It's amazing...

what a clean room can do! I finally went through the girls' room and organized a bit. I'm partially to blame for it getting a little out of control...I don't do a very good job at putting things into the correct bin. I'm usually in too big of a rush to clean up and I just throw what ever into what ever bin is closest to me. I guess I'm not a very good example!! I'll try to do better. Anyway, the girls actually were really into the idea of organizing everything. Not that they were a help, of course they weren't, but they did like the idea of helping me empty everything out of their closet. "Mommy's making a MESS!" So anyway, it's done. They actually listened to music and danced for the longest time...I guess celebrating their clean room. I joined them for a while, oh yeah...we were busting out the moves!! It feels good to just be silly with my girls and let loose for a while. Good stress reliever!

One of these days we'll get a bunk bed for these girls! Although Morgan has no problem with her crib! So I'm in no hurry!

My Little Swimmer!

Yeah!! Haley passed Pre-level One!! Wow, what a difference from when she first started last summer. She can now go under the water without any screaming, crying or nearly strangling the lifeguard. She actually enjoyed each lesson and looked forward to them. No more running away from me and hiding under the pillows when it was time to get ready.

Check out her report card:

Oh yeah...Pre-Level 2...BRING IT!!

And I was doing so good...

Crazy mama comes out again...it's one of those moments that you are so focused on getting a task done that you become completely oblivious to the people around you until you look up and see everyone staring at you. And then you realize what an idiot you must look like at that moment!


During Haley's swim lessons Morgan does super, she plays on the benches or cuddles with me on my lap...she's just the sweetest thing. BUT...once we enter the dressing room to get Haley changed Morgan becomes a terror! Today as I'm undressing Haley, Morgan reaches in the bag to get her Frenchy (stuffed dog), but Haley's panties are stuck to it, so I say "Morgan wait, I need those panties." Well, she thinks this is a fun game and runs all around the locker room while I'm racing around to trying to grab hold of her...meanwhile, Haley is left half naked waiting patiently. And as she's running around her favorite thing is to lift up all the curtains of the people trying to change discreetly behind the partitions...yeah, I'm sure they just love her there. So finally, I get a hold of her and tell her sit beside us and NOT TO MOVE!! Well, that just becomes more of a game, she keeps trying to crawl away (and of course laughing the entire time, just making my blood boil) and I grab her jacket, slide her back...again and again. Finally, I kneel on the ground pinning Morgan between my legs (great thigh workout) all the while trying to get Haley's clothes on. Morgan starts screaming, "OUCH!! OUCH!! MOMMY OUCH!!!". This is when I look up to see two kids standing there staring at me with their mouths hanging open...I'm sure they were thinking, "I'm sure glad SHE'S not my mom!". Well, I finished as fast as I could and got out of there. But of course the temper tantrum of Morgans continues all the way to car where I have wrestle her into her car seat. Awful!

And then on the way home (in the snow), Haley's says, "Mom, California is a lot better then this place...they have a beach!". And then as we pull up to our house she continues, first with a BIG sigh, "Our house is soooo small, Mom."

Thanks Haley.

Kids are so fun!

Sundance

What a great weekend!!

After some cross country on Saturday we did some downhill on Sunday at Sundance. Just me and guys! This was the first time that I've been skiing with all my brothers at once since we were kids...good times! Unfortunately it snowed on us the entire time we were there...no different from our big ski day last year. So we're used to now. Maybe one day I'll be able to ski at Sundance when the sun is out! But anyway, the snow can't stop us!! We had a blast!

It's so funny to see everyone's ski styles. Jeff has the most spectacular crashes...he's the biggest risk taker and just barrels down the mountain and whatever happens happens! Andrew looks the best in the fashion sense...he has nicest equipment. He also has really quick turns, stays in a tucked position the entire time. Matt probably has the best technique...he looks very smooth when he skis. Ryan got the award for the most crashes (although not as spectacular as Jeff's). He's very tentative, especially in the moguls. I'm not sure where I fall in...I was definitely more cautious this time around but did pretty much everything they all did, just not as fast.

Andrew, Jeff, and Ryan.

Me with the guys! Andrew, Matt, Me, Ryan and Jeff.

Alpine Loop

Andrew and I went up to Alpine Loop for some cross country skiing today. Surprisingly it was really quiet...so peaceful! We made it to the turn off for Cascade Springs, and then it was snowing pretty hard by then and decided to turn around there. All I needed was the downhill to help me realize how bad I really am at cross country skiing!! I'm completely out of control! But, I loved it! Now tomorrow...downhill!!

Doom and Gloom

It seems that when one things gets stressful, more problems arise! This week has been a roller coaster of emotions.

Ryan's work had more layoffs this week...very scary to say the least. I don't know what a wife can say and what she can't, but I will say that a life where you may or may not know if you have a job tomorrow is no way to live!! With the economy in the crapper, this is NOT a good time to be without work. I feel very fortunate that Ryan still has his job, and that we are not in a desperate situation. But will it last...I sure hope so! It really breaks my heart to the amount of families that have to scramble to find something now. What would WE do if that happened?! I have no doubt that we would figure something out...but it makes me nauseated just to think about it!

When Ryan told me over the phone what had happened, you can imagine how nerve racking that kind of news is! So when I was driving home, of course I was pretty worked up, and stressed. But as I was sitting there deep in thought about our situation, the girls were singing together in the back seat. And it just made me think how innocent and oblivious they are about what's actually is going on! My mom would tell me of times when I was growing up our family would be on a road trip, and something happened to the car and they were so scared that the car wouldn't get us home. And if I think back to that same road trip, all I remember is the fun we had...completely oblivious to the stresses my parents carried on that trip. I envy that carefree attitude children automatically have. And as my mom says...it's our job to make sure they never carry any burden that we may have!

Also, I just found out that Etta (my little Brittany) has a serious knee cap problem. Basically the structure around her knee cap will never be fully developed and the cap occasionally rolls to the side making her have to lift her hind leg when she walks. Eventually it slides back and then she can walk again until it rolls off again. It will soon turn to arthritis unless corrected with surgery. And surgery, which would run about $3,000 is not an option for us. So, all my hopes to train her for field trials is not really something she'll be suited for. Also, because it may be hereditary, I can no longer breed her. I thought I had bought her from a decent breeder. They had registered with the AKC and could trace her bloodlines...but I guess you never know. So, I'm pretty much heartbroken about the whole thing.

My attitude pretty much matches the weather today...gloomy.

Hopefully this weekend should perk things up. My brother, Andrew, has been visiting with us this week. He's been doing quite a bit skiing already with my other brothers. But, this weekend I get to go!! We're going cross country skiing tomorrow and some downhill on Sunday. I need a weekend like this...I can't wait!

St. George Weekend

I will get this post out today!!!

It seems every time I sit down to try to get this post done, something comes up and I don't get to finish.

Anyway, last weekend the family went to St. George for Ryan's team training camp. And...oh, poor me had to be dragged along to sunny St. George, where the temps were in the 60's and not a cloud to be seen. I know...what a drag huh?! Just kidding of course!!! LOVED IT!

I'm super excited about Ryan starting this team...I think that it's perfect for him! And the guys he picked are great! I must say...they are an easy going group, they had to put up with quite a bit from my girls...and it didn't phase them a bit! We all shared the same condo, two guys had to sleep in the living room. One woke up to Morgan's icy hands grabbing his bare feet. And another woke up to her practically nose to nose with him...I think she might have been saying "Wake up sleepy head!" (her new favorite line), but I may have just imagined that. What a way to wake up! So, they were troopers with the sleeping arrangements. The girls also had to give them hugs before they went to bed...too cute! When they were out on their rides the girls kept asking, "Where are the guys?!". So I guess they made a big impression on them!

First team photo: Ben, Chase, Sleevie, Ryan, Dustin, and Eric.

On Saturday, Ryan and the team went on the epic St. George to Mesquite ride (and back to St. George) so the girls and I spent the day in Snow Canyon (one of my favorite places!). It was beautiful!! We spent a couple of hours at the sand dunes, had a picnic, then spent the rest of the time hiking...or as Haley says "It's not a hike mommy....it's a pony hunt!!". She was very determined to find a unicorn while we were there!

Haley in the dunes...ahhh, so warm!

Morgan with her pony...those girls do not leave the house without their ponies!

Haley making sand angels. Let me just say...there was about an inch of sand in the tub that night!

I was trying to document that I was indeed there on the trip! It didn't come out very well.