A Simple Life

The last few weeks have been crazy with both kids in soccer, both in tumbling, two dance classes for Berlin, Activity Day stuff, and well, just life. But my favorite time of the day is when I am outside working in the yard, pushing Berlin on the swing, planting flowers, prepping the garden, landscaping (FINALLY!) with new trees and bushes, hanging out with my kids, and chatting with the chickens. These quiet moments with just ourselves are the best. 


And remember all that trepidation I had about chickens (see here) ... well that's long gone. I love these gals. They are so funny to watch and they have very distinct personalities which crack me up. And of course, they love me. Not to brag, but they do. I am the one who lets them out, brings them food, changes their water, cleans their coop. I love to feed them out of my hand and they love to hang out by my feet. I think they like my red toenail polish! I am always talking to them too. Yep, I have become the chatty chicken lady. They like the kids too because they are always trying to feed them weeds & treats. And the kids aren't so tall and scary. Ryan jokes that the chickens tolerate him. He's usually the one whose making loud noises in the field (trimming trees, mowing the field) and he usually chases them and picks them up so others can hold and pet them, so he says they like him the least. But that's not true, they love him too.

 

 

  

They are the greatest pets. Seriously, if you are considering them, get them. You won't regret it. I can't wait till they start laying eggs in a couple months!

Oh, and we have bees now! Woo hoo. Our neighbors put a hive on our property last year, but with the crazy late winter (no spring) the bees didn't thrive and there was no honey.  This year we are hoping for better results. Our neighbors dropped of the hive boxes and new queen last week and so far so good! Someday, we will have our own hives.

Birthday Boy - the Big 7

Wah! My boy is 7 and I'm kinda freaking out about it. Where has the time gone? His special day started off like any other day. But once he was off to school, and after taking Berlin to tumbling, dance, and the neighborhood play group I finally got the chance to decorate his room with balloons and streamers for when he came home.

I also took donuts up to his classroom for his special birthday treat. For dinner he choose Spaghetti Factory, then we came home for birthday cake (lemon jello bundt cake) and presents.

 

 

 YAY for SEVEN!!!

 

  

 

This year was an "off" year for a party, but he really wanted to do something, so we invited his 3 buddies over for some pizza and a movie with popcorn and candy. They played, ate, played, watched part of the movie, played, ate, watched some more movie, played some more, then finished the movie. They had such a blast. We had a hard time getting them wrangled up in the car to take them home cause they just wanted to keep playing. Sorry parents that it ended up being such a late night :)

Just a few things I've loved about Finley this past year:

1. Watching him read to Berlin. Not only is he a good reader, but he is such a good big brother. 
2. He's become quite a little fish. This is a big change from years past. He loves to swim and be in the water.
3. Finley is a rule follower when it comes to school. He is so polite and kind at school. I hope that continues to be the case.
4. He writes the funniest comic book strips. Some day I will sneak the book out of his room and take some pictures. They are awesome.
5. He is getting more confident on the soccer field and is blossoming into a great little player. 
6. He is a good helper at home. He will make his bed and Berlin's bed. He helps with the dishes and is getting better and keeping his room cleaned up and putting his laundry away. 
7. Salmon and shrimp have been added to meat as his favorite foods. He's funny this way. If it's meat he'll eat it without questioning it (duck, chicken hearts, he tries and loves it all). Vegetables are the total opposite. He hates all vegetables no matter how they are cooked, seasoned, or covered. However, he knows he has to eat them at dinner, even if it takes all night (and sometimes it does). 
8. He is goofy. So very goofy.
9. My favorite thing is when he comes and snuggles with me on the couch in the morning before school when we have a few minutes to spare. I love it. I will hold onto these moments because I know it won't always last.
10. Knock-knock jokes. He loves to make them up and share them with us at the dinner table. Most of the time there is no punch-line, but that's what makes them so great.

I have been blessed with many things, but I really do count the kids as my greatest blessing of all. Finley is such a joy in our home and I am so glad happy that he is ours. I just love this guy so much. 

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Spring Soccer - Girl Power

Berlin started her first season of soccer last week. She has been waiting for this moment to arrive forever. We held off putting her in because she is so small and because of the not-so-fun experience we had with Finley when he started soccer at 3. So we waited with Berlin until she was 5 and it was a great decision. No tears or crying on her part, and no bribing on our part. She loves it! Here she is at her first game (she is # 6 on the yellow team) with her sparkly new pink/purple soccer ball. She did great!
(warning - this post has lots of pics)

Pre-game warm-up.

Their two-minute stretch was the funniest thing to watch. Just look at all the funny things going on in the next few pics.

Bend down, touch your toes...

Which one of these is not like the other? Apparently she had enough of that. Looks like all the blood rushed to her head and then she got tipsy when she stood up. Love it!

Jump up! Jump down! Love the little gal on the right  - apparently too much jumping on a full bladder. And our cute little friend & neighbor Spencer to the left of Berlin was jumping his shorts right off! Ha! 

The kid on the far right end is doing a mid-air potty squat.

Game Time Kick-off.

The other little blonde gal on Berlin's team is a soccer prodigy. She scored like 8 goals that game and just ran away with the ball every chance she got. See how Berlin and the other kids are just letting her do her thing. That's team support at it's best right there.

  

Shin guard show & tell. Berlin and Spencer couldn't stop comparing their uniforms & gear at random times in the game.

Berlin & Spencer reminding each other which goal is their's.

Seriously, is there anything better than watching 4 and 5 year old's playing soccer? I think not. It's just hilarious!

Race Day - SLC Half Marathon 2012

I signed up for the 2012 half marathon last year after having run the 2011 one. But, life has been pretty crazy lately and I hadn't trained as religiously as I did for the 2011 one. But my awesome younger sister called me two weeks ago and said, yes, we were going to do it. Even if our only goal was to just finish. So, with that attitude I decided to do it. Last year I was a basket case, being my first half marathon ever, but still did pretty good (2hrs, 31 min, 55 secs). Just over my goal of 2 1/2 hours. This year however, I wasn't stressed or worried about my time. I just knew it would be what it would be. I think that made a big difference for me. I felt great the first part of the race. And up until about mile 9 I was feeling awesome. After that, it got harder, but I still felt good. I even finished FASTER than I did last year!!! Maybe it was because I was less stressed, maybe it was because my training was more well- rounded and not just running (I have been doing weights, strength training, step, zumba, and body combat classes in the mornings along with running), maybe it's because I had 15lbs less of body weight pounding the pavement. Whatever it was, I had a great time running it this year despite the warmer temps. So glad my amazingly awesome sister talked me into it. She is great! Here are pics from our day...

Here we are at 6:15am waiting for the trax to take us to the start line. Gettin' pumped up to rock the road! Thanks to Ryan for dropping us off. It was an early morning for him too!

 

Yes, that's me with my granny phanny running belt. I didn't wear it last year, but am so glad I did this year.

Here we are after the match - what hotties we are. After these photos we headed over to the massage booth so Val could partake of some healing hands. Me? No thanks, I don't like people touching me. I hate massages. 

Val's final time: 02:26:55       My final time: 02:27:45

Here's to running in 2013. Third times a charm right?

After the race we headed up to Finley's soccer game. Here are some fun pics of him in action. They had a very good game today which made playing in the heat of the day worth it.

After the soccer game we had to rush home, shower, and head out to Chuck-a-rama for a family lunch with my dad's family. My parents came up from California for the weekend (My mom is awesome. All pics from the race, soccer game, and lunch are from her camera) and my grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins, all came too which made for a fun mini-reunion. 

My sweet grandparents and totally awesome sister!

Today was just a wonderful day. This is what it's all about.