You won't believe it!

So I finished. Awesome. Do you believe I ran my best time ever? A little surprising. Now do you believe that I qualified for the Boston Marathon, by running it in 3:39.41 ? Even more amazing, right? I am still shocked myself, although my sore sore muscles are still telling me it's true. I'm very glad that I did it.... and that it's over.

Side notes: My pony tail didn't even bother me. Thank goodness. And I discovered, during the race, how great Icy Hot is for cramping calf muscles. Many thanks to those volunteers who helped apply it.

26.2

So, yep I'm running the St. George marathon tomorrow. A week ago, I wasn't so sure. I got the nastiest flu (?) bug.... and was pretty much in bed for a few days (A special shout out to Mr. Mom- the girls survived and the house didn't even burn down) and then it left me pretty weak for days after. It lasted 11 days total. I will never look at the 24 hour flu bug the same. 24 hours? That's nothing...now.

I ran for the first time last Saturday since my 20 miler (which was 3 weeks ago). I ran 5 miles. It was a little disappointing. My pace was very slow and I even came home and complained to Shayne that my pony tail felt too heavy. Yes, that's right.... my pony tail. I don't think that is a good sign. Of course maybe the recent weight loss will help me run even faster...lighter is better. Right?

Good luck to me. And good luck to Shayne.

BEST MOM EVER...easy as 1, 2, 3

I have discovered that being the best mom really doesn't require that much work. And anything that is easy and practically sweat free is what I am all about. I know you must be thinking, but everything about being a mom is hard and hard work. Yes. I couldn't agree more. But what I am talking about is that it's easy to make your kids think you are the BEST MOM EVER! Here are a couple of examples:

1. Today Parly called me from school. She does this pretty regularly...and it is never an emergency. I don't know what she does to have those grumpy school secretaries putty in her hands. Anyway, today it was because they are having PB&J sandwiches for school lunch...and she hates peanut butter.... I know you can feel bad for me. A child that doesn't like peanut butter.... She was wondering if I could bring her a cold lunch. I told her I was sorry, and that sometimes they change the menu and she will just have to eat whatever else they have with the sandwiches. She might even try trading with someone. I thought that was a good idea. Parly said okay...kind of sad. I told her I loved her and I would see her at home later. I started thinking about it, "why can't I take her a lunch?" So I made her one and took it to school. When I walked in her class and motioned her over. She had the biggest grin on her face. I handed her the lunch bag. "Thanks mom!" Best mom ever.

2. Clayre came home from school a couple of days ago and told me this: "Mom, you know Jakies mom? I was walking home and when he came home from school I heard her yell, 'Jakie, you're home!' I want you to do that for me. Can you do that on my birthday when I come home from school?" So cute, right? I told her of course I would. So then Monday rolls around and Clayre comes home and I yell, "Clayre-be you're home! I'm so glad!" She came over beaming and said, "You remembered." see.. Best mom ever.

3. I asked Kate, "Why do you think I'm the best mom?" She said, "Cause" I asked again, "But why?" And she said "Because you said." So if everything else fails you can just brain-wash them into thinking it. Easy. Best mom ever.

Library : Home away from home.

So the library has become like a new best friend for me. They call me all the time now to let me know that a book I have on "hold" is now ready for pickup. Fun. It's like getting a package. I don't know which book it will be until I get there. Yes.... it is a little sad, I'm a "hold" hog. I always have 5 books on hold at a time because that is the limit. But the really sad part of this "hold-it" story is when I get a couple of books come in at the same time and I have to decide between them. It's like choosing between children. Seriously? No. But I can't read two books at once. I'm gifted, but not that gifted.

Soooo, I frequent there often. Kate and Clayre like to pick out a movie or two each time I go. No reading for them...just me...movies keep them busy while I am reading. Well they picked a VHS movie the other day, I think it was "Fly Away Home." Good movie. Clayre came home and put it into the VCR (yes, we still have one of those VCR's) and a minute later came downstairs hysterical saying that she broke the movie. I scolded her for interrupting my reading...but then told her she probably didn't break it and I would go check it out. It wasn't broken, yet. I actually broke the video trying to pry it out of the machine. I ended up having to take the VCR apart to get it out. No worries...I put it back together in working order, before Shayne could lecture me about how we are not made of money and buying a new VCR for $5 from DI wasn't in the budget this month.

But the video was still broken and could not be repaired. I didn't want to pay for a new video probably over $30 because Library's like to charge a lot for out-of-date VHS's. I thought of a better plan. AMAZON. I got online and found a "Fly Away Home" VHS for .... now brace yourself, .01, yes... 1 cent. I ended up paying just under $3 because of shipping. Nice work, Dais! And the best part is that it got here before the week was up, no need to renew. I just took the library stickers off of the old broken video and retaped them on the new one. Genius! A little devious. Yes. But dishonest? No, I'd like to call it Resourceful!

Yay Me?

So I bought a lunch bag for Parly a few weeks ago from a company called NY Built. I got a cute bag called a Munchler for only $9.99. It zips all the way around so you can also use it as a place mat. Cool. Anyways, they said that the bag would be shipped and arrive in 5-7 business days.

Over a week went by and no lunch bag. I was a little disappointed, so I emailed the company and just asked what was up and wondered when it would be getting here. Well an hour or so later I got a reply. The email said that the shipment was late and there was an influx of orders...they were sorry for the inconvenience and they would send another Munchler bag with the one I ordered. SWEET!

After reading the email I was excited and very proud of myself (for contacting the company and thus getting a free bag) that I called Shayne and told him the great news. It was also nice to hear him say, "Well done, dais, well done."

It wasn't more than a few hours later the FedEx came and dropped off a package. Who from? NY Built. Yay! But wait, now I won't get a free bag. Oh well. I opened it anyway and ....SURPRISE...two bags were there. Sooooo, I guess it wasn't because of me that I got an extra lunch bag after all. It was actually just because I was dealing with a great company. Oh well, that's okay...now we have something to give Clayre for her birthday.

Maggie's 1st Birthday

Maggie's first birthday came and went. It was July 23rd. She is obviously my 4th child, because we didn't do anything to celebrate the BIG day. "She won't remember it anyway," Shayne said.

But, I did feel a little guilty...so I just told everyone that we would celebrate her first birthday when she actually looks a YEAR old. Chuckle, chuckle. That will buy me some time....maybe even a year. It will be the first ever: 1st and 2nd year birthday celebration!

Here are some pictures of Maggie...between 5 and 12 months old. I know they look like they were all taken in the same month.... Don't ask me which picture was taken when, I'm only HER MOTHER.

I have an 8 year-old

So Parly Sue was baptized on Saturday. It was nice. We had lots of family there and even a few of her friends came, which was fun for her. The saddest part was Parly wasn't feeling well and had thrown-up the night before and then that morning. (Story of my life, right?) Well, we got to the church early and sat down when she said she thought she might throw-up again. We ran to the bathroom and just made it. I guess it turned out to be a good thing, because then she felt better and we didn't have to worry about it when she was actually being baptized.

It was really neat to watch her walk into the baptismal font from one side and her dad walk in from the other and then meet in the middle, both of them dressed all in white. Although I have to say that my favorite part was being able to go into the dressing room afterward and help her change back into her white church dress, just the two of us. I remember my mom doing that for me. Parly was then especially excited when she saw that she beat her dad out of the dressing room.

It's so amazing to me that I now have a child that is 8 and she has been baptized. I still remember my baptism. And this makes me realize more then ever that her memory of her childhood has already started. Scary. I better be on my best behavior from now on. Right?

Our Trip to Mesquite

Shayne won a two nights stay at a hotel in Mesquite, NV. (30 minutes drive from St. George). So a month ago, we went with some friends (another family that has two girls the exact ages of Clayre and Kate...how perfect is that!). It turned out to be a great trip. The first night we just hung out in our room and enjoyed being somewhere different. Then the next morning while the husbands went golfing....the wives with kids went swimming for hours, had a lunch break, and than swam some more. All the girls had a ball. Even Maggie enjoyed herself, thanks to the shallow kiddy area. Then it was back to the hotel room for some much needed nap time.... I think the kids fell asleep too. After dinner we went bowling. What else can you do in Mesquite? But it was a lot of fun! Again the girls loved it. And I loved it because it was inside and air-conditioned. After that we crashed in our room for one more night. Leaving the next morning was a breeze....it was so nice to only have to drive 30 minutes instead of 5-6 hours like most of our vacations.

Question: Is it just me or does it not matter if you are leaving for 1 night or 1 week, when you have a baby it looks like you've packed for a month?

Side-note: Parly is not in any of the pictures because she was in Logan (see her blog) with her cousin Lily and nana & papa. Perfect timing!

It feels like a Break-up!

So I just finished the final book, Eclipse last night. And now I don't know what to do with myself. It feels just like I broke up with someone and am not sure what to do or think about. These characters are just so vivid in my mind. I think I will just crawl into bed and wake up when the fourth book is out....next year. Sad!

This is actually embarrassing but I went to the Stephenie Meyer (the author of these vampire books) website and she had a chapter for a book she is thinking of writing called, Midnight Sun. It would be a companion book to the first book, Twilight....only written in Edward's voice (another character). Loved it! Although it made me a little sad only being able to read 1 chapter. I think I will call Stephenie and offer to babysit her kids so she can finish writing all these books for me. You don't have to tell me...I know...I've lost it!!!!

Well now that I am feeling a little blue I think I will go and watch one of my favorite shows at the moment. (DVRed it Monday night). The Closer. That always makes me feel better. And if your wondering what my children are doing while I am crazy about books and t.v. shows....that's a good question. I think some of them are in school....so at least those ones will turn out alright.

I am still here....really!

Okay, so I haven't posted anything for 1 month. Some of you probably have given up on me. Welcome back. Maybe you think I haven't been doing anything interesting so that's why I haven't written. Nope. On the contrary. I have been busy. And it doesn't help that besides my real life : kids, school, cleaning, cooking, running, etc. etc.... I have also been READING. (yes, siblings who have thought I was the illiterate one in the Reeder family). So blame these (and a few other books)......for not hearing from me for so long:



Don't start these books unless you can be prepared to put your REAL life on hold.