"Wubles" and one sock

Ah! So it's day two of my one month goal and I am already down a post. It's super late, but I didn't want to be 0 for 2. And I got a delicious nap this afternoon. So I am still bright eyed.

Saturday was packed full of adventure, and friends and fun. Kira and I started off the morning with an 18 miler! Yehaa! I was beat. And sore. I won't lie. But I also felt powerful. I think we might run the whole darn thing.

After naps (for all the girls) we played outside. This cute video says it all. Roo loves her
"Wubles" and she was having a ball running around the patio chasing them. She just shrieks when she is having fun. All morning she only had one sock on. I couldn't find the other anywhere. But there was fun to be had together and so I let it go. We never did find it. When I changed her into her jammies Saturday evening I pulled off the one sock and tossed it in the basket. O'well!

Talia is such a beauty. Even with recycled braids and scratches on her face. (From little sis!) She has been being such a good girl. I love her! Sometimes I am hard on her, and expect her to be bigger than she is. It's a complicated thing. Like, because she is the big sister she aught not to spill her milk or leave her shoes in the hallway. But Ruby does those things, and I don't holler at her. (I try not to holler at all, but sometimes it happens.) I have to remember that my Tali is just 4. Big and smart and clever. But still 4. And she can't read my mind, she doesn't think like I do, and she isn't perfect. She's my little love. My first child. And I love her more than life.

I have had the impression the last few months that I need to make sure that she knows I think she is just as interesting as her baby sister, and that just because I expect her to eat her breakfast and help make her bed that I am not being mean to her. It's hard to teach responsibility and respect to a child. They need to see it practiced over and over in order to emulate it. (And that there friends is the tough part.) I want Talia to be my best friend. I want her to know that Mommy will always want her. And will always think that she is beautiful. No matter how big she gets.

I have to try each day to make my actions reflect my feelings for my kids. I don't ever want them to think that they are not as important to me as, say, having a clean kitchen, getting to a meeting, or making it to the bank before it closes. All of which are things for which I have put them in front of the TV, or said to them, "we'll read it later" or, "move!"

But it's a challenge. Mom has to be the teacher of all things. Cleanliness, self respect, motivation and responsibility. We cannot always play with our toys, and eat in the kitchen, and dirty our socks and leave them to be as they are while we merrily sing. We must merrily sing as we wash the dishes and pick up blocks and sort the whites. It's hard to find the balance between fun time and work time. I am glad however that I am able to be home with my children to work on this great challenge. Even when I am wiped out at night and want to cry, I am glad that it is me that gets to step over their toys and books and kiss them goodnight.

Macaroni and a Run

Last night Kira and I ran 7 miles in good form. A big loop around Nibley. The weather was cool and crisp, it rained all morning. Perfect for a run! Saturday we are going for 13. We are taking on the Top of Utah Marathon in just one week. Are we nuts? Insane? Maybe. But we are also super siked to take on this hardest of all hard things. Ike talked us into it. He can be very persuasive.

I am being honest when I say that "Run a Marathon" has NEVER been on my to do list. Even my want to do list. I love to run, but seriously, 26.2! However, here are the reasons that I am going to go for it this year, all in a compact bulleted list:

• I am in the best shape that I have ever been. (Well maybe since dive and cheer in HS!)
• I am healthy and strong and not carrying or nursing a child.
• If not now. when? If not now, maybe never!
• I have new shoes. And their hot!
• Kira and I are in it together, we are a great team.
• I can do hard things.
• I don't know where my life will go, or what challenges lie ahead for me. The opportunity has been placed before me at this time, if I choose not to take it, then it may not come again. Or come again as easily. I want to live for the day, take every chance I get, and just RUN FOR IT!

So after a week of cram training sessions, Kira and I are optimistic. We are going to give it our all. But not do anything unwise. Our goal is to run the 17 miles of the canyon. Walk a few, stretch and chill for a few miles. Then run the last 5-6 to the finish line. Sweet huh?

I will no doubt submit a lengthy post about the race. I look forward to that. Oh! I am so excited. (I think I will stay excited until we are riding the bus up the canyon and I realize how ridiculous it is to run that far. Who thought this was a good idea?)

Pictured above is the sinfully good Macaroni and Cheese that I made for lunch today. Thank you Martha Stewart Living. I have no guilt what-so-ever for eating a large serving. I'll run it off in the morning.

Go Team Norr!

My Archives

This week I did a little blog research. I checked out so many awesome blogs. People are so COOL! I was blown away by all of the sweet stuff there is out there to read. There is a mom in Provo who writes hilarious posts. She is a dear. I feel like we are friends. She gets like 12,ooo hits a day!

I am totally intimidated. There are bloggers out there who have been at it for years. They have fans, and advertising, and archives for Pete's sake! Big ones.

This morning as I was making my bed I looked at my little brown leather journal sitting atop the dresser. It looked lonely. Dejected. A little hurt. I have been a faithful journal writer for most of my life. I love to get lost in the entries and remember who I am. So much of me is recorded there. I am torn at this moment. I don't want to replace my journal. But I can record so much more information here, and it only takes a minute. Pictures and all. When I sit down with my journal I often don't get up for an hour. Or more. My handwriting is one of my more favorite talents. It's pretty. (When I have time for a soapbox rant I will let you know about how handwriting is becoming a lost art, and I would love to save it.) But the truth is this, I have a busy life, 2 kids, a kitchen and 3 bathrooms, laundry and floors. I have mouths to feed and bottoms to wipe. Books to read and lessons to be taught. Fights to break up and hugs to give. I have new running shoes that need breaking in, and a garden and lots of dirt around my house begging for planting. (That sounded a lot like a blessings list too, didn't it?)

I don't want to give up journal writing, but lately I have been putting it off, and then off again to do something else. All summer these wonderful things would happen to my family and I would think, I must write about this!" But then I wouldn't. Keeping records is important. I feel in my heart that it is something that I need to do. I am going to give this kind of record a shot, and see how it goes. Maybe my archive will be small, but it is something that I want to try.

I don't want this blog to be a public sensation. I don't want everyone to know what I am up to. (Or not up to for that matter!) This is my little spot in cyberspace to put my thoughts into words, words that make memories. Memories that make a life. A happy life that needs recording.

So I have a goal. One month of posts. Every day! Starting today. Wish me luck.

Lucky Girl

Early this spring DJ and I were involved in planning a big stake youth conference. When the day finally came I was sitting on the stage and watching the youth mingle around getting to know one another, chatting. Some looked happy to be there, others looking to bolt at the first opportunity.

I looked at them all closely. I wanted them to know how great of a day it was. I wanted them to know what wonderful things were in store for them if they would only open their hearts and listen. I wanted to tell them all how very blessed they were at that very moment. To be members of the one true church. To have so many people around that cared for them. That prayed for them, that wanted happiness for them. To have good friends that they could share their lives with. To feel the Spirit, to learn. To know their Father in Heaven, the very God of the Universe!

"Do they even get it?" I pondered. Do they know how very lucky they are? How rare, how unique, how loved? (I will admit that I selfishly hoped at least a few of them would wake up and take notice of how freaking awesome the conference was. And that it didn't just poof into existence for them. I hoped for a little gratitude.)

The 2 days of the conference really were wonderful. Full of noise and energy and learning. Late Saturday evening on the short drive home the Spirit whispered to me, "Do you know how lucky you are?" I nearly had to stop the car when it occurred to me that all of the things I had been thinking about that the youth were so blessed to be a part of, I was a part of as well. I am lucky too. All of the Lords most precious blessings are mine! Do I take the time to notice them? Do I soak them in? Do I appreciate where they come from? Am I thankful to the one in charge?

I wanted to create this blog so that I have a place to notice my life. To reflect on my blessings. To appreciate the little things. To express my gratitude. I want this blog to be about the good, and the bad, the crazy and the messy. The going and the doing and the sitting and the snuggling. I want to ponder each day about the things I am doing. About the joy my life is full of. I don't want it to pass by without consideration. I don't want to be ungrateful. And most of all I don't want to forget.

I don't want to forget how much my Ruby loves her shoes, or how sweet it looks when Talia writes her name. I want to remember what DJ and I talk about before bed, and how handsome he is, and how he always smells like form oil and dirt. I want to remember my answered prayers, and my struggles and trials, my triumphs!

So come along for the ride if you like. Friends and family, posterity. I want you to know how lucky I am!