Picky

After I publish a blog post, I usually go in and edit it 4 or 5 times as quickly as I can, before anyone else reads my typos. And when I can't word a story just right, to create the effect that I want, it bugs me for a long time. Need to chill a bit.

Good mornin', good mornin'

I remember waking up to Kalie's beautiful voice singing that song at Girl's Camp in the Uintah Mountains. She is an unbelievably perky person in the morning and she was kind enough to share her cheer with us bums. (Not until later did I learn where the song came from, a fantastic musical called "Singin' In the Rain.") My little sister is at that same girl's camp today. we call it Piuta, and I hope she's having a good morning. And that she has great friends there, like Kalie Casselman and Savannah Spackman were to me. Girl's Camp is awesome and I know Court will love it this year. Good times.

I had a wonderful morning today! The kids and I went to Murray Park and went on an invigorating walk around the VitaCourse trail. The kids had so much fun that they volunteered for another loop. We took a small break in the middle and the kids played in some sand, drawing pictures with sticks. I sat on a rock and Keller slept in the stroller. It was nice to watch the trees moving, and breathe in the cool shady air. I felt grateful. For my day, for my kids, for legs than can walk, for my life.

Taesya and Canon played at the park after that. And then I took them to get some lunch. We were going to pick up some Rumbi Island Grill to bring home, but Canon really wanted to eat in the "restront." I don't go out to eat with the kids unless Ben is there, generally, but I gave it a shot today. We all split a yummy pork rice bowl with Teriyaki sauce and veggies. Keller even ate some of the rice. There was a cool moment at Rumbi when we were all happily eating together. The kids started dancing in their seats to the background music, shaking their bums and smiling at stranger; Keller started to bounce up and down, too, as he watched his siblings. I looked at them all and felt really happy. How could anyone not feel joy watch three tiny children doing the lunchtime dance? My kids are fun and I love them a ton.

Driving home, I realized that things are getting happier in my life. We are operating two or three notches higher than we were 6 months ago. And overall, I'm feeling better. Even optimistic, ambitious. It might sound like no big deal, but people, this is HUGE.

I had a great morning. I hope yours was equally as pleasant. "Good mornin', good mornin' to you!"

My view

Do not rent the movie "Knowing." Seriously. It was a lot scarier than we thought it would be and then the whole thing turns "spiritual," I guess. I wish I hadn't wasted those two hours.

"Time for school, time for school!"

Fall is coming again and I am heading back to school. This will be the third semester I've taken from WSU and after December, I will be the proud owner of an Associates Degree. I'm excited about it, and glad to go back. But at the same time ---

I am full of butterflies as I look at scheduling, and all the driving, and wondering when I'll fit in the homework, and I haven't really taken three classes together since Taesya was a baby... Anxiety and I are pretty well acquainted lately and he's just having a hay day with this one. So I turned off the computer monitor and Ben talked me off my ledge of stress. My heart was kind of racing and my brain felt like it was filled with rocks. I'm the one in our relationship who thinks of all that could possibly go wrong, while Ben is the one who thinks things will work out just fine. He's such an optimistic, calm person. He brings balance to my brains.

School's good, right? And I'm glad to go back. I do love the feeling of those A's, after I've worked really hard. A = Accomplishment! So take a few deep breaths and listen very hard to Ben, "Everything's going to be ok."

Cold things

We ate popsicles just a second ago; it was enjoyable. Keller gets really excited when he sees us eating, and he wanted that popsicle BAD. So I let him suck on an orange one, but no, HE wanted to hold it himself. So my 6 month old ate an entire orange popsicle all by himself. And it was hi-lar-ious! He got so frusterated when the stick started poking out the top, and he'd cry until I fixed it. He is a boy who knows what he wants. It's funny to see him so happy with something and also so mad at it - at the same time. Cute stuff.

P.S. Ben and I have both decided that we are so done with summer. We are ready for it to cool down now. Ready ready.

Pilates of the Carribean

Let me introduce you to the new me:

"Hi, I'm Amber. I am an active and energetic mom."

At least that's the goal. I've started exercising! I've always felt that my life is physically strenuous, lifting kids, laundry, running around, playing, getting up and down and up and down to change diapers and pick up the house - but no, I was never a consistent exerciser. That ended a week and a half ago.

I'm working out 5 times a week now. Five different types of work outs, and at various times of day. I'm just doing what fits my life right. Last night, though, was Pilates class at our Community Center. My very first time and it - was - interesting. Pilates' main focus is on the lower abdominal muscles, and let's just say that after 3 pregnancies in 5 years - I don't really have any kind of muscles in that area. It was a good class and I will definately go back, but I have a long long way to go. My abs don't exactly hurt today, they're more confused, I think, and disoriented. Hah, this is so new territory for me!

But here I am, blazing the trail toward the new me. And soon, I'll be running circles around these kids. Woo hoo.

Negative Self Image

Our blog needs a new template, badly. Obviously this attempt was .... not good. Poor blog. I will fix you soon.

Taking a siesta of sorts

I'm in a blog shlump. I try to think of things to write, but it always sort of comes out, "Crazy, buzy life... so tired.... kids making messes... blah blah blah." So I think I'll spare y'all that lame-ness.

But hey, just know that I'm alive and we're plugging along through life. Ben's doing his best to keep the lawn alive, Kel's doing his best to sit (rather than lay,) and the dynamic duo are doing just fine. (And by "doing just fine" of course I mean hugging, wrestling, and blowing bubbles occasionally.) You'll be the first to know when my brain gets a little more interesting, k? Loves.

Words

Have you ever noticed how similar the words "tickle" and "tackle" are. And yet they have very different meanings. I wonder if any sports reporter has ever mixed up the two by mistake. Imagine:

"McDoogle was just no match for Condolee's speed last night. As McD barrelled toward the end zone, only inches from his touchdown, Condolee came out of nowhere and tickled him from behind. That tickle lost the Chihuahua's their championship ring. What a game, folks. What a game."

Just a little word fun. Also, have you ever been so tired that it actually becomes tiring to be that tired? Whoo, I am.

Feeling Sluggish

I am so tired and unmotivated today. There's a lot to do, though. What I'd like, I think, is to stay in my comfy jammies all day, watch PBS with my kids, and eat ice cream cake. Maybe not all day, but definately for a while. I just feel a little sluggish today. OK, a LOT sluggish. Keller is hollering from his crib cuz he's awake now. So - - - The End.