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?

Mmmmmmmm....

So, I put together this yummy sandwich, and I had to share.

Ingredients:
Baguette
artichoke hearts-canned
tomato
oregano
olive oil
white wine vinegar
provolone cheese
turkey-I added
ham-I added
purple onion
banana peppers-canned

You put the artichoke hearts, tomato, olive oil, vinegar, along with oregano in a bowl, and let them sit together.
I sliced the purple onion in rings, and added to the sandwich.
It was pictured with this mixture and only provolone cheese, well I added the sliced lunch meat, oh, sooooo good.
Mike added banana peppers to his, he loved it as well.
I should have taken a picture, but we ate it too fast!!

This is a way to have a great dinner without having to turn on your oven in this hot summer heat....I had to though, I made chicken on bleu, for my kids. They ate it up though.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer!!

9 years!

Today Mike and i celebrate 9 years together being married. We cannot believe it has been this long, and that it hasn't been longer....does that even make sense? Together we have grown up, raised 2 awesome kids, and have become a fun family. Sure, we have our ups and downs but who doesn't. I have some hard days with the kids, and with all the STRESS that comes with life....but who doesn't. I love my family and wouldn't know what to do without them.
I was explaining to Ryker and Hailey that Mike and I were married in the LDS Bountiful Temple, and that we are a forever family, and Ryker came and hugged me, and so sweetly said, "thanks mom." Ryker always asks about death and when he dies are we going to get another Ryker, and if I would miss him....well, I would miss my family and we could not replace anyone, but we have the knowledge that we GET to be together forever. It is soooo nice and wonderful knowing that.
Today I want to be a mom and a wife, not an exerciser, not an individual, just who I have become these last 9 years, and 5 years of being a mommy. I am living the dream that I have always wanted.
Please tell me, what do I have to complain about. This is really a good life!
(If you haven't heard that song, you should, it's by One Republic, I play it often as a good reminder.)
I LOVE YOU MIC!! Thanks for all of your hard work, so that I can stay home,and have the best life, EVER!!!
JEB
ps along with 9 years comes some awesome alter names.

Here comes the Sun!!!

We have had sun lately, and it has been sooooo great. We have spent a lot of time outside and can't wait to bring out the swim stuff. The kids start swim lessons tonight and it is just in time, we did get summer weather this year,(I had my doubts) and so we will be able to go to the pools and SWIM!!!
We planted a garden, and with all the crazy weather who knows what will grow, and live. I think our cucumbers are already gone. I have hopes that our tomatoes will still grow but really who knows. I think that our peas will make it....oh, it was fun planting and weeding the garden, anyway. It teaches the kids, right?
So, I think that I have talked too much about me and my problems on this blog, so today I am going to talk about progress and solutions.
Really, things are going great, probably the best ever, actually!! I have done really well. I have been going to the doctor, and he said that he had seen progress and that he recommended some counseling with an eating disorder counselor. Well, I didn't want to do counseling alone. So, I had gone to a couple of eating disorder groups, with the 12 step program that my church puts out.(LDS) It has been amazing, and I feel that I have come thru a lot of the "core" of the problem. I think that addiction is addiction and that even if the topic is not the addiction you are working with you still can be healed, it is pretty amazing how it works. So, the class is every week here, and in some areas every day. It has been so great to see that others are being healed and getting over their addictions and not getting stuck, it is great to have the atonement working in your life. I encourage anyone who is having a problem, whether you feel that it is an addiction or not, these classes have the spirit, and they work wonders. My mom has been going with me up here, and it is for supporters of people with addictions too, really this program helps all of us.
I don't know why I felt to put this in my blog, I just know that it is working for me, I am a believer. These classes help me see me and anyone that is in my life the way our Heavenly Father and Jesus see us. We need to be gentle with ourselves, and others. I have always tried my best to be gentle with others, but I have had a hard time loving myself, and thinking I don't deserve things. Well, my attitude is changing, and I feel that I am deserving of things and that I am a nice person. I feel like I am being cocky but really it has been a week, that I look in the mirror and think wow, you are pretty, guys, this has never happened...
I feel that I have made big progress, and you can too, we all tend to hide our problems really well. Tell people about it and share with your friends and family and you will feel soooo much better. I do.
I hope someday to go to a store and try on a pair of levis and not be scared to buy them, and not be worried about the size.....I will, the Lord will help me....hopefully soon.
Thanks for all of your comments and support. I am a different person, a lot happier and easier going.

Rainy old days, are getting well, old!

I am so tired of all this rain. I am grateful for it, but man, floods everywhere, and the rivers are just too high, not to mention the gray skies, and no going outside to play, no shorts and no sun. I need spring, I love love love it. I need to get my stroller fixed and get on long runs while pushing before it gets too hot, that we completely missed our lovely spring runs!
Ryker really wants to ride his new bike, a two wheeler with training wheels, and Hailey needs to get back on her bike. She fell a few times last week, and I want her to get comfortable and used to it, so she is not afraid of it. She got back on right after it, but I still want her to ride before she won't get on again.
I am proud of my kids for even wanting to ride bikes. I am so afraid of them, don't tell my kids, but I won't get on one, let alone go as fast as they do. That story will have to be for a later time, but this is the reason I do not do triathlons.
I am waiting for spring to well, spring.
I love my kids, and we had a blast today at the treehouse. It was fun to let them explore and to see their imagination come alive.
My preschool is coming to an end. It is sad really, Ryker will go to real preschool next year, and my dear Hailey is having her assessment next week for Kindergarten. Did you know that kindergarten is not required? I did not. i have heard this from a few parents who are great sources and I believe it, but I just didn't know that. What are your feelings about this, I think I will have her go because she needs the social right? Doesn't kindergarten offer a lot? She did just miss the deadline....oh..man.so confused. If only she would have been born on her due date, August 27....she came September 10....ya, don't ask!
Sorry for the tangent....
She is so excited and ready for it. We have been practicing her sight words and letter sounds and writing and writing her letters and numbers. She can count to 100, with a little help, and today she counted by two's to 20. I will miss her though, she has been fun watching. I am sad that Ryker is going to a real preschool, it has been fun helping him and watching him grow. He knows how to write some letters, knows his alphabet, can count to 30, and knows a lot of songs. He is going to be ready for his class.
Anyway, thought I would post something. I am waiting for the kids to go shopping with me, and then off to ice skating tonight. They have soooo much fun doing this. I love to see them having fun, and enjoying life.