AMEN!

Why is it little children do the cutest things ... and then once the camera comes out it all changes?

Tonight as we sat down to dinner we started with a prayer. Then for the rest of the meal Anna sat with her hands clasped and kept telling us to say AMEN! Then she'd touch her shoulders to make the sign of the cross. Here is my attempt to share and preserve the moment ... makeing the video required a lot more encouragement than I'd hoped ... but it is a glimpse of how cute she truly is ...

~Moab~

As promised ... here are some pictures from my Moab adventure!

The beautiful Colorado River!
I'd love to take a canoe or raft down this ....
the picture does not capture the true beauty!
Neither does the one below ... wink ;p

A quick visit to the Arches National park ...

Don't worry .... I got it balanced ... it won't fall!

The famous Delicate Arch. The hike here was a little tough ... but well worth it. We got there at sunset and the colors were breathtaking! The picture below sure puts things in perspective ... can you see me?

And then the run! Did I mention how great it felt. It is indescribable to be running thru such incredible landscape.

One of my favorite running mantra's for when I am struggling,
~~"Someday you will not be able to do this, today is NOT that day!"~~

Below I am just seconds from the finish line! It is in these last few moments that the emotion of the grand accomplishment takes over and I can truly appreciate what I have done!

Whew ... when is the next one?

for Fun?

Sometimes I question my defintion of fun. I spent last weekend in BEAUTIFUL Moab, UT ... and Sunday completed the Other 1/2 Marathon. Yes ... I ran/walked 13.1 miles. (Mostly RAN!)

My time was 2 hours 45 min ... 15 min over my 2 1/2 hour goal ... but still a GREAT run. The elevation chart does not even begin to describe the UGLINESS of the hills. But I came, I saw, and I conquered!

I'll post pictures of me and Moab in the next couple of days. So stay tuned.

Sign up for the March 21st run should be opening up soon ... and I hope I draw out ... I'd love to run it as it is less hills and I know I can meet if not exceed my 2 1/2 hour goal.

The more the merrier .... so check it out ... http://www.moabhalfmarathon.org/halfm/halfm.html

I'd love to see you there too!

Mother Teresa says...

Wow ... talk about powerful words ... the Mother Teresa Quote at the bottom of my blog changes so to make sure this one is not missed I'm also posting here (or in case you do not scroll thru the stuff at the bottom of the blog)

"Do not think that love,in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary.

What we need is to love without getting tired."

Now that makes one think ...

Simple Pleasures

It is the simple things that make life so sweet.

My son presented me with a gift last night. He was so proud of the home made pot holder he had woven. It is too small and too thin to actually use it for something hot, but of course I will find some use for it. The look on his face when he gave it to me was priceless. The big smile, the light in his eyes ... it is these moments that make life wonderful.

It amazes me how one moment with my child can undo countless other not so good moments that have occured in the day ... it brings me back to the now and reminds me of my purpose ... my reason for living ... to give my children a loving, happy childhood and help them grow into the amazing people I know they are and will become.

Little Anna did her own entertaining last night. She can now take off her own diaper and without any shyness or shame she pranced around the family room, shaking her little perfect behind and chanted "Naked bum .... naked bum ... la la la ... naked buuuuummmmmm!" No doubt ... she is Jodi's daughter! ;)

I thank God and the angels above everyday for these two gifts from heaven ...

Dress up ... is there anything more fun?

Tonight was dress up at our household. I wanted to make sure the Halloween costumes would fit ... and the kids did not want to take them off once they were on.



So my little butterfly and dracula played their parts.



Ian was a little disappointed that I would not paint his face tonight but Anna was ready to fly ...

And then she found her Minnie Dress ... and she was ready to dance the night away ...

I love my kids ... and I look forward to Trick - Or - Treating .... More treats than tricks of course!

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Off to the pumpkin patch we go .....

Anna

looks

for a

perfect

pumpkin

just for

her...

and

found

just the

right one ...

Ian finds his pumpkin ...

And enjoys a hay ride around the pumpkin patch ....

We came home with 3 pumpkins worthy of our fancy carving skills and a few smaller ones for a little decorating ambiance.

Holiday's are so much fun!

Did you ever think?

Did you ever think sharpening pencils would become a family bonding event? Me neither, but it has .... 3 times Ian has brought home the gallon ziplock bag full of pencils and 3 times I have sat with my sweet 2 year old on my lap sharpening pencil after pencil. She giggles, she talks, and she snuggles. Tonight Ian jumped on board and the kids alternated stuffing the dull pencils in and watching Mom pull the sharpend ones out. The simplest moments can make the most incredible memories! The hum of a 120 volt motor will always be a sweet sound to me now. Funny how children change what is important in life!

Kid Math 5+5=?

Part of Ian's homework last night was to count as high as he could by 5's to someone at home. So off he went .... 5, 10, 15, 20 ... he rattled the numbers off like a pro ... then he got to 90, 95, 100, 105, 1000! What? What a jump!?! I told him what a great job he did but 1000 was not the next number!

Then I asked him ... if we count 5, 10 and now we have 105 what does he think should come next? He said 110! Wow ... I thought ... he gets it! I'm the greatest teacher ever ... then I said what comes after 110? He answered ... 1000. Well that is 6 year old math for ya! Watching my children learn is the 'greatest' thing ever!