Exhausting Day of Rest

This year our church changed from meeting at 9:00am to 1:00pm. I can't believe how worn out I am just from a simple time change! It's not missing naps that's so hard--it's keeping the kids entertained ALL morning long, waiting until it's time to leave. I miss the good old days of sleeping in and making a big breakfast when we had late church and no kids. :)

But why is it different from any other day? I've had days when I don't go anywhere and I'm happy to stay around the house. I think it's the stress of having everyone clean, looking nice, packing extra stuff, timing naps (which never works) and not getting outside.

Today I also substituted as the pianist in Primary. I'll admit, I've secretly wanted that job for a long time. It would give me a reason to practice and I would get to play fun songs with kids. But this afternoon when I sat down to play I was surprised at how nervous I was! I didn't have a lot of time to practice this weekend when I was asked to subsitute, but still. No one likes to sing with the piano stumbling in the background.

The one good thing about today was the crockpot. After a hectic day, nothing is better than coming home to food that is ready to eat. We tried a new recipe called Creamy Basil Chicken and it was tasty!

Playing Cards

In about six weeks I'll be running in a Ragnar Relay. It's an overnight race, 200+ miles split between a team of twelve people. I'm excited to run something new and to have a team of people to enjoy it with.

The part that's killing me is consistently training. In the past when I've trained for a race I've been able to balance the hard workouts with recovery days. It usually went something like this:

Sunday: off
Monday: long run
Tuesday: short run or pool
Wednesday: speed or hills
Thursday: short run or pool
Friday: off
Saturday: any workout

The Ragnar website has workouts and training plans posted so it should be easy to just look and see what to run each day. But working around the schedules of a baby, toddler, and husband in school has made it a bit more complicated.

What I've been doing is looking at an entire week to the four or five workouts I need to get in. Then one day at a time, I see what works with our schedule that day. Like I'm just playing a game of cards and throwing down whatever card I can play.

This means that there isn't always a balance with working hard and recovering. Last week ended up like this:

Monday: easy run with jogger
Tuesday: sick kids, no running
Wednesday: easy run with jogger
Thursday: hill workout (by myself, yeah!)
Friday/Saturday: 3 runs in 24 hours (8 miles, with kids & alone)

I'm hoping nothing gets injured. :) I'm also amazed at the moms I hear about who run marathons and with more kids than I have. How do they do it? Get up way too early and run? Hire a babysitter so they can work out? Not for me.

I am glad to have something to work on, a goal or a project, I guess. Even though training can be a pain I know I'll be happy when we cross that finish line.

But Mom, She Likes It!

This is our latest trick: Trevor holds Haley by the feet and drags her on the carpet around the house.

I'm always worried that Trevor will bang her head against something. But whenever I tell him to stop, Haley is on the floor laughing.

Let's hope there's not a future post with any blood in it.

Now Playing at a Theater Near You

For the last few months Trevor has watched part of the movie Cars almost every day. He always sits on the arm of our couch like this to watch his show in the morning. I know toddlers like repetition but I'm ready for something new! What's playing at your house?

New Year Cheer

I love this time of year! Something about a new start feels so good. All of the holiday stress is over and you can focus on what's important to you. Here's a few pics from our New Year's Eve at home. We made a dinner of appetizers: potato skins, egg rolls and chicken quesadillas. It took longer than we thought so Trevor got away with eating peanut butter out of the jar for a while.

I know a lot of people don't like New Year's resolutions because they never last, but why not? Even if you set five goals and only achieve one, you're better off than you were before. I like reading what other people are working on this year, so here's my two cents:

1. Wake up before my kids

2. Take pictures more often

3. Make a quilt

4. Get a babysitter and go on a real date once a month

5. Take a fun class through PCC or Parks & Rec

6. Run safely: run with mace and ID for me & the kids

Here's a finished project we've been working on for a while: swings in the backyard! Birch finished the frame this week after Santa (his parents) gave us the swings for Christmas.

I don't think I ever posted about redecorating the kids' room. It's painted navy on the bottom with a white chair rail. All of our parents were a huge help with this project the weekend of Haley's blessing. I especially love the quilt and wall hanging my mom made for her. She did one for Trevor too that he still has.

Brothers Weekend

This last weekend was one for the boys: Birch's youngest brother came home from his mission so all four of them got to spend some time together. Lucky for me there were plenty of ladies to even things out, and we missed you, Sierra!

Last missionary to come home, what a proud mom and dad!

Most of the family--can you tell who the four brothers are?


Quick family picture before driving home to a warmer place. Maybe we're not cut out for the snow after all!

Someone told me once to remember to take pictures with your husband after the kids come. We'll work on not making it look too "engaged," but I love this guy!