Progression

This morning we went to seven peaks and Tallie was actually gliding underwater with her hands in front of her and kicking her legs.

WOW!

She held her breath underwater without holding her nose for 11 seconds.

I was so proud I could almost cry.

We both were beaming.

Chloe actually jumped into the water on her own without holding my hands.

That is a big accomplishment for her.

She even goes down most of the slides.

WHOA!

Lexi actually sat in her floatie and I didn't have to hold her.

Big load off for me.

And she was actually happy.

It was a good day at seven peaks.

TJ went off to scout camp this morning, I swear he just got back from his high adventure hike with the scouts.

I should be more supportive of his calling.

But it's hard...I feel like he is always gone and that our vacation time is used up on scouts.

I'll stop now.

It's also Monday which means we are putting our house back in order after the weekend: time to catch up on laundry, dishes, trash, and cleaning (even though I clean on Saturday when Monday rolls around the house looks like a war zone).

We had Becky and Rob over for dinner on Sunday and I'm pretty sure I have never cooked so much food for one meal. We had Cafe Rio style burritos and I made shredded beef, Bajio sweet rice, and my own cinnamon chips and fruit salsa. I even made my own tortillas! (I had no choice because I had forgotten to buy some). I was really impressed with my self! They turned out really good and I'm sure I'll be making them again.

It's been a long time since we have had friends over for dinner. Ever since Brian and Brooke moved we just stopped. I was pretty depressed and let's be honest, we didn't have any other friends and I really just didn't want to make any new ones. I think I was just waiting around for Brooke to say they were moving back.

Still waiting...

So after like almost 3 years of our good friends being gone we have branched out.

It was nice to be social again.

Even though I LOVE Becky and Rob and their kids It's not the same.

We have history with Brian and Brooke and that makes it a lot of fun.

Over the weekend Trevor Hansen was in town the the kids and so he dropped them off at Tessa's and we had dinner together.

Man they are getting big.

Too bad we couldn't hang with Trevor. That would not have sat too well with Jodi.

Kendalynn and Chandler Hansen (and TJ being a nerd)

My little Chloe got to go to her very first birthday party today...alone! With no mom and no Tallie. Year after year she has been watching Tallie go to party after party while she had to stay home. The part she didn't understand was that all the parties that Tallie was going to were all the girls who she was playing with at our house. They were all her friends too and she wasn't getting invited to the parties. She is still 3 and Tallie and her friends are 5 and older so of course she wasn't able to go to the birthdays. But it was still hard for her. Today her friend Haili Wilkins turned 4 and had a friend party at Jumping Jacks and Chloe FINALLY got to go! She was excited to pick out a gift for her little friend and be a BIG girl and ride in their car. It made me happy to hear her so excited. I can't believe that soon my little Chlo Bug will be 4 and she will be having her own friend party. I am seriously SOOOO SAD to see her growing up. I love this age she is so darn cute!

I'm finding it hard to balance my Saturdays now that it's the day that TJ is home from work and our day to be together as a family. It's a day that of course I want to do fun things together but it's also a day to get things done and be productive. It's a day I can actually do long runs and a day for TJ to relax and golf. But we only have one day and the summer is flying by and my summer do list is only getting longer...TJs new work schedule will be a bit of an adjustment after him never having Saturdays off for the past 9 years. I'm not complaining at all because I LOVE HAVING HIM HOME AT NIGHTS and I love that his schedule is set and not changing all the time. I feel like we don't have to juggle our nights and plan things around him having to work nights. I love the new change. We also now get to have family dinners together every night, which means that I now need to cook dinner. I have been waiting to cook dinner and sit down with my family every night since we married. I have been busy looking for new recipes and planning meals. It's definitely a new thing for me but It is a very good thing. I want to be the mom and wife that makes dinner for my family so that when my kids leave for college they will miss a home cooked meal.

17 months

Lexi has me wrapped around her little finger.

She is just so darn cute and LITTLE!

At 17 months we are still waiting to turn her around in her car seat.

She loves to dance and says so many new words. She still hardly eats but is getting a bit more hair. She loves to get soaked in the water table outside and now climbs up the slide to the swing set. She is always standing next to the swings waiting to be pushed.

She is a handful and loves to throw fits but she still loves to cuddle so that makes it all ok.

She loves to wrestle the girls on the floor and loves to chase them around and around the hall.

We all need a little quiet time

So sometimes I feel that summer is full of chaos instead of simple days.

There always seems to be kids everywhere and days planned with big activities.

I get it.

I don't have a fence which equals kids everywhere and its warm outside which equals big trips to the water park and swimming parties with friends and this and that.

It's what summer is all about.

However, yesterday the girls had melt down after melt down.

Too much fun in the SUN and too many late nights.

So we have been trying something new and I'm loving the time with my girls again.

When Lexi goes down for her nap, the girls and I go outside and shut our curtains (for some kind of privacy) and I help Tallie one on one with her lessons in her learning to read book and then I help Chloe one on one with her letters and writing.

After we play a game.

Lately it's been toy story Yahtzee.

It's nice spending quiet time with them and making some summer memories with JUST US and no friends. It's nice to spend time outside on my favorite patio with the curtains swaying in the breeze.

Since the quiet time things seem to be in order and under control because for awhile there I felt like I had no control over the day or how it went or what we did because there are always kids and friends everywhere. My girls were constantly asking for friends to come play even right after we got back from a friends house or swimming with friends. They were getting to the point where they felt like they needed to be entertained every second or had to be doing some big outing or activity. I want them to feel content. Content to just be and be okay with playing alone and entertaining themselves.

I think my generation has a big problem with this and we are spoiling our kids and our kids are growing up always having to DO something or NEED something. Over scheduling and filling up their day with things to do and always trying to please them.

Kids need to know that life isn't always fun and play and sometimes you don't always get what you want. They need to know that sometimes that's just life.

I love Chloe in goggles

Dancing waters

This morning Tallie had to go to the dentist. She had 2 cavities.

I have a feeling she will be at the dentist A LOT. Looks like she has my teeth (thanks to my own mom). Since we were up in American Fork we stopped and had lunch and went to dancing waters.

I can't believe that I don't really have a baby anymore. Lexi is 17 months and running around with Chloe. They were cracking me up trying to drink from this shooting rock.

Lexi was so excited to be playing in the water. I just get nervous because she is so tiny still that she easily gets trampled and knocked over.

I can't believe that it's already the end of June. We have just hit 80 degrees. The summer is going to fly by like it always does and I'm already getting depressed about it. As much as I hate change, I would LOVE to live somewhere where we could be outside year round.

I wish summer could last FOREVER!

Fathers Day and roasting mallows

For Father Day the girls made TJ paper ties. They decorated them and put them on string so he could really wear them (wish I had taken a picture).

We made TJ a big breakfast and since he lost his wedding ring camping, I had my dad send me some rings he could try on. None of them fit.

He still does not have a wedding ring.

After church we went to his parents house for dinner.

Mona ALWAYS makes too much food.

I hope TJ knows just how great of a DAD he is and how much the girls LOVE him.

I hope he knows just how much I LOVE HIM!!

He is a wonderful dad and is always making us laugh.

He is awesome because he shares the load with me.

He doesn't sit back and watch.

We are a team and that is such a turn on!

I love him!

The other night our neighbors, the Wakefields, asked us over to roast mallows.

I'm glad we have good neighbors and friends that our kids can play with.

Swimming lessons

Swimming lessons are over.

Two weeks is just never long enough for progress.

However I did have a proud mom moment when I looked down and saw my sweet Tallie floating on her back unassisted.

She is growing up (Boo).

I tried to get them into another session but they were all full.

I feel like we are getting no where.

They both need to retake their swim levels.

sigh...

Next year.

They both LOVED going every morning (Lexi not so much) and Chloe was just on cloud 9 that she got to be a "big" kid and have something of her own.

Most of the time she was grinning and waving to me up on the stands and her teacher was always having to focus her on swimming.

I love that girl.

Bridal Veil Falls

Today we went up to Bridal Veil with Tessa and her kids.

We have been there a million times but the girls still love to go see the waterfalls.

I always try to make a "special moment" out of it and remind them about Heavenly Father and why it is He make these beautiful waterfalls and mountains for us to look at.

He loves us and wants us to be happy.

So He makes beautiful things for us to look at which bring us happiness.

Art City day parade

After the race we went home and I took a MUCH needed shower, B.O.!!!!!

We then went to the parade (which TJ now gets to join us every year because he has Saturdays off) He is NOT excited. He hates parades and thinks they are so GAY. But the girls like going and I take them every year. I feel like we got jipped on the candy this year but really it was enough for the girls. It was hot and TJ was having a blast.

We left early.

But still a good time.

TJ is a good sport.

Utah Valley Half Marathon

So it's crazy to set your alarm for 3:20am. Something just doesn't feel right about that. Becky was knocking on the door at 3:45 and we were off. We had to park at the Provo Town Mall to get bused up the canyon to the starting line. It was freezing this morning but I knew that once I started to run I would want to shed all layers. So I wore a tank top and shorts and had the bright idea to cut the feet out of old soccer socks and use them for arm warmers. It was the perfect idea because I could just chuck them on the side of the road when I was done with them and not care. We got off the bus at 4:30 and the race didn't start until 6. We hung out by one of the fire pits they had set up. But once our fire started to dwindle and no one was man enough to go find wood we decided it was time to head to the Porto pottys and to the starting line. I was getting so excited! I had a watch this race and it was going to make all the difference. I started off pretty good. My goal was to finish at 1:50 and to do that I needed to run 8.5 min miles. I started at that and for most of the beginning I was even under that, averaging 8.15. I was feeling pretty good. There was a couple unexpected hills that I was able to maintain my speed through. Which was very surprising to me. Actually the whole thing was surprising because I had only run like 3 miles at that pace before and here I was running 10 at 8.5 min miles. But the last 3 miles kicked my trash and I was tired and my knees were feeling it. Thoughts of walking kept running through my mind. AND I JUST CAN'T DO THAT IN A RACE!! I could not get faster than 8:50 and it was killing my time. I saw the pacer guy holding his sign of 1:50 and even though most of the race I was ahead of him, he came, passed and was out of sight. It was a HUGE boost though to see TJ and the girls on the side line cheering me on. It gave me enough just to sprint to the finish. However it was not enough. My final time was 1:52. ARG! Oh well...I'm impressed at the speed I was able to carry and I did shave off 13 min from my first half marathon which was 2:05 and that is something to be proud of.

Now I just need to keep it up and get faster and beat that time and then maybe not die when I attempt to run a FULL MARATHON!

I had to throw this picture in because of the pained look on my face.

I was feeling it.

This is Becky and today on the day of the race is her 28Th birthday! I wanted to make it special for her so I made her this annoying belt to run the race in to let everyone know it's her birthday. She didn't wear it....CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? How rude! (I don't blame her, it's loud!)

Her husband wasn't able to come see her run today but I was so happy we started and finished together. She is a great friend and an awesome running partner.

Happy running.

Dancing waters

Chloe and I sat outside in the breeze on the couch listening to music on the ipod watching the cotton fly from the cotton trees like it was snowing.

A really great moment.

Unfortunately Tallie was bored and so we jumped in the car and headed to dancing waters in Spanish Fork.

There were a billion kids there.

We had fun.

This is Tallie's hand at the camera.

It was a good day

Art City Days

Its that time again when the carnival, parade, fireworks come to town. Every year we take the kids to the carnival and let them ride a couple rides and we eat delicious, greasy, unhealthy food not to mention ridiculously overpriced. It was super windy and got pretty chilly and I didn't bring any jackets. Had the girls been warm maybe they would have been happier. Every year I get excited to go and once we get there I always think we should skip it the next year. It's a small town thing and it reminds me of growing up and going to the pioneer parade in Alamosa, Co. Those were some of my best memories as a kid, especially going to the carnival with my cousins. So each year we continue to go to hopefully get some good memories out of it.

This was the only ride Chloe went on.

She didn't have the best experience and it ruined the rest of the night.

Tallie didn't want to go on the train but I made her go with Chloe

(I think she thought it was a "baby" ride).

Earlier this week I went up to girls camp with the Relief Society Presidency.

Tessa was the lucky one who got to watch my girls all day while I went.

I taught the girls how to play "spoons".

Am I really that old??

None of the girls knew how to play.

I became a really cool person when the girls thought it was the best game ever.

I forgot to write about our family home evening this week. We acted out Lehi's dream.

We blind folded the girls and they had to try and find the iron rod and follow it to TJ (Lehi) and the tree.

I think it was a hit...until Tallie got clothes lined from the iron rod and hurt her eye.

Today we have been busy. Tallie has been throwing up all morning. I have been sweeping, moping and vacuuming. I've been doing mountains of laundry, mowing the lawn, watering all the flowers in the yard by hand (TJ refuses to turn on the sprinklers yet), watering the garden, and making strawberry bread.

I need to get to bed early tonight because Becky is picking me up at 4 am to head up to the race.

I can't believe it's tomorrow already. I'm nervous. I just found out there are hills in the course.

I hope I can still get my time.

Lexi has been quite the stinker/monster lately.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE HER, but I'm worried about what she has in store for us.

She is very sensitive and will get upset with you over ANYTHING!

I'm nervous when I offer her yogurt fearing that I have chosen the wrong flavor.

And if I did, a screaming fit that can last....A LONG TIME!

Asking her if she wants to go outside will always cheer her up.

She is constantly looking for her shoes.

She is quite fun though.

She is starting to talk a lot more and one of her favorite words is "trash" which leads me to always finding something in the trash that doesn't belong.

I have no idea what she likes to eat.

Yogurt is what she lives for.

Which is why she is in the sink taking a shower after feeding herself some.

I love that she still fits. And it was easier than filling up the tub.

We might go back to baths in the sink.

Tallie and Chloe started swim lessons todays and they LOVED it! I'm actually excited to take them back tomorrow.

Grandmas house

WOW! What a busy fun day! It all started when Lexi decided she wanted to be awake for the day at 6 AM. I am fine waking up at 6 to go run, but to entertain Lexi quietly so not to wake the other kids up is not so awesome. I ran a few miles on the treadmill (TJ is still out of town), I mowed the lawn and then I packed the kiddos in the car to go up to Grandma and Grandpas. We had to make a stop at the beauty supply to get foils and color. When we got there I put Lexi down for a nap and did a back to back color with Jamie and Megan. Neither one lives really close so it's a big day trip for them to get their hair done so I thought I would do them both since I was going to be seeing them anyways. We had pizza for lunch and then the cousins played on the slip n' slide (it wasn't really warm out but I am convinced kids are just immune to cold).

I really love getting these kids together. Tallie and Chloe both love Sophie and Chloe has been quite attached to sam. Lexi ended up taking a nap for 4 HOURS!! There is something magical about the Mona house. While I was over there I met their neighbor who I have heard them mention before and her name is Kim...Kim Galati my old college roommate in the YELLOW HOUSE! Small world! She was so surprised to find out she was friends and neighbors with TJs parents. She knew TJ and Tessa and she always was telling TJ to move on because I didn't like him. Boy was she wrong...cause I love him! It was good to catch up with her...I still can't believe she lives next door. The girls wanted to stay and have a sleepover with the cousins and of course they always have to get in the bath together (I'm sure that will be ending soon) Nixon was in the tub with them but she had to get out due to being a little crazy. I just love that I went to my in laws house at 11:30am and just got home at 9pm tonight and TJ wasn't even with me. I am extremely blessed to have such great in laws that I love so much. Tomorrow is somewhat busy too. A color at 9 AM and running one last 11 mile run before the big run and TJ IS COMING HOME!!! It's been a long week and I am ready for a big KISS.