the Autumn candle scent has done something to my brain

something about this time of year makes me want to reorganize, rearrange and redecorate my house and bake and cook a ton. Spring cleaning just doesn't happen for me, I don't get that cleaning bug in the spring but the fall, yes ma'am. And the bug has bit. I think it has to do with the fact that I pull decorations out this time of year but mostly because it starts to get colder and this time of year always makes me want to be cozy and I seem to reflect that in my house.
So as I have started to clean out closets, go through dressers, bring up the decorations and throw things away, I've had a huge urge to change up my house. I want to repaint. I want to rearrange my living room but we have a sectional couch and that is making it difficult to find a way that works. And I really want to do something like this


see those walls? But I'm thinking of maybe black instead of white. But white is so fresh and clean.


I'm thinking of even throwing a Halloween party for my kids. I don't like doing kids parties, what has gotten into me. AND I kind of want to sew or craft something. I gave that stuff up a long time ago. crafts = clutter to me so I better start taking measurements of my walls before I accidentally find myself in Robert's!

When prophets were dinosaurs.

This was during Family Home Evening
Me: Do you guys know what an Apostle is?
Abbey: (very anxiously and excited that she knew the answer) A dinosaur bone. I learned that on "Dinosaur Train".

we are becoming a family of tri'ers

My friends business, Lean Bodies Health and Fitness, had a corporate team in the triathlon Share a Smile, so I decided to join the team. And then after reading about the kids race, knew Cloe could handle it no problem and signed her up as well. The kids started first so I was able to watch her swim before our race started. My heart was bursting as I saw her swim across the pool, hop out and then run to her bike while taking off her googles and swim cap. I got a little choked up, it was so cute and I was so proud of her.
Then my race started with a 400m swim. It went well it's just always annoying when people don't line up according to their time and they are either too slow in front of you or too fast behind you. The bike was great and I felt good in the run as well. I can't say it enough, I love doing triathlons. I love the energy and the camaraderie before and after in the transition area, I love pushing myself and I love passing guys :) I took 7th place in my age group and our team took 1st! My time was 1:17:40



my dad flew in from CA to help CLoe with her first triathlon, she is at her first transition with the black helmet




can you see me swimming? I have a green cap and I am in front of the orange cone looking thing.




CLoe is learning what the best part of racing is, the free massage.

my sister also did the tri but it started to rain and she went around a corner too fast on her bike and slid out and wasn't able to finish. I would be so upset if I trained hard and couldn't finish.

we are back on schedule

I give up on trying to catch up, our summer pictures seem to be spread among 3 different cameras so I will use what I have and catch up later.
I was dreading the begining of school because I enjoyed not having a schedule, having lazy mornings, the warm weather and I enjoyed spending time with the kids. But of course now it's great :) They were so excited and loved looking over all their outfit possibilities. They all laid out a "person", so they knew what they were wearing in the morning.


Cloe is in 3rd grade this year and that feels overwhelming to me, her homework is starting to get more challenging, more serious. But she is a smart girl and I know she can handle it :)


Brody started 2nd grade and told me his teacher is cute. Hopefully that helps him stay motivated, maybe he will want to impress her with his smarts.



and then there is Abbey. Sometimes I still see her as my baby and she started Kindergarten. I enjoy having her home when the older 2 kids are at school, she is just a joy to be around. I teared up as I dropped her off at school, she was nervous and wanted me to hang around but I knew I had to leave her. She loves school and loves when she has homework.


and she was there for it all

I love this picture.

Poor Ella

but she is so cute with the chickens, she loves them so much, a little too much.

Alright, time to finally catch up on my blogging. I shall start with Brody's Birthday. I know, shame on me, I did not post on his Birthday with a special post dedicated to him, I guess we were having too much fun.
Brody turned 7 this year and he loves attention and loves presents even more so it was a countdown to his Birthday for him.
This is the breakfast he requested face and all

I wasn't planning on doing a party for him because I don't really like doing kid parties but when he said "how come I never get to have a party with my friends?" at 10am the day of his Birthday, I called a couple friends and invited them to come along. He told me everything he wanted to do Pirate Island, bowling, Build-a-Bear workshop and Payson pool. I told him to pick one and hopefully the cheapest one. He chose Pirate Island so we bought some cupcakes and made pirate themed goodie bags. The kids had so much fun and Brody felt special.







When Ryan came home, we went to dinner at Macaroni Grill (because we had coupons... mediocre food) and made it home just in time to eat cake, sing and head to bed.

new Star Wars lego ship


bb gun, sling shot and bow and arrow were at the top of his wish list, he received the safest one, bow and arrow with arrow tips made of styrofoam.

my garden makes me happy

garden notes for my sake



My sweat pea flowers finally started to bloom, I thought they would bloom more in June. They smell so good, they are my favorite flower and I wanted them in my wedding bouquet but they weren't in season. I would love to have these blooming under all my windows so I could smell them when I opened my windows.

I call this stage my teenager garden. They aren't little spouts anymore and they are starting to bloom and grow fruit.

My corn and broccoli are growing despite the odds. I learned the hard way that my chickens love corn, broccoli leaves and brussel sprout leaves. But there is now some wheat at the top of the corn (this is the third time it has had to grow back. I finally got the point across to my kids that the chickens are NOT allowed in the garden) and my broccoli is growing a very microscopic floret despite it's hardship with half leaves.


the culprits, but they do keep the bugs out except for the beetles I found on my cantaloupe today. I fed a few to the chickens as I plucked them from the plant and they would peck at the bug then wipe their beak on the ground, the bug must have some sort of defense mechanism?

i couldn't resist

took a hike

Earlier this week the kids and I hiked up to the "Y". It was a first for all of us and I have to say, I don't see what the hype is about hiking up to the "Y". I thought it was an awful hike. No shade, steep switchbacks, more danger when you get to the actual Y because my kids wanted to sit on it and move from location to location and I couldn't help but envision them sliding down the entire Y to their death and the view is so mediocre. I enjoy hiking and I love being in the mountains, this hike is just disappointing. But, in defense of hard core Y fans, this hike MIGHT be more enjoyable done without the kids and either early in the morning or at sunset, not at 11:15 in the afternoon.





it was so hot and sweaty, these snow cones were delicious. hit the spot big time.



Then today we hiked to "the grotto" in Payson Canyon, I love this hike with the kids. Shady, beautiful, easy terrain and a rewarding wadding pool and water fall at the end.



Since we were just down the road, I thought they might like to take a dip at Payson Lakes. I was so happy watching them swim and they were so happy swimming and playing, I could've sat their all day. We'll make a day out of it soon, such a beautiful place.

running out of 20's

Back in December I decided that I wanted to run a half marathon before I turned 30, so I found one that was near by and signed up. Seven weeks ago, I realzed the half marathon was lurking on the horizon and I needed to start training. I went for my first long run which was 6 miles and I was regretting that I had set such a silly goal and wanted to pull out. I stuck to it and of course, it became easier. About a week before the race I read the book "Born to Run", perfect timing, such an inspiring book. I dare say life changing. It totally changed my mind set about this race and I was ready and excited for the experience.
I got to the race at 6 am to catch a bus up the canyon to the start line. It was so gorgeous up in the mountains and the weather was perfect. The race started and I was cruising along, enjoying the scenery and my ipod tunes. By mile 6 I should've stopped for water but kept running and about a half mile later, I was feeling the need for some hydration. It wasn't until mile 8 that I was able to get gatorade and I made sure I grabbed a cup of water at every station after that. The only thing I didn't like about the race was the 2 steeper down hills. One was during mile 12 and my legs were too tired to open my stride, I didn't have it in me to be catching myself, flat terrain was desirable. When I passed the "mile 12" sign I did a fist pump in the air, I was so happy to see that sign and I still felt strong.

there I am, do you see me coming down the lane? So happy to have accomplished a goal and let's be honest, to be finished!


While training, I trained for distance and to condition my body to finish the race and not worry about time. Who was I kidding, I'm way too competitive to not worry about time so I was disappointed when i saw the clock at the finish line and it read 2:19:15. Bummer, that was slow! As soon as I stopped running, I realized how tired I was and sat in the shade for about 15 minutes.
The run was very pleasant and I really enjoyed it. Running is one of my passions and it makes me happy.
I knew if I didn't sign up in December when I found the race (and had the money for it) I may put off and end up not doing it. Signing up so early made me bib #1! It attracted a lot of attention, kind of embarrassing.