Twirling like Princesses

We had our first Halloween playgroup this morning. The dresses were a big hit (with Jane and Ruby). In fact, Ruby was just crying herself to sleep for naptime since I wouldn't let her sleep in it.

Mama called the doctor...

And the doctor said, Jane should get her tonsils out. Not a huge surprise. I've been suspicious of this for a while. But what really is suspicious is the cause of her one-sided nasal blockage. Her right nostril has been blocked for what feels like a year. All the doctors think that she has stuck something up there which has gotten lodged, and is not visible (unless we wanted to do a cat-scan (sp?)) and is causing a one-sided infection and needs to be removed! Way to feel like mom of the year. When they remove the tonsils, they are hoping to find the "foreign object" and get it removed as well. The end result will hopefully be a snot free Jane. It seems worth it. But I'm curious to know how it's going to work out. Considering the fact that when he put his little light scope thingy into her ear, that already was too invasive of a procedure.

On a lighter note, I've been tagged by my lovely cousin Lisa. So here it goes...

The rules:

A. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.

B. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog, for these rules.

1. I love anything with a P.S. or a "to be continued" or a sequel. Of course, that's assuming it was something I liked in the first place. For example, you get a great email from a long lost friend. Your reading and sadly, it comes to an end. But then wait, there is a little p.s. at the end. It's lovely, don't you think? And it seems like in the '80s when I did most of my TV watching "to be continued" were huge. That was fun. You had a reason to come back the next day and watch the show again. You felt like you were part of something.

2. I love a white shirt. I know I'm supposed to want colored tops, but there is something so classic and beautiful about a crisp, cute white top with jeans. I would wear it every day if I had that many cute, crisp, white tops.

3. I love "This American Life" on NPR. It is my all time favorite radio show. It now comes in a podcast format. I usually run to it on Saturday morning. I look forward to it all week long. Check it out if you've never heard one before.

4. I hate hot dogs. I don't know when it happened. I clearly remember eating them as a kid, but I will never eat one again for the rest of my life. Sometimes when I'm pregnant the smell of hot dogs is intoxicating to me. I even raised one up to my mouth when I was pregnant with the girls, but I just couldn't bite into it. They look so delicious sometimes and I wish I could partake. Just a fact about me.

5. I have watched every single episode of the remade Strawberry Shortcake series. There are18 DVDs. I've seen every single one, more than once. Have a question about Strawberry and friends that needs to be answered, call me.

6. I hate clutter and extra stuff. I derive no pleasure in stuff saved. I should be more sentimental, but just the other day as I was looking around the room, I had this overwhelming urge to throw everything away that wasn't a piece of furniture or hanging on the wall. I think that is my secret wish/dream. To someday live in a house that was so streamlined and clutter free, and yet still retained a sense of warmth and hominess. I'll take a picture if I ever achieve it.

Okay, that's all. I now tag, Rachel Mickelson, Rachel Lyon, Rachel Zackrison, Sara, Alyssa, and Ie Li. Can't wait to hear what you girls have to say.

What did we do this weekend?...

First of all, an Earnest family first... Our kids actually woke up, looked at their parents still sleeping in their bed and spontaneously decided to leave them alone. They proceeded down to the basement where the boys were miraculously kind enough to watch a show that their sisters would like. AND, managed to create a camp ground for them all to "camp out" until one of their lazy, good for nothing parents, decided that they could manage the day and get out of bed. This occurred at 8:30. Like I said, it was no small miracle. I think it's been 8 years since Darin and I have stayed in bed together so late!! Way to kick off a great weekend kids!

The Camp Site.

Of course, Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. Or rather frosting for Jane and Ruby, who prefer to simply eat the frosting off and leave the donut behind. Go figure! This is a Saturday morning standard at our house.

Later that afternoon we found a pumpkin patch to help get us into the spirit of the season. The rule was, you could only pick a pumpkin that you could carry yourself. They all responded quite well to the parameters.

Ruby

Jane

George H. Potter

Henry Von Vampire

Seeking shelter when only 30 minutes after arriving it started to rain. And didn't stop for the rest of the day. Thank goodness in the first thirty minute we managed to get pumpkins and order funnel cake!! (Darin made fun of my dorky mom-ness that couldn't be at a pumpkin patch without wearing the seasonal color scheme. I thought it was a nice touch. No?)

Cooking Indian food for our Sunday cultural experience.

Darin and I are entertained by thinking of ways of taking this to the next level. I suggested a center piece crafted out of the featured country's flag. But Darin suggested we eat in company with our globe and test all family members at the end of the meal to identify where the country is located.

Darin gets all the credit for the home made nann. Truly delicious. One of my girl friends for my birthday gave me a "Best Recipes in the World" cookbook. It's perfect and we pulled all recipes from it for this week.

(p.s. just to keep it real, we were over an hour late to church today! Just wanted to let you know all the craziness doesn't come without a price.)

And the background "muzak" to our weekend has been the creation of some Halloween princess dresses for Jane and Ruby. I know Darin thinks I do these things just to torture him. I do them because I somehow think it will be fun. Then I forget that I hate how the house falls apart and I don't get to bed before 2am, because I simply can't stop until it's done.

Many phone calls to my mom later, Princess dresses are ready for Halloween!! I guess I'm kind of proud.

And that wraps up this weekend. I've promised Darin to clean the house up and restore order for this week. But it was a very fun time together.

A Happy Birthday Indeed.

So I realized I couldn't stay 20 forever. So now I'm 30. Like my mom, I may stay 30 for a few years. I thought it didn't bother me to get older. I've always longed for years of experience and wisdom. But I will admit that now that the 20's are gone forever, I have a certain feeling of nostalgia already. Other than moments here and there on memory lane, I am thrilled with where we are today. Look at these kids? They make me so happy and proud. I was gone all weekend long, and so while I was gone they were all preparing for some great birthday surprises. As soon as I got in the car from the airport, Ruby started telling me all about the cake that was hiding in the fridge. This made the boys really frustrated. The whole ride home, she just kept asking me if she could have some of my cake.

Making a wish for tons more years of happiness, and knees that will take me to the finish line of another marathon someday!

Ruby's on the left finally getting her piece of cake that she waited all weekend for.
A sweet look captured to remember forever how sweet these little girls have been for me.

The next day was Monday, and Columbus Day. Darin had the whole day off work. He let me have the whole day off too. He did the whole getting the kids off to school, picking everyone up, grocery shopping and even made dinner. All the while I napped, got a haircut, went to lunch and went shopping. He is such a great guy. Thanks Darin for such a wonderful birthday. I love you all!!

Not Always a Happy Ending...

So this is not the post that I ever dreamed it would be. While a marathon is always tortuously hard, I seem to always find a way to finish it. But this time my experience was totally different. In summary, I didn't get to finish the race.

Rachel Zackrison, Amber Earnest, Me, and Ken Fitzgerald (Rachel's friend)

Here we all are at the beginning of the race full of our nervous anticipation and excitement. You train and train and train, but it all comes down to that day and your body on that day. Anyway, I started running and was feeling great. But right as I got to mile 7 I felt a distinct shooting pain right on the outside of both of my knees. I was shocked to feel it, since I hadn't had any knee problems during my training. I have had knee problems in the past, but none recently. At this point I figured I could just drink and eat something and run through the pain. So I started into the four miles of uphill and realized close to mile 10 that the pain was getting worse. I took some Excedrin thinking that I could probably make it if I could just dull the pain a bit. And by the half-way point I really thought I was going to finish. But it's also at mile 13 that the race becomes a very steep downhill course. And my knees were sadly not up to that.

My parents ended up making it to St. George the night before the race. We had discussed where they would be so that we could find each other. We had planned on them being at mile 21. So as my pain worsened and as the pain pills were not working, in my mind I just kept thinking that I would make it to mile 21 and call it quits. So it was definitely tragic at mile 21 to realize that we were still way too far up in the canyon and that no spectators could reach us by car yet. This forced me to run on. But finally at mile 22 I found a first aid van parked on the side of the road. I walked right over to it, opened the door and said, "What do you do if you are trying to quit?". She kind of laughed at me, but then realized that I wasn't laughing at all. Anyway, I climbed in, they took me down another mile or so to a point where I could find my parents. Once I found them, I was able to have a good cry, and then be eternally grateful that they were there to stand with me on the sidelines as we watched and cheered for all the rest of our runners to finish the race.

Here I am moments after finding my parents, realizing that the race was over for me.

Here is the big board with all the names written on it of the people who scratched. I'm there, #5205.

My sister-in-law Amber had a huge surprise waiting for her at mile 24. Her parents were there, having arrived all the way from Mesa, and she didn't have a clue that they had come. I was so glad to be able to watch that reunion.

Rachel only seconds away from her triumphant finish! She had a fabulous race (minus the puking of course!)

Thank you so much mom and dad!! How would I have handled this one without you guys? What a beautiful miracle that you ended up being there that day!! I love you guys.

And despite it not ending the way I had hoped and trained, it was still wonderfully fun. We still did lots of good laughing, lots of good limping and hobbling around St. George after the race. And of course consumed an enormous amount of delicious food. One outstanding reason to run races in Utah?!...Cafe Rio as a post-race lunch.

Not the happy ending I was hoping for, but then again, I kind of hate happy endings in movies. I will use this as my motivation to get better, train again and race hard again. I love running.

Chocolate Chips.

Last night Ruby was giving me a big close up hug in my face. Suddenly she asked me if I liked chocolate chips. I said I love chocolate chips. She said, "Mommy, you hab choco chips on your face?" It took me a minute, but she was refering to my "beauty mark". I've had them as long as I can remember. One in the middle of my forehead, and one on my cheek. They remind me of my dad. He has them too. But last night they turned into a delicious food item on my face. I asked Ruby if she wanted to kiss my chocolate chips. She did.

In Only 3 Days!

Only three short days left until this is my landscape for 26.2 miles. Hard to believe it's that close. You spend four months getting ready, and then it seems to all come down to the morning of, if your body feels like running well.

In the mean time, I'm "tapering". It's a crazy thing. You train hard for 16-weeks, and then the last two before the race you are supposed to take it easy, recover and get your strength built back up for the big day. But it leaves lots of free time to think that maybe you have forgotten how to run more than two miles. Or to imagine that when you ran 22 miles three weeks ago, that was actually a dream. Not an event that really took place. I'm telling you, your brain start telling your body all kinds of lies about what it cannot do anymore. My brain is trying to get excused from the actual event (and for the most part, it will be malfunctioning while the marathon is in progress!). Anyway, regardless of all the fears and doubts today, on Saturday morning at 4:30am I will be bused to a start line and run 26.2 miles, like it or not!

Think happy thoughts for me in the mean time. I'm really nervous right now... but I am looking forward to at least one hour of relaxation scheduled today at 7:15pm when I get a deep tissue hour-long massage. I had to do something to help calm the nerves. This was the best thing I could think of.

We used to have this camera. As in, on Thursday if you asked me to take your picture, I would have, with this camera.

George and I had some friends over for lunch on Thursday. He came to me and asked if he could take some pictures of our friends. I told him I didn't want him to. He came back to me a few minutes later and asked again. And again I had the feeling the answer REALLY should be no. I wanted to say no. I just knew that if I didn't, something was going to happen. But remember, I had friends over, I was trying to be nice so I let him have it. Things went well for a while. And then sure enough I looked over just in time to watch the Cannon PowerShot drop out of his hands onto the hardwood floors. And the Earnests have learned one too many times that that is all it takes for a digital camera to break. So there you have it. Don't drop your camera!!

At the end of the day as I was putting the boys to bed I was very calming trying to discuss the situation with George. I asked him what we might learn from this incident. He said, "I guess I can't take pictures with your camera anymore." And I said, "It's not that I'm trying to be mean, it's just that cameras really break that easily." Then I went on to say "It's sad because cameras are so expensive. " And then Henry, over on the other bed got interested in our conversation. He wanted to know just how expensive it might be. And so I said, "Well, it's probably close to $200." Then Henry lamented, "Mom, it just doesn't make any sense. Why do they still have to be so expensive. I mean, cameras have been around for so long, you would think they wouldn't have to cost so much." So I chuckled and agreed and thought it was cute that he worries about so many things. I was really just trying to teach George a lesson in a calm and reasonable way. He's so relentless at times, that I have to use any opportunity as a teaching moment.

The next morning the boys came walking upstairs for breakfast and to go out to the bus. They were dressed in shorts and t-shirts. It was a cool morning, so I wasn't sure if they had picked out the best outfits. So I mentioned to Henry, maybe you guys want to wear something warmer. And he said, "Oh don't worry mom, I watched the news. It's going to be in the high 70's today." And George joined in, "It's true mom, he did. He watches the news now." Apparently they kept fighting over what they should watch in the morning with their precious few minutes before going off to school and Henry got tired of the arguing so just to bug George he told him that if they fight over what to watch, he's just going to watch the news.

As they left the house and it was quiet again, I walked downstairs to straighten up and sure enough the "Today" show was on.

These guys kill me. Each day is a new adventure, and needless to say, I laugh a lot as each one passes! Thought you might get a kick out of these ones.

P.S. Sweden was the country featured tonight. No pictures, for obvious reasons. But I will give you the recipe to some delicious Swedish meatballs. They were so easy and delicious I could handle these ones even on a weeknight. You should try them!!

Russian food to impress our Russian...

We felt it was about time that we featured Russia as our international food experience on Sunday. So Russia it was. We kind of cheated, it's a long story but the pirogis weren't homemade. But do not be saddened we have made them from scratch several times, so we could have if we had wanted to. But the salad was completely authentic and from scratch. I think Darin may have even translated the recipe from Russian?! Anyway, it was all delicious and beautiful.

Unfortunately the boys didn't love it. They ended up with bowls of cereal. But at least everyone tried everything. And that's all that is required.
Darin still wearing his apron vouched to the authenticity of flavors. Thanks to my boys for a delicious Sunday meal. And please take note of my adorable Target table cloth. It really adds the perfect touch if you ask me. Too bad it was disposable. I was actually sad to throw it away. But was so happy that it had only set me back $1.50.

Why Girls Are Great! (In case you didn't know already...)

This is beauty to me. And let me tell you why.

We were down in the basement yesterday afternoon, when suddenly the boys decided they would go play in the backyard. Jane heard them talking and wanted to go with them. So she quickly got up from what she was doing in the basement and ran upstairs saying, "I need to find my shoes, I need to find my shoes." Next thing I hear is the thud of each shoe as it is thrown out of the shoe basket. A few minutes later she is next to me again telling me how she cannot find her new shoes. I say they are up on her bed, mind you two flights of stairs way upstairs. This does not deter her. She marches off, all the way up, finds her shoes, puts them on, and goes outside.

Why is this so great to me? A few reasons. For those of you who have boys...at what point in that process would they have given up and come right back into your face to have you get their shoes for them? At least with my boys, I would have been lucky if they had even glanced at the shoe basket. Forget emptying it out, and forget going the extra mile to the upstairs bedroom to get them. Just forget it!

Was it because they are her brand new Crocs? Maybe. But I am more convinced that girls come with a genetic something that makes them good finders. Ladies, can you agree with me here? And there was something about watching my little girl working so hard to find something that just made me smile to know that deep down we are all the same. We were sent here to know how to find things for ourselves and for every other person that we have the privilege of living with... Way to go Jane! I have great confidence that you will be able to find many a lost things throughout your entire life. You make me proud!

p.s.- Why did it take me so long to join the Croc band wagon? These are a genius invention that I should have been enjoying for well over a year now. At least I finally get it now. This has cut down a significant amount of time on our exit from the house time. Thank you Crocs. From your newest loyal customer!

Raising Up the Next Generation...

Every Monday, starting last Monday, for the next few Mondays is race day! And I for one am all in favor. The boys have joined the Landsharks Running Club. It's so cute. It's a little cross country team for elementary kids. They practice weekly and have a weekly meet. They run against all the other local elementary schools. But it's not about coming in first place, it's about beating your own personal time each week. "Every runner is a winner". Now that's a motto I can whole heartily endorse! Henry runs a full mile and George runs 1/2 a mile. They did great last week. Henry did it in about ten minutes. I was so excited as George was crossing the finish line, that I forgot to even notice, but he was fast! Anyway, after Henry finished I was telling him what a great job he did, and how fast he was. I said, "Henry, you did that whole thing in only ten minutes!". He replied back, "Ten minutes? Man, it felt like an hour?" I can relate completely to that feeling. Anyway, I'm by far the most excited person about this whole experience. I try VERY hard to not live vicariously through my children. Just let them be who they are and try to stay out of it. But running seems to fall in a completely different way less logical part of my brain, and I want them to love it so much! And by the way, I'm totally jealous that they are running cross country. It remains the one part of my high school experience that I just wish I could go back and re-do. Why didn't I run then?! Anyway, they are loving it and I couldn't be more pleased!! We're off to the race...

Recipe

Do you need something delicious to do today? Here is the Blondie recipe. The best part about it is that I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Enjoy! Let me know if you make them...

Rachel’s Peanut Butter Blondies

1 ½ c. Butter
1 ½ c. Peanut Butter
2 ½ c. Sugar
3 Eggs
2 Tb. Vanilla
*3 c. Self-rising Flour

Cream together butter, peanut butter and the sugar. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla. Finally add the flour. Spread in a jelly roll pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

*1 c. self-rising flour = 1 c. minus 2 tsp of regular flour. Plus 1 ½ tsp. baking powder and ½ tsp. salt.

(Sounds complicated but it’s not!)

Once it bakes pull it out of the oven, let it cool a bit, then add the frosting.

Frosting:

1 c. Peanut Butter Chips (I have also used chocolate chips, either one is delicious.)
3 Tb. Heavy Cream (I usually use whole milk)
1 c. Crushed Heather Bars (I don’t usually add this. It would be delicious, but I rarely have extra Heath bars laying around. That would require a special trip to the store.)

In a pan over medium high heat melt the peanut butter chips with the cream. Stir continuously so as not to burn. Once all the chips are melted, pour the frosting over the cooled bars. Slice and enjoy!

Totally Worth $12!

I just can't help myself today. I've been seeing this little outfit at Gymboree. It's even been very cheap many times, and yet I've walked away many times. Maybe others don't see it the same way that I do, but finally last night, I resisted no longer and splurged my $12 on this outfit that is making me smile all day long.

And for some reason ever since I put it on Ruby this morning I've had this urge to sing the lyrics, "I am living in the material world, and I am a material girl..." You know the tune, sing along as you admire the little outfit, you'll agree with me I think, they go together. Anyway, Jane looks super cute too, but I have to say, Ruby got my favorite new outfit today!

We did it again!

We managed another international meal today. This week we featured Germany. Schnitzel, roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes, with polka music in the background. Since George is a "Germaner", he said the prayer for us. Here is the recipe we used for the schnitzel. We used pork instead of chicken, which I have to say makes it taste much more German. Enjoy!

As soon as the music started, the girls were done with their food. Dancing the polka was so much more fun for them!

19 Days 9 Hours and 21 Minutes...

Until the St. George Marathon, which is why I was up before the sun on Saturday to complete my final LONG run in my training regime.

Me, thinking to myself about how afraid of the dark I am...

The trail head, you can't even see it, it's so dark.

22 Miles later a brilliant sky

And me again, feeling triumphant. Conquered fear of dark, and fear of running 22 miles!

Wilco in Denver

So Wilco is Darin's favorite band right now. (He can edit this if I'm wrong about that). Anyway, when he saw that they were going to be in Denver in September, he bought us tickets immediately. I've been teasing him about his need to go to rock concerts at this point in his life ever since, but he promised it would be a good time. And I will admit, it was fun. Thanks for making me feel 19 all over again. Except for the time that I turned to him in the middle of a song and yelled in his ear, "Did you leave the pull-ups somewhere where Jordan (the babysitter) will be able to find them". And he replied in the affirmative. We wouldn't have yelled that to each other at a rock concert 10 years ago!

Sarah and Scott were there too. Scott was on a frisbee golf tour with the end destination being the concert, and Sarah even flew out "sans" kids to kick up her heels at the concert too. Kind of funny if you ask me, but it was fun.