Happenings!

Sick...I have been sick all week and I am so tired of it. When is it going to go away? I have spent the whole week laying around and doing nothing.

Broken Bones...Ethan broke his elbow yesterday. He came home hurting, but after I asked him to do several little motions, I thought he was fine. When Kirk got home, he was still in pain and so he took him in and sure enough, it was broken. Ethan is in a splint and sling. We go to see an orthopedic doctor next week. I did take some pictures, but my camera is on a plane to Ohio. It is quite sad to see my little guy confined to that sling. Ethan is my most active son. He is always on his bike looking for friends, shooting hoops, and playing some other physical sport. It will be a long couple of weeks for him.

Single...I am a single girl for the weekend. Kirk is off having some fun. When he is gone I usually do something fun with the kids and we always eat out, but since I have been sick, we have been eating out anyways and it doesn't even sound that fun. I am glad Kirk got to get away. He deserves it! He gets to see a baseball game, football game, and visit Kirtland. Kirtland is the only part of the trip I am jealous about. I wish I could visit it with him. We saw it together about 14 years ago (church history tour, ahh the memories).

Helpless Romantic...Last week Pride and Prejudice was on TV. I watched it and forgot how much I love it. I would love to live in the time of formal dress up and balls. I would love to have a large estate with a ballroom and host spectacular socials. And since I have been sick, I decided it was a good time to catch up on a few chick flicks, enter the movie Jane Eyre. I love the book. I will never forget the first time that I read it and how it transported me to another time and another world. I fell in love with the book. I am still in love with the book. And the movie did not disappoint. So it got me thinking a little about Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester. Wouldn't it be fun to have one of them? But I have Mr. Langston, and he does not disappoint. Mr. Langston is so good to take care of me and make me happy even when I don't deserve it. I couldn't be happier (except if we got to dress up and go to a ball).

Blogging...Isn't the blogging world wonderful? In my down time I have been reading up on some blogs. There was an airplane crash in Arizona that left the parents of 4 in the hospital covered in burns. I don't know these people, but the blogging world has really reached out to help them. What a great support system! It makes me happy to know that there are such wonderful people out there. And such amazing, creative people.

So that is what's happening here.

Impressed!

During a recent boating trip we stopped to cool off in the water. As my husband got ready to jump in, he stood up on his tip toes like the olympic divers we had been watching. So I told him, "why don't you do a back flip?" I was totally kidding, but he did it! I couldn't believe it! He flipped right over. So I had him do it again so I could snap a photo. I am so impressed!

Education Week and Mint Brownies

Education week is one major highlight in my life each year. I love returning to BYU's campus. I love to learn new things. And I love BYU's mint brownies without nuts. They are my very favorite! This year the theme was life long learning. I remember when I was younger, I really had a thirst for knowledge. I sometimes wonder what happened to it. Yesterday Elder Hales spoke on the theme of life long learning and how important it is for us to always be learning. Near the end of his talk he praised mothers and how ours is a job that enables us to learn so many new things. It is so true. I learned so many things yesterday and was reminded of so many things I needed to hear. Here are some random things that I learned:
-in order to raise emotionally healthy children, we need to express all kinds of emotion ourselves and then teach our children coping strategies
-negative emotions can be good because those are usually the ones that motivate us to change
-expressing love (physically and verbally) in our families is the best way to ensure that none of them ever go astray
-assuming my children move away at the age of 18 (preferably to BYU for college)...then when they are 6 years old, I only have 67% of my time left with them
-I need to take advantage of opportunities to learn
-the scriptures are my instruction manual for becoming like the savior
-we worship a "4th watch" God (He always waits until the 4th watch to deliver us)
-that which at first gives us fear, gives us resolution
-every generation can be predicted by how well the parents teach their children
-gratitude is a better enforcer than criticism

I was planning on attending today as well, but my children are ill. Just as well. I know I would just eat more brownies anyways!

"It's Kind of Like Pork and Beans"

I love music. My kids love music as well and right now their favorite song is Pork and Beans. It is a fun song and as far as I can tell the lyrics are harmless. I am married to a lyric policeman who lets me know all the stuff about my music that I never understood and never wanted to know. He officially gave his stamp of approval for this one. Anyway, my kids love it and sing along when I play it in the car, it is hilarious.

This morning I was dishing up breakfast and Tyler asked if he could paint. I said no and he started to cry and cry. I took him to his room for time out and that made him cry even more. It ended quickly and he returned and had breakfast with us. Jacob said "It's kind of like Pork and Beans, Mom. He just wants to do the things that he wants to do."

Kirk reminded the kids that they can't do the things they want to do until they move out on their own. I am still laughing about it.

Random Thoughts

After I finished the race, we went to Seven Peaks to have some fun. Our last trip was the exception, but it seems as though every time I go there, I run into someone from my hometown that I haven't seen in years. And it is usually someone I went to high school with. There is nothing more weird and awkward to see someone after all of those years and you are standing there half naked in your swimming suit. Oh well!

There are some great things about where I grew up. I got to know a lot of great people and I had a lot of fun. And it seems as though I am always running into people with connections to Richfield. The half marathon was no exception. I don't know what's worse, for people to see you all sweaty and gross or half naked in a swim suit.

I just finished reading Breaking Dawn and I was not disappointed. It was so good and I so loved the ending. I was worried that it wasn't going to work out the way I would have liked, but it was wonderful! As much as I loved it, I am glad that it is over. When I start a book, I get lost in the book. Thankfully I am a fast reader, but I have a lot of catching up to do today.

I think I might have IT Band syndrome. I think that is why my leg hurts as bad as it does. I need to find a good physical therapist or doctor to help me get better.

Last Saturday we were in Provo. Between the race, getting breakfast, and going to Seven Peaks, we took the chance to drive through the BYU campus with my kids. I forgot how much I love BYU. They have such a beautiful campus! Education Week is approaching and I am so looking forward to spending a little time down there. I want what is best for my kids, but secretly, I hope they all get to go to BYU (if that is what they want). I sometimes forget how much fun I had there and what a great time of my life that was.

I love vegetables. I love them enough that I think I could be a vegetarian. I do like my meat as well, but I just LOVE vegetables. I am thankful for a dad who is an amazing gardener. I grew up on lots of great garden vegetables and still benefit from his garden.

I DID IT!!!

Although I couldn't even run a mile the week of the race, by some miracle I made it! I had Kirk give me a blessing the night before and I am sure that is why I made it. It was such a great experience....so great in fact, I am planning to do another one this year. I've just got to get my leg better (I
am still limping around).

Tomorrow's the Big Day

So tomorrow is the big day...the half marathon race. I am anxious to get it over with. I have been nursing an injury for the past week and a half and I don't know if I will actually make it down the mountain myself or if my husband will have to come pick me up, but I won't know unless I try. Since my leg started to hurt I have seen a chiropractor for the first time, had acupuncture for the first time, seen a physical therapist for the first time, and spent too much money on new shoes trying to correct the problem. So here I come half marathon! I am hoping and praying to be able to finish the race respectably. It is sad to train for something and upon its arrival realize that I will not be able to give it 100%. So I guess I will have to run another one this year. Any takers out there?

Mama Mia!

I just got back from a little weekend trip to see Mama Mia in Las Vegas. It was wonderful! In a perfect life I would have a little trip like that twice a year.