Pictures

These are pictures from the Washington Pavilion. Makenna's class from Hendricks was going on a field trip to the Pavilion here in Sioux Falls. We called her old teacher to se if we could meet them there. Makenna misses her old class a lot. Her teacher thought that was a great idea. She said she wouldn't tell anyone so it would be a surprise for the class. They were so excited to see each other. I had fun too because a lot of my friends were there as well. The top one is of the kids playing in one of the sand and water tables. The bottom one is Makenna with her Lincoln HI Elementary class. What a fun day we had!

Here are some pictures from the 10K. The top one is of hte kids cheering at the start of the race. Someone was handing out flags for the kids to use at the start. The bottom one is of me coming across the finish line.

9 Years

Today is our 9th anniversary. It's crazy to think about all that has happened in those nine years. It has definitely been a roller coaster full of good times and hard times. But we're still here and we're still together and we still love each other. Everything we have been throughhas brought us closer together and stengthened us. I'm so grateful for Michael and the opportunity I have to be with him forever!

10K

I ran a 10K this morning! I did my personal best again so I am pleased. It feels good to see the progress I have made over the last 9 weeks. Michael and the kids came to cheer me on. It was in Yankton. I was glad to have them there. The weather was cool, but it was nice to run in. I'll post pictures later (maybe! I have to see what they look like first. I am not one of those pretty runners:)

I Don't Like Green Beans!

Next time Dillon tells me that, I think I will listen. We have a rule at our house that if you don't like something, you don't have to eat it BUT, you do have to take at least one bite (even if you've previously tasted it) before you can say that. Well, Saturday night, we went to the dining hall to eat. They served these green beans with cheese on them. Dillon said he didn't like them but we said he had to take a bite. Well, he gagged himself and ended up throwing up all over his chair and the floor. The smell, of course, was horrible. Michael ran and got a bucket and rag and I proceeded to clean it up, apologizing to those around me for the nastiness of it all. I got it all cleaned up and went back the kitchen to rinse it all out. Just as I finished, there's Michael and Dillon at the kitchen door, Dillon throwing up and Michael telling me that we need a mop. I started filling up the mop bucket. 3 of the boys from the ranch, very kindly, came and took over that so I could go help Dillon and disinfect his chair. When I came out of the kitchen, I about died. From our table in the back of the room all the way to the kitchen door, there was this trail of puke. Apparently Dillon told Michael he was going to be sick so Michael tried to get him out the door to the bathroom. Then Michael remembered that the bathroom would probably be locked so he headed Dillon for the kitchen. On the way to the kitchen Michael decided that probably wasn't the best place for Dillon to be throwing up so they changed directions again and headed for the garbage - with Dillon throwing up all the way there! Now for those of you who don't know, we eat dinner with about 50 boys and 5 or 6 staff! They all got to witness this taking place. A lovely ending to dinner, don't you think? Well, the boys mopped up the mess, I disinfected Dillon's chair and we left. Dillon was brought home and placed straight into the tub. Nothing like a little excitement for the evening. Now we have changed our rules. If you don't want it, you don't have to eat it, BUT if you don't eat it, you don't get desert! Last night,we made it through dinner with no excitement. It was lovely!

Pictures

Here are some pictures of Zane from his birthday.

The weather has been beautiful here the last few days. We have enjoyed being outside playing. YEsterday we went on a walk. The three oldest kids rode their bikes, Dillon drove the 4-wheeler and I pushed the youngest two in the stroller. They had just grated the outside edges of the road so we had to walk right down the middle of the road in single file. It was quite the parade! The bikes out front followed by the 4 wheeler and then me. We went about 1.5 miles and then called it quits. This morning I ran 8 miles! WooHoo! I am quite sore this afternoon but very proud! Next week I have my 10K race. We'll see how that goes. Today it is raining so we are all inside. Dillon and I went on a date this afternoon to Burger King and Scheels (a sporting goods store.) It is my new favorite spot. It has everything - including a great big tree two stories high! Dillon liked it too. He wants to go back and show the other kids.

Happy Birthday Zane!

Today was Zane's 6th birthday. I can't believe he's that old. He had a great day opening presents, talking on the phone and playing outside. We ended the day with cupcakes and ice cream. A good ending to a good day and other than Olivia and Makenna throwing up, it was a very good day! I will post pictures later. I still have to download them. Thanks to all those who remembered him on his special day.

Easter Bunny

Did you happen to see the Easter Bunny when he came to your house the other night? Well, Zeke saw him Saturday afternoon out in the yard and you might be glad you didn't see him. Zeke said he had three legs - so he could hop faster, four arms and five hands - so he could carry lots of treats (freats if Zeke says it) and eight ears. I'm not sure the reasoning behind the eight ears but what ever it is, I'm sure it's good! So if you by chance run across something as amazing as this, please don't harm it thinking that you're putting it out of it's misery. If you do, there may not be treats next Easter morning!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone! We woke up this morning to prizes from the Easter Bunny and new Easter outfits (thank goodness for clearance racks!) The kids were so excited and hyper to find all the treats. We let them paly and count out all their candy for a while then we got ready for church. It was stake conference today so we went at 10 am instead of 11:30. At stake conference I got sustained for my new calling and met two of the members of the stake priamry presidency that I will be working with. I will keep my other calling of Gospel Doctrine teacher and do both of them together until I decide that I need released from teaching. Stake conference was very good. The rest of the day has been spent napping and playing. Soon it will be supper. We are having pheasant if anyone wants to come join us! We hope you all have a wonderful Easter and take time to remember the Savior and be with your families.

Our Savior suffered and bled for us.
He gave His life upon the cross.
His love for us so complete and true
He fulfilled His promise to me and you.
On the third day He rose again.
The fight over death, He did win.
Triumphant and glorious to the end
Our risen Savior, our Brother, our Friend
He lives again and we can too
A wonderful gift for me and you.

Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday morning I got up early and ran my 7 miles (yes, I did it! It actually felt pretty good.) Then we got ready and headed out by 9am to get to Hendricks so we could go to the Easter egg hunt. It was fun to be back there. It feels like going home. I get this excited feeling in my stomach and can't hardly wait to get there! We got to see quite a few friends there. The kids were so excited to see everyone. After the egg hunt we stayed and played at the park with the Johnsons and Olsens. Then we went and ate pizza and ice cream at the Local. Around 1pm we left and headed to Brookings for a Bridal shower for my long time friend, Sara. After the shower, we headed back home to get to church by 5 pm to meet with a member of the Stake presidency where I got another calling for secretary of the Stake Primary presidency. After supper we went for ice cream, came home, bathed and went to bed. It was a long day but another fun one. The kids all went to sleep pretty quickly despite the excitement of the Easter Bunny coming!

Sleepover!

Thursday night, the Olsen girls got to come have a sleepover. It was so much fun! They made Easter Bunny cars, had snacks, watched a movie and giggled and talked until about midnight! The next morning there was more playing, pizza and the zoo. Pam, Charlie and Ellie came up Friday and they went to the zoo with us. It was so much fun. We love having friends over and being able to spend the day visiting and playing!

We Can Be Together Forever

I just found out that over the weekend, a friend of mine lost one of her daughters. She was serving a mission for her church in South Africa and was killed in a car accident. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. So what I am writing comes with no actual experience but with a sure knowledge. My parents lost their oldest daughter when she was just over 2 years old. It was a long painful road for them, especially my mom. She cried everyday for a year as they searched for answers about life and death. After a year of searching my parents found the truth they were looking for. Two LDS missionaries taught them about life and death and that we have the opportunity to be together forever as families. That brought so much joy to my mother's heart. The day she was baptized, was the last day she shed tears for my sister because she knew that she would be able to see Katie again and that we would be together as a family forever. I am so grateful for that knowledge. I can't imagine losing a child, the pain would be unspeakable, but I also know that there is comfort in the knowledge that we can be together forever. Life doesn't end with death. Michael and I are not "until death do you part". Michael and I are together for all eternity. Our children are ours for all eternity. A loving God would not put us here on this earth to form bonds with loving families only to have it end with death. I love my children with all my heart. I am not perfect. I yell, I lose patience, I get upset over unimportant things, my focus isn't always where it needs to be, but I try. I know that as long as I am doing my best and trying to follow the example of the Savior that I will one day live with my Heavenly Father again and my husband and children will be there with me. Yes, I make mistakes, but there is repentance. We can be forgiven for all the mistakes we make and we can continue to try. God does not require perfection, He knows we will not reach perfection in this life. He requires all that we can give Him - our very best. When I hear news like I did this morning. It makes me stop and think. What do I need to change? What can I do better? I get new resolve to try even harder to be more loving, more patient, softer, more gentle, and more obedient to my Heavenly Father. My family is my greatest gift. I want them to know that and feel that everyday. And I am so grateful for them. I am so grateful for my Savior who gave His life for me and all of us. "Greater love hath no man than this..." This Easter season we will be celebrating the resurrection of the Savior. He lives. In the words of the hymn "I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives." My friend will be mourning the loss of her daughter. But I hope that through that process she can draw on her faith in Christ. That she will know she is not alone. Our Heavenly Father will not leave us in our times of need. He is there, we jsut need to turn to him. I hope she finds comfort and feels His love. Her daughter will live again. We will all live again because of the Savior and because of His atonement we can be together forever.

Daddy, Where are you?

Whenever Michael or I go into the bathroom, Olivia lays down on the floor by the door and starts talking to us. Daddy where (h)are you? She says the "are" with an H at the beginning. Eventually you'll see her little fingers come under the door and if we want to make her really happy, we'll get down on the floor and look at her through the space under the door. She'll get really excited with that! I'm sure all little kids do it. Just one more sweet thing to add to the joy of little children.

6 Miles Baby!

That's all I have to say - I haven't done that in 10 years. I'd do the happy dance but I'm too sore so I'll just do the chair dance. Everyone do it with me! WooHoo! WooHoo!

Visit to the 1st Grade

This afternoon I got the chance to go to Makenna's class to read our Easter Bunny story and make our Easter Bunny car treat. She was so excited for me to come. I have to soak it up now because I know eventually, they won't want me there! Anyways, the kids all loved it, especially making the car and eating it. Who wouldn't love chocolate, marshmallow and frosting? Next week I get to go to Maddi's class. Hopefully they will ahve fun too.

Zeke is doing better today. His fever seems to be gone. Olivia and Maddi seem to be better too. Dillon is now complaining of a sore throat so we'll see what happens. As long as there's no more throwing up I'll be fine!

Running

I ran my two miles this morning. The weather was great. Much better than yesterday. I am really sore so I'm not sure what 6 miles will bring Saturday. I love the feeling of running. It makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. It makes me feels trong. It makes me more aware of everything else in life. I am looking forward to the 10K in a few weeks. It's one more step forward. It's one more step proving to myself that I can do it. My body has been through a lot with 6 babies and one miscarriage in just over 6 years. Now it is gaining strength and even though it may not look how I want it to look, it feels good. I have heard through my life that being overweight means your lazy or your a slob. Not true. But when I gained all this weight from babies, I felt like less of a person because of things like that that I had heard. It has been very hard emotionally to deal with. All the emotions of my timid childhood over took me agian and I became unsure and self conscious. Now, I am feeling stronger and I am proud of what me and my body have accomplished together. I've given birth many times, I take care of my family, I've moved many times, I serve in my church callings and now I am running. It feels good. It helps me. I'm grateful for the chance I have to do it. I'm grateful for the support I get from family and friends and I'm grateful for the strength that my body has to do yet another challenge.

Spoke too soon!

Well, I spoke too soon yesterday. Zeke ended up getting a fever and throwing up. Luckily it was in the bathroom and not on the couch. He is doing much better this morning. Hopefully the rest will not get it! Cross your fingers.