Monday, September 27, 2010

Kids

...are work! I mean, overall their days are pretty predictable and scheduled, but at the end of the day... you just got messes to clean up, laundry to do, counters to be wiped clean, floors to be vacuumed (or scrubbed if needed), diapers to be changed (maybe clothes too if there's food and nasty nastys all over them), and then making sure everyone has gone to the bathroom, brushed their teeth, and not to forget reading story books at the very end.

I've come to the conclusion that being a mother requires living in the desert for the awesome night swimming, or having a BIG soaking tub to just relax in, ha. But in the off chance I don't live in the desert, I'll definitely be needing that tub! With delicious smelling bubble bath to top it off. Ooh, yeahh.
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5977034/2/istockphoto_5977034-woman-relaxing-in-a-bubble-bath.jpg

I still love all of it though! But it's a good reality check for me, a woman practically fawning over babies and wanting one ever since I was eligible for marriage. ha. Maybe ever since I could pick up a baby doll, yeah that sounds more like it.

Good morning from Arizona!

 Ty is in school, learning and growing up so fast.
Drew is coloring the rest of his sailboat picture from our art project yesterday.
Kam is crawling around, blankie in hand, talking to herself.

I love this.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Just one of those days...

Ever get those days where life is just not so awesome?
I read a book tonight to one of the kiddos entitled Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It doesn't even end up as a good day. The book straight out leaves no happiness. It basically tells you, "Yeah, sometimes you're going to get terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days and that's that."

Not so comforting.

And that's when I break out the ice cream. Or cookies. Or anything that just isn't very healthy. Might as well indulge myself while I'm "having one of those days" and risk feeling even more crappy for eating all that junk food. Oh and don't forget to blog about it (case and point).

Eh, oh well.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

My Life Flashing Before Your Eyes via Photos #2

Max's Birthday Weekend in Paso
Some SWEET presents from Jon and Michelle. Jon is Max's BFF forever since High School.


He also got sparring gear from my mom and dad.
I got him some clothes he picked out. No surprise, but he wanted them!

My mother-in-law hooked me up with a ton of quilting supplies and fabric. This is a quilt she gave me to sew. This is the pattern. I already sewed the pieces together... I'll finish it when we visit them again this Thanksgiving.
Max's First Day of School
Cute boy
Trip to Idaho
My first trip to Idaho


We walked through the gardens at BYU-I's campus. SO pretty, and really a neat feature of the campus. Words of Wisdom in the gardens above!

Cute, branch seat found in the gardens and my mom.

Good luck, Alexis! haha

Temple Session at the Rexburg temple


Got to see Bri and Kris while we were there! She has gotten so big since the last time I saw her (years ago).
She may not know me well, but I AM her FAVORITE auntie.
Max's First Belt Testing
Max was memorizing the student creed for his yellow belt test...right before the test. Oh dear. Haha.


He passed!
He loves to pose for the camera. Can't you tell?
Tuff-E-Nuff

Soccer! First game of the season. My first game ever. We won 6-0. I was pretty satisfied with how it went! But my right foot is hurting!!! First it was my left and now my right...Oh man, I hope it heals for running, karate and more soccer time!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Word Nerd

Max claims I'm a word nerd. I stick my nose in a book and don't come out of it unless I have a comment to make. I recently finished the Hunger Games books (1 and 2= great!, 3= unsatisfied). If you've read the third book, you'll probably finish it having the same feelings... like the story was just cut off abruptly and all of the sudden Gale is in another district without a thought for Katniss.... That's just one random tidbit. With books 1 and 2, I couldn't put them down and mostly, I was wanting to read in my spare time to find out what's next! ( instead of watching t.v.)... With book 3, it took me a little longer than with 1 and 2 to actually finish the book. I wasn't really eager to know what happened in the story... I was still interested, but it wasn't the same intensity as with the previous books. Ah, anyway, they are entertaining and I still recommend the trilogy.


I also read The Last Child. That took me 4 days to finish. It was a mystery book, and had received the Edgar award. Intriguing. The story was dark, and a bit sad. Despite that, I found myself wanting to read more and more to find out what would happen! The book is about a young boy who lost his twin sister to an abduction. His family fell apart completely, turning to drugs, alcohol and despair (SAD!). The young boy, Johnny, is determined to find his sister, having a firm hope that she is still alive one year after the incident. The book takes you along his journey in finding out what happened and it takes you all sorts of places from discovery of other criminal activity and abuses, to betrayal of friendships. In the end, I felt a sense of relief (because as would be expected, Johnny does find out what happened with his sister)... I was probably relieved because I knew I wouldn't be reading the sadness and sense of loss from The Last Child. Unless you're in to that kind of story-line and mystery/suspense, I probably wouldn't recommend it... too sad, and it's got some profanity in it.



Now I'm reading Life As We Knew It. It's about the Moon getting struck by a meteor and it pushes it out of orbit causing natural disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes, severe storms and chaos. Fear that the world has come to an end, or soon will be. Rumors flying around like starvation, death, and the Moon will crash into the earth ending all life. I haven't gotten very far into the story, but I'll let you know how it goes.

Ok... I know what you're thinking... Life As We Knew It is kind of sad and dark in it's own way isn't it?! I promise I don't go LOOKING for SAD and DARK in the books I choose... I guess I'm just intrigued to see how the story will unfold. I like that it's not so predicable as to what could come of the story.

If you have any recommendations, share! Next on my list is the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (and the following books in that series...I hear they are page turners!)

Monday, September 20, 2010

ain't told me nothin'!

I went to the Doctor today.

Basically, I need to stay off my foot. No running. Ideally, I wouldn't be walking either...

There's no stress fracture, nothin'. I can't feel a thing. Only when I run.. And the doctor definitely said that 3 miles is A LOT of miles. Her eyes widened as she said "A LOT." Ok, lady...

Oh and when I think I'm ready to run again, I am highly advised to start with half a mile and build up from there.

Ground zero.

I think I'll just grin and bare it. I've got some miles to put on these shoes and I can't do it if I'm not running, and then when I finally get to, only starting out with HALF A MILE!!!!!!!

Ground zero.






Maybe the Doctor is right...Grinning and baring it could prove to be a stupid idea. Dang it.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Interviewee

My last interview was a flop and I remember walking away dissatisfied with how I did. THAT job wasn't what I thought it was and I think my disappointment or sudden lack of enthusiasm was lost once I found out what it was really for... a calendar store. No, thanks.

But the job I interviewed today  for? I could really see myself liking it and even learning more about its services. Massage Envy. It's in the health industry, which suits me perfectly. It went really well...for a first interview! The girl who screened me said she would pass along my resume to the owner for a second interview. She said I was a cute and sweet girl, ha.

I prayed, not to seal the deal, but to feel confident during the interview. I definitely got that blessing today! Hopefully I'll get another job here soon... My days are long when I'm confined inside the house.

And...

...my foot is hurting again. Good gravy!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

dragging my feet

I've gone a couple weeks without running. And that translated into me indulging in sleeping in and doing nothing. There were dust particles on my Garmin watch, people! Getting out this morning just to do a 3 miler was sort of...difficult. Imagine if I wasn't committed to the CIM race...I'd probably never go out and run. Well, maybe I would. The point is, I'm craving some motivation!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Up and Coming

#1. Max got the Wells Fargo job! He starts next Tuesday. So happy we'll have another source of income to build up our piggy bank.
#2. I'm all set for health, vision and dental insurance thanks to the new law that allows me stay on my parents' plan until the age of 26, regardless of my marital status. WOW, saving $$ big time; not to mention an alleviation of stress from not having insurance before. Thanks, Mom!
#3. I have an interview with Massage Envy for their Front Desk position. Thursday. Max gave me some good pointers on how to interview well. I hope I do better than the last one... I was surprised to get the call seeing that I applied there months ago... odd.
#4. New week= new art project for my classes! Yay. I seriously love my job. I'm so grateful I have this opportunity to experience teaching on a topic that I love...with the little guys of course.
#5. My foot isn't achey anymore after playing soccer with Max, which means I'm ready to get back into my marathon training. Thank goodness. Less than 3 months left! Still have plenty of time.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

I be soccer woman

Well, I'm training to be a super star soccer player.

My coach? Max D. Getz. And he LOVES it. I can tell in the way he gives me pointers, sets up little drills we can do, and the praise he gives when I do something right, ha. Not to mention, he finally has hooked me into the sport itself. In fact, we went out and got me cleats, socks, and shin guards... "the works." We are even going as far as putting me in the soccer league with his team.

I really think its the new cleats that are getting me in the "yeah, lets go play soccer" mood. Before... well, lets just say that whenever he would ask if I wanted to go play soccer, I'd reply "nope." Maybe its because I had no real goal. I didn't need to perfect my "skills," I wasn't on a team, and I'd never really shown an interest in the sport my entire life.

Looking the part definitely helps. It will be a fun couples activity for us. Max loves when I'm involved in things he likes to do. Soccer being one of them.

We watched Ashlyn play her soccer game today. SO CUTE. The little 5 year-old girls run in a clump around the ball, the goalies always drop to their knees and clasp the ball while turning and waiting for screams from the parents cheering them on, and those girlies on defense? Oh they just chat away and practice high-fives until the ball comes towards their end of the field. Max and I couldn't help but think how fun it will be to watch our own kiddos play sports (I add music and art, of course!).

Hopefully I'll post some sweet pictures of us in our practically matching get-up... that is if I can discipline myself enough to bring the camera and actually take a snapshot. ;)

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

early morning delight

Most wouldn't think overcast days are a "delight" but I do!
I woke up and the clock said 8:30 AM.
I looked around the room and it was still rather dark for this time of day.

And then it hit me.

I literally jumped up on my bed to peer out the windows and yes, my suspicions were confirmed...
...it was cloudy and windy. I LOVE IT.
I was so excited I jumped back down and told Max.
Don't know if he quite heard me since he was out.
This weather gets me so excited for the Fall and Holiday season.
I love hearing the trees rustle outside as the wind carries on.

Ahh...peaceful.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

bored.

i had a dream that the marathon helper people messed up the course BIG TIME. nothing was marked. no one knew where to point me in the right direction. the clock was ticking. i was flustered and frustrated. obstacle after obstacle was placed in my path, preventing me from performing my best. and the clock was still ticking...

i think my foot is almost healed. i read its best to let it heal completely before running on it again. so i haven't ran very much in the last week and a half. makes me anxious. probably why that dream spawned on me last night.

i still miss byu. but i kept myself busy by preparing for my art class today. for that short hour i didn't think about byu. i hope my class goes well. max b. gets to come today since i'll be teaching at his school :)

i kinda like writing my sentences with no capitols. random. but at least i'm consistent in this post.

the house is a mess. "work spaces" o'plenty scattered around for either school, art, quilting...whatever. i wish it was 2 pm.

Monday, September 6, 2010

I bleed blue

Nearing the end of my college career, knowing Max and I were moving back to California, I felt like I was ready to move on. I felt ready to leave BYU, to leave Provo, and to leave my whole life there.

...I was wrong.

All I can think is how I miss BYU, how I miss Provo, and how I miss my life there. The other day, my dad, Max and brother-in-law were watching the BYU vs. Washington football game. I couldn't really enjoy it because all I could feel and think was how much I wanted to be back there. Memories flooded and I was caught up in that life again.

I was in and out of there fast. Too fast. I rushed and wish I didn't. How do I forget or ditch the urge to just drop it all and move back?

I've got my art teaching job tomorrow...finally. Maybe it will help fill that void.
I can focus on my marathon training. Maybe that will help fill that void.
I can delve into my gospel studies with Preach My Gospel.  Maybe THAT will help fill that void.

Maybe not...


I love BYU.