Do these meet with the Mimi stamp of approval?

So these didn't turn out quite as perfectly as I had hoped they would. I guess I'm still getting the hang of it. Anyway now all I need are some alligator clips to attach them to.

I was thinking these would be so fun for pigtails! (When her hair gets long enough I mean.)

went for a nice little ride with Randy, Marcia and their sons, up in the mountains by there house

Who needs toys?

When you can just play with band-aids?

Daddy's Surprise

So we know Gideon is probably a little young for a bicycle yet, but when Travis found this one at the D.I. for $8, he couldn't resist. Gideon actually LOVES it! He hopped right on and wanted to ride. Obviously he's only 2, so we're still working out the whole pushing the pedals with his feet thing, but even so, after just a few trips up and down the sidewalk and around the driveway, he's starting to get the hang of it.

And he loves it! He just kept saying "Bike, bike, bike!" Over and over then. Then he pointed to the garage (where my bike is kept right up front by the door) and kept saying "Mom Bike, Daddy Bike." He wanted us all to be riding together apparently.

And safety was his priority. I didn't even think to put a helmet on him, because well, I just didn't. But when he spied Travis's hard hat he went after it. I guess he's seen cyclists around because he wore it the rest of the time and then hung it on his handle bars when he wasn't on the bike.

And last but not least, this is what happens when you have to call it a night because the boy needs a bath and bed and the bicycle can't come in the house.

What I'm Thankful for Today!

In an effort to shift my attitude this evening, I decided to employ a little trick I learned a decade ago while I was serving my mission that I've always used to help pull me out of a funk. (Well, you know, besides the usual hot bubble bath and lots of chocolate.)

I actually stole this idea from a companion who got it from a well known hymn. Have you noticed that it's impossible to be unhappy when you're counting your blessings? So tonight I just started making a mental list of all of the things I'm thankful for. I was really just hoping that it would calm me down enough to let me get a decent night's sleep.

While I'm not going to say I feel 100% better (I still have a killer headache & obviously there are some larger issues I still have to deal with) I can say that I do feel a bit calmer right now and not like I'm caught in the middle of a panic attack. (The vise that was closing in on my chest earlier today feels like it's loosened just a little.)

I won't list all of the blessings I counted today or the wonderful friends, family and things I'm thankful for in my life. I just want to tell you the one that I thought of that actually made me smile tonight. I was at church earlier this evening, helping the girls with some first aid stuff for camp and you know what occurred to me? I really do have great legs! (Refer back to my post of May 15th this year if you've forgotten already!) The ridiculous thing is that this thought popped into my head as I'm watching the girls learn CPR on a dummy they nicknamed "Vegetable Stew" it was so hilarious that I had to stifle a laugh. What an odd time and place for such a thought to occur. But seriously, I'm really thankful for my legs! They're tan from being outdoors so much and toned from all the running. And (if my husband is to be believed) they really do look pretty hot in a skirt and heels. So many people I see in my daily life don't work out, never get enough sun or have to deal with unsightly veins and discoloration. I've been so blessed in the legs department and I didn't even realize it!

So today I'm thankful for my legs. They're strong enough to run 20 miles at a time and carry a 30 lb. toddler when I'm "resting" from running. They let me keep up with ten 9 year old cub scouts and a dozen teenage girls several times a week. And to top it off, they're not even bad to look at!

On that note I'm going to take a very heavy pain killer & head to bed. Because I can't afford to lose another day to this headache or this stress. I've got way too much going on!

Trying not to Let it Get Me!

So it's been a long time since one of my overly long rants. Those of you who frequent the pages of this blog will be no stranger to this type of post. As always, you're welcome to skip it.

You know life has been really good lately. For months I've felt good, been sleeping better & have felt like I've just been skipping through life. I mean sure, Gideon is a typical 2 year old who enjoys pushing the boundries and at times makes me want to pull my hair out, but for the most part he's a very loving and sweet boy who makes me laugh with his antics.

But for the last week I've started to feel the pressure. And now I'm not sleeping & getting headaches again. We're getting a new baby in just over two months and suddenly it seems like there's not time or money to get everything done before she gets here. Plus the agency is sending in a 3rd party to do our home study and for some reason that makes me super nervous. I've got such a great relationship with our case worker and the people I work with at the agency that it doesn't worry me at all. But a 3rd party? Who knows what they'll be looking for or judging us on. It's just very intimidating and right now I don't dare schedule the home study because I haven't had time to get my house in order to a degree that satisfies me, let alone someone sent out to judge our fitness as parents.

I think the main problem is, I just feel spread really thin at the moment. My two jobs at church are very demanding. I work with the young women (girls 12-18) and this month we have our annual girls' camp as well as our usual activities and a temple trip. Plus I've been asked to teach more lately, because several of our leaders have been given other jobs, so we don't really have a fully staffed presidency at the moment. And since last August I've also been working with the cub scouts. For those of you who've never worked in scouts before let me just say it's the busiest job I've ever had! It's not just the weekly activities but the scouts have more meetings than anyone! Weekly den meetings, monthly scouting committee meetings, round table & pack meetings and additional trainings. There are some weeks I don't get to spend a single evening at home between the youth and scouts!

I don't want to sound like I'm whining or complaining, but I'm tired. And for the last two days I've had a severe headache that I'm sure is partially from stress. I've really been trying not to let it get to me, but as of today I feel so overwhelmed that I'm very tempted to tell someone tonight I just want out. And that's so not like me. I've never turned down a job or opportunity before and I've never asked to be released from one. It's just hard because I feel like everyone wants a piece of me and I just want to go into hiding until I can work out all the stuff I need to do for my home and family. I know I'm supposed to be Super Woman, and typically I feel like I'm Super Woman. But right now, I don't even feel like an adequate wife or mother or daughter or sister. So how can I be Super Woman?

An Old Fashioned 4th(ish) Celebration

Since the 4th was on Sunday this year, the city of Menan decided to hold their annual Independence Day celebration on Monday the 5th. It actually worked out well for us because it gave us the opportunity to spend the weekend at the cabin and still be able to enjoy the festivities.

Daddy & I started the day at 8:00am with the 5K Fun Run. I'm glad it wasn't an official race because we were both about a minute off our pace from Saturady. Then again perhaps our bodies were still fatigued from 2 races in 3 days. Either way it really was a beautiful morning for a run and we both had a good time. Since it was a fun run there were no timing chips, or bib numbers or prizes. Just a big group of people of every age, shape and size out for a morning jog. Teenagers in super hero capes shouting "Geronimo!", Moms pushing strollers, Old couples holding hands, Kids everywhere. It was great. And it made it so much easier to justify eating all that junk food later in the day!

And I felt great. Honestly at the end I felt I could have kept going for about 3 or 4 more miles. The reason I look like I'm dying in the picture above is because I was talking to Travis, telling him to put Gideon down and let him run to me. I was motioning and shouting, but apparently Trav didn't hear me over Gideon's screaming. Oh well. He calmed down once I finished.

And then on to the annual pancake breakfast!

The dark haired girl sitting by mom is Amber, one of Cody's friends from Georgia. She's going to school up here and needed a place to spend the holiday, so mom & dad brought her along. After the breakfast, we went home to shower and change and then headed back to the park for the festival

The festival is fun they have games and booths, food & entertainment. Mom was actually asked to be part of the entertainment and in fact was the first performer of the day.

They set up a big semi-trailer with a sound system & get everything from singers, fiddlers, cloggers, and even a harpist to perform throughout the day.

Mom sung a bunch of old show tunes and did a great job.

Gideon's very favorite thing at the festival was the fish pond. We probably had to go there 7 or 8 times (I lost count.) But I think he figured out pretty quickly that you can't lose at the fish pond, you'll always end up with a prize of some kind.

His second favorite stop was the bouncy castle. He played in there 4 or 5 different times throughout the day. And we always had a hard time tearing him away from it. Lots of weeping and wailing!

Grandpa thought that Parker should have something fun, so he bought this darling blanket (with matching bib & burp cloth) from one of the craft booths! Thanks daddy!

And of course Gideon and I went on the "train" ride. It was very bumpy, but he loved it!

Grandpa & Gideon shared some snacks while waiting for the parade to start.

There were more people out at the Menan festival this year than I've ever seen before. It was borderline ridiculous!

BTW - Thanks Cody for letting us use your truck. It made a great place to watch the parade!

Gideon loved the fire trucks most of all. He especially got excited when they blew their horns and turned on their sirens.

Okay I was really taking a picture of the old herse, but this kid in the orange shirt was on my nerves all through the parade. His family was down the street from us, but he ended up more and more directly in front of us as the parade went on. I mean we all want to catch candy, but seriously where were his parents! He's in a ton of my pictures!

OKay I had to get a photo of this because it reminded me of something my brother Cody would do to his bicycle just for fun.

This little dresses were made out of newspaper. I thought it was a terribly clever idea. I only wish you could see them better, (thanks again to orange shirt kid!)

After the parade it was definitely nap time! (The kitten thought so too apparently.)

I bought this bow at one of the craft booths. Can anyone tell how excited I am to be be getting a girl!

Staking out our spot for the fireworks. Idaho is the only place I've ever lived where you have to bundle up like an eskimo to watch the fireworks! It's pretty much ridiculous! Plus, because it stays light so late here, they don't start until 10:15, so you're out late anyway and completely freezing!

And that was our evening. Gideon fell asleep about half way through the fireworks (and it was a pretty good show) but we managed to make it home happy and healthy and in one piece. Today Gideon and I are both a little sore, tired & slightly sunburned, but we had such a fun time, we won't complain.