We're Not Robots!

So, I was listening to the radio the other day; the news story being talked about was overweight people. Supposedly, a research study performed at a college institution (don't remember where) says that some people may have a gene that makes us (yes I am lumping myself in this group) not able to taste food as deeply as the person next to us. As a result of this, people with this gene eat more so that they can get the flavor.

Oh come on!! Yet another way to brush off our responsibility, in this case so that being overweight (could add any myriad of behaviors that are now being labeled as an addiction) isn't our fault. Why are people so blind to this fact, that they are abdicating responsibility? We are not robots merely doing mechanical, routine tasks on command. We have a choice here. Is it an easy one? No, not always. I struggle to put that brownie down everyday. But guess what, it is my choice. I have been educated and I have to knowledge to make a healthy choice. Do I always follow it? No, but I am trying to overcome that "natural man." We all have our own individual issues with our own "natural man" to overcome.

I loathe the fact that people are being given a "way out." The problem won't change as long as it happens "to them" instead of "because" of them.

Again, we're not robots. Are you pretending to be a robot somewhere in your life?

Great Friends at Gardner Village

You just gotta love a place that combines photo opportunities with shopping! Today was the perfect day to spend with the Hookes up at Gardner Village. Everyone had a good time and it was a fun way the end the last day of UEA weekend.

Of couse, you can notice Ty's Tom Sayweresque outfit; within 2 minutes of being by the pond he fell in up to his knees. He was a good sport about walking around in the wet clothes and barefoot.

Seven Stitches for My Seven Year-Old

So, did you know that running top speed in a pitch black church hallway can be hazardous to your health? Tyler does now! So does the other kid.

He has seven stitches to prove it.



Last night at dinner Steve told me that he wanted to go watch the BYU game somewhere. Wanting to be the supportive wife, I agreed while realizing that it meant I would need to take the kiddos with me when I went to play volleyball. No problem, they could just play on the stage. Unfortunately, my head wasn't completely in the game because I had forgotten that we weren't playing at our usual building. The building we were playing at didn't have a stage. In fact, there was hardly any room around the court to even stand.

What's a seven year-old to do?

Of course, go play in the pitch black hallway with the other bigger kids. Never mind that you can't see 3 inches in front of you.

Yep, he collided with a 9 year-old in the hallway.

Someone brought him in to me with blood everywhere!

I freaked out!!!

I couldn't find a bathroom. (I didn't know the layout of the church, and with it being pitch black and all...)

A friend stepped up and helped me out and lead me to one.

When the nice man offered to let me use his cell phone, I seriously couldn't remember Steve's cell number. It took me a full minute. Does anyone know, did he get his cell phone back?

Mikki, did I just grab that paper towel out of your hand? Sorry. I wanted to clean up the blood on the floor. Thanks so much for checking on Alayna for me. I felt comforted that she would see a familiar face.

Sandy, a big thank you for finding the bathroom for me...and, letting me take your cell phone...and taking Ethan and Laney back to your house . I knew that they would love being there with your kids, so I didn't need to worry.

Steve, a big thank you to you for taking Ty to the ER. I know the conflicted feelings you were having. I appreciate and recognize this service for me. Tyler was really nervous and I just knew you could hide any fear of the upcoming procedure better than I could. (I still hate needles! I hate them even more when they are for my children.)

Oh yeah, the cutest thing is that when Tyler got home and we took him upstairs to bed, we found Ethan sleeping in Ty's bed. He had been worried about Ty.

Same Thing, Different Perspective

So, we had our first parent/teacher conferences last week.

Luckily for me (and them), Tyler and Ethan are both doing really well in school. Both are doing great in spelling and in reading. Both have tested above the level where they are suppose to be. Great! I love it. And both have behaved admirably at school: neither has been sent to Stop and Think.

Here's the interesting part:

I walked away from one teacher feeling like my son needs to improve so much. Like he was the worst student. She barley, I mean barely, even talked about how well he is doing. Instead the focus was on what he was not doing. And, the fact that a lot of girls like him. I am worried that she will focus so much on what isn't right about how he reads (way too fast) that it is going to turn him off of it.

However, the other teacher was as dream. She informed us that our son was doing well. And, while she did mention some of the things that he had missed, the delivery was so different. It would go something like this: Scrolling through the milestones, he has done spectacular in this, this, this... Oh yeah, he missed this one but most of the kids did. It's no big deal; he'll get it next time.

Boy what a difference.

I generally enjoy parent teacher conferences, but this one was such an eye opener. Perspective is everything.

Oktoberfest 5K for Me

Alternate titles for this post:

My First Official Running Race
Don't Stop, Don't Stop, Don't Stop
How Do I Breathe?
How Am I Ever Going to Run 13 Miles outside?
26:46 minutes of accomplishment



I am so excited to have completed my first official 5K run. I ran with Scott and Brian at Utah Valley University.

I am really excited that the mental side of me prevailed. Because near the end (really close to the end) , I wanted to stop and walk; in fact, I even slowed enough so that I could take one step at a walk. But, I knew if I walked I would be so disappointed with myself. So, in order to keep going, I had to set goals for myself as I looped a large "pond": make it to that tree by the corner, make it to the next angle, the next corner and we are at the home stretch. It worked!! I am very happy with my 26:46. That is faster then I usually do it in the gym.

I really am not an outside runner, so it was a bit challenging with the strong wind, running on the grass with the wholes and soft spots from the rain, and just mental steadfastness. Does anyone know any breathing techniques when the wind is really strong?

So, does this make me an official runner now? I got a t-shirt.

Two Ponies for Laney

One word: Adorable!!

Scrapbook Pages from Me

These are probably my favorite of the bunch. I really like the contrast of the black with the pinks and oranges. I just need to add the journaling on the right hand page (on the left side.) This was Alayna's first birthday.

Princesses (of the beach). This is my other favorite of this bunch. This is from a beach trip last August (07) to say a final farwell to my grandmother.

Halloween Night: Last year's Halloween page. BTW: I made Laney's Pebbles Halloween costume.

ugh, this was a hard one. I tried so many color combos and nothing seemed to be what I liked. But, in the end, I love the brown with the green of the Christmas tree and the boys shirts. I don't know if you can tell in the picture, but the strip of paper has flourishes on it. It is from Creative Memories and was given to me by my sister-in-law.