nothing great and monumental

I think I might try this blogging thing again. I'm not promising anything great and wonderful or super exciting but I'm thinking about giving it another shot and seeing how it goes. We'll see.

Austen

I finally did it. I read my first Jane Austen book. I finished it today.

And . . .

I loved it!

It took me a few chapters to get used to the language

but once I did, it was easy sailing.

But . . .

I'm pretty sure I didn't catch a lot because I just didn't know what a lot of the words meant but I'm just not going to read with a dictionary in the other hand. I'd never finish a book. I just move and get the jist from the rest of the sentence.

(Am I the only one that does this?)

So, I'm safe as long as I've seen the movie first.

p.s. Now that I can compare, the movie was very well done. It stayed true to the book. Now I want to see it again. I'm not sure I can talk Adam into that.

Fav quote, Edward said it,

"Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or other. If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy and graceful, I should not be shy."

Imperfections

So here's the deal. Its been a month, yes a full month, since I posted. I sat down tonight determined to do a post and get back into the habit. As usual I go to my pictures first to choose something to post about.

I like to include pics. Its a weakness.

I've looked over this month's pictures, last month's and January and . . . nothin' but crap

(mom, you're no longer allowed to ground me for saying "crap").

The backgrounds look awful, the kids look a mess (heaven forbid I get a pic BEFORE they destroy the mom-made cuteness) and someone is ALWAYS picking their nose (Joe), flashing underwear (Grace) or running around half naked (Ella). Ugh!

I've come to terms with these imperfections and have decided to post, for the sake of far away family, pictures with the least amount of nose picking, underwear and nudity. When I look at many of the pictures to come I see the imperfections in myself and hate to show them to the world. But let's be honest, the world's not reading this blog. I doubt ten people are reading this blog. So, forgive my absence and my awful pictures. They're the best I've got (oh, that's sad)!

Pain You Enjoy

Its official!

We registered, paid and chose a new training schedule.

(Yes, I said WE.)

I will, once again, begin writing about running/training but will try to keep it on happyme so y'all won't get thoroughly annoyed and/or nauseous.

Warning: I will be writing some about body shape, body image and body changes as I train so if it bugs you when a "skinny" person talks about that kind of stuff, then don't look.

Happyme is "mainly, mostly just for me" so I write about what I want and how I am feeling about . . .stuff.

Y'all have been warned. No fair hating me for something I write there!

Wish us luck!

Best Compliment

This week my sister and I were discussing what we thought our dad might like for his birthday. We talked about the things he asks for every year (literally since our memories began) socks, ties, running shorts. Then Audra said the sweetest thing.

"I wish I could get dad what he really would love, a plane ticket to visit you."

I felt instantly loved and included, which I don't sometimes since I'm so far from home. I know my family loves me and misses me too but its nice to be reminded sometimes. Thank you my sweet sister!

Happy Birthday Dad!

(that post is coming, promise)

Why oh Why

I've been going over and over in my head why I'm not blogging.
I think I've discover it!
My parents taught me right. Blame them!
I heard a gazillion times in my childhood that, "If you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all."
That's it!
I have been in a terribly sarcastic mood and funky rut for months now! So instead of being sarcastic, negative and/or whiny, I just keep quiet.
So there you have it, my grand revelation! with no picture because, because, because . . . just because. (see, "if you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all)

The Most

I have a friend, Denae, who asked the question on her blog, "What's the most tender thing you've ever seen?" I gave the question I quick thought, couldn't decide, then went to find my chiming cell phone. When I returned to the computer our random pictures screen saver was on. This picture was on and I instantly thought of Denae's question.
This happens to be when Joseph was born. For one reason or another I don't have this picture with the girls but I'm so glad I have at least one.
This is how I see my children for the first time. I only have one free hand and about a minute before the baby is whisked away. The nurses hand the baby to Adam and he brings them to me. And for the first time, still feeling the warmth and tugging of the surgeon and the OB doing their thing, I get just a moment with my newest heart throb. Just a moment to meet and savor this brand new person I love so deeply and completely.

These are the best moments. These are the moments that make me, yes me, cry. And the tears collect in the ears, just like the country song. And then Adam and the baby are gone. I stay behind for a while longer, then post-op, warm blankets and chills, the "good stuff" in my IV, then nurses and doctors and visitors and more nurses. The moment is gone and parenting and growing up begins.

These are my most tender moments.

And yours?

Ogden Marathon 2009

Wait, I know what you're thinking because that was my first thought too. Ogden? Who would want to run through Ogden? Actually the course was beautiful! The entire event was incredible start to finish.
Once upon a time, eight months ago, Adam said, "I'm going to run the Ogden Marathon in May." I, apparently having a really good day, replied, "How cool. I want to run it too. May? What day?
"May 16th", came his answer. "Perfect", I said. "We should run it for our anniversary. Now that would be a cool thing to do together." Agreed!
And so it began. Seven and a half long months of running and running and running. After six weeks we were forced inside by snow and spend the next four months scheduling our days around sharing a treadmill. Me and that treadmill, we have a love/hate relationship. I hated being forced to run inside on 13 mile days but found it difficult to part when the weather warmed in March. Running paths and sidewalks scared me and . . . it was going to hurt again, wasn't it? Yes. And it did!
March marked an increase in mileage. Long run Saturdays went into double digits and didn't come back down. We found ourselves running further and further, exceeding our own expectations and loving the sense of accomplishment we were feeling. We were able to run together occasionally but mostly alone. Thankfully, grandma Vickie and fam agreed to watch the kids for runs 15 miles and longer. I loved being able to do those runs with Adam.
Skip to race day.
Alarm sounds at 3 am and we pop right out of bed. Eat, shower, dress, sunscreen, eat again, check and double check the checklist (SportShield, blister powder, Chapstick, ibuprofen, GU, sunglasses, running hat, bib, race chip, watch, drop bag, bandaids, ipods). Bags in the car and by 3:45 we're off. We made good time though anxious that parking would be a nightmare and we'd miss the buses. Parking was close and easy and we made the buses in plenty of time (4:50 am). By this time I can NOT eat anymore bagel or banana and drinking slows down so we're not having to stop and pee every mile. The bus ride takes almost an hour but the bus is warm and I finally relax. I actually fall asleep for a while. Now all we have to do is run. We can so do that!

We reach the "full start" at 5400 feet elevation in the dark. There are only 2000 runners (compared to St. George's 7000) and more port-o-lets than I've ever seen in one place. There are fires going and we look like "huddled masses" around them since it is so stinkin' cold. I'm talkin' see your breath cold. Brrrr! The sun starts to rise and we see our beautiful surroundings more clearly. As the sun hits us we warm almost instantly. They announce the clothing drop truck in leaving in five minutes so we're forced to shed our sweats but at least its time to line up. We find our pace group and at 7:02 am we are off. The first ten fly by but we are keeping to our pace pretty well. The next ten don't fly but they pass quickly. We run around PineView Reservior and through little mountain towns. We come to our only "hill" at mile 14 and kick its trash. At mile 17 we head down Ogden Canyon and its incredible. At mile 22 we exit the canyon and things flatten out. The going gets a little rougher at 22 and 24 but not as bad as I was expecting. I was able to avoid "the wall" entirely and was able to enjoy the sites and the people.

The kids spent the night at grandma and grandpa's house. They and the whole family brought the kids to cheer us on.

(Ella's sign says, "Ella says: Go mom and dad! GOOD JOB)

Ella has gotten very into our training and all the excitement. She was a little disappointed when I explained that kids shouldn't run marathons but when she gets older we'll run one together. She seemed okay with that answer. She wants to run a Kids K this summer. Pappaw will be so proud.

The family made signs for us. The kids were pretty excited.

I promised one running picture and here it is. Unfortunately there isn't a single running picture that we could both agree to post so this is all you get. I'm waving to the kids.

We came across the finish line together (though not holding hands, our last name in not Hallmark). I felt myself getting misty eyed but my brother-in-law, Sean, saved me. I heard him call our names for a picture (just the distraction I needed).

I wanted water and Adam wanted ice. We got our water, ice and our finisher medals.

I wondered at the time how long I'd keep the medal. I'm not the nostalgic, keeper-of-stuff type. In the days since I've decided that I'll keep it forever.

Running our first marathon was incredible. In retrospect, even the training was so cool is many ways. The weekly sense of accomplishment is addictive. The pride I felt when we finished was the same as the day we graduated from college.

Just as Adam and I shared graduation day, we shared this day too. I am so thankful to have done this with Adam. I don't think I would have endured the seven months of training without knowing Adam was doing it too.

I must admit that I've been lost these past two weeks. I realized how dependent I became on "the schedule." Schedules work for us. We want to run some shorter distance races this summer and do some speed work, just for a change.

I want to run the Top of Utah Marathon this fall. I think I could be hooked. Hooked on the security of the schedule, hooked on fighting my 30's, hooked on the accomplishment, hooked on the feeling you get from being at the start with thousands of others that just trained like you've trained and feeling respect for those complete strangers, hooked on my local running store, hooked on Sauconys and really comfortable running socks, hooked on a really good sweat that keeps all the little hairs from getting in your face and hooked on the way Ella bragged to her classmates at school so that when I came for my regular volunteer day they clapped and cheered and gave me hugs.
It felt good y'all. Real good! I have a marathoning friend, Courtney, who I can only hope to keep up with one day, who wrote me once that finishing her first marathon was the coolest thing she'd ever done besides her wedding day and the days her babies were born. I must admit I thought she was nuts. I still thought she was nuts race day afternoon. In the two weeks since, I've decided she's exactly right.

Tomorrow morning I will strap myself to a new schedule, tie on my RIDEs and begin again. I can't wait!


p.s. The good outweighed the day that day but there was still bad.

1) At mile three I felt a strange rubbing on the little toe of my right foot. I finally put a bandaid on it at mile 14 but it was already a pretty impressive blister. That spot NEVER blistered before. I'm baffled.

2)I discovered that my stomach disapproved of my marathoning. Its voiced its disagreement after mile 10 or so and clean through that evening. Again, baffled. I took EVERY precaution.

3) I hate GU. The stuff nearly makes me vomit. It takes a lot of GU to run 26.2 and feel decent. gag!

4) Water from heavy duty plastic bag looking things tastes NASTY! PowerAde made with water from heavy duty plastic bag looking things tastes nasty too.

5)Despite my running shoes being 1 1/2 sizes bigger than my regular shoe size several of my toenails KILLED for a couple of days. Thankfully I'll get to keep them though.

6) Running downhill LOTS can hurt too. Don't forget to train uphill and downhill.

Even if you don't think you can, you can. You are the only one stopping you. Eight months ago I couldn't run a block, literally, not a block. Find a schedule, do what you can, listen to your body and "go man GO" (name that movie).

Thank you to our friends and families for all your love and support. Thank you for the babysitting, encouragement and advice. Y'all are so cool!

Ogden Marathon 2009 . . . almost

I promise I have not forgotten about my promised marathon post. I am trying to collect a few pictures to put with the post. I really like to have pictures with my posts whenever possible and yes, I'm aware I'm a little spazzy. Painfully aware!
There is a picture or two trapped in my phone and I CAN NOT get them out. Any ideas of how to get a picture in "Saved Messages" to save to the little memory card in my phone? I'm nearly to the point of digging out . . . the manual (gasp). I'm that desperate.

I WILL figure this out and and soon. Promise.

10th anniversary con't

My pictures are a mess but I was able to dig out a few.

Amy, me and Chrissy - awesome chicas!

Brent, Adam and Lance
We still see these guys and their fams pretty regularly.



Me, Ella and Adam in the Bahamas on an adventure. We moved there for Adam to flight instruct, which didn't end up working out (aircraft safety concerns, I was preggo, lack of regular paycheck) I should do a Bahamas post one day. It was a fun adventure.

I've got ten years worth of pictures in several places around the house and in storage. I would love to get them organized but that will certainly have to wait for another day and possibly another decade.

10th Anniversary

Adam and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last week. May 22, 1999 was a big day. May 22, 2009 was totally ordinary and perfect. Adam went to work, we lazed around the house, we took the kids swimming and I opted for pizza instead of cooking. See! Ordinary and perfect.

We "celebrated" our anniversary last weekend with a short little run (Ogden Marathon, post coming soon) and a lovely night at a b & b. I love, love, love b & b's.

10 Tidbits that made our Wedding One-of-a-Kind

1. Three days before getting married we left SLC and drove straight through to his grandparents house in Kansas City, MO. We thought it would be fun to catch a Royals game but were so tired we only made it though six innings.

2. His grandma (GG to our kids) woke me up the next morning with a knock, knock on the door and a "Wake up, sleeping beauty." in her sweetest voice. We love GG and Pop.

1. We got married in St. Louis, MO. Missouri has a three day waiting period for marriage licenses. We didn't have three days to wait. We hit the first courthouse in western Missouri(Jackson Co.) and prayed some judge would give us a marriage license. Thankfully the first one did. Interestingly enough, Pop went with us to get our marriage license.

2. We'd allowed the whole day for the three hour drive from KC to STL just in case judges were being stingy with marriage licenses that day. We'd planned to hit every county courthouse until someone said yes. Since the first one said yes, we had time to kill so we drove up to Liberty, MO to the visitor center there. Very cool!

3. The day we got married I remember driving to the temple with my mom and dad. My dad commented that I was the coolest (not nervous) bride he's ever seen. He also reassured me that if I wanted to back out, I was welcome to. (My parents really do like Adam, promise.)

4. The photographer we'd planned on, who wasn't coming since she had a daughter in the hospital, ended up coming but forgot film in the rush to get there FROM THE HOSPITAL (the woman's a saint). Everyone scavenged their cars and purses and came up with six rolls of film. We both got sunburned while Janette took six rolls of gorgeous pictures. After we finished, she handed us the film, congratulated us and, I assume, returned to the hospital.

5. We then changed clothes and drove the five hours to Memphis where our reception was waiting for us at mom and dad's. The house looked gorgeous.

6. My brother, Ben, was away serving a mission in Canada when we got married. A guy owed my dad a favor and made a life size cardboard cut out of Ben. It was hilarious to have "Ben" standing in the corner and more hilarious to see people momentarily mistake it for the real Ben.

7. We parked the car in the garage and locked all doors leading to the garage. Only my immediate family knew how to get into the garage. My dad sold us out and our friends (Lance, Brent, Chrissy and Amy) worked a number on our car. In the process, Lance ruined the tie he was wearing (that's he'd borrowed from Adam, funny huh?) Adam was ticked when we found the chocolate syrup and Oreo mess but Jeff (trying to impress my sister) washed it for us so Adam wouldn't ruin his tux. Thanks Jeff!

8. We spent the night in Memphis at the Adam's Mark Hotel (which everyone thought was wildly funny.)

9. Then Sunday morning we drove down to the Gulf (at some point Adam woke up to me doing about 90 and flipped out) where we stayed for four days. When the people at the hotel found out we were newlyweds they comped the room for us. So sweet of them. We had a fabulous time. I love the Gulf!

10. My dad was sweet enough to give us his "TOTAL" gas card to pay for the gas to and from Gulf Port. There were a million TOTAL stations in Memphis in the last nineties and absolutely none between Memphis and Gulf Port. We didn't charge a dime to his card but it was the thought that counted. Thanks dad.

Thank you everyone for all the driving you did. No one got away with less than ten hours of driving while Adam's family drove over 60 hours that trip.

Thank you, Janette, for leaving your 12 year old in the hospital to take our wedding pictures. I love them so much.

Thank you to our friends Brent, Lance, Amy and Chrissy for making such long drives to our wedding. They all have their own funny stories to tell from that trip.

Thank you mom and Vickie for making bride's maid dresses and to my mom again, for making my wedding dress and veil. I love, love, love my wedding dress. And was so glad to share my veil with my sister when she got married last year. Can you feel the love?

These last ten years have gone incredibly fast and unbelievably slow. We've moved 11 times, lived in two countries, three states (with a child born in each) and nine cities. We both graduated from college and Adam is on his second career, both of which he has loved. We've driven cross country more in ten years than lots of people do in a life time. We love adventures and are willing to do something different to accomplish a goal. I am here to push and pull Adam outside himself while Adam reminds me to relax and have fun. We kiss in public and do our best not to settle into a married/parental routine. I am thankful to have so much more than a roommate and a co-parent. I have a best friend, a lover, a confidant, a sounding board, a therapist, an editor and a motivator. Man, did I get a great deal, or what?

If you read all the way through this you are truly a good friend (or just plain bored). Now go kiss your husband/wife just because and don't forget your own anniversary.

p.s. Did I mention that I got caught in the automatic sliding doors when leaving the temple? Oh, it was . . . totally not embarrassing! Not at all!

Genius

Isn't it funny how kids pick up on things we, as parents, do and say? For example,

We were in the car today on our way home. We were waiting behind another car waiting to take a left. We been waiting about 30 seconds when Ella says, "Let's go genius." Despite my best efforts I laughed out loud.

Then to amaze and amuse me further, she starts singing along with Taylor Swift and knows every word to "Our Song" . Is that child sitting back there in her booster six or 16?


p.s. After school Ella informed that I didn't look old or young, just medium. "Like, ummmm, 39."

Taking Requests

It has been requested that I get my tail in gear and start blogging a little more often. I have already warned the requesters that my life is wonderfully boring right now and I'm a touch ornery but willing to blog. I can not guarantee my posts won't be strange, boring, random and/or angry.

If you are okay with the before mentioned "strange, boring, random and/or angry" then welcome back.

Spring in Full Swing

Since the weather turned warm this week the tree outside our bedroom window finally went into full bloom. The birds around our place must love it because they sing to us all day.

Love, love, love it. For the past four mornings I've awoke to birds singing outside my window and a slight breeze rustling this tree. I could lay in bed all day and just listen. I don't but I could.

So, here's to the wonderful coming of spring (even if it is turning cooler this weekend).

Hallelujah!

Can I Have My Life Back Now?

Last weekend Adam rented "Twilight". I wasn't dying to see it but willing. And . . . I liked it. I forgot to return it by the next evening so decided to watch it again. And then . . . .

( Number three, Eclipse, was my favorite.)

I HAD to read the books. Luckily my mom-in-law bought them all so it was easy to get my hands on them. It took me about a week to read all four and I love, love, loved them.
Adam is terrified I'm going to turned into a full-on Twilight freak but I'm pretty sure I've got it under control.

If you haven't read them, GO NOW. GET THEM. READ. Let you kids watch too much Zach & Cody or Mickey Mouse Club House for a few days and indulge yourself. You won't regret it.

And then you can have your life back.

(I just got mine back and its filled with grocery shopping, laundry, bathrooms, vacuuming and more laundry. I need another good book series to lose myself in. Suggestions?)

Punishment

I know I promised to keep the running talk on happyme but I had to share this one.
This past Saturday's run was 18 miles. Adam and I RAN EVERY STEP of 18 miles and it felt good. Relatively good, as good at 18 miles can feel.

I am so dang proud of us. We only have one really long run left before the big day in May.

Now you're wondering, why is this post titled "Punishment"? Punishment because my body is totally punishing me for making it run 18 miles. My knees have screamed at me all day and I wish they'd hush up. The rest of my body decided to show me whose boss during a short and easy four today. I worked for every step of that four miles today.

I am hoping and praying that my body can get over its vengeful issues before tomorrow's nine.

Hoping and praying. Hoping and praying.

Upon Request

As requested by my younger brother, Sam, here are the pics of my hand from the last few days.

I woke up one day last week and had, what felt like, two burns on my left hand but I didn't remember burning myself.

By bedtime, both spots had begun to blister.
And I woke up to this. And they freakin' hurt.
I drained them but they didn't got away and they didn't start to heal.
The next day another small one appeared on my right hand (sorry no pics).


The doctor thinks its a staf infection. She sent "a sample" to the lab to make sure and gave me an antibiotic to get started on. The blisters seem to be getting a little better.
Sam, I'll keep you posted. Thank you for the concern and I love you.

Upon Waking This Morning . . .

There are a handful of people who, upon waking this morning said, "I think I'll try my best to annoying Emily out of her mind today." They did an awesome job!

Okay, that was a little dramatic since the people are nearly strangers but that didn't make them any less annoying today.

I'll be giving you the "Reader's Digest" version of these stories so as not to annoy you out of your mind.

Today was picture day at preschool. I made sure the form and check made it safely into a "teacher's" hand this morning. Somewhere between the teachers hand and the photographer's hand the check disappeared. GREAT! that's awesome!

Angie (who I carpool with and drove today) was sweet enough to go back up to the school, talk face to face with the really annoying people, get frustrated and write them another check.

That is annoying enough but in the midst of all this Angie accidentally discovered that the supervising teacher (who is pregnant but not due until April) got put on bed rest THREE MONTHS AGO! They didn't feel it was important to let the parents know that there would be a sub in the school for the rest of the school year. I knew I hadn't seen her in a while but since I only drive once a week and the monthly newsletters kept coming home signed "Summer" I assumed I was just missing her. Nope, no!

I have been toying with the idea of pulling Grace out anyway since the work they were doing has become "non-educational" (like devoting a whole week to fairy tales then spending the week talking about Disney movies). Today was the last nail in the casket for me. I am happy to say that Grace will finish this month (since I already paid for it) and then be done with preschool. That, my friends, will be money well saved!

Next, Ella had a tonsillectomy last week (that post will come tomorrow). She's been remarkably well until today when she started to get some drainage and the pain really kicked it up a few notches. (Isn't she so stinkin' cute?)

About 4 pm I called the doctor's office to ask about the increased pain. I'm asked to leave a message on the nurse's voicemail. Great! I'd love to (please note the sarcasm). Two hours later the PA finally calls back and said there was some mix up with the phone numbers (note - he called me on my phone.) Anyway, after talking to him, him calling some pharmacy then calling me back, he decided to change her pain medication. Great. He was going to call the prescription into the pharmacy and I could go pick it up. Double great. Until I got to the pharmacy 30 minutes later and NOTHING! It hadn't even been called in yet. By this time its 7 pm, my kids are getting cranky since bedtime is upon us and the doctor's office is closed, all calls go straight to voicemail. UGH!

Since I'm not going to/can't wait indefinitely at Walgreen's I put everyone back in the car and head home. I notice I have a voicemail but didn't miss a call which means Adam forwarded the message to me from his phone. It is a nurse at the doctor's office saying she tried to call me four times but it was busy and how it is so much better to talk in person but she guesses she'll just have to leave a message as a last resort. (Really? What cell phone on earth gives a busy signal, it would just roll to voicemail if I missed the call and I did not miss FOUR calls since I was WAITING FOR THE CALL.) My phone number doesn't have a Utah area code but it is a similar area code and is often mis-dialed. Don't be all condescending to me when YOU can't dial correctly, four times. If I didn't write 8 0 1 as the area code it probably means my area code is not 8 0 1!

Okay, I'm done.

Except to say that I just called the pharmacy again out of curiosity and her prescription is ready and waiting. That's wonderful considering Adam's not home and all my kids are asleep so I can't go get it. P E R F E C T!

I guess half an hour is too quick to expect someone to call in a prescription for a six year old in pain.

Silly me!

Okay, now I'm really done.

p.s. I'll be fine tomorrow and happily posting about our first tonsillectomy ever! promise.

Life is Consuming . . . .

Life is consuming my . . . well, life. Ever feel like you're busy all day and half the night and you barely scratch the surface of what "needs" to be done? Welcome to my life!

I'm working on time management and prioritizing and therefore will be rejoining the civilized world. And by civilized world, of course, I mean the blogging world. I can't promise exciting and life changing posts but I'll do my best.

FYI, I'm finding that this little goal Adam and I set for ourselves for our 10th anniversary is terribly consuming (time, mind, body everything consuming). I'm finding that I NEED to talk about it b/c it is such a big part of life right now. So, as not to bore and/or annoy I'll try to keep the running talk exclusively on happyme. Click at your own risk!

Like Father Like Daughter

I wasn't going to blog today because I'm so stinkin' tired but I just HAD to share this.

If you know my dad very well then you know he is famous, or is that infamous, for bumping his head.

So, this afternoon I was heading out the front door to watch the kids play out front. I opened the front door and whacked myself in the head with the front door. I (not so proudly) admit, I cursed (thankfully the kids were outside). It freakin' hurt! And now I've got a goose egg on my forehead.

I mean honestly people, who whacks themselves in the head with front door?

ME

Dad, I appreciate you passing on your height and build to me but you could have kept the whole head bumping thing. At least I'm in good company.