Huntsville Marathon

The girls and David had been training for their upcoming races.  David would be running the Huntsville full marathon and the girls would run the kids mile.  Their training consisted of running to 7-11 which happens to be a mile away and their reward was to get a slurpee.  They even ran in the rain and I followed so that we could drive home to avoid their slurpees getting ruined.  They got pretty quick and were running a mile in under 10 minutes.  I'm so proud of them and its so cute they get to do something with their daddy.

 When we signed up for the marathon, we also booked two nights at a hotel in Ogden.  It was right across the street from the packet pick up and it meant that we could wake up an hour later and relax in the pool after the races.  We also were able to spend time with family and friends which is a huge bonus.  I went to lunch with Sage for our sister lunch and then to dinner with Megan and Desirea.  David took care of the girls and enjoyed the time with them.  We woke up really really early to head up the canyon.  For some reason they wanted David at the bus by 2 1/2 hours before the race started which was crazy!  We got to Huntsville at 6, David started the race at 9 and the girls started at 1.  This meant that we had a full 7 hours until the girls race started.  I had originally planned to entertain them at the park, but it was SO cold.  It was 29 degrees when we pulled up and it stayed that way for a few hours. 

 The girls and I stayed in the car and ate cereal and listened to the radio for quite some time

 We then got cozy and watched a show on the ipad

 It was then time for a potty break and I thought we would try our luck at the park.  Unfortunately it was so cold there was ice on one slide which hurt and the other slide was metal and freezing.

 After 11 the library opened up which was right across from where we parked.  It was so nice to have flushing potties instead of honey buckets.  It was also nice to have heat, room to stretch and entertainment.  I read a chapter book to the girls, we look at the art and the girls read a few magazines.

 After a few more snacks, treats and hours it was finally time for the girls to get ready to race

 Shelby crossed first...

 Kadence wasn't too far behind...

 David came by not too long after the girls finished.  He was running strong and seemed to have some life still in him which was so good to see!

 He ran pretty well and accomplished a few of his goals.  He ran without walking for the first 23 miles which was 3.2 miles shy of his goal.  He wanted to run the entire thing without walking.  Unfortunately he got pretty dehydrated and got a leg cramp so bad that his leg wouldn't straighten.  He walked a little, but finished very strong.  He also set a goal to finish in under 4 hours and 30 minutes.  Well, he did it!  He finished in 4 hours and 20 minutes!! He came in 14 in his age division out of 28. I am so incredibly proud of him!

 We then went back to eat lunch at the Pizzeria and then to the hotel to swim.  Jeffy, Megan, Dusty, Davisson and Odessa joined us in the pool. Here's Jeff throwing Shelby...

 David throwing Kadence...

 David doing a sexy hair flip....

 Odessa being cute like usual...

 After swimming we went to our room to get ready to go to the movie.  We looked out the window to see a flash mob proposal.  It was pretty well done and was fun to watch...

 Jeffy joined us at the movies and we all really enjoyed it!

 After a long day, we were all exhausted!

We woke up early the next morning so we could shower and get ready to go to our Addalyn's blessing.  Addalyn is Josh and Amy's newest princess.  She was adorable and it was so nice for the girls to get to see Hadlee.  Kadence was super naughty the whole time we were there, but considering the long day we had the day before it wasn't too bad. 

 

I love my girls to death and I love that they run.  I love that they are able to share Davids hobby with him. I'm incredibly proud of David for setting a goal and surpassing it.  I can't imagine walking 26.2 miles, but running it seems absolutely crazy to me.  I am excited to see him run in the Ogden Half Marathon this May.  I also signed the girls and I up to run the 5K.  I am less excited about this part.  I don't really run and my knee is terrible but I want to be able to join the girls and to push them to run further than they have.  I would love for them to continue running because it is a healthy hobby that can help them in almost anything they decide to do in the future.  I think it will take me the full 7 months to mentally prepare to run the 5K, but I will do it!  My goal for the girls and I is to finish in under 50 minutes.  Davids goal is to beat his last half marathon time which was 1:50.  (I think anyways) Wish us luck!

Girls Night!

For a few weeks the girls and I have been planning to have a girls night.  David really wanted to go backpacking overnight and so I figured that would be the perfect opportunity.  Unfortunately the first trip he had planned was cancelled because his friend wasn't able to make it.  Then, the second trip was cancelled because another friend couldn't make it.  Shelby looked at me and said, "Mom, can't dad still go? Can't he just go fishing or something?"  David heard the whole conversation and decided he would go on a hike on Friday instead.  The girls night was on and all 3 of us counted down the days.  On Thursday Kadence came home from school just miserable.  She had a cough that let us know that pneumonia wasn't far away.  Then she got the accompanying fever.  We called and made an appointment with her doctor for Friday afternoon and figured that would be good enough. Well, we didn't make it that long.  I had to call David home from work so that we could take Kadence in to the ER.  After a breathing treatment I could only get her oxygen levels to hover around 92-93.  This is a good level for before the treatment, but after she usually goes up to a steady 95.  We also used the last vial of albuterol.  I just didn't feel comfortable putting her back to sleep because she normally has her levels drop when she relaxes or sleeps.  We took her in and they found that she had the early stages of pneumonia.  Kadence was so excited because she got to see her friend Chloe's dad while we were there.  Robbie is a respiratory therapist and came in and visited with us for a while.  He even got popsicles for the girls.  Kadence was tested for whooping cough and the ER doctor was pretty positive that's what she had.  So basically we left the ER at 3am on Friday and we were all exhausted, Kadence had pneumonia and possibly whooping cough.  I debated going in to work, but decided I would because I hate calling in.  So I got very little sleep before waking back up for work.  I was running on fumes all day and I got a text telling me how excited the girls were for our girls day.  Somehow I knew that I had to muster enough energy to make it through.  I also had to think of a new plan because I didn't want to take Kadence out while she had a fever and while she might be spreading whooping cough.  I stopped on the way home from work and grabbed some treats.  I had ordered the movie Croods already for part of our night as well. 

 

When I got home it was so cute to see how excited the girls were.  They had made "no boys allowed" signs and posted them on the door.  They then kicked their daddy out and told him that he couldn't come back until 8pm.  Because of our sick little one I had to adjust which also meant that dinner would be take out.  If it was take out there was only one place that would be guaranteed to excite...McDonalds. McDonalds had Monster High trick or treat buckets and the girls were in heaven!  We watched a Halloween cooking show while we ate.  After eating we played a few Halloween games in which we won Halloween prizes.  Then we told scary stories and waited for daddy to come home so that we could watch Croods.  We ate some treats and watched our movie and then it was off to bed.  We had a great time.  I love that my girls look forward to girls day as much as I do.  I like that they allowed David to come for part of it.  I really hope that we are able to continue girls day as the girls get older and even after they are married.  I just love my girls to pieces and can't imagine life without them.  They are my entire world.    

 

 If you didn't know Kadence, you wouldn't know she was sick!!

 She really didn't feel too well, but again you would only know if you knew her well.

 

 

Just a little side note, the test came back a few days later and she did not have whooping cough.  It only took a few days for her fever to break and her oxygen levels stayed at an acceptable level almost the entire time after the ER visit.  I hate that she gets pneumonia all the time, but I also feel like we are now pros at dealing with it and knowing exactly what she needs.  Nothing gets her down!

Things That Must Go...

People who push their kids to be THE best must go.  I see too many parents who brag about how advanced their children are.  That in fact is something even I do sometimes.  I don't have a problem with how proud you are of your child...in fact, if I am having a conversation with you chances are I am equally proud of them.  The problem comes when parents are talking and the conversation turns into the adults competing for who has the best, smartest, most athletic, most gifted child.  A simple, "Kadence reads really well for her age." Turns into, "Billy knows all of the 3rd grade sight words AND reads at a 4th grade level."  It's not that I am not happy for Billy but the fact you couldn't simply be happy for my child's success without bringing up how advanced your child is....MUST GO!  Not very often do people compare their children to mine but I see this scenario play out far too often.  The kids hear it.  Suddenly the first child feels like they didn't actually accomplish much at all.  Then the second child must work harder to maintain their place at the top.  It just isn't fair.  Whatever happened to letting our kids fail at something so they learn that it doesn't all come easily?  What happened to being ok with your child being different in both their failures and successes?  What happened to letting kids be kids and letting them play after school and practice sight words a little less than the kid next door?  I think that children learn a great deal from playing and interacting with others or playing by themselves.  I think they learn a lot when they decide all they want to do is draw, despite their ability to do a great job at it.  I stand by what I tell my kids almost every single day, "I don't need you to be the best, I just need you to do YOUR best."  Everyone has a different level of ability, everyone excels at something and has to work harder at other things.  It's how it is.  Lets compare a little less and support and praise a little more.  Every child is great from the top of the class to the one who struggles with their colors in 2nd grade.  Just love them, they are kids for heavens sakes.


People who check in for an appointment and then sit down with headphones in their ears must go!  I am not joking, this has happened twice in the last month.  A student comes and checks in for their appointment, has a seat and then can't hear their name being called due to the headphones in their ears.  I don't even understand how you think this is a good idea.  One student even looked at us like it was OUR fault that we couldn't get his attention for a few minutes.  People need to get some manners!


Speaking of manners, people who chew with their mouths open must go!  I seriously can not handle eating with someone who eats with their mouth open.  My girls occasionally hear the phrase "if you chew with your mouth open one more time you will go hungry because you will be done eating."  I don't know why it bothers me so much, but it immediately gets on my nerves.  I don't like the sound of chewing even if your mouth is closed but to chew with it open drives me right up the wall.  Please stop and learn some etiquette. Also, please teach your children to chew with their mouths closed as well.  Kids learn quickly and they can understand far more than you think.  Start young and just let it be a part of their normal expectations.  This way I will have son in laws who know how to chew without driving me crazy!

UEA Surprise

The girls have been out of school this week for UEA and I have to be at work.  This is the first time that we aren't able to spend UEA together as a family.  It's always been a much needed break with some extra family time.  Well now that I work it meant that David would be staying home all day with the girls.  I loved being a stay at home mom, but I know that sometimes you just need to get out of the house.  I feel bad because David has planned two different overnight backpacking trips and both times his friends have cancelled.  I know how horrible that is.  Of course you love your kids, but you love them more after you have had some "me time."  I worked out a way to leave work a little early and come home and surprise them with an activity.  I text Jeffy and asked if he wanted to join in on the fun.  Jeffy and I both arrived at the same time and walked up to the front door.  The surprise worked!  We then went on my adventure to the American West Heritage Center.  They had activities for Halloween and I was excited to see it.  The girls enjoyed the pony rides...

 They went on a giant slide (dad took a picture with his phone that I'll have to add later). They got to throw tomahawks. 

 The girls shot their very first guns...BB guns.  This is more than I have ever done.

 We got lost in a corn maze.  It seriously took us forever to get out.  We joked that people start the maze in great moods and laughing and smiling, but they end cranky and just happy to get out.  That was basically my mood coming out.  The girls (and Jeffy and David) enjoyed picking corn of the cobs and throwing it as we walked.  I focused more on just getting out. After about half an hour I was DONE. Although, we still had about another half hour or more before we were actually out.

 The girls and Jeff went through this course and they were supposed to avoid touching the strings

 Shelby fell so hard because her foot got caught on the string.  We all just laughed.

 They had so much fun trying to avoid the strings and did pretty good unless the string was too high to get their little legs over.

Everyone except me went through a small, completely dark, hay maze.  They said it was fun, but they used phones to cheat their way through.  Jeff and David couldn't stand to watch the girls run into the walls repeatedly.  We were able to pick out and buy some pumpkins on our way out which the girls are so excited to paint.  It was a great adventure and a great surprise.  These are the days I live for.  I will take less than fabulous days as long as I get a few of these days thrown in the mix.  I love seeing the girls happy.  I love being happy with them.  I love taking time to notice grass, leaves, the sky, the mountains, the smell, the birds, etc.  I love watching them take their time picking out pumpkins.  Shelby found the perfect pumpkin immediately while Kadence took longer to select the one that was just right.  I love my family so much and can't imagine my life without them.

I'm a Hypocrite...Well, Almost

This picture, this VERY picture almost made me someone I dislike.  It almost made me paint a better picture than reality.  It almost made me something I hate....a hypocrite!

As you look at the picture above you will see two happy little girls who just went on a Jeep ride up Green Canyon to look at all the Fall leaves.  Next to them, you will see a mommy who loves them with all of her heart.  You can see that Shelby needed her leaf in the picture because she was just so excited to pick up a "sign of Fall."  You will see that Kadence and Shelby are smiling a genuine smile because daddy made a fart noise which is the only way to get a genuine smile.  What's wrong then?  Well, as I almost posted this picture on Facebook I thought for a moment.  When other moms saw this they may think that the day went so much better than it did.  It might portray a false reality, a picture of perfection, a happiness that is unattainable.  Well here is the honest part....The only reason we went on the Jeep ride was because I thought just maybe that would make them behave when we got home.  I figured that at the very least I would get a half hour to an hour of peace because I can't hear them over the noisy Jeep. The reality is that David and I spent the whole morning/afternoon getting mad and frustrated at our kids.  Kadence by this point had been in time out I think 6 times.  Kadence was just starting to feel better from having pneumonia and she was restless.  Her sister was so excited to have her be able to play again.  Mom and Dad lost sleep earlier in the week due to a trip to the ER at 3am and constant coughing, nebulizer treatments and checking her oxygen levels throughout the night.  All these things put together was a recipe for disaster.  We went in an attempt to change my attitude and the girls behavior.  It didn't work.  We still had frustrations, I yelled a few times and we had a few more time outs.  Then after story, scriptures, prayer, bed time songs and kisses we tucked the girls in their beds.  I thought about the day and thought my family would love to see an updated picture of the girls.  I almost posted the picture above (And the pictures below) and then I realized what a hypocrite I would have become.  I absolutely think that we post on Facebook what we want and keep the details to ourselves.  Some prefer to paint a miserable picture, but many choose to paint an overly perfect picture.  This leaves fellow moms feeling inadequate.  I have found myself thinking "Wow, how did you find the time, Where did she get all that energy, How does she look so great, She is such a fabulous mom for doing so much for her kids, etc."  How terrible is it that the media has allowed us to portray our lives as perfect.  We can paint whatever picture we want.  If I posted these pictures I may have done the same disservice to my fellow moms.  I may have made them think that our lives were going just perfectly.  The reality was, it was a rough day.  Nobody had a great day.  I was glad that while we were on our Jeep ride we all had a great time.  We truly had a very enjoyable time.  We laughed, explored and made a new memory.  Posting that one hour and portraying it as the reality of our day would have been dishonest.  I'm so glad I caught myself and refrained from showing a story that needed a little more description.  I love my girls to death, I love being a mommy....but not every day is a piece of cake.  Now that you have some background you can enjoy the honesty of these pictures. :)

Kadence Turns 7!

I still can NOT believe that I have a 7 year old.  I for sure can't believe that Kadence has been a part of my life for 7 whole years.  I love my life as a mommy and I'm so blessed to be able to watch this little girl grow up.  She is crazy, spunky, thoughtful, sensitive, sassy, defiant, kindhearted, smart, silly, exhausting and just about as perfect as a 7 year old can be.  I love her forever and always!!

This was on her birthday trip to Famous Daves (not on her bday) where she tried ribs for the first time...

 She woke up on her birthday to our present and the present Shelby wanted to buy and thought of all on her own...

  

 Shelby didn't want to waste any time and gave Kadence her present right away...

 Kadence LOVED it...

 Shelby picked a blue chalk bag for Kadence to use rock climbing. Blue is currently her favorite color...

 We didn't have time for another present because we had to get ready for cousin Parkers baptism...

We told Kadence that although it was her special day, baptisms only come once (well, usually) and that it was Parkers special day while we were with him...not hers.  Well Rachel didn't think that was fair so she bought cupcakes and made sure to sing to Kadence before we ate yummy food for the baptism.  It made her day and she actually got shy which doesn't happen too often anymore...

After the baptism we went and helped Booger and Sage load the moving truck.  The girls were so good to just wait.  We went and got the chocolate rock candy for her parties good bags, slurpees and then we just sat around.  I'm so happy to have such patient girls.  I'm also so happy that my girls are so willing to share their special days.  This year both girls had to allow their daddy to help someone instead of having fun with them and neither one complained.  We decided after moving that not many would be able to make it to celebrate with us so we decided that from now on we will let the birthday girl pick a restaurant and then we'll take them to dinner instead. Kadence picked Olive Garden! By the time we got to Olive Garden it was 7:30, we were all starving and I don't think Olive Garden has ever tasted so good.

A few family members called Kadence and she looked so old as she would fling herself on the bed and talk to them.

At about 10pm Kadence finally was able to open her present from mom and dad (She didn't even ask a single time if she could open it yet)

She got some quick draws for rock climbing, 2 boy barbies and a few things that I don't remember.

Daddy teaching her all about the quick draws that happened to be orange...one of her favorite colors.

We had a busy day and throughout it all, Kadence never once was concerned we weren't 100% focused on her.  She just was happy and content.  This is much like her everyday personality.  She is just simply happy, doesn't need much and is grateful for all that she has.  She had a great day and I enjoyed being a part of it.  It's crazy that she is 7, it's crazy that I'm her mommy and I am crazy lucky to have her in my life.  Mom, Dad and Shelby love you forever!!