One Hour and Eighteen Seconds

That's what it took me to run the 10K Bolder Boulder (in Boulder, Colorado).

This was my first time running it (or any official race, for that matter) and was hoping to make it under an hour. I didn't quite get my goal, but got awfully close!! If there weren't as many people that I had to weave through, I probably could have shaved at least a minute off my time.

But I ran the whole way amidst the 50,000 other people that were running the race along with me. And you know what? I had a great time. It was a good challenge for me and I'm glad I did it.

My brother Daniel, brother-in-law Kris and his two brothers all skunked me on time (they ran it in about 47 minutes) but I was proud of myself for joining them and trying this out for the first time.

So anyone wanna join me next year? I need GIRL POWER!!

(click here for my race results)

Some of My Favorite Photos as of Late

It's a party at our house every day. Don't you wish you were here partyin' it up with us?

Ever Since St. Patrick's Day

Since food coloring Addie's breakfast oatmeal GREEN on St. Patricks Day, she has insisted that I now color her oatmeal EVERY time she eats it (which is about 3-4 times a week)!



We've experimented with red, pink, green, yellow (wasn't enough 'color' for her, so we had to change it), orange, purple, and blue.

Any other fun colors you can think of for us to try out next?

Anything He Can do I Can Do Better

Remember that line in the song of the broadway play Annie, Get Your Gun?

Well, such is NOT the case here. There are things that Ben most definitely can do better than I. And thank goodness for that. So I'll take this time now to brag about what hubby has been up to.

We just moved in to our home a couple of months ago and needed some shelving installed in the garage to hold, um, you know, garage stuff...

So Ben got to work. Bought nails, 2X4's, and plywood. Got out nails, screwdriver, and cutting saw and...VUALA!

I coulda never come up with this.

Job well done, don't'cha think? Look at him--he's so proud!

Another job that Ben finished since moving was completely installing a new garage door opener unit. Those things AINT easy to install! But he did it. Way to go, babe! That's my man!

What Am I Thinking?

So I did it. Have always wanted to. Never thought I really would. But I did it. (Well, it's not done YET, but the sign-up is official).

I am running the BoulderBOULDER on Memorial Day.

I know. I know. The BoulderBoulder is only a 10K (6.2 miles). But, 6.2 miles is STILL 6.2 miles. And for someone who's never even done a 5K, this will be a good start for me.

I've always believed that I could accomplish something if I really wanted to. For me on this one, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I know it would be an awesome accomplishment to say I've done a 10K at 31 years old after having 3 children (2 of them being twins none-the-less), but it's just so hard to get up the motivation. And to sign up. And pay the money. And train. And get there. Etc, etc. (I could go on and on with excuses).

But I did it. And I'm pretty proud of myself. (Funny, it sounds like I've already run the race!)

We'll see if I don't die in the process.

So I'm $42 poorer (hopefully this money will go to a good cause), getting more and more nervous and anxious every day, exercising my little tooshie off to make sure I can cross the finish line, and...

headed to the store to buy a new pair of running shoes.

Well, I deserve them, don't I?

WINNER!!

Check this out! Ben and I are officially famous! We won 2nd place in a photo contest (out of nearly 8,000 applicants) and will now be the proud owners of....

28 Andrea Bocelli titles consisting of six DVDs and twenty-two CDs! YAY!!

http://andreabocelli.shutterfly.com/winners

(We are the first photo listed under the 2nd place winners. Cool huh?)

The New 'Do: Shaggy and Grey at 3

So Addie turned over a new leaf this year. This leaf doesn't happen to be a good leaf, actually. It actually pains me to even think about it. But it has happened.

I don't know how it happened, either. This has kept me up late at night thinking about it. Where did I go wrong? What happened in Addie's life where she felt compelled to make such a big change? What are her underlying issues? (Do we need to seek therapy perhaps?) And last but not least, how long will it last?

You ask: What is this leaf-turning phoenomenon that has submerged in my almost 4 year old? Note for yourself the documentation:

June 29, 2005. Addie is 2 days old. See the bow in her hair?

January 2006 6 months old. I KNOW she was giving a thumbs up because she loved her precious locks.

April 2006 9 months old. I entered this picture in a baby photo contest because I thought she was so adorable (so she didn't win, but still--she's CLEARLY adorable)

September 2006 15 months old. I mean, really, how much more of a beautiful girl can you be? Just look at those gorgeous curls!

December 2006 Lovin' life with beautiful hair.

May 2007. I just can't get over how DARLING Addie used to be. Look at this diva! She loved to let me make her look pretty. ARRRRGGGGHHH!!

Scrumptious really, isn't she? January 2007

July 2007. Still sporting a cute 'do.

February 2008--Still liked having hair done. Even to go outside and play in the snow!

3 1/2 years old. December 2008--I think this was probably the last time she really let me do her hair. (We went for a flat-ironed look on this one. And she sat through the whole process with glee!)





TURNING OF A NEW (and not-liked-by-her-mother) LEAF

February 2009 Clearly you can see a difference. What has happened to my beautiful girl? Hair color changed and went completely flat. No more luscious blonde curls. Just a head full of moppy hair. Shaggy. Tangly. Fuzzy. No brushing, no fussing. Just the fall-in-your face, get-in-your way kind'a do. And Addie is in heaven.

April 2009 Addie's recent look--both hair and attitude.

Purty, aint she? No bows. No clips. No ponytails. Nope, she won't have it.

Picture taken April 4, 2009 This really is Addie's daily look. And it pains me so.

I told Ben that I love her dearly, but to put it bluntly, I'm rather embarrassed to be seen with her. It's that bad. Whatever will I do with Addie and her new do? Bribe, you say? Doesn't work. Take away priveleges? Tried it. Beg and plead? Every day.

I almost think that along with her shaggy new look, Addie's actually turning grey. Now, we haven't gotten her checked on this one to be sure, but it's hard not to think that this is happening when her hair never gets brushed, styled, and beautified. Anyone ever heard of a 3 year old gone grey?

Wo is me. I have no idea where to go with this one. I hope and pray that this is only a 'phase' but I have a feeling that it's here to stay for a while.

My heart is hurting now. This post has stirred in me many painful emotions.

Goodbye now. I'm off to shed another tear...

Just Finished

Great Series...well worth the read and really makes you appreciate more fully the Savior and the mission He performed for all mankind.

Now off to read:Thanks to ma and pa Gridley for these books. I know it's been a while, but I'm finally getting to them and REALLY enjoying them.

Look What We've Been Up To

Sorry, haven't posted pix in a while. Couldn't find the cord to connect the camera to the computer. So without further ado, here are some memories that we've made over the past few months. Enjoy!

Ryan and Nathan exploring how the dishwasher works (and pulling out the bottom rack while they are at it!)

Taking after big sis--eating butter right from the TUB itself!

Group hug

Somehow Nathan missed the memo of not painting on himself!

Nathan 1 1/2 years old

Nathan and Ryan

Addie doing what she does best lately--3 1/2 years old

Ryan climbing in a closet with Nathan following closely behind

Look what my cute little guys did? Shoved a whole bunch of clothes in the TOILET!!

The latest craze--putting on Addie's shoes. Good thing there's one for each!

Ryan with Addie's boots on.

Ring around the rosie

Our latest snowstorm. We were without water, power and phone for a full 11 hours! This is in our front yard. Ben had to shovel for about 2 hours just so we could get our car out of the garage!

Who Woulda Thought...

...That I would be privileged enough to FINALLY get one of these? I know, I know, I'm only decades behind everyone else. (But just think of all the money I've saved by not having one!)

Now I will walk around with this attached to my own self just like everyone else, so as not to miss any important messages.

So far, I've received 4 calls! I'm doing good, aren't I?

Drumroll please...

Okay, so here is the news you have all been waiting for. And I have to say, my dear sweet mother-in-law hit it right on the head!!! (she must have experience with this one...)

Here is what she said, "Den leader? with a whole bunch of 9 year old versions of your twinados!"

You got it! Webelos den leader! Can you believe it?

So, anyone excited for me? Jealous then. I knew you were.

(Currently accepting your condolences.)

Seriously?

So I thought I could fly under the radar for a while here in my new ward but it didn't last too long. Ben and I have been without callings for 3 weeks and yesterday the executive secretary told me a member of the bishopric was needing to 'talk with me'. Oh no. I was hoping for something..shall we say...easy. Hymn book passer-outer; Relief Society door greeter. Or at least familiar...primary teacher; activities committee. Any of these would have been ultra FAB for me. But no. It was not meant to be. And now, I'm wondering where to even begin with this new calling, as I am crossing into territory that I have never terrained before.
Any guesses on what it could be?

It Was a Good Day

Mary had a baby girl at 1am

Joseph left the MTC to head to Mexico at 11am

Ben and I bought a house at 1pm

...And we get to find out who Jason picks to be his wife tonight on the Bachelor...

What more could you ask for in a day?

Tell me...what did you do today?

You Know You Live in Cheyenne, Wyoming...

...if your darling girl asks you this question while you are doing her hair in the morning:

"Mom, when I go outside, is the wind going to blow my hair all over?"

And my answer to that is:

"Yes, yes hunny, it will. Guess that's just something we girls are just gonna have to get used to because this wind is NEVER going to stop blowing."

But hey, there's at least one good thing about living in the wind zone: No inversion!

Book Review

I just finished reading this last night. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It's about a man who found out that he had only 3-6 months to live due to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Randy writes mainly to tell his family and children that he loves them and will always remember them. And then he writes to all of us, to tell us to live out our childhood dreams. He actually delivered his 'last lecture' to an audience at Carnagie Mellon University in September 2007. The books details what Randy's childhood dreams were, and how he actually got to live them out-- being a professor, working with Walt Disney Imagineering, pioneering the Alice project, and co-founding the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnagie Mellon (among many others).

This guy actually got to do all that he had his heart set on as a child. And it stops and makes me think: am I living up to my full potential? Am I accomplishing my dreams? Living each day to its fullest? I think I already know the answer to that question and I've got a long way to go.

It also makes me think about what I would spend my last moments on this earth doing. Sure would put things into better perspective: hug more, worry less, laugh often, love those around you and never stop giving up.

Randy passed away on July 25th, 2008.

If you want an easy read, with lots of introspection along the way, head on down to your local library and check this one out.

Good Times

Brian Regan came to town a couple of days ago and Ben and I took advantage of that. Want some good, clean jokes and lots of laughs? Go to one of his shows. It was great. I needed a good laugh and am glad we went. Now go on and get you some tickets. Go on. Git!

p.s. Happy HEART day!!

It Finally Happened

There comes a special time in a mother's life when her children reach the beautiful age of 18 months. And I think you all know why.


But in case you don't, I'll give you a little hint. It rhymes with mursery (yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not a word).



And Sunday, February 8th, was officially the day that these preciousnesses got to enter those doors.


I must say, they did fabulously. No cries. No tantrums. Sheer pleasure and fun for the two of them.



And for mom and dad? Multiply that sheer fun and pleasure by a million!

Yeah, it was that good..