It's a new month...

And time for a new focus. I'm not going to ask anyone to blog daily, but I'm pretty sure you can handle weekly. Here is your December challenge (although I shouldn't call it that because it's not hard): Once a week, post a Christmas memory. A memorable Christmas morning, receiving a much-anticipated gift, giving a gift you looked forward to giving, a Christmas trip, celebrating a favorite tradition... the parameters are wide open. If your blog is in part to record what is happening in your life and those of your family, take a few days this month and record some of your favorite holiday memories. If you don't want to publicly share them, or if you don't blog, I welcome you to participate anyway, you know, the ol' pen and paper way. It will be fun to reminisce about former December memories as we create new ones this month.

** bonus question: if you happen to have a mother-in-law, what are you giving her for Christmas??

it's been 30 days.

It's the last day of November. While posting daily was a challenge sometimes, I've been grateful for the opportunity to take a deeper look at the daily blessings I enjoy. I'm also grateful so many of you joined me in counting our blessings. It has been fun for me to have a peek into your lives and the things that happen daily to make you smile. I have amazing blogger friends!! Some might say that the time I spend on this particular endeavor is a waste, but I can not concur. I believe that you are inspiring. You make me want to be a better mother. You help me through potential disasters in my kitchen. You assist with my not-so-crafty side and offer practical relationship tips. You have a strong conviction of your God and the sacrifices you make for your family are commendable. I'm grateful to call you my cyber-friends!

Today I'm grateful for aunt harrie, also known as Lindsay. She's coming in two weeks and my kids can hardly wait. She's pretty much the kind of aunt anybody wishes for. I'm grateful for her patience with me as I consistently fight my tendency to be the nosey, bossy older sister. She has passion for others, deep enough to make her do great things to improve their lives. She is smart and hilarious and gorgeous. I basically love her to pieces.

I'm also grateful for socks and jackets. Very seldom can I be found without one or both on my body. I'm not sure why I was born colder than the majority of the human race, but I'm sure grateful for layers so I can hang out with other humans. Katelyn brought me a costco-size pack of footies last week and I have enjoyed a fun new stripey pair every day. My fav jacket has tried to be replaced several times, but nothing fits quite like the old thing. Warmth. I'm grateful for warmth.

Holiday decorations. We pulled ours out today and I am grateful for the magic that surrounds these fun things for my children. I have great decor that I hold dear, most reminding me of my mother as she is the queen of Christmas decorating. It's fun to share these treasures with my little ones, although having it out for a month and having them keeping their little hands off might be quite the feat!

Music. I'm grateful I learned to play Christmas carols on the piano and that Cooper insists on blasting them through the house. It reminds me what my focus should be when I get distracted. I hope I can make this month magical for my family. Tips appreciated!

Real Christmas trees. I am tempted every year to go easy... artificial, pre-lit, pull it out of a box, but thus far, Denten has kept us authentic. My house smells amazing right now and it's not from a candle. The practice makes me feel as though I'm holding onto something from my childhood as my mother never succumbed to a boxed tree. Last year tromping through the snowy forest of McCall beat all, snowshoes, Ben cutting it down and everyone hauling it out. That's the way to bring home a tree, but fortunately for us here in the desert, Home Depot ships them in. It'll do for now. In fact, it's great for now because my children think playing hide and seek in the tree lot is a pretty great time.

So long, November... it's been a good one!

grateful sunday.

Tonight I'm grateful ...

1. great food. a few favorite recipes are posted below, and more are coming!

2. sunday naps. sister lindsay, you were in my dream. we need to talk before you come watch my children! an ice-cream bucket full of popcorn does not constitute an appropriate dinner for cooper!!

3. denten cooking our turkey today. we're a few days late, but our leftovers will be great this week.

4. being able to make some sort of contact with all of my visiting teaching sisters. this is a breakthrough for me with some of my sisters.

5. a free morning tomorrow to catch up around here. I feel like life has been nonstop for 2 weeks and I need some down time to get back on top of things at home. Here's to hoping for a slow week!

Twice-Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

This one comes from Taisey, as many good recipes do, and is absolutely the only way to eat sweet potatoes. It is my personal guarantee that if you ever adorn yours with brown sugar or marshmallows again that you have lost your mind. Seriously. De.lish.ous.

Twice-Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Serves 8

4 sweet potatoes, unpeeled (can use yellow or dark orange flesh sweet potatoes)
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 Vidalia or other sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small bunch fresh collard greens, stems and ribs removed and leaves torn into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups) *I've left this out before and they taste great or I've also used spinach
2/3 cup chicken stock
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
½ cup shredded Swiss cheese (I used Gruyere)

Preheat oven to 350º. Using the tines of a fork, pierce the entire surface of each sweet potato several times. Place in the oven and bake until soft, 1-1 ¼ hours. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let cool until they can be handled. Cut each potato in half lengthwise and, using a spoon, carefully scoop out the flesh from each half into a bowl, leaving about a ¼-inch lining of flesh in the skins to form shells with sturdy sides. Set the flesh and the shells aside separately.

In a frying pan over medium-high heat, combine the bacon, onion, and garlic and fry until the bacon is crisp and brown and the onion is soft, 8-10 minutes. Add the collard greens and the chicken stock to the pan, cover, and cook stirring occasionally, until the collards are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the stock has evaporated, 5-7 minutes.

Add the rosemary to the sweet potato flesh and, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until smooth. Add the butter, cream and Parmesan cheese and continue to beat. Season with salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the contents of the frying pan to the mashed potatoes and fold until well combined.

Divide the mixture evenly among the 8 potato shells, mounding it slightly in the center. Place the stuffed potatoes on a ungreased baking sheet and top evenly with the Swiss cheese.

Bake potatoes until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are heated through, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve at once.

Sweet Pork Tacos

This recipe came from Ashlee and was originally called Café Rio Pork. While it is delicious (perhaps better than cafe rio), it doesn't taste exactly the same. But it's super yummy and easy as can be. Throw it all in the crock pot and enjoy a few hours later!

1 ½ cans Coca-cola Classic – do not use substitutes
1 cup sugar
1 (7 oz) can Chipotle chiles in ADOBO sauce
1 heaping tsp dry ground mustard
1 heaping tsp cumin
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 3-5 pound pork loin or roast

Remove the chilies from the can of adobo sauce. (If you like super-spicy foods, leave one or two chilies in. If you want to clean the system, go ahead and use them all…) Add all the ingredients (except the pork, of course) in a blender. Rinse can of adobo sauce with coca-cola to get all the sauce out. Blend until well mixed. Place pork in crock pot and pour sauce over it. Cook on low for 7-9 hours or until pork pulls apart with a fork. Serve in tortillas with grated cheese, avocado, sour cream, salsa, etc.

blessings on saturday.

1. I'm grateful for my family. They were all together for Thanksgiving and I missed them. I love my own little family and we had a great time with friends, but I truly enjoy being with my family and I'm grateful for that.

2. I'm grateful for great baby-sitters. The kind you can leave your kids with and know everything will get done well... naps, dinner, bedtime, and playtime instead of tv. When I have time away from my children, I don't want to be worrying about them the whole time. Good baby-sitters are wonderful blessings.

3. I'm grateful for the peace I feel in my life.

4. I'm grateful for pot stickers. and Asian food in general, but particularly pot stickers tonight.

5. I'm grateful for disposable diapers. With two little bottoms going through multiple daily, there is absolutely zero desire on my part to save the environment through cloth diapers. I'll find other ways to be green... as for the bottoms, pampers cruisers are the only way to go.

Friday

1. a visit from kari ann. girls night out, reminders about what the important things are.

2. a completely quiet house with (almost) everyone asleep for two full hours.

3. peppermint joe joe's from trader joe's.

4. retracted.

5. lunch at the park with dad present. the fact that these people belong with me.

Grateful on Thanksgiving

1. I'm grateful for Denten. He's funny and smart and hot. He's faithful to me and to his Heavenly Father. He's consistent and a wonderful father.

2. I'm grateful for Cooper. He is hilarious and tender. He is smart and kind. He is a lot like me and therefore occasionally aggravating, but I'm sure glad Heavenly Father saw fit to send him to me.

3. I'm grateful for Seneca. She is beautiful and full of life. She is clever and happy. She is emotional and enthusiastic. She both makes me crazy and melts my heart. I thank Heaven every day for the fact that she found her way to our home.

4. I'm grateful for Beckham. He is charming and lovable. He is mellow and squishy. He is developing an opinion yet still often agreeable and easy-going. He is miracle number three and appreciated no less than the first.

5. I'm grateful for my Savior and the sacrifice he made so that I can have the experiences I'm having. I'm grateful for second chances with my children and for a future that will last into eternity. I'm grateful for the covenants I have made with my husband. I'm grateful for my life.

grateful for mom.

Today marks the anniversary of my mother's entrance into the world. Man, I'm glad that happened. I'm incredibly grateful for her today.

- I'm grateful that she took the time to teach me how to take care of things and people. I realize now that doesn't just happen. I know how to set a table properly and use good manners. I know how to really clean a bathroom. I know what is appropriate to wear in certain situations (no denim at church!). I know that good knives don't go in the dishwasher. I know how to take care of my clothes. I know that holidays are magical. I learned through patient teaching and example.


- I'm grateful that my mom believes in me without limitations. If she believed I had limitations, she sure never shared that with me. She expected great things of me and never doubted (to me) that I could succeed. She helped me memorize talks for church. She pushed me in piano because she believed I could be great. She expected me to do well in school and didn't accept excuses. She never held me back or led me to believe that I wasn't good enough to accomplish something. She has always been a wonderful personal cheerleader.

- I'm grateful that my mother is persistent. Meningococcal meningitis put up a good fight, but mom persisted, conquered and survived. Her angels knew I still needed her. Her persistence eventually taught me that ramen is not a healthy meal, that curfews are in place for a reason and that kissing too many boys has its downside. And that listening to my mother the first time really does save heartache and consequence.

- I'm grateful that she "gets" me. I'm grateful I can call with petty frustrations and rather than judgement I receive a listening ear and gentle advice. She understands when I've "had it" and when I need a break. She knows where I'm coming from and what my intentions are. Most of all she knows what I need to hear and offers clarity when my world feels muddled.

- I'm grateful that she supports me unfailingly as a wife and mother. She loves and admires my husband and adores my children. She compliments my mothering skills and respects the way we're raising our children.

I am like my mother in many ways, enough that we have the ability to drive each other a little bit crazy. It's probably good we don't live next door to each other as we both need our space, but I love her dearly and need her on a regular basis. I value our time together and am incredibly grateful Heavenly Father had the wisdom to make her my mom.

Ironman: post-race interview and video

Some of the loyal readers of this blog have had questions for the athelete, so I conducted a very professional interview this morning as we laid in bed, brushed our teeth and as the ironman ate a bowl of cereal:

how is your body feeling? better than I thought it would. knee feels good today (no limping coming down the stairs), muscles are fine, digestion issues may have been due to a bad protein shake.

would you do it again, or are you going to do it again? oh, I'll do it again. to be honest, I've got my eye on st. george. volunteers get first dibs on registration, I'd consider that.

what does this next year hold as far as races? I'll do some smaller events, soma half again for sure. I'd like to find another half. Kate and Peter signed up for the Ironman next year and I've agreed to train with them, so it will keep me in shape.

when will you work out again? I'm swimming at lunch today. so in a few hours.

what did you think about when you were out there? how fast I was running, that I could run to the next aid station. There was a guy in front of me with an iron tat on his calf. I figured he knew what he was doing, so I stuck with him for quite a ways. Then he stopped for his special needs bag and I didn't want to wait so I kept going. The second loop, a girl passed me who was going a little quicker than I was, but I figured I could stay with her. I followed her the whole second loop and was thinking that if I stayed with her that I'd definitely finish this thing in five hours. Then at the end of the loop she headed in for the finish and I realized I was on my own for the last loop. sometimes I'd just think, "I'm doing this. I'm doing an Ironman."

what was the hardest part of the race? dealing with stomach issues. the fuel I had with me on the bike made me sick so I didn't take any more. I went into the run thinking I needed to take in some calories, so I had an orange at an aid station and it did not sit well. after my stomach settled, I was fine again.

what would you tell someone who was considering doing this? sign up.

how about someone already in, what's your advice to them? my cheesy advice is to stick with your training, it will all be worth it on race day.

what's the one thing you would change? my nutrition intake. I don't know what I'd do different, I'd have to experiment. I did not cramp at all on the bike or the run. I credit salt stick for that. I had no idea that coke and water would sustain me for 20 miles. coke was probably not the best carb choice, but it prevented a sugar crash. I figured I wasn't going to mess with what was working.

how did you feel about the gear and clothing you chose? Would you use it again? Yes, I'd use it all again... except the wetsuit. I'd go with a different brand (it was very susceptible to tearing) , but the goggles, bike, bike shoes, tri suit, everything else I'd use again.

how would you rate your overall ironman experience: I don't know.
excellent, very good, good, fair, poor: excellent (without hesitation).

one last question. how do you feel your family handled your training and race day? excellent. very supportive and understanding. it was a group effort.

Notes: a day or two before the race, Dent and Katelyn were talking and he said that as cheesy as it sounded, he wanted to try to do the whole thing with a smile on his face. We both laughed out loud, but understood what he meant. He said that it was a big enough deal and he's worked hard enough that he didn't want to be miserable, he wanted to enjoy this experience. He claimed in my interview that he kept his positive mindset the entire race, that discouragement never set in. There was one pass on the bike when he came by and his face was not necessarily happy. Katelyn and I wondered where the smile went, but he reassured us that he was simply in "the zone, focused."

When asked if he'd do it again, he said there was nothing like it. He said he did not anticipate feeling so emotional about it. He tried to find something to compare it to, but nothing does. A high school state basketball championship was fun and he was excited and happy, but this runs deeper. Maybe, he speculated, because it was such an intense personal achievement. He hopes that as he looks back on this event that the emotions and sense of satisfaction never fade. Me too. It's a natural high that he wouldn't hesitate to feel again.

Below is a clip of his finish. Turn your volume down, I am loud. You can hear Cooper cheer for his daddy and Dent's name announced as he runs under the finish arch. It's good stuff.



have you seen katelyn's video of the swim start? the announcer said that it was just a great big training day with 2500 of your closest friends. awesome.

catching up on my blessings.

Sunday, November 22

- I'm grateful that the day was smooth for everyone in our party. I'm grateful that the kids were good, there weren't any major meltdowns and that I had a lot of help keeping them happy and occupied.

- I'm grateful Denten enjoyed his experience, that he didn't have any injuries or pain great enough that they prevented him from completing his race in a time he was proud of.

- I'm grateful for the support of our family and friends. There were many who were not present who were rooting for Dent from afar. It warmed my heart to know that there were those out there who wanted nothing but Denten's complete success.

- I'm grateful for modern technology. My dad was able to track D and Wade online all through the day and feel a part of the excitement. My sisters and I texted all through the day giving a head's up that one of the boys was coming, or coordinating our locations. It made the day so easy and smooth.

- I'm grateful that I had a bed to fall into at the end of the day. I did not physically move 140.6 miles, but I was majorly tired.


Monday, November 23

- I'm grateful for a great energy appointment where the inspiration needed was fully present.

- I'm grateful that Denten's body is feeling great, all things considered.

- I'm grateful that I have things to look forward to to help overcome the post-race cloud that has settled over me.

- I'm grateful that we have tons of delicious leftovers in the fridge.

- I'm grateful I didn't have anything major obligations outside of my home today.


Tuesday, November 24

- I'm grateful that we have Thanksgiving plans with great friends.

- I'm grateful for a hot shower.

- I'm grateful for a husband that comes home at the end of the day.

- I'm grateful for my clean microwave. I know I mentioned it before, but it makes me smile every time I open it. My mom was completely grossed out and cleaned it for me. I love her many times a day for it.

- I'm grateful that my kids look out for each other. I'll often hear Seneca ask Beckham if he's ok and he'll answer, "yeah." She'll respond with ok and they'll both move on.

Ironman: the triathlon

My Ironman.



Let's start at the beginning... shall we?



more than 2500 participants in the water all at once. they did not start in waves, it was madness. and amazing. 2.4 miles in the water with random arms and legs flailing about.



D finished his swim about 10 minutes faster than anticipated. I almost missed him as I wasn't expecting him to be coming through transition so soon. Adrenalin was pumping!



112 miles on the bike. That's a long ways.



The wind out on the loop was not kind.



He quickly shed the bike and helmet, replaced them with running shoes and took off for 26.2 miles. a full marathon, folks. He'd been going almost 8 hours at this point.





this smile was for seneca. she didn't hesitate letting anyone know "that's my daddy!"



coming down the finish chute!



he did it!!



the finish line.



I hugged him two minutes later. He said he wanted to cry although the smile on his face was enormous. He was amazing. It went exactly as I had hoped in that he went into this completely prepared physically, mentally and emotionally. He pushed through the fatigue and the stretches of pain. He had a goal and he met it. It was a long year with training sessions often twice a day. I should be relieved it's over, but I have had a little sadness following me around for two days. I know I have other things to look forward to, but this was such a great experience for all of us. I'm proud of him. I'm happy for him. I love him. He's a freakin' Ironman, for heaven's sake! Wahoo!!


**I'll let Katelyn share Wade's awesome race and photos. visit here. she'll post something eventually.

Ironman: the spectators

Our little ones were complete troopers. They were up early and not home until late and yet were very pleasant all through the day.

Grandma did hair while we watched the swim.



we ate breakfast on the go.



beckham waved and held out his hand trying to get a high-five. a kind gentleman finally humored him on the run course.



we occupied ourselves with paper airplanes, games and snacks.



we attempted a group shot... in attendance were wade's mom and dad, denten's mom, my mom (taking the photo), katelyn and tessa, lindsay, cooper, seneca, beckham and yours truely.



we got to know our little cousin tess all over again. mostly these two just loved each other.





cooper found friends at every pit stop. he ran and ran all day playing with other spectators. he did take a few short breaks to watch his dad fly by and ring the cow bell. beckham ate as much as anyone would give him. seneca snuck drinks that did not sit well in her stomach. grandmas watched children and cheered on our boys.



it was a huge blessing that denten's office building was about 20 paces from this photo spot. the little ones took a 2-hour nap. we had clean restrooms and access to a fridge. it was a blast, really.

Ironman: the days before

The boys went for a practice swim.







there was strategizing going on.







There was also a lot of strategy talk going on amongst their supporters. We scoped the best routes to get to our parking avoiding all road closure. We talked out the food, baby beds, layers of clothing, water and all else that needed to be packed for the big day. We checked out the best locations to see our boys maximum times. I believe we were ready.

**photos in this and upcoming posts courtesy of either myself, katelyn, mom, dianna or the official ironman photog.

Ironman: how we got here

It was one year ago that my husband came home with the idea that he would like to participate in the Ironman Arizona 2009. I believe I raised my eyebrows and smiled. He works in Tempe at a building that over looks Tempe Beach Park and had spent the week observing the triathlon preparations out his window. He went and meandered among the athletes out for practice swims. He went and wandered through the expo. He watched out his window as they placed the buoys for the swim. He admired bikes and gear. He started dreaming and caught the fire.

As much as we enjoy watching such events, in my mind something of that caliber was a little out of our league. As the conversation continued, I realized he was serious. Really serious. I didn't ever doubt his ability to do it, rather questioned whether I wanted us to make such a major commitment, because it would be a major commitment. As he was wrestling with the decision to register or not (which was a decision that needed to be made quickly), I made one request: if we do this, we do this. If you register and commit, then you commit to being prepared, to work hard and to do it right. We don't register and then wait 6 months before you get in the pool. You don't go on a leisure Saturday ride and call it training. I'm no professional athlete, but I'm well aware that the quickest way to turn an athletic event into a disastrous and disappointing experience is to be unprepared. I recall committing my full support as long as he committed to work his pants off to be ready.

Don't get me wrong, Denten has never been a slacker. He works hard and does things right, but this was a big deal... he had never run a marathon before. He had never swam competitively before. He was considering doing both with a major bike ride sandwiched in between.

He had persuasive and strategic phone calls with Wade and I had concerned phone calls from Katelyn. "Do you know what we're getting into? Do you realize we will be single mothers this year? Do you think they're serious??" Then the phone call from Dent, "I'm in."

And he was. The registration alone was a significant financial commitment. Training schedules were outlined. A budget was created. I learned which activities I would have to either fore go or find sitters for or do alone with the kids. We learned that time with dad wasn't wasted, it was appreciated.

Yesterday at 7:55 p.m., he crossed the finish line of the Arizona Ironman triathlon with a smile on his face as the announcer called out over the loudspeaker, "Denten Robinson, from Phoenix, Arizona... YOU are an Ironman!" I might have cried a little. He did it. And he did it right. He did it with no regrets. He did it with many hours of preparation and training behind him and it was not disastrous or disappointing. It was inspiring and motivating and amazing.

It was hard and long, for both the participants and the spectators, but it was enjoyed by both as well. I believe that the pride seeping from both his mother and I at the finish line was felt by everyone around us. As we were anticipating his arrival around the final corner into the finish chute, I was whispering, "come on, babe." She was whispering, "where are you, bud?" Cooper was straining his little neck to see his dad in the final minutes of the event we've all been preparing for and anticipating for a year. He didn't disappoint. He finished strong and it was incredible.

Today was open registration for the Arizona Ironman 2010. They filled all spots and sold out in 24 minutes. Many of those registered for next year were finishers last night. Denten's name is not on the list for next year. We both have mixed feelings about that, but this year will hold different adventures for our family. Photos and details about the big day coming soon!

Cooper's mile.

Saturday there was a one-mile children's race that finished at the same place the Ironman would the following day. It didn't take any convincing at all when Dent asked Cooper if he'd like to participate. He was a little disappointed, however, when he realized he wouldn't be swimming and riding his bike as well.

Seeing as he is only five and the course was a full mile, an adult was allowed to accompany him on his run. Denten was saving all he had for his own event and I figured I could keep up with a 5-year-old for a mile.. I mean, how fast could he really be?

getting his number:



waiting to begin:



leaving his mother in the dust:



When we hit the starting banner, he took off. Seriously. A full sprint. I turned it up to catch him and explained that we had a long way to go and it was ok to slow down. There were older kids that had started earlier and he could see them on the other side of the course coming back toward the finish. He said, "mom, we have to catch them!" I told him we didn't have to catch them, "well, why not?!" as if I had just said something completely ridiculous. I told him they were in a different race and we didn't have to compete with them. Then he noticed the other younger children around us and said, "well, we have to get ahead of all these kids!" No we don't, we don't have to beat everyone. "mom, I want to come across first." He was dead serious.

I have never been known as particularly competitive. Denten has the streak in him, but it's a quiet one. During this year of racing and training, he hasn't talked about winning or beating anyone else. Cooper, however, has it thick in his blood. Denten says it's a good thing if we channel it the right way.

After about 10 seconds of walking to take a break, Coop was ready to run again. I told him to go ahead, I would be right behind him if he needed a break. I fully anticipated he would slow down again in a bit and I'd catch him. I was out of my mind. It was all I could do to weave through the crowd to keep him in my sights. I tried to call out to him as he flew past the aid station, he didn't even notice it. He was completely focused on passing anyone in front of him. As I knew we were nearing the final corner, I wanted to see him finish. I cut the course and raced across a field in order to find him. As I yelled out to him, he looked back to inform me to follow the arrows, we were almost there. I said, "do you need to walk for a minute?" no, I'm ok. and off he went. I was dying, I'll be honest. He has some serious endurance. I realized I was holding him back and sent him to the finish line. I plugged along trying to keep him in my sights. He was still sprinting and headed straight for the line. He turned and looked for me after finishing.

He seriously ran his little heart out the whole time. Except for when his mother was trying to get him to take it easy. And he's fast. While this little tale is embarassing, I want to remember his focus, his drive and the fact that he had a blast doing it.







And not to be left out, this little one took a spin on the tri bike on our way to turn it into the transition area. Perhaps I have a few little triathletes on my hands. It's a good thing I'm a great cheerleader. And that I have Beckham who mostly just likes to eat snacks.

Nov. 22: The Big Day.

Tonight I am grateful that the Arizona Ironman was even better than we'd been dreaming it would be. An absolutely amazing experience. More later. I'm going to bed with an Ironman tonight. I'm so happy.

ironman eve. grateful tonight.

I have major reporting to catch up on, but it's going to have to wait until next week. Tonight, I am grateful for:

- my mother. she had her knee replaced last month and still made the effort to come to be with us this weekend. she's taking care of my children, taking out my garbage, doing my dishes, folding my laundry and... get ready... cleaning out my microwave. the one thing I hoped she wouldn't notice because I sure didn't get to it. she's such a trooper and I love her like crazy.

- the competitive edge that is ingrained in cooper. he did the kids ironman one-mile race today and while the full report is coming, let's just say the kid has drive. way more than his mother (who couldn't keep up with him).

- neighbors who are THE BEST. really. they came to my rescue again today. without them I would be in major trouble sometimes. while both of us dream about living somewhere else someday, I'm just not sure we could do it, because they are absolutely irreplaceable.

- a delicious and delightful pre-race dinner with friends and family and our star athletes. grilled chicken and veggies, rice, salad, grilled bread and a wicked chocolate cake. three grandmas, one grandpa, two aunts, one uncle and a cousin who is getting loved on more than she can handle.

- the opportunity to ring my cow bell, wave my sign, chalk up the street all in honor of the guy who has spent the last year preparing his mind and body for an amazing endeavor. snacks are packed, diapers are a plenty, layers are laid out ready to put on little bodies, everyone has been sent to bed anxious to rise nice and early to cheer on our dad. it's gonna be awesome!!

**bonus question: what are you getting your mother-in-law for christmas??

grateful on nov. 20

I wish that I was more organized about this here grateful project, but at this point it is what it is.

I'm very grateful for my sisters today. They have both arrived safely, they both love and humor my children and have extra patience seeing as the energy level shoots up a few levels when they have an audience.

I am grateful for early bedtimes. It's 6:30 and two of three are down... the last one on his way. I'm exhausted and the fun hasn't even begun!

I'm grateful for the energy and excitement of a crowd. The elecricity at certain sporting events is good for me. We ventured to the race course today for a practice swim and registration and the thrill is already in the air. It just radiates off of everyone. It's positive and encouraging.

I'm grateful for the location of denten's work building. It's making this weekend super smooth to have a homebase complete with a place for babies to nap and a fridge and microwave. There could not be a more perfect spot for this event.

I'm grateful for Ms. Krysten. Cooper had a little Thanksgiving program today at school that followed his feast. She and Mr. Andy are absolutely amazing. The environment they provide suits Cooper very well. It is a place where he thrives and learns. I have much more on this subject another time, but I'm tired, so tonight, I'm just grateful.


**Bonus question: what is your favorite holiday album? what do you listen to in the car, or when you're baking... what one album do I need to download??

today's gratefuls

- d's dedication to provide for our family. it's almost 9 p.m. on the eve of a major weekend and he's still finishing up at work. I'm grateful that he takes his work seriously and that he enjoys what he does. he has built a great relationship with those he works with and has proved himself valuable at his firm. I'm grateful for his dedication.

- guests. if all else fails, knowing favorites are coming to stay motivates me to clean my house. it sparkled for about 30 minutes today before I let my children back inside.

- easy dinners. tonight it was sweet pork tacos with the assistance of the crockpot. so easy and so yummy.

- creme puffs from fresh and easy. oh divine bliss... I gotta hurry, katelyn already started hers without me.

- days full of family... mom, sisters, cousins, beautiful weather outside. it's gonna be a great weekend.

11.18

- moose munch. found at target. it's a special treat seeing as it's over $4 for a small portion, but oh man, it's good.


- a great car wash. I found a new one close to me. they are thorough, inside and out, and I'm picky. no eating in the car allowed!


- friends who help in last-minute rescue situations... lifesavers!

- music. I could say a lot on this subject, but today I'm grateful that it helps my children learn. Cooper is recognizing the number of intervals between notes in songs and it's so fun to hear him point them out. He's also working on his articles of faith and having them set to music is so much easier... for me! Seneca and Beckham have our bedtime songs memorized and sing along with me before they go to sleep. Music makes learning in our home fun and easy.

- anticipation. this is the weekend we've been preparing for for a year. family begins arriving tomorrow, excitement is ever-present!

grateful on the 17th

Today I'm grateful for my dad. The esteem I have for my dad is greater than can be expressed in a 5-a-day post, but he makes the list nonetheless. My dad is truly handsome. I have always thought so. A few things I am grateful for and admire regarding my dad:

- he is disciplined and meticulous. he is faithful with his exercise regimens, he loads the dishwasher with a slight bit of OCD (and passed it on to me), he takes impeccable care of his possessions and understands that obedience brings forth blessings.

- he calls me sometimes just to chat. to see how I'm surviving, to comment on a photo of beckham's face or to share a compliment or funny story. I love when he calls.

- he's got his feet on the ground. he dreams big and probably believes in miracles, but he's grounded in reality and occasionally helps me find my way back there.

- he has taken great care to provide fantastic opportunities for his family. whether it be travels, education or exposure to things outside of the local community, he offered them readily to his children and is now doing the same for the next generation. while he may be dubbed the banks family atm, his focus has always been on the experience, not the expense.

- he plans and he prepares. seriously. as in, we have things on the calendar many months in advance because he just can't help but plan ahead (another inherited urge). as in, he must take an afternoon while on vacation to prepare his sunday school lesson even though he knows the material inside out.

- he lets us make mistakes. somehow he found the perfect balance between letting us sink and bailing us out just enough when we've taken a wrong turn. high school was not full of rescues, but rather those gosh darn natural consequences that hurt like you know what.

- he's a lover of fine things. he does not read paperback books or wear bargain clothing. he drives fancy, enjoys a great meal, and exposed his family to classic music and theater. and while his work ethic may not be in the form of boots and work jeans, my dad is not lazy. he has put in many taxing hours building a company that he can only be proud of.

He was the first man I loved. He promised not to tell my husband that I would always love him a little bit more. I'm sure glad Heavenly Father chose him to watch over me while in my early years... and still. He's pretty much amazing.

Gratitude month is amazing!

We've hit the half-way mark of our gratitude month and I'm loving it. I love that there are SO MANY participating. I love the little glimpses I get into your lives by reading your daily five. Everyone has put their own spin on how they're documenting their blessings... some have clever titles for their posts, some play catch-up when they miss a day, some follow a pattern when recounting their gratefuls while others are quite random. Some have chosen to focus on one thing at a time rather than five and others have lists that go on and on. I have read apologies about how trivial a blessing may seem, and apologies to readers who may be getting tired of reading about gratefuls. I'm releasing the guilt and the feeling that any potential blessing is trivial.

The hundreds of blessings recorded in the past 16 days have served us in one way or another. They bring joy, peace, laughter, contentment, a moment of reflection and a security in our faith. I love that I can tell what you value most by reading your list. I can sense the complete adoration Rebecca has for Lillian and her sweet healthy body. I can tell how much Diane values mealtime with her boys and teaching her son how to prepare great meals. Jaime is way past due for her own washer and dryer and will be rewarded with stellar ones in her next life. Jana has a home that fosters an environment where her children are each other's best friends. Amy believes in miracles and has an eternally optimistic outlook. Katelyn has a marriage in which her husband is also truly her best friend. Misty also values great food and I wish I lived closer to her to try all the creations that come out of her kitchen. Torey is anticipating a move and is grateful for things that make it a smooth transition. Joni lives a simple life and appreciates the small things that make her day great. Erin loves where she lives and takes advantage of great opportunities around her. Aubrey has an adorable little girl who discovers new things daily and is grateful not to miss those moments. Kim is in love with two men, one slightly smaller than the other, but they both fill her whole soul with joy. Kristina loves a clean home. Leslie is thrifty and creative. Emily takes time to miss one who is not here anymore and enjoy one who is. Julie is clever as all get-out. Kendra has a wonderful husband and healthy children and she knows it and does not take them for granted. Maren is the most down-to-earth, calm mother I know and has so much of my admiration. Debbie seeks out opportunities to serve and is blessed immensely in return. Lindsay puts her heart and soul into running a smooth and peaceful household.

See how much I can tell from 5 little blessings?! I love all of you for doing this, it's completely inspiring to me. Keep it up... you're so fantastic!!

grateful for moments

like these:



this one was introduced to air hockey this weekend. I'm pretty sure 75% of his time was spent perfecting his game. at one point he was beating me 5-4 and said, "mom, I just want to play by myself." what? I'm not good enough competition??




D's brother is playing basketball for the Univ. of Alaska in Anchorage. They played in San Diego this weekend, thus the roadtrip. I'm grateful that he's happy, that he works hard and that my children love him to pieces.



more popcorn, please.



it went in. Drew's dad couldn't be there and was listening on the radio in Utah. we were excellent cheerleaders... he could hear us on the radio!



getting lip gloss from grandma.





dancing on the court following the game.



the robinson grandchildren minus one. Xander Robinson Elton was born this morning!! We just missed him, but judging from his predecessors, I'm pretty sure he's going to be adorable!

grateful 11.15

I had every intention of having photos for this post, but I'm too tired to do that at the moment, so you get my non-photo gratefuls today and hope that tomorrow is great.

1. I'm grateful for Dutch. As I commented on our drive home tonight that my buns were very tired of sitting in my seat, Denten commented that they were in about the most comfortable seat possible when road-tripping. It's true. Dutch is comfort all the way around. He hauls bikes, luggage, and kids and entertains with movies and music. He's reliable and patient. He blows cool air on my when I'm hot and warms my body when I'm cold. Sorry I complained, Dutch.

2. I'm grateful for Denten's calm demeanor. Our children had a few moments on the way home when it was such a bummer. I'm happy to let kids ride in my car when they're sweet, and when they're not? Well, it's so sad. Lessons learned on the side of the road delay our arrival home, but they are powerful lessons.

3. I'm grateful for DaNae's hospitality. She is having a baby tomorrow and yet spent the weekend hosting our little family and traipsing all over so cal to watch basketball. What a trooper! And she always has new recipes for me to try... good ones on the way! Can't wait to meet our new little cousin!!

4. I'm grateful for Beckham's appetite. Sometimes I don't enjoy the fact that my children ask for snacks all day long, but I'd rather have them enjoy eating healthy things than have a fight at mealtime trying to get them to eat. They are not particularly picky, especially Beckham, and I consider that a major blessing.

5. I'm grateful for the priesthood and the fact that my husband is worthy to hold it and bless our family with it. He and Winston gave me a blessing this morning that was ever so needed and I know that the words spoken came straight from my Father in Heaven through the mouth of my husband and were just what I needed. I'm grateful for my testimony of this power.

November 14

Today I'm grateful for:

- Dutchess. She is the gps unit that came nicely installed in Dutch. We have a fantastic relationship. My body is in Vista, CA at the moment. We went to watch Cheyanne's soccer scrimmage this morning and I had to navigate my way back to DaNae's by myself. I am fairly certain that there isn't a straight road within a 50 mile radius of where I am and I am also fairly certain that I could have been so very lost without Dutchess navigating my every move. Love her!

- Grandmas. Today it's Dianna. She knew just when it was time to take my children up to the playground for a while and just let me sit. She loves them and spoils them and tickles them and they need it today.

- Wade. Katelyn's husband is doing the Ironman with D next week and I'm so grateful they are in this together. D has trained mostly solo, but it's been great to have someone doing the same thing at the same time to compare notes with and share motivation. They went on a ride/run together this morning and I wish it could happen more often. It's also been great for me to have an Ironman wife in Katelyn to share in the commiseration and encouragement. The countdown is on, people... ONE week to go!!

- The jeans I'm wearing right now. They fit fantastically and while they might have been a pretty penny, they make me feel like a million bucks... and that's worth it! Never underestimate the power of quality denim.

- Mr. Sun. There was a song about Mr. Sun that my Jacobs cousins taught us when we were younger and went to visit Canada. Cammi was so little and she smacked her lips when she sang it... anyway, I have always loved the sun. The way it warmed through my whole body, the bright, cheeriness of it, and the way it bronzed my skin. I have spent too much time baking in it's glory, but today as I sat on the soccer field with my eyes closed, I could just feel it penetrating my clothes, warming me clear to my soul. It kind of felt healing, which might not make any sense to you, but a few pieces of me have been in need of repair lately. Mr. Sun and some good fresh air are often just the ticket.

11.13

1. weekends.
2. my calendar. I like order, people!
3. texting. it's the perfect way to ask a quick question that doesn't require the urgency of a phone call but when you don't want to wait for an email response. and it doesn't inturrpt meetings like a phone call might. note: I do not text in any language but proper english. well, as proper as this blog might be. I take the time to fully spell out my words.
4. cousins. I love mine. I love that I am connected to so many ('cause I have LOTS!) through blogging and facebook. I love that my children love theirs. They get to see them this weekend and are so excited.
5. sleep. mine, specifically. it seems there is a shortage of it lately and I look forward to the day when I can catch up. in like 57 years. in the meantime, I'm grateful for what I do get now.

I'm grateful for...

1. the ability to be amused. I was attempting to assist seneca with her lunch today as she gets easily distracted. as the spoon was coming at her, she dramatically slapped her own hand over her mouth and held it very tight. her eyes told me that there was not a chance in the world that anything on that spoon was getting in. I know when to back off. also during mealtime, cooper was on a roll. he had been singing for about 30 minutes straight and while I normally encourage music of any kind, I needed a break. and it's not good manners to sing while eating. "but mom, I'm just being happy!" hard to argue with that.


2. lessons learned. even the hard way. the lesson is this: when you get home from the store, put the stuff away that you got at the store. you may recall the fabric softener incident... you'd think I'd learn... a new liquid laundry detergent jug has been floating around my main floor for two days being used as various obstacle course apparatus, until seneca and beckham came to me today to show me their "wet" hands. you have got to be kidding me. on carpet. a significant pool. joy. seriously, amberly. put. it. away.

3. a change of pace. I'm grateful I have variety in my days. learning time, music class, soccer practice, naptime, playdates, library runs... the daily stuff that keeps me moving from one thing to another. 'cause let's just face it... this week? I've needed stuff to move me.

4. beckham's huge smiles. particularly when he's swinging. "high." I push high and I'm not sure his mouth could open any wider in delight. giggles of joy erupt and it makes standing there endlessly oh so worth it.

5. comprehension. seneca is to the point where she understands consequences and is willing to test the boundaries. while this has the potential to be frustrating, I'm grateful her little mind is quick and that she gets it. she's been in her big girl bed for a few weeks, but if she comes out of her room after being tucked in, she gets put in her crib. it's so sad. she knows it, she fights it, and she's learning.

wednesday gratefuls.

Today I'm grateful for:

1. my mother. for a myriad of reasons, but today because she made me laugh really hard and I really needed it. she had no idea how perfect her timing was and how funny her innocent mistake was. she gets me. and when she doesn't, she pretends to. I used to think a person would eventually outgrow needing their mother, but I haven't yet. don't think I ever will.

2. my father-in-law. it's his birthday today and my, did he get a rousing birthday wish from my littles on the phone. he's even, predictable, strong, faithful, calm and a wonderful example to our family. from his basketball duties to his church duties, he demands the best and gives it in return.

3. fieldtrips. we ended up at a different destination today then originally planned, but getting out of the house was a necessity today and while I considered inviting others to go with us, today it just needed to be us. I enjoy the way my children play and interact with each other when they don't have other friends around. they look out for each other, include each other and I needed to see it today.

4. homemade pesto. I am a lover of pesto in general. It is a staple in my fridge for an easy pasta dish or on a sandwich, but tonight I got some great homemade pesto delivered and it was GOOD. I mean, really, really good. man, that stuff is totally going to be included on my menu in heaven.

5. packages in the mail. they are the best. the ups guy really does have a great job, delivering joy all day long! I mean, who is unhappy to see the guy when he has a present for you?? today he brought me an enormous box of diapers, which may not be exciting to you, but I'm stocked for another few weeks without having to buy any at the store. he also brought me my order from lakeshore learning... lots of great reading and math materials for cooper. such fun things! I love packages. feel free to send them to me anytime.

check out kristina and kendra... joining the grateful army today!!

Day 10

I'm grateful today. I very well could list five complaints, as long as I'm being real, but I'll stay focused on the task at hand.

1. I'm grateful for my knowledge that my Heavenly Father exists and that He knows who I am. I know that He hears me when I pray and that he listens. I know that He loves me and while I don't fully understand His timeline, I'm well aware that He's got one and that I fit into it somewhere.

2. I'm grateful for job security. Plain and simple. Very grateful.

3. I'm grateful for angels and honest people. I had my wits about me enough today to get the groceries I needed, load them and my children into the car and come home. And then realize that my cart back in the fresh and easy parking lot still had My Bag in it. After a quick unload of the food, we headed back to the store. Cooper helped me say a prayer on the way that My Bag would be right where I left it or that someone had turned it in. It was indeed still sitting right in the cart on the sidewalk, complete with all of its important contents. Coop said another prayer on our way home, this one full of gratitude.

4. I'm grateful for dancing. Considering how bad my husband thinks my moves are, we dance a lot in the house. We were testing out workout music this morning and the whole family was bouncing in their jammies. It resumed after lunch and tried as I might to calm things down, Beckham was still groovin' on his way to his nap. I tried to lay him down and just kept stomping and twirling in his bed, laughing his little head off.

5. I'm grateful for obedience? I mean, I'm grateful for obedience. Let's preface this one by making it clear that my position on baths is that dads should take care of them. Maybe it's just me, but I am not a fan of this activity. Seeing as dad isn't home until after everyone is sound asleep and I can only have stinky kids for so long, I bite the bullet and clean my children.

I asked Seneca and Beckham to go up to get ready for a bath. They listened the first time and went right up. After finishing in the kitchen, I followed them up to find that they had already turned the water on and were indeed having a bath. Fully clothed. Super. When it was time to be done, I got Beckham out, telling Seneca to play for just another minute while I got Bex in his jammies and I'd be right in to wash her. Well, little independent self that she is, she went ahead and washed herself, dumping an almost full bottle of baby wash into the tub. Well, she's clean now.

It's been a day of gritting my teeth and swallowing a lump that keeps forming in my throat. I know, however, that I am deeply grateful for the situation I am in. I've got a great home, children that I prayed like crazy to have and a husband who loves me even when I'm much too selfish and who enjoys his job. I'm grateful. It's also ok, though, to be grateful that it's the end of the day. 'Cause I am.

11.9

1. the opportunity to buy in bulk. If I were very rich, I would have amazing food storage. today was costco, three kids, two full carts and wonderful naps when we got home!

2. organization. I reorganized my pantry and food storage closet today and I love that I know everything I have! and that most of my costco purchases found a home.

3. denten taking care of dinner while I take care of business I had forgotten about.

4. vanilla almond granola from fresh and easy.

5. my dvr. we have a date tonight. and I'm oh so ready.

cooper came home from preschool today with a "thankful turkey." it's a large plastic cup with a turkey head and feathers on it. he's supposed to think of one thing every day that he's grateful for and write it on a piece of paper and put it in his turkey. we'll pull them all out and read them together on Thanksgiving. today he's grateful for falling leaves. it's nice to know that even when we don't live in a place that has a true autumn, he appreciates what could be!

blessings on sunday.

It's been a week now that we've been counting our daily blessings. It's so fun for me to see so many friends on my blogroll expressing gratitude. I love having little glimpses into your lives as I read your posts. Thanks for participating!

today I'm grateful for...

- funny kids. I requested a hug from seneca today. she turned and walked away. I pretended to be sad, so cooper came to my rescue and gave me a hug. I told him he was a sweet, sweet boy. He said, "thank you, that just brings me to tears." holy smokes, it was funny.

after quiet time, cooper went to find a treat. I hear from the kitchen, "Oh my gosh, I only have four halloween treats left! what's up with that?!" I laughed out loud. do I say, "what's up with that?"

- my angels. they came through for me big time today.

- dreams. denten and I have big ones and it's fun to be on the same page with him while we create our future together.

- great deals and great friends who share great deals!

- laughing so hard that you fall over. beckham was chasing seneca today and they were both laughing so deeply they couldn't run straight. they eventually collapsed in a pile on the floor, all tangled up in each other laughing so hard they couldn't move. really good, gut-busting laughter.

saturday gratefuls.

1. cooper's first soccer experience. he had his last game today and he has thoroughly enjoyed the past couple of months. I have too.

2. at-home-haircuts. my boys have been beyond shaggy for far too long, but their dad took to their heads today and they are so handsome! Beckham's face gets rounder every time he gets his hair cut, I can hardly stand it.

3. d's cleaning skills. we were doing a speed clean today. cooper and I tackled the bathrooms while denten did the kitchen. he took care of the mess and conquered piles I've been avoiding for way too long. I should also be grateful that coop likes to help me clean bathrooms. he uses half the bottle of windex, but man, those mirrors are clean!! and he has no fear of getting down and dirty cleaning the toilets.

4. a great afternoon and evening with my husband and no children. and baby-sitters that can handle playing, dinner and bedtime without a sweat.

5. a good, hot shower. my shower door is broken. it's been broken for a few weeks now. denten will temporarily fix it (balance it on the broken piece) but sometimes the door falls off when I open it... so I've been showering downstairs. the hot water and pressure is perfect. we have a new door... denten just needs a couple of free hours to replace it! let's pray that it happens in the next month.


Check out Rebecca's comments on gratitude week... apparently we are contagious! Nice work, bloggies... we have great lives, don't we!?

showing, not telling... my 5.

In this post, Torey talks about "showing, not telling." I have had moments when I've been really good at this, but lately my posts have been slap it down and call it good. I know that I am not reaching my full potential in this area and want to do better. Thanks, Torey, for the challenge! people, this is long. and fairly ridiculous. fair warning.

strength training class. two mornings a week I go to a local church building to workout with other women who share my desire for both social interaction and a stronger body. there is a generous sister who has teaching skills and volunteers her services. friday I came home with a deep awareness of my gluteus maximus which increased each time my legs attempted to carry me up the stairs. I don't think I had fully recovered before it all began again. lunges after squats after side kicks after knee raises... my thighs were yelling at me to "stop the burning!" I just yelled back, "you need this, toughen up!" so as cindy told me I had one more set of squats to go, I cried out, "lower, deeper, make it burn!" my legs yelled a little profanity and I reminded them that we were not here for a walk in the park.

I had a very similar conversation with my shoulders as they are the weakest part of my upper body. {you might think it be my pectoral region, but surprisingly, I can chest press with significantly less grunt than I shoulder press. I know, unbelievable} give me shoulder flys and all of the muscles northward tense right up in protest. "don't make us do it! we're too weak! put down the weights!" lots of times I really want to comply, but aren't strong upper arms sexy? so I make them do it. my face twists and winces and I often have random outbursts of unrecognizable sounds, but I do it.

and then it's time for abs. I have prided myself on my abdominal region in the past, say, in college when I actually dared wear a sports bra all by it's lonesome and there were ripples, my friends. I'm not even lying. you could see them, feel them and seeing as I never really had any muscles to speak of, I was awfully proud. but funny thing, I grew a couple of kids in me and while the muscles are still there deep down, there's all this stuff on top of them. that wasn't very good description. there is a layer, I'm guessing about an inch, of whitish-grayish, jelly, goopish material that squishes and no matter how many bicycle crunches, froggy abs, crossover crunches or reverse combinations I do, it doesn't go away! It's like my skin just got thicker. my dad is dying right now, I can feel it. anyway, today there was fire in my upper abdominal region. the sinewy strands of muscle fibers were screaming, "that's all we have, we've given everything! we are going to rip apart!" so I did 15 more and said, "you will be tighter than tight, firmer than firm and you will ripple, gosh darn it!" and then beckham came and jumped on me and I surrendered to the soft, very un-tight, un-firm and non-ripply cheeks on his face that were smiling down at me. it was a workout that inspired me to pick up doughnuts on the way home.

from this extremely eloquent soliloquy, you may glean that this very day I am indeed grateful for:
1. the opportunity to work out free of charge with friends I adore.
2. my body and the fact that even though it yells at me, it's strong and making progress. I am able to push my body harder and further than I could a few months ago.
3. I have beautiful, round creamy cheeks attached to a perfect face to kiss whenever I want.
4. a cute pink girlie yoga mat with tropical flowers on it that make glut exercises and ab tortures bearable 'cause the gym floor is all kinds of nasty.
5. doughnuts. although guilt accompanies this one, so it doesn't really count.
5b. the fact that my sports bras are cheaper than yours 'cause I can buy mine in the pre-teens department. ha!

(torey, how'd I do??)

my five for day five.

Today I'm grateful for:

1. second chances.

2. cooper's music class.

3. deirdre's pad thai.

4. online chat.

5. storytime before bed.

deanna, emily and krista are grateful today, too!

my athlete.

he may not have the most experience on the field, but he's focused and fast and loves every minute of it.