Majic Shoes

I hate to get new running shoes because I never know if they will fit right until I run in them and by that point it's too late to return them. A few weeks ago I bought a new pair hastily and I didn't like the way they fit, but they were really cheap so I decided to try them out anyway. I got on the treadmill expecting a blister filled run but 6.2 miles and 46.33 minutes later I survived. Feeling pretty well I might add. I don't beleive I was built to run. I don't really consider myself to be a runner. I've never really been very good at it, but I do it because it makes me feel good in a lot of ways. I just had to pat myself on the back a little because it's taken me 4 years to get past the 48 minute 10K and it was a nice accomplishment. Even if I am the only one who gets to benefit, I feel happy about it.

What are you anyway?

I was at Utah Sate in the Kent Concert Building when a guy from my orchestra came up to me and said, "If you don't mind me asking, what are you anyway?" I would have been offended and very confused if I had not been in situations like this at least all the time my entire life. Sometimes it's kinda fun to watch people ask me awkwardly and stumble for the right way to ask me what I'm made of, but most of the time I usually let them off the hook quickly and just tell them.

I sometimes tend to forget that I don't always blend in with the crowd. Lately I have noticed a trend that whenever I go somewhere someone will just start up a conversation with me in Spanish. I noticed that all the people from the Spanish branch say "Hola" to me. I assumed they said that to everyone, but I asked the other people that I work with in Nursery and they said that the members of the Spanish branch usually just say "hello" or nothing at all. I notice it in other places too. It first started with just an "hola" here and there (usually in walmart) but the other day I was in the mall and a guy looked at me and said "hola, como estas?" I thought that it was a little random then I went out to buy some girl scout cookies and there were two girls and one decided to help me in Spanish. Then a few weeks later at Kroger a man came up to me and asked me if I needed any help, in Spanish. Oh and I can't forget the time I went to take Jackson to the doctor, and when the doctor came into our room she looked and me and said very slowly, "DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?"

I've been Hawaiian quite a bit. Polynesian too. One time someone asked me if I was Greek. I've also been Philippino and Chinese. Oh and someone got me confused with one of Jared's ex-girlfriends who was American Indian. I think I've pretty much been everything but Japanese/Caucasian. I'm working on that one.

Oh BOY!

I don't know what it is about this kid. I thought he'd grow tired of terrorizing things by now, but he's still going strong. I haven't taken pictures of him after his daily rituals, only because by the time I get the camera out he's gone getting into who knows what else. The only reason I have this picture of him is because he is relatively tied down. I actaully keep him in his high chair for a while (about an hour or two depending on how much I plan to get done) in the morning for breakfast because he hasn't figured out how to unbuckle himself yet and he seems to be happy watching television this way (the only way he'll sit and watch anything). I know most people are trying to avoid having their kids watch too much t.v. but this is a breakthrough for me to have Tanner actually in one spot for more than half a minute. He does still take a great nap every day so I do have that.

Anyway, as for the rest of us...plans for us are still in the making as far as where we are going to settle down. But as for now we are moving to Utah and that's for sure. Jared also passed his National Dental Board Exams with flying colors and I'm really proud of him!! He has worked so hard and has really been a great Dad and Husband through it all! Way to go Jared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you!

Now all I have to do is run to the store and buy a whole new set of make-up since mine has been generously poured, broken, and shaken all over my bathroom.

The More the Merrier

We've had some more company to keep us entertained last week. Jared's oldest brother Cole and his family came for a visit. The kids were so excited, when I told Jackson his cousins were coming he said, "is it my birthday?!?"

As opposed to a couple of weeks ago we had a perfect WARM day at the beach, although the water was still ice cold. Everyone still got a taste of the saltwater anyway. Here's Jared, Cole and Kylee the brave ones.


Here are Colton and Whitney digging a hole where Tanner spent 90% of his day playing.


You can't go to the beach without doing this.


Since we are strong converts to Chuck E Cheese, we had to spend several hours playing a little dance dance revolution.


We really need to get one of these in our house.


Thanks to Kylee, Colton, Whitney, and Chelsea we didn't see much of our kids the last few days. It's been a hard transition getting back to being parents again. It's sad to see them all leave!! Not too long though....

Chimichangas for fifty please!

For Easter this year some of our friends in our class had an Easter dinner at their house with an Easter egg hunt and games for the kids. They invited all of the students in Jared's class from our ward which ended up being around 50+ people including kids. They hand made 90 really yummy chimichangas to feed us all. It was really nice, it's going to be hard leaving all this soon :( *sniff sniff*.

Here are all the kids lined up, they all got to find 12 eggs each.


Then the kids got to play a little game and while Jackson was waiting for his turn I realized there weren't even close to 12 eggs left in his basket. Ergo, both the kids were off the wall Easter evening.


Not the best picture of our family, but I'll post it for the world to see anyway.


The boys got new hats for Easter and they LOVE them. Jackson got a really cute new suite (is that how it's spelled?, doesn't look right) but I forgot to take a picture.

Ahhhhhhh!

I don't think my brain has enough compartments to accomodate all that's going on around here. I feel super stressed about moving back to Utah so soon, but I'm also really excited. I don't really like feeling so many strong emotions, I just like to choose one at a time and right now I choose relaxed (At least I think that's what it's still called).

Enough about my mental breakdown, It looks 99.87% like Jared has a job in Utah. We are excited about that! Jared just got done taking the Weastern Regional Exam (Boards) last weekend. Way to go Jared!!! His brother Jonny came out to be a patient and it was really nice to have a dependable patient! (THANKS JONNY!!) Here are a few things that we've been up to...

This is Virginia Beach, it was pretty chilly but the beach is great any which way.


I thought this was a cool picture of Tanner flyig a kite.


Here we are in Washington D.C. - really is awesome there!!! In a couple of weeks all those drab trees will be blooming with cherry blossoms.


After a long day of touring D.C. we finally got some grub around 9:30 p.m. While we were digging in to our food some thief was digging in to our car and stole our dvd player and busted our window all over Tanner's car seat. Luckily they didn't grab our camera or Jon's Zune!! (Might I also add that we just got a new transmission in less than a week before. Cars!! GRR, are they a blessing or a curse?!?!) Needless to say we had a VERY loooong night after a very loong day. BUT the hotel we stayed in was FANTASTIC!!! It was a 4.5 star with an awesome breakfast buffet (my favorite part) and a flat screen t.v. in our room (Jared's favorite part), it was a steal. As you can see the boys were very happy to finally get settled in. SO it was a pleasant end to an unpleasant evening.


The boys taking a lunch break.

one day down, five to go

Jared is currently in Utah looking for a job. We have never been apart this long before and it isn't really very fun. I don't know why it is that when your with someone you love you always take them for granted and you don't realize how much you depend on them until you're all alone :(

It really isn't as bad as I expected, thanks to American Idol for filling up most of my evenings (go little Archuleta) and the boys are actually keeping me good company.

So I've made it through day 1. Wish us luck and I hope to be seeing a lot of you (permanently) in a couple of months.