Hiking With Dad

Last week I bought Curtis some new shoes. He thinks they look like "hiking shoes". Since that purchase he has asked to go hiking a gazillion times (give or take).

He originally wanted to go hiking with his buddy, Dallin. But when Ian tried to boost his own popularity by telling Curtis he could ride in the new truck, Dallin was quickly out-maneuvered.

Father and son were soon packed up and ready to go.

Apparently Curtis talked the entire time. This constant chatter has recently become the new "white noise" of our family life. And we couldn't be happier...there was a time we weren't sure he'd ever speak. (Give me a week...I'll be begging for silence.)

Cereal

Curtis poured his own cereal this morning.

I Like Chocolate

It just had to be said.

The Glass is Half Full

We are not ridiculously late in taking down our Christmas lights...we are brilliantly early with our holiday preparations.

In case you've been wondering.

All Is Well

Today I spent an absurd amount of time (not to mention gas) driving around the world looking for this:

I silently wondered why I did such a thing until I saw this face:

She was nearly weeping with JOY!

That's when it all became worth it. :)

The Not-So-Amazing-Race

When the PTA announced they would be holding only one fundraiser this year I think I inwardly cheered. When I heard that their one fundraiser would be a 5K/1K Fun Run, I'm fairly certain I cheered out loud. Not because it involved running (ewww) but because there would be no selling involved. Yippee!

I presented the idea of our family participating in the 1K Fun Run and was greeted with six enthusiastic thumbs-up from the little ones.

In hindsight, I suppose I should have known an 8am race was a bad idea for at least one of my children. But the "FUN" in Fun Run must have confused my already-impaired memory. So, at 7:20am, Ian and I prodded the offspring awake and dressed them in their race-day paraphernalia:

The 2 year old was happy. The 5 year old appeared out-of-sorts while the 7 year old appeared content. Then the whistle blew. I found myself watching Lindy S L O W L Y plod her way across the starting line. I panicked as it occurred to me that the next FUN Run wouldn't begin until the last 2nd to 4th grader passed the finish line. But in spite of (or perhaps because of) my best attempts at encouragement...followed by some fantastic threats...she would not be moved.

I was forced to leave Ian (who was busy with a still-happy two year old) in charge of the disinclined Lindy...partly due to the hopelessness of our mother-daughter dynamic, but mostly because we had lost Ellie.

Ellie surprised us all by running her heart out. The entire way. By herself. Not only did she come in way ahead of the rest of the Jones family, she also managed to beat a few students!

Then promptly had an asthma attack.

Lindy had to be literally DRAGGED across the finish line by her father.

And was decidedly unimpressed with the accolades (and ribbon) she then received.

What I learned today:

• Fun Run does not necessarily equal Fun. Especially if it also involves mornings.
• Racing numbers do not necessarily inspire good racing attitudes.
• I should never be in charge of motivating my daughter.
• We should always bring Ellie's inhaler.
• Next year I'm handing them a check...then happily sleeping in.

My New Diet

(or "How to Ruin a Perfectly Delicious Meal"):

1. Peel and cut potatoes.

2. Boil potatoes.

3. Mash 'em into fluffy potato goodness.

4. Lovingly serve with chicken and gravy.

5. Watch in horror as your husband pulls a mangled fly from the middle of his plate of mashed potatoes.

Mangled.

Fly.

In.

The.

Potatoes.

I couldn't eat.

In related news, I rewarded myself and my family with this yummy treat:

Cinnamon Pie Crust Treats with Cinnamon-Sugar Cream Cheese:

unbaked pie crust

cinnamon & sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. white sugar

1-8 oz. package cream cheese

Lay your crust out on the counter. Using cookie cutters, cut out shapes. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar. Bake according to crust directions, but lessen the amount of time. Bake until golden brown, then let cool.

With a mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugars together, then add some cinnamon & sugar. Mix well. Serve with pie crust shapes, and sprinkle even more cinnamon & sugar on top!

Preschool: Year Two

Having a September birthday means missing the kindergarten cut-off date. But no worries...Ellie is such an easy-going kid (a little less achievement-oriented than her older sister) and is excited to have one more year of preschool. Today was her first day with Mrs. Karren.

When I asked her how her day was she exuberantly declared that it was "awethome"! (As I knew it would be).

Her very, very, very, very (she likes to use "very" a lot) favorite part of the day was drawing a picture of a cat on a paper plate:

(Oh...is that what that is?)

Thought it...didn't say it.

Ellie's Fifth

Five things I love about Ellie on her 5th birthday:

1. She is constantly thinking of creative ways to say "I love you". (Today was: "I love you around all the planets and world and rivers, mom." Awesome.)

2. If you bug her, she'll just ignore you. (Funny how this happens most often when her uncles are around...)

3. She likes to sleep (hallelujah) but almost always wakes up with a huge smile and a hug for whoever she meets first.

4. She has an amazingly wonderful laugh/giggle.

5. She gives the BEST hugs! I'm serious...they're fantastic!

We love you, Ellie-bean...Happy Birthday!