Wow! What I have learned and felt this week.

I was so pleased with this past week. I was so good emotionally, and spiritually and I hate to say it, but kind of physically. I didn't yell at my kids or Mike once, and I read scriptures every day, and worked on other personal things, and was really just feeling good. I got answers to prayers that I have been fasting for and saying for months, and I finally felt peace, and I was calm. I LAUGHED a lot with my kids, and found them HILARIOUS and so much fun to be around. We (me and the kids) even ran the most I have EVER ran in a week, I ran 30.5 miles. I am so pleased, but yet I feel empty.
I need to work on a lot, and that is kind of an under statement, I am getting better though. I went to church today, and the lesson was on Temple going.....well... I have not been in a long time. (like 2-3 months) Anyway, I got thinking I make all this time for running, pilates, scriptures, and reading self help books on how to become better, and understand "you" (which in this case means me), maybe I just need to go to the Temple. I have thought a lot on this subject this past week and a lot on it today, and I think I should make a goal to go once a week. Living where I do, there is NO REASON why I should not be able to.
Anyway, these are just some of my thoughts, I feel I need to write down to remember that I need to work on them.
I love the gospel and its teachings and its TRUTH, and so I need to be better and go the House of the Lord, and serve others.

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures!!!!!

These are the pictures that have been taken this summer, the Luau for my dad, fourth of July parade and Freedom Festival, at home swimming, and before church today. These kids are so much fun, and these are priceless memories. I am so glad that Mike has the smarts to put these on to share with you all. I watched him, and it was a lot of steps, but I'm thinking maybe I will do pictures by myself, someday.
Hope all of you had a wonderful fourth of July and are enjoying your summer.

Everything is BOINGA!!!

Well, that title is a song off the Backyardagains, and that is how I feel. Let me explain.
Yesterday was a challenging day. I woke up to Ryker running in and getting me up yelling mamma! I think it was at 6:30, but I really don't know. We went for a run, that is a great thing by the way, I am back to running and running with the kids everyday. I've already done over 15 miles this week. I did not reach my 100 mile goal this month due to the injury but I hit 60+ which is okay in my book. Anyway back to yesterday, so we came back from our run, and Hailey goes to the bathroom and asks me to wipe her, so I did, got her off, and in came Ryker with my phone, and threw it into the toilet faster than I could catch it. My first reaction was wow, did that just happen? Then without even thinking my hand dove into pee water to get the phone! I wiped it off, called Mike and was surprised it even called.I put it in rice and left it alone, when the rice started talking. My phone was making random phone calls and called Robin. She was so funny, laughing so hard that Ryker dropped it in the toilet and then my phone dropped the call. Sorry I tried to call back, but my phone had a mind of its own.
Well, I still don't have a phone, but I do have a "boy" now. Just this week take downs, head butting, making Hailey scream all has begun. It makes me laugh, but I want to cry.
Mike takes the car to work, I didn't have the phone, I didn't know how to work a "virtual computer" which resulted in no Internet yesterday, I felt as if I was off the planet. So what did I do yesterday? Baked all day! We had parmesan chicken, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, oatmeal cookies, and lemon squares!
What a day, what an amazing SWISH!!!

Not much, but I feel I should post something!

This summer has flown by....
My dad turned 60 today, and he had a celebration for him this past weekend. We had it Hawaiian style. My sister hired entertainment and everything. We had fire, Haka, and Hula dancers. They even taught us how to do it! We set the backyard up and we transformed it, we felt like we were in a real Hawaiian Luau. It was sooo awesome. My dad is an amazing dad, and person, so I am so glad that we did it to celebrate his life.
Yesterday we celebrated 7 years of being married. I have had the time of my life. I am so grateful for him, and my kiddos. I am so blessed to have them in my life, well, forever.
I sure am glad that we have forever to work on being better! I am grateful that we are sealed to each other, and that we have the gospel in our lives.
We put up bunk beds in the kids room last night, that is right Ryker is out of the crib and unto the bottom bunk, Hailey loves the top bed. They did really good last night. We have a set where they can be made into two twin beds when we want them to. We will do that when they have their own room. For now, it makes it so much more roomy in their bedroom.
Something HUGE happened today, I put the kids down for a nap, took a little nap with them, woke up when Hailey did, I put her in charge of Ryker and told her I wanted to mow the front lawn. She is amazing, and all she wanted was a treat and a capri sun, Ryker is STILL asleep, she normally wakes him up, I guess it is easier to "babysit" while he is asleep. I thought that was worth writing down, I NEVER go outside and do anything without them, not even take out the garbage. SMALL STEPS PEOPLE, work with me.
I have pictures of everything, so I will post them soon. I might not post me learning to Hula, it depends on how I feel, you might just be that lucky!
I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer, and many more posts to come about vacations and friends, and summer nights. We have a few vacations planned and it will be great to see MANY loved ones soon!!!

REMEMBERING.....

Yesterday was my Grandpa's birthday, he passed away at 94, in 2005. He was the best grandpa, I miss him still everyday, but I know that we all will see him again. I can't wait to see and hug him again. I am so glad that Mike got to meet him, he was an amazing man.
Today was Jason's birthday, Mikes' brother who has passed away too. He would have been 27 today. We miss him so much, and we talk about him a lot. We too, know that we will see him again someday, and hear his laugh, see his smile, and get to talk with him again.
Here is a picture of Jason. He will never be forgotten. We love and miss you "brother."





Well, here is an update. I am so sorry I misled you, my grandpas birthday is in July not in June. Wow, did I ever mess up. He was born in 1911 on July 9. He passed away on May 6, 2004. I remember it so well, it was during the Friends finale. This was way before Tivo, DVR, or anything. I will always remember him, and we miss him so much. Sorry for the mistake.

"Gimp!"

Well, if you read the last post, you know that I have been pretty consistent running lately....well, that all came to a halt Sunday after church. I was carrying Ryker and I FELL on the sidewalk walking to the car. I totally messed up my right knee, Ryker is fine and didn't even realize we went down, thank goodness. Well that night I couldn't sleep, couldnt really do anything. So, long story short, I went the doctor and am grateful they didn't laugh at me, well, x rays and everything, my knee is just badly hurt, very swollen and really in a lot of pain. I am grateful that it is not broken in any way, I just wish I could get off the toilet normal....wow, that takes some work!!!
I am so embarrassed but might as well let the world know that I am a bit clumsy. That is why I have not done any running this week, and hope to by Saturday, but I don't want it to get worse...but I want to get back on my running shoes. Hopefully they still fit, my foot is swollen as well.
Hailey and Ryker are doing quite well, they are being so gentle with my knee. Mike just calls me Gimp. I am grateful that he is able to help out with the kids and stuff, while I am down.
I wanted to tell everyone thanks for your comments about my well being. I also wanted to let everyone know not to worry, I am fine. I asked the doctor if it is normal for hormones and periods, and all that good stuff to come back after having babies, with a vengeance, and they said it happens a lot. They said it should get better, so we are waiting for it to get better. I just want my family to know that I love them and appreciate them for all they do and put up with.
Some good news:
MIKE HAS A JOB OFFER!!!! He will start on Monday. It is quite a commute, but we are very pleased. Hopefully everything will return to normal around here. I am so happy and grateful for the time we have had with him. He is a great guy and an even better daddy. I am so happy that he wants to provide for us. I love him so much. We have had a lot of fun together, as a family, time that we wouldn't have had otherwise.

100+ mile month!!!

In May I ran over 100 miles!! I was sooo excited. I looked back to previous months of hard training for the half marathon, and my records show that I didn't run close to that much in a month. I was so proud of myself. I have been waking up early in the morning and doing my running. I was fortunate enough to run in a 10k, and my time has improved, I ran a 9 min and 41 second mile. I finished the run in under an hour, that was my goal. I am so proud of my Hailey she ran a kid race, and was awesome, she has the perfect form. She is going to do another run in June, and a triathlon in August. She got to run with some really great friends, and talked about it for DAYS!!! She woke up on the day of the race, and thanks to the Backyardagains, she sang "It's racing day, it's racing day!" I am so pleased that she loves to run. I run without them quite a lot now, and she gets really sad. She says "You trained without me". I then take her and Ryker on a little run that includes a park in the middle.
I know that I have not written in a long time, so here is a little update.
Ryker:
Got tubes in his ears, and is a totally different guy. He actually sleeps, and is not so clingy. He had a hard time the day of the procedure, they had to give the little guy morphine. It was hard, but we are blessed to get that done. Ryker loves to run through the sprinklers, ride on Haileys bike, and BUGS. He is always handing me a bug. He is talking soooo great now. I love him so much. What a great kid. He is going to the doctor today for a check up on his ears. He weighs 24 pounds and is such a kid now, he has started nursery, already, and is doing great. (Mike drops him off, I don't think I would leave him.)
Hailey:
Wants to play with friends...? What, she has more of a life than I do. She says the funniest things and is so sweet and caring....most of the time. Up at the hospital when Ryker was getting tubes, she was sooo sad and didn't want them to hurt Ryker. She really loves her brother. She loves to be outside, and ride her bike. She weighs 30 pounds and is always telling us how much bigger she is than Ryker, not for long I am afraid though. She loves to draw, color, and READ. She hands me like 20 books a day, not exaggerating. She loves them. She is so excited for preschool, I think it will be good for her to learn from someone else. She was so blessed yesterday, she fell at the zoo on her arm on bark, her arm was in back while her body was in front, I thought she had done some serious damage, but we stretched it and did pinwheels, and the Lord blessed her.
Mike:
Continues to look for a job. He is doing some intense searching, hopefully something will come through. The kids and I love him at home, I don't think they will know what to do without their daddy here, if he gets a new job. He leaves to go somewhere and Hailey and Ryker freak out for like an hour, "Where did he go?" It will be hard, but it's been fun for Mike and the kids to get to play together.
Jess:
I am still having my moments of being sad, mad, happy, excited, well just all over the place. My hormones have came back and they are in full force. I am trying so hard to control this, and have had some serious conversations with the Lord. I want to give them all to Him, through the Atonement...but I need to release them, I think that is the hardest part. I have been better lately though. I feel bad for my family, they shouldn't have to deal with an emotional mom. I kind of freak out sometimes. The song "Jesus take the wheel" comes to mind, and I for sure don't listen to country. It is not my season to do anything I want during the day, hence I wake up early to do my stuff.
We have had fun playing softball, going to the zoo, roller skating, bike rides, volleyball, yard work, and just doing stuff together. This summer will be a great one, can't wait to go on some much needed vacations.
Sorry this blog is soooo long, if you are still reading..thanks. I could not do what I do without all of you and your support.
I wanted to let you all know, that I drove to the zoo on the freeway and did not even feel drowsy, I hope that continues, I have not had a episode like that in awhile...thank goodness.