The good ol' days....

Remember the good ol' days when it was actually cute to wear the same outfit as your BFF?

Oh to be young again.

a few of my favorite things.....

I saw this on another blog- what a great way to introduce myself to my posterity. here are 35 of my favorite things- i wonder how many will be on the list a year from now.
1. Early morning long runs with a friend- thanks allison, you're awesome!
2. a freshly manicured lawn.
3. the sound of my children laughing and playing with one another.
4. my husband- most of the time :)
5. listening to a return missionary talk in sacrament- they are so full of the spirit.
6. talking to my sister-even when she gets mad at me for selling her out to her friends.
7. a good book
8. discussing a good book with friends.
9. finding a really good deal
10. snuggling with trey
11. snuggling with quincy
12. bike riding with reece- he refuses to snuggle.
13. blogging
14. reading my scriptures
15. attending the temple
16. a made bed
17. a vaccuumed floor
18. peanut butter m&m's
19. sonic's 1/2 price fountain diet coke with fresh limes.
20. intellectual stimulating discussions
21. costa vida pulled pork salad
22. the ocean
23. disneyland
24. pondering glenn beck
25. pondering bill o'reilly
26. discovering new people
27. visiting my parents
28. selina's house- it's always so clean. i can just lay on the floor and forget about my troubles-
29. bob and corrine's yard- it's immaculate and the flowers are beautiful.
30. overland park cinemas- you can see a great movie for a great deal $4.00 (includes snacks)
31. playing cards with jared and kellie when ALL the kids are asleep
32. our garden- this is a new one because it's the first year we have planted one.
33. the gym- i know it's weird but the gym is really one of my favorite places
34. dreyer's loaded cookies and cream ice cream
35. e-mail chats with Torrie- I'm so glad she married my brother.

Cherrylane ward according to ME

35 aint bad so far. It's only been 16 hours and 4 minutes but hey who's counting.

A few things that have taken up space in my mind over the last few weeks.

1. Turning 35.

2. The dynamics of my ward- it's a great ward that we have been part of for almost 8 years. When we first moved in we were considered one of the "younger families". I distinctly remember upon our arrival seeking out other "young couples" to bond with and steering clear, ever so Christlike, of the "older" folks- you know the ones 35 and older. After all what could I possibly have in common with that crowd. In my delusional mind I still think young is where i'm at BUT I have noticed that the "younger" people migrating to the ward are steering clear of me, ever so gently. I am slowly coming to the realization that these "younger couples" view ME as part of the OLDER crowd-it's DEJAVU! Thus, the analogy of the oreo cookie was born. Cherrylane ward is like an oreo cookie.......you've got the "younger folks" (20-33)acting as one side of the cookie then you have the "older folks"(55+) acting as the other side of the cookie AND then you've got me and my peeps- the white filling or stuff in the middle. Of course everyone knows the BEST part of an oreo cookie is the filling!

With the help of a fellow "white filling" we are throwing a white filling party 2nite! Everyone who comes has to bring a food item containing white filling. Should be FUN!

Birthday Eve

As documented I am turning the big 3.5.tomorrow. Denial is the chosen coping tactic. In celebration of my last day as 34 years young- I spent some time outside with the kiddos. Kids will keep you young right? OR do they cause you so much stress that your hair turns grey and wrinkles pop out, around the eye area, due to lack of sleep?

Hey Quincy whatcha got in your basket? Flowers, candy, rocks?

Oh this is what everyone wanted to see.....a hideous, horribly ugly frog? toad?

Trey was having the time of his life yesterday on the tramp. This little boy loves to bounce.

Reece looking like the cool, almost 10 year old, that he is!

Maybe it won't be so bad......

Thursday I turn 35. I'm NOT looking forward to it. I'm not sure why this particular birthday is causing me so much angst and I'm in no mood to psychoanalyze (UGH what's happening to me? I'm always up for a good self analysis). Inspite of my grumpiness and my determination to have a horrible 35th birthday it did start off well with my first gift.

Thanks sis for a very cute watch. I love it and have received many compliments. If I can keep people focused on my wrist they won't notice all my facial wrinkles. HEE HEE

i.did.it!!!!!

It all started @6:00 a.m.- I got up. I got dressed. I drove down to 9th and Royal. I got on a bus full of runners and questioned my sanity. I was dropped off at the start line. I waited in the longest line to go to the bathroom. I found a familiar face, Jenni, and before I knew it the gun fired. I ran. I ran and I ran and I ran. I ran the whole race, which was my goal. My time- 2:13:10. Translation= 10 minute 15 second miles. That's the time to beat, for me.

I was running across the bridge and saw two wonderful sights, #1 my family and #2 the finish line.

In all the excitement I forgot to pick up my medal so hopefully I can get it later.

Finding the joy.......

Part 1: One of my many struggles is finding the joy in everyday simple things. I seem to be constantly overwhelmed by the demands placed on me by me. I don't find joy in much when my house is a mess or when laundry is piled to the countertops, or when dishes overtake my kitchen sink, or when my checkbook doesn't balance or when my 2 1/2 year old decides to assert his independence at the most inconvienient time, etc, etc.
Part 2: The quote from Runner's world online. " We are what we repeatedly do", really struck a chord with me today. If I allow myself to be overwhelmed regularly and that robs me from finding the joy in life what kind of person does that make me? An overwhelmed joyless person???? YUK!!!
Part 3: Last weekend I had a horrible run. It was my last 10 mile training run before my half marathon. I kept waiting for the next mile to get better and it never did. Self doubt started creeping in.....was I ready for the 1/2? did I train hard enough? could I really do this? I finished my run and wasted the day being grouchy with anyone who crossed my path.
Summary: I will be someone who loves life inspite of the everyday stuff. I will be someone who trains and completes my goal of running a 1/2 marathon. I will be someone who pushes through the wall when each mile (life) seems unbearable.

2 more days until the big event........until then...........

Tying up loose ends

That goodness it's Friday........ I stay at home and don't usually get hung up on which day of the week it is. I have the same amount of "stuff" to do no matter the day, except Sunday- I really love Sunday.
Woke up @ 8:40 a.m. this morning- panicked because at 8:40 we should be in the car, on our way to school and then to the gym. NOT today. Scrambled and managed to get Reece to school before the second bell. The gym didn't happen. Had a wonderful day at the park without the camera.....go figure. Came home, put Trey to bed, fed Bella and Quincy and laid down- you know for a mom nap- your eyes are closed but your ears are tuned in to any and every sound. Bella and Quincy had a most charming discussion in the kitchen while making themselves a graham cracker and frosting treat. They had no idea I was listening in and their conversation really was precious. It went sorda like this.......
Bella: We have Garfield on our TV at home.
Quiny: Really Bella or are you just kidding?
Bella: Really!
Quincy: Are you kidding or lying? or telling the truth?
Bella: Telling the truth.
Quincy: Oh no I just dropped the frosting on the floor- yes my ears perked up at this comment.
Bella: AWWWWWW
Quincy: It's OK we can still eat it. (that's my girl- waste not want not)
Bella: Where's your mom?
Quincy: I don't know.
Bella and Quincy: Let's just go jump outside.
-oh to be a child again.
We also got a bunny last night. Why you ask? I have no idea- I hate animals! Quinn grew up on a farm and can't seem to grasp the concept that we live in a suburb. We'll see how long he, the bunny, not Quinn, lasts. The kids named him "Hopper" and he is very people friendly. No allergic reactions from Trey so that's a plus. He's a 4H bunny. I don't really know what that means but that's how he was advertised. His previous owners were moving and couldn't take him so "Hopper", his cage and some food were all free.

I was going through my camera pictures and forgot all about this one. I just had to share it. Reece, Maddy and Katie trying out an experiment with duct tape. Just in case you're wondering the duct tape didn't hold Katie. AND miraculously no paint was ripped off my walls.


One last thing......Tami- c'mon I am Darcy's sister. I like to think that I'm not as anal as her ( I love you, sis) but I do have similar standards! USE THE SPRAY PAINT! FLAT NOT SATIN- you will be so amazed at how easy it is and good it looks.

Oh ya and another last thing......8 days until the race. Wish me luck.

12 days and counting

A pictureless blog post, sorry-
I just officially registered for my 1/2 marathon. The money is paid and non refundable so there's no turning back now.
The butterflies are beginning to stir but I am prepared and will not fear.