The Things My Heart Decides

I'm not a runner.  Well, I wasn't a runner.  Okay, that's not entirely true either.  I ran in high school, but mostly because anyone (everyone) could join the track team.  No embarrassing, possible esteem- crushing try-out required.  So, I ran.  Then, I ran a little in college.  Only because I was too miserly to throw money into a gym pass.  But once graduation came - the running left.

Then, I got married.  And G Mac wanted to run.  So, we started running in the morning.  And I got injured.  "Self-inflicted whiplash" is what the MD termed it.  Seriously?  Terribly true.  Inflicted while trying to dodge an early morning sprinkler that got the best of me.  Hence, running left again.  But this time, it left for a LONG time.

In fact, I started talking like I'd never run in my life ... "I'm not a runner," I'd say.  Don't get me wrong, I had great admiration for runners, marathoners, 5Kers ... and the like.  But, for me, it became an eye-rolling, never-in-my-life-would-I-do-that-to-my-body type of activity.  I'd rather elliptical or spin my body into submission.  Or even walk ... but run?  Nah.

So, imagine my almost disgust, when two plus months ago, I'm driving along the freeway, singing to the radio, casually viewing the varied billboards and of a sudden my heart does a double-flip, my stomach fills with a thousand butterflies and my mind takes on a strange, but sweet sense of anticipation.   I try to shake it off, visibly shaking my head and inwardly screaming, "Are you crazy?"  But the feeling comes stampeding back when I look again to see the giant ad picturing a silhouetted runner against a sunlit mountain range.  And along the bottom ran the words in white -  Utah Valley Marathon.

I'm pretty good at dismissing thoughts and feelings that my mind deems partially insane.  And I followed suit with this odd experience.  I didn't even tell my husband - which, if you know me, that's truly saying something (I tell the poor guy everything)!  But the blasted feelings would randomly resurface.  Especially when G Mac started training for a triathlon sprint.  Though, he did most of his training during his lunch hour, I could see and sense the change in his demeanor and those nasty butterflies would come back (yes, I realize that most of those intestinal flutterings were of the I-love-this-guy variety - but my mind was fairly certain the a portion could be attributed to the not so welcome you-need-to-run-again kind).

What totally did me in though was when I surfed over to a friend's blog and the recent post was titled, "Considering a Half."  It took me half a second to decide to call her.  When I did,  I told myself that I was just going to ask her about it.  But when I said, "Are you really thinking about running another half?"  She said, "Yes!  Do you want to run it with me."  Sheesh ... hook, line and sinker ... I committed.  To be truthful, I knew that my heart had already committed itself that day on the freeway (note that I seemingly have no control over what my heart sometimes decides on its own - that's only happened one other time - insert smiley face).

We started training this week.  The first day I thought I would DIE.  I put on a brave face (I think).  But inside, I was saying "What am I doing ... and why in the world am I doing it?"  Luckily, I have a pretty strong heart and an incredibly vivid memory.  So, the minute those questions flew to mind, I could see the billboard again.  And, surprise of surprises - it feels great!  I mean really great.  So now I guess I'm a runner.  And the littles think I'm awesome (how's that for a great, but unexpected byproduct of my heart's executive decision)!!

Just so you know, I'm really not crazy - so, obviously I'm starting with a half.  But someday, I plan to be that silhouetted runner in the Utah Valley Marathon.  I wonder what my heart will think of then.

Over the [Big] Top - B's Birthday Celebrations

Umm, yeah, this is only a MONTH in the making!!  So sorry for the delay, but anticipate no longer!!!  Here's to B's Birthday!!

 Happy THIRD Birthday B!!

I can hardly believe that my little B is three!  To be completely honest, I feel like she should be 4 or 5 with how long she has been talking, wearing big-girl undies, and sleeping in a [semi] big-girl bed! 

Now most of you who know me, know that I got my enthusiasm for birthdays from my mom! [love her] ... BUT where I got my overwhelming need to completely redecorate the house for the celebrations remains a mystery ...

We (the littles) decided on a CIRCUS theme for the birthday - so I began the hunt for items to turn my living room into a Big Top!  At Xpedex [heart that store] I found red and white rolls of plastic (granted, it is typically used for tables, but would be perfect to create a red/white tent!) 

Next, was a given ... balloons!  I don't think we've ever had a birthday without a trip to Roberts for their helium balloons, but given the height of the intended guests, we opted for blowing them up ourselves!  G Mac and I had major de-oxygenated headaches!!  I even thought ahead, and bought a hand-held balloon blower-upper, but it can still get super tiresome when you're talking about more than 100 balloons!

Next, a slide!  I had G Mac "clean" off the little tykes from the backyard and bring it in - and given the age group - it was the perfect addition!!  

And here is the result ... PRE-guests!

Like I said, a little OVER the top!  But the littles thought it was awesome!!  See the poses below!

This brings me to the party favors ...

*Red clown noses*  *Star-shaped glasses*  *crazy-colored clown ties*!!!!

For the snacks ... POPCORN [of course] and Red Vines

Now the cake ... I remember my mom laboring for what seemed like ALL DAY  to make super elaborate cakes for our birthdays ... again, I inherited the DESIRE, but not the patience, and definitely not the talent ... so here is what I ended up with ...

 

...though he's not one of my mom's [nor one of my best] I'm kind of in love with the little guy!!!

Aside from the normal festivities [cake, presents, singing, etc] the day also included ...

This cutest clown game from Zurchers.   Perfect for the young'uns because they don't have to wear that pesky mask that comes with the "Pin the ... " games.

Walking the "tight" rope!  We even got one of the moms to try!!  Excellent.

 

We actually started everything off with a balloon fight [of course] and the slide was an obvious hit!!

Then we showed a Little People circus video!! 

I also included a circus coloring page to calm things down a bit before the cake [note to self: not everyone is able to wait for the cake - LOL].  All in all - SO FUN - even had time to chat with adorable friend Kelly [don't you love her scarf ... and boots ... and purse - so stylish, that girl!!!]

And - no surprise - G Mac got in on the fun - While we waited for parents to come get the kiddies, he started DOG-PILING!  [love that man] - [he also made the most awesome circus-birthday-party-themed compilation of songs on CD - VERY cool - anybody want a copy??]

 

 And after all is said and done ...

 

Baby G FINALLY gets to play in the balloons after the guests had gone safely home and Granny could keep a close eye on him.

Lots of work - but soooo worth it ... and then I had a HUGE nap ... whew!!!  

Guest Post ... Monday Memories

As many of you know, I have a favorite blog ... one that I follow pretty regularly ... So Buttons.  The creator, Megan, is a wonderful friend.  Her blog features a regular post, in which she selects an past picture from her files and writes about it.  I LOVE this idea (and might just mimic it for Copper Kettles - so keep an eye out!)

Well Megan recently moved and for a time didn't have access to her files.  So, she began asking friends to guest post ... and she asked me ... WOW, I was flattered.  My very first guest post is scheduled to post today at So Buttons ... sooooo ... go check it out!  Then come back for B's Birthday Report!!

Friday Favorites

Listening to the radio
Listening to the radio while driving
Listening to the radio while driving with the windows down
Hearing an all-time favorite song whilst doing all of the above!
Mr. Big's To Be With You (love love LOVE that song)

As a side note : I must acknowledge that not all appreciate my taste in music which was made apparent to me when I tried to find the above-mentioned song on iTunes and it is a mere 69 cents!  Ha! - awesome for me!! 

I've found that my taste in music really has more to do with the memories associated with the song than the song/lyrics itself - though they play an obvious role.  To Be With You was freshman year of college.  Barely 19 + dorm-life + superb friendships + spring in the air + dancing down the hallways +  cute boys + tennis + new car... all tallied up to a virtually carefree (if you don't count those nasty finals) collegiate wonderland. Ooooh! - love those memories.

So when I hear Mr. Big on the radio... the windows come down ... and the littles know that it's time to dance in our seats and sing (loudly) ..."I'm the one who wants to be with you!!"

Lost in Translation

So sometimes I get a little hot-headed.  And when I do, I tend to say things that should be said, but not in the way I should say them . . . (sigh).

Earlier this morning, I had one of those moments . . .  and in my hot-headedness, I called my husband at work ranting . . . big-time ranting . . . (ugh).  It took about an hour for me to feel that all-too-familiar remorse and want (need) desperately to take it all back.  So I called up my favorite man to apologize . . . no answer.  I tried his cell . . . no answer.  At this point, I'm feeling really bad and hoping that he isn't purposefully ignoring me (which, truth be told, he would never do).  I call (again) . . . no answer (again) . . . but this time I leave a message.

I don't remember what I said . . . other than I rambled (which I frequently do when I'm apologizing).

About an hour later, I call my husband to see if he got the message and he starts laughing and tells me to check my email.

Evidently, hubby had been on a run but has this new messaging system that translates his voicemail into text which is then sent to his cell for him to see instantly. So this is the apology he got -


Hi maybe I can get your branding adding in case you need regard to that anyway I'm just calling to say sorry it just isn't.

Just rough anyway I should let you know -- thing I don't I don't think they should be turned on it -- but it's the same time I guys should more yesterday thank you -- hi 72 inch -- undead everything that I just got home any matched and just -- hi we're ready to go take a while -- thanks you -- for E.

Later bye.


Ummm, yeah - We were both laughing so hard that the apology kind of took care of itself - those are my favorite times! - (luckily with my hubby, we almost always end up laughing at our craziness - even without the help of "undead" technology - what the world?-) . . . He is so good for me - love him!

When he tells me stories . . .

My A (oldest by a mere 2 minutes) bubbles over with energy.  Seriously - bubbles OVER (the top)

He can hardly hold still - EVER!  Ah that boy - boy - BOY!
He sometimes drives me crazy ...
Especially when he's trying not to smirk after choosing to be a little naughty ...
And I'm handing out the consequences.
(I'm honestly shaking my head at the mere thought of it ... so impish!)

He doesn't, however, save his smirking just for consequences - oh no!
His little face smirks all to readily ... when he tells me stories.

And I cherish his storytelling.  If there is ever a story that he deems worthy of repeating, he is usually so enthused about it that he can barely contain himself, let alone repeat it - ha!

(I must add that most of his favs are the completely random - somewhat twisted - bedtime stories that my beloved one makes up at the littles' request).

In A's excitement, he almost always leaves out crucial plots and conversations to the point that most times, the story-line is completely undecipherable (at which point, I make a mental note to ask my beloved for a repeat performance).
But A laughs that laugh ...  and smirks that smirk ...
While his eyes sparkle like the night sky.
And I love him for it - indeed - I love him a LOT

Friday's Favorites

I think I'm in need of a list today . . . so here goes:

*watching wee ones wolf down victuals
*purplish piles of pomegranate - yum
*sun seeping thru certain shade
*G's garbled grunts and giggles
*sharp showers
*long and lovely lists
*dumping dirty dishes in the dishwasher
*my pop-pop-phz-phz mobile
*perfectly puffed pillows
*teaching toddlers to tiptoe

ah yes, I feel better :)

Baby G

Six months old today!

Oh, how I love this little boy.

I never need look far for the positive when this little guy is around. Even if it is 3 am . . .
love - love - LOVE him!!
Happy half-birthday Baby G.

Sweet anticipation . . .(side note: lovin' that ginormous
pepper container in the back ground - what in the world!?
Evidentally, I need some real shakers:))

Daddy's keeping the hands in check.

These baby browns make my heart melt.

Too bad this is just ceremonial - no brownie for you, bud.

Casey

Lip buzz

So, this morning I could hear A starting to get a little crazy in the room with the girls.  He was trying to get H to purse her lips together and blow to create that all too familiar child-sound that makes them burst into laughter.  You know the one.  It was time to introduce the lip-buzz (so at least the fun could be productive).

A lip-buzz is something vocalists use to warm up their diaphragms and get the air moving.  The easiest way for me is to touch my top molars to the bottom, hold my lips loosely together and blow.  Once you get the lips to buzz - then you start to hum a song simultaneously.  We started with the church favorite "I Am a Child of God" . . .and ended with "My Little Pony."

I actually grabbed the camera to capture it.  A funny time . . . instead of what could have been me lecturing (essentially to myself) about the virtues of sound . . . and not to make rude ones.  :)  This blog may be working after all.

Love their faces . . . especially C's (the lil' frowner :))

Casey

Post Script: Beginning

A note on my very first post:  Months after reading the aforementioned post, I had the opportunity to talk with my friend about it.  She confessed that that post had begun as a rant, but transformed itself into all of the positive things I found there - this intrigued me, inspired me, gave me purpose for my own blog -

To see the positive . . . not just believe that it is there, but actually see it.

I need this - I am sometimes so overwhelmed by my everyday and all that I want it to be that I fail to acknowledge how great it already is!  So this blog will function as my morphing mechanism.  Transforming some of life's less than perfect, sometimes mundane, run-of-the-mill or otherwise ordinary events - whatever they be - into the enlightening, fun, joyful, light-up-your-life moments they truly are.  So that I can see it.

'Cause sometimes seeing is believing.

Casey

Beginning

Life is full.
At the moment, it is half full of awe - and half full of anticipation.
Could it be that I am actually writing my very first post for my very first blog.
I feel as if I'm stepping into a strange new existence. . .

I guess I should start with why.

Why am I writing a blog?
Something I thought might happen...someday...years (and years) hence.  "When I have more time" was my frequent note to self.
Yet, here I am. 
I guess I can give credit to two sources -
Two friends.

While in college, my sweetest friend from across the hall started keeping a journal of sorts.  I can't remember what she called it, but it was essentially a little book chock-full of things that made her happy.  Whenever she was feeling a bit blue, she'd pull the thing out and start listing.  I say "list" because that's all it really was - a string of things that made her smile that day.  I don't think any line was more than a few words and never a full sentence.  I know this, not because I peeked (heaven forbid), but because she read a page to me one day.  The page where I made the list.  Well, not all of me.  A part of me.  My favorite part of me. 

Maybe that is why the idea has stuck with me all these years.  Maybe.  But, I think it is more due to the idea that writing down her favorite things could make her happy.

Flash forward to present day.

I just spent 2010 in a torpor.  Pregnant with my fifth child.  Lost in a sea of emotions brought on by a tide of hormones unlike any I'd previously experienced.  I needed an outlet...or an inlet...something to allow me to feel myself again.  In that midst, having forgotten about the previous tidbit of my past, I stumbled upon a blog written by a dear neighbor friend.  And there was a list.  For a moment I was 19 again - with the world at my doorstep - and a friend reading another list.  So I knew.  I knew I needed to make my own list.  Thus it begins . . .



Casey