Some things today....

Ryker was wearing his Ninja costume, again, not Halloween, when we were going shopping, and he put on the mask, it was THEE PERFECT outfit for this inversion. I was a little jealous.

He and Hailey are so wanting a dog lately, they have my whole front room set up to be the animal pet contest, eating legos, and using every bowl from the kitchen.

While getting the bowls, Ryker pulled out my roasting pan, he held up the lid, and said, "Hey, Mom, I was wonderin' can I use this sometime for a shield?"

I first said no, and then I thought, heck yes that is awesome, I said sure. He yells, "cool, mom!"

I was painting Haileys nails tonight, and she was watching TV, and a commercial about pregnancy came on.....Hailey was watching it pretty close and then said, "Mom, she was holding a therometer and got so excited, where did she even get that from?"

These kids are so funny. I just love being there mom. I am so grateful I get to stay home with them, and listen to what their world looks like.

I read a lot of blogs!

I read a lot of your blogs, and it takes a lot of time......but I love it.:)
I just was reading a running blog, that I love. She was asking readers if anyone runs with a stroller? I did, but now that the kids are bigger, not so much.
I felt so insecure running outside alone. When people asked me when I started running 8 years ago, "Do you run alone?" I said yes, because Hailey was not born yet, but when she came out, I never thought as if I was running alone. We have had some good conversations running, about marriage, who and why, and where, and everything and anything.....then Ryker came, and the conversations just kept me going. I loved talking with my children, learning from them, speaking about what is on their minds and getting out in the fresh air...nothing better.
Well, now they are older, and I do run alone now. I am insecure, nervous, scared, and wondering where my kids are, wondering about weirdos, ya know, sooooo....I do a lot of treadmill running now.
I run, when it is good weather with them, either on their scooters or bike, but it is not the same. I miss the stages of buckles, naps in the stroller, nice comments from the drivers, (I try to forget the mean ones, there are a ton of people who love to comment on kids in strollers and make their mommy feel terrible happened about once a week,) and having them in the stroller at arm length. I miss picking the routes, we always end up at a park now, I guess that is okay though.
I was just thinking about this and how life evloves, and how many times we do the same thing, and it feels as if we are stuck, and then we look back and want to be "stuck" again. That probably doesn't even make any sense, but no one reads mine anyway.
Well, for those of you in the stroller, and nap, and cracker phase to get one more mile in, put on the snow tires and chains and live it up!!! The stroller helped me sooooo much in preparing and finishing 2 marathons, and a 1/2 marathon, many 5k's, and a few 10k's. I love to run, and I love to run with my kids. I just might stick them back in it this spring, just because.
Do you think that a 7 year old who weighs 50 lbs and a 5 year old who weighs 50 lbs and a stroller which weighs 20 lbs, is a bit much? I think it sounds great, if we can just fit them in it!!!!
I would still like to keep the name, running with kids.....it's just different now.

Last day of break.....

Today was the last day of break. So we had to make up for being so lame and sick this break. We decided to get the banana game at our local boutique one of a kind toy stores in town. To our treat the whole store was 30% off. We had to buy one for our sister in law too, it is her birthday tomorrow. If you don't know of the game neither do we, we saw a special on how it was made and wanted to support the inventors....I will let you know if we like it.
Then we went to a place where they had surfers, arcades, bowling, and much more including a ropes cours. We were just there to look, but we had a great time, and we ate lunch and even had kid ice cream cones, it was a fun day.
We then took Ms. Hailey to get her hair cut......it is so cute, and she had a great time going to a salon!!!

 This is at the toy store, free rides on the horse!!! His american boy doll comes everywhere with us.

 Hailey wanted to ride a horse this break, it finally came true.

 His face says it all, he had so much fun.

 We had a great time at this place, it is pretty pricey, but just looking is free.....Ryker is still too young for some things.....we will have to go sometime soon though.

 I love my little beach girl!

 He got birthday cake, looked nasty, he ate it all, then looked like a pirate!

 Hailey hasn't had a good appetite lately, things that she used to love, not so much anymore, so this was only nibbled on....too bad, she used to love choc. chip cookie dough.

 getting ready in the chair....

 She was sooooo happy that she was going to a salon and getting her hair shampooed by someone.

 Now they are playing salon, and doing their dolls hair.....no scissors please, these american babies are not cheap, I do smell oil though, I better hurry up in the bathroom.

 This is Haileys hair after, it is a long cut, she did such a great job. She is so pretty.

Ryker wanted to put his haircut on the blog too.....no more hockey curls.......man!

Pictures that went to the last post!

 Someone in our neighborhood, did the twelve days of christmas to us, the kids really loved seeing what our true love left us each night. On the last night he left us a nut cracker.....

 they had to take a family photo!!

 They have named him baby nut, and we took him all over this season!

 This is what Ryker wanted to wear to breakfast with Santa, he wanted a picture with my sister Jaci.

 Hailey loves to sing and dance, and Ryker loves to dress up, a win win.

 He took off all his santa gear to be a reindeer, Rudolph in fact.

 This is  my sister Jill and my neice Emily....they are so funny together.

 All of the other reindeer.....

 Ryker decided to hide during the book that Santa was reading all the kids.

 Ryker got a jersey, and it only comes off to wash it, he loves it. Hailey got a barbie horse, and that has given her a lot of imagination with her barbies.Thanks Jaci and Em!(and BJ)
This picture was taken at my grandmas' home, she is so cute, and always super cold!

 Hailey and Emily loving their new toys....Em got a barbie that is Katniss, or Katnip, she was so thrilled.

 This picture was taken by Hailey, this is my dad, and Mike and me.

 This is Jills' dog Samus. Hailey loves her, while Ryker screams and runs, and shakes the whole time she is out! Poor thing, Ryker is so frightened of her.

 Julie being the best aunt ever, playing with Ryker and his new Batcave! (Which is in the bathtub right now, he insists he take a bath with it....whatever I say!

 Gingerbread houses at Hollys'! They had a great time decorating them.

 He is pretty serious.....concentrating so hard.

 She is pretty much a pretty girl when it comes to crafts, it MUST be perfect.....I am glad Mike was helping her, he is the same way....it turned out perfect!

 Oh, they were so happy to see a double jogger on Christmas morning! What fun faces!

 This is skyping talking with Jodie.....she looks so happy and good.

 Hailey and her faces. I will miss her when she has to go back to school tomorrow. This face has been sick, but still very fun to have around.

This little guy loves basketball, sleeps with it even. We brought the hoop in the kitchen, and he was ballin' all day. But with two broken bowls, and a little of not listening, back out to the deck it went. Tears came following.....it makes me sad that we don't have a hoop for him to play on. I need a church key....
When the ball hit the bowls: "you didn't really like those bowls anyway, right mom?"

Holy cow, that was a fast break!

We had a great, relaxed holiday! On Christmas Eve we headed up to my parents ward, birght and early, and had breakfast with Santa....it was great to see everyone, but we really missed Grandma and Grandpa Fronk.
We then went to see my Grandma Pete, she is so amazing, and such a happy, fun grandma. I am so glad that my kids have a chance to love her and get to know her.
Then, we went to my parents home, we exchanged gifts and ate lunch with them. Ryker and Hailey got their Christmas jammies, they were so thrilled. We then relaxed and the kids got to play the Wii, they love to play the games, we don't have one so they love this special treat.
We then got on the road for home. It was starting to snow and we didn't want the roads to be soooo bad. We pulled into our next party just in time. We had a party at our sister in laws, we had soups, cider, and grilled cheese, it was such a nice party. We then decorated ginger bread houses, the kids had such a great time.
We then came home, and we were all so ready for Santa to come, so of course we had to go to bed. Our kids were awesome, and we all slept so well.
On Christmas day, Ryker woke up first and Hailey second, we hear I wonder if Santa came, should we go check? They were so great and came to our room and asked nice, if it was okay if we could go and see what Santa had left.
They had the best morning, they got american girl and boy dolls, a double stroller for them, and a bed, a captain america shield, bike locks, light saber, nerf guns and extra darts, clothes, car ramps, and more, Santa went over board this year.....but it was nice to see their faces!!!!
We then exercised and got showered and ready for the day.....well, for naps and relaxing. We had a special Skype visitor, my sister Jodie, who is on a mission! It was the best to see her and talk with her. We had multiple computers and homes all skyping at once.....Mike found out that we could all link in, and it was such a fun treat! It was really nice to see her and tell her that we love her, and it was great to hear amazing stories, and feel her testimony!!!! She is so great, it was the best present to talk to her.
That night I got so sick, I mean really sick! I was up all night in and out of the bathroom. I asked Mike to stay home and watch the kids, and he did, thanks so much. It turned out that I really needed him home, I didn't move all day unless it was to the bathroom. I slept ALL DAY long, I have NEVER done this......I felt so much better the next day.
Well, that night Hailey started not feeling well. I thought she had what I had. Nope, hers lasted longer and was not going anywhere....I took her to the doctor on Saturday, and she has strep again....poor thing. I felt so bad.
Ryker and Mike have been the tough boys around here, as they are not sick....knock on a lot of wood.....
Soooo, needless to say, it was a great break, but really we ended up not doing much, or what I wanted to do.....we just got them better. We read and rested and watched tv.....I needed a break too.
Yesterday we ventured out and got new clothes, coat for me, and a new dishwasher!!!....you heard right, we are getting it today!!! I am so thrilled. We then came home and we cleaned up the garage and fixed some things around our outside of our home. We then went to return some things and headed over to Mikes parents home, we sat and visited for a while, and then we came home and watched football together and ate dinner and got ready for bed. We then CLEANED the house, and played LIFE as a family.....we have little board gamers on our hands, they loved it.
It was so nice to wake up to a clean home, and as it was, Ryker slept in today, on the LAST day of break....typical.
Tomorrow is the day that routine comes back into our life, and Hailey returns to school. I am sad, but happy too. Hailey loves school, friends, boys, and her teacher. I have missed the stories she tells us when she comes home. I still have a couple of days with Ryker before he goes back.

Christmas chior concerts, and a REAL North Pole Elf!

 This was Haileys chior concert for the parents! It was so much fun:)

 She did so great! It was fun to see her in her element, she loves to sing.

 There are so many children in her chior, 110, bless the chior teachers!

 Haileys school does a Christmas sing, where all the classes perform one song.

 They got to sing, "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas."

 They did such a fantastic job, it was too cute!

 Oh ya, Ryker thinks he is an elf, that goes and works at Santas workshop every night, he is so funny. He is really serious about this. He tells everyone, "I help Santa make the toys, he is a very busy man. I will be back soon, like tomorrow morning. Don't worry I will be safe, miss ya!"

 He is a funny dude, I wish I could make his dreams come true, where is a Santa shop he could work in? I wish we lived somewhere where he could do this.....I need to find something.

 This is Hailey on the first day of break...."rockin her pj's".

She is jumping for excitement. We are so happy for the break and for the season to remember Christ and serve others, and lets be honest, get some presents, and GIVE some too!

Last week in pictures!

 This was a slow morning for Ryker and I. We found a new park, that they loved!

 That afternoon, we took Hailey and she loved it as well.

 They still love the slides, and I still take pictures of everything, like they are newborns!

 Ryker is so brave now, he loves the swing now, who knew that big slides and swings would be in this kids life?

 I love this picture of her, she is just too fun, I miss her during the day.

 He loveds his sister as well, they have so much fun together. He is my buddy, and I am soaking up every cuddle, hug, and kiss from him.

 She will always take care of him, I think......I hope.

 Hailey wanted to me to take some pictures of her. It was such a beautiful day.

 Ryker did not want to leave, and did not want his picture taken.

 This is such her personality!!! She is such a fun girl, I am lucky to have her in my life every day, and forever.

 There is his personalty too, he is so funny and naughty all at the same time, this boy stuff, I love it.

 I just wanted one picture with both of them, and this is what I got!

 The next night was her first chior concert at a local grocery store, she had such a great time, and she is awesome!

 She knew all the songs, and sang them so loud!

 The next morning we went to see Santa, on a Saturday, at lunch time........sounds like disaster right? Well, this was the perfect time, 3 people ahead of us, we were in and out!!!

 After seeing Santa, Ryker wanted to be Santa, he made himself a costume, and spoke like him all night, asking each of us what we wanted. "Mom, you just want us to be good, right?" "Okay good."

 The next morning we woke up to snow, they got there clothes on and grabbed my brooms. They were sweeping the snow off of everything....thank you very much kiddos.

 Service with a smile!

 After playing in the cold, they decided to give their babies swim lessons, they were in the tub for about an hour....

 I am not sure whose idea this was, but it was so funny!

 Ryker wanted Mike to be a "gentleman" too.....this was his Christmas treat for Mike.

This morning our Elf, drew faces and colored arms, and put bow ties on everyone. They had a hard time finding him today. They found him right before we left for school.....whew, that was a close one, they were sad that they could not find him anywhere!

I am out of the sling, and starting to live life normal again. I did a workout today, only using my left hand for sit ups and stuff, but Pilates worked well with only one hand. I just need to take it easy on it, no burpees or push ups, or weights for two months! The doc even said I should not RUN!? What? I am going to rest it for a couple more days, but hopefully it will heal sooner than that.