Walking in "da brudders" footsteps

So watch your step boys!!

I love these pictures and these little guys!

The Mom Store

It's Friday. The day we've all been waiting and working hard for all week! At our house this summer, it's the day we get to shop at the "Mom Store". I get tired of nagging all summer to continue with jobs and reading etc, so this year I modified some ideas from friends to help my kids stay motivated. Two weeks in, we're still going strong - HOORAY!

This is how it works. Throughout the week, the kids are able to earn tickets by doing jobs, reading, a little school work etc. I just printed some tickets up on print shop and they helped create little pouches for them hanging in our cupboard. On Friday the mom store opens. They can spend their tickets or save them for something "bigger and better". The kids have loved earning tickets and I've loved not having to nag so much. They've done a great job. Jacob bought a mini super soaker and Micah got a C3P3O (it's so cute to hear him say that!) pez dispenser this morning. Ben is frantically thinking of ways to earn tickets so he can buy what he wants! "What job can you do? Let's see....I just happened to have a list right here..." It's great. Just thought I'd share a way to beat those summer blues!

Tour de France

When we popped into France last Fall to see my parents, we literally popped in. It was after a long week in England with Phil's work and the amount of effort it took to get there drained us. There had been a fire in the chunnel, our desired route of transportation, so it took us from 6 in the morning to 11 at night with various trains, buses, ferries etc. to get across the water. We were exhausted and spent a total of about 4 hours in Paris, and a rushed trip to Cherbourg where my parents are on their mission.

Needless to say, we got just a taste...enough of a taste to leave us craving for more! We were lucky enough to have plenty of frequent flyer miles and great in-laws to watch the boys so that we could take another trip this week. It was fantastic! We got a much better taste this time of the culture of France and loved it. Here are my top ten highlights of our trip!

10 - The Art - We got to enjoy Musee du Louvre and Musee d'Orsay. Beautiful museums. It was a bit difficult to tackle the Louvre after flying all night! I think we walked around in a daze, but thanks to Rick Steves' guide book (highly recommended!), we were able to see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and other famous pieces. The ceilings alone were inspiring! We LOVED the impressionists of Orsay. Nice to see landscape scenes, as well as clothed people! We couldn't leave France without a picture of Phil with the Thinker. The Rodin Museum was in a beautiful area, especially the gardens. I feel a bit more cultured after our trip!9 - Chateau de Versailles - The history behind this place is amazing! I've been reading a book about Marie Antoinette in preparation for our trip and it was fun to see the actual places I'm reading about. The gardens of Versailles were my favorite.
8 - La Tour Eiffel - I just love this area. The Eiffel tower is huge and amazing to look upon. One night after a long, exhausting day, we just spent several hours around the Eiffel Tower catching different glimpses, watching people take pictures and just relaxing. I was trying to get the perfect shot - see which you like best! Oh by the way, eating fresh chocolate, banana crepes WITH whipped cream really adds to the venue!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
7 - The French Countryside - The 3 hour train ride, as well as touring the area where my parents live gave us plenty of opportunity to see the beautiful country of France. Lush, green and quaint with sheep and wild flowers a plenty. Loved it!
6 - Sainte-Chapelle - Imagine sitting in 13th century church, gazing up at the stained-glass windows surrounding you, listening to a Quintet play music by Vivaldi and Pachelbel. Yep! It was the perfect way to spend our last night in Paris together and an end to our trip!
5 - Cap de la Hague - A beautiful lighthouse on the coast near Cherbourg where my parents live. It was a beautiful evening and listening to the waves come in is heavenly! What a scenic place to live!
4 - Mont Saint Michel - An amazing abbey built on a rocky tidal island over a thousand years ago, Mont Saint Michel is something the French are very proud of. And they should be! We enjoyed taking a tour and were very impressed at the time and energy of many who would never see the finished product. Truly magnifique!
3 - The people of France - One of the dear sisters in my parent's branch had us over for dinner. It was just lovely to meet the people that they have been working with over the past year. I cried several times as I was touched by seeing the gospel affect the lives of these few in France. What a wonderful opportunity to feel the spirit even though I couldn't understand a word they said!!
2 - Mom and Dad! Aren't they cute!?
That's escargot my dad's got there (in it's freshest form - no he didn't really eat it!) After church on Sunday, we were at a member's home. As I went into the bedroom of her disabled son and watched him lead my mom and dad in singing I am a Child of God, in French, the tears started coming when they got to the "parents kind and dear" part. I'm grateful for the chance to see them at work again. They are such great examples to me and have been great servants of the Lord, and are wherever in this world they happen to be.
1- Phil - It's not very often that we get to spend THAT much time together, and I must say it was just about perfect. Thanks Phil!!

I Want to be a part of it

First Grade, FIRST GRADE!! Benjamin graduated from kindergarten yesterday. They had a cute little program. Here are some clips and photos.

"R is for reading all day long."

Sorry it's sideways again. Maybe I need to go back to kindergarten and learn a few things myself!! I don't know about the 100 children, and he says he wants to be an artist, not a dentist.

ConGRADulations Ben! You'll do great in first grade!

Batter UP!

Jacob has done awesome with baseball this year. He got on base almost every hit and had a few RBI's. Here's one of his hits last night (oops I guess it's side ways - I can't figure out how to change it. Sorry!):

Way to go Slugger!

I Stand Corrected

Ever since I pushed "publish post" on my last entry, I've wanted to delete it. It just left a bad taste in my mouth that I've been wanting to get rid of. And I realized why this morning. I used to run alone and liked it just fine, but I don't think my love of running came until I started running with friends. Exercise and therapy are definitely the best medicine for me, so what I should have said was "I love my running partners!" They are amazing women and so great that I'm going to introduce you to them now:

During the week I run with my friend Melanie. We started running shortly after we moved here. I was convinced Melanie had been assigned to me. I figured the Relief Society President had felt sorry for me in a new place and asked Melanie to fellowship me through running. Whatever the reason, I'm grateful! We started running a few days a week, then worked up to 5 and have gradually been adding on mileage. I don't know many people who would run in the falling snow or heat of summer with me, but we're starting to blaze a path in our hilly little loop in the neighborhood. Mel's gotten me through a lot of little ups and downs and I realized the past 2 days that life just isn't the same without my daily dose of Mel.

One of the people I looked up to when I was younger was my older cousin Denise. I never thought of myself as her peer, but I'm lucky enough to do so now. We've been running together for about two years on the weekends and I've loved it. We've decided what's said on the road stays on the road and I feel like Denise and I have had some great chats about life and it's challenges and joys. I think it's great fun to run with a relative and I still look up to Denise with new respect now that I know her much better. She is also my inspiration on race days. She is such a strong competitor and knows how to put on her game face.

For the longest time I said that I run with my cousin and her friend on Saturdays. But over those same two years, it's become my two friends. Lisa is our other Weekend Warrior. Lisa, mother of 5 kids, is amazing!! I've learned a lot by watching her dedication, not to running - though she is very dedicated, but to her kids and husband. Lisa is a great mom and weekly makes me want to be better. Lisa has great endurance, and it's been fun to do so many races together. I guess that puts the count at 3 who would and have run in the snow and heat with me!

I wish I had pictures of these beautiful ladies to post, but frankly we don't look all that great in the mornings - ok I speak for myself. I'm happy that my love of running has allowed me to get to know them because they truly bring joy into my life. And now I DO feel better! Really I just want my toes back so I can get back to my social life!! Thanks for everything ladies!

my little addiction

I have one pair of casual shoes, the seams are coming apart. I have 2 pairs of church shoes, 1 black, one brown. I have 2 pairs of sandals. And 4 pairs of running shoes. Now my addiction is not the running shoes, though I do prefer them to all the above, but the running itself. I love running. On an especially busy Saturday morning last month, in which I made time for an 11 mile run, Phil teased me that when the Second Coming arrives I will reply, "Just a minute, I've got to go for a run, then I'll be right there." To which I replied, "And the Lord would say, 'That's fine, I know you'll be happier that way.'" (They both know me pretty well.)

After that comment I shouldn't be surprised at my current status on the injured list. I've run through sprained ankles and many other ailments, but right now my TOES are keeping me from running. Yes, my toes! After a mile or two I get a sharp, throbbing pain in my toes. It's weird. For a while I kept running and just endured the pain, but I've been afraid I'm doing something permanent so I've been walking for the last few days. No offense to you walkers out there, I think it's great, but it's not my sport and I feel like fish out of water. And I'm embarrassed to report what a rotten mood I've been in the past couple of days. You'd think something was terribly wrong with me, but it's affected my physical, mental and social well-being.

On my walk this morning I had to notice a couple funny things about myself. I scowl at runners when I'm walking. Well, not really but I couldn't look any of them in the eye and mentally I was scowling as they casually ran past painlessly. I also noticed how competitive I am. Have you ever tried to catch up and pass someone while you're both walking? It's quite hard to do! So, I'm hoping my withdrawl is only temporary and that I'm soon back to wearing out those running shoes. Can I please have my toes back!?!?!?! Ok, I'm done whining. I feel better, kind of.