So You Think You Can Dance and My Pump Class

You "So You Think You Can Dance" fans can appreciate this posting. As most of you know, I teach fitness classes at a few local gyms. After one of my pump classes on a Monday, I kept looking at a girl that appeared new to my class but seemed familiar (she was wearing a black baseball cap so it wasn't easy to identify her). Anyway, I decided to go up to her and who seemed like her mother. As I got closer, I recognized her and said, Oh my goodness, are you Randy?" She nodded. We chatted a little bit. She was so sweet. It was fun having her.


So, two weeks later, who should appear at the same class - Ashleigh. Too bad her hubby didn't come with her! :)

Girls vs Boys

Matt tries to give the kids "Daddy" dates, but this time we decided to have a girls night out and a boys night out. I took Ella out and Matt took Aidan out. It makes me laugh to see the huge differences in our genders and how much we love doing what we do as girls/women and boys/men.

So, Ella wanted to see Princess and the Frog, well she really wanted to go ice skating, however, I was afraid of slipping on the ice and OUCH that would not be good with my back situation. So, we got treats, went to the movies (gotta love the $1 or should I say $2 theatre now) and basically had a good time. But the fun was just beginning for us as we were going home to play Barbies next. One of the girls was getting married and all the other girls were busy preparing for the wedding! It was actually quite fun - memories! We then got into our jammies, laid in Ella's bed and just talked and laughed. I shared stories of my childhood with her and she just listened, laughed and asked questions. It was truly a bonding moment for us girls.

The boys you ask? Monster Truck Jam! Aidan was truly in heaven and did not stop talking abou this for days. Unfortunately, we only have one photo of him because Matt couldn't get him to turn around from the trucks to pose. See, he's not happy to turn around for this photo.

Personally, I enjoyed my date much better but if I was to take Aidan, I know I would have lived it through his eyes and enjoyed the noise, dirt, and mammoth trucks.

Vrooom!

You know, they're actually pretty amazing . . . I love our differences.

Three Cheers For Nicholas!

Nicholas is going to BYU! Woot! Woot!

BYU took longer than normal to get back to applicants due to record high applicants as well as declines.

I am so excited for him as truly some of my very best memories are at BYU. Yay!

A Gift To Me

I have been eyeing this photograph of the Salt Lake temple by Robert Boyd for some time now. I decided to splurge and by it for myself. Think of it as a birthday gift to myself.

I absolutely love it. Everytime I walk by it, I feel myself smile. I love just sitting in the front room and looking at it at night when the kids are in bed and it's just me.

Never Mind . . . On 5th thoght!

Okay, so after spending a great deal of time trying to upload photos for "Random end of 2009" Parts 2 and 3, none of my photos work. I think I just had the setting on my photos way to high. Anyway, here is a random Christmas photo of Matt and I since I never post any of us.

Random end of 09 Part 1 of 3 - December 2009

I am not one who typically stresses over the holidays but for some reason, last year had me quite behind especially in my blogging. Here are some holiday photos:


Ella and cousin Julia at her wedding.


Aidan is so excited to tell Santa about the Furreal pets he wants along with Zhu Zhus. Yes, I was one of those mothers who got up at 5:15 am and waited outside Toys R Us for these. It is so NOT me.

Ella has been waiting so patiently to ask for an American Girl doll.

I remember this snowy day and being cooped up inside all day. As soon as Matt came home, I announced, "We're playing in the snow! Suit up! I forgot how much I love just playing in the snow. This darn snow man was so hard to stick because the snow was so fluffy. We decided to make it a she.

I love Temple Square at Christmas. Who doesn't? My very, very favorite tree at this time of year is right there on the left. It is so beautiful contrasted against the majestic temple. What a fun night for our family. Cold? Did anyone say cold? Brrrrr. It was an early 20s night.

Photo op.

Ella amazes me with her sensitivity to beauty and peace. She almost cried when she saw the nativity scene and when we had to leave Temple Square she kept asking, "But why? Why do we have to leave? Can't we just stay here?" She was enchanted particularly at the Christus.

Like a lot of families, we act our the Christmas story every year. Featuring Matt as the donkey, Ella as Mary, Aidan as Joseph, Layla (Ella's Buid a Bear) as baby Jesus and me as the narrator and inn keepers. The kids absolutely love it.

Another tradition we have is that night - Christmas Eve after we read the Christmas story, everyone gets to open one present (this year it was two) and it's always a new set of pajamas. This year they got slipprs as well. Along with this, I pick out a Christmas book and write a dedication along with the the year. The kids get to write their name inside. It's fun to see how their name writing changes from year to year. Then we read the story together and always have homemade cookies and cocoa. Goodness, I could do it all over again!

OW!

So, I have always had back issues but the last few weeks my lower back has been killing me. While teaching a pump class last Monday, I bent over to grab a weight and before even picking it up, my back blew out and I fell! It was quite embarassing, however, I got through the class with clenched teeth and a participant demonstrating the exercises. Needless to say, I have a herniated disc in my lower lumbar and am hating life at the moment.

I am really appreciating the ability to just walk these days.



Tuesday morning Matt had to carry me to the bathroom (couldn't walk) and help me get dressed. My kids have all pitched in putting on my socks and shoes and helping me put on my pants - oh my!

Catching Up

I feel so out of it! Somehow, I really let the holidays take over this year. Obviously, I haven't been very good about keeping updated events documented. Iplan on posting a few big events in the next week retroactive back to October 2009. I hope you can bear with me. I will keep them short.

On Maritin Luther's King Day, we took the kids skiing for the first time. I have always loved skiing but have not gone since Ella's birth :(. Now that Ella's 5 and Aidan's 4, I thought, "Let's just do it." It went much smoother than I thought. Aidan is kind of a perfectionist like his mom so I was prepared for him to cry and pout every time he fell down. Surprise! He was amazing. I couldn't believe the little guy took to it so naturally. Once Matt started letting him go on his own, he didn't want to be held. The hardest part was "loading" the rope tow. The worker there was so fun and patient. It was a perfect day!

Ella skied more like princess and was more cautious but did terrific.

Check out the parellel skiing. We will definitely be returning soon - after my back heals - another story for another time.