INTERVENTION

I need an intervention for the gripping reality show on A&E called Intervention! Anyone else watch this show? If you don't you are missing out! It comes on Monday nights at 10, I think the reruns are at 9. We have our DVR set to record the whole series. I cry pretty regularly watching this show. I just want to reach into the TV and hug these lost souls and fix all the hurt and pain that fuels their addictions. Oh, it's so heartbreaking! Here is a link to a video so you can see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bTfl0_lmQM&feature=related

If I'm being honest I also have to admit that part of my motivation for watching is one of the interventionists, Ken Seeley. They are all good, Jeff, Kathy, love you too. But there is something about Ken. Maybe it's the co-dependence in me being influenced by the former meth addict in him. Or the fact that he always has some profound, honest, blunt thing to say that makes you stop and think.

The best part of the show is when the happy-go-lucky music starts playing and "3 Months Later" flashes across the screen. You get to see how changed they and their families have become and it is JOYOUS! (Sometimes it's not...) I only wish they did more follow-up shows maybe 1 or 2 years down the road.

So, get your Tevos set up and enjoy! Keep in mind, viewer discretion is advised! Jon has to cover his eyes if they show any vomiting and he cringes when they do a close up of someone shooting up. Zowie!

pioneer weekend

This past weekend we celebrated pioneer day here in Utah. Not having grown up here, I am still getting used to this as an actual holiday. (I know I've been 12 years now but that's my excuse for not having anything festive planned!) So, we ended up doing a lot of spontaneous activities...starting with a BBQ at our neighbors' house followed by fireworks in our old stomping grounds, Cottonwood Heights.

This is Haily with a glow stick that Papa Mark gave her. When the fireworks started she ran behind my chair crying in fear (or faking, that girl went to her first fireworks show at 6 weeks old and has seen plenty in her lifetime). I did my best to ignore it which I'm sure the lady cop behind me appreciated. Julie had to rescue her.

Bentley watched the entire show halfway covering his eyes. And Charlie just walked around like this was old hat. He wasn't impressed. Although for a moment he nuzzled up to Chad and pointed into the sky while gnawing on a piece of root beer licorice.

The next day Collin and Nat invited us up to their family cabin for an overnighter. It was great to have a little getaway to the mountains. We stopped at Dairy Keen in Heber for dinner on the way up. It was delicious burgers, fries, and shakes. The kids loved the train. At the cabin the kids loved playing in the dirt, hitting baseballs, riding 4 wheelers (Charlie got one of his famous bloody noses), & seeing deer. Paige and Cooper loved the video games too. And Charlie liked the swings.

When we got home that night, we had a little Mexico reunion with the Paxtons, the Francis', and the Andersons, who couldn't go on the trip but were totally there in spirit (and in a lot of conversations). We tried our best to simulate a Mexican meal by grilling chicken and making tacos. It turned out really yummy! We shared photos and laughs. I have to post a couple more pics from Xel Ha. (the quality is not great because it's a picture of a picture)
Here I am bravely leaping from a 15 foot cliff. Don't I look like a bad A with my nose pre-plugged?! It took me a few minutes to convince myself to jump off. The most impressive part is that we had to scale the rock wall to get to the top.

The night ended with a real "cliff hanger"! Our driveway is really steep and it curves so it can be a little tricky and intimidating, especially in the dark and when there is a light on inside your car. One of our friends, who shall remain nameless for pride's sake, backed right off the cliff and stopped just in time to teeter there! We grabbed the kids out then Jon was able to pull it back up with a tow rope. Quite an adventure. And no one was injured except for "John Doe's" ego which hopefully won't have permanent effects. I felt it would have been slightly inappropriate to take pictures while they were being traumatized for life so all I have to offer is just this photo of our driveway.

The next evening we were invited over to the Chapmans house for a BBQ with Jon's childhood buddies. It was good to see everyone again and a great way to end summer break as most the kids start school tomorrow!

Look at these beauties! Paige, Kelsie, and McKenna.

My new favorite kitchen item!

I love this butter crock! It is what I have needed for a long time! I love soft real butter to spread on toast and such. This keeps the butter at room tempurature, sealed from the air with water, and it's SUPER cute. I bought it for about $20 on line. I just searched "french butter pot" and there was an endless variety to choose from. Love it love it love it!

Make every bite count

I want to apologize to all who have, or who may in the future, encounter my son and walk away (or run screaming) with bite marks. Maybe he is an Edward Cullen in training...I don't know. And I'm not sure what to do about it.

He approaches very obviously, with teeth bared and a half-grin on his face. His sisters scream partly out of the thrill of it, partly because they are terrified. This only excites him more. Then, he goes for it. Usually the belly or back if the victim is a child, the inner thigh if an adult.

He has taken down his aunt Ericka, his Papa Mark, both his sisters and parents, neighbors, cousins, and strangers.

I think it all stemmed from this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM.

It doesn't help that the kid in the video is named Charlie. Or that groups of us would gather around the computer for months and laugh and imitate this adorable British boy.

For now we are trying to downplay the hubbub surrounding any biting incidences. So, be forewarned and be on guard. And please accept this pre-apology.

clarification

I feel the need to clarify one tiny thing from my last post. I'm afraid I've tarnished my pristine image especially to those that are not familiar with my sarcasm and wit. You guessed it, it's the drunk issue. There was a bit of a language barrier and oft times my drink order was inaccurate. However, I usually noticed right away and straightened things out. Once or twice it was questionable and I'm still not sure why that one night I was in an especially giddy mood and very candid with conversation. I told Jon it was just my vacation personality. Who knows, but either way, it was all innocent.

turning 30

I've been looking forward to turning 30 for the last year now. Maybe that's weird but I feel like I am getting better with time! I feel like more of myself, I know what works for me and I know better how to go after those things. So I planned a big trip with friends to celebrate.

It is amazing how much effort goes into coordinating a trip like this! First of all, not being pregnant or nursing and the kids old enough to leave at home! Then, saving the money. Getting work off, arranging the babysitter...it goes on and on. I'm amazed we were able to have two other couples join us.

On the morning of my birthday, I woke up to this in my driveway.

Thanks to a couple of my neighbors for that!

Then Paige, who did not want to be left out of the birthday action, wrapped a couple of things that I already own and presented them to me. My favorite part was this hand written note:

30 is a great number!

Jon got me a cool pair of bright green Keens and a new ipod that's smaller so better for running.

Then it was time to pack! We hardly slept that night, it was worse than Christmas as a child. A mixture of excitement and anxiety. We had never left the kids before! But after a tearful goodbye, we headed for the airport. We met up with the Paxtons and the Francis' and flew to Cancun then took a van to our hotel.

This was a fantastic place! I would recommend it for anyone, with or without kids! It was all-inclusive. It was beautiful! This is in front of a fountain in the front lobby.

The food was really great! Jon does have a special fondness for buffets and we ate and ate and ate. Everything from the staple chips and guacamole to escargot, cavier, and peacock! I loved the coconut ice cream! And lots of drinks. Mostly diet coke with lime for me and Fanta for Jon. I only got drunk a couple of times, and the first was by mistake...Mexicans don't pay attention to the word "virgin"! But everyone loved the effects so much that they tried to spike my drink. But banana liquer in coke is not too easily disguised! Nice try Jim.

The first day there we went to Xel Ha. It's an amazing all natural water park in a Lagoon that

flows into the ocean. The funnest thing we did there was ride bikes through a path in the trees. Something about riding a bike in a swimsuit like a kid in summertime was so liberating! Then we floated in tubes down the river. Along the way, we jumped off a cliff into the water, walked a tightrope over the water (falling off was the fun part), and snorkeled. We swam into an underground cave, saw lots of big fish, got a small lecture on using non-biodegradable bug spray...

The next day the "men" decided to do some deep sea fishing. Don't ask me why a couple of guys who get motion sickness would want to try such a venture! Their manhood was bruised a little when 2 of them ended up spooning on the floor of the boat. Such violent vomiting wears you right out and the fetal posotion was their only comfort. I wish I had photos. Here is an amazing story though. That morning the ladies laid out on the beach. There is about a mile of beach front with hundreds of chairs and then hundreds more chairs around the pool area. We were on 3 chairs all morning then left to get tattoos. Meanwhile, the boys had ended their fishing trip early and had come to the beach. Of all the places to sit, they were on our same 3 chairs! And not only that, each husband was in the same chair as his wife had been in! We did some excited screaming and decided that it was a sign that we were all meant to be!

The next day the Paxtons and Jon and I went on an "extreme Tulum adventure". A van took us deep into the jungle where we first snorkeled in a cave called a cenote.

Then we went on a series of zip lines through the jungle. I felt like Diego! It was fun. They like those harnesses nice and tight! Our next activity was repelling down into a cenote.

They took us into a tent and fed us a delicious and authentic lunch of chicken with tortillas and beans and pico de gallo. YUM!

Then it was back into the van and off to Tulum. What a beautiful and facinating place! Jim brought his binoculars (I think because he heard there was a topless beach nearby).

There was so much to do at the resort too! We played basketball in the pool where the girls easily out-shot the guys! We kayaked, snorkeled, and just relaxed! One of my best memories from the trip was swinging in the hammocks every night after dinner just talkin and laughin. We confessed all out past sins and got to know each other really well! If this is what it's like to be 30, I'll take it!

We tried the dance club but felt too old and so tried the lounge and felt too young. Angie looked fantastic shakin that pregnant belly around but we couldn't get Whitney to do any ballet...or tap.

I'm glad we didn't miss the squat trap! And the old man with the black eye was too ironic the morning after discussing a certain type of punch! I'm glad I have my beautiful kids to come home to. I feel so blessed. Good husband, good friends, good kids, family, health, home, laughs, and memories. I'm grateful to all who made it happen.

Wasatch your back, foo!

So, 2 weeks ago I had the oppurtunity to participate in a 180 mile relay called the Ragnar Wasatch Back. It started in Logan on Friday morning and ended in Park City on Saturday afternoon. I was on a team of 12 runners, split into 2 vans. We finished in just under 30 hours and placed 350 out of about 580 teams. But, I was not in it for the love of running.

Oh no, I am not a runner, maybe a wannabe. More of a jogger. So, why did I do it? Well, 2 days away from the kids, on a big road trip/campout/sleepover sounded pretty appealing even if I did have to run 15.5 miles along the way.

Here are some highlights:

1. Stopping in at Grandma's house which happened to be right along the race route!

2. Michelle coming into the transition point from her first leg eating a mysterious red popsicle.

3. Kids along the route spraying you with their garden hoses, bless these littel angels.

4. Jumping into a mountain lake to wash up and cool off after everyone in our van had finished their first legs.

5. Thad, the newly turned 50 year old, hanging his boxer breifs on the van's passenger side mirror to let them air dry while we drove.

6. The night run, ahh the night run. How I loved you! Through a small town, listening to the Dixie Chicks, families set out lawn chairs in their front yards, bundle in blankets, offer you a drink, and cheer you on!

7. "sleeping" in the bleachers of the high school swimming pool. So hot and humid, we had to strip down. There really wasn't another option.

8. Breakfast at a little Heber cafe, boy did we throw down the buckwheat pancakes!

9. Running across the finish line as a team, twirling lacey bras and $1 jock straps over our heads, trying not to tear up at the sense of accomplishment.

10. My favorite thing about the race was the team support system. How would it be in our everyday lives if every 10-15 minutes there was a group of loved ones telling you how great you are doing, appreciating your efforts, cheering you on, and asking how they can help you succeed at accomplishing your task? Such a positive environment! That is why I grew to love my team so dearly. Well, that and the type of bond that can only be created by sharing very close quarters without showers or sleep for 30 hours or so. Conversations became very candid to say the least. So, would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

This is our team at the finish line: 6 Bras and 6 Supporters. "Holdin everything - and nothing - back!"

My fragile boy

After taking my 22 month old son to visit the doctor yesterday, I had a flash forward of what he may be becoming and had to laugh. Let me back up.
A few months ago we introduced him to the soft-serve ice cream experience at the local Arctic Circle with a free kiddie cone. As my husband continued to feed it to him, we noticed his lips seeming to get bigger and bigger like balloons. Then we noticed a raised rash on his face and neck. Hmm, could he be allergic? Well, the next time we went through the drive through, I noticed a warning sign posted on the window that their "ice cream products" are processed with peanuts. So, we tried to avoid peanut products but once or twice he get a little bit of somethin' and the response was immediate vomiting and rash outbreak. So, I mention this to the doc and after a mild scolding for exposing my child to peanuts before the age of 2, he says that Charlie had earned himself an Epi Pen Jr.! Oh boy!
Number 2 on the list of items to discuss with the doctor: his persistant rash. I hadn't been too concerned until the neighbors started pointing asking, "Does he have the chicken pox?"" what happened to Charlie?" " Is Charlie getting in the pool? Oh, OK, no we weren't planning on swimming." (As they dragged their screaming kids and pool toys away.) So, it's eczema and we now have a perscription to help clear things up.
Last on the list, his frequent bloody noses. At my daughters' dance recital my sister asked, Is that lipstick on Charlie's face? Oops, no, that's blood. No need for alarm,he gets them several times a day. The remedy? Swab vaseline in his nostrils at night. Not such an easy task. Try explaining to a confused toddler why it's OK for MOMMY to put something up his nose!
So, looking at all 3 of these issues, I started imagining that kid in elementary school with the inhaler, allergies, and nose bleeds. You know, the skinny, pale, shy boy in the back of the classroom. My sister said, Just don't let him go to school in red sweat pants smelling of maple syrup. Not a problem. He only likes wearing dresses!