mediterranean-style salad

2/3 cup Vanilla-Pear Vinaigrette

1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

To prepare salad, combine onion and lettuce mix in a large bowl. Add Vanilla-Pear Vinaigrette, and toss well. Sprinkle with walnuts. Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 2 cups)


Vanilla-Pear Vinaigrette

1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of ground red pepper
1 (15-oz) can pear halves in juice, undrained

To prepare dressing, drain pears, reserving 1/3 cup pear juice. Combine pears, juice, vinegar and remaining ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.

* I used a tender ruby red salad mix and it was great. The red pepper adds an unexpected kick to the dressing. I did not mix all together before serving, but instead put the salad mix and onions on individual plates then added dressing and walnuts to each.

Delicious Pork Tenderloin

from Favorites

2-3 pork tenderloins (there is enough marinade to do 4)

Marinade:

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

3/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons dry mustard

1 tablespoon pepper

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons parsley

1/3 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 ounces slices fresh mushrooms

Blend the above marinade ingredients in blender. Pour over tenderloins and marinade for 3 to 4 hours. Grill pork on the barbecue at medium heat for about 20 minutes, turning and basting occasionally. Add mushrooms to remaining marinade and heat. Slice tenderloins and pour marinade over top to serve.

*This is a new favorite that will definitely be repeated. The meat is very tender and has a fantastic flavor.

Potato Gratin with Goat Cheese and Garlic

Nanette

1 cup whole milk

1 cup whipping cream

1 cup crumbled soft fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet; about 5 ounces)

1 garlic clove, minced (I used more)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously butter 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk first 7 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Arrange 1/3 of potatoes in bottom of prepared dish, overlapping slightly and covering completely. Pour 1/3 of cream mixture over. Repeat layering potatoes and cream mixture 2 more times. Bake uncovered until potatoes are tender and top is golden brown in spots, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Serve hot.

*Denten isn't a fan of goat cheese, so he didn't love it, but I loved the flavor and texture of this gratin.

Green Beans with Carmelized Shallot Butter

Nanette

2 1/2 TB Butter
1 Cup sliced shallots
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3/4 tea salt
1/4 tea fresh ground pepper

2 pounds green beans (approx 10 cups)-blanch for 3-5 minutes in boiling water rinse with cold water

Melt butter on medium heat add shallots saute until golden.
Stir in vinegar and cook for 1 1/2 minutes.
Remove from heat and add salt thyme pepper and rind.


(shallot mixture can be made up to two days ahead and just micro on high for 3 minutes). Toss with beans.

Makes 10 1 cup servings


* the balsamic flavor in this dish was too strong for me, but my guests who give an honest review thought it was great!

Brownie Trifle

recipe and photo courtesy of Emily Jensen, a girl who knows her desserts!

1 pan of brownies cut into 1" cubes

1 box instant chocolate pudding (use pie filling directions)

1 large container of Cool Whip OR 1 pint of whipping cream (whipped)

6-8 Skor or Heath Candy Bars (crushed)

Layer in trifle bowl starting with half of the brownies, then half of the chocolate pudding, then half of the Cool Whip/Whip Cream, and then half of the crushed candy bars. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients, and refrigerate.

* I use a box-mix for the brownies, the consistency is great in this recipe. I also use whipping cream rather than cool whip. The heath bars add a great toffee flavor as well as a good crunch, but we have also enjoyed this dessert using reese's peanut butter cups, chopped. I usually have enough to do three trifle layers.

raise me up

I heard this group for the first time this week and was amazed. They have such pure clear voices and the song is a favorite. Their version of Danny Boy is also breath-taking. Enjoy!

FHE the robinson way.

family home evening at this house is fantastic. this week cooper taught us about the apostles (they're still his favorite subject since conference). we learned (again) that david a. bednar likes to ski, because that's cool and that quinten cook is from cache valley. dallin h. oaks is a supreme court justice, but it's ok to say "judge." elder ballard sold used cars and richard g. scott made submarines go. that's cool too. boyd k. packer like to read his scriptures and l. tom perry is really tall. coop also taught us who is in the first presidency. you'll see his audience is being very attentive! seneca was responsible for our songs this week. she is demonstrating how to sing the sumbeam song appropriately, because you can't sing "sunbeam" without throwing your hands up in the air, that would just be ridiculous!

fhe always seems to end these days with a minor wrestling match. now those of you who only have boys and thought this activity was only present in your home... be not mistaken. seneca has as much to offer in this arena as her brothers do. they have learned the concept "dog pile" and climb on top of each other only to tip over and laugh their little heads off. beckham hangs around just close enough for someone to pull him in and and tickle him. it's really reverent. wanna come next week?

fill my soul.

this is worth your time, in my incredibly humble opinion. noting, however, that I am a fan of both of these songs, amazing piano playing and fantastic music. if you're not... I have sympathy for your soul. seriously, enjoy it. it's fantastic.

today.

1. during sacrament meeting seneca pointed to my knee and said, "elbow." close. "knee," I corrected. "knee," she repeated. good job, senny. she then proceeded to distinguish between her elbow and knee for a minute, and then squirmed her way through the pew pointing everyone's knees out to them, "knee, knee, knee..." hey, at least it occupied at least 5 minutes of scarament meeting time. and we have a new body part identified.

2. cooper was examining beckham's legs today.

cooper: mom, there's something at the end of his leg! it looks like a bubble!
mom: yes, honey, that's called a thigh. isn't it terrific?

now I, for one, wouldn't really appreciate my thighs being related to bubbles, but personally can't get enough of the squishiness of beckham's. I'm sure he'll appreciate it one day...


3. gram, what do you think?

thoughts dumped.

randomness on a page:

• if you happened to bring soup to my door, thank you. it arrived the moment I was ready to attempt food again.
• grateful for preschool. cooper is learning so much that would require an immense effort by me for him to learn at home. both socially and educationally. his teacher said his personality really came out during their puppet shows this week, that he started using voices and was lots of fun. I think he is rather quiet most of the time at school, I'm glad he feels comfortable enough to be himself, if only behind a puppet! his teacher puts so much time into what she's teaching, it's completely worth the money for him to have those experiences.
• miss senny has developed a habit for us. before nap time or bedtime, we need to spend a minute rocking in my chair. we usually read downstairs, so the chair hasn't been used in a while, but she has fit it into the routine. "chair" and then "sing." after a moment of cuddle and a song, she'll happily go into her bed. it's an extra step, but these sweet moments of holding her little body won't last forever. I'm loving it.
• had a love and logic refresher conversation last weekend. the thing that has made the most impact this week is my using enforceable statements. it's amazing how difficult they are to argue with! "I take boys to school who have all their jobs done." it's as simple as that. no more nagging to make the bed, get dressed, get the silverware put away, brush teeth... and on and on. I say one thing and he knows the drill. it's torture to miss school. "I let kids keep the toys they pick up." brilliant. if they don't like enough to put it away, another kid can have it. no skin off my back. seneca is being a great little picker-upper. she knows where everything goes and participates in clean-up time with her own version of the clean-up song. beckham is getting there!
• beckham has overtaken seneca as the family's best eater. he's eating fruits that were once refused as well as anything else I put on his tray. try try again... they'll eat it eventually!
• I'm one page away from having cooper's "baby book" done. yeah, he's four, whatever. I have been combining the few notes I actually took in his baby book with a scrapbook that has been in progress since his birth. my strategy has been a two-page spread for each month of their first year. it works most of the time. I'm anxious to call this one done and move onto the next project.
• hosting couples dinner group next weekend. lots of ideas floating around in my head, but it hasn't all come together yet. let me know if you have any brilliant ideas!
• tried a new pillow last night. really liked it.

what I see

my body has been overtaken by something foreign and I've been down and out for a while. denten came home early yesterday to rescue this household while I retreated to my bed, with frequent trips to the bathroom. heaven bless him.

I lay on the couch curled up in my mccall blanket. it's my favorite right now. I move as little as possible seeing as my head spins whenever I try to do so. it's amazing the strength water gives a person. I'm down five pounds simply from losing water weight. ugh.

my kids are playing great. coop's working on a lincoln log cabin he and his dad started last night. seneca is carrying around all of the read-a-long books, stopping occasionally to point out pictures. beckham has a wooden cooking spoon and is waving it around giggling. music is suggested and the idea is brilliant. everyone gathers in the family room to practice their dance moves. I simply lay and smile. cooper's got the conducting stick and microphone, because he's in charge, you know. seneca is perfecting her march, which is looking great. she is squealing and shaking a maraca. her smile is enormous, I can't get enough. beckham is laughing while turning circles trying to keep up with the action, still waving his spoon around. occasionally there is a minor collision, ending in a heap of laughter on the floor. if a mama has to be sick, this is the best way to do it.

a long way gone

I just finished reading a long way gone, memoirs of a boy soldier by ishmael beah. you know when you're watching a movie and you want to cover your eyes so you don't have to actually see what's happening? I felt like that several times, squeezing my eyes shut and then realizing I'd have to open them again to continue reading.




this book was powerful on many levels, but completely heart-wrenching as a mother, a mother of a boy. I can not imagine going through these experiences and it rips my heart out to think of my son living through them.

an amazing reminder of the blessing it is to live here, now. many complain about the state of our economy or the displeasure in our current government. read this. then know you have nothing to complain about.

I visit teach a woman from sierra leon and she has often told us that we don't understand what her life was like at home. I have a better understanding now why her humble home here is paradise to her and that living unemployed and in circumstances I would never be satisfied in is bliss. it's all relative.

gripping. disturbing. hard. wrong. grateful. thanks, kate.

easter in our house

motivation.

my sister used to have a picture of jennifer aniston in a cut-out dress taped to the back of her bedroom door. this was not unusual as we used to have all sorts of things adorning our walls, but this particular picture seemed to be a constant even through the changing of tastes and decor. I asked her once why it was there and she replied, "look at her abs. it's motivation."

fast forward. this is the my sole source of news. my one-stop for a quick jolt of latest headlines, natural disasters, lance, tiger, hot autos, unemployment updates, all things obama (citymama, will you please go visit mrs. obama's garden for me?), idol chatter and celeb gossip in general. while perusing today I came across a photo of dara torres. one that made me look away and then look again.

it was this image that kept popping into my head as I was running tonight. motivation, if you will.

this woman is a mother. you just looked at her stomach again, didn't you? not an adoptive mother, an actual I-carried-a-baby-in-my-stomach-for-nine-months-mother. sure it was a while ago, but seriously. she's also 41 years old. I'm choosing to be oblivious to the possibility of surgery and would rather be impressed.

So to my post-baby-bellied friends who think that simply because the age 30 is upon you that somehow means the best years of your body are behind you... I kindly say, B.S.

creating experiences

We’ve been trying to learn why we celebrate Easter this week by doing some kind of Easter activity each day.  There have been a few experiences that have been more powerful for me than I expected.  Wednesday we watched this video together and I was surprised at the emotion that I felt.  The images of Christ’s death have always been powerful to me, but it was different watching it with Cooper.  I almost wanted to protect him from seeing the cruel way our Savior was treated, not knowing if he would understand.  He was very reverent and somber and knew as he saw Him hanging on the cross that it would be ok because He would live again.  The way he explained it to me was so simple and clear.  He knew that Jesus prayed in the garden and that it hurt Him, but He did it for us.  He knew that there were mean people who didn’t love Jesus and put him on a cross to die.  Then He was put into the tomb (which is kind of like a cave).  Mary came to find Him and He was gone.  Mary went to get her friends to help her find Jesus.  He understood that Christ was alive again.  None of this was scary or confusing, it was easy and tender, just the way it should be.  I feel those emotions deep inside when I think about the suffering my Savior went through on my behalf.  All the frustration, hurt and pain I feel He understands on a very personal level seeing as He has felt it all before.  I know the Cooper doesn’t understand the depth of Christ’s suffering, but I’m grateful for his simple testimony of the atonement.

Yesterday the Easter activity was to go visit the temple, to walk around the grounds and go through the visitor’s center.  I’ve never done that with my kids and I was really looking forward to this trip.  The day started off rough.  I can see now that Mr.. Satan did not want this activity to take place.  Cooper and I were butting heads from the moment we got out of bed.  I think Denten was a little afraid to leave for work, fearing for either safety or sanity, or both.  A little prayer to regroup and we carried on.  I’m so glad we did as the experience was everything I hoped for. 

The flowers at the temple are gorgeous and did you know they have strawberry plants out there?  And that you can just pick them and eat them?  Everyone had strawberry juice dripping down their little chins, it was terrific!  We went through the visitor’s center and Cooper enjoyed manning the computer that turned on short videos for us.  There is a room that has large murals depicting Christ’s life and it was fun to have Cooper go around the room telling us about each one and what was happening, ending with the resurrection. 

The highlight was rounding the corner to where the Christos statue stood.  It was as if the kids understood the reverence necessary as they were so peaceful and quiet.  Seneca pointed up and said, “Jesus” and I wondered for a minute if we talk about Him enough at home for her to know who He is or if a little part of her innocent self remembers Him.  Beckham smiled hugely and pointed up as well.  I couldn’t help the emotion I felt at my children’s reaction to their Savior.  Cooper noticed the nail prints in His hands and feet and just wanted to sit for a minute.  I need moments like that every now and then to know that despite the fact that I fall short of being a great mom most of the time, my children have not lost the ability to feel the spirit when given the opportunity.

We then ventured outside for a picnic.  It was so fabulous outside, completely perfect weather.  Seneca tried to find the birds she could hear in the trees, Beckham tried to eat everyone else’s lunch when they weren’t looking and Cooper kept finding treasures he thought we needed to take home.  It was so great to just wander the grounds and not be in a rush to get anywhere.  Daytrip: success. 

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influence

Most of the time I think that I have a baby, a big kid and one in between. It is becoming increasingly clear that my little man has moved from "baby" to the next step. I am in the presence every day of two little parrots. Seneca is hilarious trying to repeat many many words (the latest is elbow, said while turning in circles and twisting her arm around trying to find it) and Beckham is equally funny trying to spit out the same sounds. He has surprised me this week asking for water (wa-wa), telling me he wants to "go" while heading for the door and debuting his food requests with a rough "cracker." I think I thought it would be a while before he actually started forming words beyond mama and dada, but he's right on his sister's tail. He wants to do what she does and is usually willing to put forth the extra effort to keep up.

I've had a little guilt in the bottom of me about the "third-child" syndrome. It was easy to give the first one individual attention seeing as he was the only one. I've made a concerted effort lately to make sure everybody gets time to read with mom, the opportunity to play and have field trips that they can participate in, but it's not the same. I'm grateful that my children can learn from each other, most of the time. There are behaviors that the oldest exhibits that I don't want internalized by the little ones, and reactions by senny that I don't want bex to pick up, but I'm grateful he can learn to play and talk and laugh from his siblings.

I know that kids pick things up quick, I really do and yet it never fails to surprise me how quickly some things are learned, or how much is remembered by their little brains. Beckham is so delicious these days, I can't get enough of him. The fact that he's trying so hard to participate in his world is that much more endearing.

the sandwich.

last night for dinner, we had garlic rosemary chicken, mashed potatoes and corn. dent made the potatoes and gravy and it may have been his finest work ever. good. really really good.

we eat leftovers often. if I bother cooking, I'm gonna bother making enough so I don't really have to do it again the next day. coop doesn't really appreciate leftovers. "mom, I don't want to eat that again!" no problem, but you'll probably be kinda hungry.

today for lunch, out came the chicken, potatoes and corn. two little ones gobbled it right up (beckham attempting to get the food into his mouth with a spoon is so hilarious). coop promptly ordered an alternative meal. bummer, I don't do that. did he forget that I'm not a restaurant? "mom, making me something else will make me smile." no, you choose whether or not you smile. that has nothing to do with me. "mom, it is not a choice. this is not a choice thing." things accelerated until he had a bit of time in his bedroom. I will not say quiet time, because quite simply, it wasn't. eventually he was ready to join the pleasant people of the house again. I had left his lunch at his place, completely up to him if he'd like to eat it. I went about my business.

he calmly went to the fridge. pulled out the bread, turkey, cheese and mustard. got a plate and proceeded to make himself a rather impressive sandwich. completely on his own. I don't do alternative meals, remember? he was half-way through the process before I even knew what he was doing. he put everything away (except the bread, darn those little clip-ties) and sat down to enjoy his lunch. he enjoyed every bite.

I suppose it's good to know my child won't actually starve to death if left unattended. or if given a meal he refuses to eat. maybe I should have closed the kitchen as to prove the point, "eat what you're given, or don't eat," but I gotta admire the independence.

his simple life

Two things:

1. he's been preparing for general conference by brushing up on his apostles. he hung the pics himself, cut and hung the pics we found that go with each one and has played the song a million times.

When he was tired of singing, he pulled out his instruments. The "guitar," (an old ukulele)...

and a couple of recorders. I'm glad he enjoys such things. He couldn't wait for conference today. He sat very still listening to the beginning of the second session where they sustained the apostles and got so excited when he heard all of the familiar names.

2. about those training wheels...

I took a trip to the grocery store and when I came back, he could do this! I didn't doubt his ability. I knew he would pick it up easily, but I admit I wondered if he'd be scared.

Unlike his mother, he is not a chicken! He was so proud and couldn't wait to show me his new skill.

he brings me joy inside.

get thee hence.

To: Satan,

Listen here. Lest you think you're being sneaky and wise and that I don't see what you're up to, let me assure you of your error in judgement. I'm onto you. I see when you try to slip your little evil hand into my life and stir things all up.

I see that you were present earlier this week when I made a new running goal. I see that you have tried to thwart any forward progress I have attempted. Pretty tricky using my schedule as discouragement, leaving very few mornings or evenings available to get a run in. Pretty tricky, and mean, giving me two sick babies requiring a significant amount of my energy and to top it all off, throwing the bug at me too. "perhaps if I make her throw up and give her a monster headache, that'll stop her..." Hm. Good thing I'm onto you. Good thing my team is stronger than your team and good thing I want my own success more than you want my failure.

Did you see my team running with me this morning? My coach on his bicycle riding next to me telling me about how it's probably time for his training wheels to come off. My cheerleaders jabbering to each other as Bob carried them through my run. Did you see that? I won't thank you for accompanying me, because you're never welcome, but did appreciate the motivation to keep moving when you tried to tell me I was done. My lungs burned a little and my legs were heavy, but I didn't stop. Did you see that?

Just wanted to be clear about the fact that you're wasting your time in this house with this girl. There have been times in my life when hanging out on the edge of your world brought what I thought would be thrills and ended in heartache and disappointment. I'm done. I found true exhilaration right here, in this home where you're not welcome. I have glee, laughter, love, motivation, peace and joy.

Get thee hence. Adios.

uplifting for me.

I usually keep my energy experiences separate from my personal blog, but this past weekend was so uplifting for me personally, I wanted it documented here.

I had two great energy experiences this past weekend. We traveled to southern California for D to compete in a half-ironman triathlon. Besides the high energy of adrenaline and pride that surrounded him completing the race, the event as a whole had great energy present. The anticipation after intense preparation, the camaraderie between the athletes and the excited, supportive fans combined for an electric, uplifting environment. It is absolutely inspiring and motivating to see the human body pushed to the limits, to see people accomplish goals they had only dreamt about and to have the crowd come together to cheer on each athlete at each turn of the course. My soul was fed by the great energy that poured out from the combination of people present. I am grateful for D and his desire to do great things and for the opportunity to witness and benefit from them.

The last day of our trip, we took our kids to the beach to play before getting in the car for our ride home. We enjoyed the swings and playground and gradually made our way down to the water. It was a little chilly, but so refreshing to be there, next to the ocean and breath the fresh crisp air. The kids played in the sand and tiptoed into the water only to scramble back to shore laughing as the waves chased them onto the beach. Water, and the ocean in particular, holds a great energy for me. It is renewing and fills me up. The mountains do the same for my husband. I was so grateful for this morning, for the opportunity to spend a few hours together, uninterrupted as a family, playing on the beach being uplifted and breathing deep the salty air. We ended up wet and sandy, tired and happy and grateful for the experience. We finished our outing with a trip down to the harbor for lunch together before our trek back to reality. It was a wonderful day together, positive, uplifting and full of laughter.

a perfect day.

I've gone back and forth...

as to whether there is a benefit to having everyone get sick at once, or if it would be better if we conquered this one at a time. Two sick babies are manageable until mom starts throwing up and then we're awfully grateful for the angels who step in and help me do one thing at a time.

Other things I'm grateful for today:
- the laundry was caught up enough that I've had clean crib bedding every time I've needed it so far.
- a functioning washing machine. that has been working around the clock.
- the fact that there wasn't anything planned today that I couldn't get out of easily.
- Cooper has been fantastic at entertaining himself with the new apostle song and his various projects.
- the spirit whispering quietly what each child needs to be comfortable.
- the fact that dad isn't sick. he's pretty busy at work and a sick day would only set him back more.
- I haven't had to cook because no one is hungry!

here's to a better tomorrow!

half-iron

70.3

That's the number of miles in a half-ironman triathlon.

It's ok to say "damn." I do. Everytime I look at his backside in his tri-shorts.

He swam 1.4 miles. In the ocean. Biked 56 miles and ran 13.1 miles.

And looked fantastic doing it.
And said he'd do it again.
Some people are crazy.

Good thing my crazy is also hot.