Dam to Dam race

This morning I ran in the Dam to Dam 20K race (for those of you who aren't math wizards, that is 12.4 miles!). The Dam to Dam race starts at the Saylorville Lake dam and finishes in downtown Des Moines. This year there were 4,800 participants- making it the largest 20K in the nation. It was a beautiful morning and I reached my goal of running the entire distance. I had a finish time of 1 hour 51 minutes (that's a pace of 8 minute 56 seconds per mile), my finish time was faster than I expected- so I was happy with myself. The bad news is, by the time I crossed the 12 mile marker I was ready to crawl to the finish line. The good news is, I didn't crawl across the finish line!



My running partner, Celeste, and I on the homestretch. I am smiling because I can see the finish line!




Me and my boys after the race. (the kids were actually registered for a 100 meter race, which is why they are in their running clothes. Ammon threw up 5 times before they met me at the finish line so we decided we'd better skip the kid's race and take him home.)

Camping!

Thursday night we took the boys camping up at Saylorville Lake. It was a blast! The campsite was only 10 minutes away from our house (which came in handy when our friends the Bomstas forgot a couple vital things like their tent and sleeping bags and had to run home to get them!) We made tinfoil dinners and smores for dinner and had muffins and fruit for breakfast (we were glad that we hadn't planned a cooked breakfast when our breakfast got rained out).


Carter, Ammon and Cannon eat their smores.

Carter helped Colby put up the tent, and they did a great job!


Carter, Evelyn, Bri, Cannon and Ammon hanging out in the tent.


Carter kicked Colby out of his camping chair and claimed it as his own for the trip.


Evelyn, Makayla, Cannon, Ammon and Alivia hang out in front of the tent.

One year down....

Colby is officially done with his first year of school! I feel like we should have a ceremony or something. We have been in celebration mode for the last couple of days; we went out to dinner, had a BBQ, rented a movie from the library and slept in until 8 am this morning!


Colby and the boys picking out a movie at the library. Aren't they handsome?


Colby pushing Ammon, Cannon and some random kid on the tire swing at the BBQ.


Carter is all geared up for summer!


Colby showing off the BBQ apron he got for his birthday.

Although we didn't have a ceremony, I have prepared a short speech to thank everyone who has helped get us through this first year.... (I've always wanted to give a speech at a ceremony!)

I'd like to thank my Mom for sending cards and packages for every major or minor holiday (she even sent me a Mother's day card!), I'd like to thank Kami for calling me every week and keeping me up to date on the "Utah gossip," I'd like to thank Susan for being my personal recipe consultant, Celeste for being a great running partner and motivating me to go running even when it is 5:30 am and/or raining, Ammon and Carter for going everywhere with me and being my constant companions, I'd like to thank Colby because he's the world's best husband (and really he's the reason why we are here!), I'd like to thank Karin, Emily, Ann,Elizabeth and all of you other faithful bloggers for keeping me entertained with your blogs when I was husbandless, Tonya for trading babysitting with me and giving Colby and I much needed date nights and last but not least, the Macaroni Grill for providing me with employment and discounted food. Here's to three more great years!

Happy Birthday Colby!

Today Colby is turning 28! He can no longer tease me about being an "old woman" because we are now the same age again. Unfortunately, Colby is going to spend the day studying for his last test (it's tomorrow AM), but after that we are going to celebrate for two months!
Colby is hands down the world's best husband and best daddy. Here are all the things we love about him:

-I love that he works at the school (from Ammon)
-when I grow up I'm going to be a foot doctor and a daddy and a garbage truck driver and go to the same school as daddy. (from Ammon)
- he reads me stories (from Cart)

-Whenever I come home from work, the house is clean and the kids are in bed. It is so nice not to have to worry about what I will find when I come home.
- I can cook anything and Colby will eat it. Most of the time, he even says it's good.
-he helps with the dishes.
-he makes me laugh.
-I don't want daddy to go to school today (from Carter)
-he makes me breakfast in bed and gives me back rubs when I have had a really long day.
-he gets really excited when I make food that he likes.
-he is very kind to others
-he doesn't like contention or confrontation so he's a great peacemaker.
-he helps get the kids ready for church.
-he gets really excited when Carter wakes up dry and gives him fives when he goes potty.

This is what Colby has looked like for the last 10 months.


-Dad plays with us all the time and he teases us (from Ammon)
-he gets really mad when he looses his x-box soccer games and he yells at the TV.
-he is very unselfish and always thinks of me and the kids first.
-he gives great hugs.
-he works very hard in school and studies very diligently, even when I try to talk him out of it.
-he plays soccer with me (from Carter).

We hope Colby has a great birthday! We love you daddy!

Mother's day

Mother's day this year was great! Colby made me breakfast before I had to go to work (okay, the work part wasn't that great). When I got home, the boys gave me gifts. I got some new running clothes and the official Mother's day present from preschool (Ammon's little handprints with a cute poem). When I opened Ammon's present, I actually cried. It just made me feel like a real Mom. After we ate our free to go from Macaroni Grill (long story, but my boss bought our dinner), we decided to go on a bike ride. We rode up the Neil Smith trail to Saylorville Lake and it was beautiful! It was such a nice day. Isn't Iowa beautiful? Kind of makes you want to visit, ehh?

The bike ride ended up being longer than we anticipated (when all was said and done we had gone 12 miles), so when we got to the river we got the boys out of the trailer. They had fun throwing rocks in the water and running around on the grass.


Throwing anything they can get their hands on into the water.


I love this picture, it looks like it could go on a postcard or something.


The spillway was very full, and pretty intimidating to watch. The water would splash clear up to the fence. It made me nervous just standing above it.

Our new additions

Apparently, Ammon has been feeling like our family is incomplete. Originally, he requested a baby sister named Karlee (due to the fact that his best friend has a baby sister named Karlee). Then, after they had a lesson on pets at preschool, he asked for a dog. Neither of the above seemed like good options, so Colby and I suggested a fish. That seemed to satisfy him. We now have 4 little new additions to our family. Ammon named his fish Flash and Carter named his Picasso (I would like to tell you that he is an artistic genius, but he got it from Toy Story). We also have Danio and Sylvester Girl. The boys are so excited to have pets. They help feed them and they talk to them. Ammon has said more than once, "Flash is so happy in his new home."


Colby getting the tank ready.


Little fish are really hard to take pictures of, this is the best I could do.


The boys watching their fish eat breakfast.


Carter said, "I love my Picasso fish, he's so cute!"

Soccer, bike rides, mini-golf and other death defying feats

Soccer
It is finally nice weather in Iowa, and we are enjoying it to it's fullest. Ammon just finished a soccer clinic at the YMCA. He did great! Carter wanted go out and play with the other kids and occasionally, if we didn't think he would get run over, we would let him.


Stretching out before the clinic. Notice Carter is out there with his own little ball.


Ammon waiting in line to shoot a goal.

Bike Rides
We have lots of trails around us that are great for biking, running and walking. Ammon loves to go out and ride bikes with his friends.


Cannon and Ammon smile for the camera.


Mini-golf
On Monday, we went mini-golfing for Family Home Evening. The boys had a blast! Carter would hit the ball once, then go pick it up and put it about 2 inches away from the hole. No matter how many times Colby tried to show them how to hold the club, they couldn't quite remember!




Other Death Defying Feats
We have decided that Carter is a four year old trapped in a two year old body. He frequently does things that amaze (and scare me). This is his latest trick and no matter how many times he does it, I still get scared every time.

Kids say the darndest things

Ever since I posted about the terrific twos, I have been noticing the funny little things that my kids say and do. I want to share a few of my favorites with you....

The other night as I was making dinner, Ammon wanted me to go upstairs and play with him. I told him that I was making dinner and I would come up as soon as I was finished. He replied, "Mom, why can't we ever go eat at a restaurant where the food is already made?"


Last week, our playgroup got rained out and we relocated to the Mcdonald's playground. The boys asked me repeatedly if they could get toys with their food and I told them we weren't going to get Happy Meals, just cheeseburgers. Carter asked me one more time if he could get a toy and Ammon turned to him and said, "Carter, we are not getting Happy Meals today, we are getting Mad Meals- because I am mad that I don't get a toy."


One morning, Carter asked if he could have a cookie for breakfast. Of course I told him no, but if he ate all his oatmeal, he could have a cookie for snack time. He pointed his little finger at me and said, "Mom, that's not your decision."


One day after the boys had been fighting (and Carter had scratched Ammon), Ammon said to me, "Mom, I love Carter every day, but when he does mean things to me I only love him a little bit."

Carter was in trouble (I can't remember what he did) and I was putting him on time out. On the way upstairs he looked at me and said, "Mom, I'm just a little boy."

The boys are so much fun, they are constantly making me laugh. They do funny things like this every day, and these are the only ones I can remember for now.

Official Sunday Attire

Every Sunday after church Ammon comes home and changes his clothes. Every week he puts on the same outfit. Fuzzy black pants, striped green shirt and navy blue slippers, every week. Today Carter was asleep in their bedroom so Colby went in and got Ammon's clothes. He picked out the same fuzzy black pants, but with a grey t-shirt. After we had come downstairs, Ammon went into his bedroom and changed his shirt. The funny thing is, Ammon gets himself dressed other days of the week and puts on other clothes. Sometimes they even match. For some reason, he has chosen this outfit as his official Sunday attire.


Just to show you that Ammon does know how to dress himself, here is a picture of another outfit that he picked out. I love this outfit because it looks just like something Colby would wear (other than the bright green shirt). Cargo shorts, t-shirt, baseball hat and flip-flops. Like father, like son.

Obsessions

I was tagged by Karin to list 5 things that I am obsessed with. Karin, sorry it has taken me so long- sometimes I feel like I post sooo much that people get sick of it. Because Karin tagged me (and claimed that I would do it) I can't let her down. Here you have it, 5 things that I am obsessed with (in no particular order).

1- Grey's Anatomy- Thursday nights will never be the same. I love Greys. If you haven't seen it, it is like ER meets Days of our Lives, but even more entertaining than you could imagine.

2- My boys- I love all 3 of my boys. Sometimes I tell Colby he is like having another kid, but I really do like taking care of him too. Although I don't share Karin's sentiment that a trip to Target is painful without them, (I prefer to shop kid-free), I do love to take the boys to the park, on walks, swimming, to the zoo, you name it.

3- Exercising- Right now I am running, but I kind of go through phases. If I don't get my morning workout in, I am grumpy. It is very essential "me time." (see #4)

4- "Me time"- Now, remember #2, I love my boys and I love to do things with them. That said, I also love to do things without them. I need to have time to myself everyday to do whatever I want to do. This usually occurs during naptime or between 8 and 11 pm at night. It doesn't matter if I am cleaning, reading or watching TV, I feel like a much better Mommy if I can do it (whatever it may be) for an hour a day w/o my kids.

5- This is a tough one, it's a tie between cleaning and icecream. I don't love cleaning, but it drives me nuts if my house is a mess. Thus, I am obsessed with cleaning it. Icecream I could eat 3 times a day. I love it.

Potty training update

Carter is doing great! He was more excited about his new underwear than he was about actually sitting on the potty, but he has gotten a lot better. Here he is showing off his Lightning McQueen underwear.



Carter saying "Cheese."





Carter and all his buddies on the potty. Doesn't he have a cute little face?


This isn't really a potty training picture, but I thought it was cute. The boys got their Summer buzz cuts early this year- wishful thinking I guess.

Terrific Twos and Potty Training

I was reading through my last couple of posts and it sounds like I have a very negative outlook on motherhood (which is not true). So I wanted to post all the things that are great about my kids.

I love that Carter uses big words (well, big for a two year old) like because, I'm pretending, I have an idea and it's my favorite and quotes movies (he says, "hit the road bucky," from Emperor's new groove, "To infinity and beyond," from Toy Story and "Cachow," from Cars).

I love that Ammon randomly gives me hugs and says, "Mom, I sure love you."

Today after I gave Carter fruity Cheerios for breakfast he informed me that Lightning McQueen was sad because he didn't have any fruity Cheerios. I proceeded to get a bowl of Cheerios for Lightning to which Carter said, "Mom, Lightning doesn't want Cheerios in a bowl, he wants them in a Piston cup."

I love that Ammon carries around little toys and gadgets everywhere. His most recent is a small plastic snake that he named popcorn.

I love that Carter likes to play with my hair when he's tired.

I love that my kids are in bed by 8 pm.

I love that Ammon tells everyone that he is 4, he is a really good swimmer and he plays soccer.

I also wanted to include this video because I think it is so dang cute. For those of you wondering, I have committed to potty train Carter starting tomorrow morning. Wish me luck.

Easter Weekend

On Saturday, we went to the ward Easter egg hunt. The boys had a great time. (and yes, it is still cold enough for hats and coats!)



Notice that they are using Walmart bags rather than Easter baskets- our Easter baskets were lost in the abyss of our garage and it took me a couple tries to find them.


Sunday we got together with Campbells and Bombstas for Easter dinner. It was great! We had ham, funeral potatoes, biscuits and jello eggs. I love this picture because Carter and Colby are both so mad! (Carter because he wanted apple juice and Colby because I was trying to take another picture).


Here are my boys all ready for church! Don't they look handsome?


Me and my boys.


Ammon is growing up so fast! I think he looks so mature in this picture.


Carter getting all ready for church (meaning he is gathering up his cars, which he tries to tote around everywhere with us).

I have so many pictures of my boys sitting on our bed, I really need to find a more scenic place to take their picture. I don't know why they always end up on my bed!


This video isn't terribly exciting, but I thought it was really cute. Notice what a good big brother Ammon is, he is always helping Carter and looking out for him. I think it's really sweet.

Getting Older

When I was younger, my Mom always made a big deal out of birthdays. Big party, cute cake, lots of presents and balloons. Naturally, I tend to do the same thing with my kids. I've never had the desire to throw myself a party or bake myself a cake, but I do little things to spoil myself. I always take off work for my birthday, I refuse to do laundry and I eat a big piece of cake without feeling guilty. This year I stayed in my pajamas until noon, I went to lunch with some friends (and my boys of course!) and I let Ammon eat a whole can of chunk pineapple for breakfast (because it was my birthday and I wasn't in the mood to fight him). It was shaping up to be a pretty nice day when both of my kids fell asleep on the way home from the mall and stayed asleep when I carried them in the house. I was just getting settled and started reading my book when the doorbell rang. It was friend bringing her kids over who I had agreed to babysit (which I did remember, but conveniently forgot amid my excitement over having some quiet time.) Not five minutes later, I heard Ammon crying upstairs. I put the baby in the bouncy seat and went upstairs to get Ammon (this is when letting him eat a whole can of pineapple for breakfast totally backfired on me). He was standing at the toilet (still half asleep) and had poo running down his legs, in his pants, on his socks and shoes, on the bathroom floor (miraculously missing the rug) and somehow on the toilet itself. This was one of those moments for me when I was looking around for help and it dawned on me, "Oh yeah, I'm the mom, this is my job. I threw Ammon in the bathtub and starting cleaning up. Somewhere between rinsing diarrhea out of multiple articles of clothing, listening to Karlee screaming from the bouncy seat, Ammon screaming from the bathtub and Lysoling my bathroom I thought to myself, "Birthdays just aren't what they used to be." and then I got really homesick. Not because I thought my day would have gone any differently, and not even because of the card my Mom sent me that made me cry earlier in the day. I don't really know why, I just was.
For those of you wondering, I actually had a great day. Colby came home and rescued me. I finally got a candy thermometer (after I opened it Colby said, "I don't know why you don't have one of these, you have been asking for it for the past four years and they really aren't very expensive.") Now Ammon keeps asking me when I am going to make candy. Later in the evening, Colby and I went out to dinner at my new place of employment (which turned out to be even better because my manager told us it was "on the house"), and the kids were in bed when we got home. I would like to say to Emily (who is days away from delivering her first child) that, as is obvious from this post, once you have kids your life is never the same. But they are worth it.

Terrible Twos

When Carter throws a fit, he clinches his fists and his little bum and yells really loud. I only know the part about his little bum because last night he threw a huge fit in the bathtub because I used the wrong kind of bubble bath. He also threw a fit when I got him out because he was so busy screaming in the bath, he didn't play with his lizards. Then he cried when I put his jammies on because he wanted to wear his Lightning McQueen shirt to bed and I put on Thomas the train PJ's. I think we have officially entered the terrible twos. It's a good thing he's so cute.
Note to self: Next time skip the bubble bath.