Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial day 2010

Ryan had to fly out this afternoon for a couple days so we really didn't have any big plans. But since we are so far from Kennedy, I thought that I could run to the temple today before ryan when on the flight (it is so nice that it is open today...do they usually do that on Memorial day?)

Also, this morning Scott asked if Harrison wanted to go to the park right by us to use their race cars so of course Harrison was dying to go!
(mckinley and her 1 and 1/2 teeth)





We have a couple remote control cars that he uses but we have to replace the batteries so often they don't work most the time! Now when anything breaks, Harrison always says it needs batteries...he actually caught me praying one time, I don't remember what it was for, but I told him that he can pray when he needs help and he will get help with whatever he needs so he went and said a prayer and he prayed the that his cars would get fixed. (well, I had to tell Ryan to get those cars fixed for him pronto!!)

They had a blast at the park! It finally was sunny and hot this weekend!! Perfect for a holiday weekend! We then went and ran over to A Sweet Affair to get lunch, which was yummy (especially the cookies!).

We ran home to get to the temple in time, but luckily I decided to call to make sure when it closed today and sadly it closed at 2 so we didn't make it :(. I really was dissapointed because I can't visit her grave either. So after we got Ryan off to the airport I took Harrison to Jamba Juice (for dinner...yum!) and decided to drive to the temple anyway. At least we could walk around it. I decided to take my camera to take a pic of the kid there and I'm so glad i did because of this...
Yes, I know that this is just a butterfly...and really it could be a moth for all I know, but I do know this--This was for me! After Kennedy's passed away I had a very special experience at her grave site with a baby bird. Kennedy loved all things living, all animals, and insects were her favorites...really they were her only friends when she wasn't able to play with other kids while on chemo, and call me crazy but I feel she was able to communicate with that bird...

Well, I really don't know how butterfly's normally do things but usually they flutter and fly around and as soon as you get close they fly away again. Well, this butterfly landed right by us and just sat there. We were still for a little while so it wouldn't fly away, but then how do you keep an almost 4 yr.old. and 1 yr. old from trying to get closer?? So Mckinely almost stepped on it and Harrison kept getting closer, cause he wanted to take it home! So it flew off, like you would expect but then it came right back and landed on the cement right by us, now I thought that might happen once,

and then maybe twice but then again? Its not like we were a juicy flower or anything!
Then even though the kids were getting close it stopped leaving and just sat there letting us watch it,

letting us get close and even eventually getting on Harrison's finger...

(I love it, the look of wonder on a 3 yr.old face (notice the jamba juice also on his face :))
So I knew as I saw that sweet bug (yes, sweet and bug in the same sentence) I knew that it was a tender mercy to me, to remind me of my darling Kennedy, that she is still out there, that she is still playing with bugs, that she still loves us.

What is also interesting to note is that I didn't mention Kennedy that whole time (though I thought about it), but driving home Harrison said from the back, "Mom, I miss Kennedy" right out of the blue. So I said, "So do I". And now what I wish I had asked him was Why...I wonder what his response would have been after being at the temple...so thin...so close...

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Wednesday's park groups

One of the wonderful things about this ward when I moved in was at the same time Amy moved in and started "Park Group" so that that kids could play together and us mom's could get to know each other. It has been such a great thing for Harrison and I and now even Mckinley! Today it was supposed to be rainy (Rain again...where in the world is our spring?) so we went to the gym at the church. Harrison was off the a not so great start when he broke his "wiggle" car (how in the world?) so I had to drive back and get his scooter AND tricycle. But there ended up being a ton of kids, and thanks's to Maureen for bringing the big ones so that they kept all the kids busy by playing, chasing and watching the kids! Then the mom's had a great "mom's bubble" to chat, laugh and enjoy an adult conversation!

This is really the first time that Mckinley was playing like a big kid! She was walking around and trying to get on all the other kids bikes and having her own great time...wow it was so fun to let my kids actually both go and PLAY! (and have other people push her around!)


Running after Jonathan is my new favorite game for Harrison! What a way to get out all that extra jumping energy!

Then of course there is a dog pile at the end!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Dec family pics

One of my good friends Robyn moved this past Dec (come back come back!!!) which was so sad...but before she left she took a few family pics for us so we could have one for our Christmas card! I am finally adding them to my blog title..so here are a few that she took also that night! Thanks Robyn!!


Mckinley did not like this pose...she did NOT want to walk!
Those baby blues...

and Ryan did NOT want to take pics either (but Ryan can be happy because I'm not showing the kissing one :)!)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Running??

yes, you might all be in disbelief...


First, I am actually blogging more than once every 3 months...I know crazy. But Second and MOST important...I actually began a blog with the R word.

Running and me really haven't gone together very often in my 31 years. On my High School transcript is says that I did two track season's. A few of you know what I ACTUALLY did during those few months! I really did join to get in shape but I think after a day of running and realizing that I really didn't enjoy it anymore then previous attempts I definitely didn't give it my all. I mean I think the only record that I had was walking the longest backwards on the track when I had shin splints (exciting huh).

Well, Heidi's husband fixed the wheel of my double stroller so I could run with her (I plead that i was way way too slow and they both agreed she was..but really she had a baby a month ago...so I thought maybe I could keep up for a little while!) so...we decided to run to park group yesterday! I have all these really fun trails right by where we live and one leads right to the park we were meeting at. So off we went! She has three so Scott rode on his bike next to us. The first couple minutes went well....then we had one fall, then a second bad one, finally talked him into walking his bike...slowly got back on and we made it too the park, walking :)!

The kids (& mom's) had a great time! I have moved into such a great ward here! There are such great girls and the kids all get along and want to play forever, no matter the age!

Then of course it started to RAIN! So we got the kids and started jogging back. It went really well, a little wet and a little out of breath we made it back! Yea! I survived my first jog! I might actually get into shape some day...maybe...

(now I need to get used to bringing my camera so I can take pics if I'm going to blog!...I still need to upload the last couple months...baby steps right?)

Monday, May 17, 2010

The Last 3 Months: featuring some fuzzy math

Okay, so a couple of my friends have turned their blogs into books and this was one reason why I started this thing...well, I finally saw one of the books and I REALLY WANT ONE OF THOSE THINGS! How fun is it to see pics AND journaling of the day to day as well as the fun and exciting! I have scrapbooked (which I love) but I never end of journaling in it, I have a journal (which is sporadic of course) but you don't get pics with it...I will TRY this blogging thing again...and maybe actually journal a little instead of just captioning pics, so that I can have such a wonderful book to look at again and again (though for anyone that might actually check my blog again you might be board!) ! My problem is that i get behind and then have too much and then just get overwhelmed...so I need to keep it up right ?! (we'll see how that goes...)


So here's the math....

~ 1 strep throat
~ 8 colds
~ 2 pneumonias
~ 1 stomach flu
~ 5 fevers
~ 2 inlaws and 1 brother in law came to visit
~ 11th Valentine's Day spent together
~ 1 cute little healthy girl turned 1
~ 1 not so cute and not so little girl turn 1 + 30
~ 2 incredible friends that I grew up with and their 4 children stayed with us, in our 2 bedroom town home, for a week visiting San Fran, Fisherman's wharf/trolley rides/Boudin's, Muir Woods and the Redwoods, Discovery Museum in Sausillito, relaxing at the park in the sun, Jelly Belly factory, Boardwalk Amusement Park on the beach in Santa Cruz. Falling asleep with the kids and a few late nights! It was SO FUN! Please come back!
~ 35+ boxes packed
~ 1 new house found and rented
~ 1 whole house loaded into 3 trips in a Uhaul in 1 night with the help of 12 friends while 2 kids were being watched by 2 other friends, AND
~ 1 whole house UNloaded by those same 12 friends the SAME night...oh yeah...
~ 1 whole townhouse cleaned by 1 (me...) in 1 day in 2 different shifts
~ 30+ boxes UNpacked (yup...I've still got a few more to go)
~ 1 whole house being cleaned...continuously...ish...
~ 3+ mommy books read
~ 60+ children's books read
~ 525+ diapers changed
~ 56+ loads of laundry
~countless amounts of noses suctioned, dishes done, smiles shared, tears wiped, laughter heard, songs danced to, lessons taught, crying softened, pictures taken, cuddles captured, words said loud and soft, cookies and cupcakes made (and eaten), love shown...
===============
My life for the last 3 1/2 months :)