Posing in front of crack...

Seriously, this salted carmel popcorn from Costco is aaaahhhmazzzing.
So ridiculously addictively delicious.
I know this cuz there was a bag of it at mom's a few months ago. It didn't last long.
For a split second I considered splurging and buying a bag.
It was even on sale.
But then the snugness of my still-a-little-too-tight jeans reminded me that those devilishly delicious pieces of crack cocaine-like treats would only put me further from the happiness that comes from vanished muffin tops.

So we left with a cart full of healthy stuff.

After indulging in way too many samples. Cuz that's where I'm at.

Up On The Roof ... [name that song!]

I love these girls. Even more than James Taylor.




Note the cool rope swing in the back that Papa built!

SEEERIOUS air hockey

Bennett was getting a little too intense in his game vs his Daddy....

Wild Moose Chase 10K on Mt Spokane

Such a fun morning!

We LOVE going up to Mt. Spokane.

 So beautiful, and not too far away. The weather was perfect.

Meredith and Lily joined us - she did the 5K.  I placed 2nd.

Trail races are the best!

Though I'm pretty out of shape on the hills - they were brutal.

But, what doesn't kill you.....

 

I made sure to let Brian know how much I appreciate his total support of my little racing hobby. Though I know he enjoys coming out to these things (free food! Live music! Nature walks w/ the kids!), it still is so nice that I don't have to cajole him into it.

Time to go look up races and find one for next week!

Nicest Chalk Artist ever

             He let 4 yr olds help him!

 

 

 

 

 

{Downtown Spokane}. 

School surprise

On the way home from the gym I looked at the clock and realized we'd be going right by Brianna's school while she was starting lunch.
I impulsively decided to just stop on by and join her!
Her face when she saw me.... that made my day.
My year.
She was SO sincerely, genuinely delighted.
I can't imagine her being any more excited if we had told her she was going to Disneyland or something.
The twins loved it - they went and got their trays like little pros.
Brianna's friends were in shock - they thought it was so cool that Brianna's mom came, and brought 3 "little kids" along!
I better enjoy this while I can, right?!
I can only imagine that it won't be long before she won't be so delighted to have me join her at school lunch....
It was over all too soon.  They only get 20 minutes for lunch!
But we went out to recess with her too.
Which was insane. All those children are WILD! Pure chaos out there.  I don't think I could handle working in a public school setting.
Side note... I keep debating between paying for school lunch or packing from home. Which is more cost-effective, healthier, etc. 

 

@Tompkins

 

Brushing in STYLE

Everyone needs to put on a kimono and a crown before brushing their teeth.

CRAZY CARROT

Bouncing w/ Bennett

I ADORE THIS LITTLE BOY!!!  He makes the funniest little noises and says the cutest things. And is always up to play play play. Seriously.... I don't want him to grow up. I know that sounds so cliché, and such an overused phrase by sappy sentimental moms.... but no - really - I don't want him to grow up. He's going to turn into a big boy. Then a young man. Then a MAN. And I'll have no sweet little boy to giggle and wrestle with me like only a little boy can! Saaaaaaad!

Mirabeau Waterfall

So pretty! Can't believe I grew up 30 minutes from this place and had never been here. 55 acres of trails and park area surround this waterfall!

Best Farm Ever!

Strawberry Hills Nutrition Farm in Greenbluff. Beyond organic - it's called Nutrient Dense Farming. We picked a little of everything they had available there (and I've got the bill to prove it, ha! Real food isn't cheap!)

"The nutrition-dense farming techniques that Verne Fallstrom has implemented at Strawberry Hill have piqued the interest of farmers all over the world. Strawberry Hill Nutrition Farm offers some of the freshest, most healthful and nutrient dense produce around. Unlike an organic farm where some types of pesticide applications are acceptable, on a nutrition farm like Strawberry Hill, we don't use any pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Instead, we concentrate on soil health - ensuring it has the right biological balance of nutrients including trace minerals (AZOMITE®) to keep the plants healthy, which in turn keeps the pests away.  PRODUCE GROWN ON THE FARM:  Beets,  Broccoli, Cabbage,   Carrots (several color varieties), Celery, Cucumbers, Herbs, Garlic, Kale (several varieties), Onion, Sugar Peas, Peppers, Pole Beans, Potatoes, Rhubarb,  Romaine Lettuce (green and red), Swiss Chard, Summer Squash (zucchini, yellow crook neck), Tomatoes, Winter Squash (pumpkins, spagetti, butternut, acorn, delicata, hubbard, kabocha),  Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries (of course!),  At Strawberry Hill Nutrition Farm we promote health. Come and experience the difference! With over 45 years of experience in geology, geophysics and geochemistry, Verne Fallstrom is both the brains and brawn of Strawberry Hill. A certified Master Gardener and Master Composter, he also studied nutrition farming in Australia with Nutritech Solutions. Strawberry Hill Nutrition Farm was started from scratch and became what it is today trough Verne's dream of growing healthy food, improving personal health and helping others.  Verne's intention at Strawberry Hill is to take the simple concepts of nature and apply them in order to produce the most nutrient dense and delicious fruits, vegetables and herbs possible. "Study nature and work with her," is his motto.

10K!

Valleyfest 10K! Felt awesome to do a real-ish race again! I WANT MORE!!

And this was the view along the whole course! Mirabeau Park and the Centennial Trail are incredible.

Meredith and I pride ourselves in being VERY mature around port-a-potties.....


Warm up squats!! :)
This was all her idea, I promise.
She was hyped up on caffeine. And when she's like that.... she's a lot of fun :) 

From Discovery Park in the Spokane Valley....

Coolest teeter totter ever!

Hugs. Outdoor.

I love hugs.
I really do (unless they're the awkward kind with non-family members you didn't really want to hug, like one time when Brian's boss hugged me goodbye. Weeeeeird).

And I totally believe any research report finding a correlation between number of hugs per day and any positive outcome - up to and including reduced stress, elevated happy hormone levels, alleviation of all physical and emotional discomforts, eradication of poverty and chronic disease....
Hugs save the world.

The most divinely inspired website in the internets.....

I was feeling really overwhelmed this afternoon. SO MUCH to juggle right now.
A typically needy and insanely wiggly baby, Homeschool preschool for the twins, piano & school for Brianna, President of the Young Women program at Church, my UtahRunning.com job, house projects, trying to stay in shape, a million emails to catch up on.... I feel like there are a hundred balls being thrown at me and I can only catch half of them. Brian travels SO much - Chicago for long trainings, then all over the PNW for overnight sales trips. Even when he's home, he's got so much to do. We get 1-2 hours with him each day.
So I'm running this ship solo (though I'd NEVER, even jokingly, say I'm "single-momming it." Hate it when women do that. Real single moms don't have husbands making sure paychecks come in).
 And of course, I'm super grateful my parents are nearby to help when needed. But I don't wanna have to rely on them - they've got stuff too.
[deep breaths]
It just gets tiring to feel like I'm treading water all the time.
I was feeling especially down this afternoon, so I said a prayer asking for help.  Not for help to make my responsibilities go away. That's not going to happen. But just for ENERGY to do it all. And have a good attitude about it.
I went online to LDS.org (I have to prepare to speak at a baptism tomorrow night - just another item on the list!)  And I couldn't believe the homepage. I took a screen shot of it:

Seriously? SERIOUSLY?!!! Peoples - God is real! He knows me! He loves and cares for me! The Church is true. And I can keep going because I know that. I'm so grateful for this sign from Him today. Now back to that never ending to-do list :)

Travelin' biznis man!

Brian's view every week as he travels home from working in central WA area.

Not bad!

BrushingBrushing

Gettin Gassy

 

 

Despite the cheesy smile and freaky looking eyes... I still find him ridiculously handsome.

Today's outfit: the same yoga pants and running shirt as yesterday.

While clearing out some boxes of old STUFF, I came across this calendar.  I'm sure someone got the Dachshund theme for me as a gift because I was obsessed with our mini dachshund, Waldo, for the couple years we had him.
But that's not what's interesting about this.  Interesting - borderline embarrassing.
On each day of the calendar, I have written down what OUTFIT I wore! Not only that - what SHOES I wore, and how I DID MY HAIR.
Why?! Oh, I'm sure for some totally rational purpose, like not accidentally wearing the same thing too frequently. Cuz I'm so sure all the other sophomores were REALLY paying attention to that and it would've been soooo humiliating to put on the same Abercrombie jeans on a Monday then AGAIN the following Thursday!  GASPINHORROR!!!
Oh sheesh. I had a good head-shake at myself over this, and it went into the recycling bin.
I just hope my daughters never get wrapped up in such superficiality.

Oh these two....

5.5 years apart... and yet, the best of friends! 

Charity gets genuinely happy to see her oldest sis, and Brianna consistently seeks out playtime with her live doll. 

School Carny

Playdoh dates are so much better with a view....

Red Corn!

Got 24 ears of these yummies from Bountiful Baskets last
week.....(yes, the co-op is alive and well in spokane!)

Didn't know red corn existed!
Thank you freaky California produce....

When Mere takes the girls to the Fair...

All 4

They're a little scraggly looking, but I'm crazy about them!

This goofball....

 

 

I got a text from him saying, "I've been hanging out with Mark today can you tell?"  (Brian's in Utah right now).

My first thought was.... why don't you use commas appropriately.... Second thought was... it's handy to have a relative with optometric skills! 

 

 

 

I hope my children inherit MY eye health, not Brian's!  :) 

Visiting

On the way home from the gym around noon I had the strongest desire to see my Brianna.
Just wanted to hug her and make sure her day is going well. Its only the second day of school and Im already looking forward to summer break!
So we swing by and I asked to have her called to the office really quick. I think they were annoyed with me.
Whatever.
I got my hug.
We all did!
Whew. I think I can make it til 3:30 now....

Brianna starts piano lessons!

We found a teacher in our neighborhood! I'm so excited, she is fantastic. And reasonably priced.
I think Brianna is ready. Part of me says to wait another year or two...she'll learn more quickly ... But we don't have any other extracurriculars, (I'm NOT a fan of dance classes, and haven't found any nearby sports opportunities) so this is it for us!
I'm hanging out at this first lesson with her because she was nervous. I'm so grateful mom is watching the other kids so I can be here! (and get some great photo organizing time on my laptop)

Morning cruise in the Cadillac...

This season of my life, summed up by comic strip: