Back to Brighton

Once again, we headed up to Silver Lake at Brighton for dinner and a nice walk. You can really feel the difference in the weather; it was much, much cooler (the kids' hands were ice cold by the time we left) and it was dark much sooner. 

You know what that means ... winter is approaching. That makes me glad in some ways (we love the snow - to ski and to play), sad in others (we won't be spending as much time in the yard or outside). 

Oh well, before we hit winter, we get to go through fall with the colorful leaves and pretty mountains. Whatever the season, Utah is beautiful. We'll take what comes and love it all.

Step, Two, Three ...

Reagan's been talking about it for a week straight - Dance Class. The Treehouse (our gym) offers dance classes and we've signed her up for "Intro to Dance". 

We got the outfit, the tights, the tap shoes and the ballet shoes (my personal favorite) and we are ready to go. Like any "first", I was crazy with the camera this morning.  "Please just stand there, look at me and smile... just one more - I promise". Then, we met her dance teacher - Nancy (which is really pretty weird as we have lots of Nancys in our life - Steve's Mom, my nail lady, our swim teacher, Steve's receptionist, you get the picture). 

Class started out pretty well - all in a group and doing some moves. Then, part-way through, it happened ... the meltdown. Reagan looked up, saw me through the glass and started crying, trying to get to me, becoming limp as a noodle in the teacher's arms and basically disrupting class for the other girls.  I went into the room and tried to get her to do what the other girls were doing, but to no avail. After we went out, all she wanted was to be back in. Once in, she wanted out. 

There was renewed hope when the class put their tap shoes on, but it did not last.  We'll work on our moves this week and give it another try next week, but we may end up waiting a couple of months. The other girls in the class are at least 2 1/2 so, Reagan is about two months behind them. The teacher said "those extra two months really make a difference". Yeah - tell me about it. 

I asked if we could join the class in January (for the new semester) but the teacher said even waiting until November could do the trick. So, let's hope next week goes well and that Reagan will behave herself, be calm, not make any unnecessary noises, do everything the teacher says and not need Mom for anything for a full 45 minutes. Bets anyone? 

Well, at least we didn't waste any money - these outfits and shoes (especially the tap shoes) are her new favorite thing - doesn't everybody wear tap shoes while they eat breakfast?

Happy Birthday Anistyn!

Our Grand- daughter Anistyn had her birthday party this weekend.  

With the kids playing in the yard, Kev at the barbeque and the rest of us kickin' it and chasing the kids, it was a fun time for all. 

Annie was the "princess" and received great presents, had pink cupcakes and reluctantly shared her water bottle with her Aunt Reagan (thanks Annie) who then  unknowingly shared it with Cole (check the wagon pic).

 

Best of all were the wagon rides (Matt is sculpting his biceps by hauling the kids around) and hanging out under the food table.

 

Happy 4th Birthday Anistyn - thanks for inviting us to your party!

State Capitol

Our Ward's Enrichment activity this month was to visit the newly restored Utah State Capitol. A lady in our ward has been a volunteer at the State Legislature for years and she, and some others, gave us a great tour. The House of Representatives has been restored to the same colors, same murals, same set up as the original in 1918. The Senate uses the original desks (can you believe it?). We went to the basement to see the foundation which has been retrofitted to withstand earthquakes - the entire building can shift two feet in any direction. We toured the Governor's office area and stood in the rotunda (where I was sworn into the Utah State Bar).

 

The best part was touring the Supreme Court, which is now only used for ceremonies (the Court moved to the Mattheson Courthouse eight years ago). It was really cool to be in the Supreme Court and remember the two times I was able to appear before the Court. In some ways, my life as a lawyer seems so far away and forgotten, but I walk into that room and the feelings come flooding back. I remember the butterflies in my stomach, the ceremony of standing and watching the judges enter, arguing my case with all that I had in me and the comfort of having my Mom at the back of the room, quietly pulling for me. (I had only been dating Steve for a few months at that time and forbade him to come - it would have distracted me way too much!) 

Unfortunately, we had to wait four months until the ruling came out - so you argue and answer questions and then leave.... wondering if you were persuasive, wondering if you will win, wondering, wondering. The happy ending to this story is that we did win, with a unanimous decision (allowing judges to put people in jail for not paying their child support) and a front page story in the Salt Lake Tribune. 

So, this week, being in the Supreme Court was a bit different. No judges were seated on the bench, I was there with many friends from our Ward, and I was pushing my two babies in a double stroller. Boy has my life changed. And let me assure you, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!!

Ribbit, Ribbitt

For Reagan's birthday, Rachel and Kevin (and their family) gave her a blow up froggy pool. It is just her size, loads of fun, and best of all... it is easy for me to get out, blow up, fill, empty and put away. We got it out again the other night and both kids had a blast. 

First, Cole had to "quality check" the item, ensuring its safety for Reagan and anyone else who might use the product.

Next, we stripped them down and put them in. 

Reagan splashed Cole, Cole crawled across Reagan and before we knew it, they were both soaking wet and so were we. They had so much fun. 

Cole kept getting out and then getting back in once he realized that if out of the pool, he had to crawl on the grass. I guess it isn't very comfortable to crawl on grass without a diaper (get a load out of his modified crawl).

 

Then, Cole helped Steve put the hose on some dry spots on the lawn - what a cute butt. (Oh - I was talking about Cole, but you too Steve). 

Cole loves to play in the water and was just looking at the stream of water from the hose until he put his hand in it and squirted both of them. Thanks Norris family - the froggy pool is a big hit!!! 

Its Olympics Time!

It's Time... It's Time... It's Time!!! It's time again for the Olympics. 

We seriously LOVE the Olympics. We gather around the tv and love to watch everything about it. Maybe it is because these people are the best in their sports (in the world), maybe it is because of the stories about how they got there, maybe it is because of the nail biting finishes and the "close calls", or maybe it is because it is a time to unite and think about something that may bring a bit more peace, harmony and goodwill into the world. I realize that there was a war starting in Eastern Europe during the first day of the Olympics, but the athletes try to be "bigger" than politics and so can the rest of us. 

I remember when the Olympics were coming to SLC. I was SO excited and I couldn't understand those in the area who thought it would be bad for Utah. The one thing I wanted to see was the Opening Ceremonies. I was talking to my aunt in 2001 and she was asking whether it would be better to go to the Opening or Closing Ceremonies. No question for me - sure the Closing holds all of the stories with it (who won, by how much, and what happened in the race, etc.), but at the Opening, everyone has the hope of being the winner - everyone could possibly take home the gold - everyone is so pumped at the beginning that the Opening, to me, is the best of all. We were lucky enough to have row 7 seats to the Opening Ceremonies and were able to go to many events and medals ceremonies. I loved SLC during the Olympics and loved how many of our friends volunteered, went to events with us, and watched with us. Here's a slideshow of some of our pics from the SLC 2002 Olympics. 

  

So, even though this year it is in Beijing, we are still huge fans and, for these two weeks, you'll see us chillin' on the couch and cheering on Team USA. (Even Reagan claps and screams when the audience on tv does). We love the Olympics!!!

Provo Canyon 1/2 Marathon

I probably should have titled this post "What Was I Thinking?". Steve's daughter Shannon and her husband Matt ran the St. George Marathon last year (the week that I had Cole) and are "runner people". They and Steve's sister in law, Laurie, started urging me to run the 1/2 marathon with them this year. Sure I go to the gym and take a few tread classes a week (a teacher on a treadmill faces a row of treadmills, everybody is on the same audio channel and the teacher instructs us through drills, intervals, etc.). However, the max I run during a tread class is between 4 and 5 miles. 

Laurie said "you can really fake it through a half-marathon" and Shannon said "if you can run 5 miles, you can for sure run 13.1".  Ha!  So, I started training a couple of months ago and the day finally came. I was nervous and sick to my stomach. Unfortunately, Laurie had a stress fracture and wasn't able to join us. We saw a few people from our ward and some friends - even Trish our Tread teacher was there. 

I'm here to tell you that it was WAY hard. 

Luckily, the knee that had been bothering me held in there and I was able to finish. I found Trish at about mile 6 and stayed right with her - we both said the other one was pushing us on - and we finished the race together. Although I passed Matt during the race, he came back strong and passed me at about mile 10. Just look at this pic of Matt nearing the finish line - totally calm, cool and collected, like he is saying "13 miles? no biggie."

Steve, Reagan and Cole were waiting at the finish line and there was a party with pancakes, fruit, a band and lots of people. I finished with a respectable time of 2 hours and 5 minutes (which I take a bit of exception to as you are in this big pack of over a thousand people...so, the start gun goes off, but you can't run anywhere for a bit and then you don't actually cross the start line for a few minutes...yada yada yada). 

The bottom line: I am happy with my run and a bit surprised that I was able to do it (I've never run anywhere near 13 miles in my life), but I feel no need to attempt a full marathon. 

I'll leave that to Shannon, Matt and Laurie and resume my role, with Steve, as the cheerleader. Look at him in this pic with Shannon - he is a proud Dad. You go guys!!!

Fun at the Ward Party

Our Ward had a party at Jordanelle Reservoir this week. It was looking like rain and did rain a bit while we ate, but then the skies cleared and the boats headed out for some fun. 

There was a play area that Reagan and Cole both enjoyed. Then, there was their first time on a ski boat. 

Our friends the Millers (who are kind enough to entertain and feed Reagan each Sunday in sacrament meeting) let Reagan drive and then take home the life jacket that she refused to take off. (Thanks guys - you can imagine how much fun that was to get her strapped into her car seat.) 

Then there was Cole - "Whoa, check out this wind."

"I can't close my mouth!"

"Ok, I'll just chew on this life vest for a while."

All in all, we had a blast! The kids loved the boats - days after, Reagan still asks "my turn on the boat????"  Thanks to everybody who made this a great activity!

Stop!

At the Nest (the daycare at our gym), Reagan made these Stop and Go signs. She grabbed the Stop sign and was holding it up in front of Cole and yelling "Stop". He was BUSTING UP! I love those belly laughs. Add to this that he is getting his first top tooth which is sticking out like a snaggletooth. You've gotta love it. Check it out..... 

Disneyland - The Aftermath

So, we've been home from Disneyland for a week and are now suffering the aftermath:

1 - We are still not back into our nap schedules (Reagan seriously looks at me like I have six heads when I announce that it is time for her nap nap)

2 - We are still struggling to get up in the mornings and head to the gym

3 - Reagan still asks where Mickey is at least once a day

4 - Reagan carries her stuffed Mickey around all day (for those of you familiar with her MO, that is in addition to Doggie and Blankie)

5 - Reagan thinks we are supposed to get french fries (or as she says it "fresheyes") for every meal

6 - Reagan expects fireworks each night

7 - Reagan still sings the pirate song each day "yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me"

and

8 - To anyone who asks where Reagan got her stuffed Mickey - she tells them "at Target".

Aren't we glad we took a vacation "for the kids"???????

(((Actually, yes we are and we'll go again - we'll just have to remember that after we return, we suffer "The Aftermath" .... duh, duh, duhhhh!!!)))