Stuck in a Rut

Well my dear blogging friends, I have a confession to make: I dread making lunch each day.  I really don't mind cooking, but for some reason lunch is my achilles heal.    I feel like we are eating the same things all the time. We eat leftovers when we have them, quesadillas, grilled cheese, tortellini, macaroni and cheese, and sometimes sandwiches.  If I am organized enough to think about lunch at breakfast time, I might make chili, homemade soup, or tacos.  The mornings generally fly by as we are doing school and household chores, then lunch is here and I start to panic because I have no clue what to serve my kids. I am tired of what we have been eating -  I need some help to shake up our lunchtime routine - any easy, kid friendly suggestions?

I am hoping

that these shoes can carry me 26.2 miles.  Yes, you read that correctly, 26.2 miles! 

I will be running in my first marathon on June 1st in San Diego.  

I will be participating in the marathon with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Participating in a marathon with LLS has been on my heart for a few years.  I decided this was the year since my kids are a bit older so getting out to train will be a little easier, I will turn *gulp* 35 this summer and I wanted to do something big in recognition, and I am hoping this will help me lose the last of the baby weight.

Last spring, we learned our neighbor Jack had leukemia.  Due to the research through LLS, Jack is in remission and taking a daily medication.  He did not have to have a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, or radiation.  A few years ago, the only treatment for Jack would have been a bone marrow transplant.  

I am running in honor of Jack.  I am hoping to raise $5000 for LLS.  If you would like to donate to LLS and my efforts, there is a link on my sidebar.  

Over the next four months, I will be training and logging a lot of miles.  I am hoping my shoes will carry me changed, uninjured, and renewed across the finish line.

Puppy Love

Mauryn made a new friend, a cockapoo named Zachy.  Here is where Mauryn spent her awake time on Sunday afternoon: 

Hamming it up when she realized the camera was out! 

Stages

She throws her head back, the tears are streaming down her face, her back arches, she tries to get out of my grip, the crying and screaming pierce my ears - my baby is in a full fledged tantrum.  She wants her independence and her freedom, yet she

 doesn't have the words to tell me her wants and needs.  The tantrums surprise me.  She has been such an

 easy going and gentle baby.  Now she is becoming an unpredictable toddler.   She is petite in stature but strong in her will.  It is an adventure watching her personality unfold.  She doesn't seem to have a middle ground - there is one extreme or another.  I can honestly do without the tantrums (couldn't we all). It is part of this stage that I don't want to remember, I don't want to embrace.  

I see the sweet and gentle side of my baby.  It melts my heart.  It makes me forget the tantrum that may have been just moments before. I see her wave hello and blow kisses to the grandmas at church who love babies, I see her lay her head on the shoulder of our elderly neighbor who misses holding and loving on babies, I see her laugh and play with her siblings, I see her face light up when I come in the room, I see her race for the door when she hears the garage door open and she knows her daddy is home.  I love those mo

ments.  I treasure watching her trying to take her first steps, say her first words, imitate her siblings in play - it is an amazing gift to be able to experience these moments.  I know I can't have the excitement and joys without the feelings of frustration and helplessness as she throws her tantrums.   This stage will pass in a blink.  I am watching eyes wide open. I don't want to miss a thing.

Is it okay to cry

at your daughter's gymnastics meet because you are so proud of her and her teammates?

I hope so, because I did!  Morgan had her second gymnastics meet of the season today and improved immensely since the last meet.  It was so fun to see her perform and do so well.  After the meet they had an awards ceremony.  Awards were given for the top three teams and the all around competition.  Morgan placed 4th out of 18 for her age group! When I caught Lance's eye and saw that he was getting choked up it brought more tears to my eyes. (I haven't seen my husband get emotional very many times in our 11 year marriage ). Then our gym took 1st place overall at this level.  As we were walking to the car, Morgan was just bouncing with excitement but not over her personal accomplishment but over the fact that their team took first place.  Lance and I just looked at each other and smiled. Again tears and a heart filled with joy that at this moment when the focus could have been on herself and her accomplishments, she was focused on the accomplishments of her team.  

Morgan receiving her 4th place trophy

I love this picture - just look at the excitement on their faces as they race up to get their first place trophy!

Morgan and her first place Level 4 gymnastics team

Happiness Is .....

 I am following Sarah's lead this morning! Here are the first (very random) thoughts that came to my mind that brought some happiness today:

- a family breakfast this morning

- vacuumed floors and a clean kitchen

- my kids laughing and playing together

- Schwan's French Vanilla ice cream (only available at the holidays) and crushed oreos - YUM!

- a complete workout this morning with no interruptions -just me, the elliptical, and the TiVo

- stay at home days - in pj's or comfy clothes and no place to go :o)

- snuggling in with the kids for bedtime stories

- quiet time with a good book

- a nap

- a weekend away with my family 

- a fountain soda

- watching my kids learn something new

- my baby taking her first steps

- being with friends who make me laugh

- an ever growing  list of books to read for 2008  thanks to my fellow bloggers and readers

- the new friends I have made through blogging 

A Room With

  

a doorbell! Yep, our hotel room in Sun Valley had a doorbell. 

Lance had a seminar for work on Friday in Sun Valley.  The company putting on the seminar invited families to join in on the weekend and put us up at the Sun Valley Inn.  Our room was incredible - as big as the main level of our first house about 1000 sq feet.  When I walked in I was in shock.  Our room had 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a kitchen, a dining room, and a living area.  It was a blessing to have this much space with the kids and privacy for bedtime and nap time.  Here are a few pictures of our room:

Here are some photos of the weekend in Sun Valley (sorry there are quite a few): 

Mauryn was so tired by lunch on Saturday she fell asleep on Morgan and then slept for 5 hours! That was one monster nap!

Landon attempting to snowshoe right outside our room. 

Landon and Morgan on the sleigh snow sculpture.

The view from the pool! Notice the steam - the pool was outside!  There were walls surrounding the pool but there was no roof. The water was heated to 100-102 degrees. It was amazing - the kids loved it.  

Morgan and Landon taking a swim

The view of some of the shops in the Sun Valley village. On the property there is a deli, many restaurants, a book store, gift shops, a chocolate foundry, two ice skating rinks (one inside and one outside)the lodge, and the inn as well as some condos.

There were many ice and snow sculptures around the property.

For some reason the only thing on Landon's agenda was to go bowling!  There is a bowling alley in the basement of the lodge. So, Landon got in his first bowling experience.

Check out those sweet bowling shoes - Landon wanted to know why he couldn't take them home.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to stay in Sun Valley at the inn for the weekend. It was just beautiful - lots of snow on the ground, sunshine, and mild temperatures. Lance was able to ski at Sun Valley and loved it (the best place he has EVER skied).  The kids and I were able to just lay low and enjoy some quiet afternoons.  It was a much needed reprieve from the day to day routines.