My Little Cheerleaders

Check out my little cheerleaders! They did such a great job last night at the High school Basketball game. They kept all the girls in one area of the bleachers for the first half of the game. And what a job that was! Trying to keep little 3 and 4 year olds in one place is very hard to do! Ryan and I were sitting on the other side of the gym and every now and then I would see Morgan and another little girl crawling around the floor of the bleacher seats, going under peoples legs...yep, that's my girl. And I would glance at Haley and she would be looking bored out of her mind. But finally at half time they got to do their performance...it was pretty cute! Unfortunately, the lighting was too bad and my pictures didn't turn out...so sorry I don't have any photos to share of the actual performance.

So last night ended up being a late night...but that didn't keep Haley from waking up at 6:00 am! I just don't get that girl! She's been going full blast all morning...I have no idea where she get all that energy!

We were planning on a Birthday dinner for my brother, Jeff tonight. But unfortunately this dreaded stomach bug is now taking down other family members. Both of my brothers got sick this week. Of course they are both adamant that they caught it from my kids...but I'm just not so sure! I'm just so ready for this mystery illness to be over with!! I hope February is better to us!

Cheer 101

Haley brought home a flyer the other day advertising a Mini Cheer Clinic for girls ages 3-14. This struck my attention. First, it's something that is for kids under 8 (is just me, or is all the good stuff they offer for kids always 8 and over). Second, it's something that both Morgan and Haley can do together! So I signed them up. It's only three days and the third day they do a cheer at the high school basketball game.

It started yesterday and boy were they excited! They split the kids into different age groups and each group is learning a slightly different cheer. They cracked me up! First off, Haley and Morgan have about the same amount of rhythm as Ryan and I do...none. Hopefully they'll acquire more as they get older. But they did great following as best they could. Haley couldn't wait to come home and practice. But she only practiced the stretches they did...apparently that was her favorite part...yeah, the stretches. So she spent a good half hour doing all kinds of yoga moves in the living room.

The have another practice today, and then tomorrow is the big show! I can't wait to see how they do!

Just as a side note: I was never involved in Cheer growing up...so this is a whole new world for me.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering...Piper's diarrhea has finally come to an end. Hallelujah!! Nine days total...wow...that was a lot of poop. Glad that's over.

Sorry dogs, maybe next time.

I have been a very bad dog owner lately. To be honest, my dogs are bugging the crap out of me, and I just don't want anything to do with them right now. The backyard is a mess. The snow has melted creating a mud pit everywhere. When they are out of the kennel they just zoom around the yard so fast creating a mud track destroying the grass. Needless to say, they get covered in mud so there is NO WAY I'm letting them in the house. The only exercise they're getting is when Ryan takes them out for a run, or they're zooming around the backyard until I can't stand anymore destruction and I kennel them back up.

So, this morning I had made up my mind. I was going to drop off the girls at school, come home and take them on a walk. That's right! Now, keep in mind this is when I usually lay Piper down for her morning nap and I can sit and do what ever I want for TWO whole hours before getting Morgan.

So first thing this morning I put on some work out clothes so I'm ready to go later. Come home from taking the girls...I nurse Piper so she tanked up...and then I look out the window and low and behold, it's snowing, quite hard. So I forfeit the walk. I've since layed Piper in her crib, she's sleeping soundly and what do you know...it stopped snowing. Oh well. There's a perfect sheet of snow on the ground now, perfect for slipping on...and knowing me, with a big stroller, two dogs...yeah, I'd slip.

Maybe Thursday will be a better day to take them out.

Now I think I'm going to go enjoy a silent and peaceful house. Of course I'll leave my workout clothes on...it makes me feel sporty...plus people will think I did a workout when really I didn't. Hee hee hee.

Monday...start fresh!

I'll try to spare everyone yucky updates with illness in this house. Haley said the other day, "Why does everyone have to talk about POOP in this house?!!". You're right Haley...too much poop talk.

But...Piper...diaherra...day 6.

Okay, I'm done. That's all I'll say.

But I will say how exhausting this is!! She wakes up constantly throughout the night, it's as if I have a newborn again! And she's extremely fussy in the day. Just the other day I had to clean the bathrooms while holding her in my arms! I couldn't bare to set her down, she just crawls (well, she kinda just drags herself still) over to me and just cries at my feet holding my pant leg...it's so sad. Thank goodness for Morgan, who loves to clean toilets...she helped me quite a bit!

This has to end...Please!!!

Even Ryan came down with a wave of nausea this weekend...but, luckily it didn't amount anything but that. I bit of rest and he was good to go. But still, it made for a not-so-great weekend.

Here's to a better week.

Loving the Mountains

This is the view from our porch.

I love living close to the mountains. I love opening the blinds and seeing the sun coming up over them. I love how they glow from the evening sun too. It's beautiful.

We have a group of deer that visit the neighborhood on a regular basis. Three in particular (two females and a fawn) that we have seen the most, but occasionally their friends will join them (the most I've seen is nine grouped together). They love to visit the cul-de-sac across the street...there is an empty lot they like to meander around in, and we see them there just about daily.

I don't mind seeing them around as long as they stay away from my fruit trees and garden come Spring and Summer!

Can you spot them?

Update with the girls: Haley is perfectly healthy...her illness was very short lived. Piper, still sick...day 5. Oh please, give me strength!

Feeling drained...

Haley came home from school yesterday not feeling well...and so it began. She didn't want a snack, and she didn't want dinner...yep, not a good sign. She was complaining that her stomach hurt all evening so needless to say I was VERY hesitate to let her sleep on her bunk. All I'm thinking of is the kind of mess I may have to clean...and with the amount of poop I've been cleaning up this week, I really didn't want anything else on top of that. However, she insisted, so we let her. But after an hour or so, I still didn't feel right about it, so I decided to bring a trash can into the room...you know, just in case. Well, at the moment I walked in she sprang up in bed with that "look"...you know the look every parent has seen from their kid right before they harf. Well, let's just say I got that trash can in front of her in the nick of time! I should get some kind of mother of year award for that kind intuition!

She is feeling much better today thankfully. Piper on the other hand of course still greeted me this morning with a bed full of poop...day four...ugh.

So yeah, I'm just feeling a bit drained...I hate seeing my kids sick.

Piper...still sick.

I have a few more details of yesterday's post...if anyone was wondering.

Apparently Carla Swart was on a training ride, she dropped her bike computer and turned around to get it. She didn't look...she turned right into a truck. The driver of the truck tried to avoid hitting her, slamming on his breaks and swerving out of the way. It was too late. A tragedy for both the cyclist and driver. Why she didn't look first...we'll never know. So sad.

In other news, I have been up to my eyeballs in poop around here. The single vomit Piper had on Monday was the least of my worries, it has turned into horrid diarrhea. Every time she wakes up in the morning or from a nap I go in to find her covered from her neck to her toes in poop. I know, I know...gross, but these are the not so fun moments of mothering. Cleaning up poop. She seems to be eating and nursing fine...although the only solids I've been giving her are rice cereal, bananas and Cherrios...it doesn't seem to be helping. The nurse at the doctor's office said that if it continues for more than 10 days to bring her in (that is, as long as they are eating and drinking fine). 10 DAYS?! Are you kidding me?! It better not last 10 days...I'll go crazy!! So anyway, as you can imagine the washing machine has been going full blast for the last three days. Oh Pipes, feel better soon!

Haley brought home a little book she made at school about her family. I'll leave you with her story:

My Family
By Haley

Daddy is nice.
Mommy is pretty.
I am pretty.
Morgan is crazy.
Piper is cute.

Heartbreaking

I just saw this article today...



HTC-Highroad's Carla Swart tragically killed during training rideby Shane Stokes at 10:42 AM

Talented young rider will be greatly missed

Set for a strong debut season with the HTC-Highroad women’s team, Carla Swart has tragically been killed in an accident with a truck today. The 23 year old rider was training in the Free State province in South Africa this morning. Details are scarce about what happened, but the cycling world is responding with messages of condolences and also appreciation for the person she was.

Swart was born in South Africa but moved to Georgia, USA when she was 15 years old. She took up a joint cycling/running scholarship with Lees-McRae College in North Carolina in 2006, and two years later made history when she became the first to win collegiate titles in all cycling disciplines, namely mountainbike, track, road racing and cyclo cross. With 19 national titles in all, her class was obvious and she underlined this when she had a very strong season last year.

Riding with the MTN women’s team, she took the best young rider award in the Tour de l’Aude, won the sprinter’s jersey in the Cascade Classic, was third in both the road race and time trial titles in South Africa and finished eighth in the gruelling Ronde Van Drenthe World Cup classic. She was also a fine tenth in the world road race championship in Geelong.

“My result in Drenthe was the one I was most satisfied with,” she said at the end of last year. “It was the first time I got a top ten in a World Cup event in my first block of international classic racing. Half-way through the race I got away and and got a big gap on the field, and it was amazing how it worked out in the end.”

Swart was also eighth in the road race at the Commonwealth Games last autumn. The performances led to her securing a pro deal with the HTC-Highroad team for 2011, and she was determined to ride strongly in her first year with the US squad.

"It's been kind of hard to figure out which direction to head in my professional career,” she said in advance of the start of the season. “I do well in climbing but in sprints I don't do badly, so maybe I'll focus on being a good all-round rider for now and see where that takes me.”

Sadly, she won’t have a chance to show that versatility. Her passing was met with disbelief from many in cycling, with HTC-Highroad team-mate Ina Yoko Teutenberg paying a short tribute on her Twitter account. “She was one of the most vibrant people I met and made everybody smile,” she wrote today. “She has been taken from us way too early. RIP Carla.”

Her new team also paid tribute to her. “Carla was new to our team in 2011 and after only a short amount of time she endeared herself to everybody and became part of our family,” it said. “Her enthusiasm and spirit was engaging and she had the ability to make everybody smile around her. She had a remarkable talent and looked forward to a very bright future. Our thoughts and hearts are with her family and we will honour her in the days and months ahead."

Just awful. I hate reading articles like this...it just seems so preventable. It didn't have to happen. Lots of our friends, my brothers, my dad, my sister-in-law, Ryan all spend a good amount of time training/riding on the road...so this article hits close to home. A few weeks ago a woman was killed on PCH while riding her bike when two cars decided to race. One lost control and hit her. Heartbreaking. Please, lets all be safe out there.

I've been a little down the last couple of days. My little Piper still doesn't feel well...and to be honest, I don't feel all that great either...nothing severe, I'm just plain exhausted. I think we all are. Hopefully things will turn around soon.

Oh no...

Well, my day of fun with the girls hasn't been the most fun.

The day started out great! Haley and I even got to work in the craft room this morning while the other two were still sleeping. I did a little bit of scrapbooking and Haley created a beautiful Spring picture using Popsicle sticks, stencils and stickers.

After everyone was up we worked on our cookie cut-outs from yesterday. Did some coloring. Then after lunch it was off to the Life Science Museum on BYU campus...it's free and the kids love it.

I noticed Piper wasn't really in the mood to nurse before we left. I thought, no matter, she did just have a big lunch of mac and cheese. Whatever.

We were at the museum having a good time when a lady stopped me and said, "Excuse me, your baby is throwing up." WHAT?!!! I look down and there is poor little Piper covered in vomit and it's all over the stroller tray as well. Luckily, none of it got on the floor. I grabbed the girls and we zip into the restroom to clean her up. We unfortunately had to cut our time there short and take her home. Haley flipped out!!

So I had to walk back through the museum with Haley crying, "I don't want to go!!!" and a little baby who smelled like vomit.

I gave Piper a bath and layed her down for a nap. Haley has since calmed down (Morgan was a trooper the whole time...not one fuss came out of her...thank you Morgan).

I haven't fed Piper since 9:30 this morning...it is now 4:30. That's not good...for me...or her. She is not at all interested in eating (I don't blame her there). So my only other option is to pump. I hate pumping! I hand it to any woman who can do it. It hurts and I can't get it to produce much of anything...I walk away feeling just as full as when I started!! And I hate sitting there with a stupid contraption hooked to my breast while it makes weird sucking noises. I gave it up when I had been sitting for a half hour and had only 2 ounces to show for it! Maybe I'll hunt down my manual pump...the electric one just isn't working for me.

I just hope my little Piper feels better soon. And I hope, I hope this is a one child sickness...please.

Lazy Sunday

I've been a bit of a homebody lately...only leaving the house when completely necessary. I don't mind. I like to hunker down and putter around the house. The girls on the other hand are getting their share of outside play. They've been out in the yard nonstop, Ryan took them sledding yesterday afternoon and today Haley is skiing at Sundance with the boys. Since Jeff is a ski instructor there, we're hoping she can tag along with him for the day. If not, she'll be skiing with Ryan (he has a season pass this year...lucky him...and yes, I'm a little jealous). Next week it will be Morgan's turn. I hope they grow to love it! It's so nice to have ski resorts practically in our backyard!

So it's Morgan, Piper and me hanging out today. We've been painting nails, baking cookies, doing laundry (Morgan actually enjoys helping me with this task), coloring and watching Magic School Bus.

I'm trying to think of something to do with the girls tomorrow since they have it off and all. Yes, this will force me to come out of my cave, perhaps I'll even glam it up a little! I'm thinking of going to a museum, if they're open.

So, I think we have some little critters in our garage...more specifically, mice. We knew this may be a problem in the Winter since the owners listed it as one of the disclosures of the home. There's a little space under the garage door they must be crawling under to get in. And our big bag of dog food and pile of straw (we use it for the dogs' bedding) that we store in the garage I'm sure isn't helping to repel them. So yesterday Ryan tidied everything up...secured the dog food and straw into plastic trash bins and swept everything up. We also set mouse traps along the walls and we put a couple in the attic space above the garage. We'll see if we get anything...this is a battle that we will win! Keep you posted!

Spontaneity

This is the month for reflection and creating New Years resolutions. I know some resolutions I make for myself will probably go by the wayside...it's impossible to stick to every single one (at least for me anyway). However, I do make note of things I would like to work on. I know I already made my list a while back, but I was thinking of something else I need to work on that I would like to add.

Spontaneity! More specifically, spontaneity in my marriage. Sometimes I get caught up with the every day that I forget to have a little fun every now and then. Little things...out of the blue kinda things. When we were California is rained one day. Not a drizzle, but a hard rain. And you know what the first thing I though of? Grabbing Ryan to kiss him in the rain. I'm sure I've kissed him in the rain before...but I can't remember any specific incident. Well, I didn't do it. I regret it...I should have.

Another regret...I should have gone to Hawaii with Ryan when he went for work a couple years back. We could have figured out something with the kids...but I didn't even try. It would have been a pretty fun getaway even if it was for just a few days. Darn.

When we were first married having some fun and being spontaneous was pretty easy to do...no kids. But now...yeah, not as easy. But just because we have children, doesn't mean that spontaneity has to disappear! As the mom in National Lampoon's Vacation said, "I know how to have some fun!". You remember the part, right? Then they both jump in the pool for some skinny dipping. And that's my point! It's more than a weekly date (even though we don't get that) but I think it's the little fun things that keep you feeling young...and not to mention keep that spark alive!

So, whether it's a spontaneous kiss in the rain or a "quickie" located somewhere crazy...being spontaneous and fun is the key! Just because I've been married for 11 years and a mother of three, doesn't mean I don't know how to have a little fun!

School drop off zones...avoid them.

Most days I walk Haley to and from school...I prefer it really, because to be honest, I can't stand the drop off zone in front of the school!! I hate it! People drive me crazy! There is a system people, follow it! There are certain times of the morning that it gets more crowded than others and the line does get long. But we wait in it, because we have to. So when I see Mr. "I think I'm so cool in my fancy Audi sports car" skip the entire line of cars, parallel in front of the school, blocking every other car just so he can drop off his little bratty kid...I tell ya, I really wish I was driving in a tank so I can just ram the crap out of his fancy shmancy little car!! Why do some people think they have the right to do things like that! It's like when there's a huge traffic jam on the freeway, and then there's that A-hole who passes everyone in the breakdown lane! I hate people like that!! And it's not just Mr. Audi man who does that in the mornings, I see others too. And you know what...it's always the people in really fancy cars screwing up the drop off system. So what, you have a lot of money and now you have the right to ignore the rules!! Ooooh, it gets to me! And you know what's worse. One day I'm giving the evil eye to people in the car pool lane and the next I'm waving hello to them at church...because chances are they're in my ward.

I think I'll stick to walking.

9 Months

My little Pipes is 9 months already! She had her check-up this morning. She weighed in at 14.5 lbs and is 27 inches long...she's a petite little thing! She's barely in the first percentile for her weight...but then, all my girls have been on the skinny side. She's showing consistent growth, and that's the important thing. She's still scooting all over the place, pulling herself around with her arms, but no crawling...not yet anyway.

A few weeks ago I was at the mall shopping with my mom. I had to dart into a women's lounge for a quick nursing session. A woman came in with three young boys about the same age as my three girls. We chatted a little. We both agreed that we had our hands full and then she said to me, almost with force in her voice, "So you're done having kids now!" I said no. She was surprised...almost shocked in a way that I wanted more. She was very adamant that she was DONE! I've thought about that ever since. I hear women say all the time, "I'm done having kids, this is my last!". When I had Haley, I knew I wanted another...I had a peace of mind knowing that the crib would be used again. I felt the same with Morgan. And now with Piper I still crave more. And I'm pretty sure I'll keep feeling that way...I don't want to let go...I don't like the thought of "being done". Yes, I know I'll have to stop at some point...we're not going to turn into the Dugguts or anything! But I know I'll never want to use the phrase, "I'm done", ever.

Oh, the joys of Winter!

It was 8 degrees when I took Haley to school this morning...that is COLD! So, as you can imagine bundling up before we make the trek to school is quite important. Yesterday I decided to get an even earlier start because it feels as though I'm always rushing. Rushing to school, rushing to appointments, rushing, rushing, rushing. And of course I become louder and louder. "Morgan, can you please put your coat on. Haley, get your gloves please."..."Morgan, get your coat on! Haley, gloves, put them on!" But those two girls can ramble and ramble (I kid you not they do not stop talking...ever!) not listening to a word I'm saying. I'm busy loading Piper into the infant carrier. When I come back in...do they have their stuff on...no, Haley pulled out the salad tongs and Morgan is talking about the differences between goats and sheep. So finally my nice, "Will you please put on your coat." has turned into "MORGAN, COAT NOW!!!" and "HALEY, GLOVES!!!!".

So yesterday (as I was saying) I was try really hard to get out the door early so I don't lose it and go crazy...see, patience, I'm working on it.

Piper's snow suit, hat, and blanket...done.
Morgan's boots, coat, hat, gloves...done.
Haley's boots, coat, hat, gloves, backpack...done.
Me, boots, coat, hat, scarf, gloves...done.

I get Piper in the stroller, bundled up and we're off...on time...yay!
As we're walking down the driveway Morgan starts crying, "I have to go potty!"

NOOOOOOOOOO! Late again...and I was so close!

Power of Moms

April Perry, a friend of mine, is one of the founders of this website. I'm not surprised at all that she came up with it. Since childhood she has always been a go-getter...even now with four children she still can find time to work on this site. It's a great resource for moms and I always enjoy reading the articles.

There are 4 different retreats they hold around the country, with different speakers and workshops especially designed for mothers. This year they are offering one in Salt Lake City April 16th. I'm hoping to go.

Dinners, Big Love and Piper's first tooth.

So you know how I'm on a quest to save more money this year (gotta save for that bigger car), and I must say I had a pretty spectacular week regarding dinners. One chicken fed us 3 nights, plus two lunches for Ryan. I roasted it the first night, chicken noodle soup the next, then bbq chicken pizza the third. I only post this because having planned dinners rarely happens in this house. Usually around 4 in the afternoon I'm like, "Hmmm, what should I do for dinner?". But even then, my meals rock if I do say so myself...that is, as long as my kitchen is stocked...and if it's not, well, we have spaghetti.

We started watching Big Love (the first season) in the evenings. It's definitely different. If you ever want to see Bill Paxton's rear, this is the show for you, as he walks around naked constantly. I guess when you have three wives and you're trying to keep them all satisfied, you're gonna be naked a lot! Anyway, I do enjoy seeing familiar places in the background, being filmed in Salt Lake City and all. And why do they make the Mormon kids in the show totally dorky and not very realistic at all? Well, maybe Mormon teenagers are different in Salt Lake City. I know when I was growing up I would have never used the phrase, "Remember, CTR man!" to my friends. (CTR stands for Choose the Right for my non Mormon readers). But then I'm a little more discreet about my religion...unless you ask a question about it, or I need to defend it, I really don't talk about it in front of random people.

**Edit- For those that haven't seen the show, yes, there are characters that are LDS, in addition to the polygs.

So anyway, yeah, Big Love...interesting.

In other news, my little Piper has her first tooth popping up...very exciting! She has her 9 month check-up next week. Wow, 9 months, how times flies.

That's all for now...back to my Saturday.

Proof my dogs are not always hyper!

Look at these two lazy bums.

Seriously, sometimes they can surprise me. For as hyper as these two are normally it's amazing how they can just lay there with tons of commotion going on around them. And you would think they would move when I'm cooking...oh no, I trip on them constantly and bonk them with cabinet doors, but they just lay there. Why can't they be this calm all the time?! See people...here's proof...they can settle down!!!

Morgan isn't the best at playing by herself in the basement yet. So this is how she plays when I'm cooking in the kitchen. All the toys slowly make there way up the basement stairs and and all over my kitchen floor.

I'm scared to go down in the basement sometimes...I don't even want to know what kind of mess is lurking down there! The stair case alone is frightening...I may break my neck tripping on the toys! I just close the door...out of sight...out of mind!

Pictures from LB

Huntington Beach

New Years Day...making donuts!

Taking a walk around the pyramid at CSULB.

Saying goodbye...boo hoo.

I realize now that Ryan is not in any of the pictures...he was there, honest.

Home again and New Year's Resolutions

Well, we are home after a week in S. CA. Wow, that drive just gets more and more grueling...as the kids get bigger and take up more space we are in constant reminder that we NEED A BIGGER CAR! I feel as though those kids are breathing down my neck the entire drive! And I'm not sure what's up with Morgan, but she has a really hard time controlling the volume of her voice. "Do you need to yell, Morgan?! We are all right here!!". And I must have said, "Haley, please stop kicking my seat!" a thousand times! And there is nothing like a crying baby on top of it all to make my insanity level go through the roof! BUT...with all the craziness, it's so worth it! We had a great time visiting with family...I'll get pictures posted sometime, as I'm too lazy to get up and find my camera right now.

Piper caught the cold that Morgan and Haley had, however, she has developed a fever along with it. Snotty baby with a fever = not so fun. So, hopefully she'll recover soon.

I've been thinking a lot about New Year's Resolutions for this year. Some things I want to work on:

* Sticking to a daily routine.

*More exercise. In fact, I've been thinking about picking two races to do this year...it's been a great long while since I raced on the road.

* Save more money. I do a pretty good job of this, but I know I can do better.

* Work on more crafts. I love doing paper crafts, and I love to sew...now that I have a craft room I would like to have some projects in the works.

* Be a better mother and wife. Patience...I need to work on patience.

2010 was good to us. We welcomed Piper into our family and we moved into a beautiful new home! Here's to a new year and a fresh start...I suspect more great things to come!