Selfies

When we got home from the Bean Museum, Celeste texted me all of these hilarious selfies she and Eden and Jonah took.❤️

FFD

I didn't manage to get a photo of everyone, that's always a challenge.

First we went to lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Malawi Pizza.  These guys really are the Three Amigos.  I love how much they love being together and how much fun they have.

Then went to the Bean Museum.  

Even our teens still manage to enjoy museums.  

Then ice cream at BYU Creamery.  These two sampling each other's ice cream.

Andy basketball

I like these photos I got of Andy warming up for his game.  He has improved a lot the last couple of months.

Austin

Steve and I went to Austin.  We left Saturday and I came back yesterday, (Tuesday.)  Steve is coming home Thursday night.  Steve's company sent him to Austin to train the guys at Dell how to support the Sandisk flashdrives.  He was really nervous about this.  Really, really nervous.  He is not the kind of guy to get excited to stand up in front of people and give an important presentation.  But from what I hear, he did a great job.  I was lucky to get to come along with him.  We had a nice time together and it was a nice break for me.  At the same time, we were able to look around and examine the idea of possibly relocating our family there.  I had found a realtor who was great and showed me all around different areas and neighborhoods and suburbs of Austin.  So I got a pretty good idea of what areas are good and not.  We liked it there and could see our family enjoying it there.  We don't know if we'll do it yet, but it is definitely a good possibility.  

The photo above is just before I said goodbye to him.  He was on his way out to do the training and I think he looked so handsome.  :)

My Chaos

Today was another hectic day.  What day isn't?!  It started with laundry, cleaning, and making a couple of pans of lasagna for dinner tonight, (while taking care of Charity and Sam.)  After lunch I took Charity to kindergarten and put Sam down for a nap.  While he slept, I spent 2 hours working on my new math class that started this week.  Then the kids got home from school and it was, as always, chaos as everyone raided the kitchen and began homework.  It's during this time that I always frantically try to answer a dozen questions and requests at once.  This was also the moment Jonah and Eden let me know that they needed to cook 10 seperate recipes to be turned in to their foods class by Friday or they would fail.  (They were telling me this today.  ie:  Wednesday afternoon.)  They knew about this all term, but waited until today to tell me about this project.  I knew with tomorrow being my ballet day where I teach 3 classes and take 1 class, there would not be time to do this except for squeezing it in today.  Anyhow, I found this out 5 minutes before all of the Activity Day Girls were to arrive at the house for an activity I was in charge of.  So I hurried and got on the computer and printed up 10 recipes.  I told Jonah to have my grocery list ready by the time the activity was over.  I had already gone grocery shopping yesterday, so I resented having to go again.  Then the Activity Day girls arrived.  I taught them how to make their own homemade pizzas and they loved those. Then we made these time capsule letters.  Charity and Sam went nuts during the activity.  NUTS!  What is it about having guests over that turns your children into possessed demons?  As soon as Activity Days was over, I threw the lasagna in the oven and told the kids I was making a mad dash for the store for Jonah and Eden's cooking project.  But before I left, Andy and Becca asked me to buy things for their Science projects which are also due soon.  Yikes, Science Fair :/ (Jonah and Eden also have Science projects to wrap up.)  I add Becca and Andy's supplies to the list and rush out the door.  When I get back, Steve is home and we all sit down to dinner.  As soon as dinner is done, Jonah, Eden and I spend two intense hours trying to quickly make 10 different recipes and document it for the teacher with 60+ photos to prove their work.

I send the photos to Walgreens online and hurry and clean up the disaster that was left in the wake.  

I run to Walgreens and pick up the photos.  Then I run to the gym and do a hard workout of weight training and a speed run.  I pick Andy up from his basketball practice at 10pm, then head home.  I showered and got to bed.  And that is where I am now.  It's 12am.  I am beside my sweetheart as he snores and I am entirely too wound up to sleep.  So here I am blogging from my phone.

Yep, just another typical day.  Phew!

Chuck E. Cheese's

We went to Chuck E. Cheese's today for Jesse's birthday.  It's funny, my teenagers had the most fun of all.  It was entertaining watching them.

Steve is great!

I tell ya, I married a winner!  Not only does Steve put up with all my crap, he does it happily and is an awesome dad on top of that.

Today I awoke feeling under the weather. We had planned to take the kids ice skating this afternoon.  Steve stepped up and told me to stay in bed while he took the crew.  And he even sent me a photo while he was there with sweet texts.

Then tonight he took Andy to a Utah Jazz game.  And he thought to send me photos of this too.  I love this guy!

First Race of 2015

 

I had set a goal for 2015 to participate in at least 1 marathon, 5 half marathons, and 2 triathlons.  That is less than the amount I did in 2014, but I take goal setting so seriously, that I wanted to make sure it was a goal I should really have no reason to not complete.   Plus, I had other goals more important to me to worry about.  Anyhow, I am excited to already have a half marathon under my belt on the first day of the year.  It was an indoor race and really laid back.  In fact, you could run or walk whatever distance you wanted and they just kept track of your laps for you and had the drinks and support.  I had decided to do a half marathon prior to, but waking up this morning dog tired, I have to say, I felt lucky I had the determination to even get my bottom out of bed.  Fortunately, Steve came with me and that really helped.  He ran a 5k.  We had a good time. 

Girls Date

On Tuesday I took the four oldest girls out on a fun date.  We went to lunch at Olive Garden, then to see Ballet West's the Nutcracker.  It was awesome.  One thing I want to remember and mention about this date is in regards to Eden.  This girl oozes friendliness.  She wants everyone to feel happy and good about themselves.  I can't take that girl anywhere without her telling at least a few strangers that she loves their hair, their outfit, whatever.  While we were at Olive Garden, she was classic Eden.  As soon as our waiter came, she took note of his name and made a point to call him by it as much as possible.  She kept showering him with words of appreciation and compliments.  That girl is so great. 

About Jonah

I wanted to post this video.  It seems really random and that there is no point to it.  This is mostly for me.
Jonah is a bit of a strange kid.  He's quirky and he owns it.  I don't talk about this much, but he is bipolar.  And this spills over into his personality.  Some days, (a lot of them lately,) he just wants to be alone and in his room and hide away.  He can really turn inward and want to be removed from everything.  Because of this, he usually hates to get his picture taken and video taken of him.  So I just don't have much of him because he will often get mad if I try to.  And then he has this other part of him that is very outward and silly and fun.   Unfortunately I don't get to see this side of him enough.  He will do it at school more or for friends, or for drama at school.  Sometimes when he is like that for just the family, and I want to capture it, his mood will immediately change.  Anyhow, this video is one that was important to me because it is a rare occasion where he is in a good mood, is enjoying himself, and so I whipped out the camera and he didn't care!  I was happy to capture the moment!  Yesterday I took the kids to the movies and out to lunch.  And he was so happy the entire time.  And he actually let me document it.  :)  Happy mom :)