12 Miles

I decided to turn a new leaf on Saturdays. I spend almost every Saturday, cursing Saturdays. Jeremy is studying, we have soccer games, and spend the rest of the day doing chores. (each child is assigned as many little jobs as they are old) So I spend the day helping Oly do her 5, Addie do her 7, and Naomi do her 2, (as well as my 31, and Jer's 32 jobs!) And of course I NEVER EVER get it all done, and its only fun when the kids are happy to do thier jobs quickly and painlessly. And I am always so disappointed that we aren't out being the outdoorsy, adventurous family everyone thinks we are but we really aren't. So, for now, I decided to try and do jobs another day (we'll figure out which day later), and spend Saturdays doing something new or fun as a family. So today we planned on going on a bike ride with Mimi and Papa (Jer's parents). All I knew was that it was flat, and beautiful. Something new?- yep, we'll do it! SOOOOOOOOOOO, to make a very long bike ride short, I started the day by crying because Jer is out of town and I don't (didn't) know how to change a flat tire, or hook up our bike rack. (learned how, got it done), Then before we even started riding Olivia was throwing one of the biggest tantrums of the year because she didn't like the helmet I brought for her. She uses the excuse that it hurts her. It may hurt her, but she uses it so much, and for everything, that I can't tell if it really hurts, or if she is using the tactic to win her battles...I won that battle.... back to the story. So by the time we had gone 2 painful miles down the Union Pacific Trail from Kamas to Wanship, Larry (papa) said, "we've already gone 2 miles- only 10 more to go!" Needless to say, that was a huge slap in the face- I had no idea that ride was 12 miles! I am not sure that my patience would last 10 more miles. It wasn't a hard ride, Adeline rode in front of the family the entire way "blazing the trail". It was a beautiful fall day. The scenery was lovely. We watched a cowboy herding his cows, we counted snake holes, watched migrating birds, and looked for trolls under every bridge we crossed. BUT, boy was it a challenge for little Olivia. Everything itched, she was so tired she couldn't keep her eyes open, she was so hungry she couldn't go on (she was holding a bag of m&ms so don't think she was starving), but if I said, "ok, lets stop and rest" she'd bark "stop trying to make me stop! You're going to make me fall over! We have to keep going..." For 12 MILES! But guess what? She did it! and Addie did it! and I'll bet that neither of them thought they could! And they were both so proud of themselves as they finished the ride. Jer's grandparents took our cars and drove them to the end, and we ate lunch (OK dinner by then) at the Spring Chicken Inn in Wanship. I am SOoooooooo proud of my girls! They are AMAZING, STRONG, and can do anything! I don't know why, but it thrills me to have them discover that about themselves despite the pain they put me through to do it. I must be a glutton for punishment!
then we went home and went to a ward halloween trunk or treat party and had lots of fun, but I didn't take any pictures all day because first- I had no idea what i was getting into on the bike ride and came very unprepared, and because we cram our days so full that we were late getting to the party! So ill be sure to take pics of the kids on Halloween in thier cute costumes!

So, the big question is- what's should we try next Saturday? Any ideas???

disclaimer: making your kids ride long distances really isn't child abuse- the pioneers made thier kids walk and walk and walk and walk AND walk- and think how strong they were. It REALLY wasn't a hard ride! And there really only was one kid making it painful, the older was a superstar champion bike rider and tree climber every time she saw a good one, and the smallest girl was with her other gramma trick-or-treating at the zoo!

Super Seven

Happy Birthday Addie!

Adeline had a birthday yesterday (Oct. 16). I think she had a great day...

A wake up call from Daddy in Texas:(

birthday presents before a lovely hootenany breakfast (a vanity & paint set)

i spent a few hours with her 1st grade class, brought homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, read her favorite stories, and played limbo

went to the toystore to pick out a present with Mimi

I cooked a special birthday dinner with some of our family members- we had some of Addie's favorites- broccoli soup & bread, homemade mac'n'cheese, french-fries, chips&salsa, more cookies, and an ice-cream cake!

More presents!

Oh, and don't forget- a friday afternoon high school musical birthday party with 25 1st graders! And dinner with daddy, when he finally gets home sometime this weekend! People in this family are sure special and lucky on thier birthdays! I guess that's because they are so well loved! I hope you had the best birthday ever Addie! (i think i need a nap!)

My 3 Little Mountains

NAOMI ELIZA ADAIR:
named after the mountain Jeremy and I were engaged on
obedient
sweet
funny
sister and friend admirer
super talker
Never gets out of bed
always makes me laugh
loves eating gum, frozen berries, any treat
loves to laugh



olivia eva:
named after the Mount of Olives where we lived in Jerusalem- full of priceless memories I wish to NEVER forget. Oly always asks when we will take her to visit her mountian. I wonder too...
joyful
passionate
exhuberant
loving
thoughtful
spiritual
perceptive
very possessive of her uncles, aunts and cousins (and thier pets)
recently decided that friends matter to her
sings in the shower, on the toilet, skiing, building sandcastles, etc.....
an aggresive soccer player
a surprisingly LOVELY singer
an amazing care taker
patient puzzle doer


check out the praying mantis on her sleeve watch out- Oly will pummel you wheter or not you are on her team-
anything to make a goal

ADELINE DENALI

NAMED, OF COURSE AFTER mT. mcKINLEY, OR DENALI IN AK. tHE TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN NORTH AMERICA. A PLACE THAT JEREMY FELL IN LOVE WITH WHEN HE WAS 15 AND STARTED SPENDING SUMMERS BACKPACKING THROUGH THE TUNDRA. i LATER HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEND PART OF THE SUMMER THERE WITH MY LOVE, AND HIS BEST FRIEND. IT IS SUCH A MAJESTIC, PEACEFUL PLACE. aDDIE ALSO ASKS WHEN WE WILL VISIT HER MOUNTAIN. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB IT WITH HER WHEN SHE IS AN ADULT.

AN UNCANNILY AMAZING CLIMBER

GRACEFUL BALLERINA

EXCITED READER

SENSITIVE OF OTHERS NEEDS AND FEELINGS

A KIND, SELF-LESS FRIEND

FAST, HAPPY SKIER

A QUICK FIDDLER

LOVER OF GOOD STORIES, DRESS-UPS, AND CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.

YES, she really did climb this herself- she climbs everything
you never can tell what that little girl is thinking- she spends much time in quiet thought.......


This is my life. My three little mountains bring me more joy than I could ever put to words. They challenge me, teach me and make me realize what life is all about. Raising them is literally like climbing a mountain. It is such a struggle to get to the top, but it is a wonderful place to struggle, and the views while climbing are breathtaking- and so very worth the work. A place to get nearer God's creations, and sit back and be amazed........

Happiness Is...

1. An IMPROMPTU lunch
with 3 good friends and all of their babies
what did we eat??? Sunday leftovers
TOMATO BASIL ORZO PASTA &
CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN BREAD

2. Gorgeous FALL weather
and lots of outside time

3. TEXT MESSAGING! now that i've learned how, I can send one group text to all of my young women and tell them about our activity in less than 30 seconds! What used to take an hour of my busy wednesday...

4. Primary children's hospital: Addie has another hernia, and today we found out she will get to have another operation next month to have it fixed. I am so happy that she gets to go to Primary Children's to have the surgery. They make everything such a positive experience for kids that my six year old is excited! (she did this once before last December and had such a positive experience) ANd the place is very close, so, it really is something to be happy about!

5. jeremy
is sitting next to me working! I can sneak a kiss any time I want!

PS. Sarah-willy, I can't remember your blog address, Im lost and I can't find it!

Oh What a Job!

Don't get me wrong... I love my job being a mom, but I watched this funny video, and realized how ridiculous 95% of the things coming out of my mouth must sound to my kids! If only I could get more than 5% of useful, meaninful things conveyed to my children each day. I'll have to work on it! Enjoy!

Escaped!

There comes a time when another's life is so much more interresting...

that I just can't help but escape

to my

beloved books!





My young women were all reading the Twilight Series and I'd heard so much about it, I just had to find out what all the talk was. After a few pages, I was hooked! (possibly a little mature emotions for most of my young women to be reading), but an awesome, thrilling ROMANTIC story nonetheless. Then, when I was finished with the 3rd, I couldn't stand to not have somewhere to escape, so I devoured the classic "the Good Earth". I decided I was going to read all of the books I loafed out of reading in high school, by getting the cliff notes. Amazing- that I missed out on so much, just to gain the skill (and very skilled I was) at sliding by with very decent grades- having never learned a thing. Now I am sorry for it and try to remind my young women how important it is to make the best of that time of life!