(Pile of shirts waiting for hangers. Kids only. Less than a week's worth. I doubt they REALLY wear all of these).
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March 2009
Laundry:
Red Cliffs.
Last, last Saturday (2 Saturdays ago) we went to Red Cliffs to hike. I brought along my camera gear INCLUDING tripod. I was hoping to get some good landscapes to possibly blow up and mount on my wall.
The universe, however, had other plans. The entire population of Southern Utah, minus 100 people were hiking at Red Cliffs too.
Thus, it was extremely difficult to take the time to properly plan/set up for my landscapes. And it was near impossible to take a photo that didn't include random people.
Yet, I still tried.
And then I quit trying, and just took pictures of my kids.
And, yes. For those wondering... Tess walks. But that's another blog post entirely.
5K Number 2.
Kate and I ran our 2nd 5K race today.
And, like before... I was unlike other runners, in that I carried a Camelbak full of water, cell phone, keys, extra money, and a camera (although don't think I'm crazy enough to actually carry my professional camera. I just carried a Powershot). BUT unlike other runners, I had a 4 year old as my running partner. If I were running alone, I would of had none of those things. But anyone with kids knows... you always have to be prepared.
And, some of you may be wondering where Jocelyn is, since she ran the last 5K with us. She decided that 1 5K was enough for her, and her running carreer is over. Kate on the otherhand, has a couple of future races already planned.
Here is Kate stretching by the finish line before the race began.
By the time we had 1/4 mile left to go, she was pretty done. And it took us almost 20 minutes to complete that last 1.4 mile (approx the same amount of time it took the 1st finisher to finish the whole 3 miles). BUT, when she got in view of that finish line, adreline pumped... and she was OFF again.
By the time we got there (only 5 minutes behind the finisher in front of us by the way) everyone had moved from the finish line to where they were having drawings to those who entered into a raffle. Luckily (for the sake of Kate), some old neighbors of ours knew we were coming, and waited for us. This was exciting because Kate had a cheering section as she crossed the line. Definitely the most rewarding part of a race. The daughter of our neighbor even came down to run the rest of the way with Kate.
Kate's (and my) time:
Which isn't stellar, but it's a full 10 minutes faster than our last 5K.
Then, she got to Par-Tay... in the bounce house:
And ride a red-neck train...
Which, for the record... I would have LOVED to have riden in as a kid! (because I AM redneck I suppose)...
After that, I took her to buy a treat (gum at the gas station), and we went home. Where, Kate proceeded to rub all of her fun into Jocelyn's face. Who, in return pouted about how life wasn't fair.
Scrapbook Fairy?
Today I've been working on a project for a magazine. I don't have a scrapbook room anymore... and so I've been working out of my bedroom.
Jared came home from lunch and casually said:
"It looks like the Scrapbook Fairy took a dump on our bed..."
Night Golf.
Friday, Jared and I went to play night golf at Sand Hollow Resort.
Let me say, it was sooo much fun, and HILARIOUS!
And OH MY GOSH, it was DARK!!!
No lights anywhere except for the glow of our golf balls.
The balls were clear, and had a hole through the middle where you inserted a glow stick. I can't even describe how awesome these things looked flying through the air! You would have thought it would be hard to find your ball in the dark. But the opposite was true. No one lost a ball, even the people who hit their ball WAY into the rough.
We wrote our name on the balls so that it would be easy to figure out which one was ours because there were so many people playing. 20 to start maybe?
A lot of people dropped out after the first hole (or maybe 2), but Jared and I stuck with it for the full 4 holes we played.
4 holes may not sound like much, but it took us about 3 hours to play.
The game contained 2 very tricky elements.
1st, and most scary... were the "moving water hazards" we encountered.
Let me just say this...
Golf courses are watered at night.
Funny story: Jared parked the golf cart in what I assessed to be a not safe location. I could faintly see (and hear) a sprinkler, and although it was spraying in the opposite direction, I could tell it would be swinging around my way soon. Jared hopped out of the cart and took off to retrieve one of our golf balls. I sat in the passenger seat of the cart... hoping for him to return quickly. The sprinkler came closer and closer. I started to yell at Jared to HURRY... because the sprinkler was getting SUPER close now. Jared wasn't coming back. He yelled for me to slide over and move the cart. Let me preface by saying... IT WAS DARK, and I had never driven a golf cart in my life. I slid over... and couldn't find the "gas" pedal to LITERALLY save my life. IT WAS DARK. So, I blindly reached my hand down to the floor and started feeling around with my hands to locate the pedal. At about that time... I started to get pelted with COLD, COLD, very cold, golf course sprinkler water, in 40 something degree weather. I found the pedal I was looking for, and stomped on it. In the distance, Jared is laughing his pants off. But luckily he got slammed in the head by the sprinkler, so he was saved. I probably would have killed him otherwise.
This all happened on the 2nd hole.
But, despite being a little wet... we all felt good and adventurous... and we were making memories, so we kept playing.
On the 4th hole, I was teeing off... and smacked the ball so hard I busted the glow stick inside my ball, and sent a neon green spray shooting off the tee. I almost wished I would have had my camera with us so that I could have taken a picture of the cool looking CSI style splatter mark it left on the grass. But, on the other hand... we never knew when a sprinkler was going to nail us... so it was good in that respect that I left my camera in the car!
I'm looking forward to doing this again. Hopefully when the weather is warmer, and the "water hazzards" are more refreshing than terrifying.
And, Jared is already planning on some sort of light system for the carts other than someone attempting to drive and hold a flash light.
It really was a riot! ...and I'd do it again in a heart beat. (no lights and getting nailed with a sprinkler even)...
I can grow flowers anywhere...
Tulip on our lot today, Friday March 20th.
Golf Date.
Tonight Jared and I had his sis babysit while we went out on a day date. We went to the golf course at our new neighborhood to try out the driving range. We were invited to pretend we're swanky and popular... and play night golf (which I hear involves attempting to play golf in the dark with clear hollow golf balls containing small glow sticks), on Friday.
Jared thought I might need to go out and hit a few since I've never driven a golf ball a day in my life. He set something up with [friend/resort big wig] Bill for us to go out and "practice" for a date.
Bill gave us both instructions. My instructions included... "this is how you hit the ball." Kind of kidding, but NO, really... I learned how to hold the club properly, how to swing properly, and how to hold my posture. Butt out, head looking at the ball NOT MOVING.... arms are a pendulum, club and arm make an L. MAKE A "L"... MAKE A "L"... -why won't my arms make a stupid "L!!!"
I hit a few good ones, but basically topped them all. I hit a bunch into the rough. Definitely didn't take up enough grass, which I guess you're supposed to do...
Jared knew the basics, so he got some instruction on how to NOT try to kill the ball, and how to swing with rhythm (I think).
He's excited about the progress he made.
By the time we were done, we hit 3 buckets of balls + extras that were laying on the ground when we got there, some how ended up with 2 sets of rental clubs valued at over $1,000 each to practice with (even though we brought our own), and a golf cart (all of which we got to use as "trade" because Jared' did & will do a bunch of work for the resort).
Jared was so busy working on his game, he didn't think to take any pictures of me. That's okay, because he realized his mistake on the way to get a dinner of soft drinks and candy bars at a local gas station. And he apologized for not taking pictures of me, and felt bummed out. I told him he could try to take some of me when we play night golf Friday.
I don't know how many pictures I will be able to get... as it will be DARK! But, I'm envisioning a few creative shots of glowing golf balls whizzing through the air!
Think they'll let me bring my tripod?
Peek-a-boo?
My intent was to play peek-a-boo.
When I popped around the tree, this is what I saw instead:
De-shoeing herself.
Note: I don't know why Typepad is doing this... but ALL of the pictures I have been posting lately are coming out SUPER bright compared to the originals. I don't know if they are compressing more than they used to or what, but it's kind of annoying to constantly post super washed out pictures...
The Power of Nature.
Once or twice a week, we go our to our building lot... to hang out, ride bikes, and water our Tulips. Friday when we went, I thought it was crazy how the ground had hardened, yet the emerging Tulips were so powerful breaking through the soil:
Calvin calls these his flowers, and has to be the one to water them when we go out.
I thought it would be fun to walk around in the desert with my camera and take pictures of random things.
Like, what do you suspect dug this hole. I liked how you could see the ring of wet sand around the hole. Whatever dug it, JUST dug it! The hole is about as big around as a sharpie marker.
Then, there is always the random golf ball to be found.
...and my 100th picture (probably) of Pine Valley Mtn. If you look at the highest peak of the mountain, and then look [approximately] straight down to the base, you can see where a little white flag is sticking up. That is the green of the 17th hole on the golf course that wraps around our neighborhood. Hence, the golf balls we find while exploring...
Inadvertently Washing Her Mouth Out With Soap:
Teeth marks courtesy of one Miss Teslyn Hummel - Age 1.
Happy Birthday Calvin!
This time change thing is really messing with me! I've actually been working on getting this posted all day! But, it's been super busy. Luckily, it looks like I will get it posted while it is actually still Calvin's birthday!
My little dude turned 3 today!
3 Years Ago:
Earlier this evening:
I also took him to have a birthday breakfast at 7am. I took a few blurry pictures with my phone, but will post them later ;)
There sure have lots of hospital baby pictures on my blog lately!
5K
Everyone is asking how it went. So here's the blow by blow:
We started at about 9am, and it was 35 degrees! I was soooo ticked that we had had super duper nice weather all week (70's) and on the day we'd be running it was COLD! In the afternoon it only got to the mid 50's, so it was definitely a cold day all around. When we started we all wore gloves, and headbands pulled over our ears. Thanks Grandma Tucky. The headbands we wore were the ones you sent in our Valentines box!
We all gathered at the start line. Jocelyn and Katelyn felt the urge to get into position.... the kind of position you'd get into if you were running a serious sprint!
The person starting the race said, "On your mark........ get set........."
...and Jocelyn said, "MOM, I GOTTA PEE."
I told her TOUGH, she's probably nervous and the starter yelled, "GO!"
And we ran.
I wore a Camel Bak because I wanted to be prepared running with little kids. And lets face it, we weren't going for record finishing times. Our goal was to finish! My estimated finish time was just under an hour.
Above, Kate is running and passing me. I'm walking at a brisk pace, and Jocelyn is behind. By the looks of it, she is running to catch up!
Jared rode along the route with his bike, kid trailer and point & shoot. It was exciting to have him along to chat with as we moseyed along...
If I had a doller for every time I yelled, "Jocelyn! Run!"
Half way watering station:
Right after leaving the watering station, Jocelyn INSISTED that she needed to pee. We thought we'd make Beka proud... Beka this next sentence is for you....
We saw a vacant building lot next to the house in the photo above, and I totally held Jocelyn while she peed on the side of the road. I think we are officially runners now.
Then we picked up the pace... all being freshly watered, and Jocelyn freshly drained.
(above) here we were in view of the school... where the finish line was. The girls were pretty done, but the end was in sight!
We got to the school just as the 1K race was starting. It started at 10am, so I knew we had fallen behind on our less than 1 hour goal, but I was still happy because we were really close!
Once we hit the school grounds Kate and I started running. Jocelyn was a party pooper and walked the rest of the way. We left her behind.
Kate and I finished just ahead of the 1K runners, so the finish line was packed with people cheering. This pumped Kate up! Especially when we came running through wearing numbers (which meant we were running the 5K). When everyone saw that little 4 year old finishing the 5K they exploded in cheers, and Kate decided then and there she needed to be a runner!
Jocelyn finished about 5 minutes behind us, in the middle of the 1K runners. I had to run up and tell the person keeping times that the little blonde girl was finishing the 5K so that they could write her time down.
I don't know what our exact times were because who ever had the paper took off before I could track them down... but we all finished in 60-something minutes.
Jocelyn doesn't want to run anymore races.
Jocelyn and Kate were the youngest runners in the 5K.
And, yes we were dead last... but several people dropped out of the race in the first mile.... so maaaaaybe we weren't technically last, haha!
Jared wanted to make sure everyone knew what I looked like after running the race:
Public Service Announcement:
On behalf of my friend Megan.
I had the pleasure of witnessing my first birth today (other than the births of my own children obviously). It definitely was an experience everyone should be able to have!
Thanks Megan for letting me be a part of your day!
With permission, here are some pictures to tide you over until she is up to posting on her own blog:
Getting ready for Cru's arrival:
When things really started to get interesting. The blue wavy line is her contractions:
Goofing off about 15 minutes before the action started. Note, she's sticking out her tongue at me:
Probably less than a minute after birth:
We were all oohing, and awwwwing over him gripping the side of the scale:
Getting checked by Doc:
Welcome Cru!
Safe in mom's arms at last!
Happy Birthday Tess.
One year ago today:
2 Weeks Ago:
Today:
Happy Birthday Tess.
Behind the Times.
The pictures below are from Valentine's day. Hopefully now that our move is complete, I can catch up on my blogging. I also need to start taking pictures again!
And I still need to upload pictures for several people who are probably waiting for them (Valentines Day Formal, Tess & Dallies Birthday Party, Photography Class...).
So, sorry if you are reading this... I'll get to it within the next week or two (hopefully)
For Valentines day, Jared wanted to make Green Eggs & Ham. I thought everything should be red because it was "Valentine's Day," but Jared only does things in one color. Green.
Jocelyn WAS NOT GOING TO EAT THAT VILE STUFF!
But, being the torturous parents that we are, we forced her.
*She's seriously trying not to throw up...
Then, she decided it tasted like regular eggs and ham... like we told her it did. She didn't think it to funny of me when I said:
"SAY! I like green eggs and ham. I DO, I like them Sam I Am."
*I like how she refused to look at the camera.
