Just randmom updating

We had our first bonfire of the season the other day! True Oregonians only need a few minuted of sunshine to break out the s'mores!
I ran 13.1 miles! My first 1/2 marathon- and celebrated with LOTS of food! The same day as my race my Grandma turned 80! Here are the ladies of the fam...and Gabe- he felt left out

Great Grandma Me me and gracie....excited for cupcakes!

mmmmmmmmmmm chocolate

Not 80 cupcakes, but cupcakes shaped like 80! Grace- making banana bread with minimal help

So serious

One day Grace informed me that it was her doll Bethany's bday and that we needed to have a party. Luckily we already had friends coming over to help us celebrate!

Weekend in the snow!

We were so blessed and got to celebrate Josh's birthday at the Running Y ranch last weekend!

The first morning there Grace and I woke up early (grace woke me up early) and we baked Josh's birthday cake!A perfect morning of sledding. The snow was just right, and the sun was shining, we actually took off our coats!

Such a great daddy!

Last year Grace wouldn't even get on the sled. This year she was all about going "byherself!"

Beautiful day, beautiful kids.

Gabe went a few times, but couldn't decide if he liked it or not.

Grace and I made snow angels

Gabe did, however, like to eat snow.

A great morning!

Grace was fully in charge of Daddy's birthday cake

Happy 31 Josh!

Our view each morning

Swimming in the kiddie pool!

Grace has been talking about going ice skating for MONTHS. So we were excited they had a beautiful outdoor ice skating arena! When we got there Grace got cold feel (he he) and said she didn't want to try. We tried to convice her with no success. We actually walked to the car, started to buckle her in when she said "ok I'll go" and she did! She did great!

At Grace's request, Josh painted her toes and nails!

Cookies in bed! Yesss!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..

Ok first, I haven't actually read whatever book that came from- I don't think. So I apologize if I've miss-used it.

Why does everything that is so good have to be equally so hard? There have been so many times when a mother, who's kids are grown, will look at me and my kids with a soft smile (as they are destroying the napkin holder at Starbucks) and say something like "oh I miss those days, and you will too".

Both Grace and Gabe are going through "growing pains" right now. I learned in my adolescent health class in college that when the frontal cortex of a child is growing (which it does dramatically at age 2 and early teen years) kids get a case of just being, well, bad! And my kids' brains are growing! Our house is loud, arguing is frequent and the word "No!" is thrown around constantly between them and us. We were having a long day the other day and by lunch time I was at my wits end. Gabe threw his cup, grace tried to pick it up for him, he threw it back down and hit her on the foot, she hit him back. She was crying, he was crying and then when I picked him up he threw his lunch at me and I started crying! (just an example!)

There are moments when I feel disrespected, walked all over and unappreciated (not by josh- he is great!) I get tired, and count the hours till bedtime.

But then I think how great it is to feel needed. How much I know I'll miss having my kids at home, all the time, never having to wonder how they are doing or if they're ok.

And I love the fact that they haven't quite broken the threshold of the world yet, and are protected, safe, and blissfully happy. I love this phase and can't wait for it to be over! I don't want it to end, yet it drags on so slow! With all my heart I don't want them to grow up, or change or fly from the nest. I love their innocence, their joy, their sense of humor, their little laughs and little hands. I love them SO much. And I am realizing that the best things in life are the hardest. That nothing as good and sweet as their little faces, comes easy. I'm ready to embrace, breath deep, and appreciate this season!

borrowed kiddos

I borrowed the Riley kids for the morning and we had so much fun! The boys had snack time while the girls played dress up. Gabe wanted to be just like Caelan!

Gabe was surprisingly on his best behavior! I got to hang out with the "babies" for a while the big kids played upstairs

Happy girl!

The kids had fun playing outside (thank you God for sunshine!) And I got to make lunch, get evy to sleep and actually eat and pee! (a commodity when outnumbered!)

Caelan was a big helper!

Miss lulu - so fun!

Again the perfect baby!

The lunch I had prepped the night before :) Girl scout motto- always be prepared!

Happy Kids!

Grace is such a little mommy!

Her and Evy equally enjoyed cuddle time!

Thanks Riley's! Come back anytime ;)

and my kingdom awaits, they've forgiven my mistakes. I'm comin home, I'm comin home, tell the world I'm coming home.

Loving pdiddy's (or whatever his new name is) grown up rap

yay for couponing!

I know there are shows on TV right now about extreme couponing - sometimes even leading to hoarding. Well I'm not crazy but I love coupons! Today I went to safeway and got 4 boxes of raisin bran (which the kids and Josh love) for 70 cents each! Plus chicken breasts for 1.49 a lb and three salad dressings for 99 cents each! Then I got more deals with coupons at Fred meyers! It's a bit of work but soooo rewarding! I just subscribed to the paper this past week and I've more than paid for it already! (With the coupons it brings)

1/2 marathon

I am officially blogging it so I have to do it! On April 10th I am running a half marathon!
I went on my first run in a long time today. Ran just for time 36 minutes without stopping- so not bad! And for the first time in two weeks I am Hungry!!!! (like because I have been pigging out so much over the holidays I never have a chance to be hungry!)
Here's to skinny jeans!