pillow talk

It's 5 am and I have been awake since 2. That said, I need new pillow. I have been trying several different ones with no success. Any suggestions?

Or am I just getting old?

celebrating sixty

Saturday we spent a fun evening with my family in celebration of my Moms 60th birthday. We met in Salt Lake at Temple Square for dinner and then went to do a session at the temple. We gave my Mom a book we had compiled titled, "A Mother Who Knows", which included a lot of pictures of us kids growing up. She loved it! And we love Mom!

daddy's to-do list

Nothing beats having Daddy home for a few days. And when you only have 2 days with him before he has to leave again, you have to make good use of your time.

Friday evening after he got home, we rushed out the door to "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". Very fun. We've all been singing about "7 fat cows" ever since.

Saturday morning Ryenne presented Courtney with her to-do list.

read a page with sunglasses: check.

catch: check.

dress up dad (makeup, dress, hair. . .the works): vetoed.

puppet show: check.

l.p.s. (little pet shop): check.

jumprope, blindfold tag, make maskes (masks), tag, and tramp: maybe next weekend?

why didn't you say something?

I had to write a funny story about our Moab trip. . .

When Sunday morning arrived and we were getting ready to leave, the girls were a bit sad. While Courtney and I were in a rush getting packed to go, Kate kept saying she wasn't feeling good. We were so busy getting everything into the car that we didn't pay much attention. And added to all the sadness of leaving, I guess we just passed it off as a bit of reluctance about heading home. Whatever we were thinking (it seems a bit hazy and misguided now), we basically told her to buck up and get in her car seat.

Kate continued to let everyone know her stomach wasn't feeling good. And we, using our best counseling skills, continued to tell her there was nothing we could do and she just needed to find something to help take her mind off it.

Until. . .she threw up all over the back seat.

To which Courtney responded by quickly pulling off the road and asking, "Kate, why didn't you say something?"

At which point I politely mentioned, "um, she kinda has been". And we both laughed.

Hmmm, maybe we need to sharpen our listening skills. Or perhaps provide the girls with a hammer.

lucky me

An hour or so ago, I was having a "poor me" moment.

We arrived home after bedtime, and so I worked quickly to calm everyone down, bark out bedtime orders, and shoo the girls to bed. Next I grabbed a little something to eat for a belated dinner, and tried to breathe for what seems like the first time today. And a hundred little devils started tromping through my head, confirming to me how rough I have it.

Tired. Misunderstood. Overworked. Unappreciated.

Poor me.

But just a few minutes ago, as I sat alone enjoying the peace and quiet of my little house, Kate appeared. Looking for "blankie". Together, we put on our detective glasses and went to hunt down her green, polka dotted, slightly dirty, but very beloved blanket. And as our magnifying glasses zeroed in on the prize, we giggled. And then she hugged me and said, "Mom, you're funny". And I said, "I try." And I scooted her off to bed.

And then I thought to myself, "I'm lucky." And my little world became a happy place again.

Just like that.

what daddy does at work

Ever wonder what Courtney is doing all those times he's away from home? He's ussually just "hangin'" around. . . Courtney spent last week hanging above the Colorado River. If he can't be home with us, at least he makes for a pretty cool picture!

We love our daddy. Thanks for working so hard!

weekend with daddy

Courtney is in Moab again for the sixth straight week, so you can imagine there are a few sad girls on the home front. Last weekend, however, the five of us girls packed up and headed to Moab to spend a few days with him at his home away from home. We had a great weekend in the sunshine. I guess if daddy can't come to his girls, his girls will come to him!

After we arrived Thursday night, Courtney took us to a great park so the girls could work out some of their energy after the long ride. There were all kinds of pipe instruments for the girls to make music on. Very cool!Friday morning after breakfast, we headed into Arches for some hiking. The girls had a great time climbing around on the rocks and exploring. Emmy decided that when she grows up, she'd like to become a rock climber. I told her I thought that was a great idea if she wanted to. Here's why: 1) she has a super strong, wiry little body and 2) she has no fear! They're all pretty good little climbers. One man came and asked me if the "little girls climbing around like tomboys" were mine. I proudly said yes!

We all learned some interesting things while the girls earned their Junior Rangers badges. For instance, did you know there is such a thing as a kangaroo rat? We do now!Claire was a trooper on what was hopefully her first of many, many hiking excursions to come!

The girls were so excited to have Uncle Shawn and Aunt Kelsey join us on our little getaway. Friday night we met them and our friends Tom & Emily Burnham for dinner.

We had a long wait and were busy chatting when I realized Kate was gone. We found her sitting on a bench next to a nice, but unknown guy on the bench near the restaurant entrance. She had slid right up next to him and had her trademark look of determination and independence combined with an "I'm tired-of-waiting so I don't care what you think of me sitting here" kind of look. We were all laughing watching the exchange between the two of them. For a while, he kept glancing down at her. She never looked up at him. She just sat swinging her legs and staring straight ahead. After a while, he began tipping his head down to her in conversation. He also continued to look straight ahead, playing along with her perfectly. It was hilarious. Finally, Courtney went over. When I asked her what they talked about, she said she'd learned that he wasn't running the race (the next morning), but that he'd trained really hard to watch it. He was a great sport! Wish we had gotten a picture!

Saturday was the Canyonlands Half Marathon and 5 mile race. I had gotten into the 1/2 with my running friend Emily, but ended up having to switch to the 5 mile (I'm getting old). I was bummed because it's such a beautiful, fun course, but it was fun to run with Kelsey. Keeping with tradition, Emmy and Kate ran the last 1/4 mile or so with us to the finish line!

That afternoon, Courtney took the girls to the famed Hole in the Rock store and to Wilson Arch to hike around a bit. I stayed with Claire while she took a little nap so I missed the "authentic" trading post goods at the store. When they got back, we wrapped up the evening by driving up to Dead Horse Point, one of our favorite places. We were excited to show Shawn & Kelsey, but were a little disappointed that it was too cloudy for a very good sunset. Sunset or not, it's still an amazing place.
Our days in the sun went by a little too fast, but we had a great time. It's always good to have a little family together time!

cute as a bug claire

Here's Claire's 6 month pictures. My friend Nicole Nelson (Pixie Dust Photography), took them again. I went to high school with her and never even knew she had this amazing talent! Lucky for me, she's now our neighbor! Anyway, she does an amazing job. Enjoy!

what a tricky little guy

Wouldn't you know it? That little leprechaun got us again. I thought we'd gotten by without any of his little tricks this morning. But when I went to get some bread, his mischief was apparent. Green bread? That stinker. We had no choice but to have green french toast.

Interesting.

We were feeling pretty "lucky" that the bread had been the extent of the leprechaun tricks. But, Holy Cow! When I poured the milk into our glasses, it also had a strange, greenish tint. It occured the instant the milk hit the glass! We had to check the jug twice to be sure. But it was definitely white until it hit the glass.

The girls got a little nervous when their feet started turning green. They were pretty sure they could see the color changing. Ryenne was quick to suggest that we call Grandma C and Grandma J to warn them, knowing that they buy their milk at the same place we do. Luckily, we caught them before it was too late.

Seems like those leprechauns can be so sneaky.

Fortunately, everyone's feet are looking a fairly healthy pinkish color this evening. Looks like we were "lucky" after all. We did agree, however, that next year we will need to set a trap. Getting green feet is just too big of a risk to take.

ps. Did you know leprechauns are part of the "fairy family"? I didn't. Ryenne educated me today.

pretty emmy

Emmy asked if she could borrow some chapstick from my room yesterday. Seems like my "chapstick" looks a little more pretty on her than it is on me.

plumber, anyone?

back in the saddle again

Courtney and I took Claire on her first bike ride the other day. She loved it, and so did we!
Hallelujah! Boy, was it was nice to get back on our bikes.

why not bring back the 80's?

I've been looking through old scrapbooks of my brothers and sisters and I. And then I saw these hairdo's Ryenne conjured up for she and Emmy. This got me to thinking. The 80's were a rockin' era, weren't they? Just proud to have been a part of that.

happy 60th mom!

Mom, Happy Birthday to You! I’ve been thinking of you often lately and the many things you have taught me. So much to think about . . .

Thank you for teaching me to look outside myself.

Thanks for instilling in me a love of learning and books.
What a gift!

I’m so glad you taught us how to care for a home. The cooking, cleaning, working.

Thank you for teaching us the importance of kindness and thoughtfulness.
Thank you for teaching us manners.

Thank you for the traditions.
The magic of believing.

Thank you for reminding me to pay attention to details.
That it is important to take the time to make my life and my home beautiful.
That all of this really matters. But it's not the only thing that matters.

Thank you for teaching me to pray when I need help.
That my Heavenly Father is listening and wants me to be happy.

Thank you for listening.
And making me feel like what I’m thinking about it important.

Thank you for making me feel like a superwoman when I finish a race.
For being proud of me. For cheering me on.

Thank you for your wisdom.
Thank you for loving Courtney.
And the girls.

Thank you for the countless hours you spend helping me when Courtney is away.
And even when he’s not.

Thank you for helping me remember to love being a mother.
That this stage won’t last forever-
diapers and tantrums and dirty fingerprints will be gone all too soon.
That someday I’ll look back and laugh at the difficult moments.
And even miss them a little.

So many, many things.

But above all, there is one thing I’m especially grateful for.

Thank you for teaching me to jump in with both feet.

To not be scared to try something new.
To not let my fear of what others think hold me back.
To not be afraid to try.

whether it’s cooking, decorating, gardening, teaching, leading, mothering.
You’ve taught me that I can pretty much do what I want.
If I want to.

That life isn’t rocket science.
It’s just an opportunity to learn.
And I should seize each opportunity.

And not be afraid.

Because I’m a daughter of God.
Who loves me.
And my mom does too.

Thank you for all the little things. You have taught me what a wonderful thing it is to be a righteous daughter of God. You showed us that we have an important, wonderful role to fulfill. Your goodness, strength, and unselfish desire to do what is right has taught me to love being a wife and a mother, even on the rough days. You taught me that I am important. And that other people are too. Thank you, thank you. I love you. I admire you. I hope to be like you.

Happy Birthday! Kelly Jeannett

please arrive soon

Yeah, you. You know who I'm talking to.

March is here. And you know what that means? Expectation.

We sent an invitation, but you haven't yet replied. You keep teasing us. . .a little bit of sunshine, a spot of blue sky. And then, before we can truly bask in the joy of your arrival, you disappear behind the clouds. Or even (gasp) a snowflake or two.

Please don't delay any longer. I don't know if we can take it.

We love you Spring. And we can't wait until you come to stay.

Only please don't wait too long.

it's courtney's fault

Just in case you were wondering where Spring is, I'll explain. The truth is, you better talk to Courtney. He's the reason you're still a bit chilly.

Late this afternoon the girls went out to play. Coatless. And barefoot. After all, the day was beautiful- a balmy 45 degrees outside. And, of course, they've all got a fairly developed case of Spring Fever. (Who doesn't?) While it was lovely, it wasn't swimsuit weather. And so their dad (always one to find joy in crashing a good party) called out the door for them to come get their coats on.

Revolt. Tears.

Courtney doesn't give in. Instead, he has the nerve to demand once again that the girls put their coats on.

Whining. Refusal.

"You either wear your coat or come inside."

And so it happened that Ryenne shed some light on the seemingly late arrival of her beloved Spring. In a burst of tears and a voice full of heartbreak, she stormed past.

"You're making it so spring will never come."

So there you have it. It's all Courtney's fault.

"those most important things . . ."

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life-

here and now.

The longer we live,

the greater is our realization that it is brief.

I believe that among the greatest lessons

we are to learn in

this short sojourn upon the earth

are lessons that help us distinguish

between what is

important and what is not.

I plead with you to not let those

most important things

pass you by. . ."

President Monson

(I needed a reminder today.)