Denver Review

Mountain Bike Pedal

Road Bike Pedal

Cherry Creek Bike Trail

Stroll around downtown, find Wahoo's, eat, work out in awesome hotel gym, swim in maybe a 25 meter pool, lay out on awesome padded lounge chairs, get burned on my chest and face, walk to REI, get excited about biking the off-street trails I see everywhere alongside beautiful rivers and with hundreds of other cyclists, learn that Denver people do not care if the signal says walk or do not walk, they just walk, which explains the L.A. like honking although there really is not a lot of car traffic at all, have an amazing dinner at Tamayo's with Andy's work gang, sleep a little (having trouble here, my bed at home really is the most comfortable in the world, ask my parents), watch TV, mostly Cash Cab, haul the bike out to ride around, run on the treadmill, but not in that order, find the most amazing bookstore, old and huge and opens at 6:30 in the morning!, Cheesecake Factory is next door so I got a salad I ate for 2 1/2 meals (dinner, lunch, brunch) and a cheesecake all to myself, more biking, running, and swimming, and walking about, and an awesome and fun work gang sushi dinner and gelato dessert (AK and I opted for the ice cream sandwiches), and more sleep (thanks to Tylenol PM).

One thing (off street, scenic, bike trails) that Denver has on Salt Lake, are the amazing straight from downtown to everywhere bike trails, but not much else. Oh they have Saks, Neimans, a gigantic REI, and Crate & Barrel, but honestly, nowadays, I can do without those. Oh and the creepily nice people. Seriously, everyone was nice. Like, but it was kind of weird. Like, ignore me people and let me explore the "big" city. No, it was great, and AK just thinks there is a lot of herb being smoked in the city. Anyhoo. The photo above is the Cherry Creek trail. I enjoyed the Platte River trail as well. The intersection is at the gigantic REI store, with has a Starbucks adjacent for my venti ice water and cocoa and sometimes treats. Andy has brought me $20 worth of Starbucks cards (in $5 increments) for breakfast and what not, he gets them in his meetings for answering questions and what not. I made the mistake of bringing my road bike shoes with my mountain bike. It's like wearing stilettos when you meant to bring your Birkenstocks, the road bike shoes won't clip onto my mountain bike pedals. 2nd mistake, not bringing my road bike. I wasn't adventurous enough (or dumb enough) to drive out to Boulder and bike alone on unknown trails, I was kind of freaked out, and most biking downtown is paved on lovely off street bike trails. Most of the trails have a little dirt path alongside, but still not justifiable for full-suspension. Back to the road bike shoes, so I just had to walk to REI and buy some brand new mountain bike shoes and clips to make immediate use of.

Now I am home. And so glad to be here. Smothered with the chitlins and our fantastic bed (I've taken one long nap and a "rest" today, I love my bed!). It was so fun to go on a bike ride with the whole family! We rode to Sugarhouse to see the doggies at Strut your Mutt. P loved it! Holden rode the whole way, and back! A little "bug juice" on the way back helped. He did charge it up the steep Sugarhouse hill flying past me, which was a great proud bike mama moment. H is still kind of sick, but happy as a lark. And O is just stoked to have earned his Indiana Jones lego. Dad took us to breakfast at Original House of P, we were there so early, like by 7:45 and left way before the kids would have been even walking to school (thus the 2 nap times!). So fun, and re-charged, and happy to be home.

My parents and Tia Dori are the best! Our kids had the best time.

I heart Paul Rudd.

See Ya

This is where I will be Tuesday at about noon until Friday at about noon. And I will be having daily breakfast here and as many meals as possible (max. 2 a day) here. And if you really need to find me I will be here or here or here.

May 2008 Pictures

Cool Chicks

AK's New Look

O & C on the Zoo's Rhino

Dressing up for soccer

Dad's out of town (Orlando) so we went to breakfast Saturday morning. Last weekend.

Kids in the tub. I know they are probably too old for this, but it was all I could handle with AK out of town to get them cleaned a few times a week.

Friday morning Red Butte trip. We had so much fun, we went back Saturday morning too and did the Halfway Mountain Trail hike.

EQ party a few weeks ago.

The illustrious EQ Presidency.

O and the 15th picture of he and the creatures at the zoo.

Grateful Sunday

1. Grateful for our awesome new Bishop and his Counselors.
   
2. Grateful AK doesn't travel very much, and that he agreed for me to tag along to his trip this week to Denver and that my darling parents agreed to watch the kiddos.

Memorial Weekend Preview

I have some really cute pictures from today, but I am too weary to go get the cord and the camera, etc. because at 6:30 am I went to tennis lesson/work out with the ladies, then by 9 the kids and I were up at Red Butte for a gorgeous and awesomely lonesome morning stroll and hike, then we came back to nap P, then went out again, picked up some Wendy's (I totally blame my latest affinity for Wendy's on Liz by the way), and headed to the zoo for a quick picnic, animal tour, playground play, and elephant show. AK and I are heading to the temple tonight, thanks to Dori Lu and her entertaining the kids' skills. We are gearing up for some cemetery visits (we will plan on going to the usual 5 sites) this weekend. The kids are strangely excited. They know and love these visits, more for the little lamby by the SL Cemetery Stayner obelisk and all of the pinwheels by Marjorie and of course picking the flowers for all of the sites. But I tend to think they like the stories about their Grandpa's Uncle, their Great Grandparents, and Great Great Great ancestors (with the multiple wives and such, but I don't think we've gotten that far in conversation about it yet!). Did I mention we didn't have school today...I know we should've left early and snagged some Memorial Day Moab camping sites or something vacationy/productive. Oh well, it is nice to be home and motivate AK to work on the yard. I know that sounds rude, but I really don't think I am allowed to touch the broken sprinkler, but I did plant my nurtured veggie seedlings this week. They are looking good.

I Voted 4 Times for David

Archuleta. And I watched it, and I loved it, and I loved talking about it today with other fans, and trying to talk to not really interested AK about it, and watching it again with the kids this afternoon, and while it was on at O's soccer party minutes later, and I am just sitting and waiting for the finale. My life is awesome and I love American Idol.

The Mormon's Own Coca Cola Theory & Eldon

I've had to vigilantly defend the ridiculousness of the claim that the LDS church owns the majority of stock and/or just flat out owns Pepsi and/or Coca Cola once before. Today it was more like, oh you don't drink coffee, but you drink coke because your church okayed it since they bought all of that stock in coke. It is 2008. I was too in shock to respond. Here is the snopes report on the subject for the interested.

On a somber note: I cried mighty hard today (sorry Jennie O. I totally lost it) because Eldon, my favorite neighbor, tomato sharer, and swing and chat buddy, and favorite place for O to knock on the door, and the first guy that said P's name (I didn't even know his at the time, and he already knew my P), and her favorite recognized dude (beside Dad), and Hall Sunday School class buddy, is in the ICU, off of life support today, and just not doing well and wasn't out gardening in his yard, or available for a chat about traveling, jazz, or entering names for geneology. The boys and I have offered our prayers of peace for Eldon and his family. I miss him gardening in his huge gorgeous yard and I hope he's back soon, so we can go visit and hear about his love and knowledge of jazz, or as I last stopped him while rocking out in his car to a BBC recording of his beloved jazz tunes. We love Eldon and the amazing and true happiness he spreads and gives freely to everyone he meets.

Grateful Sabbath

1. I am so utterly, ultimately, truly, desperately, happily grateful for AK and the amazing husband and father he is and how incredibly much he does for our family. And did I mention he's in Orlando until Tuesday night! I am dying here, I am such a wimp.
2. My kids and their art. Today it was tigers (O) and an amazing parrot (H), and some funny faces (P).
3. That's all folks. It's been a tough week.

I love this little lady

Today I received the best compliment ever! That my baby P looks "just like" me. It was J. P. (just so I remember). Also, someone at school was laughing at how goofy I am, and I remarked that of course I am, and that P is my "crazy Mother in training" and P totally made her "crazy Mom face" (she opens her mouth really wide, and her eyes are all in surprise, and sometimes she even makes her "body snatcher" noise). I will catch her in the act, but until then...here she is. And of course with that Osterizer kid I adore so much. I love the H sauce kid too, he's just at school all of the time (waaaah, waaah!). But he is the best garden/new plant waterer, rock garden creator, and Osterizer pre-K chaperone to school and signer-inner.

He just loves to hold her. And he hasn't dropped her yet.

Funky Blog

Please someone help me to design an original, me, something other than boring old blogspot background of a blog. I randomly typed in dooce.com today, I'd taken it off my reader list for a few weeks, at least. I thought she had jumped the shark with all the awards and today she even blogged about being on the Today Show. She was actually quite darling and good, you might have to take a look. I put her back on my reader, she is an amazing writer and has quite the life. On second thought, I totally took her off the reader list because I am insanely jealous she gets to blog for a living and does so well her husband works for her and is with her all day long. Wow. I am imagining all of the snowboarding days and bike rides together while the kids are in school, etc. And I know you might be thinking retirement, but seriously, will I be charging up Dry Creek and bombing down Blobsled in 15-20 years? Will I still be strapping on the snowboard for some fresh pow-pow and ripping through Chips, the gulley, Primrose, and Phone Shot? I don't think so. Anyway, she also has the most amazing "mastheads" and I want one! Anyone, anyone, maybe I'll have to learn a new MacDraw skill, is that how you do it?

Happy Mother's Day!

Last Sunday - My Little Jewels

It's been an awesome Mother's Day preparation two weeks. Starting with having to prepare teaching the relief gang the "Mother's Who Know" talk. Then reading I am a Mother and then talking about it at r.g. book group. Then having at least 5 random people at grocery and other stores wish me a Happy Mother's Day, and even receiving a carnation at Dan's, loved it. Having the coolest and sweetest and most creative kids who are truly my jewels and most precious of treasures. Going on an awesome mountain bike ride date (dry creek to Bonneville Shoreline) with my one and only, and centerpiece jewel and my fortune, AK. And of course, the horrid dream about AK leaving me for G.A. from high school, it was so horrendous! (Oh I read a horrid Elle magazine with all sorts of junk, it is in the trash where it belongs!) A very early morning waking and reassurance that he isn't having an affair and isn't going to leave me and the kids (oh it was horrid!). Then a great Mother's Day Sabbath breakfast of crepes, fresh fruit, OJ, all served on the fancies, and gifts galore. A Kura Door spa gift certificate (I can't wait!), a hand painted frame and picture of a bird by Owen, and another handmade frame and gorgeous Monet (pronounced with the T by H) "wet on wet" painting of flowers. Then a few more hastily drawn cards (they love to do cards and pictures of me and the kids, it's awesome!). Now I am just blogging away taking full advantage of AK bathing the kids and readying ourselves to go see John Austin (born Friday night!) and then to church.
And of course, to my own sweet mother. Thank you for all the love and support and sacrifice. You are an amazing mother. I mean look at us (we are your very confident/self-loving father's children!). I truly feel that I am one of your 8 most precious jewels. Thank you.
And to the mother of my sweet AK. Thank you for mothering such an incredible, God-fearing, amazing father, and gorgeous man. I look up to your natural mothering ways you had on the farm and beyond.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

P & McK Playdate and Chairs and First Shows

McK and P, really a first playdate, and P's real first time acknowledging a TV program (Baby Einstein, of course, Baby Newton to be specific). I know, unlike my other Baby Einstein addicts and TV drones, H & O, this lady has never been shown, needed, or otherwise shown interest in the TV babysitter. I don't know how I've showered the last 13 1/2 months. And this is P's first time sitting in this chair. So cute!
McK's mom was attempting to acquire tickets to see Stephanie Meyer, to no avail! :( By the way, I think Edward is gorgeous and perfectly cast, and so is Bella. It really looks fantastic. I might like the SVH movie more than the book.

If I had taken the next picture quick enough, P had wrapped her arm around McK, which quickly led to a break up of cuteness.

Sitting in the chair again today. And yes, watching Baby Newton (which O pointed out has some really funny animated crayons, and one that swings on a vine, which I have never noticed before, even after "watching" it at least 50 other times. I mean, I know all of the words, but apparently wasn't ever really watching.)

Her feet are touching the floor! But if she decides to "get out" or loses balance, she would fall on her face. That didn't happen.

Clapping and getting excited! This is when I took her out of the chair, and she was done with the movie. Only about 4 minutes into it. Yeah! Not another TV addict in the house. She would rather just play with the remote and wires. By the way, we have Tivo and cable again as of today. Let's see if avoiding commercials and watching the few shows that I really like (and getting over the local channel obsession with Law and Order), I will be getting to bed before 11.

Rocks for Sale

After Sunday's dinner, the kiddos proceeded to pick up all of the rocks in the Taylor's yard. Whatever floats their boat. The boys were thrilled when Hill asked them if they wanted to take a bag home. We lugged that thing home, wondering what in the world to do with them, but it made the boys happy. Well, after school, H set up shop. He got lunch's pizza (thanks honee for the Mac Grill lunch break) to go box (brilliant!), arranged the rocks, made a sign ("Rocks for Sale 10 cents"), and got a piggy bank to put the profit. He had 5 non-family customers, 1 complete stranger walking a dog, and 4 family members to buy rocks. He did this from about 3:30 until 6, he would not give up, and eventually was painting the rocks for sale (which I thought was another brilliant move and compelled the complete stranger walking the dog to return and buy one). I believe he made a little over $2, and wants more. He was praised by many for being a sharp entrepreneur. The boys can't wait for the annual brownies and lemonade sale (last year they made $50!). His favorite part is selling door to door (who would have thought!). The next day, O was set-up and painting in the same spot, hoping to reap some sales (he didn't have a sign and wasn't hocking like H) to no avail. Today, Holden told me he "was going to be rich." I gave him the run around saying "oh, you mean have lots of kids and be rich in your heart". He was kind of thrown off and said, "well, yeah, but also sell lots of stuff". I could tell he had been scheming about the next big thing.

Found Quote

I've loved and then lost this quote which I think I first heard in Relief Gang. I found it today on the trailrun website while blog stalking at 2 in the morning.

"Mother Teresa hung a copy of this poem on a wall of the orphanage she founded in Calcutta. Its source is unknown.

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be Kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis. it is between you and God; It is never between you and them anyway. "

P Playing with Tucker

She loves dog-dogs, especially Tucker Mister something futter nutter something something Taylor. She was laughing so hard at James wrestling with Tucker. And, we call the hair do "the spike". It's all we can handle.

Grateful Sabbath - Random Shots

Kids in the car.

Serious Cowboy O.

Pirates of the Rainforest at Rose Wagner Theatre. H is 4th from the right (the parrot, the dark captain, CS in the red vest, and H in the white shirt).

Sk8r girl. AK's longboard hangs out in our MB and she climbed right on and scooched trying to get it to move. She loved being pulled around on it.

Trying some surf moves.

This Sabbath I am most grateful that:

1. The proof exists that I need a new camera.
2. I love zebra grass.
   
3. We don't live in a one room house with 7 children (we went to 'This is the Place' this week, great fun, horrid meat pie).
4. Boys that love their momma.
5. Springtime, finally, right?
6. Blogging made the Ensign as a type of journaling. And reading the article last night actually got me to get a hand cramp and write in my journal that has been neglected since March.