Maybe some progress...

Cooper playing soccer! This was on his first day! We have forgotten the camera since but will take it this Saturday! The first day it rained and the poor kids just played and kind of had fun! His team is so cute and we are going to miss hanging out the new friends we have met! He will be doing T-ball this summer also but we can't sign up yet! He says he doesn't want to play soccer again but we will see...

What have we been up to?? I, Carrie, have been running a lot, sewing summer dresses for my girls and other little girls, finishing my personal progress, cleaning, and trying to get some naps in!

Ryan is injured so he can't run, yet, he wants to hopefully do a triathlon this summer but needs to get his leg healed first! Ryan has been working hard at his new job at Nighthawk Radiology Services, busy with his calling for church, working on our soon-to-be garden, and watching the kids so I can run!

Cooper is almost done with soccer on Saturdays, which has been fun and a great learning experience! He has 2 more games but will miss his last one due to my race being next Saturday! Cooper is a Wii stud, his latest is Super Smash Brothers where he is actually really good, he gets frustrated sometimes but as long as he is Sonic he is usually good to go!

Chloe is starting to potty train and might actually be trained if I was consistent! Just in the last two days she has been learning bladder control where she wont pee for hours and gets a little mad cause I make her sit on her little potty or the big one if she wants but never pees in it! Even with chocolate in her mouth! Then I stick a diaper on her for nap and bam! So I am going to try and be good and consistent so hopefully she can get it down soon! She can say and repeat almost anything, and is just so stinkin cute!

Reese is fun! She is 8 1/2 months old now, no teeth yet but you would think she did by now with how she SHOVES everything in her mouth! She rolls everywhere and kind of army crawls on the floor! No hurry there!

Overall we are busy and doing good! Just trying to balance everything and I am excited to be done running, even though I have taken this week easier due to my knees hurting and the rain! I am going to spinning to help keep my muscles going and trying to do some leg exercises but next Saturday the 16th is the race and I am excited for it! I am sad that Ryan wont be running it with me but know he will be there at the finish with the kids and that is all I need to finish strong, hopefully! Ryan and Cooper are going on their first campout together this Friday! Cooper is excited and of course Ryan is since he loves to camp! We are excited to go camping this summer when it eventually stops raining! Seriously this is ridiculous, one week of warm summer, swimsuit weather and now downpours with hail?? Mother Nature must be a little off this year!!

And just an early Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's or soon-to-be that read this!!

Computer working again!

Some of you know that our computer decided to go quits again all last week. I was going through withdrawals for about the first two days even though Ryan would bring his work one home and I could log on but after that I really like the fact of not having one around. I would think about things and then forget about them because I could not just jump onto the computer! Now that it is back I feel like I have so much to do!
I guess we really aren't that exciting. We have been super busy with running, well, I have been. Ryan is still injured and it doesn't help that he waits a week then goes and runs 3 miles in 25 minutes. I know that doesn't sound too fast but it was for me as I was pushing 60 pounds worth of kids! Anyways, he is back to being injured and I am still on track for running this half marathon. I was really excited for it about 4 weeks ago when I could say it was 8 weeks away but now that it is getting closer I think I am getting nervous for it. Natalie, Sarah, and I all ran 11 miles this last Saturday not together but throughout the day we all ran it at some time so we are all on track for this training schedule we have been doing and it is really fun having this in common. I am not speaking for them but I am kind of excited to have my life back in the evenings and not be running! That is the only time I can go and especially with the mileage getting up there during the week the time goes even faster!
I hope Ryan sticks with the training and maybe will do the half marathon in June in Seattle, maybe we will do it together! I do have to say when it comes to losing weight it is not fair men vs. women. I have been training for a couple weeks longer than Ryan and even with him being injured he still lost about 10 pounds and me NOTHING! I do have to admit my body has changed I really do feel like I am in better shape and my clothes fit a little better but overall the scale says NO! Seriously not fair but I love that he has lost weight and so quickly! I think being pregnant three times now is enough weight gaining and losing for me!
I hope everyone else that is training for a half marathon is doing great and getting excited! I expect updates on blogs!

Finally Recent Pictures

Finally I have gotten around to uploading pictures and here are just a few...I still haven't accessed my old ones from before the computer crash! (sorry it is so spacey I tried to fix it 10 times and the same thing kept happening)


Reese after getting her ears pierced. We did it on her 7 month birthday not on purpose we just kept forgetting and she is growing too fast! She was pretty mad during it but this is after and she is just fine! She doesn't touch her earrings and they have healed just fine!

I was doing something in the kitchen and next thing I knew it was quiet, Cooper was actually not talking, and I look over into the living room and don't see him and there he was cuddled up with Reese! He loves to sleep in her crib or on the floor with her...I think they might have a special bond!

























This is Chloe and Erin, the little girl I watch during the week. Don't be shocked but I made this dress! I am going to make one for Reese also when time allows! The only way I could get Chloe to wear it was to tell her Cooper was going to and finally she put it on...She wouldn't let me measure her through the whole thing so I am pretty proud of how it turned out considering I had to eye everything and my sewing machine messed up at least 100 times!

Definitely brother and sister!

One of the hardest things...

Seems like when life goes great for a long time there is trying times ahead. I am not one who deals well with these and often have very evil feelings to go along with it...

After this last weekend of General Conference I have learned that every day I need to focus on what is most important to me and what my goal throughout this life is: Being Christlike and returning not only me but my family to our Father in Heaven.

The first talk in Conference was on not coveting the people around you. I got to thinking man, I wish I lived in pioneer times...Seems like things were so much easier even though I know they weren't. So Ryan and I got thinking how can we simplify our lives and what are our needs vs. wants. We started to feel guilty about our minivan but checked out the trade in and realized it was worth keeping. Also we thought about everything from landscaping our yard to material things, clothes, DVD's, etc. Then there are the things that people do and say to you that makes you feel like you are a bad person, even if you did nothing wrong. We all have to make decisions in this life and reap the benefits and consequences. I started to think about how I need to be more Christlike. My husband is an amazing example of this and is so much like his Dad in that respect of having a huge heart and giving people what they want and need. Not me. I am the realist - that is what I tell Ryan. He is the more spiritual one if you ask me and lives his life like the Savior did and wants to serve the best he can and share his talents and whatever he can. Thanks Ron for being a great example to us on how we are always give more even when we think we can't.

It is so easy to look at the world around us and get caught up in buying everything everyone else has and being the best as someone else. We are all different and blessed with different talents and situations. Looking back at Ryan and I's life it is amazing the change we have had from where we have lived to both of us switching jobs to the blessing of each of our children in our lives. I honestly believe that things happen in life for a reason and I am TRYING to embrace each trial with acceptance. It is really hard BUT good for me. I know it will make me a stronger, better person if I act Christlike.

Moral of the lecture is this is more like a journal entry for me than anything. I know I can be a better person hopefully inspiring others around me to want to be more Christlike daily.

Catching up finally!

Our computer is sort of fixed! We have our new hard drive and thanks to Russ in our ward I think I have my pictures back. I have not had time to check the CD! Seems as if one thing after another around here is breaking or at the duplex where we have a renter who did not hook up his washing machine correctly and flooded the washer/dryer area and down through the kitchen cabinets. We had planned to fix it after he moved out because the floor was deteriorating but he made is sooner than later. We could be mean landlords and make him use his own money or renter's insurance but we are nice and are just doing it.

This is weird when you don't blog weekly you kind of lose track of what you are up to!

Ryan and I are training for a half marathon that is in 6 weeks from Saturday and are only up to 6 miles so we'll see how it goes the day of the run. Our goal: To Finish! My original goal was 10 minute miles but everything I read says no just make it to finish for your first half and full marathon. We run 4 days/week with the kids in the strollers but the last two weeks we will hire a babysitter and run on our own which I think will be awesome! Ryan is having issues with one of his knees but hopefully we can get it worked out this week! I have a sinus infection and finally after not being able to swallow I went to the doctor yesterday and got some drugs and am doing a little better but depends on the hour!

March was busy but nothing too exciting. Although we did pierce Reese's ears on her 7 month birthday! I have the cutest picture of Reese and Cooper but have not downloaded Kodak to put it on this computer - maybe tomorrow along with researching what grows good in a garden around here! Now that it is so nice outside we will be spending the majority of our time outside playing! I am kind of excited because Cooper is really into the Wii games that are a little too advanced for him but he loves to play with Daddy or Jason down the street and then thinks he can do it! So for me it is a little frustrating being at home all day and hearing the nasty words come out of his mouth because he is mad that he can't play as well as everyone else but I have no idea how to do anything on those games...I am good at MarioKart and that is about it!

This month will be busy! Erin the little girl I watch is potty training and so I decided why not do Chloe also and so in a few days I might change my mind but for now I thought why not! It is almost warm enough to let them run naked outside and get used to not wearing a diaper...Less mess for me to clean up off my floors!

Computer crashed

So this week has not been good...Our computer crashed and for those who have Time Warner Cable internet some hackers got into their servers...So needless to say I hate computers and service providers right now...Can I imagine my life without it, NO! And out laptop is only 15 months old! I lost all of my pictures from being a slacker and not getting them saved to a CD or printed. Luckily we have a friend who does a lot of computer work for us and is going to help us out again! To make things worse Ryan brought his work laptop home and we were having a money talk about our tax return and his computer started saying it had a virus and started running all these programs so we shut it off and went to bed! He took into work and will have the tech guys look at it but we pray nothing got into it...All I use the computer for is the blog, facebook, email and banking I never click on stupid pop-ups so maybe we got a lemon computer?!!! UGH!!!
On the other hand we are all healthy minus my trip to ER last Saturday and Ryan being sick Tuesday - the main thing is the kids are healthy! I LOVE having healthy kids!

Help Please!!!!!!!!!

So I think I am about to go crazy! We have been to the pediatrician's office 7 times in 5 weeks and we are scheduled for this Monday so 8 times in 6 weeks and that is if my kids get better!
Tonight has been lots of fun with Cooper vomiting all over everything...Especially the car seats that I JUST took out on last Sunday and cleaned inside and out! Poor guy last weekend had Croup and now this weekend he is puking and can't stop...I do feel bad for him because he doesn't have a fever and it all started 4:30 during a showing at the duplex and just now 10:30pm he had gone 45 minutes of 1 tsp of powerade every 5 minutes and now we are starting all over...He is sleeping right now but I have plenty of cleaning to do!
The girls are doing okay...Reese spiked a 101 fever on Friday and we went to the pediatrician and sure enough an ear infection and her congestion was so bad she was swabbed for RSV and sure enough she has it! Chloe has a double ear infection and her congestion is just as bad as Reese!
I don't know how it works but last weekend the kids got super sick and this eekend they started out okay but Cooper's vomiting was a bit much and still is...We took Ryan to the airport to fly to Boise this weekend for his sister's baby's blessing...He will be back tomorrow night but it is going to be a long day and night...
To top everything off we are trying get one side of our duplex rented and I have 3 showings scheduled for tomorrow - well supposedly...I am going to have to reschedule at this point but we need it rented as tomorrow is the 1st! Can you believe it is March??!!
Off to clean!

I feel so busy yet feel like I don't accomplish anything! I guess that is what happens when you have kids and love to spend time with them! I love to set goals and actually meet them but on the other hand my kids are only young once! I really do feel like you need a balance between family and personal time and my working out is my zone out of this life time! I really try to listen to music and focus on running or spinning....I LOVE spinning...If I could go more often I would but time and scheduling are major conflicts!
So things I am working on right now:
1)Keeping my house "looking" clean :O
2)Being a better mom by not yelling as much (Shanae I might read that book you posted!)
3)Finding ways to help my kids learn all that they can!
4)Being a good example and teacher to my girls at church
5)Being a great wife to my husband (and letting him go to McCall for 4 days soooo is bonus points!! - Sarah, Val and Natalie you tooo!!)
6)I am about 2/3 of the way done with my personal progress for church...That is what the girls ages 12-18 work on and it is amazing...It really teaches you about who you are, what you want to be, who you want to be and most importantly how blessed you are by our Heavenly Father...I have even started the new value Virtue which is a huge goal but worth it!
7)Helping one of my young women in my class to finish her personal progress including Virtue!
8)Working out 3 times a week so hopefully I can run a 10k or half marathon...I have been having a hard time getting work outs in and doing the paper route...I would get up early but I already miss out on 2 hours of sleep every night and sometimes more due to weather!
9)I would say taxes but they are DONE!!!!!!!!!!
10)Sewing!! I have so many projects going I LOVE it! I am making baby bibs and burp rags...I bought a pattern for some sun dresses for the girls and some curtain material for the toy room and whatever else I think of!
Okay I think that is it! If there is anything else I will update but for now the kids need to go to BED rather - I NEED the kids to go to bed!

Happy Birthday Chloe :)

So Chloe is 2 as of Monday, February 9th!! She didn't know what to think when we were singing to her and it was late! So we just did a little party with our family of 5 and cupcakes! She didn't even eat it! She doesn't really like cake for some weird reason...

Cooper helping Chloe open her presents...She got Mary Poppins and Little Mermaid for movies, boots, clothes and finally a Princess cell phone she LOVES! The cheapest present and she loves it the most! She calls "papa" (aka Grandma) at least 10 times a day and then just blabs and then lets Reese have a turn to talk and then tells her "no"!!

This is Chloe opening up the phone and it took her at least 2 minutes! She let Cooper pretty much open her other presents while she worked on that one!

Two Sick Girls and One Healthy Boy

This last weekend was crazy! Last week was crazy to start with but it began with Cooper going to his four year appointment at the pediatricians and is doing great! He has great eye sight and hand / eye coordination and even had his finger poked to begin with! Then his iron level came back low so luckily I had my awesome friend Elaine with my because she wanted to meet our doctor who is so much fun and so good with the kids! So she helped out because these rooms are seriously 7 ft x 7 ft with the bed and chairs and sink it gets cozy but there ended up being me and my three kids, Elaine, Sarah (my sister-in-law) and her two kids...Talk about packed! But it was fun! Sarah and her kids only stayed for a 5 minutes but Chloe loves Baylee right now so she had fun! They came back in and said Cooper's iron level was low so we went downstairs because the lady who is awesome with kids in the lab was working so we went and got his blood drawn - I just have to say how proud I am as a mom that Cooper barely squirmed! He flinched as he watched her put the needle in and we talked while she was taking the blood then he was done and got a Wolverine sticker and then he informed he never wanted to do that again! I don't blame him! The ped. office called a few hours later and said he was perfect and all his levels were perfect! YEAH!!
Okay so the rest of the week was okay but Ryan worked a lot for his new job because they were having some kick off party and then Friday - don't remember Friday oh well...Saturday Ryan went snowmobiling but called at 9:15am and had sliced his thumb partly open on his dad's trailer so the kids and I loaded up and went and got him and Thank Heavens we did (sorry Natalie and Sarah) but two of his other brothers did some mega damage to their snowmobiles!! And they didn't get home until late so I am grateful Ryan couldn't put his gloves back on and stayed at his parent's house until we got there and the kids had fun tearing Grandma Dawn's house apart!!
Also that night Chloe spiked a 103 fever...We gave her some medicine and kept her home from church and then Monday she spiked a 101 fever in the afternoon and we were already at the ped. office that morning but I was so busy with Cooper being a pain the in butt I forgot to have Chloe looked at so today Reese had a follow-up because she is extremely congested but does not have pneumonia or RSV so we are thankful but I had their dr. listen to Chloe and she not only sounds more congested than Chloe but she also has an ear infection so welcome to the house of sickies!! I am just grateful for Cooper and Ryan and I being healthy so far! Pneumonia is going around really bad right now and I am trying to keep the kids home as much as possible!
Hope everyone is doing well!!