home is where your heart is

Florence will always have a place in my heart, I loved living there and if you give me the chance, I'll tell ya all about it. And sound like a snob in the process. Today on my picture a day blog I posted a picture of Florence because I was reminded of living there from a smell I came across. There isn't really a reason for this post besides that I was looking back on our Italy days on our blog and I was feeling nostalgic. It feels like home there (I feel perfectly at home here in UT, Italy just feels like one of our homes) and that it should be so easy to go back and visit and see friends but in reality, it is so far and expensive and the probability of going back soon is slim to none. So in the mean time, I will revisit through our photos. But I won't force you to by posting a bunch of throw back photos, but if you want, take a look at 2007 and 2008 of our archives. It was a difficult life but it was also such a great life there.
okay I lied, I couldn't resist a few photos
and I know this isn't the end of my nostalgic posts. They'll show up every once in a while.

YEsss!! no more preschool tuition.

Whenever I hear of school graduations that are not High school, college or 6th grade (leaving elementary school is kind of a big deal) I always think of Mr. Incredible and his opinion about having to go to his sons 4th grade graduation. "It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade.... It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity." I think all of these little graduations are silly. But at the same time, I thought it was also adorable and sad to realize that she is now a Kindergartner!


singing her little heart out. She had much more confidence this year compared to her last years performance.

i love to tri

I can honestly say that I love to do triathlons. Well not just any triathlon considering I have only done sprint distance races. Today a competed in my 5th triathlon. It actually ended up being a biathlon or is it duathalon, because of inclement weather. I'm pretty sure it would be called a duathalon....run, bike, run. It was the AF Woman of Steel and it is only for woman, i love that part, such sisterhood. I signed up for it in December and then in February we booked our cruise. So for 2 months, my workouts were focused on getting swimsuit ready for the cruise, then we went on the cruise in April and came home and my focus was more on losing the cruise weight. So I was then left with 4 weeks to train for the triathlon. I did what I could but I didn't feel like it was enough, I knew I should've been training harder and I just wasn't that into doing a triathlon. Actually a little regretful that I had signed up. It wasn't until this week that I started to accept it more and became more nervous and mentally preparing. I don't own a road bike, just a one speed vintage cruiser that I got for free that is way too small except for rides around the neighborhood. So I borrow my step dads mountain bike when I go for rides but for a triathlon I insist on renting a good road bike. It makes SUCH a difference to have a road bike and not a mountain bike! I picked my bike up on Friday and then picked up my race packet. They give out pretty good swag, the best goodie bags I've received are from the AFWofS. This little braclet came with our number "I AM A WOMAN OF STEEL" I drove the course as a refresher and thought that I wasn't ready for the bike course, I only trained on flat streets and this had a few hills.

Saturday morning I woke up to rain, good steady no break in the clouds rain. I just got ready like normal and headed to the race. It was cold. They announced they were canceling the swim portion (not sure why rain would interfere with a swim) and we would run a mile rather than swim the 300 meters. I was bummed because I can swim 300 meter about 4 minutes faster than I can run a mile. So that would just add more time. I felt good during the race and really enjoyed myself. It is a USA triathlon event so no headphones are allowed so it was just the road and my thoughts. It makes me happy to compete and push myself, I do surprise myself with what I am capable of doing. The race included a 1 mile run, 12.75 mile bike and a 5k run. I was a little dissapointed in the 5k. I knew I could run it at a good speed but after riding my bike hard for 50 minutes, I couldn't get my legs going for the run like I wanted to.
My final time was 1:27:51 and if your interested in my times they are here by the way, I am not yet 30 but because I will be on 12/31, I had to be in the 30-34 age group. I would have scored much better in my age group if I were with the 29 year old. like it really matters. my pace time on my run bugs me, I know I could've kept my miles under 9 minutes. I beat my last years time by 6:15 and that race was swim bike run. But I feel great today. I'm not sore or tired which I'm also impressed by. It feels good to know I'm fit and can do stuff like this when I don't feel ready. I feel very blessed that I have a healthy and strong body, I'm grateful that I have strong legs that allow me to run and bike and I know I'm blessed to be able to compete in races like this. Our bodies are amazing.

my set up. the orange backpack and bike with the white towel are mine.


more post race goodies. at the end of the race they had typical fruit, water, juice, cookeis but because it was a woman's race, they had Diet coke available as well. That would be the last thing I would want to drink at the end of a race. or pretty much anytime, not much of a soda girl. But we also got chocolates, a necklace and our shirt. These fancy fabric shirts are the new thing for races now. Luckily it fit this year because I ordered the same size last year and it was a belly shirt. click on the picture to see the necklace charm better.


cheeese. Me at the end of the race, gathering my belongings. I was there solo this year so I had to be my own photographer.

Everyone has a designated spot to hang their bike and keep their bag. The spots are marked by a pink piece of paper taped to the pole that indicates your name, age, city, etc and also a question "why do you tri?" You answer the question when you register for the race. My answer was "because I'm addicted" and I can honestly say, "I am addicted".

summer

I've pushed it to the back of my mind long enough, I can't avoid it it's bound to happen. The kids get out of school next Thursday! It is a bit of an adjustment for me to have all four kids, all day long but I've learned with planning and preperation, it all works out. Baseball/Softball, swimming and our city's "days" will take up a good portion of June and we all love to go hiking and swimming. But I want to keep their minds working and so I have been trying to figure out the best way to do our "sumer school". I found a great idea on this blog that I am attempting. I like the idea of having a themed week and the kids writing in their journal about things pertaining to the theme. I want Abbey to be more prepared for Kindergarten than Brody was (he was our trial run since we lived in Italy for Cloe's kindergarten year) and it would be cool if Brody read a chapter book by himself this summer. This is the website 30 days suggests to use for help with the different themes and this is where I'll pull ours from as well. Minus all the crafty fluff that she made for each kid, that will be damaged in no time when Brody throws a fit about having to do some math. So time to make the calendar and wish me luck, summer school isn't one of my strengths! Next task, the chore chart! why do I torture myself????
I'm open to suggestions, most of my ideas come from others so tell me what works for you.

a plethora of pictures

I hesitate to blog because of my picture a day blog. Would it be a bit of an overload? And then I have deep thinking, well deep thinking for me, type posts but never feel that I have the time to sit down and think and write my thoughts. Things have felt out of place lately. No, that isn't the best way to describe it, I guess I feel somewhat confused. I enjoy where we live, I enjoy my ward and the city is nice but it doesn't feel right anymore. I don't know where to go or what needs to change. I know I can pray for answers and direction but it's almost like I don't know where to start. My kids don't have real friends around here and I don't feel like I have a good friend, like the BFF type, you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I have friends and I enjoy the company of my friends and my kids also have friends that they play with daily, but will we really look back when we move? But then I wonder, "maybe it's me, maybe I'm the problem." I always feel like such a whine baby when I post my thoughts, or a heartless B-I-T........



I am not looking forward to school getting out. How about you? I'm looking forward to summer weather but not the constant entertaining. Have any good FREE ideas planned, I could use some. I need to plan some things out and it's time to make a more detailed chore chart. I keep reminding myself that I made it through last summer, I can do it this year. Props to home schooling moms. I love my kids more than anything but once you've tasted that sweet nectar of an afternoon "mom time", it's hard to go back to no personal space.

Some pictures of my kids doing their thang.

Abbey was totally rocking out to a song and singing with her eyes closed, I was laughing and had to secretly snap a picture while I was driving.



I bought a share from a co-op today for the first time. So cool. This was what I got for $18, we had the corn for dinner tonight, very tasty and Charlotte and I have about finished off the tangerines.

Charlotte hurt her leg at the park, going down the slide with Cloe. She wouldn't stand on it so we let her sleep on it but it was till hurting her in the morning, so after we picked up our produce I took her to the instacare. X-rays didn't show anything, so if it still hurts her Monday, I'll take her to our Dr.


She saw this cute little girl in the mirror and they rambled and spoke gibberish back and forth. Whenever I tell Charlotte that I love her gibberish the kids ask me if it's a real language and if there is a country where people really speak gibberish.

a highlight in our home, right now. Ryan made a deal with Cloe and Brody that if they stopped sucking their thumb, we could get a Wii. Abbey wasn't involved in the deal because I don't think she's ready to stop, I find greater success when i wait for my kids to be ready with certain things like potty training. Of course we talk to her about it and encourage her not to do it but she's not ready yet.
Anyways, the kids beg to play all the time which gives me some room to barter with them. They step out of line, all I have to say is "you wanna lose 10 minutes of your Wii time?" and it works every time. I also find greater success in bribing my kids. Say what you will, you can't deny that it works. It's human nature to work harder if there is a desired reward at the end.

Abbey's preschool Mother's Day Program

and this was Charlotte when I got out of the shower. Clothes pulled out of the dirty clothes, Cloe's shirt pulled on like pants and relaxing.

garden update/journal

I always try to use my front area which is "common area" maintained by the HOA but there is open space and the gardeners don't care, less weeding for them. I had some leftover pea seeds so I stuck them by the steps to possibly climb the railing? It wouldn't be devastating if they didn't produce veggies, I just wanted to give it a try and the more peas the better for me.

my cold weather crops are starting to grow. The green teepees are "water walls" and I have my tomato's in those.

My more productive box thus far. Spinach in the bottom corner and beans and peas along the edge. They weren't sprouting yet so I went out and bought some plants and now they are sprouting, we will have beans and peas coming out of our ears.

Some of my seeds. I realized I was doing my plants a favor by keeping them in the window. Not only do they get sun to grow but also the breeze and cooler temps that come in through the screen prepare them for the harsher conditions outside.

http://thebeehivebazaar.com/2010/03/21/come-have-a-wild-time/

I dig the beehive bazaar and I'm posting so you know about this cool event but also because I want to win free tickets to the opening party night for the VIP!

keep updated on the event through facebook

DAY 6

today's stop is Cozumel. While going through the pictures to post I discovered that we only have ONE picture. It was raining and all we did was shop. Our friends are sending us a CD of their pictures so maybe they will have some good ones, so until then I will put the rest of our cruise posts on hold.
:)

DAY 5

Today required another tender, which means the ship cannot pull up to the port so we have to take smaller boats from the ship to the dock. At our last stop that required a tender, we just went down to get on the boats when we wanted but this stop, we had to get a number. We found this out a little later than most so we were late to meet our tour group. But they took care of us and rushed us in a van to catch the bus with the rest of our group.
Belize, the only central American country that speaks English as their primary language. It was the poorest of all four stops and the most dangerous, one of our guides said that the homes made of concrete meant they had money. Not that I ever felt unsafe, but if I had to rate them, this would be the most unsafe. In the city, there wasn't much to see but we headed about an hour inland to the jungle. The tour guides were fun and very entertaining, they tried to make the bus a bit of a party, which didn't matter to us either way. They have cashew wine that they sell so they were giving everyone a sample and i got the impression from the reactions I saw that it wasn't the best tasting wine. I don't see how it could be, cashew wine, nasty. When we got off the bus, we had to rent water shoes that were nice and moist (gave me the heebie jeebies) and we hiked about 20 minutes through the jungle. The guides insisted on carrying all of the tubes for the ladies. It was a pretty hike and reminded me of a set at Disneyland. At the river, they gave us each a headlight and hooked us in trains. These guides worked hard, they swam along, ran back and forth and pulled us every wich way. Some spots were pretty shallow and our train was a little long so we would get stuck, their big thing was "butts up", Ryan didn't seem to quite get the hip thrust idea and dragged his butt and got us stuck. While we were in the caves it was really dark and I tried not to think of what was swimming under me because I couldn't see a thing. But there didn't seem to be much in this river. After we got out of the caves we floated by ourselves which was entertaining because a lot of people don't get the concept of how to paddle, it was also relaxing.
We finished and got back to the bus and they drove us to their little picnic/ATV location where they had a Belizian, lunch. It was chicken and rice, yellow rice with some green beans and it was seasoned very well, tasty.
They dropped us off at the port and we walked through their market, I found a little clay nativity that had BELIZE carved into it. We were offered drugs, hair braids, massages and a freshly cut open coconut mixed with rum but we passed on all of them.
We caught a boat back to the ship and I decided on a lovely nap. I woke up just in time to get ready for dinner. One thing I loved about this vacation was I could take a late nap and not have to worry about staying up too late. I had to remind myself that it was okay to be up pass 11:30, 12 or even 1. We watched a little show that 2 break dancers put on and then headed over to the comedy show.


the cemeteries are 3 feet under and 3 feet above ground.

cashew wine for everyone.





just wanted to take a swim before getting out. And maybe needed to pee a little also.




.

DAY 4

got up, worked out and ate too much for breakfast, but dang it was good. Today we docked at Isla Roatan, Honduras. The port was misleading, when you first get off there were tons of shops and buildings that were colorful and new among the jungle. Then we had to walk passed all that, up a hill and through a security gate to meet our tour guide and I noticed a concrete building with windows but no glass and people looking out the windows. I asked our tour guide what the building was for because I was unclear about what these people would be doing hanging out in a vacant looking building. His response, "it's a house, they live there." And I couldn't help but ask when we saw the next building, "and that is also a house?", sure enough. The more we drove, the houses did get better but I was shocked at the conditions these people lived in. It was the four of us in the van and according to Ryan, Jess and Ryan, I ask too many questions, I was curious about their culture and way of life and if their were mormon missionaries on the island.
Our activity for the day was "zip and dip". We were going ziplining over the jungle, sounded cool until it came time to suit up and climb the stairs to the first platform. I've lost my sense of adventure, four kids waiting at home will do that to you. After getting the hang of it, it was so cool, so fun. This was my favorite excursion by far. Our guide was awesome. He had to stop us, even the guys. When we would reach the platform, he would reach out and catch our ropes and brings us to a stop and then get us up on the platform. Our tip wasn't nearly enough but we did what we could. The zip line company also had monkeys that you could hold? play with? not sure what to call it. We were in their cage forever, it was so funny and all I kept saying was "the kids would LOVE this".
We then headed to the beach but first decided to stop for lunch to eat Honduran food. We ate at a seaside reasturant and had conch soup and fish tacos. big servings and yummy food. We then went to a free beach that was descent. Okay, I'm picky when it comes to beaches, I actually find beaches without waves boring. I grew up going to the beach all summer and I love being in the waves, when there are no waves, it's like being in a lake. To me ocean equals waves. I did take a dip because I was sweaty and althought there were no waves, I still love the saltiness of the salt water.

what? I'm not nervous......

taking the first jump, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.........






our tour guide


Just to show how amazing he was, Ryan (our friend) got stuck and he came down and PULLED him up the zip line. It was hilarious, we were dyeing of laughter!! He stopped and started to pull himself up the line then our tour guide came down and wrapped his legs around Ryan and pulled him up while Ryan just dangled there nice and relaxed and notice his feet are practically touching the ground! Sometimes I think of this and it makes me crack up up randomly to myself, such a highlight of the trip.

Then on one of the lines, he wanted me to go with him, not sure why, but let's be honest we all know why someone would want me hooked to them wile zooming across the jungle. Well we didn't quite make it to the platform and I was left to just hang there while he grabbed the line and pulled us up to the platform. I felt REALLY light and like a little skinny 105 pound mother of 4. yeah right!

here he is enjoying the ride.


then the monkey's

Jessica tried giving the monkey a small piece of her apple and it ended up stealing the whole thing from her bag. She wasn't about to get it back, it would probably bite her and we've all seen the movie "Outbreak".

It was cute when the first monkey curled up on my lap and rested but when the second one climbed on my arm, all i could think was "oh sick, his butt hole is on my arm. bleh!"

they loved her bag.


we bought the kids some gifts at the little shop and then picked a coconut up off the ground, another free souvenir that they will think is so cool.



cooling off in the lake, I mean the ocean. Seriously though, who complains about that? Such a beach diva.



At dinner we were talking to our maitre 'd because he is from Honduras and asking him questions about his country and what not and we got on the subject of food and he told us about ceviche. It is raw fish, shrimp, squid, marinated in seasonings and lemon juice and the juice apparently "cooks" the fish. Then he came out with a plate of it for us to try! It was good. Just an example of how amazing the staff is on the ship.