Running, fantasitc!!

Soooo, on the last day of break for the kiddos, we took it easy. We watched football, ate pizza, got hair cuts, and just relaxed. This weekend I taught the kids chinese checkers, slap jack, and uno. It was a lot of fun, and they love them. They want to play them all of the time.
We don't have any video games or anything like that, so we have family fun time, the old fashioned way. I don't want them in the house and have them obsess over them and then have zombies for kids. I will get them when they are older, but for now, all the games can wait until they are begging me for them. Who knows, maybe that will be sooner than later.
I heard of a good idea though yesterday getting my hair cut- thanks Julie. Let them play for however minutes they read or do homework! Awesome idea..I hope to remember that.
Anyway on to the title of the post. I felt like going for a run yesterday, and the kids wanted to come. I grabbed the stroller, and to my surprise they grabbed their running clothes, and running shoes. I was too excited. We ran for a mile and a half, it took 16 minutes without breaks except for lights of course, they are fast little runners, and just too fun. I hope they will always be my running partners. I loved it, probably one of my favorite memories with them.
I am afraid that they will be faster than me soon though, they will need a better coach soon. I wonder how early is too early for cross country. I would love to watch little kids running....such a healthy thing to do.
They are signed up for a mile run in may, they will do great.
Biggest Loser starts tonight....I am a little excited for it.

A lot of crazy stuff!!

This past month has been crazy busy-in a good way. We have done a lot, and have gotten a lot done. We have served a lot and have had service done to us in secret. We went to see the new chipmunk movie, even though Ryker was throwing up on Thursday night, we decided he was okay to go, but to be honest he just cuddled the whole time, and had a little fever. We went to a buffet dinner after that, he ate soda crackers and a roll. He did have a good time though. I have to say though, I never knew that I depended so much on my car. Mikes car is down as of Monday, and he has taken mine, which has been hard, getting kids ready at the perfect time to get to the bus, and pray for the weather to be bearable, not a blizzard. We were lucky that this week was a short week, and that we have been home bodies lately. We have had to plan rides and ask people to help us out, which is not a strong point, I love to help someone, but I feel embarrassed to get help. My mom had to take us to the concert, and I had to go grocery shopping at 10:00 one night, because the kids were asleep, mike was home, and I had a car, and lastly we needed food. It has just taken a lot more planning. I am fine without a car when it is not winter, I ran everywhere for 8 months, in the summer and fall time. I just have issues running with the jogger in snow, maybe I need snow tires!!!
I am grateful that it happened this week, and where it happened, (in the garage), nothing too busy and not to hard of a week to share a car. I was just tested and thrown off a bit.
Hailey has been going to choir and got a speaking part in the concert. Well, the concert was on wednesday and she nailed her part. "His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry, his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin was as white as snow."
She got a little nervous at first then she did great. She had to do it in front of the whole school and the parents, needless to say a lot of people. I had teary eye proud eyes, I was thrilled to watch her, she had a great time.
Then that night......the fun began. She threw up more times than I could count, it got everywhere. I did three loads of laundry, from midnight to three in the morning. We ended up going to sleep on the couch, just us, wondering when I would have to hand her the bowl. She ended up throwing up like every half an hour all night long. Poor thing, nothing left was in her, it was hard to watch.
Then we started getting things to stay down her, I prayed sooooo hard, I just wanted her to be able to keep down fluids, and go to the bathroom. I didn't want a doctor visit. My mom was nice enough to bring her sprite, and 7-up, and some medicine, thanks for helping us mom. She still had a fever last night, but we made it the whole day without throwing up. She did so great. I slept out in the front room with her again, just in case she needed anything.
This morning she is better than before. Lots of energy, lots of playing and even getting noisy, which if you have kids is so nice to see after they are not moving, and making weird noises all night and all day. She for sure has her health back. I am so glad that we didn't have to go to the hospital for dehydration, or to the doctor and run a strep test, she hates that test. Did you moms out there know that little kids normally throw up with strep throat, I have found this to be so true.
Anyway, nothing the the 24 hour flu to make you feel so grateful for your kids health, and that seeing them move and talk is amazing. I would like to give a shout out to my washer and dryer, you have worked over time, and I thank you. Also, to my little Lysol sprayer (Ryker), getting all the germies out, he has been great. I just hope we can keep them away!
I hope you all have a healthy and merry christmas.

Ryker is 4!!

Ryker is 4 today! I can't help but think that the first blog we did was introduce him to the world. I cannot believe how fast time has gone, I know everyone says that, but I remember everyday with my kids and I can't believe we have had so many of them together.
Ryker wanted an ice skating party this year. On Saturday night we had both sides of family over, we went ice skating, and we had dinner, cake and cream puffs at our house. I cannot believe how comfortable he is on the ice! He was flying around the ice, in his hockey outfit. I really need to get him back into his hockey classes, and let him enjoy it. He was falling and smiling the entire time. He had sooo much fun with his cousins and aunts and uncles, and mom, and dad even tried. I was so glad we got to do something he loves too much.
Ryker is so kind, and sweet. He has a wrestle side that comes out when he is around any adult male, and loves sports of any kind. He always tells me, "I am Ryker and I play all sports." Heavenly Father knew to send him to me, because he is so kind, and loving towards me. He loves to hug, cuddle, and give me kisses on the cheek. He tells me all of the time, "I love you to the light", we read that book, I love you to the moon and back, and I guess his ceiling light is far away in his eyes.
He really protects his sister Hailey, and really misses her. For his birthday today, he wanted to play with her at recess, so I took him up there. He had so much fun with her, and it was fun to surprise her. I took him for a cinnamon roll, to chick fil a and to get ice cream. He is for sure mine, he shares my love of food.
We love you to the light and back, Ryker. Happy 4th birthday!!!!
love-mom, dad, and howie

Wow, my life is taken over.....

by KINDERGARTEN!!! between taking her to and from the bus stop, and volunteering, and halloween parties, i just need to remember to breathe! i would not change it for anything though. i have been on field trips and to the school and am so grateful that she has good friends and a wonderful teacher. i have ryker in school on wednesdays and he loves it. i don't know what to do with my time, really, i don't. the first time without both of them, it felt wierd running without them, really odd. i am so grateful i am a mom and that i get to be invloved in their little lives!
so much has gone on:
halloween came and went. ryker was bumblebee the transformer and hailey was ariel. they were so cute, and loved trick or treating.
i have to go and be a mom now, but i will update again, sometime soon, hopefully.

challenge!

I challenge you to a week of no TV, we did it, and it was great and hard. The first day, the kids asked me like 20 times to plug it in, the next day it was cut in half, and by the end of the week, they knew that a no in the morning was a no all day. It was great, we played more, talked more, and we imagined together. I really got to know what goes on in their heads. I took on the challenge too, no late night nothing for me. I missed a lot! Or did I? I got some sleep, and I was refreshed. I tell you, after Haileys party on Saturday, the BYU game was on and I hated to hear the noise! What a crazy thing.
Also, why did we do this? My kids love tv, and I love it too, but we needed to see that we can really function without it. I have been thinking about doing a no check blog week or Internet week. I feel that electronics have just taken over, I don't even have video games, I can only imagine that being a huge problem.
Parents: I would love to hear your comments on this, do you ever just want to throw everything out the "window", facebook, my space, blogging, tv in general, wii, playstation, x box, kinect, there are probably more, but I don't know of them. How much time do we all spend on these fun/relaxing things.
Just a thought.

Six

Hailey turned six on Saturday. I cannot believe she is six. We had a busy day, starting off with a 5k. She has always wanted to run one, she made it almost 2 miles, and then need to rest. She did a really great job. Then we went to a bridal shower for a friend. Ryker and Mike went up to watch Hockey at the nearby ice rink. That was fun to see them and meet them there after the shower.
Then the preparation for the party began. We filled water balloons, put chairs up, got the slip n slide ready, and got the pink lemonade mixed, and everything else ready.
The party started and everything went great. We did a craft, then they did the slip n slide, then to spice things up, hula hoop contest and jump rope contests! It was a great time, and she got a lot of really nice things, her friends and family are really too kind. Then we did the cake! She wanted a slip n slide cake, well I made a "wedding cake" as she calls it. We used 3 cake mixes and did a fun layer cake. She colored a picture to tell me what she wanted it to look like. I think it went pretty good, I am not a professional by any means. Then it started to rain, thank goodness the party was almost over and that we had a covered patio.
Then the night time came, and well we were just beat. I really had no energy left, I cleaned in slow motion, and then we got ready for bed. My sweet sister called to talk to Hailey and wish her a happy birthday. Then my other sweet sister called and asked if she could take Hailey shopping and for ice cream. My first thought was, oh she needs her sleep. But, I let her, and she let me and Ryker tag along and be the paparazzi, it was so fun. I am so grateful for 5 sweet sisters and for all the family that came and supported our little Hailey.
I love her too much! I cannot believe I have been a mom for six years, crazy! Hailey is so kind, loving, driven and knows what she wants. I love her to pieces, she is a great friend, and an awesome sister and a great daughter. She loves to cuddle and hug, and have the attention on her all of the time. She is great with her brother, and she has great ideas. I love having her in my home, and I love being her mom. I cannot believe it has been this long, since the doctor handed me a sweet little baby angel. I remember everyday with her, and they all went too fast. I do love the stage she is in, loving to learn, growing everyday, she is so smart, and hilarious!!
I will post pictures soon, I cannot do a birthday post without some awesome pictures of her party and just how cute she is, love her.

Brave panties were on today!

Today was an EPIC day, for all people who worry just a little bit more than average.
Hailey started kindergarten. Last night she received a blessing from her dad, and she said a prayer also, and she included, "please help mom to be brave, brave, brave, super brave," I know she is so ready and will love just every second of it but:
she rides a bus....
she is so small....
she is so sassy....
and loves attention....
and loves to talk....
she did great this morning. She got talking to some of the primary kids on the bus and they are the 5th and 6th graders on the bus, and got on with them. Not before a hug though, Ryker gave her the sweetest big hug too. They held hands the entire way to the bus stop, and of course had their backpacks, both of them. I think Ryker thought he was going to go too.
So, I talked with the bus driver and asked him what the drop off directions were, and asked if I could see where she ended up. All the rest of the kindergartners were at the front, not my Hailey, in the middle of the bus, with two older kids on each side of her. I took a picture, and she said, "mom, why are you on the bus, seriously?"
I laughed and got off the bus, and took Ryker for a run, we were talking the whole time, he was squirting me with the squirt gun, and told me the way to go, something that he never gets to do, and he got us back home.
He and I have never had this time before, just us. I have loved being at home with my kids, and this half day kindergarten is going to be so great for her, and I have to believe it will be good for all of us.
Today I will wear my brave panties, all while praying to Heavenly Father with gratitude that I didn't cry my eyes out, and to please watch over her, because I can't.
Does it ever get any easier, parents with older kids?