Hair cut

I got my hair cut last week and I really love it. Its different that what I've had before. I got some bangs cut, and some brown with purple/red hues put in and with blonde highlights. It was quite and experience with the hair dresser though. I miss my other one.

Crafting with Lex

Lexie's boyfriend was out of town for about a week and a half. She was so bored and wanted to do something scrappy and memory like for her boyfriend. A few years ago, for Mother's Day I made a cute brag book type thing out of an Altoids tin. (Thanks for the make and take Andrea!) Anyway, I love it! So Lexie decided she wanted to do something like that, but make it manly of course . . . Jon says that isn't possible when you are doing something scrappy.

Well, this is what we came up with:

 This is the front of the tin

(His name is Ben, and sometimes she says, "Hey, B" instead of his name.)

This is what is inside the tin. The first page is a lyric from a song that means something to them. And she put pictures on one side and coupons on the other side. 

She is did a great job, with some tips from me ;) It's always fun to do projects with her. And its funny because we are always doing them late at night and we get a little loopy, (like last time we made V-day treats) and laugh at stupid things.

It's Finally Here!

SUMMER!

I've been waiting a long time! Today is the first day that I have felt Summer. Maybe, it was doing the same 5k that I did it. Last year, when I did this same 5k summer was in full swing. It was hot while running today. When we got home we set up the kiddie pool for the boys to play in.

Yesterday, they played on the slip n' slide at my parents.  Its fun to see my little sister and brother during the day, now that school is out.

While the boys played, I relaxed under the umbrella and enjoyed the nice breeze, for about 10 mins . . . until someone needed to pee and someone needed a snack, etc.

Jon went on a bike ride, then mowed the lawn just in time for us to get a call that we had someone who wanted to see the house. We had 40 mins to get the boys and Jon cleaned up, and the backyard and house clean. We headed over to Sammy's for their amazing pie shakes; I adore the banana cream pie shake!

Now, we get ready to have the missionaries over for dinner and make BBQ pizzas.

Welcome, Summer. I hope you'll stay for a while!

THREE 5k's!

This morning I did my third 5k of the summer. It felt great to meet that goal. And I did a couple minutes faster than the previous ones! It was 33 mins, about. Its hard to tell since they don't do the chip system, and I always start a ways from the start line. This was a more manageable run. I think my feat on this one was pacing myself well. When there are hills or other people (that I am competing with in my head), I tend to loose that pace, and then have no steam on the tail end.  I was able to pick up the pace at the end and sprint through the finish line.

Since my last 5k, I bought some running shoes. I feel like the shoes makes a big difference in how my body feels after the race. I feel tired, but not sore (well, thats a lie. My calves are a little sore, but that's because I am trying to run on my middle foot and not heel strike).

Rachel and I also went to a running technique class offered at a local running store. That was a great class. I learned a lot of things to change in my posture and what each thing will do to help be a more effective runner. I think that helped a lot with being able to make it to the end with some stamina. At the end of the class they showed us a race. We watched the last few laps and it was amazing to see the difference in the 2 leading racers, and how it affected which won. It really helped me to be able to hold the right posture til the end of the race.

It was nice to have my sister, Rachel, and my friend Callie in the race. It just makes me feel less lonely, although I didn't run near them.  But I think being on my own helps me control my pace better. The first half was up hill with a small incline. Then in the middle there was a steep, steep hill. Seriously, I felt like I was looking at a winding staircase. I was able to keep pace half way up that hill, where I started to walk. Then the rest of the route was down hill at a small incline and straight.

I am so glad I finished this goal! If I can start to train more and be consistent, then I'd love to do a longer race. But I haven't gotten the motivation to make it happen. Since I finished my goal earlier this year than I thought, I decided I am going to run another 5k in July.

Memorial Day 2010

This year we decided to just take it easy. We really wanted to head up to Idaho, but we just weren't feeling up to the travel and luggage and dealing with the kids away from home.

Jon got to come home early on Friday so we went to a mantinee and saw Shrek, the last one. It was a pretty fun to go as a family even though we didn't get to sit together.

Then we had a BBQ and games with our good friends, the Condie's.

On Saturday we just cleaned up, mowed, and cleaned cars. Jon went on a bike ride for a couple hours. And we went on a date. We went to a local theater where they put a play on of "To Kill a Mocking Bird". They did an amazing job; I am so glad we went. Then we grabbed some cookies and ice cream.

Sunday was nice. Neither of us had to prepare lessons so it was a relaxing morning. Then we came home, had an easy dinner and watched a movie.

Monday we decided that we would put the planters in. We were hesitating since we had an offer on the house and we didn't want to have to put money into that if it was going to sell soon. But the people decided to get a different house. I put flowers in the planters in the front about a month ago, but with all the rain and freezing temperatures most of them died. We bought the same ones to put in again. The flowers are really pretty and the leaves are dark dark green.  Too bad the flowers haven't bloomed yet. I love the heart shaped lime colored leaves, and the prickly looking plant. All the textures and colors make these my favorite choices for these planters. We also put deep purple and orange daisies in the other planters.

We also decided to plant the back planter, which has weeds and full sun.  We put weed cloth type stuff down. And chose the less pretty (in my opinion), full sun flower, like marigolds, and petunias.  But all in all I really like how it turned out. Maybe my favorite too. Ironic, since we are planning to move.

(Notices the large plant with purple blossoms? Its chives from last year. Its pretty, but there's always a faint smell. I am going to replace it, any suggestions?)

We finished just in time for a BBQ with my family. We played games in the backyard. I forgot how much I like badminton.  The boys were so tired. 

Max eating homemade chocolate ice cream without the spoon

Zac is mad that he had to eat dinner (a couple hours after dinner was over) in order for him to get some ice cream too

We came home put the kids to bed and I think we watched "The Blindside". GREAT movie! It was so nice to have a 3 day weekend without rain. And a thank you to all those who have sacrificed to give us the freedoms we have today!

 

Swimming Lessons: Zac

The boys have been in swimming lessons for the last 3 weeks. They have done great! They are both comfortable in the water, they like putting their face in and blowing bubbles, and they can both dive in and get to a back float. They also like to dive for sticks.

During Zac's second week of lessons, after his lesson was over he was playing on the stairs with the diving sticks, and got too far from the bottom step and was floundering just out of reach. The teachers were on the other side of the pool, with their current students (toddlers). I kept telling Zac to get on his back, but he was not in the mindset to compute that. I ended up stepping into the pool, fully dressed in jeans to get him. It was pretty much slow motion for me. I really did not want to get in. And to top it off, I couldn't go home. We were showing the house during the next 90 mins. So I ran to Wal-mart to get something dry to wear.

One time I took them to the rec center to practice their stuff, and they were both freaking out. I think because it was a new, unfamiliar place, but mostly because the water was cold. The pool they had lessons in was heated, like a bath. But after we practiced they were much better, when they got back to their lessons. I just wish it would warm up here to go to the pool outside and keep practicing!

There were a few teachers and we would have different ones depending on the day. This was their favorite teacher, Amanda.

This last week they were both having regular swim lessons instead of toddler lessons. Zac is working on form.

Floating on his back. They both still need to work on kick to get to the side of the pool.

Diving for sticks at the end of the lesson

Since I had to go in to save him a couple weeks ago (and 2 times last summer), after Zac's last lesson I wanted him to jump in with no one to catch him and get to his back float.  I wanted him to know that he could do it, with no help, and no one next to him. After 20 minutes of persuasion and a churro bribe, I got him to jump in the pool by himself, turn to float on his back and reach the side.  I was so proud of him, but proud of myself that I didn't just push him in after 15 mins of trying to convince :)

This is Zac breathing the right way all the way across the pool. Generally, after a rotation or 2 he will put his head up and ask how many more til he is to the side of the pool, and proceed to ask you about anything he can to distract from continuing the lap.