September Weekend

Warning: Long boring journal entry (photo not related, just cute).

Friday was a good day, long but good. I didn't run in the morning it was my day off to rest from exercise. Dan went over to his moms to help her with a few things. While he was gone I cleaned out the car and let the girls play outside. They were riding their tricycles and scooter in the driveway. Lauren took off skipping and running to play on the grass and the next thing I know she comes running to me screaming. She was screaming in pain and with fear, not fake tears. I ran to her and noticed a few wasp or bees buzzing around her head. She had found a swarm of them. She ended up with two stings and one live wasp stuck in her hair and one dead one also stuck in her hair. For the next half hour she cried and shook uncontrollably. She was traumatized. My poor little girl. I held her to comfort her as she was screaming, "SHUT THE DOOR"! "SHUT THE GARAGE"! She was afraid the little buzzards would fly into the house and attack her again. She then said she didn't want to live in Utah anymore. I had to laugh at that and let her know bees can be found in California too. I went outside to find the source. The little devils were creating a nest under our bark on the side of the house. Dozens of them swarming together, it reminded me of watching Amittyville (horror movie from the 80's). Dan came home and killed all of them. He brought with him a few surprises from Nana Kay. Jacks big wheel, so fun and a new bike for meeee! I haven't rode a bike in years. Kay bought her self a pretty periwinkle blue and silver Schwinn last year that she rode once. Being six feet tall she found that she is too tall for it. So she just sent it over for me to enjoy. I'm excited to start riding a bike again. I hopped on and rode it around our street for a few minutes. I just need to get a helmet and put air in the tires. In the afternoon Lauren and Lindsay went to a play day over at Rachel LaCombs with Ana, Aja and Naomi. I had free time to read and clean the house. Later on after dinner we all went over to Nana's again to hang out with her. Dan and I snuck out for a date. We went and had a couples massage. It was relaxing and much needed.

Saturday morning began early with a 12 mile run. Only a few weeks left until the marathon! Later in the morning the girls and I went to a birthday party while Dan went to a BYU football game. We went to a party at Bounce U (a big inflatable bouncy play place)for the twins Abigail and Eden. They just turned four. We met them over the summer at The Little Gym, in one of Laurens classes. Their Mom Mandy, is so nice! The kids love her twins but often confuse their names with Abam and Even rather than Abigail and Eden. HA HA. They had a great time. After we left I stepped into the fabric store next to the party place and found a republican print cotton. Unbelievable! I'm going to make a pillow case for Brenda (AKA as Grammy Brenda with the pool in Vegas) and send it to her with a note that says sweet dreams! It was her Birthday on Sunday.

Sunday we went to church. The kids love church and beg to go all week long. They love their Sunday school teachers, learning about Jesus and new lessons and wearing pretty little dresses. They're always in a good mood on Sundays. After church we called Grammy Brenda and the girls sang happy birthday to her. Lindsay asked if we could go to her house (its only a 6 hour drive). I told her they were in Hawaii. Then she really wanted to go to Hawaii. I told her we didn't have enough money to go visit her on a plane today. She was so cute and excited when she said, "Yes we can, Daddy has lots of money"! She says he has lots of coins in his office. What a cutie!

Go Cougars

The BYU Cougars showed no mercy as they shut out the UCLA Bruins 59-0 in this weeks football game. Touchdown pass after touchdown pass they were able to throw down the sad Bruins in the first half of the game. Not even trying to be the nice guys for a minute. I thought this was "The Lords University" so what happened to playing nice? No, not the Cougars they were in this for more than the win. At one point I felt sorry for those big fellows crying on their knees in the hot field. I guess I felt sympathy for UCLA because I wanted to go there as a child. My mom would take me to the UCLA Medical Center for experimental treatments on her Lupus and I decided I should attend college there to help find a cure for her disease. I ended up at good ole CSU Fullerton. I did make it back to UCLA campus my senior year for a journalism contest where I was awarded first place in the radio broadcast competition covering a Democratic Convention. I like to remind myself of that event when I feel like I need to get back on the yellow brick road to find my brain. So Dan and I went to the BYU game with our friends the Langfords, die hard fans. I fell asleep sometime during the third quarter after exhaustion from my 20 mile training run, only to be woken up by screams of joy from the crowd. Another touchdown and cute Kristi Langford singing the BYU fight song. Go Cougars. I'm slowly converting to college football and I have no other options of a team to cheer for besides I love the sound of Cougar growl after every first down. Grrrraaahh. So I guess I need to buy something in navy blue for the next game.

kindred spirits

"What a splendid day!...I pity people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one" Anne Shirley of Green Gables.

Tuesday (9-2-08) was the anniversary of kindred spirits. 100 years ago "Anne of Green Gables" was published and Anne the feisty, imaginative and kind girl came to life. I love her! L.M. Montgomery was the woman behind the stories of these books which have never been out of print and sold over 50 million copies. I grew up watching the movies on PBS. Last year for Christmas Dan bought me the collection for Christmas.

Anne often spoke of kindred spirits which I liken to a dear and true friend who you can always be yourself with. Anne said, "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out that there are so many of them in the world". My little girls are two of my kindred spirits. On Tuesday together we had a splendid day. I started the day at 6:00 a.m. with my friend Liz doing yoga in the basement. Then the girls woke up early and wanted to cuddle. Next Lindsay had her three year check up and was so well behaved in the Dr. office. She is growing well and scored 60/60 on her developmental, social and fine motor skills exam. She had one shot and just said "Ouch". I dropped her off at preschool to join Lauren. After school we went to the Peppermint Place. The P.P. is a small candy/treat/ice-cream/gift shop in Alpine. It sits on the corner of Main Street under a few big trees in an adorable cottage. The girls were looking forward to this trip because we haven't been in about six months. Today was a perfect day to go. It felt like autumn with the warm sun and a cool breeze. We each had an ice-cream cone and went outside to enjoy them. We sat under one of the big trees on a bench and the girls danced around and sniffed the blue flowers. The P.P also had gentle music playing on the outside speaker. It was the perfect setting. I told them I was so happy and asked them what made them happy. Lauren said eating ice-cream and Lindsay said gummies and treats. I asked them what other things made them happy. Lauren said the "smiling sun" and her "little people toys". Lindsay's response was "flowers, Barbie and kitty" (a stuffed animal). I told them that Lauren and Lindsay make me happy! This gave Lindsay a cute grin and she started to happily dance around. Lauren smiled, grabbed me by the back of the head and put a big sticky ice-cream kiss on my forehead. What a perfect day.

Unfortunately at the same time somewhere else in the country many people were trying to flee their homes in fear of the hurricane Gustav. Looking at pictures and footage of the many faces was a little depressing. You can tell most of them have lived a rough life and struggled. One boy on his way to saftey was carrying his things in a white garbage bag probably because he does not own luggage. They all looked lost. Luckily the storm downsized and lives were spared. These situations remind me of how good I really have it. I hope I can teach my children to realize the blessings they have and want to serve others. In the mean time I will as often as possible make their childhood one of many "splendid Days." Just like today in Alpine.

divine destiny

"All of you need to drink in deeply the gospel truths about the eternal nature of your individual identity and the uniqueness of your personality. You need, more and more, to feel the perfect love which our Father in Heaven has for you and to sense the value he places upon you as an individual. Ponder upon these great truths, especially in those moments when you might otherwise wonder and be perplexed" Spencer W. Kimball (How can I understand and attain my divine destiny).

I received this quote from my visiting teacher (Sheri Maude) and a personal message from her to strive to end the day with good thoughts. She placed the note in a little pocket of a homemade pillow. She made it made it from two hand knit hankies from Hong Kong. I liked it enough to copy it here in my journal/blog. I am so happy to know who I am. I am a daughter of God. I have a divine purpose in this life. Even the days when I am distracted and or have a little bit of doubt I know it is better to have faith than to not have it. I know my faith is in some weird way a concern for others but I ask them, what is the worst thing that will happen in the end if all I believe is not true? I would have lived a good life full of hope, faith, family, service and fellowship. I am happy. It is part of my eternal nature to be happy, and to be loved and forgiven by God. And it just feels good to believe.

first days of preschool

This is Laurens second year of preschool and Lindsay's first. I remember last year after taking Lauren to school I felt so guilty. I thought may be I should wait one more year because she is still so young. I felt a pit in my stomach for the first few weeks and almost pulled her out. Then I decided that two days a week for only two hours a day wasn't bad and she loved it. She even had her best friend Aja from our neighborhood in class with her. Mrs. Bailey her teacher soon called me and couldn't believe how advanced she was and she asked if she could start reading with her. So Lauren began reading at three years old. Now its Lindsay's turn and she is so thrilled to be in school with the big girls. She happily says "Mom I'm growing". Both girls just attend two days a week. I took them to "Meet Your Teacher" day last week and then Thursday was the first official day. Lauren walked right into her class, sat down at the table and picked up a pencil ready to work. She didn't care that I was leaving her. Lindsay went in wide eyed and curious. She was happy to see me when I picked her up and said she made a friend but that a lot of the kids cried. She said she didn't cry because she is a good girly.

rodeo queens

Earlier this month was Alpine Days. The most wonderful time of the year in my opinion or at least the most fun time. The first time Dan and I went to the Alpine Days Parade we were like two little kids stuck in a movie set of a perfect small town life! We loved it and we even got all sentimental over it. This was our third time going. Each year in August Alpine has a week full of activities including water games, other games and booths, storytelling, a pet show, the parade, fire works and the rodeo. The rodeo last for two nights with one night being just for the little ones. It is called Little Buckaroo Rodeo. Lauren and Lindsay were both contestants. Lauren was in the Mutton Busting (sheep riding) and it was hilarious. She didn't last more than a few seconds but when she fell off she jumped up off the ground and threw both arms up in the air like she was a winner! She was so cute. She wore her pink cowgirl boots from Auntie Cheryl and was saying things like howdy partner and yeehaw all night. I should have signed Lindsay up for the same event but thought she was too small. What was I thinking, she is my tough girl? She was so excited to wear her baby blue suede cowgirl vest from her cousin Sidney. She did the chicken chase. She didn't catch one but after she realized the kids got to keep their chickens she said she will come back and catch one next time. I hope not! We left covered in dirt and cotton candy with pockets full of lollipops. I can't wait until next year Alpine Days so my little girls can be in the rodeo again and watch the parade with friends.

girl talk

After church today the girls were hopping around the house. Lauren said, "Lindsay you have to talk to Jesus before you hop on one foot." Lindsay replied in her three year old language, "OK, where he is?" Lauren answered her by saying, "He is in the gospel". Lindsay asked, "In your heart?" Lindsay continued hopping and whispering in search of Jesus. It was kind of cute. What they talk about is usually so funny or innocent.

Laurens new thing is writing notes. She tries to write them herself or dictates the words to me. On Papas' birthday card she had me write that she "knows she loves Papa in her heart ever, ever and ever". On Sidney's birthday card she asked me to write that she misses her when she is in California.

Last month I asked Lindsay to come inside from playing and she told me, "No actually I'm pretty busy".

When I told the kids Nana Lyle and Gorgeous Grammy Wanda were coming to visit with Shell and the kids they were both so excited. Lauren said, "And papa is coming too?" I told her Papa couldn't come. She was disappointed and said, "But I like Papa. He is a good boy like Daddy".

I said to Lauren after she was able to reach something high in the refrigerator, "Wow, you're tall!" she said back to me "I'm just growing. You'd think I'm five...I bet I am five!" She later helped me with the laundry. She was being so cute and helpful. I thanked her with a kiss and a smile. She was gratified and softly stated "I'm just glad to help"

We have been talking about having another baby for about a year. Lindsay wants a girl and wants to name her Lilah. She has currently named all of her dolls and animals Lilah Genevieve. Lauren keeps telling people I have a baby in my tummy. No not yet! A few days ago she asked, Mama when are you going to hurry and get the baby out?" I told her I didn't have one yet.

13.1 in the dark (Moonlight Marathon)

Last night I ran a half marathon (13.1 miles). My neighbor Aundrea Esplins brother organized it. He is obviously a runner and so are a few of his sons. One night they ran under a full moon and got the idea to do a midnight marathon. He lives in Mapleton, in a giant house on an awesome piece of property. Mapelton is a beautiful but small town with a combination of cute farms and breathtaking mansions. So he put together this small marathon and sponsored all of it including the excellent shirts and a BBQ. The shirts are made of athletic material and have a big red moon and mountain on the front with a clock covering it reading midnight. The back of the shirt says 13.1 in the dark. About 65 people drove up to the canyon in Springville and ran down hill back to his home. It was so much fun. Several people from our ward (church) participated in the run. I ran with Jessica Crook and Rachel LaComb. It was a bit too dark and hard to see in front of us. They had us lit up with so many glow sticks so people on the road could see us coming. Everyone had a good time but today I am so tired and sore. I'm sure I'll run it again next year...unless I'm pregnant.

Olympic Memories

I have been watching the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. I have loved watching the Olympics since I was a little girl. When my sister Shell and I were young we would get so excited after watching that we would pretend to be Olympians! We had so much fun. If it was winter we would put on our slippery socks and pretend to ice skate on the dinning room floor. If it was a summer we were pretending to be gymnast throwing both arms up in the air. Or my favorite was doing the long jump. We would run from the front porch down the side walk and jump onto the grass and see how far we could go! We had big imaginations. I never was an athlete growing up but it was fun to pretend. I am now actually more athletic than ever (other than my cheer and dance competition days). I have started running with my friends and I love it. We are running the St. George marathon this year. This is the closest I will ever come to being an Olympic athlete. Back to the Olympics. I have been watching soccer, swimming, gymnastics and volleyball. The USA swimmers are unbelievable. Micheal Phelps has swept in ever division and will be taking home 7 or 8 gold medals. Women's gymnastics is my favorite. I got teary when the graceful Nastia Liukin won the all around gold medal. Shawn Johnson was also amazing. The controversy was over the Chinese girls being underage. They looked it! But who knows, Chinese women are so tiny.