Summer

Summer!

Kids: They are already way off schedule, sleeping in, staying up late, being lazy and don't want to do their chores. We have planned out some fun things, now I just need to implement them.

Potty Training: I started potty training Tyler yesterday, we were off to a great start and then I left to run some errands and those in charge didn't do so great in keeping him going to the potty. I should have explained better too. Tyler is really wanting to use the potty and he knows what he is doing and he is doing good, so it's me that needs to get on the stick and make this happen!

Landscaping: Laren finally got the front yard graded and seeded with grass seed. (Yes, we are one of the few homeowners who still seed instead of sod. But we've had good success with it in times past, so why not? It does take a little longer though.) So yesterday I met him at his work and we went to a nursery and picked out 2 pine trees for the front yard. One is a White Pine, and the other is an Austrian Pine. We spent $350.00 between the two of them, expensive!!

We also picked out a couple of different grasses and some strawberry plants. Today, I stopped off at the landscaping place and will hopefully hand pick some mossy rock for the front yard. We also need to order some medium size bark and get some Aspen tree's. This landscaping is expensive and time-consuming!

Projects: I'm hoping to get some of my projects done (stuff like finishing the wood craft from Enrichment night, refinishing Alyssa's dresser, copying some pictures onto cds, etc...) now that I don't have to keep running to and from the school all day. I just need to buckle down and do it!

Weather: We've had all sorts of rainy weather this spring. Really, it's been the rainiest spring that we've experienced here since we first moved here 5 years ago. I like the rain, but I'm ready for warmth and I'm tired of having a muddy dirty yard and having it get tracked in my house!

The race results!

RACE DAY RUNDOWN!!

The Run went surprisingly well! Kayla did GREAT!! The day started at 5am when the alarm went off. We got to the park and ride in Boulder at 5 minutes to 7 this morning. But despite the early hour, Kayla ran the entire way except when we got water at the mile markers and just walked while drinking and we got back to running fairly quickly.

She also stopped to walk the last 1/10 of the final mile on the final stretch. We lost each other at that point, after keeping up with eachother the WHOLE way before that (it was not easy)!! But we found each other again at the finish line!! I'm very pleased with how well Kayla did!!

We passed SO many walkers. I was disappointed that so many people walking the course were in waves in front of us, they registered as runners and they should have registered as walkers and that wouldn't have happened. It was just SO hard to manuever around them. I am sure we ran an extra 8/10 of a mile from all the running from one side of the street to the other, weaving in and out of people trying to get around them.In a sense, the race is like a parade.

Many people run the race dressed in all sorts of silly costumes (costumes like graduation outfits, peoplewrapped in towels and their hair in shower caps, santa claus suits, bikini's,etc...). It was kind of silly and kind of fun to see all sorts in the race!! All along the course people are lining the road spraying us with gardenhoses and playing music - little bands or playing music from stereos, but mostly it is the bands. I would imagine they are people trying to get a name for themselves! Some of them were pretty good!

The race ends in the stadium on the University of Colorado Campus in Boulder. It is a BEAUTIFUL setting with the rugged Flat Iron Mountains in the background, not too far away! At the end of the race we were given a snack pack which was a cloth sack lunch bag with a velcro closure. Inside was a huge white bagel,from Thomasville, Boulder Chips, some various types of snack crackers, a breakfast cookie, some Celestial Seasoning Tea packets (they were one of the sponsors), a package of baby carrots and an energy bar. We were also given water and a Sprite. We could have opted for a Michelob Beer instead of the Sprite if we had wanted!

Then we all went back into the stadium where tons of people were all ready sitting for a special Memorial Day Tribute. 6 Skydivers camedown and landed in the stadium. They were all carrying different flags, one from each of the armed forces, an American Flag, etc... They had patriotic music playing like, "God Bless the USA." (That song always brings tears to my eyes.)


The Skydivers coming in. (This is a picture from a previous year when they had 4 F-16's do a flyover. This year we only got 2!)

Then they had a guy who is a school teacher in the Greater Denver Area sing the National Anthem. He had a beautiful voice. In the middle of his song we had a flyover with 2 F-16's. That was cool! Then they gave a special tribute to a guy from Gallup, NM who was a veteranof WW II, I think. He killed 10 enemies and then helped our woundedand then was taken as a prisoner of war for 2 years.

Anyway, it was a beautiful program, it made me very teary. We then walked for a long ways to go and catch our shuttle back to the Table Mesa parkand ride where we were parked. We got home around 1pm. Oh, I forgot to mention we ran the 10k in just over an hour - around an hour and 5 minutes. So actually we did MUCH better than I had thought we would!!

Oh, I forgot to add, while we were running just past mile marker 3 we saw a man who appeared to have collapsed from a heart attack receiving medical attention. He had just started breathing again as we ran past. I was so hopeful for him! He looked to be in his 60's. I was disappointed to read online that he ended up dying! He is the FIRST person to ever die during a Bolder Boulder, and this was the 29th year that they have held it.

Also, one other thing. Our camera has disappeared and I hope it turns up soon. Laren took pictures of us before the race and then when we went to take some post-race pictures it was gone! I hope it turns up soon!!

Bolder Boulder!

Bolder Boulder!!

Our training is winding down and the big race day is this weekend!! We hopefully are going to get in one more long run and one short one before Monday and of course we won't run at all on Sunday. Kayla is excited and so am I.

This race has many different waves (start times for various different speeds of runners). Our wave will include lots of youth since Kayla is doing this with a group for her school. I will be running with her even though there will be lots of other kids there too. It should be lots of work and lots of fun!!

We had our final meeting the other night and got our T-Shirts. They are very cool looking. They are white with Lime Green and Chocolate Brown lettering. That's always an added perk, right? If you like the shirt, the race was worth it!! (hee hee)

Today I'm going to PF Changs with some girlfriends. I'm sad to say that a couple of my better girlfriends are moving away. Though I haven't taken a whole lot of time for my friends lately, I am just getting back into my groove with it. And now, these two are moving. One is moving to Phoenix and one to St. George. I'm going to miss them!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!

Wordless Wednesday...

Wordless Wednesday!

Yes, that is my 2 year old Tyler laying next to Shadow Grandma and Grandpa's Rottweiler!!

And if you must know, Momma wasn't around when this picture was snapped!

Harried Day

It's been ONE of

THOSE days...

After getting my kids off to school I hurried home to do Rilyn's (4) hair and read through the Ensign. We got the necessary things accomplished and rushed off for our first appointment. Visiting Teaching had to get done before the rest of the kids get out of school on Thursday.

I met up with my companion outside Leah's house and we knocked and were invited in. While visiting Tyler and Rilyn had a hard time sitting still, but not too bad (just enough to make their Mom crazy). We had a good visit and then went to the Tracey's house. Tracey is so fun and easy to talk to. My kids took right to her kids and they all went out in back to play while the Mom's visited. We had a great visit and I head home to grab my purse and use the bathroom before we run to Walmart.

I wanted to run to and get some cookies for Janice and Larisa (2 separate families) who are moving within the week and take them over. When I get home to get my purse, I realize my phone is blinking with a message on it. I check my message and it is the Imaging/Radiology place where I got my x-ray and CT Scan yesterday. The message was to call them ASAP. At first I thought no problem, but then I realize they'd tried me on my cell too and panic set in.

All of a sudden I was so worried that though my scans and x-ray were to check for kidney stones (which showed 2 of them on the right side) that they also found something terrible like cancer or something! I called them back immediately and got their answering machine. As I was giving the rundown to Laren's work voicemail a call came in. It was the radiology place calling to tell me they sent me home with the x-ray before the radiologist had a chance to write the report.

At the request of my doctor, I was hand delivering the x-ray film and the cd with the CT Scans. Apparently I had the ONLY copy of the film and that was their desperation! In the midst of all of this I got scared and worried that maybe there was something more seriously wrong with me.

Thankfully I got over it rather quickly because I was only left to worry for 5 minutes or so before they called me back. Common sense even told me that the radiology place probably wouldn't be the bearer of bad news, if there were some, it would be the doctor at his office. But at that moment of desperation, I was too panicked to trust myself on that!

If that was not enough, after arriving home from the store I had another scare. I had laid Tyler down for his nap; he was fussy and tired and he had eaten a granola bar and half a donut that I bought for him and Rilyn to share on the way home from the store. I figured that was lunch enough until after his nap. (Good Mom that I am! LOL)

Rilyn was in the basement playing with her toys and I was in the kitchen making me some steamed cauliflower for lunch. I was getting ready to take out the trash while the vegetables were cooking. I started smelling this strong smell of burning smell. I just couldn't shake it. So after a minute or so (maybe even less) of smelling this horrific smell my instincts kicked in to get the kids and get out! So we did.

I ran up and got Tyler while calling for Rilyn. We all got out in the van safely and I grabbed my purse, keys and phone on the way out. Funny how it is, I ran back in to get my cauliflower so I could eat something healthy for lunch in case my house burned down or something. Weird that I did that?!!

As we were back out of the driveway I called 911. In a matter of 8 minutes or so a firetruck arrived with lights and sirens followed by a police car and another firetruck. (It's nice to know that Vonage does work with 911 calls on my phone!)

I got out of my van that was parked next to my neighbors house to talk to them and tell them what was going on. They went in with their gear to check it out. I noticed them turning the fire hydrant on acrossed the street. My neighbor Hap called to see if we were alright and if he could help. My neighbor Cindy came from acrossed the street to see if she could help or give us shelter from the rain.

I declined their offers of help and told them we were fine. I had called Laren at work and left a message for him telling him what was going on when I was waiting for the firetrucks to arrive. He called back when I was acrossed the street talking to Cindy. Rilyn answered the phone in the van when she heard it ringing. And when she went to open the van door to tell me Laren was on the phone the car alarm sounded.

I ran over and put my key in the door to turn off the alarm and answered the phone. By this time I had talked to the firemen who assured me everything was fine that they had checked the house out on every level and nothing was burning. It was determined, because it is a rainy day, some homes a distance away on acreage had been burning something and the smell wafted into my house when I opened the garage and came in.

Laren was all but laughing at me for calling 911. The firemen were very kind and I expressed to them my appreciation and embarassment in which they responded with no problem, that I did the right thing. They told me to just tell my neighbors I was having a party and invited the firemen over with their disco lights. Honestly ALL that I could think of when I called 911 was that the smell of something burning is strong and I must get my babies to safety!!

I think I'm calmed down now. I've had 2 heartstopping incidents today. I just had to come and blog about it and unwind a bit. Hopefully life will not be nearly so alarming tomorrow. I really need to sit down with myself and write my talk.

Thanks for all your great comments of things to consider for my talk. I do not know why Blogger disabled my comments on yesterday's post.

A Recipe!

Nephi Salad

At the request of Victoria and Kris, here is my recipe for Nephi Salad. This makes a yummy, refreshing citrusy summer jello salad. It is one of my family's favorites!!

Nephi Salad

1 large package Orange Jello
1 large package Lemon Cook & Serve Pudding

Mix orange jello according to package directions. After mixing, place in refrigerator while you prepare the cooked pudding. Make the cooked pudding according to package directions. After completing the pudding take the orange Jello from the fridge and mix it into pudding. Mix until smooth, place into baking dish and refrigerate until set. Makes one 9x13" pan.

Topping

1 small package Lemon Instant Pudding
1/2 C. Milk
8 oz. tub Cool Whip
2 tsp. powdered sugar

Mix ingredients until well blended and use to top Nephi Salad.

**Thanks Kris for sharing this recipe with me several years ago!

Also, I have a new food find to share! Today I tried "Veggie Cheese" for the first time. It is made from Soy. I tried the Cheddar Jalapeno and it was very good. I melted it in the microwave over fresh mushrooms at lunchtime. It is 1 weight watcher point per slice.

Veggie Cheese

I found the cheese at Walmart in the produce section by the organic foods. They had a variety of styles and flavors.

ALSO, if anyone has anymore great ideas for my talk please feel free to still comment to that here or down below! Thanks for all of the great comments I've gotten already!

Public Speaking

Sacrament Meeting Talk

Ordinarily I have few problems with public speaking. I wouldn't say I love it, because it can be rather stressful but it's usually not a huge deal to me. It does take lots of time and research and thought.

Well, the evening I came home from Womens Conference my husband and I got a call to give talks at the end of the month. That is next Sunday. After coping with the misery of passing a kidney stone and then traveling back home after a busy trip I retired to bed early only to have Laren asking me if it was okay if we gave talks on the 27th. I told him I didn't know for sure to give me a day to think about it and rest and then we could let him know.

So on the very next evening I had forgotten all about the previous nights phone call and the phone rang again. I answered and it was Brother Bracey wanting to know if we would give the talks. I asked him again about the topics.

Well for Laren it was anything he wants to say about the Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, our prophet. For me, he wants me to pick 2 or 3 talks from the most recent General Conference and tell how to give a Family Home Evening centered around those talks.

I said I would and we hung up the phone. After mulling this over and over I'm still trying to figure out how to approach this subject and what material to share. I've been reading and listening to the conference talks again in hopes of gaining some insights. For whatever reason it is not coming to me.

So, does anyone else have any good ideas for me. If you were listening to a talk on this subject what would you want to know?