Finally, a new post!!!

A lot has been going on this month.
We had a wonderful Christmas FILLED with friends and family. To start off the month of fun, we went up to Ogden and decorated Gingerbread houses with my family. We started the night off with dinner, where there was a train and the kids got train hats. We also had bought tickets to the Polar Express, back in September (when we had a job) with two of my sisters so we could be in the same train, it was so much fun. Hailey loved every minute of it. The Elf on the train asked her her name, she said Hailey Lexus Palmer and he asked her how to spell it, she said HEIL, it made me so happy she almost got it! That is good for a 3 year old right? Ryker loved it as well, until it was bedtime, then he fell asleep. Then the fun really began that night. We started our car, after everyone left, and we go to leave and our car starts shaking, Hailey says why is our car shaking, and then we pull over. She says to me, can daddy fix it? I don't want to spend the night it my car seat! I felt sooo bad. We proceeded to Checker which had closed 45 minutes before we got there, MAN! I was thinking, motel? Well, not Mike, he called Auto Zone and said do you have a store up in Heber City, and they said not yet....what does that mean...anyway, we called Brian his brother and he went to Auto Zone by his house and picked up the part that Mike "thought" we needed. We decided to go to the police station and see if they had an emergency car kit, I was sure of it. Well we get there, Mike calls the non emergency number, and they say no one is at the office but they will dispatch someone over. Well a cop came out of the building, I opened my door in excitement and said thank you, and he said for what? I shut my door and let Mike deal with him. He was a little different of a cop. He went and got us the tool we needed to take of the old part and see if it was bad. He checked the car out, and called in the plates, and asked our names. Well, in the meantime, it is so cold and the check engine light is flashing, I guess that is bad? I would have thougt that meant that it didn't know whether it wanted to stay on or not. Mike said that you should not drive with it flashing ever,who knew? Well after a long time in the cold car, the cop brought stuffed animals to the kids, and Mike asked if there was a waiting room or something, he said no. Then he went to his car, and turned around and had me open up the door and asked me if I was cold. I said yes, he said unload the kids and come in. Thank you officer for digging deap into your heart. Brian came the new part was put on and off we were home. The fix took a total of 5 minutes! I am so grateful for Mike and his smarts!
We spent a few days up in Ogden with my family. It was so much fun. We had the traditions that make the holiday, well the holiday. We have an extended family party in which I have missed the last couple of years, do to various reasons, like living out of state, and having a less than a month old. It was fun and exciting to be involved in it again. We played in all of our snow, and our car got stuck, I dug us out many times. Oh, what fun it is to slide and slip into a BIG snowbank. Memories right? We have breakfast with Santa, on Christmas Eve, and then we have a party at my Grandmas' house that evening. We also got to see my grandma pete who has recently had hip surgery, she is a trooper! This trip we switched it up a little and stayed with my sister, it was a lot of fun, and we are very grateful for her family also. I am also grateful for my aunt lois and uncle bob, they saved me this christmas season, I ran on their treadmill, everyday. I had to, I ate sooo much junk.
Well we were back just in time to put the Santa key out, because we don't have a fireplace. Hailey was real worried, how was he gonna get in? Hallmark saved us! It was such a wonderful christmas, and most of all we were together!
As for running, I have met my goals, and lots of running to go along with that. I have ran 11, and that is the highest I go. I am on the tapering end now, which is still soooo hard. I have already ran 15 miles this week! 16 more day to go, holy cow that is sooo close. Mike has been great, watching the kids for a long time, getting ready, the actual run, and the showering afterwards. I am so grateful he is letting me achieve this goal. I NEVER thought I would be able to run, or do anything for that matter. Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support also, it helps soooo much.
Well, christmas decor is down, laundry is done, and things are back to normal. The kids went to the doctor yesterday, Hailey is border line Croup- and Ryker has an ear infection. I am so grateful that we took them to the doctor and that it was a lot cheaper than ending up in the hospital, with RSV and the croup. No double rooms please!
Anyway, sorry for the long post, and once again no pictures!
Happy New Year to ALL!! Hopefully happy new job, and new insurance it us!
Jess

Well!

A lot has happened here the last month. Some happened prior to the last post, but I was not ready to post about it. Mike came home on October 24, and told me over dinner preparation that he was laid off. I was so shocked. Anyway, lots of daddy time and lots of frustration in the house this last month or so. He has been working on getting a job or starting his own business, to be honest I don't think he knows what he wants to do yet. I just want him to be happy. No job yet, but at least we don't have to go through the hassle of asking for time off! Enough of that though.
Ryker got his fourth tooth today. That means I didn't get much sleep last night, but it came through today. Ryker is now 1, he turned 1 on November 15. We had a family party, and he had his own cake. This post is coming, along with pictures, Mike promised. Ryker had an earache a couple of weeks ago, and we put him on Azithromiacin, and it didn't work. So on to Amoxicillion for 10 days. Well 5 days into it, and a rash completely covers his body, our little guy is allergic to penicillion. So, we got Benedryl and Motrin and Tylenol, and it starts with an R, it's an antibiotic shot, that week was drama! He is doing better now, and I am grateful for doctors, and medicine, that can help our babies.
Hailey is so excited for Christmas. She can't wait for all the parties, candy, Santa, and giving gifts. Last night we made a gingerbread house, and she wanted it in her window seal, so cute. I am trying to teach her the real meaning of Christmas. She is so into Christmas music, and playing pretend. Today she told me, okay so your name is santa mommy, and I am coming to see you. I swear she was at the North Pole all day, funny we never left the house. This past weekend we put up some decorations and she was so happy to help me. Ryker was wrapping himself in the lights and Hailey was taking the bulbs out and handed me a big pile of them, needless to say, another day for decorating. Cute, but drove me nuts, I should do it soon though with them, these little crazy moments don't last forever!!!
I am up to eight miles now! I am so happy with this. My new running schedual is:
Monday: 6 plus miles-hills
Tuesday: 3.2 miles
Wednesday: 4 plus miles
Thursday: 2-3 miles
Friday: 2-3 miles
Saturday: 8+ miles!!!
Sunday: REST!!!
I am so happy and excited and nervous for the 1/2 marathon.
I never posted what I am thankful for, so here it goes.
I am thankful for my kids, they teach me so much, and are easy to forgive when I am not at my best or make a mistake. I am thankful for my husband, he is such an amazing person and I am so grateful for him in my life. I am also grateful that he puts up with me, and my moods. I am so blessed to have such great parents that still are teaching, loving and supporting me. I am so blessed to have 5 awesome sisters and 3 brother in laws. I love the nieces and nephews that they have blessed our family with. I am grateful for all of the wonderful friends that I have got to meet, and keep in touch with. I feel bad that I didn't wish any of them happy holidays. I was thinking of each of you and how you are such a part of who I am today. I am also thankful for exercise, and the way it makes you feel. I would like to say how grateful I am for the gospel, and the atonement, I am so in-debted to Him. I really don't know where I would be without it in my life. Last but not least, I am grateful for prayer, I know He listens and answers our prayers. I know He loves us. I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving and now is gearing up for Christmas. I love the holidays, life is great. I am sure I forgot many things, but just know that I have a grateful heart tonight, and trying to make that a constant thing. I secretly am grateful for The Hills!!!

Another fun race!

Today was a 5k for make a wish foundation. The race was sooo much fun. It was for a girl, and her wish was to go to Disneyland with her family. I was so happy I got to be a part of it. She is an amazing person, and because of leftover money she is donating it to someone else in the foundation. I love running for a cause, well I love running but it is always better with a purpose. I ran it in 27 minutes! I was so happy with my results. I am up to 7.1 miles now. The weather is so cold, so now we have go to the gym with the kids and we run on the track. I am so excited for Jan. 17, I can't wait. I have became addicted to running, and always wanting to be faster. It is such a rush, running 7 miles and knowing that you did it, oh, I just want to do more! I know most of you who read my blog think I am nuts.

A funny conversation, with my Hailey!

So I was running yesterday, and Hailey told me to sing the song "I love to see the temple", I was singing as good as I could, breathless and all. Then I decided to talk to her about the temple.
Me:I said what do you think you do in temples?
Hailey: You pray and listen, mom.
Me: Do you think you can get married there?
Hailey: Yes, you can wear a pretty white dress.
Me: Who do you want to marry?
Hailey: Ryker
Me: Hailey, sweetie, Ryker is your brother, you can't marry him. You can marry another boy though.
Hailey: Oh, like Christopher and William and Tyler and Stetson?
Me: Oh, only one.
Hailey: Ummmm, I pick Christopher! Mom, will you come and see me get married there? Didn't you and daddy get married in a temple?
Me: Yes, we sure did.
Hailey: I want to too, mommy!
So this might be another too much information moment, in our dear Hailey's life. I am pleased to say though, that we have covered same sex marriages, multiple partners in a marriage, and incest, and most importantly where we should get married!
This made me laugh sooo hard. I was just so happy that she wants to get married in the temple. She ALWAYS talks about being baptized. I am so grateful for her, and her sweet spirit. She is so innocent, and she just soaks everything in.
On another note, Hailey always asks "So how many boys do I have in California?" It makes me laugh so hard, I say you have seven, and she is like, "oh, I need to see them!"
In this crazy world, I am so happy that Hailey is asking ME these questions, and having these conversations with me, and no one else. A big shout out to Mike for working so hard so that this is possible! Thanks honey, I love these crazy kids so much, and I sure love and appreciate you.

5k and more!!

Well, today was my first 5k run! I did it in 33 minutes, that is great considering I did it with the two kids and had to stop to help them. Ryker needed his food! Hailey is normally soooo good at feeding him, but too many people, so many distractions! I was going crazy because just yesterday, 6.5 miles and NO crying, screaming, nothing and then today, the big race, and drama began and didn't stop.
Anyway, I feel pretty good about my time, even though I always want to be faster and better. I feel bad for the people running by me, crying, me saying pleeease feed him something, Hailey saying no, and Ryker crying harder. I felt sooo bad, but was sooo frustrated. I just kept saying to myself just get to the end!!!
So, the weather here has been so nuts, just this week we have ran in 39 degrees to 63degrees. It is so beautiful, it tricks you, I don't know how to dress my kids, they are either too warm or too cold. I love fall time though.
Updates on kids:
Ryker has four teeth, and is so funny. He is army crawling, and making us laugh at how fast he is. He can get in a sitting position all by himself, and can make kissy noises. He smiles all of time, and is such a fun big boy. He will be one soon, that is just crazy to me. He loves to eat, which is so opposite his sister, she could do without! He is sleeping so good at night, and is so nice in the morning! He is saying mamma and dadda, and Haigy, and more, of course!!
Hailey ate her first FULL kids meal last night, from Wendy's, I love that place, I was so proud of her. She normally just picks at her food, and Mike ends up eating what is left of it, which is normally three full nuggets, the frosty and fries. Then he gets frustrated because he spent money and she did not eat. I couldn't be more proud of her. She has had her ears painted on lately. She does not listen at all, and then when she doesn't get to do the things she wants, she is beastly, and I am not the most pleasant either. Just yesterday she told me, "mom you are crabby, are you nervous?" I have been battling nap time lately, it is not pleasant. She needs a nap, but doesn't feel like she needs one, yesterday she ended up putting herself down and when she got up she knew she was crabby so she went back to sleep. She is such a big girl, and so nice when she wants to be. I just have to remember to put myself in time out!
I love both of my kids so much. I don't mean to have days when all I want to do is scream all day, and then when they cry all I want to do is cry. Being a mom, is some hard stuff, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Busy post!

Hello Everyone-
Sorry it has been sooo long. A lot has happened in our little world lately.
The list of events:
Haileys' birthday party Sept. 6
Mikes' grandma passed away Sept. 4
viewing and funeral Sept. 7 & 8
Haileys' real birthday celebration Sept. 10
Haileys' doctor checkup Sept. 16
Ryker has 2 new teeth Sept.15
Ryker turned 10 months Sept.15
We put an offer on a house? Sept. 16
Plus, eating, running, and trying to sleep. EVERYDAY!!!
I have upped my miles to 6, it feels so great. I still do pilates also, so I can eat what I want when I want! Not really seeing results, maybe this is why!! hahaha
Running goal: January 1/2 marathon.

So I will now review most of the things:
Hailey turned 3, on Sept. 10. We had a party at my sisters house, for my side on sept.7. It was super fun. She got a lot of fun things. It was a dora party, so it ended with a Dora Cake, she loved it. Then because Mikes' grandma passed away, we came back that night. We went to stake conference with EVERYONE, not kidding, grandparents have 10 kids, 50 grandkids, and 26 great grandkids. We went to the conference, and we sat with them. Well, tried to, that is a funny trick to play on parents, come and listen to an apostle, and bring the kids, for 2 hours, without nursery. We did it, but barely! Then afterwards, huge BBQ at his uncles home. It was then off to get the kiddos a nap. Then that night the viewing for grandma. It was very hard on all of us. That is the grandma that we used to take care of. We still live in the basement.
It was a hard day, that Sept. 4, will not ever be forgotten. I was awakened at 6:15, because of Ryker, I try to have him stay in his crib until 7:00 am, but I went and got him. I heard a lot of noise upstairs, and thought they were just being louder than normal. I started feeding Ryker, and felt go upstairs. I stopped feeding him and opened the door, I saw the caregiver, Liza, at the top of the stairs just crying, grandpa running around in total confusion, and fireman doing CPR on grandma. I was so sad. Mike came up shortly. I am so grateful that we had the opprotunity to serve her and love her, and most of all get to know her. Mike was such a great helper and loved her dearly. He was so nice to her. She lived a very fortunate life. I am also grateful that our Heavenly Father let me see that scene, sure it was hard to wake up to, but it taught me how fragile life is, and how the little things sure don't matter. We got up and went to the hospital, she passed away, we knew it at the house, but we still went.
That day, we had to keep busy, I went to Wal-mart, and tried to keep my mind off of it. Friday, we went on a run, wal-mart again, costco, and to dinner with a lot of the family that was in town, and made midnight jam. (Mike even helped!) Then saturday, we made zucchini bread and headed to Haileys' first party. Then the viewing and the funeral on Monday. Mike got to carry her one last time, it was hard. Hailey told her thanks for letting us live with you, I love you grandma. Hailey asked to go up and see grandma and Liza a lot the first couple of days, it was a everyday thing for us to go and see them. She has gotten better lately.
Well the last party was at Chuck E Cheeses, with the Palmer side, it was a lot of fun grandpa palmer and liza both came Hailey was so happy.
We have been busy this week with doctor appointments and other fun things, like teething! Hailey is "petite" she is 35.5 inches tall, and 25.4 pounds. She is not on the chart, sad I know. But the doctor said he would rather have her on this end than on the other, me too I guess. I feel bad tho.
Ryker is 10 months and feeling good. He is finally sleeping through the night. He is saying mamma, dadda, Haigey, and clapping his hands, and playing peekaboo. He is so fun, I just wish I had more one on one time with them both. I feel like I miss out on sooo much, but I am here constantly, if that makes sense. Hailey is doing great with her potty training, no accidents for like two months, even at night. Night potty going sucks, I think I woke up 6 times last night! On sunday she got too excited and had a little accident, but nothing too big, and no setbacks. (hopefully)
If you are still here, thanks for reading and caring. I have had a lot on my mind, and just now am getting it together again.
Jess

WHAT?!?!?

I know a double post from me of all people.
For this story you will need a little background. Hailey asked me what Ryker had when I was changing his diaper a long time ago, Ryker was maybe 2 months old. Well, I being honest,said he has a penis. She said a penis, well what do I have? I said you have a vagina. She now calls it agina, and penis. Well we were at church and she had her baby, mind you this was Rykers debut at church, she was waiting for the bread and water, and turns to Mike and says my baby has a penis, he is a boy. Mike says no Hailey, and she looks at it and says oh yeah, she has a agina. The people were in back of us just laughing, too bad I didn't hear it. She is pretty funny, she tells me when she sees a boy or a girl, what they have, and I can't help but laugh.
Hailey has been doing great this month with the whole potty thing. She even is doing great at night. Mike hates it, she gets up at 3:00 like on the dot every night to go potty and calls him to help her wipe! It makes me smile inside. (is that evil)
Anyway, this is what I walked in on today. Hailey said that she needed to go potty and so I said I will change Ryker and come in and help you wipe. So I go in, and laugh, she has the seat up, shorts and panties still on, and she is standing looking down, hands in position to hold her "stuff." I quickly corrected that behavior and asked her where she learned that. And she said that is what Daddy doos! It made me laugh, and I told her well we are not like daddy.
Kids do the funniest things. I am sorry I told her the correct names, she is only almost 3, I have created a monster!