Her eyes lit up

Lulu turned 3 yesterday. She loved opening her gifts. Her favorite so far has been her purple unicorn pillow pet she received from Gma. She had been asking for one for 6 months and I wasn't going to get her one, but I knew she would love it. She also loves this little bear puzzle she got from her other Gma. I am not sure how she will handle Christmas. She already has enough toys to keep her busy for a while. Maybe we should wait a week to open Christmas stuff.

She requested a pink cake with pink frosting and pink candles. Very simple and it made her smile. Love it. She was so grateful yesterday. It was fun to watch her excitement about the cards and each gift.

I let the girls open their Gma Christmas presents because we won't see her on Christmas. Mimi got a camera and Lulu got a scooter. They have been going around the kitchen on the scooter. I will be teaching Mimi how to use her camera this morning. It is such a grown up gift for my little girl, but she is growing up.

I have to make a few desserts and a last minute run to the mall, then I will be free the rest of the week. I am tired everyday around 5. So I best get moving.

Kicked in the Gut

I have had that feeling for a couple months now and now we know why. You know the show, "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant," well, I knew--you didn't. We are due the beginning of April, hopefully by the 10th. I was late with my first and right on time with the second. That gives me a week beyond my due date. So from now on I am going to use the 10th and if it is earlier we'll all rejoice.
I am about 24 weeks and have gained enough weight to be 27 weeks, but look like I'm maybe 18 weeks or just chubby. I am hiding it well you might say. I haven't been pregnant sick, but I have seemed to pick up all colds that pass my way. Trouble sleeping already.

And the best news of all...it's a BOY. Yes, Mr., there is a Santa Claus!

Black Friday--the return

I thought I was done with Christmas shopping for the girls, but I had to make some returns. I missed a couple sales by 30 minutes. I was too early. I guess you really have to pay attention to start times for sales. Nuts. Now I have to go out in the snow and search some more. The good thing is I got $100 credited to my card. I bet I can spend less than that and feel done. I still have to look for Mr., but he hasn't told me anything he wants yet. And of course I have to shop for myself. I am looking forward to doing this on my own some time in the the next 10 days. Lulu was a good partner yesterday, but it is so much easier on my own. Anybody want to babysit/shop swap?

Announcement, of the birthday variety

There are 2 weeks until my birthday. Consider yourself warned. I am expecting something great this year. Hint, hint. I know Mr. looks at this blog, so that is for him. I will be 31.

Last night, as I watched NKOTBSB perform at the AMA awards, I realized that I haven't changed much in the last 20 years. I used to watch all of the music award shows and all of the miss america pageants and I still have to at least check out the music awards. I avoid the pageants, unless Mimi spots one and asks to watch the talent portion.

I remember going on a road trip with my mom and grandparents to Idaho and listening to NKOTB the whole way--on my mini-boombox (not even a walkman) with headphones. I think I was 10, maybe younger. I used to be able to sing every word of every song on the radio. I loved Debbie Gibson too. I still like to sing to the radio and encourage my little ones to dance in the car. Music is fun. We all need to dance a little more--even if we have no rhythm.

So, that is my birthday request. Sing and dance at the store or in your car. Make people laugh or let them stare. Maybe they will join in. This is especially great on Black Friday. I guarantee you will be smiling.

Vacation

Right after the girls found out we were going to Disneyland.
1st day--at SeaWorld. It was so fun. And hot. We were expecting 85 for the high, but it was 90+ most of the days.

Mr. helped the girls pet and feed the dolphins. Lulu fed ice cubes because she didn't want to touch the fish. Mimi rubbed their heads very carefully.

This picture is actually from Friday. If you look in the background, you can see my parents. I talked them into taking a vacation and I am so glad they came. They knocked on our door (totally shocking the girls) in the morning and joined us at Disneyland for 12 hours that day. The girls loved playing with them. Most of the pictures of that day are on their camera.

Lulu driving the bumper car.

Wild Animal Park

It was hot and we were tired. The car thermometer said 101 when we headed to the hotel.

Lulu was shy when she took pictures with the characters. She loved Minnie's house. We got a few shots with some princesses and Pluto and Goofy. This was our first time really doing a character hunt.

We found Mickey! They were both excited and then Lulu got shy. Someday she'll learn.

The girls both had a great time. Mimi pushed us to stay out until 11:30 riding the rides. I guess she really wanted to make the most of her day.

Lulu kept calling the hotel the dentist. "Let's go swim at the dentist." "Are we going back to the dentist yet?" Won't she be surprised.

We went to Cheesecake Factory. We were ALL disappointed in the food, but the cheesecake was pretty good.

We spent a day at the beach in Malibu, checking out tide pools with Mr.'s sister. We had great weather and lots of fun.

We flew home on the same flight as my parents. It was a fun trip. The only picture we got of all of us together was at the airport. I really wasn't thinking about pictures by the time we were all together. I don't know how we will top this vacation.

The Surprise!

I had Mr. take the camera and gave him the sign as I brought some gifts down the stairs. The girls opened their bags to find princess shirts and Minnie mouse jackets. Mimi said, "Oh, Thanks!" Then I held out some tickets and Lulu said, "Tickets to Mickey." And I told them we would be leaving in an hour and a half to fly to LA and head on down to Disneyland, SeaWorld, and the Wild Animal Park. We were there for a whole week and had a whole lot of fun. The movie of their reactions and crying didn't actually get recorded, but they were so excited. I have lots of pictures to share, but I haven't gone through them yet. I got my Disney fix and probably won't feel the urge for several years. It was a nice break and we got to spend some time with Mr.'s sister which was just as fun as going to Disneyland.

HIS Birthday

What an eventful morning! Sarcasm. I have had a cold of sorts for a few weeks, tested negative for strep, and have lost all motivation to move beyond my home.

But that won't keep me down for long. Today is Mr.'s birthday and we are going to party it up. He has become more giving with age. He used to think he was invincible and now realizes he is not. He takes things seriously. Whether it is playing, working, relaxing--he is focused. My gift to him is a bed liner for his truck. He has to arrange it all and get it taken care of (the best kind of gift). We might see how much he can handle at Red Lobster at all-you-can-eat shrimp night. I will count, he will eat.

I have been keeping a secret from my kids for a few months. They will be excited. Mimi will forgive me for making her throw away the last cupcake instead of letting her eat it. I am almost sure of that.

I didn't do the half marathon. 6 or 7 weeks ago, I decided I could go faster and ended up hurting my leg and back. I had built up to 11 miles and was sure I could beat 2 hrs. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. I ran for the 2nd time the other day and was only able to go 2.5 miles. It is disappointing, but I know I can build back my endurance and speed in time. There is always next year.

Mimi has discovered a book series called "Warriors." She will not stop reading them. The warriors are cats. That's all I know about it. She is a great reader.

Lulu is singing more and more and loves playing outside.

Mr. went to Korea for a week. He brought back some dolls for Mimi. That is his tradition when he goes on trips. It's really cute and makes her so happy.

We are loving the beautiful weather and have been playing outside as much as possible.

Lulu-isms

"Mickey Mouse is strong like me."

Frantically looking for a toy (at least that's what I thought), "I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE!!! WHERE IS IT? [Pauses and looks at me] Where is my sausage?"

In crib this morning, "Mom, let me out! I gotta do poops!"

She's been saying prayers on her own and always remembers to bless her neighbor friend, Jenna, and the cousins she has seen that day.

Room switch

We moved Lulu to the room opposite ours so we won't hear her noises all night. When she was little I wanted to hear her noises so I could help her, now I just want to sleep. I have to get some curtains for her room because she keeps waking up at 6:15. I would like her to sleep until 6:45 at least. I have tried to convince her that the big bed is where it's at, but she is still in love with her crib.

She woke up dry this morning, but I left her in her diaper while I helped her sister. So, now I am enjoying a lingering dirty diaper smell that will be in my room for a few hours.

I am liking our quiet days at home, but Lulu is missing her sister. Good thing we have neighbors and cousins around to play with. Lulu keeps trying to convince me that she is "really tall" so she can go to school with Mimi.

Mimi and I went on a walk last night around the block. We might have to do that every night. It seems like after homework, she just wants to watch TV. She does have a long day at school and I am okay with a few shows, especially the ones she watches with her dad--Swamp People, Pawn Stars, and Swords. Awesome.

She has decided that she likes school for now. And she wants to be in Art Club. Which means she will give up her recess once a week to help paint backdrops for plays and assemblies.

Mr. is in the middle of 2nd cutting and having visitors from Japan at work. He is busy and tired and doing the work of 2 men. He is a good employee for sure.

Mad at Wal-Mart

I got out of the store and the car next to me parked 4 inches away from my car. There was no way for me to get into the car on the driver's side. At first, I really was angry and wondered if I should wait to tell the person that they shouldn't park so close. Then I was glad that it was on my side and not Lulu's. Then I was grateful that I could climb in the passenger side and into my own seat without too much trouble. It was not a big deal. It is too bad that I wasted 2-3 minutes fuming.

Latest "artwork"

I saw this pattern on a blog's background and decided to copy it. Thanks to a cup and a measuring tape, it came out semi-even. I painted the pattern all brown, let it dry, and went over it a gain with a blue color. This canvas was no longer white because I had repainted it several times. It would have been way easier to have started with a new canvas.

Cheap tickets, wrong dates

Allegiant air is having a sale the entire month of September. Too bad I want to go in November. Patience. Luckily, a couple of my sisters-in-law will be able to fly to L.A. for some fun.

Swim lessons are over and she passed. She was so excited. We went swimming at Memorial Pool to give her some extra practice time. She still does a head-first cannonball dive, but she does a beautiful breaststroke.

Time to get back to running. 6 weeks to the half marathon. I hope I can get my miles in, so it is easier. This is supposedly a family affair, so I do expect to see a few of you there. Not that we have to run together, but I'll buy breakfast afterwards.

We played all week last week and had a great time with friends and cousins. Then, Friday came. Friday the 13th. Mimi fell out of a car and hurt her wrist along with a few scratches on her face. A pivot tipped over on the farm. Sunday, Lulu fell in the family room and hurt her wrist. Now there are 3 left arm injuries in the house. Mr. says I better be careful.

We still need to do some clothes shopping for school, but I think we are all ready for it to start again. Time to go to bed a little earlier and ease back into a schedule. I will miss not having to use an alarm. That was the best thing this summer. I didn't always get to sleep in, but I only set the alarm 4 times all summer.

2 WEEKS!

Shopping Adventure

We left at 6 am and got home at almost midnight. The sisters-in-law and I loaded up in the Tahoe and headed to Seattle. We hit Ikea--after 2 hours of shopping we had lunch in the cafeteria. The car was loaded with all of our purchases, including my giant mirror that Jo kindly sat under the whole trip. Went to South Center Mall. Took some pictures of the girls with their pink balloons. C did a shopping cheer and we were off. The girls did well, I got some spanx. We all had Jamba Juice. W did an awesome dance. We stopped at North Bend on the way home. Didn't find anything until I went to Bass and bought a couple hoodies. Could have bought a ton of stuff at the kid stores, but I controlled myself. Arby's for dinner. We made 5 orders through the drive-thru. Ju was in the very back seat and the cashier said, "You've even got one in the trunk." Yes, we were packed in there. Luckily, the 2 oldest got the front seat. Age before beauty. The baby came along too. He was so good the whole time. It was amazing.

Thanks to the fathers and grandmother who made this trip possible. Thanks for the conversation and the treats. Next year, we'll have to go on a trip to Utah and visit Jo or we could always head for the L.A..

What's the answer?

Sometimes we have deep conversations at my childhood home. My father asked me what I do all day and figured that I am under-utilized. He asked if I had any causes. Well, I told him my cause was to inspire people to run and lift weights. That's not a cause I guess, but I do think a lot of mothers would feel better and actually enjoy it if they tried. He mentioned something about joining the Tea Party. What do I do all day?

Today: BY 2PM
Laundry
Dishes
Cleaned a couple dirty bums
Ran 5 miles, lifted
Grocery shopping
Picked and watered garden
Lunch
Math with Mimi
Draw with Lulu

Later:
More laundry
Dinner
Dishes
Shower
Naps--fold laundry

What should my cause be?

What week is this?

Summer is flying by and I have lost track of what has gone on. The latest news is that Mr. broke his collar bone doing his ATV racing. He is such a daredevil. He is going to the specialist today to see what needs to be done. It is interesting helping him get dressed and things. I couldn't get him to take a day off of work.

I ran a 1ok and finished below my goal time. I think I could go faster, so I am considering the half marathon again. My official time was 56:11. I felt so good running. I guess actually training for a race helps.

Mimi is getting glasses. She is near-sighted. She looks so cute in them. We have to wait a week or two for them to come. She is excited. Swim lessons are going great. She is tearing through the Little House on the Prairie books. She has to read 60 pages if she wants to play on the computer.

Lulu is now doing her poops on the potty. She is wearing panties during the day and a diaper at night. I just don't want to wash sheets everyday. Everytime she goes #2 she yells, "I'm going to Disneyland!" We just might have to do that. Lulu is really strong. She can throw things far and fast. Yesterday, she threw the remote and hit Mimi in the eye. It was so sad. Lulu doesn't know her own strength and she can't aim. Mim has a little bruise, but not a black eye.

We were driving in the car and I was whistling. Lulu didn't like it and yelled, "No fwoo-fwoo." Obviously, I am not a good whistler.

My sister, Em, had a baby boy on Sunday night. They named him Adam Lawrence. He is cute. His hair is dark and thick and a couple inches long. She went to the hospital at 6 and had the baby at 6:48. She is amazing. I got to snuggle with him that evening. My first time doing that with any of her babies. It was neat.

Summer week 3

This week we stayed with Grandma and Pre-pa a couple nights. They endured Lulu's sleeplessness and even invited her back. We have 1 pull-up at night days and 2 successes with number 2. I pretended I was Mickey Mouse and called her to encourage her to go and she did, but it was because she made the face and I ran her in. Afterwards, we gave high fives and had a little party. She strutted around saying, "Uh-huh, I'm cool, Uh-huh, I'm cool." I'd never heard that one before. It was really cute. Yesterday, I did something in the kitchen and she said, "My mom's cool." This morning, I was upstairs and she yelled that she had pooped. So I ran down the stairs and she was on the potty all by herself and she had done it. Hopefully, this continues and becomes the norm.

Mr. and I ran (jogged), a 5k in Othello. It was his first race. It was nice of him to stay with me. I was not feeling it and he felt great, so I know it was hard for him to go slow with me. I did PR, but it was about a 40 seconds slower than I had hoped. No T-shirt.

Mimi got new tires on her bike. We went to Greenies and got them fixed. They have some cool stuff in that store. I want to rent the kayaks this summer. Maybe next time we do a date night. It has been 2 months.

Next week, Mimi has swim lessons. She is excited to swim again. I finally got Lulu to go in the big pool with me. She kept saying that she couldn't get her ears wet. Once she got in, she didn't want to get out. She swam and pretended she was a mermaid while I held her tummy and shoulders up so her ears wouldn't get wet. We're going to try the Othello pool tomorrow and hope that we don't melt.

2nd week of summer

We met a new cousin this past week and got to play at grandma's house. The girls rode their bikes a bunch. We went to the gym a couple times. Played on the swingset. Picked blueberries in the backyard. We are still trying to get Lulu to do #2 on the potty--had some messes on the floor that were oh-so-fun to clean up. Mimi went to her first activity day for church and loved it. We can't seem to sleep until it is dark outside. Have tried a few p90x workouts. The girls went to see Toy Story 3. Thought kids under 3 were free--not at Fairchild. They are free at Disneyland. A movie theater is not Disneyland. Mr. decided he wants to be an ATV racer. He didn't win his race. He says he will stop when he beats someone.

The Joker

I made banana muffins with chocolate chips for breakfast and I figured while I was at it, I would make some Father's Day brownies. Of course these couldn't be just any brownies. I did the old black bean brownies. Mr. figured that I had stuffed them with spinach and Mimi thought they were good, but a little bit chewy. I let Mr. in on the secret while Mimi asked for seconds. I think I have a high tolerance for new foods and flavors, but these were rotten to me. I don't know how Mimi can eat them, but we told her she could have the whole pan and her eyes lit up. Scratch that recipe off the list.

1st week of summer

Lots of bike riding. Crying. Naps. Hearing, "I'm bored." We made it to the park today. We will all get through this and we might actually get some work done around here. I had to let Mimi in on a little secret. The reason we have a summer break is so the kids can help out on the farm. Since we don't have a farm, that means she gets to help out in the garden and around the house. We will try to have some fun too. We went on a river cruise last Saturday. It was a blast. We can't wait to try out the 3-4 man tube. Anybody want to wake board on Saturday mornings, give us a call.
*** I have loved not setting my alarm clock.

Big Announcement

They make a party-sized bag of peanut butter M&Ms!!!

I'm a dork.

Special Day

June 5, 2010
This was my baptism dress. She looked so cute.

We had such a nice day. The grandmas spoke and the K and Mimi sang, "I'll Seek the Lord Early." Grandpas prayed and conducted. I didn't break down. Just a few sniffles during the opening song.

We had a great turn out. Thanks for coming. The room was totally packed.

Mimi had a good 2-day birthday. We love you.

This Week

There are several events this week. But this one is the most exciting. If you would like to come, we would love to have you.

Wednesday at 7pm is the 2nd grade play, "Dinosaur Valley."

Friday is Mimi's Bday and OHS graduation for JoJo.

Saturday morning is the "S" family reunion picnic.

The play structure is ready to be played on. Come on over. We are discussing our man v. food challenge. More info to follow.

Just a post

• I have loved watching the girls ride their bikes and even the whining that comes when it is time to go in.
• Had a taste test with a sweet potato and a yam. The sweet potato fries at Costco are actually yams--unless 2 grocery stores had their produce mislabeled. I guess yam fries don't sound too appealing.
• Realized that we spend $60+ a month on milk. Mimi and I only use it on our cereal and I eat oatmeal most days.
• Got brave and wore a yellow shirt to church. I usually wear black or white with an occasional purple or red.
• Clipped coupons and got tons of cereal and fruit snacks for cheap.
• Went to the dentist and felt like the hygienist took her rage out on my gums--first time I have ever even felt the poking and prodding. I brush 3-4x a day and floss each day and sometimes multiple times a day. Maybe I need to drink some milk.
• Think my running shoes might need replacing...AGAIN.
• Got the garden planted.
• Have to help build a swingset.
• Listened to a phone conversation between Gma and Lulu. It was pretty sweet.
• Sticking to my food budget. It is kind of fun, if you like the bare fridge look. I spent too much at Costco at the beginning of the month. Cereal for dinner.
• Scouting locations for a winter vacation.

Nothing too exciting. We are so proud of Mimi for getting over her bike fear. Now she needs a bigger bike. I told Mr. we were going to have a party when the swingset is finished. We discussed a pre-4th of July hot dog eating contest. Any takers?

You do it too

Sometimes I think about running a half marathon again. I decided to try to do a treadmill 1/2 marathon. I ran and ran, but got a little tired and had to stop after 9 miles in 80 minutes. I walked for 45 secs. every couple of miles and took my water breaks. Next week, I'll try to do 10+ miles. Isn't that so fun.

I let the Kirby man in my house because I had been thinking about getting my carpets cleaned anyway. I had told him to come at 4:30. He didn't show until after 5:30. I told him that I wouldn't buy anything from the get go. That didn't stop him from trying. He was in my home for 3 hours. I don't know if he was strategically slow, like a car salesman, or what. Dinner came and went, bed time came, and went. Lulu loved all of his gadgets. Mimi said she would help me clean if I bought that vacuum. The best price he offered was $1729. Is that really a magic #? Well, if it's only 1700, of course I'll buy it!

So, my advice today is when a kirby salesman comes to your door, take him to a treadmill and challenge him to run 13 miles and if he can do it, listen to his presentation. I guarantee he won't stay at your house for 3 hours if you do that.

Christmas picture

The long awaited Christmas post picture. This was the best one. Mr. is gonna love this.

The Real Mother's Day

When I realized that Mother's Day weekend was going to be hectic, I asked Mr. if Monday evening could be my Mother's Day. He came home early and let me go out. I got a haircut (just a thinning), bought a lamp, got some PJs (I had a coupon from JCP that I had to use, so they were cheap), and a t-shirt ($6). Thanks for the great Mother's Day.

I put on my PJs and Lulu ran and hugged my leg and said, "You're pretty." Mimi said, "You look old fashioned." Later, we ate popcorn together and played on the carpet. I said, "Lulu, You're pretty." She looked and me and said, "I'm pretty, pretty, pretty crazy." Yes she is.

chapstick

Sometimes bubble gum flavored chapstick is just too irresistible. Lulu likes to play with chapstick like you play with dolls. There's a mom, dad, baby, sister. She makes them dance and sing and play. It is really cute to watch.

The game changed today when she took a bite of the sister. She started gagging and ran in circles yelling, "MOM! MOM! MOM!" I did a finger sweep and grabbed a washcloth. We scrubbed her teeth, but it didn't all go away. A drink of water, no dice. So, like any good mother would do, I gave her a piece of chocolate and she was all better.

Goodnight

Yesterday, we had a birthday party and a mother's day dinner. Lulu's buddy/cousin had a party at the park. They had a lot of fun--there were tears when we left. Then we rushed to O-town, making a pit stop at the farm. Off-roading in a lowrider is not much fun. We finally made it to town and had a great steak dinner provided by my parents. The girls were exhausted when we headed back home.

We got home and Mimi went straight to bed. Lulu stayed up a bit until she had to go potty and then I put her to bed. She woke up 2x with a soaked diaper--11:30 and 12:35. Totally soaked. I don't know how she holds that much liquid. She woke up a little later and Mr. checked on her. She said she wanted her "pedal." Which means she wanted to ride her bike at 1 in the morning. Luckily, she went back to sleep. When she woke up at 8:30, the first thing she said was, "I want my pedal." She has just mastered her 12" bike with training wheels. She loves it. After Lulu finally stayed asleep, Mimi came in and jumped in bed because she had a bad dream. Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mr. washed the dishes and cleaned up a bit. That was nice. Mimi made some cards. Lulu took a bath and gave me a giant hug.

Mr. ran a 6:44 mile. I guess that means I better speed up. I have just been doing distance. In 4 days, I logged 30 miles.

It's our Anniversary

2002

This is the oldest picture of us I have on the computer. I was at least 7 months pregnant with Mimi and we were living in Wymount, taking pictures with our awesome webcam.

We were married 10 years ago today. I thought Cinco de Mayo would be easy to remember and Mr. thought it would be great to celebrate our Mexican heritage.

We have lived in Othello, Provo, Reedley, Othello, and Pasco in those 10 years. We have owned 2 houses and had 2 daughters.

We both graduated from BYU and Mr. got an MBA at WSU.

We are on our 4th vehicle. We have been to Disneyland 4x.

Mr. has been Young Men's president, Elder's quorum president, primary teacher, nursery leader, and ward mission leader.

I have been a nursery leader 2x, primary teacher, RS teacher, Enrichment coordinator, seminary teacher, in Primary presidency, and activity days.

We've lived with mice, lived in 4 apartments, lived with my parents.

It is hard to remember life without a Mr.

It hasn't always been smooth sailing, but we have learned a lot together. I would say we have become better people. Love changes as you live and learn together. It gets better. Usually, Mr. talks about renewing our contract when it's anniversary time. Sign me up.

Just wondering

• What does it mean when a 2 year old says, " My bum is creaky?"


• Where do you get cable spools so you can practice log rolling in your back yard? We did this when we lived in Royal City when I was 6. It was lots of fun.


• Are husbands supposed to facilitate Mother's Day splendor when they are not your child?


• Why doesn't strawberry deodorant smell like strawberries at the end of the day?


• How many times can I paint the dining room within a year?


• Will mountains of gravel in the backyard attract the neighborhood cats?


• What is a good budget for groceries and household goods for a month?


• Is forcing potty training damaging my child?


• Why do weight watcher ice cream bars upset my tummy? I am not on the program. I just like the way they taste. Especially the raspberry chocolate ice cream bars.

At it again--new paint color

3 words--blue strawberry pot.

Defeated--not a big deal

I found the perfect dress. I wanted it. It was a good price. Waited 4 days. Found a coupon. Then it was a great price. Ordered it. Told it might be on back order. Got an email. Back ordered. Got another email. All back orders taken. No dress for me. Stink.

Gym Ninjas

bodyblade.com

It is always entertaining, watching people at the gym. There are mirrors everywhere, which makes it easy to people watch--undetected. Yesterday was a special day. First, a guy came in with nunchuks--weighted balls on rope. He was swinging them around and jumping around. Then, in walks a guy with a bow staff. What? In my research, I learned that it is actually a body blade. You hold the center of the flexible blade and shake it. Or if you are a gym ninja, you pretend that you are fighting with the nunchuk dude while you shake it. It appears to be a similar workout to the "shake weight." I am sure it works, because they were really sweaty afterward.

I have also seen a body builder version of Vanilla Ice. He always wears a spaghetti strap tank top and likes to do posing while he pretends to stretch. When he leaves, he puts on a sweatshirt that has the neckband cut out and 3/4 sleeves.

There's a cute lady that must be 85+ who always has red lipstick on and some sort of bow in her hair. She is very frail looking, but she is strong.

Thank you, Gym Ninjas, for adding some joy to my workout. Because of you I beat my mile time. 6:58. Woo hoo!

Potty time

Mimi 32 months

I have decided to actually train the little one. She has been going before bed and baths, but I haven't really tried during the daytime. We went to Wal-Mart and stocked up on starbursts and mini Reese's cups. I put the treats in a bucket so she could carry it with her when she goes to the potty. We also got a wiffle ball and bat, a movie, and a plastic watering can. These prizes are for all day dryness and #2. Mimi had an awful time with that. We got some princess panties--not pull-ups. We are set.


So far she had gotten 5 pieces of candy in 15 hours. She was wet when she woke up. Thank heavens she had a diaper on. She usually wakes up dry, so I think she might be ready for all of this. She just ran away. I better chase her just in case she is trying to find a quiet corner.

Family Fun

For all you considering taking a vacation, you can now get great tickets from Pasco to Los Angeles. I found 4 roundtrip tickets for $302 and that's with all taxes included. I will be watching all summer for killer deals. Hooray! Allegiant Air.



We ended up having dinner at Bonefish. The Bang Bang Shrimp was awesome. The Chowder was great too. I got a porkchop that was okay. I liked the garbanzo beans and the broccoli better. It was fun to be together at the temple. Happy Birthday.

I think I might retire from this blog. My last few posts have been snoozers. Journal verses newsworthy.

I think I can

Today was my run only day. My goal was 8 miles. My time was 69 minutes. I did have to stop to refill my water bottle, but I really wasn't too tired when I was done. I am feeling stronger and more energetic. I love that feeling.
Lulu is hitting the terrible side of 2. She has started yelling "No! I don't want to," and has stopped naps. Last night she woke up 3-4 times. I can't remember. I know I got at least 4 hours of sleep in a row. Poor Mr. is exhausted. I went and bought a white noise maker and we are going to try that for a few days. I think I will probably return it and just get a small fan, but I want to try it anyway.
My parents' birthdays are this week. My dad is going to be 60. We are going to go to the temple and then have a picnic dinner. We were going to go to Bonefish, but it seemed so costly after getting babysitters too. Maybe next time.
Mr. has been working on the backyard. He thatched and cut out sod for a play area and flower beds. We're going to do curbing and rocks in the next 3 weeks. I say we, but it will mostly be him.
Sweat confession--I like being sweaty after a workout, but yesterday it was a little embarrassing. I was wet all the way down my back and front. It didn't look good, if you know what I mean.

Flourish

When I found this fabric, I thought curtains. Then I thought, too hard. Then I thought, cover a canvas and hang it. Then I thought, re-cover the chairs. I was only going to do 2 in this fabric and the other 4 in something more tame, but I changed my mind and did them all. Thanks to the purple bumblebee fabric store, I was able to order more fabric after craft warehouse ran out.

Now, I just need my Grandma's old floral couch.

"You go get it!"

The newest response from the littlest cuddlebug. She also just tried to sell me her princess plates. "Two missing. Five dollars." What a deal!

We had french toast for dinner. I haven't had that since my fabulous stay at Kadlec over 2 years ago. Before that, I think I had french toast in Fresno, post 5K run, at Denny's, in 2004. It's just like eating donuts for dinner. Which means Lulu had one and Mimi had 1.5 and I had 2.5.

I ran almost 7 miles today in about an hour. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I didn't go as fast as I wanted to. I walked for about 5 minutes total.

My fabric to re-cover my chairs came in today. Picture tomorrow.

Another bright idea

Lulu is not a sleeping princess. In fact, she can not sleep and still be a happy little girl. I, however, cannot be a happy girl without my sleep. But, I decided that if she wasn't going to sleep anyway, I would switch her to a big girl bed and let her cry it out. Bed rail, child-proof door knob, purple nightlight, and all.

This bed was supposed to be the answer to my prayers. HA!!!

We lasted 4 nights of not sleeping and the crib was resurrected. When I was putting it back together and I put her in the crib, she asked for the other bed. The big bed that she said she wanted to --"Throw it away. I don't like flowers."

We did 2 hrs of screaming last night. She pulled off the special door knob 3x. I don't know how she did it. I had a hard time taking it off when I wanted to. She finally fell asleep, but I slept with her. Bad, I know. She didn't ever wake up, but she was rolling all over the place and whining a bunch in her sleep.

So, tonight we are doing the crib-cry it out and hoping for the best. Poor Mimi does not like hearing her sister cry. I think I have one more sleepless night in me and then I might crack. Went to the urgent care and got some anti-biotics. I think that they might work better with sleep.

The other issue is she knows I will take her to the bathroom when she says, "PeePee potty." So she uses that to get out of the bed or to get a diaper change. We have gone through 3-5 diapers per night. She is going frequently on the potty, but not #2. She is the master manipulator and I am the sucker.

Glowing report

I don't like going to teacher conferences, but it is hard not to beam when you hear so many nice things about your child.

Mimi's teacher said she was going to get the 3rd grade to send her work down to 2nd grade so she could keep her for another year. Mimi "is so sweet, so nice, so smart, independent, helps others, everyone likes her, she is a leader, she is a good girl. You are doing a good job." The truth is, it is her. We might be able to take some credit, but not too much. She is a good girl. She tries hard and wants to do well.

I hope she still likes school as she gets older and never loses her desire to help others. She is a special girl. We are so grateful she is our daughter.

Boogers

view from our hotel room--imagining it is my current view

It started last Monday and has been almost continuous. Little feet running across the floor and yelling, "BOOGER!" In the middle of the night (4-6x) yelling, "BOOGER!" She is not in a foul mood, she just can't wipe her own nose very well. Mimi also has this issue. Her nose blowing is not as cute as a 2-year-old's.

I have been stuck for a week. I need to get out and do something fun. ALONE. While I wait for the babysitter to come home from work, I'll just stare out my window and pretend it looks like this.

Maybe I need a trip to Yakima--it is the "Palm Springs" of Washington.

Shopping spree

It has been a little over 4 months since I bought my last pair of running shoes, but my knees were beginning to hurt and I wasn't feeling much cushion anymore so I bought some new ones. I took Lulu to Runner's Soul and we ran around the store for at least 20 minutes. She chased me and I chased her and in the end I came home with a pair of Brooks Glycerin shoes. I took them to the gym last night and did a test run--clean run--so I could return them if they felt wrong.

Shoes make a huge difference. Mr. said some girls buy heels and you buy running shoes. I can tell when they are dead and need to be replaced, but I usually push an extra month or more and end up with soreness.

We went to Payless and got the girls matching sandals and Lulu a pair of princess tennis shoes. She had been wearing skechers that I knew were too small for her, but they still went on without a fight. Her old shoes were 7 1/2 and her new ones are 9s. Swimsuits jumped in our cart at Costco. They have some cute ones this year. Cinnamon rolls jumped in too, but they weren't as good as Cinnabon or even Rhode's rolls. However, the strawberries and raspberries did not disappoint.

The girls are still fighting the sickness. We are staying home today and hoping for the best. I love being home. Thanks to Mr., I get to do it.

Breaking out of the post-vacation funk

Mimi 4th Bday

All it took was a great deal on my shower cleaner and some toothpaste to ignite my semi-clean- freak fire. I am working to get out of this vacation funk and it has taken a whole week. Real life is a lot harder than vacation life. I am happy to be home and back together as a family.

Last week, I only did dishes, dinner (barely), and laundry. I was so tired and unmotivated. Today is the start of a better week. Phew! Washed dishes, cleaned the shower, mopped the floor, put away more laundry, ran a few miles, visited a sister, played with my girls, made dinner, contemplating FHE and treats. Things are looking up.

The Spring Cold

We all have a touch of it. Lulu is hacking, Mimi is sniffing, Mr. has a sore throat, my nose tickles. It's not bad enough to go to the Dr, but I think it is one of those things that will just hang on for weeks.

We had a lesson on prayer in primary. I sure love those kids. They are so cute and they even listen most of the time. We have grown from 6 kids to 8 that come regularly. We play this matching game with paper plates and they love it. It is so fun to watch them cheer each other on and give each other hints. We took turns telling things we could thank Heavenly Father for in our prayers. They each had one turn and then they wanted to keep sharing ideas. They are grateful for so many things. I am grateful that I get to teach these kids and enjoy their sweet, simple testimonies.

The Food

I didn't take any food pictures, except for these by the fruit stand.

He chose the backdrop.

We shared a coconut milk, some bananas, lychee, mango, pineapple, coconut and papaya.
The fresh mango was delicious.

We ate a few times at Ted's bakery--coconut cake, coconut turnover, carrot cake, omelets.

Killer Tacos--kalua pig tacos and fish tacos. Kind of like Tacos del Mar.

Konos--Wendy's breakfast burrito and Portuguese sausage (not so good) and rice. The sausage was like spicy spam. Mr. informed me that his was delicious and didn't offer to share.

Uncle Bobo's--Combo plate with pork shoulder, brisket, and ribs. Fresh, local greens salad.
This plate could have fed 3.

L&L Drive-in--we asked a lady at Kmart where a good "local" restaurant was and she suggested Chili's. So we drove around and found one that had pictures of Hawaiian meals on their windows. They serve everything with rice and macaroni salad. BBQ chicken, pork lau lau, kalua pig.

We never went anywhere fancy. We spent $30-40 on food and snacks each day(we could have gotten away with $25 and not been hungry or eating McD's). We shared a lot of meals because the portions were so huge. We usually only ate 2x a day and then had fruit. We kept a case of water and some pop in the fridge to take with us so we didn't break the bank with beverages.

Diamond Head Crater

at the top
the crater

We didn't go workout before we did our Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head Crater excursion. We didn't go on purpose because we knew we'd be doing a lot of walking and that it would make up for not exercising. On our way to the Crater, he asked me if I wanted to race. Of course, I said no, but he raced me anyway.

The trail starts at this little parking lot with a shaved ice truck and some musical bathrooms. For some reason it was really funny to have Hawaiian music playing in a rest area bathroom. A sign tells you to make sure you have sunscreen, water, and good shoes. I think I saw more people doing this hike in flip flops than tennis shoes. The first part of the trail was a cement sidewalk, then it turned to dirt, then it started switching back on some rock, then some big stairs, then a narrow tunnel, then a set of spiral stairs, then climbing through a hole, then more switchbacks, stairs, and an overlook platform.


It really was a good hike. The book we had said it should take 1.5 hours--up, viewing, down. We did it in 40 minutes. Actually, I did it in 40 minutes. Mr. probably did it in 35. The view was beautiful. I thought we had some good shots, but we really only had 2 okay ones.

Mermaid Man and Surfer Dude

Snorkeling at Ko Olina Resort.
This place was gorgeous.

Learning the rules and actions of a surfer.

His teacher's name was Lucky. Hale'iwa.

Paddling out. He was told he would be tired after an hour.
And He was. I stood on that rock point watching and taking pictures for 1.5 hours. This was our longest day on the beach.

But he rode quite a few waves and went for a whole 2 hours

He was glad to have a rash guard. Forgot to put sunscreen on his calves. They were red. Still waiting for them to start peeling.

All done. We were walking back to the surf truck and I spotted Bethany Hamilton. The teenage surfer whose arm was bitten off by a shark. They were filming a movie about her at our hotel and she was taking a break and hanging out with some friends. We didn't take a picture of her. I don't know what protocol for that kind of stuff is.

With Pineapple on Top

On the recommendation of many, we went to the Dole Plantation.
We fed the crazy koi

Ate the Dole whip (this picture is post dessert, Heath still has hair on top even though it doesn't look like it in this shot). This ice cream is also available by the Tiki Room at Disneyland.

When we entered the gift shop, we were given a coupon and "won" some discounted jewelry. It was still a little pricey. Hopefully, our mothers will like it.

I had heard that pineapple grows on top of the plant like a flower, but it was still crazy to see.

Lost in Oahu

We filed our taxes on Saturday night, booked a flight to Hawaii on Wednesday, and flew out early Monday morning.

This is Heath doing his best Jack impression on the "Lost" beach near Hale'iwa.
This is me looking sad and lost on the beach. I think I just look pregnant.

We found the airplane!!!

New Jeans

I have jeans that tend to show my backside because they are too large. I have been waiting to buy any new ones until I feel like I have reached a more solid (less flabby) state. Last night Mr. offered to watch the kids and sent me to the mall. He is getting tired of me pulling my pants up. GAP jeans are my jeans of choice. I grabbed one size and they had room, so I grabbed another size and they fit. I don't know if their sizing changed because they went to waist measurements, but I actually bought a single digit. I might just go to a cute store and try stuff on.

So after I try on some more jeans, I am headed to cinnabon. Give me a break--there's a $3 off coupon.

Semi-productive day

1. Mimi on bus.


2. Went to gym.-- 5 miles and shoulders


3. Looked for more princess nightgowns for Lulu.---got 2


4. Played at a park.


5. Bought more black bootcut leggings for Lulu.--because hers were "broken" (had a hole)


6. Hit Costco for under $60.--when I got home I realized there was "nothing to eat"


7. No nap for Lulu.


8. Bikes in the cul-de-sac.


9. Visit the neighbor.--left garage open


10. Headed home and saw that the doors were closed and locked.--no keys or phone


11. Went back to Luke's and played for an hour.


12. Mr. let us in at 6 pm.


13. Chicken and broccoli for me, tacos for Mr., waffles for the girls.


14. Almost booked a Hawaiian vacation.--couldn't stand to spend that much money


15. Huge sigh of relief.


16. Now looking at Vegas or SLC.
    
    ***cutting a wiggly 2 year-old's bangs with dull scissors leads to shorter bangs than you really wanted.

Sicko

Yesterday, I only moved from my bed to change diapers and check on Lulu when I heard her pushing a chair over to the kitchen. She watched shows and played by herself the whole day. I even watched me some QVC when there was nothing on.

I had some pop on the nightstand and she would sneak over and take a swig when she thought I wasn't watching. Mr. took the girls to Grandma's this morning so I could rest. And so I am blogging this lovely post and watching "A Star is Born."

This is the current dining room color. Drizzling mist.

Fun for tonight--taxes. It will be fun if we get a return.

I ran 3 times this week--3 miles, 7.3 miles, and 2 miles. I think I was getting sick on the 2 mile day. I had no energy at all.

Shaun White

Shaun White--fueltv.com

My hair gets to the point that it has to be straightened or I don't like it. That doesn't mean that I always straighten it, it means that I often don't like my hair.

Last night as we were watching the Olympics, I realized that Shaun White and I have something in common. No, I am not a champion snowboarder. We both have wild manes of hair. His hair is longer than mine, but I am working on it. This picture is quite representative of my hair circa 1992. I guess it could be worse.

Shaun killed it last night.

---as I look at this picture, we also have a similar face shape. He might be my long lost brother.

Date Night Again

Thanks to our friends, we had another great hockey date night. Dinner at Carl's Jr. via the drive-thru and spent time visiting with friends and cousins I hadn't seen in a while.

Just to clarify, I support Mr. in his outdoor activities, I just want to know. I was just disappointed that my efforts were in vain.

Mr. cooked up some steak and baked potatoes for Valentine's. We ate shrimp cocktail the night before. We all made sugar cookies together and now they are all gone. On to the next holiday.

Poor Guy!

Sometimes I feel bad for my husband. He told me that he had a lot of orders to fill this week and they keep having to fix a machine. So, I decided that I would make an extra effort to have a real dinner and food he would like ready to go when he got home.

Today, I had things I needed to do and wanted to do, but I made sure I got dinner ready and skipped out on some wants. I noticed that his work boots were in the garage, but I just thought he had worn different shoes today. He got home is his sweat gear, aka underclothing for snowmobiling. Here I am feeling so bad for him and hoping that things were going well at work and he wasn't there. He smiled at me and said, "What?" I never get to do that, just leave all day, no kids, all fun, Miner's on the way home. He won't want dinner because he is stuffed already. He didn't even whisper the possibility of going today.

The principal was nice and just wanted to see if there was anything that was causing Mimi to be late. We discussed a few things and Mimi agreed to make it on time from now on.

Done painting.

Monday--7 miles, 67 minutes
Tuesday--3 miles, 28 minutes, 20 minutes weights

Up all night

The bad thing about running in the evening is that it keeps me awake late. It gets worse when your 2 year old wakes up 6 times between 10 pm and 6 am. The poor girl didn't get her nap because Mr. and I wanted to go on a date. So we were both exhausted on Sunday, but she made it through. Mr. kindly took Lulu home early from church so she could get her nap. And she slept all night, too.

Lulu has a 4 month post-op visit this week. Hopefully the tubes are still there. She hasn't had any ear infections since. So we are grateful for that. Mimi has not missed the bus in a week. She said that she hopes the meeting goes okay. She doesn't want me to get in trouble. I took Mimi to get a haircut. It looks great and is so much easier to comb.

We went to the driving range for our date. I cannot hit the ball very well. I got blisters within the first 10 balls and then one broke open so I had to quit. Mr. is pretty good--he told me so. We also went looking at a few model homes. I would move if someone wanted to buy my house. We would like to live out in the country a little bit closer to work. It would be hard to beat the neighbors we have here.

Running: 3.32 miles 32 minutes. This was my post-golf run on Sat night.

Run like the wind--the giveaway

I am attempting to run faster and farther these days. My plan is to post my workouts so all of you will want to join me in a race some time this year. As you see my slow speed, you will want to run with me because you will win. At least that is why my husband wants to run with me.

As a gift to you from me, I will pay your entrance fee. Let me know what race you want to run in WA state and I will do it with you. No triathlons. Only foot races. Limit 3 winners. Leave a comment and I will choose 3 out of a hat. If there is only 1 comment, you will have to run 3 races with me. Lucky you. (you can find local races on 3rrr.org).

The Principal's Office

This is supposed to be a great occasion. A great post. A monumental achievement. Have a giveaway. 100 posts.

Life happens.

I got a call from the school asking me to visit with the principal. I asked what it was about, but I knew. Mimi is so slow in the morning. She rarely makes the bus and is late even when I take her to school. I get Lulu changed and then I go down and say we have to leave in 5 minutes and she is almost never ready. I even set the clocks ahead so she won't be late. Either she doesn't care or I haven't been serious enough when I talk with her and follow her around saying hurry up.

Her alarm goes off at 7:05. She doesn't always get up right away, so I go check on her. Tell her to take a shower (cannot shower in less than 25 minutes) or to get dressed. Watch her dress (if I don't watch her, she crawls back in bed), tell her to hurry up, brush her hair (she cries), set the timer to eat breakfast, tell her to brush her teeth, put on shoes, grab coat. After I tell her to eat her breakfast I go up and get Lulu, she sometimes will color or do something else that has nothing to do with getting ready. I get downstairs and it is time to go, but she hasn't eaten. I have sent her to school without breakfast, but I always feel bad.

All of this has been such a headache and I feel like she needs to take the initiative and go faster, but she only has one speed. Mr. says it's my fault. The only thing I haven't tried is kicking her out the door in her PJs. I guess that is the answer. When it's time to go, it's time to go no matter what. She made it on the bus this morning, with 5 minutes to spare. I still have to go see the principal and I don't want to.

Happy 100 posts!!!

Round 2--gallon of paint / heart cakes

Mr. came home and didn't like the light gray. Which I already knew. I put up a dark color and he liked it. The truth is that drizzling mist was my first choice, but I thought it was too dark. It looks great wet and then it dries a little darker. I have to do the edges and a 2nd coat. So,this is the final color. I will not paint again until he goes on another business trip.

Car carts at the grocery store and hardware store are great fun. When there isn't one available, Lulu has a hard time dealing with it. She cried and cried when we couldn't find one at Lowe's. Luckily, we found the fire truck cart at Albertson's. I actually did some coupon shopping yesterday. I will definitely be under budget this week. Super bowl food will be pushed to next week's budget. I can do it. I will save some $$$ on my groceries.

Mr. still has jet lag. He couldn't sleep last night. I was sleeping soundly and woke up because of some noise downstairs. I rolled over and went back to sleep. Then I woke up again. I looked downstairs to see what was going on. He was watching a show and trying to hold in his laughs. You know, a muffled machine gun laugh. It travels pretty well when the house is nearly silent. At first I was mad and put a pillow over my head. I finally got smart and closed the door so I could sleep.

I made the girls heart cakes to decorate. They both did a good job. Lulu liked the frosting, but not the combination of cake and frosting. It's a lot less time consuming to make a cake rather than making dozens of sugar cookies, but we might end up making those too.

Round 2

Yes, I painted it all and it looks fine, but.... It's too light and I think I will have to go a few shades darker. I kept thinking that I had seen this shade of gray/blue before. I found it today...at the gym. No wonder I liked it.

Got 3 more test pots. Notre Dame, Coastal Jetty, and Granite Dust. The Notre Dame said that it is a trend color. I asked the "paint expert" what that meant. Is it popular at this store? According to some designer? Based on national sales? No. It doesn't mean a thing. They just place them up there for fun.

Mr. comes home tomorrow from China. I told him that it was painted and that I was willing to repaint. I think I will repaint and go for a third if he doesn't like it. Which means I will be painting all night.

I asked this strong girl at the gym what she was on. It could have gone badly, but she was actually very friendly. She gave me her phone # and I gave her my email. She looks like an athlete and she has 2 kids. She said that she has a ghetto booty and cottage cheese thighs. It's funny what unites us at the gym.

Gray is not grey

I am on another painting mission. This time I am looking for the perfect gray for the dining room. I looked at Lowe's and Home depot and came home with 8 test pots. I have a patchwork wall that looks fabulous and no clue which one to choose. One is brownish, one is blueish, one looks purple around 5 o'clock. Three look white, except when you hold it next to the baseboard. They all have great names--Manhattan mist, gravity, voyage, drizzling mist, pebble gray, silver leaf, polar star, and metropolis. I couldn't pick a color by staring at it on the wall, so I went for the coolest name and picked--gravity.

I got half of it painted, but still need a 2nd coat on the edges. Right now, it looks okay. I thought it had a browner base, but it looks blue. When it warms up, I'll finish and sit in it for a few hours. And then I'll be off to Lowe's for another gallon of another gray. That's just how I do it. Like v. love. I want to love the color when I walk downstairs. It's a hard thing for us non-designers. Last time I think I painted it 3x in 2 days. And then Mr said he didn't like it, so I painted it 2 more times.

I will post pictures tomorrow. Aren't you excited!