Musical Beds

So a few weeks ago I realized we would have several guests coming to town all at the same time. Which really excited me. I love people to come over. One of my biggest wishes is for people to come into my home and feel welcome. I hope they do. Anyway so I had to try and come up with a comfortable way to sleep all of our guests. There would be my parents, Jeff and Stacey and their kids, Mark and Amber and their kids and David, Megan and their kids, all for varying amounts of time. So I decided to push some beds together and arrange some things. I thought about having Rick help me with this but I knew he wouldn't be too thrilled. He doesn't like trying things out to see if they will work. He likes planning it out - measuring it, drawing it, figuring it on paper. I just like to try it, see how I like it. Well his way takes longer and I am impatient. My way takes a few tries to get it right and Rick is well... I could say lazy but that wouldn't be very polite or true since he is one of the most hardworking people I know when it comes to most things just not this kind of thing. Anyway so I decided I better just do it while he was at work and he would never even have to know.

So I started by moving Anna's bed into Ryan's room. Despite it weighing about twice as much as I expected that worked out ok. So then I needed a bed for Anna's room. I decided now was the time to pull that old futon we had been saving in the back of the storage room "just in case". So I tried to pull that out but discovered I had to pull everything out of the storage room to get to it. So got that done and then realized we bought that futon before we finished the basement and our finished basement stairs aren't' quite as big as they were unfinished. So it didn't' really fit very good. Well I didn't want to give up so I struggled with that thing for at least an hour. I made my boys and the neighborhood boys help me. We pushed, we pulled, we tried every different angle, and finally we got it up the stairs. A little touch up paint later the stairs looked about the same as when we started and all was good. Other than the scraped up walls we did have one other little tragedy. We had to have the futon about 1/3 of the way closed to get it to fit. It was a bit tricky to carry it in this position. The springs wanted to snap it open - about 1/2 way up the stairs the springs won - and my fingers lost. At that point I regretted asking the neighbor boys to help - I really wished they hadn't been there to hear my reaction to the futon snapping on my fingers. I've been expecting a call from the Bishop.

Anyway got the futon in Anna room and decided the futon mattress was a bit thin and not too comfortable. So I decided to put my mattress on it. After lugging my mattress over I realized a queen mattress didn't fit too well on a full sized futon. I thought it might fit better on the bed downstairs which is a full sized bed but it didn't have a head and foot board like the futon so I hauled my mattress down and swapped it with the mattress downstairs. That too was a lot of lugging that both my back and the pictures on the wall regretted. Anyway that worked out pretty good. So now I had a "king sized" bed in Ryans room, a full sized bed in Anna's room, and a queen sized bed downstairs and a box spring in my room. Time to pull out the extra long hospital mattresses in my storage room. They kind of fit on my bed with just about 6 inches hanging off both ends. I added the camping egg crates for extra comfort and called it good. Unfortunately the egg crates weren't quite as wide - they only went up as far as the pillows but I figured we could just sleep on two pillows and our heads would be at an appropriate height. Well the next problem I ran into was that queen sized sheets don't fit to well on two extra long twin sized mattresses. So I used two top sheets. We would soon learn that bottom sheets have that elastic on the edges for a reason.

Anyway when I got all done and was satisfied with our sleeping arrangements I was exhausted, dripping with sweat and my squished fingers were throbbing. It had taken the better part of the day. I knew that I really should change it all back since it was only supposed to be an experiment to see if it would work for next week, but the thought of moving it back and then moving it again next week was too much for me. So I decided to just leave it. I knew Rick wouldn't be too thrilled so I tried to be extra sweet and nice to him when he arrived home. I hoped to butter him up enough he wouldn't notice the beds. Well that was pretty stupid thinking really. How was he not going to notice that when he sat on the bed 6 inches of the mattress's was hanging off, or that unless he used two pillows his head sunk down lower than his body, or that his mattress felt like an egg crate. He was very nice about the whole thing - like I knew he would be. But I know it was a trial for him. I told him all about my day and the struggles I had making it sound as pathetic as possible and then sweetly offered to move it all back so he wouldn't have to sleep on camping mattresses for an extra week- I was careful to make sure he could see me icing my hand as I offered this. Of course he said no its fine. I knew he would - he is an amazing guy. He didn't complain once about the bed the whole 2 weeks we slept on it. He did mention a time or two how much his neck hurt and how exhausted he was but the two are probably not related - at least I hope not.

An amusing little sidenote

I just thought of an amusing little thing that happened last night. At least I was amused by it. It was Stacey's birthday so we were having dinner and Tess and Kevin came out. Tess's mom was in town visiting so she came too. When they arrived Tess introduced her Mom to Ryan. She said, "This is my Mom, Julia" Well Ryan's eyes got big and he got excited. I am thinking no one but me caught this - but he ran over to me and said "Mom, does she know Taylor." Maybe just because I am his mom( remember moms know EVERYTHING -just ask my kids they will roll their eyes and confess its true) but I immediately knew what was going on in Ryans little mind. The Taylor he was referring to was not our brother Taylor, but Ryan's hero Taylor Swift. (He likes her "as big as Jesus" he confessed much to my dismay) One of his favorite songs he referrs to as the Julia song. It is Love Story for those of you familiar with her music. The song is about Romeo and Juliet - it sounded like Julia to Ryan so it became know at our house as the Julia song. Well Ryans little mind hit on this and he was sure somehow Tess's mom was connected to Taylor Swift and boy was he thrilled to meet someone who he believed must know Taylor. I have to admit I am a bit worried - 5 seems to young to have a crush on a star. Rick thinks its natural - I am guessing this is just one more way Ryan is taking after his Dad.

I ran in the road and got hit by a boat

If you run in the street your going to get run over by a car. My kids have heard me say this literally probably a 100o times. Yesterday I ran in the street and got hit by a car, or actually a boat. It wasn't very fun, it scared me and left me with some pretty nasty cuts and bruises. But I didn't die, I wasn't maimed, I didn't even break anything, in fact it triggered a rush of adrenaline that pushed me to finish my race in record time. Other than some pretty nasty cuts and bruises I am fine, and I get an amusing story to tell.

It happened around mile 4 of the Speedy Spaniard, Spanish Fork's annual 24th of July 10k. Rick and I were running together he was pushing me a bit so I was focusing on staying up with him. I was feeling good and running strong. We came to an intersection where several cars were lined up waiting to turn. A truck pulling a boat pulled up to the stop sign and signaled to turn right. Runners were on either side of him, but seeing his blinker Rick choose the left side and I followed. The truck pulled out to the left. I saw him move and I saw the trailer swinging around towards me - I stopped and hugged the guard rail. It kept coming, I heard spectators yelling I realized there wasn't room for both me and the boat on this side of the guard rail I turned around to dive over the rail but before I made it over the boat slammed into me and pinned me against the rail. It swiped me as it moved past leaving some pretty big scraps, a couple cuts and some ugly purple bruises. I was kind of in shock - I couldn't believe I had actually been hit. Several people ran over to check on me - I was as embarrassed as I was hurt so I just bucked up said I was fine and kept running. I was blinking back the tears and hoping the tears would blend in with the sweat dripping down my face and no one would notice I was crying. I watched the truck for a minute fully expecting him to stop and check to make sure I was ok and at least apologize but as he drove out of sight I wondered if he even noticed. With all the people, who were standing in front of him, yelling, waving their arms and coming over to me I would think he would have figured out something was going on. But maybe he didn't - I guess I will never know. Rick was very concerned and stayed with me till mile 5 to make sure I was fine and get me across the last few intersections before he went ahead and pulled away. We both finished the race ahead of our goal time. It didn't' really hit me how lucky I was to walk, or run, away from that with so little damage until I had a few minutes to really think about it. If he would have been going faster, or gotten in closer he definitely could have broken my legs. I was very blessed to come away virtually unscathed.

The race

Many people are surprised to find out I love to run. I am not good at it - at all, but I do love it. I try and go every morning or at least 5 times a week. Last month I challenged myself to run 100 miles in 30 days - I did it and it felt great. Running definitely has its ups and downs. The thrill of finishing, and the agony of exhaustion setting in with several more miles to go. Running can bring both pain and euphoria. For the most part I prefer a quiet little run all by myself - no stress, no pressure, but every once in a while a little competition is fun. This summer I ran a 5k in Soda Springs for the 4th of July. It was a lot of fun, I made my goal, it felt good.

But the best part of that race was seeing my Mom cross the finish line. Mom is 60 years old, and up until a few months ago she has never run. She decided she was going to run the race - so she did. With a bum knee she trained and worked and persisted. Watching her do it was a privilege. Mom has accomplished a lot of things in her life, a lot of very impressive things - way to many to mention. But among the most impressive in my book is that she raised 6 strong, smart, responsible children who consider her not only an excellent mother, a great example but also a cherished friend. She battled cancer and won. And she ran a race.

Running a 5k might not seem all that big of a deal. Lots of people run, but my mom wasn't' one of them, up until a few months ago anyway. And then one of her good friends lost her husband. It was a tragic snow mobile accident. As I watched my mom mourn with her friend and the young daughters who were left with out a father I saw real love, and deep compassion and unyielding support. Maybe I've been to immature or just oblivious to notice how blessed I have been my whole life to have all of that kind of support in my corner my whole life.

My mom has been there for me, just as she was for her friend since before I was born. The sacrifices she made to be prepared to be a wife and mother, to find the right man, to marry in the temple, to make and always keep sacred covenants, put me at a great advantage the day I was born. I have always had a great example to teach me, show me and lead me, I have always had a friend who laughed with me, cried with me and cheered me on. And whenever the going got tough she wasn't only there cheering she was holding my hand and pulling me forward. One of the greatest gifts she gave me was not only always being there for me, but more importantly the knowledge that God was there. She helped me find the faith to know Him, to trust Him and to rely on Him. By doing this she ensured that I would always have the support I would need to make it through whether she could be there or not.

I was a bit amused when she told me she had started running. I was excited for her. I've long been a fan of running. I was not only surprised but a little doubtful. I have always known her to be very strong and absolutely 100 percent committed to everything she does. I just didn't' really think of her as a runner. But she is. She trained hard, and I was impressed. She kept up with her training schedule even while on vacation and after the doctor told her running wasn't a good option for her hurt knee, but she committed to run the race, and run she did. Watching her finish that race was a visual reminder of the kind of mother I have been blessed to have. Strong and faithful, loving and compassionate, and completely committed.

The Challenges of Today

Sometimes being a Mother is a lot like riding a roller coaster - lots of ups and downs. For some reason my kids had my emotions all over the place today - I went from irate to proud, laughing to crying. I love my kids - all of them, all the time, but boy sometimes I can't decide if I would rather strangle or hug those little necks. Today Anna was at her best and so was Taylor.

Anna is my messiest child. She doesn't like to clean. And she doesn't often do things she doesn't like so her bedroom is pretty much a perpetual disaster zone. But for some reason she got up and decided to clean her room. She told me she was going to do it. I didn't think much of it because quite frankly I didn't believe her but about 1/2 hr later I walked in to find a spotless room with her bed neatly made. I didn't think she knew how to make her bed, but it looked perfect. I was so happy. She spent the whole day helping me and being rather pleasant (this is not always the case). Rick likes to call her a princess - sometimes she fits the name other times she could easily be mistaken for a wicked stepsister. Today was a princess day.

Taylor also decided to be helpful today. He did what I ask him to do and didn't argue or complain. He is really growing up. I have noticed lately how kind he can be and patient. He takes good care of Rachel and tolerates Ryan tagging along better and better each day. He wrote a letter to Grandma and Grandpa today, he read it to me. It was so thoughtful and well written I was blinking back tears. He also has been wanting to show me this really cool thing he heard on youtube. I usually avoid such things like the plague. They always turn out to be something like Charlie the Unicorn, Gummy Bears or something else of that caliber. But I finally let him share it with me. It was a piano and cello duet. Love Story meets Viva La Vida (or something like that). It was actually really pretty. Taylor loved it, he was so impressed with the music and how it was played. I was thrilled that he is finally developing some taste. He told me he was going to practice so he could play like that someday. I was proud. Some days being a Mom has priceless rewards.

Taylor and Anna had a great day, Rachel made up for them however. My Dad told me she is so naughty she is cute. He got the naughty part right. And I guess that she really is a cute little thing - and smart too. She always knows just how to push my buttons and then smile sweetly enough I end up hugging her instead of strangling her. She holds the record for my most disobedient child. We just always seem to be at odds.

Today started swimming lessons. When I called everyone to get ready and get in the car she ran to get her suit. I picked her up and reminded her for the thousandth time she wouldn't be swimming. She started her temper tantrum at that point. I called Taylor to come help me get everyone in the car. He was racing up the stairs and said sure but I have to go to the bathroom first. That was a blow, because from past experience I could tell from the way he was walking I could either wait for his help and be late or go with out him. He has inherited his Father's pooping speed. So I went ahead and left.

Rachel cried and kicked and whined the entire way to the pool, as soon as she saw the water she quit crying and sweetly told me she was ready to obey. Which was a big relief because I was struggling with her, all our towels, shoes, snacks etc, a stroller, and three anxious kids. I was trying to find a spot to camp, get a chair before they were all taken and listen to the director tell me where my kids were supposed to go. So I let my guard down and trusted Rachel's repentance and put her down. She immediately ran, I chased her but she got in ankle deep in the water. Her tennis shoes were soaking. So I put her under my arm and headed back to listen to the level assignments. She then started complaining about how thirsty she was and she needed a drink right now. I told her I would get her one after we got the kids in their right classes. I guess she really was thirsty because she reached down took of her shoe and drank the water out of it. I tried to grab it from her but I was holding so much stuff and she was still laying horizontal under one of my arms that I couldn't reach her without dropping everything. I warned her she better stop, I think she could tell I was losing it because she finally put her shoe down and smiled at me. I relaxed and shifted my attention back to the swim lessons. I felt her wiggling and looked down to see her drinking her other shoe. I gave up at that point. Pool water stained brown from the dirt and sweat of her tennis shoes probably wouldn't kill her - make her sick maybe but I was pretty sure it wouldn't be fatal.

I finally got the kids in their spots, and found a spot to camp for the next hour while I wrestled with Rachel while the kids learned to swim. I set Rachel down and again she ran. I chased her around and around the pool - she can run fast enough that I have to really work to get her. The instinct is to reach out and stop her by grabbing her hair. I don't think a good mother goes around yanking her babies hair so I tried to get close enough to grab her shoulders. I ended up not being a good mother. I got her and put her in the stroller buckled up the straps and told her she was sitting there till the first lesson was over. She wasn't happy - the whole pool knew it. I got my ipod out to cover up her screaming but as soon as she spotted it she stopped crying and sweetly ask me if she could listen to it. I debated for a second. I decided to be courteous to my fellow swim lesson moms and let her listen. She sat there for quite a while listening to Alice Cooper, Coldplay and Eupore. I was so grateful for headphones. Thankfully no one else was privy to my baby's playlist. Every time she opened her mouth to whine I shoved a piece of taffy in it. The rest of the lesson was pretty peaceful. I guess she had enough of the the stroller because she actually stayed where I told her to for the second lesson. We got home with a bit of my dignity in tact.

I had some things I needed to work on downstairs. I was moving the furniture around to make room for our new Foosball table and projector. It was a big job. Rachel wanted to help, I voted that she take a nap. I lost, she won. She organized all the DVDs- all the ones that were on the shelf where they were supposed to be- she got down and put in piles on the floor of which ones were hers and which ones were Anna's. The basement was a big job, it took most of the afternoon. Rachel disappeared for a while and since I also needed to look for a cabin to rent on the Internet I was trying hard to get the basement done in time to do that before Rick got home. After a while Rachel reappeared in her swim suit. It was wet so apparently she had gone swimming somewhere. I decided to block that thought from my head and worry about it later. Finally she was screaming at me, my back was screaming at me so I quit and went up stairs. It was then that I realized she could have been swimming on my kitchen floor for how much milk there was all over it. The bathroom could have also been a swimming possibility. I guess the spilled milk made her hands sticky so she went to wash them. There was no soap left in the dispenser so she (and Ryan) decided to get the gallon refill out and refill the soap dispensers.

Anyway I started cleaning up those messes and held my tongue.

Rachel really wanted to take her dolls for a walk and was mad I wouldn't let her go out alone. I locked the door which always frustrates her plans. I started in on my cabin search but couldn't concentrate a whole lot. Between playing referee to fighting kids, answering the phone, the door and listening to Rachel beg me to take her for a walk I was having a hard time. I gave up when she started crawling on my holding my arms so I couldn't' "wiggle" the mouse. I remembered that I needed to pass out some fliers for an Elders quorum social Rick is in charge of so I took Rachel and we set out to walk around the neighborhood passing out fliers. Anna came to and was a wonderful little helper. Rachel on the other hand wasn't. I can't figure out why the doors that looked the most appealing to her always seemed to belong to a High Priest who didn't need a flyer. That was a fight to get her to do the doors I wanted her to do.

We made it to the top of the hill and then we came to Kate's house. Kate could be called a cat lady. Rachel went ballistic. She loves cats. I hate cats. She ran for them. Something must be wrong with Kates cats because they didn't run away. I was freaking out, I was so scared Rachel was going to catch a cat. She did too. She picked it up and started carrying in around. I didn't know what to do, I yelled at her to drop it. She wouldn't she just started running from me carrying this crying cat. I was so afraid it would attack her. I was begging her to drop the thing but the closer I got to her the faster she ran. Cats make me very uneasy - borderline scared even. So I wanted to catch Rachel but didn't want to get near the cat. Finally I got her and she let it down. I was almost hyperventilating at this point. But I was got control of myself and we turned to walk away when she spotted another cat. The whole thing started over again. She caught the dumb cat and carried it around while I begged her to put it down. I was frantic at this point. She just kept yelling - No I like cats, live cats. I am sure the neighborhood was watching the whole spectacle through cracked blinds. Looking back I am sure the whole things was hilarious. I was truly terrified. Well I managed to catch her, (not in the good mom fashion again) and shook the cat out of her arms. I picked her up and marched her home praying no cat germs got on me.

I waltzed her into her room swearing she would never touch another cat as long as she lived and plopped her on her bed. I glared at her daring her to get up - she is smart enough to know when to stay put. So I shut the door walked out and tried to tune her screaming out while I started dinner. I got a hold of myself and got the kitchen cleaned, the table sat and hamburgers on the grill before she came tiptoeing out of her room. It wasn't' long before Rick was to get home that I went to check the burgers only to realize the grill was out - the gas can empty. I headed for the spare. It was empty too. Could anything else go wrong today I thought. I quickly realized that of course it could it wasn't even 7 o clock yet I still had plenty of time for things to go wrong. I pulled out the George Foreman grill and braced myself for the whining about how the burgers don't look "right". I was going to cover them with cheese so the kids couldn't tell the were different than usual - but we were out. Somehow I got through dinner alive and then started in on fhe. We didn't get done till 10:00 though and I rejoiced when it was time to put the kids to bed. It is always so wonderful to put the kids to bed on a day like today.

I tried to be careful while moving furniture but my back and legs are aching - my throat is still sore and my emotions are frazzled. All that furniture moving, Rachel chasing and wrestling has worn me out physically and emotionally. Unfortunately I don't have a whole lot to show for it either. I got the Foosball table stuck in stairs and had to wrangle it out again leaving a huge gash on my wall. Rick needed to get behind the entertainment center to check which cables he needed to buy for our new projector. So he moved it (pretty effortlessly), which was frustrating since I had spent the better half of the afternoon moving it. So I still have to move it back again. Tonight my bed is looking like my best friend. But if I was a responsible mother I would do a load of laundry, start the dishwasher, read a story and fetch a glass of water before heading for bed. I guess I am not really that responsible - i am off the bed. I need a good 6 hours so I can get up and start this all over again.

4th of July in Soda Springs

One of the biggest highlights of 4th of July in Soda Springs is the Foam Party. The fire fighters spary their foam all over the grass at the park and the kids have a blast playing in it.

The foam makes it look like it is snowing in July.

The kids all joined in the running fun. All five kids ran the 1k and had a great time doing it. Taylor even got 1st place.

We went to the children's carnival where the kids all played games, rode the ferris wheel and won some pretty fun prizes.

Rachel loves animals. It is her greatest desire to have a cat that is alive. She can't wait to buy her own house so she can do just that. The stuffed animals we buy her just don't suffice. She loves to hold dogs and considers Molly "her" dog that lives at Grandma's house.

We were a bit worried the fireworks would be cancelled when a huge thunderstrom moved in just as we were packing up the car to head for the firework show. But at the last minute a decision to go on with the show was made. The small town affords everyone a very up close and personal experience as we sit close enough for not only a spectacular view but also an occasionally spark or ash falling on us.

Balloon Festival

The 4th of July before Rick and I got married we went to the hot air balloon festival with some friends. We have made it a tradition. We havent' missed one in the 12 years we have been married. It is a fun and amazing way to start our 4th of July. The magnicifint colors, the music, the rising balloons and the excitment are a lot of fun our family has come to look forward to every year.