Taylor time

As I mentioned earlier, Tara came down with the chitlins for Easter and Aubrey's birthday. Andy was going to come too, but after their trip to Colorado, he figured he better not miss any more work. So sorry Andy, you missed out on a lot of fun!

Like the train park:



And Easter:

We made the girls little Easter skirts and the boys yellow bow ties.

Also, we had a big egg hunt at the park behind our house. When we hid the eggs the park was deserted. While we were waiting for mom et al. to arrive some punk kids came and collected all the filled eggs (and just smashed up the real eggs) so I ran after them and demanded them back and then we re-hid what was left. (which was about half) Stinky. :( But we still had a good hunt!

Then we went up to Aunt Kay's cabin:

Nature walks. The babies were tired.

The boys hugged it out.

And the kids were so excited to see snow!

Easter shirt tradition.

And sidenote- if you ever use fabric crayons to make a shirt,

if you wash the shirt, the crayon comes off.

6 more days!

Do you ever do a stupid thing even though you know it's stupid? I do all the time, but this time it's really stupid and super premeditated.

The SLC marathon is Saturday. This will be my first full since for the Nike Women's last year I was derailed with a stress fracture on my left tibia. So instead of the full I down stepped it to the half. Afterwards I was really upset I just didn't do the full anyway. So I signed up to do the Salt Lake marathon. Two weeks ago my toe started bothering me. I figured it was just a sprained toe since I did that before, went to the podiatrist and got a cortisone shot and was fine days later. So I made an appointment and went in for it again. Turns out it's not a sprain but my second metatarsal has a stress fracture and I have to wear this!
I've been running on it just fine though, so I'm still planning on doing the marathon this weekend. I've come this far, it's just a week away and I want to just get it done already! Afterwards I'll rest up really good (at least until the SheRox tri) and go back to the Dr. to get my bone density tested. Because seriously, what's up with the stress fractures!?!?

Also, Tara's been in town for the last week so expect a big picture post soon!

April's fool

Our morning started with Ryan getting the kids out of bed by telling them to come look because it was snowing outside! They were so excited and ran out to the front room to see. When they saw it wasn't, Gwen stormed back to her room and climbed back into bed.

But she cheered right up when I asked her if she wanted to play an April fools joke on her teachers.
We got an empty container and frosted it.
Then sprinkled it so it'd look like a cake. She was so cute giving it to Miss Nicki, and all the teachers thought it was a real cake! Joke's on them!
This is how Drake entertained himself today while I painted his room.
And we ended the day with eating a "snake" for desert. Here's the kids cutting up our peanut butter candy snake. They loved today. I can't tell you how many times I heard things like "Mommy!! There's a huge scorpion on your back!!", or "Mommy!! There's a mouse in your hair!!", or "Mommy, there's a cockroach on your back!!" It never got old. And of course the kids were busting up the whole time they were telling me. I'd play along and it'd just make them laugh harder. They love April Fools day.

not for the squeemish

Behold my toe in it's nail-less glory!

(and PLEASE don't judge my way over due for a pedicure toes)

A couple days after Ragnar, I noticed my toe looked funny. Turns out there was a blister...UNDER my toe nail! Who ever heard of a blister under a toe nail?! I poked it with a pin and pushed on my nail, and got all the fun stuff out. (I have a sick love of squeezin' the juice out of blisters) Thought I could lose the toe nail, but just got over it. Three weeks later. I notice my nail is lifting. It trimmed right off, along with the skin! So gross I know!! And this is the second time I've lost this toe nail in the last year. Hopefully my new running shoes will help. :)

move over Auntie Anne!

Last night, the kids and I made these copy cat Auntie Anne's pretzels. They were so yummy, but I'd say more Wetzel's than Auntie Annes. The recipe yeilded 12 pretzels, and I ate 7!!!!! I know. I have no self control. But in my defense, that was my form of carb loading last night.

Because today I tried out my new Newton Running shoes! Verdict: A.W.E.S.O.M.E!!
They are made for fore foot running, which is supposedly natural form. It is less stress on your bones, joints and muscles. Something I OBVIOUSLY need since my crappy osteoporotic bones hate running and I love it. (stress fracture count is up to 3!!) You're supposed to ease into running with them. Start with only a mile or two since your form is way different and you'll get really sore. Well today I threw my old shoes in my Camelback and set out on my run anticipating changing shoes after a mile or two. Well after two I still felt great so I kept going. After nine I started to feel the tightness in my calves, so I stopped and changed my shoes. I didn't even go a quarter mile before I changed back into the Newtons. They felt so good I couldn't even go back to my former running shoes! So I'm a convert. (Nice how neither the sports medicine Dr. or the podiatrist I've been to because of my running problems, suggested I try these shoes and running style. Jerks.)

4 weeks til the SLC marathon. Hope I'm ready!

bomb!!

Let me save you $20. Don't go see the new Alice in Wonderland. It stinks. The kids got bored and lost interest, but they were still scared of some really scary/creepy parts. So not a good one for the babes...and the adults. Ryan and I both gave it two thumbs down.

holla!!!

We got our copy of Princess and the Frog today with our $10 off coupon!

certifiably insane!

I've had a bit of a secret over the last couple months.

I've been applying to law school!

And Wednesday we found out I'm in!!

It's going to be crazy!! My first semester will be Ryan's last, so we can say hi and pass notes at school. Cute. But juggling the house work will be difficult. Seriously, every Monday I do laundry and go grocery shopping and that takes me just about all day. Then I try to clean house on Tuesday. What am I going to do without those days? I'd like a cleaning service, but that costs moola. Poopy. Then there's also the kids. Hopefully I can get my classes so that they're all during the day and I'll still be able to drop Gwen off at school, and be done in time to pick her up. Also I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to get Drake into the preschool on ASU's campus so I could bring him with me. Wow. There's a lot! But I can do it!!! I think

Do you see what I see?

Like a little boy making a bolt for freedom? I love that the way our house and street are angled, with these huge windows in the corner, that I can always see Drake taking off. When the kids ask to go to their friend's house, I can watch them walk all the way there! Or like I said if I hear the front door slam I can see Drake making his dash.
Ryan thinks Drake will be our meal ticket someday. Keep up the good work Drakey boy. (oh and of course this independent boy picked out his own outfit!)

ragnar 2010

This past weekend, some amazing girls and I were able to kill it at Ragnar. It's basically a 200 mile relay from Prescott to Tempe. 12 girls, two cars, two days, no sleep (at least for some of us!).

We were called the Hot Cops because we had a cop on our team, and us Arrested Development lovers thought it was a perfect fit.

And I can assure you by the end of the race, our van of girls were on the ragnasty side of the meter. The other girls, well they snuck away for a shower!

Here we are at the start. Good thing we showed up early! We thought we were supposed to start at 7:40, but were supposed to start at 7:00.

And here's Destinee shooting out of the start at 7:20. (we had to start fashionably late)

Me on my first leg. This was my sweet eBay cop outfit.

Kaylani and I ran into some girls from our running club, the Cheetah Girls. They're so stinkin' cute!

I believe if I took votes, this was my best outfit. Something about underwear lines, granny panties, and hot pink legs that really works for me.

This is Destinee (our team captain) busting us girls up. So typical!

The Tahoe was tight quarters for us gals in the back. Lucky we love each other, and lucky I changed my outfit after every run... right girls?!

Nothing like watching the sunrise with your girl friends for the second morning in a row!

My last leg was running from Fountain Hills up the Beeline to Gilbert Road. This was the only leg of the whole relay where you couldn't have your team offer support (water, skittles, gum) to you during your leg. It turned out to be harder than I thought! I'm a big drink and runner. ;) They did have a water table half way, but I drink every two miles and this leg was 8.5 miles! Plus it was actually pretty warm, so I had drunk all the water from my water belt by about 6 miles! So at 7.5 miles I was ecstatic to see my sweet Gwenny, hot hubby, and my mom and dad cheering me on! It gave me the extra umphh to finish that last mile.
We're done!!! Us girls stuck through it together, and together shared many VICTORIES!!!! Right ladies! (ya, that was an inside joke)

These giant handcuffs never made it onto the car where they were supposed to go.

Drake REFUSED to look at the camera. My family is so awesome!! I couldn't ask for a more supportive group. Love you guys!!!

And here we are. The HOT COPS. Girls, it was amazing. We're dunzo until next year!!

Ethan's run

This morning we got up nice and early to run a 10k called Ethan's run. It was set up to benefit babies who are born with heart defects and their families. And who doesn't want to help babies with owie hearts, right?

Plus, we need to do all the running we can since we're doing Ragnar next weekend! You're in right Julie?

My sister in law Emily, who is an "owie heart" survivor!!! Nice work Em!!

They had a 1 mile fun run, and this is Drake during it. He was taking a little breather. And I hear that Ryan carried him on his shoulders 75% of the time.

And here are my babies running in to the finish! Woohooooo!!!

So stoked to have finished their race! Don't you love Drake's Mr. T mohawk?

And must I always look like a dufus in action shots? I am actually really happy with my time, I pushed myself up all those Las Sendas hills that I thought would slow me down, but I got my best time for a 10k yet! And here's a true story:

Setting: food table just after finishing the race

other lady - You are really fast
me - me?!?! Thank you!!
other lady - ya, I was trying to catch up to you the whole time but just couldn't quite make it
me - really?! (I'm feeling REALLY good right now)
other lady - ya, you're not 40 are you?
me - NO! (in disgust)

Really lady? Do I look like a 40 year old? You had me feeling so good, and then slammed me down so fast!

Happy Arizona Day!!

Did you know Arizona's birthday is on Valentine's day? When I was in Elementary school every Valentine's day we would have the Arizona man come and we'd have an assembly where we'd watch slide shows and sing songs about Arizona.

But it wasn't until I came home from my first year at college that I really appreciated Arizona's beauty. I suddenly loved the sage brush and saguaros. I love Arizona! In 2012, it will be Arizona's 100th birthday, and we're going to have a huge party!

So you can be in the know about AZ:

• Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912.
• The bola tie is the official state neckwear.
• Turquoise is the official state gemstone.
• The original London Bridge was shipped stone-by-stone and reconstructed in Lake Havasu City.
• Located in Fountain Hills is a fountain believed to be the tallest in the world.
• At one time camels were used to transport goods across Arizona.
• The amount of copper on the roof of the Capitol building is equivalent to 4,800,000 pennies.
• In Arizona, it is against the law for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs.
• In AZ, it is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water.
• Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony.
• The world's largest solar telescope is located at Kitts Peak National Observatory in the city of Sells.
• The Grand Canyon is 227 miles long, 1 mile deep, and has an average width of 10 miles.
• There is a possible 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus.
• The hottest recorded day in Phoenix was June 26, 1990, when the temperature hit 122 degrees.
• The sun shines in southern Arizona 85% of the time, which is considerably more sunshine than Florida or Hawaii.
• In World War II, many Navajos enlisted as secret agents. Our enemies could never understand the Navajo language to learn our military secrets. (woowoot!)

donuts and candy

Well, the Pioneer Woman inspired me to make these today.

Tawnya came over and helped and we were just delighted at how they turned out. I LOVE homemade donuts. I'm just going to try not to think about the number of donuts/calories I've consumed today!

We used her recipe, and followed it pretty close up until we saw the directions had you refrigerate the dough for 8 hours. We wanted to eat them today so we just let them rise an extra time like making bread. Also, the dough was REALLY soft, so we added about an extra cup of flour! They turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

< With Valentine's Day approaching, we have been enjoying ourselves some delicious V-Day candy!! The Gobstopper HeartBreakers are my personal fav. We've been munching these for about the past month, but I haven't been able to find them at the stores for the last week and a half! Come on retailers, keep the stuff stocked until the holiday's here!
And Dots of course has their Valentine Dots out! The flavors are Cherry Vanilla, and Passionfruit Vanilla. The Cherry were better, and I still found myself eating them like how I eat my Candy Corn. I bite off the color and toss the white part.

And lastly, HAS ANYONE SEEN CINNAMON BEARS FOR SALE ANYWHERE? I've been craving these since Christmas, and I can't find them anywhere! I've checked Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Fry's and Bashas, and apparently these are off the market! Oh BYU Bookstore, why do you have to be so far away? Right now I'd be buying the Cinnamon Lips that you have out for V-Day!

my valentine

When Drake saw me hanging up this heart garland, he got so excited and yelled "Valentine!!"
He tells me I'm his Valentine. And it's pretty cute. Sunday when I was getting ready for church, he was sitting in the bathroom watching me and said, "mommy, you're pretty." He also likes asking me for a "yucky kiss". He also likes hiding and taking pictures of me without me knowing.
Like this one of me cooking dinner. He's hiding under the kitchen table.
Well today I hid and took a picture of him when he didn't know. Here he is after he snuck a root beer from the storage room, then slyly snuck out a butter knife, then ran to his room to try to open the root beer. He later told me he was opening it for daddy. (Daddy wasn't going to be home for another 8 hours)

Welp, I love my little Valentine!

mommy venting

I have another blog that is mostly for the grandmas to read and stay on top of my kids. I have it private just to protect my kids and so I can really journal our family life. Well this post I thought I'd share to comfort any of you who might be having one of "those" days.

I realized last night as I was talking about Drake, that some of this stuff isn't on the blog. Like how his new favorite lunch item is a hot dog. ANd he doesn't like it cut, he wants it whole. But then he totally plays with it and rubs it all over his face and neck. Yesterday he told me he needed another one. So I got them out to start cooking him another hotdog and then he yells, "JUST KIDDING!!" and it rolls out of his shirt.

Also yesterday I was on the computer when I heard Barb who lives across the street come in and say Hello. I got up and she was with Drake. She said she watched him climb up the side gate, flip the latch up and swing the gate open, hop down and take off. She brought him back.

Also yesterday I mowed the lawn (which took an hour and a half!!!). THe lawn was so thick and in some places 2 feet high from all the rain we've had. I have blisters on my hands today from pushing the mower. Well Gwen was crying while I was mowing it because of the "flowers" (weeds) that had grown, I was mowing down. So she was out there trying to pick the flowers before I could mow them and Drake was chasing after me saying "you bad mom!" and trying to hit me or throw clumps of grass at me!! What a PUNK!!!! Seriously, can I send him away?

Then today I was cleaning my room and Drake asked if he could have an icecream sandwich. I said no and he starts yelling at me at the top of his lungs that he wants one and only quiets down once I tell him I said no because we were going to go get frozen yogurt later. Ten minutes later I heard his bedroom door close and I thought that was odd. SO I went out and in the kitchen I saw his ladder in front of the fridge and the freezer door was wide open. I checked, and the icecream sandwich was missing. So I went in his room and called his name. I didn't see him but heard russsling in the closet. I opened the closet door and found him eating an icecream sandwich. We had a talk about disobeying, and I"m sure it went in one ear and out the other. He drives me crazy!!! He disobeys 95% of the time!!!!

Like also yesterday we were going to get in the car to take Gwen to her singing class (she came home singing California Sun and it was sooo cute!!) but I couldn't find my keys. Oh that was because Drake had taken my keys to get into my car and go through my purse (huge no no that he ALWAYS is doing), eat all my gum, and turn on all the possible options and lights in the car. And he did the same thing like four days ago!

Also, Gwen's been hard. Like today I spanked her little bare bum so hard and felt really bad. But she was refusing to get out of bed, and then once she was out, refused to put on clothes and get ready for school! And her bum was bare because of course BOTH kids peed their beds AGAIN last night, so she had taken off her wet pants and underwear sometime in the night.

And on top of all this I wake up with pink eye today!

Yesterday on Facebook, Julie Kenney posted "Sometimes I don't like being a mom" And today I couldn't agree more. Good to know others can feel that way too.