A Hole in the Head

While Kirk and I were off having some time away from the kids....

Tyler got hurt.

Like his cousin said, "he got a hole in his head."  And he did, although now it is closed up with staples, 4 of them.  We are not supposed to get them wet, so I don't think his hair is going to look any better for the rest of the week.  My poor Mom had quite the busy day before she had to squeeze in a trip to the doctor.  I think she is glad that she is not us.  Life is pretty busy right now.  I felt bad leaving her with so many things going on, and that was after I canceled piano lessons, and swimming.  I am looking forward to September.  

Team Sprite

Finally, photos from the Provo Half.  It was soooo much fun!

Since we looked like lemon and lime, we called ourselves team Sprite.  We were running with team K-Mart (aka, my brother in his K-Mart shoes) so we had to have a team name too:)

Since we started at the back of the race, our actual time was even better, which was really good for us!

My brother (who has never ran before in his life and still beat me) and sister ran the race as well.  It was a lot of fun, can't wait for next year!

Big Weddings

My husband and I are both from a small town and had a wedding typical of that town.  We got married in the temple, had a dinner at a cultural hall, and a reception later that night at a reception center.  It was good.  I have seen people who buy magazines and start planning their wedding way before they even find who they are going to marry.  They know where they want to get married, where they want to eat, what kinds of flowers they want, if they are or are not going to have receptions, etc.  Looking back, I used to feel bad that when I got married I didn't really care too much about the flowers or my dress.  Whatever someone suggested was fine with me.  And I felt bad because I thought maybe I should have put more thought into it, or wondered why I didn't think of everything.  

Years later, my husband and I were visiting with some friends.  Because of geographical differences between the two families, this couple simply went to the temple and got married.  Since hearing their story, it has really stuck with me.  It sounded so wonderful, just going to the temple and getting sealed, isn't that what it is all about anyways?  I am beginning to think so.  I vividly remember the day my husband and I decided to get married.  I went to bed so giddy that night, I was so excited.  About a week later, he got a ring and proposed.  It was so fun and exciting.  And all I wanted to do was get married.  As soon as I knew he was the one for me, I was ready.  The last thing I wanted to do was be engaged for months while wedding plans unfolded.  I really didn't care too much.

Ten years (almost 11) and four kids later, I realize the wedding part was so insignificant.  I actually realized this less than a year after we were married.  We saw lots of weddings of friends and families.  Just because you have a HUGE romantic wedding that cost someone a gazillion dollars does not mean that you are more loved, are more in love, or will have a better marriage.  Although sometimes it seems that way, I have been to a few spectacular wedding parties.  

If I could go back and do it all again, my wedding would probably be just the same.  Knowing what I know now, if I could do it again, I wouldn't be engaged.  After deciding to marry my husband, we would make plans and get sealed.  Of course I would want family to be there, but beyond that, I don't really know what else matters.  Maybe I will feel differently when my own children get married some day.  And that is exactly why I wrote this dumb post in the first place.  And also because I went to a class at Education Week about marriage and it got me thinking.  

Education

Once upon a time I was a school teacher before I had my own children.  I saw and learned many things about parents, schools, teachers, etc, before I became a mom myself.  During that time, I had a friend who fired lots of questions at me about education and what I thought.  She was born and raised and still lives in the exact same area.  She knew which schools she wanted her kids to go to and she was going to make it happen.  So when they went shopping for a house, they bought the house according to the schools.  I admired her thoroughness and thought she was a great mom, and she is.  When we bought our house, my babies were 1 and I didn't think too much about elementary school.  Having taught myself, I had learned that there are smart kids in every school, no matter where you live, and there are good and bad teachers in every school, no matter where you live.  But then my babies grew up and it was time to think about school.  I started investigating.    I applied at lots of charter schools, but didn't get it.  I thought about sending them to various schools in the area and eventually we ended up at the school we were supposed to go to.  For 3 years, we had a wonderful experience.  

Well this year we switched schools.  It has been a difficult transition for the boys and I will admit it has been more difficult than I thought for me as well.  I miss the familiarity of our old school.  I know my kids do too.  I like our new school and I am happy, but it has been harder than I expected.  I had also forgotten how much of education at this age is just social.  And so then I start to wonder how much it really matters.  Just because a school has higher test scores, does it mean it will be better?  I am not second guessing my decision, I am just writing this to remind myself that I don't think it really matters.  Especially in the long run.  And then I am reminded of this quote by President Hinckley,

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

Back to School 2009

The boys all started school today, well except Tyler.  He wishes he started kindergarten today, it is going to be a LONG year.  After we dropped off the kids and came home to a quiet house, I said, "Tyler what are we going to do today?" 

"I don't know because you don't play with toys, " was his answer.  Good point.

(Fan)cy Shmancy

Yesterday my husband went to SF for a business meeting.  The people he met with were from Japan and they sent me this, a Japanese Fan.  It came in a wooden box, all wrapped up in paper.  Inside were the fan and a matching little case.  It is beautiful.  Sometimes I feel sorry for myself that I live in the most informal and boring culture.  As I listened to Kirk talk about them and the possibility of going back to Japan, I was wishing that I could go again too.  Until then, I have my fan.

What A Difference A Year Makes (or a couple of years)

On Saturday I ran the Provo Half Marathon.  It was my second time and it was sooo much better than the first time.  First of all, I was injury free, the course was way better, and the weather was incredible.  All of this resulted in a much better finishing time for me.  It was actually fun and I am looking forward to doing it again.  And it got me thinking, what a difference a year makes.  It feels so good to know that I have improved as a runner.  And it feels even better to be injury free.  It's been a good year.  Our camera battery died, so I am still waiting for someone to email me some of their pics.  

Later that night we went out and bought Guitar Hero.  We stayed up late playing it on Saturday, but man it is fun, I love it.  

Sunday I had promised the kids we would watch some old family movies.  We picked out the ones where each of the kids was born.  We have four boys and there are 4 years between the oldest and the youngest.  First up was the twins.  It wasn't too long before I was teary-eyed.  I had forgotten what their cries sounded like and how beautiful they were.  They quickly filled out into fat little babies, which is great, but they were the most beautiful babies as newborns.  I had forgotten so much.  It was fun to see old surroundings of places we used to live.  I thoroughly enjoyed taking care of those little babies, we were so happy.  

Next up was Ethan.  He came only 15 months after the twins were born.  He was such a good baby.  He came with a head full of black hair, the twins were barely starting to grow hair at this point.  Heavenly Father loves us and I know this because He sent us such a good baby in Ethan.  He had long skinny legs and spent lots of time in his swing as I chased the twins around getting them out of trouble.  It was a difficult transition for the twins and for Kirk and I as parents.  I remember with the twins, there was always one of us for each of them.  When Ethan came along, there were never enough hands.  

Lastly was Tyler and it was so fun to watch this movie.  All of the boys could talk by the time he was born.  The twins were 3 and Ethan was 2.  They each took turns holding their new baby brother and they each sang him a song.  Their little baby voices were so stinkin' cute.  They were all old enough to kind of know what was going on.  And they were all growing up so fast, we had moved the twins into the basement at this point and Ethan was already in a big boy bed.  I can't believe how time flies.  

Looking back, it seems like I was pregnant for about 4 years or I was nursing.  I am grateful that stage is over.  Pregnancies were always so hard for me and so was the delivery for that matter.  Having just ran the half marathon, I gained some new respect for my body.  It has been through a lot in the past 8 years.  It has given us 4 beautiful boys, it has nourished them, been depleted, recovered, and now it is running.  And it shows the battle scars from all of this.  My stomach has been stretched to the point of never being the same, my legs are lined with thick veins, and nothing is as firm as it used to be.  Oh well.  I love my life.  I love my little boys and have vowed to record more home video.  I plan on running some more and who knows what the next couple of years will hold.

My Garage Is Clean and I Feel Good

The recent winds have filled my garage with dirt.  Today with the help of my kids, we emptied out the garage, cleaned it, and put everything back.  We still have too much junk, but at least the dust, dirt, and cobwebs are cleaned out.  And even though the house remains unorganized and messy, it feels so good to have the garage clean.

Tomorrow I am running in a little race.  I am excited.  The weather is turning out to be ideal for running.  I feel a little too relaxed about this race, but I guess it is ok to run just for fun and not worry about anything.  

My boys are still LOVING football.  They have to miss practice tomorrow and they are mad about it.  Whatever!  Isn't 5 times a week enough?  After their week of try-outs, they were put on a team.  They lucked out and got a great coach.  We lucked out and got them on the same team.  I just wish I didn't feel like I signed my life away for the next 3 months.  Even though their coach is "nice" he still practices 6 days a week and expects you not to miss a thing.  After the parents meeting, I came home depressed.  I don't like my freedom being taken away.  I am not the team mom, but did you know there is a book of instructions for the team mom?  This is serious stuff!  I am still secretly hoping that they will tire of it or dislike it.  

I am looking forward to school starting again soon.  My kids need it and I need it.  They have been great about their chores this summer and we did clean the garage, car, and dog today, but I still can't wait for the schedule and structure of school days.  For now I get by knowing that I get to go to Education Week and the clean garage continues to put a smile on my face as I drive in and out running errands.  

I Should Let Him Be In Charge More Often

Kirk was in charge of date night on Friday.  It had been a long week and we both needed a break.  I got the babysitter and he planned the date.  And it was perfect.  He scheduled a couples massage.  It was the first time we had ever done that and it won't be the last.  It was wonderful!!!

I Always Wished Food Didn't Taste So Good....

This week we had all of the cousins here and I got to observe my little niece and nephew eating.  One of them is a great eater and the other has no interest in eating.  My mom and I bribed him and played all kinds of games with him just to try and and get him to eat a little.  And all we were asking him to eat was a peanut butter sandwich and cheetos.  His sister ate hers and was ready to play some more.  I have always wished food didn't appeal to me.  I have always wished I was like my little nephew.  But today as I made cookies, I decided that I love my ability to taste and enjoy food.  I love what a difference a dash of nutmeg makes in my oatmeal cookies.  I love the smell of the tomatoes and basil growing in my garden and I love eating them just as much.  I love the difference of real butter when preparing food, I love the difference a little seasoning and spice can make, and I even love cheetos (maybe too much).  So what if I have to reign in my appetite once in awhile.  It is worth it!  And now I sort of feel  like I should go watch Ratatouille.