Missing in Action

I have been MIA in the blogging world. Here is a synopsis of the past few months, according to me.

-Jury duty selection. Fascinating but inconvenient experience. But, how many people can say that they stopped a trial to ask the judge permission to use the restroom? I can.

-Training for a marathon. On a whim, I agreed to run a marathon with my sister in law, Kelli. While training, I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot. For a while I was worried that it was going to be a deal breaker. Thankfully with lots of stretching, alleve, orthodic inserts, and foot tapings, I am about 90% better. But, did the podiatrist really say that I had to stop wearing my flip flops and floppy converse shoes? OUCH! Now that hurts!

Here's Cali taking my running shoes for a spin.


-While I was cooking dinner and talking on the phone one night, Cali got her foot stuck in a kitchen chair. After unsuccessfully trying to work it out, seeing her foot swell, and hearing her screaming, I called my neighbor and told him to bring over a power tool to cut the chair. He brought over Vaseline. It worked just fine. I guess I’m not a totally rational thinker in a crisis...that is Blaine's job. But, I did think to give Cali a sucker, which calmed her down. She was stuck in the chair for a good 20 minutes. After awhile, she just thought she was hanging out eating a sucker.

She is happy in this picture because she has her sucker.


-The tooth fairy was hired this month! Bella’s bottom front tooth became loose and after wiggling it for a few weeks, it was barely hanging on. Bella wouldn’t let anyone touch it except in a moment of weakness she let Blaine and he yanked it out. It’s a good thing too because her adult tooth was waiting right behind it already growing in. Bella woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me that the tooth fairy had come. She was so excited and I can’t get over how quickly she is growing up.


-I’ve been running on Saturdays with some good friends. Usually we run between 6 to 10 miles and a few weeks ago, Haley and I ran a half marathon of our own making. Then, in order to go farther than I’ve ever gone before, I organized a 16 mile run where friends could meet up with me at different times to join me. I ran a 4 mile loop 4 times to make it easier for friends to come and go. Right around mile 13.5, when I realized that I had just passed the point that I’ve never run before, Blaine came driving up with the kids. Bella and Ezra hopped out, gave me a hug and a water bottle and Cali said her first sentence while crying: “I want mama”. Their little visit meant a lot and 16 miles later, I was feeling good about my accomplishment. I’ve got such great running buddies, too. It makes all the difference to have someone to talk to.

-For Valentine’s Day, the young women delivered singing Valentine grams for their camp fundraiser. The kids were thrilled with their balloons and suckers.


-Cali started nursery at church. She loves it. No longer are we roaming the halls with a very busy toddler for 3 hours. Church is becoming doable again! On Sunday, Bella told me that Cali was playing with the bubbles when she picked her up from nursery. Ezra heard this and said, “OOOOH! I wish I was still a baby!” I asked, “Why is that, bud?” And he responded, “So I can still go to my other class!” Poor Ez…he is having a harder adjustment to being a sunbeam. He misses the toys and the bubbles in nursery. He sure is cute though. I mean, just look at this kid! He wants to wear ties to church now and I’ve never seen a cuter superman in my life. When wearing his superman PJs, he only responds to “superman”. The other night he called me “Super Mama”. Hey, if the shoe fits...



-My days have been busy and sometimes I get tired and stressed out. But in my calm moments, I recognize how truly blessed I am to have an amazing family. I love my husband and my children more than words can express. Children have a way of expanding your heart and multiplying your capacity to love. My kids keep me hopping and I don’t always appreciate the craziness that they provide, but I would be so lost with out them. I am one lucky lady to have what I have.