a long time coming...

I finally updated. It is a long update as you can see if you scroll down far enough, but I had a lot of things I wanted to remember. I am without kids this weekend so found the time today to create this monstrous post.

People ask me all the time how is it to not have my kids all weekend. This is how I feel about it...

I enjoy being able to clean my house and have it remain that way for more than 10 minutes.

I enjoy having the weekend to complete 2 weeks worth of errands and shopping so I don't have to do that with the kids later.

I love being able to go on a long run outside rather than on my treadmill.

I miss making dinner for them, weird, right?...but I haven't gotten used to making dinner just for me. I usually end up having something like Diet Coke and peanut butter M&Ms for dinner.

More than anything, I miss them, especially this weekend when they are far away camping and I am worried and have had a couple of sad phone calls and I can't be there for them.

I can't wait to see them tomorrow.

special package

Friday morning the kids received a special surprise package in the mail. Each received a cute outfit and they also got some walkie-talkies to play with. They were so excited.

There was a handwritten individual note to each of them:

Dear Ella: You are a wonderful sister and a big help to your mom. You have a happy heart and work hard to choose the right. I love you very much. Love, Somebody

Lincoln - You are a wonderful big brother. You always think about kind things to do to help your family! You are a good reader. I love you very much. You are the best soccer player ever!

Logan - You always make Landon laugh! You show your love for your mom by helping to clean and sweep. You can run so fast! I love you.

Landon - You make your mom happy by laughing and smiling. You crawl fast and know how to climb on things. You are learning new things every day. I love you!

I worried my kids a little by crying as I was reading the notes to them. Thank you, Somebody (mom)! You made our day.

outings

We've done various hikes and outings this summer. On this particular hike, Logan insisted on bringing his backpack with a water bottle in it. He hiked with it almost the whole way and randomly would stop to take it off and help himself to a drink. He is a great hiker and fun to watch with his sideways hat and independent spirit.

Lincoln and Ella

Me and Landon. I sure wish he would leave a hat on.

Logan and my mom. He ditched the backpack on the way down.

A silly group.

Another day we hiked along the river trail and checked out flooded 2nd dam.

We found some cute baby ducks.

Father's Day

The kids created custom golf tees for the dads in their lives.

I sure am grateful for my dad.

My kids couldn't ask for a better grandpa.

They sure love him.

sprinklers

Ragnar 2011

I participated in my first Ragnar this year (12 runners running from Logan to Park City...192ish miles)

1. Ella and Brittney decorating our van. Everyone got a good laugh at my artistic abilities.

2. Starting line: Michelle, Shay, me, Brittney, Braden, Savannah

My first leg was a 7-1/2 mile run up Avon Pass.

It was super dusty and my teeth were brown at the finish.

I have no pictures of my 2nd leg as it was in the middle of the night and we were all way too tired to worry about pictures. Below is my 3rd leg, just a 3 miler, but a pretty decent hill in the middle of it. I stole some of these pictures from my teammates...hope they don't mind.

The finish line with our whole team! Shay and Michelle did a great job organizing this.

It is such a great feeling to accomplish something like this. The worst part was getting walked in on by a guy while using the port-a-potty and being super embarrassed. We both let out a little yell/scream. I stayed in there for a while and then ran to the van and changed my shirt hoping he wouldn't recognize me again. Why do these things happen to me? Ah well. Other than that, I enjoyed it so much I am already signed up for next year.

spring break

Seriously, how long ago was this?...forever.

We stayed in Green River and hiked around Arches, Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse Canyon and the Green River itself. It was memorable. It was the first trip with just me and the kids (and a lot of my family). I remember:

Wind, wind, wind.

A teething Landon screaming in the night in our small motel room complete with the neighbors pounding on the wall.

Happy kids, jumping and playing on the rocks.

Helpful sisters and parents.

A tired mommy.

Me and Logan

My dad and Landon

Katrina, Evelyn, Ella

all of us