Thoughts On a Saturday

I bought new mascara.  I always go for the brown tint, because I'm whiter than white with red hair.  I also have blond eyelashes.  (Gasp!  I know you're shocked.)  So I need brown to even things out.  But I accidentally bought black.  Not cool man.  Not cool.

I should post a baby bump picture, but I'm a little self-conscious about how big I am.  I am only 20 weeks, but have a rather large belly.  Then, I thought that I shouldn't care. I always try really hard to have a positive body image, no matter what state my body is in.  If I'm healthy, that is what matters.  So I'm going to stop comparing my baby bulge to others I've seen recently.  So look for that bump picture real soon.  I'm pregnant!  Let's celebrate for crying out loud.

Does Apple really expect people to read SIXTY-FOUR pages of terms and conditions?  Seriously?  Who has ever read that before they bought an app?  What if page 57 says that if I download apps and music from Apple, I agree to be a subject to the alien king, Applelinkterharmonoker.  Whenever he decides to take over the planet.  At least we know he likes music and Angry Birds.  


I have a picture problem.  My kids are growing up right before my eyes, and I am the worst documenter in the world.  I have a camera.  Two actually.  But they are never handy, need charging, locked away in a room from tiny fingers and clumsy toddler hands.  Good gravy.  So I mostly have snapshots from my phone.  And as always, high quality res, and outstanding composition is what I'm all about.

Can you tell what's going on here?  This was a one time attempt.  Her idea.  She sat for about 2.5 seconds, hopped up and said "potty!"  We're not quite there.  And I'm ok with that.  Don't mind her audience.  We will get around to teaching privacy and the like.  

This one was snapped for Chris' benefit.  He was at work and loves when I treat myself.  So I had to share the good news.  I love these dang sandwiches!  It's especially awesome that you can order online and 30 minutes later you have lunch.  If Jimmy John's ever needs a spokesman, like someone who can't just run out and get lunch on a whim, so that person thinks the online ordering and delivery is extra, extra special, I hope they call me.  That is a genuine smile!  I wouldn't have to fake my enthusiasm.  So call me JJs! You can pay me in sandwiches.     

My kids love their daddy so much.  So do I.  

Reason #43 why I am a terrible picture taker.  My subjects never hold still long enough to get a decent shot.   

If I were to title this picture, I would call it Independence.  

Freedom to choose is the theme of this stage right now.  The boys decided that pants were slowing them down.  No amount of coaxing, tricking or putting them back on 800 times would keep them on.  They had made up their minds.  Sunny dresses herself lately.  Including the killer purple headband which almost caused a meltdown the other night because I wouldn't let her wear it to bed.  So, for me, this little scene sums up their very independent and strong wills I have been trying to figure out and simmer down lately. (Not simmer down their independence.  Simmer down the resulting tantrums and chaos that ensues from expressing said independence.)  

Which is why it's extra sweet when they all play in the same space.  It's their choice.

Thanks for reading my weekend mind spew.  We'll be outside at some point today, soaking up the springy weather.  Maybe I'll even bring a camera.

Thoughts on a Saturday Morning

I miss running.

I haven't ran in months.  I know physically, I could.  There is nothing medically holding me back.  But -- uffda!   The thought of moving faster than 3.5 miles an hour makes me want to lay down and take a nap.

I did go on a (semi-brisk) walk this morning with my ex-running partner.  Ex because she used to run too.  There were runners out in droves today.  A couple of women ran by us, geared up with their hydration belts and tights.  "That used to be us."  She said it right as I was thinking it.

We'll run again someday.  I have this whole pregnant / baby thing going on right now.  She's just getting over having cancer.  So, you know, life gets complicated sometimes.  It's amazing to think we were both getting ready to run a half-marathon this time last year.  And even crazier that my baby is due on the year anniversary of when we ran up a mountain, then back down, totaling 26.2 miles and didn't die.  There are other marathons besides the running kind.  Some of these even have bigger rewards.


I glanced at my google searches today.  Funny.  Here is a few searches people have done recently that have brought them to my blog.  I'll try to explain if I can.

• decline swim, swam, swum  - the time I wrote about taking swim lessons as an adult.  Complete with preschoolers waiting their turn and feeling like Michael Phelps after I swam 1/2 a lap.

• double wide strollers from hell- I have written about strollers quite a bit.  But from hell?  Good luck with that, whoever did this search.  You should probably stay away from that stroller if you ever find it.  Just a suggestion.

• dr. scott sampson mormon - the Dinosaur Train guy!  Remember when I met him because of an essay I wrote?  That was cool.  He gave such an amazing lecture about kids and nature.  It actually popped in my head yesterday when Gabe went to pick up a dead spider.  I almost stopped him, but remembered Dr. Scott's advice -- let children discover nature on their own.  Don't implant your own ideas about what they should and shouldn't be interested in.  i.e. picking up spider corpses is not something I would do, but he needs to discover his world.  So he touched a dead spider.  Big deal.  We're both still ok.  Also, I don't think Dr. Scott is a mormon.  Not everyone that lives or has lived in Utah is mormon.  Shocking, but true.  He's a brilliant guy.  If you have time, listen to his lecture I went to last year.  Especially if you're a teacher or have kids or even both or even none of those.  Just listen to it.  You won't be sorry.

• duct tape to fix stroller wheel - yup.  Been there, done that.  Again, good luck to you, google searcher.  

• icebath runninggear - first, you should try out the space bar more often.  It's a handy tool.  Second, ice baths are awesome and terrible.  I love them after really long runs (anything over 15 miles).  But I scream and hiss and make weird squeaky noises while getting in.  I miss running.  

• rexburg "making out" - oh boy.  I did attend a school in Rexburg, ID it's true.  Not a lot of "making out" went on though.  Promise.  Not sure why the searcher put it in quotes either.  Not sure I want to know the current euphemism for "making out."  Whoever you are, save your kisses!  Don't give them away so easily.  I know Rexburg is small and boring, but there are better things to do than "make out."  Like donate plasma!  Or work in a potato factory!  Or prank call guys in your ward!  Or look up cute boys on the student data base!  Or elaborate on old rumors from apartment complexes you live in!  Ahh Rexburg, you'll always have a strange, potatoey place in my heart.  

We are going to the park today, on this balmy Saturday.  I couldn't be happier about this winter weather we've had.  I'm sorry to all the snow people who do stuff in the snow and like the snow and have outfits that are made for being in the snow for long periods of time.  We're not those people.  

I'm missing being in Richfield right now to watch my youngest brother do his thing at the divisional wrestling tournament.  He's an amazing athlete, student, brother and all around good kid.  Thankful other members of our family are there to cheer him on.  

I throughly enjoyed and devoured a 32 oz Peach Perfection smoothie from Jamba last night, courtesy of a devoted husband who has never once complained about helping his wife indulge in recent cravings.  It was really good.  

I love the weekend.  Now I'm off to take a long shower because there is another adult in the house that will listen and get up with my napping darlings.  (It's the little things that make me happy.)