September Pictures

Pictures of Baptism, trip to Manitou, and pre-school kids.

August Pictures

August pictures. We started school. Ashley with Mrs. Clark. We had a silly string war when they got home the first day. Justin and Mia enjoying pre-school at my house, raspberry picking in Woodland Park, and Hans and kids making and painting my new mudroom shelf thing.

July Pictures

Here are the rest of my pictures from July. We spent a lot of time at the pool in July. The girls were on swim team and Justin did swim lessons. His teacher, Miss Katie, now babysits for us. Justin still won't get his head wet. He said to a lady at the pool yesterday - "Isn't it weird that I'm older then Mia, but she'll get her head wet?" Mia's favorite part of the Ranch Creek pool was the shower and her favorite part of the villa pool was the hot tub.

We also spent time with Justin on the motorcycle. I put Mia in the stroller and run to keep up. It's great fun.

I had the Conley kids for a long weekend. It was lots of hair for church. I'm so grateful my kids have cousins close.

Hans always hopes to sleep in.

Update

I don't even know where to start. I guess I'll start with my kids going back to school. Ashley got Mrs. Clark, who is wonderful, and Katelyn got Mrs. Hawkes, who is not so wonderful. Nearly everyday I think about homeschooling. I just am scared to fast and pray about it. I think I would like to have them home with me and I also think I could teach them everything they would learn in 1st and 3rd grade, but I'm not positive. I need to be positive before I make this kind of life change. I am homeschooling Ashley in math and that is going well. She is doing 4th and 5th grade math this year, which just assures she'll be bored next year in math. And the year after that. It's how I spent school - bored. I realize that a part of life is boredom, but really? If I could have been challenged, I think I would have been happy about it, but I'm not sure. So many what ifs with this one. I am seriously considering homeschooling for next year. When Mia is older. She has hit that really annoying age of almost 3. I quite dislike this age until they turn about 5. I need to change my attitude and like this age, but I just don't. It's my 4th time with this age. They whine. They cry. They are babies, but I think they shouldn't be. It's a balancing act for all of us. I can't believe I just admitted I hate this age. But I do. It feels good to have that off my chest.

So...for Ashley - Ashley loves Mrs. Clark and so do I. She is doing great. She has friends in her class. She says she is the smartest person in her class. I believe her. She is doing amazing at gymnastics. She got promoted after one class to an advanced class and after 4 classes they are finding her a spot on pre-team. She does a beautiful front limber. She is really flexible in her back. She loves her hamster. First, there was nugget. She died after doing an acrobatic move on the cage and came crashing down onto her back. She was replaced by ginger. Ashley took her back today and exchanged her for ila. Ginger was too boring she said. She just hid all day. She is taking piano lessons still and has a gift for the theory side of music - again with the math. She is growing up. She loves activity days. She got baptized. Her baptism was wonderful. My parents and Hans' parents came into town for it. I love baptisms. They are a great reminder of the purposes of this life. Simple, really. I felt the Holy Ghost testify to me that she was making the right decision. I'm proud of her for making this step. She takes her Book of Mormon to school and reads it during boring time. She is a great example. We shared the baptism with Larissa Simmons, Ashley's friend from Church. They are cute girls. I will post pictures.

Katelyn - Katelyn is enjoying school. She has a little bit more of a difficult time getting to school in the morning. She doesn't want to go. She wants to stay home. 1st grade is an adjustment. It's just so darn long. I wish school was 3 hours every day and that's it. I'd be okay with it then. I have volunteered in her classroom so I can see her and she can see me. She has some really weird kids in her class. I miss her friends from kindergarten. She got promoted to a level 3 in gymnastics after getting her kip. She spends too much time away from home. She told me one morning - "Mom, I can either go to school and skip gymnastics or skip gymnastics and go to school." I can't argue with that.

Justin - I am doing a co-operative pre-school with Justin. There are 8 kids. I already taught at my house and had a great time. Mia loved it as well. He goes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9-11:30. He doesn't tell me much about it, but he is always happy to go. I signed him up for soccer, which Hans and I are coaching. He is really cute. He smiles the whole time and is so happy to be doing an activity. He has a great group of boys and I love hanging out with the soccer moms during practice. Justin scored a goal at the game last week, but really by default. He was standing in the right place at the right time. He's not an aggressive fellow.

Mia- She is at that annoying stage where she just whines. I am working on not losing all patience with her. She has a playgroup with people from church, but she refuses to go. It's at my house this wednesday so maybe that will help. She likes friends in theory. But not for real. Maybe she got that from me:) I am doing a sort of pre-school with her with Kim and Kim. She loves Taylor and I taught at my house last week and they all loved it. They are cute. She is dying to take ballet still. She went to her first birthday party on Saturday and was so excited. She talked all week about Ellie Ruge's party. Priceless. She had a fantastic time. I sent her with a vegan chocolate pie - dairy, gluten, sugar, oil/butter free. I guess she didn't eat any of it. It was good though. I promise.

We have enjoyed company. Hans' parents spent labor day weekend with us after the baptism. We walked in Manitou springs and enjoyed the activities they had there. We ate out at Biaggis and took the train up to Pikes Peak. I got sick that weekend too and drank 2 Liters of water on the train since my throat hurt and for the last 30 minutes of the train ride with no bathrooms I literally thought I was going to die. Other then that it was fun. I had hiked Pikes Peak a few days before. It's a much different experience hiking up then riding up. Melanie and I had a great time hiking. We made great time. 4 1/2 hours. Only 20 minutes off my best time, but we stopped a couple of times on the second half to actually enjoy the scenery. Imagine that. We also spent a couple of days in Vail with my parents in a beautiful condo they stayed in after the baptism. We swam twice, went bike riding twice, played at the playground, walked around the lake, threw rocks in the river, and watched two movies. All in 2 days. We didn't stop. I'm grateful for 2 sets of grandparents who take an interest in my kids lives. Hans' mom also flew out to watch my kids for a weekend while Hans and I went to San Francisco to surprise my mom for her 60th birthday. All my siblings came. No kids. It was awesome. We walked about a million miles, biked over the bridge and all around, ate an awesome sundae at Ghirardelli square, shopped, and ate. And ate some more. San Francisco knows how to serve a meal.

I can't believe I have done all that stuff. No wonder I'm tired. In the midst of all this I am still marathon training. It is winding down. I'm tapering, actually. And under orders from my physical therapist (if you need a physical therapist - go see Mark Phillips - he is so great) not to run until next week. My IT band is killing me. I barely made my 12 miles on Saturday and didn't sleep Saturday night from the pain. It's feeling better today, but I am nervous for the marathon. I really want to run faster then last time. My plan is to run with an 8 minute mile pacer and let him or her slow me down at the beginning and then help my just hang on at the end. I am never running another marathon. Unless I decide to do Boston, assuming I qualify, which I will, easily. I hope. I've also taught a lot of yoga. I love yoga. I'm going to a yoga retreat in November which I am so excited for. I am teaching a lot, but I love it. I am making my own lara bars tomorrow. I cycle in and out of being domestic.

Hans went on a Thursday -Saturday motorcycle trip this weekend. He had great fun. He looks forward to when the whole family can go with him. He bought a new x-ray sensor. That's a highlight for him. He has a great staff right now. He hiked the incline with a friend last week as well. He keeps busy. We all keep busy.

I am sure I missed something. I am still figuring out (in that I am waiting for Hans to just do it) how to get pictures onto the computer from my camera. I have great pictures from the baptism. I took none of our weekend with Hans' parents or at Vail. Oops.

Update

An update is coming...Promise.

Running Songs

I've had a few requests - so here you go -

AFI - love like winter

The Midway State - Change for you

Switches - Drama Queen

AFI - Carcinogen Crush

Jimmy Eat World - Let it Happen

Angels and Airwaves - Everything's magic

Angels and Airwaves - The Adventure

The Midway State - A million fireflies

The Feeling - Never be Lonely

OneRepublic - All we are

Coldplay - Yellow (one of my absolute favorites)

Tim McGraw - Just be your tear (This is too - has the perfect beat for my stride)

Avril Lavigne - my happy ending

Joss STone - Tell me what we're gonna do now (Another favorite)

Katy Perry - Use your love

Daughtry - Over you
Sara Bareilles - Love Song

Gavin DeGraw - In love with a girl

Groove Armada - My Friend

Coldplay - viva la vida

Third eye blind - How's it going to be

Jason Mraz - I'm yours

Gavin DeGraw - I don't wanna be

David Archuleta - Crush (I'm not embarrassed by this although I maybe should be)

James Taylor - Carolina in my mind (not the best for beat, but I love me some James)

David Cook - Light on

Tim McGraw - When the stars go blue (Another favorite)

India Arie - There's Hope

Colbie Caillat - Bubbly and Feelings Show (feelings show has a great beat)

Katy Perry - Hot N Cold

Kelly Clarkson - My life would suck without you

Pink - Sober

Alicia Keys - No one

Avril Lavigne - nobody's home

Avril Lavigne - Keep holding on

Kelly Clarkson - SInce you been gone

Maroon 5 - Wake up call (another favorite)

Joss Stone - Tell me bout it and You had me and I've fallen in love with you and Super Duper love

Destiny's Child - Survivor

Eminem - Lose Yourself

Gavin DeGraw - In love with a girl

John Mayer - Dreaming with a broken heart (love this song)

Kanye West - Stronger

Michael Buble - Everything

Lenka - The SHow

Colbie Caillat - Realize

Gavin Rossdale - Love remains the same

Daughtry - Feels like tonight

Michelle Branch - breathe

Weezer - Island in the Sun

The all american rejects - Dance Inside and move along

The Feeling - Love it when you call and sewn

Queens of the stone age - 3s and 7s

Audioslave - yesterday to tomorrow

Keane - Is it any wonder? and Everybody's changing

Nikka Costa - Everybody got their something (like this one)

Kreesha Turner - Bounce with me

Vhs or Beta - Alive

Ferras - Don't give up

Relient K - Devastation and Reform

Coldplay - the hardest part and fix you

Kenny Chesny with Dave Matthews - I'm alive

Kelly Clarkson - already gone

Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA

B.O.B - Airplanes (my current favorite)

U2 - Stuck in a moment (I always am happy when this one comes on)

Marcy playground - sex and candy

Hope that helps!

Update

I am finally back online! Our computer died, forcing us to buy a mac. Hooray! It's great, but I'm not yet used to the tiny keyboard. Our time has been filled with all sorts of fun things. We went to the North Pole, which was a lot of fun. All the kids loved it. I had several moments of amazement at my children and how grown up they are. Now we are preparing for school. We have cleaned out closets, the garage, coat/backpack closet, and need to still do our desk/homework station. I feel like I am preparing to hibernate for the winter. Hans built me this awesome shelf thing that I call my mudroom. We painted it frog green. I love it. Whenever he does projects like this for me I miss Maryland for some reason. He must have done lots of projects there. We also had Hans' sister Tarmy and her family visit us. We had such a great time. We played in sprinklers, hiked to an impressive waterfall I was too tired to even really look at, attempted a puzzle, and just hung out. It was great. We have spent more time at the pool and the kids are such great swimmers.

Justin said to me, "Mom, You really need to teach me how to swim without a floaty on." He also told me I needed to teach him how to read. I love Justin. He is so logical. It works in his favor most of the time. He starts a cooperative pre-school I am doing with people from church next week. We had his orientation yesterday and I think it's going to be wonderful. We have 8 kids, which means I only teach every 8th week. I prepared my first week and I'm excited. I'm grateful Mia gets to participate when it is at our house. She is dying to go to school. I'm just happy she is not and that she can stay and be my friend. I'm not going to like it when everyone is gone all day. I spent an entire week of the summer trying to convince Justin that bears aren't capable of walking to our house from the forest. He doesn't believe me. He has to sleep with his window shut just in case...to which I told him that bears couldn't get in since it's too high...to which he replied that bears could come in the front door. I tried explaining that their paws can't turn the doorknob, but he just told me they could bang down the door. I stayed up until 10 three nights in a row having this type of conversation. I love it. I love him.

Mia is beyond cute right now. She has the most unique voice of any kid I know. Strangers make comments on her voice. It's sort of low, but just so cute. She loves ballet and wearing her Tetard (leotard). I bought her some ballet slippers, which she sleeps in. She also has a pink swimming suit that looks like a leotard and she wears that day in and day out and to bed and cries when I am washing it. She is that kid. And I love it. I have been woken up many mornings before 6 am with her face inches from mine whispering if she can change into her pink swimming suit. She waits anxiously for her 3rd birthday so she can have a party. She wants so desperately to be big and have friends of her own and school and go to gymnastics or ballet or anywhere. I want her to stay happily with me. I think I will cry when she stops calling ice cream honk scree and asks Hans to let her ride on his elbows (shoulders). I can't bring myself to teach her because I love it so much. Some day. I also have had strangers comment at how amazing it is that she knows how to find matching games on my phone and knows how to play them - more embarrassing is that she knows her way around you tube on my phone. I offer no excuses.

The girls are just so wonderful as well. I love them. I am going to miss them when they start school tomorrow. They entertain Justin and Mia, help me with chores, play games with me, and make me laugh. Ashley started gymnastics. Katelyn is still a level 2 at gymnastics. We opted out of soccer. Ashley is in piano. I am trying to simplify. I sort of hate that school takes so much time, but they are excited to go. We are excited for Ashley's baptism on September 4th. Please come.

Hans is busy at work. I always say that. He loved "having" to buy this new computer. He spends a lot of time visiting people from church for his calling and I appreciate that he is willing to do this sort of thing. He is a great listener. We see him less, but it hasn't felt out of balance. He spends less time on fun stuff for him. He gets to go for a long weekend with some friends next month and he is excited to dust off the dirt bike.

I have been loving summer. I am excited for the structure school offers, but wish it were just 3 hours a day instead of 7 1/2. It just is a reminder to make the time with the girls more quality time. I have been teaching a lot of yoga. It should drop to just twice a week now that school is back and people aren't leaving. I really enjoy teaching. It's been a great experience for me. I am right in the middle of marathon training. I sort of hate it and sort of like it all at the same time.I ran 20.3 miles this morning. I completely enjoyed the first 11, but the last 9 were not fun. I made it though.

I think I forgot a lot. And I also wish I had some pictures to offer, but we are still moving them from the old computer to the new one.

Ashley's Party

We had a great time at Ashley's party this past Saturday. She invited Kaylee from school, Sierra and Larissa from church, Elizabeth a cousin, and Katelyn a sister. We went to the nail salon and they each got fancy pedicures. Then we came home and ate pizza, soda, and cookies. They danced to Taylor Swift, opened presents, watched a movie, and mostly giggled. It was a fun afternoon/evening for Ashley and I loved watching these cute girls. Ashley is growing up.