Countdown

After months of hard work and training- the St. George marathon is only 1 week from today! Dana is so awesome at reaching any goal he sets for himself. I admire him so much. This is his 3rd marathon and he's shooting for 4 hrs (or less would also be okay) so wish him luck.
I'm excited because it's such a fun atmosphere and I love to see people that have worked so hard for that moment cross the finish line. Of course seeing Dana finish is the best. I've been able to see him finish the last 2 times and I'm so looking forward to that again. And hey- it's gotta be cooler there than 105 right?

Good Luck Honey- I love you!

Funky Dance

Okay its late and I'm going to bed but I just wanted to post this video I took recently of the kids dancing to the Chipmunks "Funky town" which they love listening to from Holly's preschool blog. I had bought some candy corns (which in case your wondering have sugar for the first 3 ingredients- corn syrup, high frustose corn syrup, and honey) which is kind of a little tradition when fall arrives but I made them dance for them first. Am I mean or what? I think Eli is my favorite- (not kid but dancer) Not so much when he does his "move" but just the way he dances. Funtimes and silly kids.

Sorry it's out of focus so much!

Halloween Dreams

Everyone loves Halloween right? But I don't think anyone loves it quite as much as Eli. He talked about last year long after Halloween was over. There was a haunted house on our street that he was too afraid to go near but was sure fascinated by it. So it didn't take long until he started asking if we could have a haunted house too. I guess it's not so scary when you're the scare-or rather than the scare-ee. My first response, being the practical mom that I am, was- I don't think so Eli. But mind you this was last November. His persistence with the idea has paid off for him because the idea started to settle in and by about January I was saying- we'll see, then later had a discussion with Dana concluding that maybe we could figure something out, then by summer resigning ourselves to the idea. Of course the excitement increased when we started getting the Halloween costume catalogs in the mail. So as of now, we will be having a haunted house on our front porch area. He's concerned about it not being too scary for babies so hopefully it can be a pretty friendly haunted house. I'm sure we'll be taking trick-or-treating breaks at times too.

The other day after school he wanted to try to turn his build-a-bear Riley into a mummy. He was very excited about this "activity" and I thought it was pretty cute too.

Nothing wears you out more than trying to decide between the purple glitter Princess costume or the pink sparkle fairy or maybe Sleeping Beauty or...well you can see why she finally fell asleep. These catalogs have been very popular around here. Our dress-up clothes do not go unused for even half a day so I guess it makes sense that Halloween would be a big holiday. But I think they've finally all decided. Phew!

Motherhood

When I found out I was pregnant with Emma my world changed forever. I could not have been more thrilled. I figured if millions or billions of women had done this before me I could do it too. The first time I started to feel a little nauseous I didn't really mind. Of course I knew that was part of the pregnancy experience. When my life became a non-stop cycle of eating and throwing up (which I hadn't for 10 years prior), I still didn't realize what I was in for. After losing 15 lbs, having to quit my job, getting put in the hospital for dehydration, needing to be chauffeured places by my selfless, very kind sister, all the while wanting to die, my happiness began to wane. I began to refer to my baby as "the leech" as I felt she was sucking the life out of me. I wondered how it even got the name "morning sickness". I wondered if women actually had died from it because I didn't feel too far away. I wondered why I wasn't warned that smells would be so repulsive and nauseating. The worst smell-MEAT! Horrible. The second-Dana. Poor guy would try to get near me and send me running for the bathroom. Probably my bodies way of saying- I got what I needed from you buddy now back off. When my 12 week mark came (the magic moment I had been waiting for) and went and I was into the second trimester without improvement, I knew I was in it for the long haul.

I wanted my mom to save me like she always had before but she was far away (we were in Provo and she was in California) and teaching school. Plus, realistically I knew she couldn't make me better. I really became a stronger person through this. There's something about being very physically sick that makes you very humble. I turned to Heavenly Father frequently and also read all 9 of the "Work and the Glory" books feeling very grateful that I wasn't a pioneer. I just don't think any of us can imagine what they had to endure. This time was my first sacrifice as a mother.

After Emma came out, the leeching continued and seemed much more literal as I tried to figure out nursing. But of course then I knew that she was worth every ounce of pain plus more- anything more that I would have had to give I would have. I was in awe and so in love. I began to see what motherhood was like. Like the quote that says becoming a mother is the first time you walk around with your heart outside yourself.

My subsequent pregnancies have become a little easier each time. Partly due to my body getting very used to throwing up I think. It's just not as painful after hundreds of times. But each time has given me lots of great material for stories-mostly about throwing up in front of strangers. Pregnancy is definetly not my favorite (like most girls I've talked to) but it's hard to get past what an absolute miracle it is and how really amazing it is to be a part of that.

These thoughts and memories have been on the forefront of my mind lately. The older my kids get, the more I realize the impact I have in their lives. It overwhelms me at times as I'm sure it does most mothers. Plus, this has usually been about the time in the past that we've started to gear up for the next baby. I think Emma and Eli have been around long enough to feel the same way because lately I've been hearing things like: from Eli- "Mom is our next baby going to be boy?" and Emma "Can we please get a dog soon?" more frequently than usual. I think she's just heard me tell people too many times that I don't want to get a dog until all my kids are potty trained. She really loves babies but I think she likes animals even more.

I know I'm still in the immature stage of motherhood with my oldest only being 8, I still have a lot to learn. But I fully believe that quote on the side there that says it's the greatest privledge of life. Pardon all my thoughts and no fun pictures. I just needed to get down my feelings. I've been so comtemplative lately I thought this might help. (sorry about all the throw up talk too) Also, I've met many people who have had worse pregnancies than I have- I did start feeling better about 20 weeks so I hope it doesn't sound like complaints.

Mt. Lemmon

We had such a great day on Saturday. We drove down to Tucson to visit some great friends of ours. Not only was it awesome just to visit them and let the kids play (who just can't get enough of each other), but they live right near a mountain. So after a nice lunch, we drove about 30 miles (a beautiful drive) and were suddenly surrounded by pine trees and a stream and endless terrain for the kids to explore. Not to mention how great it felt to soak in that 70 degree temperature! All 4 of us parents were saying that we need to get our kids out in nature more. They just couldn't get enough and I think I felt almost as giddy as they did (anyone else have fall fever?). After that we went back to their apt pool and let the kids swim and then had pizza for dinner. Does it get much better than that for a kid? Does it get much better than watching your kids have a happy day with only a random arguement or complaint as a parent? Not for me. All four fell asleep in the car on the way home. What a great day and memory :)


Sadie was loving the mud and we were fighting to keep her out of that water. It was so fun to see her exploring and looking around at things that were completely new to her.

We didn't have a prayer at keeping Emma and Eli out of the water.

Holly patiently waiting for me to take the picture so she could go play.

Geckos

We've had Dots and Goldie for maybe 9 months or so and my kids still love to hold them and carry them around the house. Mainly because we haven't succumbed to the constant begging for a dog yet. The rule is that it has to be when dad is around because if one of them gets away (which has happened) there's no way I'm rounding it up! I have touched one with the back of my pinky and thats as good as it gets for me. I realized on Monday that I don't have any pictures of the kids with them so I got a few. I love the one of Sadie. She LOVES the geckos. Holly was there too but she's not quite as into them as everyone else.