Now go, write it before them…and note it in a book, that they may be for the time to come forever and ever…

Well, we have decided to go completely crazy around here. As if we needed any help with that! Ryder started preschool. Yup. 3 times a week. Its so nice. I can get so much done with just one child to drag along. It is a fun group, where we all take turns helping and teaching and I don’t even have to think of lessons when i teach…they are given to me and I just have to present it! We go on a field trip each week to start off whatever our topic is that week. I also went back to school. I am learning Finnish at BYU. Yeah to learning a new language. Boo on doing it through BYU where their language classes are super super hard and demanding. We learn something new each class and are expected to know it by the next class. It is also 3 times a week. I am trying to stay positive and just remember that there is a reason for me to learn this one and I can do it. I think i can I think I can…Oh adn did I mention I am still a den mother to 9 9 year olds? yeah. Oh and lets also put in Ben working 50+ hours a week, his sikal training, 12-13 year old scouts, and he is still trying to finish his helicopter licence (crappy Utah weather). We pass each other in the night.

Lets hope that we all make it through the rest of the year without loosing what is left of our sanity.

So a few months ago Ben convinced me to do my first 5k. Somehow I agreed when I do not like running. Not sure how he did that. I ran a few times. Didn’t run at all the 2 or 3 weeks before the race. I placed 21 out of 63 and ran it in 29 minutes and 12 seconds. Yup pulled that one out of nowhere. Now Ben wants us to do Orem’s Turkey Triathlon. It is a 5k run, bike 10 miles and swim 350 meters.
So now we are training for that. Ben wants me to track our progress, so I will be posting our weekly updates. If anyone wants to do it with us it will be a LOT of FUN!!! At least that’s what Ben keeps telling me!

Due to a very persistant friend, I am restarting my blog.  Said friend reminded me that we are supposed to keep journals, and things like blogs not only help us to keep a record of the events in our lives but they also keep us connected to our friends and family that we don’t always get to see or talk to on a regular basis.  This friend is also one who calls me several times a week and we usually see each other at least once a week.  Apparently this is not enough for her (wink!).  She is one of my best friends and in reality the group of us want to keep in better contact, so this is our way of doing it.  Thanks Jessica for reminding us to stay connected in any way we can!

Here are the happenings that have consumed our lives since the beginning of the year:

-Ben started helicopter school.  In Salt Lake.  He is never home with travel time since the school will not let him park the helo in our back yard.  He is almost done with his private pilot’s licence.  He loves it (minus the driving).  He is fulfilling one of his life long dreams and now he feels like one of his childhood heros Indiana Jones…he can now fight the bad guys AND fly everyone to safety.

-I have been killing myself training for 2 fights.  One in February and one in May.  February was fun, although it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done!  The girl i fought was good.  I held my own and the fight was a draw, but it was a huge challenge .  May was easier, although still very physically demanding.  I trashed the other girl.  It felt good.  I am also a den mother for the bears in cub scouts.  Its not my favorite calling, but I am trying to do my best and not strangle any 9 year olds.

-Ryder.  Oh my big boy!  Ryder loves to wrestle, crash his cars, and run around.  He has more energy that anyone knows what to do with.  Sugar is not his friend.  He loves his sister and is very clever at how he gets her to do what he wants.  He can sneak outside, but always goes next door to Grandma’s house.  His favorite colar is orange.  And I always get in trouble when I call our jeep a car.

-Rianna is still my angel, although now she has a lot of attitude to her.  She thinks she can “cute” her way out of ANYTHING.  And if you don’t know its coming, you will fall for it.  If anyone catches her eye or is talking to Ryder, she will interrupt and say “Nana’s a princess!”.  She is very much a princess.  She loves her doll house, babies, and is a good little  nurturer, but she also loves dirt baths and tackling Ryder when is isn’t looking.

Next time I will do more than just catch up, but now we have a clean slate and everyone is up do date, right?  Good.

I didn’t realize that I didn’t actually post this!!! Opps!  Can anyone tell that its been very busy around our house?  Rianna is now 13 months old, but I still think that this needs to be posted.

Today is Rianna’s first birthday!  Wow in love I am with this girl!  She amazes me every day and I can’t really remember my life without her amazing spirit.  She is so different from Ryder and I love how different they are.  Even during pregnancy she made it known that she was different.  Most of the time I didn’t notice her and then all of a sudden she made herself known!  Kicking, squirming, stretching…the works.  Her delivery was no different either.  I felt fine all day (not something an expectant mother wants on her due date), was even told she wasn’t coming any time soon by my midwife adn then BAM!!  I was in labor and she was here 5 hours later.  Throughout the last 12 months she has continued that path.  She is always very calm and quiet until all of a sudden the eaglet screeches!! Man that girl can scream!!!  You can always hear her coming when she is upset.  She loves to eat…how she is so tiny, I have no idea!  She eats more than Ryder does!  Whenever she is getting sorta cranky, its usually because she is hungry again.  She has been walking for a few months now and if I had a penny for every time I heard “she’s too little to be walking!” I’d be a very rich mom.  She loves animals and books, especially books about animals.  She loves to just sit and read books.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing daughter.  She is the sweetest little girl I have ever met and I am so blessed to have her in my life.  It is my privileged to be her mom and to have her a part of our family.  She is our perfect little bean and we love her so much!

Last year my parents went to Hawaii for a vacation. They brought back each of the kids a cute outfit from the pineapple plant. Now that it is warm enough (most days) to wear them, Ryder gets to wear his. Each time I ask him what shirt he wants to wear he grabs that one and says “Grandpa Shirt”. And all day long if you ask him what shirt he’s wearing he will say “Grandpa Shirt, Grandpa Shirt”. He LOVES his grandpa! They really do have a special bond. Here is a picture of Ryder in his Grandpa Shirt.