Season's Greetings

In case we didn't have your address this year, here's a Christmas card for you. I didn't get around to writing a 2010 family summary but if I had it would have said something like...

Todd is 14. He's only "ours" for a few more short years. Does he know how to cook, do his own laundry, and clean a bathroom yet? Nope but we're working on it. He is hilarious and smart. His English teacher calls him "Walking Jeopardy". Todd is everyone's favorite young man in the ward and grown-up cousin in the family. We love him.
Kenna is 10. She is THE best little and big sister to her crazy brothers. She's probably making a crafty project right now and recently picked up sport stacking as a hobby. Her room is usually a mess but her goals are creative and brilliant. Kenna is the most well-rounded girl we know--a friend to all, smarter than her parents, and more beautiful every day. We love her.
Alec is 5. He loves Kindergarten and play dates with his best friends. He works up quite a sweat when playing Wii games; partly from the action but mostly from celebrating--with donkey kicks and leg sweeps--or ruing--with grouchy yelling and foot stomps--his performance. Affectionate as he is silly, Alec always makes us smile. We love him.
Brent is 40 and looks/acts 20. Brent weighs 169.7 lbs as of this morning. (That's so skinny for a 6'3" guy!!) He's a running maniac with the lofty goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon this year. He enjoys working at Control4 programming home/hotel automation systems and regularly reminds his co-workers through example that it's okay to be nerdy AND have a personality.
Rita is 40 and looks/feels 50. She runs a few times a week with the best partners in town and wants to do a sub 2hr. 1/2 marathon this year. We'll see. She loves her part time job as a School Psychologist and her favorite student at work is Alec who attends her assigned school! Rita's most constant but alluding goal is to find peace and balance in her life. Maybe some day.

We feel overwhelmed by the love of family and friends and blessed to have all that we need. We wish you the happiest Christmas and joy in 2011!

Boys' Road Trip

Todd and I (Brent) drove to Albuquerque with my father and my brother Russ to watch BYU play in the New Mexico Bowl. It was my third trip to New Mexico in two years. The first trip was a weekend fishing trip with my brother Steve. The second trip was a week-long vacation with Kenna and my parents. This trip was the shortest of the three.

We drove down Friday night, stayed in a hotel, then went to the game Saturday. Our seats for the game were right on the 50 yard line, six rows up. It made for a unique view of the game. We could see the action really well and even hear the players yelling and colliding.
After the Cougars' 52-24 win, we went down onto the field and took pictures with several of the players.
Other activities on the trip included eating out, watching a movie, and going for a morning run along the banks of the Rio Grande. After the game, we drove home. We got home Sunday morning and went to church. I think it'll be a couple of days until I've recovered from the trip, but it was well worth it.

I'm thankful...

* that my parents live so close now that they can come to dinner once-in-a-while.
* that my kids enjoy their cousins more than any friend they could have.
* for a spouse with electric knife-wielding skills.
* for two beautiful sisters-in-law that helped make dinner.
* that the honeydew melon turkey was a big hit.
* for nieces & nephews so darling that it is hard not to constantly squish them with kisses.
* that no one was bothered by cold mashed potatoes, too-hot turkey, & stove top stuffing.

I am thankful for THANKSGIVING DAY!!

(I'm also thankful that Andrea won't mind that I snagged these photo collages from her blog...hopefully.)

Fancy Mac

I used to be a pretty decent chef but unpracticed skills get rusty, you know. You may wonder why my culinary abilities are so sorely under-used. After all, I have an appreciative husband with a healthy appetite and three growing children who require sustenance. It's a pearls-before-swine kind of thing. My kids do not, do not, DO NOT like normal, good food. Chicken nuggets, cheese quesadillas, ramen noodles, Little Caesar's pizza and corn dogs near the top of their dinner request lists. Sad and gross, but true. Brent values quantity over quality in his dining (and spouse!!) selections so great effort would be wasted on his dulled tastebuds. Besides, he arrives home from work well after real people dinner time and if I wait around, I snack on as many calories as dinner costs me. Not good.

So, I don't cook very often. On occasion, however, I dust off my homey food prep skills and try, try again. Tonight's selection seemed to have promise--Four Cheese Pasta. It's just an upgraded Kraft Mac-n-Cheese, right? Wrong. Todd took an obligatory half bite and euphemized, "I don't hate it." Kenna claimed she liked it before I added the breadcrumbs. Alec's forkful evoked a gag and flappy dance that made me suspect an underlying seizure disorder had been triggered. Brent inhaled a bowl and rushed out the door to burn it off during a 5 mile run. Defeated at the table, I dished myself a sad second helping. Don't be discouraged and dissuaded from your homemaking duties by my experience though, your family will love it!

Four Cheese Pasta
Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package pasta
  
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shredded Muenster cheese
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Colby Jack cheese
• 1 1/2 cups milk or half-and-half
• 8 ounces cubed processed cheese food
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 c plain or seasoned breadcrumbs
  

Directions

1. Boil pasta in a large pot and cook according to package directions until al dente; drain well and return to cooking pot.
2. Add butter to drained pasta; stir until mostly melted.
   
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Add the milk or half and half, 1 1/2 cups of cheese mixture, cubed processed cheese food, and eggs to pasta; mix together and season with salt and pepper.
   
5. Transfer to a lightly greased deep 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese mixture and then with breadcrumbs.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbling around the edges; serve.

Fourteen

Poor Todd is getting sick of sharing his birthday with the St. George Marathon but that's how we commemorated yet another year of this cool kid's life.

Honestly, Todd and I have had a rough year. Boundless, maternal love is sometimes reflected as magnified frustration when kids don't conform to the lofty imaginings of a first-time momma. Todd is blazing the way to help me be a more flexible parent. It's been a tough job for him but he's certainly shown to be up to the challenge. Turns out Todd has his own personality, spirit, BRAIN and doesn't feel overly compelled to make his red-haired mum too comfortable in her role as steward and nurturer.

Todd's birthday was October 1st. He is FOURTEEN and...

• FUNNY. Fast with a joke and not very shy, Todd garnishes all sorts of attention for his wit and humor. Substitute teachers have not shown to be appreciative.
• FARCE-intolerant. Todd has his own ideas about what merits his time and energy. Once again, substitute teachers have not been impressed.
• FACTUAL when he recounts exactly what I said he could or couldn't do. Yep. Todd doesn't really go with the whole "spirit of the law" thing. I am forced to cover all my bases with him.
  
• FANATIC in his love of BYU sports.
• FANTASTIC with kids. He's an awesome big brother, cousin, neighbor, friend to the littles of the world.
• FASHION-monogomous. He likes sporty, comfy tees and shorts and that's about it. It kills him that his personal style is harshed by the strict school dress code (uniforms!).
• FAR-OUT. Like I said. He's a cool kid. I love him a lot more than substitute teachers do.
  

$5, a mini snickers bar and my work keys

These are the things that I found this morning while choosing a jacket to go with my outfit. (My work keys have been AWOL for about a month so I was extra happy to find them!)

Spooooooky Fun

Let it be documented that I participated in the carving of pumpkins this year. I so try to pawn off this messy, smelly tradition to my more fun, even-keeled partner each year but once a decade or so the guilt is overwhelming and I dive in to help. We had fun using carving templates this year. Ever innovative Kenna out-clevered all of us by choosing a white pumpkin and combining two stencils to make her scary boo-toothed grinner. I carved Dracula for Alec and Todd fashioned a Y to show his true blue spirit. Brent sculpted his company logo and took it to work to get a few brownie points.

Costumes were fun this year too. Todd dressed as a scientist bedecked in my old Food Chemistry (fun class...except for the Chemistry) lab coat and Brent's safety goggles. Alec wavered among shark, Batman, astronaut, fox, Darth Vader, and other characters. He settled on shark for the church Trunk-or-Treat and Brent's work party but fifteen minutes before he left to go trick-or-treating, he requested to be a fox. I was thinking how lame his inside-out sweats, paper ears, and dishtowel tail looked when he gave me a giant hug and most sincere thank you for making the costume. He is the best. Kenna's two-year-old desire to be a jellyfish came true when we found these instructions on the Family Fun magazine website.

(Not pictured: ME dressed as a party pooper.)

What to do.

This school year, two friends and I have scheduled play dates for our three Kindergarten boys on Tuesday afternoons and we take turns hosting the fun. I'm surprised by how well the boys get along and at how much Alec looks forward to this time with friends. It makes him happy...even happier than he normally is which is pretty darn happy!

On my non-host weeks, I dream of quiet, uncomplicated alone time but usually end up over-scheduled and busied with something. Today is my dream day, though. I'm here. At home. Alone. And suddenly, I'm paralyzed with the coincidence of a bad mood and too many choices that fall into the nebulous and intersecting categories of want-to, need-to, and should-do...

• Get and keep this house clean. I've tried chore charts, index card systems, begging, bribing, threatening, rewarding, going it alone. This place is impermeable to my efforts and desires for lemon-scented order. I can't even hire a cleaning lady. Things are too bad.
• De-junk. Although this would help my desperate need of house-straightening, this is a separate issue. I have been married nearly 18 years and have have three growing kids. It's past time to prune and purge our lives of the acquired and long accumulating accouterments, accessories, apparatuses and attachments that are weighing us down. I bought three books recently that now bulk our bookshelf to aid me in this vein. Oh, the irony.
  
• Write reports. For almost 2 weeks I have toted work tasks home and back again teasing myself that I will have the uninterrupted time and thought to put in here what I can't seem to accomplish there. Nope. Not today either.
• Sing like the kids on Glee. Sometimes I wish I had the music in me. I think an entire afternoon at the piano belting out show tunes might lift a blue and undecided mood.
  
• Get along with my teenager. Maybe I could make a Sonic strawberry shake run to the Jr. High and surprise Todd. Would he less resent my homework and chore nagging? Better make it a hot fudge shake for me. I can't yell with my mouth full.
• Blog about Hawaii. Though the tan has faded, I took the trip. I have the pictures. I just can't blog about it. What is wrong with me? Who doesn't enjoy a tropical island getaway? ME!! Our family had a rough time on our "vacation" across the ocean. I'm still grieving and I want my shining recollection to be free of embittered unfulfilled expectations.
• Go running. The weather is perfect right now for a good, long trot but this is low, low, low on my wish list of time-spenders. I know my mood brightens when I'm consistent with exercise but I just can't make myself do it today or the last three weeks. :*( I'm in a burned-out funk.
• Make jean quilts. I have been seriously stockpiling old jeans over the last several years with a plan to sew quilts for friends and family Christmas gifts. My trait strength of seeing a project through completion is a weakness when it comes to getting started. The daunting denim edifice taunts and overwhelms me. Not today.
• Go or at least plan Christmas shopping. Every year some anxiety holds me back from enjoying what should be a peaceful, happy season. I worry about searching and ordering presents too late, overspending because I started buying too early, choosing an equal amount of gifts for the kids, picking dumb or wrong gifts, forgetting someone who should have been on my list, being "out-thoughtfulled" by someone who buys for me, shipping presents too late or too early, etc. I can't face whatever will put me over the edge this year.
  
• Read. I'm halfway through a book titled, "Boys Adrift" which describes why today's young males are unmotivated and low-achieving. Yeah. That'll boost my spirits. "Dear Rita, two of your three children are doomed. You and society have failed them. Particulates from the plastic container holding the milk you pour on their cereal is partly to blame. Good luck with that."
  
• Cry. I need a something that might induce a good, cathartic tear fest. Too bad I don't have a dvr'ed episode of Biggest Loser. That can usually get me going.
• Accept mediocrity. As might have been predicted, I have squandered my time and creativity digging the entrance to and escape from pity party a little deeper. "Pain is the result of unmet expectations." Number one on my want-to/need-to/should-do list needs to be lose the list.
  

A Limerick of Grand Proportions

I decided to be a Grand Slammer,
My foot struck like a hammer.
Overweight and undertrained,
Enthusiasm mostly feigned,
A 40-year-old Grand Slammer.

Marathon one in Ogden was rough,
I was lacking the right mental stuff,
When it was done,
I didn’t want a rerun.
One 5:38 was enough!

Utah Valley was wet and wild,
But through the rain I smiled.
Ran a 4:54 PR,
Thought, “I need a celebratory cigar!”
Under SUCCESS, this one is filed.

Park City came and went,
With anger I did vent.
Stranded, you see,
Across the sea,
I missed the whole event.

Top of Utah was going great,
‘Til mile 20’s locked iron gate.
No more downhill,
And lacking the will,
Another sad 5:38.

St. George was last and long,
“Too hot!!” was everyone’s song.
How could 5:23
Produce such glee?
Because the accomplishment is lifelong!

The long and short of this story,
To a fit, skinny runner sounds gory.
But I got it done,
Even had some fun!
And five shiny medals are my glory.

Canada in July

Spending time in Canada at my parents' house is a tradition and a must to keep our summer fun levels soaring. Here is a summary of this year's week-long adventure.

Travel Games.
Brent wasn't able to take an entire week off but he drove up for the last weekend of our stay. I charged forward super-woman style with 4 kids (my 3 + Davion) securely buckled in and ready to roll. It can be challenging to keep children entertained during long car travel but for a single driver, it can be equally difficult to keep oneself alertly engaged in at the task at hand. My creative and thrill-seeking sides combusted to invent the following travel games.

1. Estimate how many miles beyond ZERO on the 'distance-to-empty' gauge this old Sequoia will go.
2. Decide which children will remain in the car and which you will piggy back to the next exit if you actually do run out of gas. Incidentally, this 'game' also works as a disciplinary technique if you verbalize your decision flow-chart during any trivial arguments the kids get into with each other.
3. Guess which small Idaho town will have an open gas station in the middle of the night.
4. Try to stave off dangerous fatigued driving by trying to nap in the Dairy Queen parking lot with 4 kids who just now woke up.
5. Pick the clean spot on the windshield where the next giant moth will splatter.
6. Count the wildlife. (I saw 4 rabbits, 1 skunk, 3 deer, 25+ unidentifiable roadkill lumps.)
7. Dodge the wildlife. (I almost hit *&^% cow, %$#^ rabbits, *&(% deer, and 1 already smashed skunk.)
8. Hit the wildlife. (Good thing I have an SUV!! 1 rabbit and 1bird which didn't break the grill.)
9. Convince the International Border Patrol that your twitching eye is due to being the sole adult in the vehicle on a very long trip and not a "tell" that you are seeking to smuggle contraband into small southern Alberta towns.

After a round of each of these exciting travel games, we arrived safely and started the fun part of our vacation.

Sunday, July 11, 2010
I attended church in Waterton Park 4 hours after we reached my parents' house while the kiddos slept. My parents spoke as they would soon be leaving on an LDS mission.

Monday, July 12th and Tuesday, July 13th
We chilled. Part of the fun of going home is doing nothing...NOTHING. The kids especially love to explore around the farm and play outside. We ran into town a couple of times for slurpees and yummy Canadian treats. We canoed on the pond. We rode the ATVs. We chatted and laughed on the patio. We napped. It was glorious.

Wednesday, July 15th
In another show of bravery and possible psychosis, I loaded up the kids and drove a few hours north to enjoy Kids' Day at the Calgary Stampede. My brother and sister-in-law with their awesome 3 red-heads were in on the fun too. The kids loved the rides, face-painting, diving show, animals, trick riders and very expensive food.

Thursday, July 16th
We used my parents' imminent mission departure as an excuse to get some family pictures since we pretty much have to consider this a possible relations-severing event. These collages are shots that we took with our camera during the official shoot. Best news?? Everyone was still talking to each other after the ordeal was over.
Friday, July 17th and Saturday, July 18th
We very much enjoyed attending the Pilling Reunion with my dad's siblings and their families. I really love those guys. There was a blow up obstacle course that Todd and several of the cousins bested me on, a candy throwing robot, a little poetry, and a lot of love. I love family reunions!

I got to sneak in lunch with a couple of friends after the reunion. It is a treat to spend time with friends from home. Conversation is never dull and sprinkled with funny, sad, and happy memories as well as updates of our new "grown-up" lives. Are we really 40?!

Saturday, July 18th
My niece, Sara, celebrated her 8th birthday while we were visiting. It was so fun to throw an awesome all-cousin party and to see her baptized in the creek...YEP, the creek. My family's dear friends had a grandson baptized at the same time. It was such a beautiful evening.

Sunday, July 19th
My parents gave another round of church talks at their home ward in Leavitt. I was surprised by an invitation to also participate in the program. After church, many friends and family members met for dinner at my parents' place to wish them well. It was a lovely treat to see so many people who are special to us.

Our trip back to Layton was happily less eventful than the trip north. We got back the day before Kenna started grade 5 and just in time to dive into some condo renovations.

Things that matter.

My sweet friend Karleen died last week after losing a second battle with cancer. Her lovely obituary gives you a tiny glimpse at the strong, positive, talented woman she was.

Another friend underwent a double mastectomy and massive reconstructive surgery on Monday while her husband and two young daughters waited for some good news. No cancer cells were found in her lymph nodes. Hopefully that news is her ticket to a completely cancer-free life.

Brent's little sister Sheri passed away a year ago. We just celebrated baby Ava's first birthday and remembered Sheri's ultimate sacrifice and gift to us.

In case (like me) you have been a bit unfocused lately, anytime is a good time to re-prioritize your time and energy. I'm trying to be a more patient, contemplative, grateful version of myself this week.

Of Friends and Freckles

Meet Amy. I love this girl. She and I have an unexplainable and deep connection. Who knows? Maybe it's the freckles.

I met Amy my freshman year at BYU when my former boyfriend from home brought her to my apartment to meet me. Odd, right?! Even though I was quite sure (and still believe) that the introduction's message was "Look, I found a taller, cuter, nicer redhead than you," I couldn't help but like her. Amy was funny, a little sarcastic and real. I ran into Amy a few times on campus over the next few BYU years and she was always smiling and friendly. When that boyfriend and other guys our age began returning from having served LDS missions, I was elated to hear that Amy was engaged to a different friend from my hometown!

Fast forward 23 years and see the above picture. This was taken outside of a wonderful Provo restaurant, La Dolce Vita, in July after Amy and I shared lunch. We have never lived in the same place and though most of our communication over the years has been via email, we talk and behave like close, close friends...almost like sisters, I dare say. Our lives, likes and abilities, fears and insecurities converge in strange coincidental and unexpected ways. For example, we both had caboose babies at our husbands' suggestions, gave the boys the same middle names, and cannot imagine our lives without our little guys, Alec Scott and Jacob Scott! Crazy huh?

I am grateful for Amy in my life. She "gets" me like a lot of people don't and it's a lovely blessing have a safe, soft place to be myself...and it's not just the freckles talking.

Summer so far--Part 3.

Cowabunga, Dudes!
At the beginning of July we (including Davion) went with the Paxman kids to a new waterpark in South Salt Lake--Cowabunga. The little kids had a great time. The big kids complained about too few thrill-inducing slides. My take? Since the tickets were 1/2 price, I only over-paid by 1/4. It was crowded with a lot of fake body parts and lacked much grass and shade. We'll take our $$$ to Seven Peaks next year.

Burrup Family Reunion
Some people hate them but I LOVE family reunions! We had good times at Brent's mom's family get-together where we played kickball, ran relay races, hunted for candy (check out the pic of Brent's sugar bling) and enjoyed a talent show. Todd represented our family in the ability showcase with his latest entertainment skill. He asked for topics and music genres from the crowd and adlibbed songs accordingly improv style. He was hilarious and awesome! I do NOT know where that kid gets his gall or confidence but he sure is cute.

Kenna and 5th grade
It is just wrong that a blog post about summer need contain a return-to-school announcement. I am not a fan of the year 'round school track system but alas, our boundary elementary school follows that schedule and so must we. Kenna started 5th grade 18 short days after she finished 4th! She was her happy, easy-going self about her brief summer. It sounds so trite to say that I can't believe how old she is getting but I really can't. She is a chubby, smiley, fluffy-haired 2-year-old in my mind.

My man turns 40 and completes another SPUDMAN
It's true. Brent is a hefty 3 months and 2 days younger than I. No wonder I've got all the grey hair and wrinkles.

Brent and his dad competed in the Spudman Triathalon in Burley, Idaho on the day of Brent's birthday. I slept the night at my sister's house in Pocatello and drove to Burley early on race day to get some pictures of these fine athletes/crazy people. I sat near the announcer at the end of the race and asked him to mention that it was Brent's birthday. As Brent ran in the last hundred yards, the announcer advertised, "Brent, someone told me that you're an old man today. It's his birthday, everyone!! He's 40 years old today." Cute.

Afterward, we drove back to Pocatello and celebrated with cake and cousins. We went to "Inception" that night and really enjoyed it. I commemorated Brent's milestone birthday with less pomp than he did mine, because he is a low-key kind of guy (probably a survival technique gained from living with the crazy for so long) but I adore him a cyclopean carnival's worth. Happy birthay, old man.

Summer so far--Part 2.

Layton City 5K
Todd, Kenna and I ran the Layton City 5K on July 3rd this year. Todd did great and set a PR (I think). I had reports from other acquaintances on the course that he stopped to walk and visit when he saw people he knew. Cute. Kenna and I stayed together. She was the picture of self-discipline and endurance as she chose when to walk and when to run. We cut up the hem of her adult size S shirt so that it wouldn't trip her. Our friends from the neighborhood ran with us too making it especially great.

Movie Premier
My sister Stephanie has friend who has capitalized on the Twilight frenzy by throwing somewhat elaborate parties for each of the movie debuts allowing girls and women of all ages an arena for their wishing-to-be-Bella hearts. Oh to be faced with deciding loyalty to Edward or Jacob. Awwwww. Because Stephanie's friend has a discerning eye for all things crafty and clever, she has enlisted Steph's help for each of these big to-dos. As payment, she allowed Stephanie to invite her less twitterpaited, somewhat sarcastic, mostly mocking but secretly interested sister to come along for the fun. The movie was great. Seeing Stephanie in action was better.

The Condo
You may recall that my parents are soon embarking on an LDS mission. After they received their call, I was charged with the task of finding them a place to rent for the 18 months they would be 20 minutes down the road from me. I looked at a lot of places. I called on even more and nothing seemed to fit or work out. Depleted and discouraged on my way home from another failed attempt to secure housing for my mom and dad, I called Brent and suggested that we should just buy a condo. He agreed. Next Wednesday, the rest will be history after we close on our first investment property. We're nervous about our landlord abilities but especially excited to have our first tenants be my terrific parents!

Who is this handsome guy?

This cool dude is my nephew Davion. I love him. I hope he doesn't mind if I introduce him to you.

Davion was born exactly a week after Todd. He was my first and favorite nephew right from the start! Davion and his mom, Sue, lived very close to us until Davion was three years old. Suzanne attended beauty school while I was in graduate school and we depended on each other for child care and sanity. This sanity thing didn't always work out but the child care did. The boys absolutely adored each other and were even mistaken as twins frequently!

Sue got re-married shortly after Davion turned three. They moved to Mexico to be with her husband who would attend medical school there. I cried and cried and cried. I was sad to see Sue leave but I was devastated to let go of Davion. It still makes me misty to remember my intense longing that he not go.

Davion was able to visit over the years and I often wondered and worried that the magic bond between he and Todd would be gone or at least noticeably weaker. It has never happened. For years their interests were nearly identical despite the miles between them but even now that some of their hobbies have diverged, they behave as two halves of each other. I am grateful that Todd has such a deep connection to such a wonderful kid.

Davion is very smart. He reads a lot and understands much of learning and life. He seems like a reserved, quiet guy but lets show his wit and dry humor often. I love to hear his infrequent but genuine and contagious laugh. He is pleasant and polite and just plain wonderful.

This summer Davion came to visit with his mom and brothers. Sue and the younger boys stayed for three weeks and Davion was here for nearly seven weeks. He was at our home for about 95% of that time and we loved every minute of it. He even made his third trek to Canada with us. He is a part of us and I love him. Davion returned home to Louisiana on Thursday and I've been a little weepy ever since. This post was supposed to help me cathart but mostly I just feel lonely for him. Love you, kiddo.

Give this kid a present and see what happens.

I know I already posted about Alec's 5th birthday but I couldn't resist sharing these pictures of him opening a couple of his gifts. They so perfectly illustrate his enthusiasm for life. I love this kid!

Summer so far--Part 1.

It hasn't been quite a month since my last post but I feel like we've lived an entire lifetime since then. Every summer I look forward to my job-free days but I seem to be much busier than during the school year in my attempts to savor my "vacation". Here are some of the big and little things that have been filling our days for the last three weeks.

Todd Plays Baseball
Todd played baseball for the Giants of Layton City this year. The season was nettled with rain-outs and subsequent make-up games so we were all happy to see the end of it. It's been difficult for Todd to continue in sports as the competition increases with age. Most of the "in it for fun" kids have chosen other activities by now so lots of the players left are very skilled. Even the parent volunteer coaches are set on winning and substitute their players accordingly. Todd likes to win too, of course, but he doesn't commit the time and practice (and didn't get much in the athletic biological propensity department) that other kids do so he sits on the bench more than he would like. It's a hard lesson for him.

Alec Swims
Alec took swimming lessons again at the Clearfield Aquatic Center. Although they weren't in the same class, it was fun that cousins Skylar and Trevor were there at the same time. Like Todd and Kenna, Alec is timid in the water but I've seen evidence that he learned a lot in his short stint because he loves to practice and show off the skills he was worked on in class. My kudos and respect went to his teacher. She handled the seven very active students with patience and calm. Not to brag but rather to illustrate what she was managing, Alec was by far the most obedient and attentive...YIKES! There is a special place in swimming lesson heaven for those who school the 4-year-olds.

Kenna Stays in School
I know a lot of people like the year 'round school schedule but I am not one. Kenna has been a good sport about going to bed early and getting to school on time but it's it's hard to send her when the rest of us are on party time. I also wonder at the benefit of sending her at all during the last several weeks. I'm all for a little fun near the end of the year but it seems to me the the year 'round schedule promotes a longer "coasting" period. The end of Kenna's fourth grade was filled with programs, school Olympics, Field Day (not pictured) and a field trip to the This is the Place Monument/Pioneer Park. On a positive note, I was glad to participate in each of these fun events since I was off.

Stay tuned...lots more updates to come!

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay

Brent and I ran Ragnar with my cousin's team in 2007 and passed on opportunities to run in 2008 and 2009. When my friend and her hubby asked us this year, I couldn't say no. They were desperate (as you probably guessed) and I not only agreed, but volunteered my speedy husband, his co-worker, and another running friend for the project as well.

Three years ago I was runner 7 and despite the ease of assigned legs, I suffered from 90+degree heat, caffeine withdrawal headaches and backseat-of-the-poorly-driven-van nausea. Not this year! Being teamed with friends and handsome spouse and a cooler full of Diet Dr. Pepper made this time's experience much more fun.

We left for Logan at 2:30 a.m. on the fumes of 3 hours of sleep to make the not-so-vital safety training session and our 1^st runner started at 5:15. I was runner 2 with legs 2, 14, and 26. I ran my hardest and longest leg first with the following splits:

1-10:02

2-10:24

3-10:01

4-10:22

5-11:18 You see that benign looking little bump at 4.3 miles, yeah…it was a little bigger in-person.

6-10:26

7 (.8 miles)-7:07

Total: 1:09 = 10:15 pace

My second leg was only 3 miles and it was HOT outside by then. I enjoyed getting sprayed by the fun kids along the route who were a little too happy to help cool me off. My splits:

1-9:40

2-9:35

3-10:20

Total: 29:49 = 9:52 pace

I ran my last leg was in pitch darkness cursing someone’s great idea to strew glow sticks along the route. From the beginning of this 3.3 miles I felt the effects of sleep-deprivation and over-use of my IT Band and whatever tendon it attaches to that wraps to the foot arch. (Kind of felt like I’d run two times in the last 12 hours and a marathon the week before…Hmmm. Strange.) Splits:

1-9:53

2-10:54

3-10:03

4 (.3 miles)-2:28

Total: 33:18 = 10:09 pace

In summary, I loved a lot of things about my Ragnar experience this time around:

* Being runner 2 rocked. My legs were pretty easy but the best part was being finished so early. I was able to enjoy the rest of the race. I am more suited to being a cheerleader than an athlete…although my physical proportions don’t hint at either of those capacities.

* As we were in the same van, I was able to enjoy Brenty's sparkling personality and since I’m already immune to his body odor, he was one less person I could smell in such cramped quarters.

* We saw a friend and his team a couple of times on the course. I embarrassed myself by accusing, yes, accusing his look-alike brother of being him. The poor guy may never recover. Funny.

* I had an unspoken (and lame to speedy runners) goal to go under a 10 minute pace on each of my legs and while I accomplished that on only one of my three legs, I felt okay about my performance.

* I was able to sleep when I had opportunity. This helped my body and mind a lot.

* My $2 shower in Heber City was priceless. And, I ran into a teacher that I knew when I taught there a million years ago. So fun.

Things I didn’t love about Ragnar this year:

* Even though our kids are older and pretty low maintenance, I couldn’t relax completely wondering and worrying about child care issues.

* The finish line was a crowded, chaotic joke. Van 2 had a miserable time finding parking in time to meet at the finish since leg 36 was short-ironic especially since they, without notice, increased leg 35 by 1.5 miles.

* In general, I really think there were just too, too many teams and people. I don’t know what the solution is…increase the fee from ridiculous to astronomical? disallow charity teams? refuse entry to old, slow, red-haired women? I don’t know but it seems like Ragnar is an example of less would be more.

This relay is tough but so much fun. I am crossing my fingers that my father-in-law will get the itch to head a Zimmerman Family Team soon!

Happy Father's Day, Brent.

You are one sick dad!

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Herding Cats aka Coaching T-ball

My little guy looooves to play ball--football, soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, anyball. Although Alec is a year younger than the city's Parks and Rec. Dept. states he needs to be in order to register for T-ball, I thought they might look the other way if I volunteered to coach him and 14 other kitties, I mean, kids. They did gratefully and graciously handing over a team roster, 15 Phillies uniforms and hats, a T-ball post, 6 rubber t-balls and some nervous sounding well wishes.

I was thinking of suing the city for any or all of the following conditions--vocal cord recuperation therapy, high five-triggered palm blisters, chronic lower back pain from lifting post-toddlers to the correct batting stance, perma bruise on my forehead from the "d'oh" after nearly every fielding play, laugh lines from the hilarity that is 5-year-olds trying to play a team sport, etc.
but I decided to take the offered settlement...

Totally worth it!

26.2 miles of random thoughts.

Brent, my father-in-law, Scott, and I ran the Utah Valley Marathon on Saturday. (Read Brent's report here and my father-in-law's report here.) It started in Wallsburg and finished in south Provo. 26.2 miles makes for a long day and lots of thinking when you're slow and running alone. Here are my mile splits with a mere smattering at what was "running" through my mind while I was running and running and running...

1-9:59- I was a good 12 minutes crossing the start line after the official start gun..It may have been a bad idea to wait so long for a PoP (port-o-potty) visit. I feel like the only one out here. Seriously. What if I were to come in absolutely LAST? Yikes.
2-10:20- So this is Wallsburg. When I taught Home Ec. in Heber City, many of my students were from Wallsburg including Shane and Shantal—the hellion siblings who one-uped each other daily with their discipline-prompting antics. Those two names got crossed off the “what should we name our kids?” list fast!
3-11:03- That volunteer lumped me in with “crazy marathoners.” Huh. I am a marathoner. THAT is crazy!
4-13:13- A PoP stop this early? It’s gonna be a loooong race.
5-10:26- Lucky me. A soggy hug and words of encouragement from AlisaK! She is darling and as cold, wet and tired as I am. Volunteers rock. How cute is it that her husband is here? It’s not his gig but he supports her in her psychosis, I mean, hobby.
6-11:03- Not often that Utah weather includes the phrase “torrential rain.” Good thing I’m not one of the pretty girls who do their hair and makeup before a race. I’d have hairspray stung eyes and mascara striped cheeks by now.
7-12:12- Hey! It’s Bennett’s Mom in a lovely black running outfit. Oh wait, that is a garbage bag. Well, she makes it look good.
8-13:46- TIME: 1:32:00 Aww, Brent’s favorite number. I hope he’s doing well. I bet he didn’t walk this hill!
9-10:17- I. AM. COLD. So glad it’s not 100 degrees though.
10-11:49- “Soy un perdedor. I’m a loser baby so why don’t you kill me?” I heart you Puck and Finn…loving my GLEE music.
11-12:10- Blistermania commence. I hate wet feet.
12-11:38- Yay, I see my father-in-law! He asked me what my race plan was this morning. I answered him the same way as I answered BeMo when she asked my strategy. “Uuhhhmm.” + nervous giggle. I still don’t have a plan.
13-9:49- Would it be flirting to tell that guy that he has beautiful calves? Probably. WAIT! How did he get such yummy calves if I am passing him? That’s not fair.
14-12:45- Appropriate. “Highway to Hell” on the mp3 player in time for another hill.
15-11:56- Absolutely beautiful, green canyon mountains. What a blessing to run here.
16-10:43- My feet hurt. Bye-bye toenails.
17-10:11- Yay tailwind!! Maybe my clothes will dry out before the finish line.
18-10:32- Could I possibly go under 5 hours, smash my Ogden time and PR? Math…do math. Dangit. I can’t add or subtract but I guess I can keep running.
19-10:33- Why does 8 miles left sound more daunting than 10 miles left? Weird.
20-10:24- If I cinch up the knee strap and down some ibuprofen maybe I can mask the ITB hurt.
21-10:08- Oh-oh. The runner who nearly plowed into a construction barrel is asking if she can run with me because I’m what? “Running so fast!” The poor delusional thing. Say yes, Rita. Don’t ask her to help you with the pace math though.
22-11:18- Wow. I really think I can do this thing in less than 5 hours; especially with the distraction of chatty barrel lady. Don’t think about it. Just run.
23-11:11- University Avenue. I loved going to school here. BYU is the best.
24-11:14- The Canadian rock group LOVERBOY was really underrated. Lovin’ every minute of it…dun dun dun dun…Lovin’ every minute of it.
25-11:04- Mmmmm La Dolce Vita Gnocchi. Wish I’d had that for my carbo load.
26-11:13- Really?! A hill during mile 26 of a marathon? Look down, one foot in front of the other. Look down, look down…crack, tar, weed, rock. Ahhh. There we go…top of the hill. Ouch going down feels WORSE!
.38- 3:54 (10:09 pace)-26.2 is a marathon and long enough but my GPS is showing a further distance. LET. THIS. END!! There’s Brent!! Now where’s the *^&% FINISH LINE?!

I can actually say that I am super proud of this race. I ran the 2nd half of the course faster than the first half and and my mile splits without hills or the one (that is an accomplishment of itself!) PoP stop were fairly even.
I finished in 4:54 which is a 10 minute PR and my first sub 5hr marathon time. Yay me!

Happy Birthday, Alec!

Alec Scott was born on June 13, 2005 at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, UT. I was induced two days prior to his due date and Alec still weighed in at a whopping 9lbs 3oz and was 21 inches long. (No one will ever make a case for Diet Dr. Pepper consumption correlating to low birth rate, right?!) The nurses and doctors watched Alec closely in the hospital. Because he was so big, they worried that he would lose weight too quickly or become dehydrated or something (I was on too much pain medication to really understand) but it turned out that he was just a really BIG baby.

When he started to get some hair, it was very fine and extra poofy. Todd and Kenna loved this about him. When they set up computer game accounts for him, his username is usually CrazyhairASZ. Alec didn't really crawl but scooted on his rear end faster than most kids walk!

Alec our sport-sporty kid. He loves to run and play any kind of ball game. One day at church when he could only scoot, he used a pencil as a hockey stick to hit a sponge ball across the floor. Hit, scoot, hit, scoot...he was quite the spectacle.

Alec's happy, easy-going disposition revealed itself early and remains constant. He has a great sense of humor, understands teasing and jokes and doesn't hold back a good old belly laugh when the occasion is right. His happy, silly personality is truly contagious.

Alec is great with numbers right now. A few days ago he told me that 99+99=198 because, "The 100 just wastes one two times." (I don't know what he meant by that but he understood it!) Last week at baseball, "Todd's team is 9 and the other team is 5 so Todd's team is winning by 4 points. Right, Mom?" And last night he counted 100 handfuls of legos while cleaning up his room. (Yep. It was that messy!)

Alec's most endearing quality to his old mommy is his tolerance of squishing! Alec is a very affectionate little guy and will frequently ask if I want to snuggle him while we watch a show together. Who could pass that up?

Happy birthday, big Alec. I love you.

Do you love this show?

I know, I know. It's buggy to have a playlist that starts automatically when you check in. Sorry. I hope your speakers weren't turned up too loud. My sister-in-law got Brent and me hooked on GLEE. I can't recommend it to all of you because of it's PG-13-ish content but if you're a little rebellious (like me), you might LOVE it. Even if you don't enjoy the story line and humor, you cannot pass up the music. ENJOY.

Don't you wonder?

Have you wondered about dying? I mean, we know everyone will die, but have you thought about passing before you "plan" to die? I've had that fleeting and panicking thought during a particularly sad, dark spell or even innocently as I drifted off to sleep. It sends my heart racing and begging for more; more time, more happiness, more life. Phrases meant to be inspirational--"Live each day as though it were your last,"--sound trite and tainted with naivety. Even the most comfort-intentioned sentence--"Families are forever,"--is heard and experienced so differently once you have to truly employ your faith to understand an incomprehensible situation.

Brent's little sister, Sheri, told nurses that she was in so much pain she felt like she would die. I don't think she meant it. She couldn't have believed that. None of us believe that we will leave this earth without the many evidences of old age; as though somehow enough wrinkles and grey hair will ease our departure. So, as with many topics since her death, I think differently about leaving my family, friends and earthly home prematurely. A visit to Sheri's gravesite on Memorial Day brought to mind a few more things that I have learned from Sheri's willingness to lead by example...

1. Motherhood brings joy. Sheri loved her little daughters deeply. Sheri and Eric were married for years before they decided to have children. I never heard Sheri regret this decision or wish their before-kids days back. She complained very little and giggled very much while she was a mom.

2. Little things DO count. A few times since Sheri's death, I have sung songs--just for fun--with Abbey and some of her cousins. Each time, Abbey reminds me that her mommy died. I believe that the Primary or fun song that we sing evokes a memory of Sheri because Sheri sung and spent special time with Abbey.

3. Working parents can be fully engaged with their children. Even with a part-time schedule, I find it energy-taxing to work and parent. Sheri and Eric worked their schedules to ensure maximum time with Abbey even if it meant less time for them to be together. Sheri even used commute time to-and-from the sitter's house to play with and teach Abbey.

4. Your children will remember you. Abbey is little, only three. Ava is not yet one and was never physically introduced to Sheri but I know that they know Sheri and feel her. I see small evidences--Abbey reading 'Goodnight, Gorilla' to Ava, silly Elmo voices, tender talking--of Sheri's lasting mark on her daughters' hearts.

5. Your attitude and small actions will define you. Sheri wasn't here long enough. She wasn't. When her too-short life was condensed to memories, Sheri's laugh, kindness, tender heart, humor, sacrifices, example and leadership were mentioned repeatedly by those of us blessed enough to know and love her. She made big and small differences to many.

I love you, Sheri. Miss you too.

Bye-bye JellyBean Junction

For the past two years, Alec has loved being a student at JellyBean Junction Preschool. We attended the "graduation" program last week. Here are some of the cute pictures from our fun night.
1. With Teacher Sara, the most patient, happy person on the earth.
2. Giving us a wink and the thumbs up.
3. Playing his part as Papa Bear in one of the skits.
4. Licking off his Baby Bumble Bee in one of the songs.
5. With Teacher Grandma, a great classroom helper.

Recent Alec quotes.

"Wow, Mom. How did you know that? Is it because you're 40 now?"

Cousin Skylar: "Is your T-ball a real game tonight or just a practice?"
Alec: "I'm not sure because I haven't checked my schedule...and I really can't read yet."

"How many more Sponge Bob's until we get to Grandma's house?" (Sadly he gauges time by how many episodes of this urban media disaster he could fit in.)

"Only 16 more days until my birthday! Ooooh, I can't wait until it's only 15 more days!!"

Alec: "I know why today is a just-you-and-me day, Mom."
Me (thinking he realizes I don't work on Tuesdays): "Oh yeah? Why's that?"
Alec (holding up two fingers): "Because Tuesday is like TWOs-day."

"Pleeee, Mom...That's how you say please, Mom in Spanish."

When he couldn't understand what his younger cousin Trevor said, "Uh, I think he's speaking Spanish."

Eating is such an inconvenience...

...to my kids.

What is the deal with that? When I call them to dinner, reactions mirror those you might expect of an interrupted golfer studying a to-be winning putt.

At the other extreme, is me. I want to eat all the time. Food is a handkerchief for my tears, a damper on my temper, a filler of my free time, my nearly constant companion. Sadly, my body's genetic propensity is not compatible with this love of all things starchy and chocolaty so I run in order to balance the scale (pun intended) of my eating and health/self-esteem. Yeah, I run but let's be honest, there aren't enough miles of road in North America to compensate for my caloric addiction. What's a girl to do?? Willpower, willpower, wherefore art thou willpower? (crickets chirping)

Weight Watchers it is...again. :( Wish me luck...or willpower...Yeah, wish me willpower.