First Group Run of 2011

It was cold cold cold. So cold that when I looked over at Laurie her eyelashes and hair were frosty. We ran 6 miles. It was 18 degrees and very foggy. I'm excited that we are starting to train for Ragnar but I am also ready for spring.

Laurie, Leigh, Jill, Steph & I

The haircut

I love Luke's hair - the color, the curls, the thickness. I just love it. I love to run my fingers through his hair and the longer the better for me with this kid. He has been asking for a buzz for a few months but I kept making him wait .... until after the wedding....until after Christmas.....until dad gets home next weekend....etc. Finally I gave in and Todd buzzed it all off. When Todd was cutting it he even said "what a waste of good hair". Ha ha.



My sweet boy looks so much older with his short hair - I don't know if I like that or not. I think he looks adorable with short hair though I just don't want him growing up so fast on me.

Facebook Friday

I've decided that every Friday I'm going to post a few of my facebook posts to here for my journal.

I love the way I feel after a good hard run. (Friday - 1/28)

Thanks to cub scouts Tayson set the table, fixed dinner and did the dishes tonight. (Thursday - 1/27)

I hate bedtime. There are just too many kids in this house for this girl to handle alone. (Tuesday - 1/25)

The best part of coming home after being away from the kids for 5 days...all the hugs and kisses. My kids are so excited that I'm home that the are being perfect and giving me non-stop hugs & kisses. It's good to be home. (Monday - 1/24)

Home sweet home. (Monday - 1/24)

Hanging out with Todd in the sky club. I feel so fancy. (Monday - 1/24)

In the Strength of the Lord

I had a very humbling experience this week. On Wednesday night during New Beginnings some of the things my Bishop said really struck home with me. He was talking about how difficult his calling is. Then after we had a meeting with the Stake YW presidency and the YW pres was talking about inviting the spirit into our lives and how it is something we have to do - the Lord won't force it upon us. It was all I could do to not completely break down right then and waited until I got in the car....thank goodness.

The thing is my life is crazy right now - Todd is gone 5 days a week, I work full-time, I have 4 kids 8 and under & I'm in the YW presidency. That being said - I've been using all of this as an excuse to do the bare minimum in everything in my life right now. I do what's right - we have FHE almost every week, I read scriptures with my kids and say prayers with them, I try to never miss church or YW's. However, my heart just hasn't been in it. I do it out of obedience instead of desire and love. It hit me like a ton of bricks that I have been relying on my own strength instead of turning to the Lord. And right now in my life I need him more than I ever have before.

Well that night I finally humbled myself had a long talk with my Heavenly Father and figured out a few ways I can do more without adding more time to an already full schedule. One of them was that I downloaded the Book of Mormon onto my phone so I can listen to it on my way to work in the mornings. Then today when I got in my car I couldn't remember exactly where I was but knew I was in Alma so I started with Alma 26. Here are a few of the verses:

12Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God, for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

37Now my brethren, we see that God is ^amindful of every ^bpeople, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

Those 2 verses were just for me. Sometimes I wonder why I am so dang stubborn and why it takes me so long to realize that I'm not alone and the Lord knows exactly what I am going through. I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who knows me and loves me. I am so thankful He is patient and forgiving and occasionally gives me a quick kick in the rear so I can keep moving in the right direction.

Yearly trip to the Circus

Every year my dad gets free tickets for the kids to go to the circus. It's not the best one around but the kids love it and my dad loves it so we go. Timing was horrible for me this year.... first week back in the office after traveling for 2 weeks and I had to leave work by 3:30 to pick up the girls to get there by 4:00 when it started. Then to top it off it was the same night as YW ... and not just any YW night New Beginnings so I had to be there early, in church clothes and had to speak. I left the circus before it was over - and missed the motorcycles (one of my favorite parts). My parents had to take all the kids home. But even with all of those issues I'm glad I went. The kids had a blast.





P.S. Pictures taken with Tayson's new Christmas camera.

My Little Things

Todd and I saw these at Universal Studios and couldn't pass them up.

Universal Studios

On our last day in Orlando we spent the day at Universal Studios - Islands of Adventure. I really wanted to see the new Harry Potter section and it did not disappoint.

We started in the Marvel area. The Hulk rollercoaster was a blast.

Then on to the Spiderman 3-D ride. Our 3-D glasses are so hot.

Jurassic Park was awesome. It was amazing how as soon as you left one section and entered the next you were completely immersed.

Seriously - so cheesy!

Look I'm at Hogwarts!

The butterbeer was sooooo yummy! We each had 2 glasses full.

Todd with his butterbeer while eating at the Three Broomsticks restaurant

Yum Yum

The Hogwarts Express

Isn't is just beautiful?

Next was Seussland....the entire time I just kept thinking how much Luke would love this section. He's a huge Dr. Seuss fan

I think my favorite ride was the Harry Potter dragon ride - although I really loved the ride that takes you through Hogwarts and you are on a flying school bench. The longest line we waited in was the Flight of the Hippogriff and was totally not worth the wait - unless we had little kids with us. It was a little short and too family friendly for the time we spent in line. I can't believe how much fun I had spending the day at an amusement park just Todd and I - no-one cried, we could spend as much or little time doing things as we wanted and it was so much fun to spend so much quality time together.