My "Quirky" Ways

What is quirkiness? Webster's describes it as a peculiarity, so I guess my first and biggest quirk is:

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I am proud of it. Doesn't it say that we are a peculiar people.

Second, and this is where I get really peculiar (ha, ha), I can't stand it when Travis sits in my chair at my desk. Even if I am not planning on sitting in it for a while. I don't know why it drives mad, but it does.

Third, I can't wear socks unless I am wearing shoes.

Fourth, I can't go to sleep in an unmade bed.

And fifth, I can't go to sleep on my back because I clench my eyes and it gives me a headache.

If you are reading this and you have not already been "tagged," you are it. It is your turn to list 5 quirky things about you.

The Health of Our Planet

I don't consider myself a "bunny hugger", a "granola eater" or whatever term enviornmentalists are called, but I do consider myself environmentally conscious. I think you have to be. We only have on earth, and we don't seem to be taking very good care of it. It makes me sad there is so much needless waste in the world. I love Women's Health Magazine (WH). They have several pages devoted to special reports.(health, fitness, nutrition, weight loss, sex and most recently a plantet report) They have short little tid bits about developments on each topic. WH has helped open my eyes to a lot of ways I can help make our world better. I have written an article on the effects of shark finning and boy did that open my eyes too. It is horrible. Now I am ranting. I just feel I need to do something to help our planet and set an example for our future generations. A children's book I read to Patterson called "The Stinking Story of Garbage" went through the different stages of the world and how garbage evovled from simple piles of bones and food scraps to the now mountains of garbage we have today. It also talked about what you could recycle. I made a commitment to try to recycle whatever I could. I now have piles of recyclables in the house and garage waiting each week to be taken to the appropriate places. It drives Travis crazy, but it has reduced the amount of things we throw away and I feel I am reducing our footprint on the world. I also have a scraps bucket for my compost heap. I enjoy the peace of mind I now have, knowing that I am making a small difference.

What a Splash!

In June, we bought a brand spanking new van in Kellogg, ID. The paperwork took forever,and by the time we were done, it was around 6:30 PM. SO not looking forward to a 3 1/2 hour drive back home with two bored, tired, cranky boys, we set out to find something fun to do. We came across an indoor water park, newly opened. Just one drawback, though. Only guests of the resort could use the waterpark. And it was $200 a night to stay. I had never paid that much for a hotel room before, and I just wasn't sure I wanted to start. But, then I stopped and thought about it. The room came with four free passes to the park for two days. In that light, the price wasn't too bad. So we decided to stay and we had sooo much fun. But our fun was cut short. Corbin had fallen asleep during dinner, without eating, which should have been a red flag, but I thought he was just tuckered out. He slept the entire way back to the hotel room in my arms and didn't wake up until 11:00 PM when he started to puke all over the beautiful hotel room. That was a long night. The next day he seemed fine, but Patterson and I both had queasy tummies. We decided to chance it and go back to the waterpark for some more fun, but had to stop after only half and hour of playing, when Patterson had to run to the bathroom to empty his stomach. We left shortly after and boy was it an unpleasant, winding road home. I managed to keep from upchucking, but poor Patterson sat in the back with towels all around the floor and a sick sack in his lap. And all this in my brand new van

We planned our little family vacation, back to the indoor waterpark in Kellogg. And this time around our experienc was so much better. The room we had last time was a beautiful little room with a mini kitchenette, but this time we went all out. We got a great deal on a one bedroom condo complete with a full kitchen, dining table and chairs, sitting room, fireplace, balcony, seperate bedroom, a washer and dryer, and a huge bathroom. And free passes to the waterpark for two days for only 180 bucks.

The Runner I Want To Be

In my illustrious running career (ha, ha) I have entered and participated in a 1 mile run, three 5K's (one in 12 degree weather), a 10k, a 12k trail run (it was brutal) and a 1/2 marathon, 13.2 miles (also brutal).

My mother, among many others, think I am crazy. I simply love to challenge myself and see what I can do. Last year, when I completed my first 10K in 62 minutes, I was thrilled. The quickest I had completed my training runs was around an hour, fifteen minutes. When the opportunity came this year to try a trail run, I was anxious to try it. I started out the race, my gut is twisting, as I puffed up the hill. Thinking "what have I got myself into" I crest the hill, and as I slowly warm up, I begin to pass others. "I can do this," I think. I don't remember what my time was, but after a dozen ascents (a total of 1700 feet)and descents, a huge sense of accomplishment washes over me. Friendly faces smile and shout encouragement as I cross the finish line. It took me two days to recover. My legs were not used to all the climbing.

When it was time to register for the Governor's Cup, I remembered my trail run and thought "If I can do that, I can do a half marathon." I did do it, but boy did I overestimate myself. I should have trained more. I finished in two hours, thirty minutes. Next year I'll do better.

My future goals are to complete a marathon next year and in the near future compete in the local triathalon.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my running experiences, but if I were to say there has been any negative, it is that my family has only been at the finish line once. I have such a huge feeling of euphoria when I see that finish line, and the only thing that would make my experiences better is the support of my husband and boys. Maybe next time.

Back To School

Patterson is off to school again. He is in the second grade. He is growing up way too fast. It doesn't seem like it has already been 7 1/2 years since he was born. Patterson's teacher this year is Mrs. Flemmings. He seems to be doing well in class, but I am afraid he may be a little depressed at times. When Travis goes to pick him up, sometimes he comes out running, jumping around like the exuberant 7 year old he is, but other days he'll come out with his backpack dragging behind him and a glum look on his face. This makes me worry. What does a 7 year old have to be depressed about, particularly this 7 year old. Depression does run in our family, but I am hesitant to put him on anything. I don't like using medicine, unless it is absolutely necessary and I have not found some natural supplement that works. When he started first grade, he was diagnosed as borderline ADHD. We chose not to put him on meds, and had him do behavioral therapy sessions instead. They helped, but he is still a difficult child at times. (Alot of the time). I just hope that we can get past him be sad. It breaks a mothers heart to hear "Mom, I am sad. Nobody would play with me today," or "Mom, I am sad and I don't know why, I just feel sad." I just tried to make sure I give him lots of hugs and kisses and tell him how much I love him. And what a darn cute young man he is.

Our Mini Additions

On Saturday, August 23rd, we got two mini horses. These horses were long awaited by both Travis & Patterson. We had not told Patterson that we were getting any yet and when Patterson's Grandma & Papa Danielson pulled into the driveway hauling a horse trailer he jus thought they were their horses. When we opened up the back he said "Those don't look like the same horses you have Papa."
"That's because they are ours." I told him.
The look on his face was priceless, and then he started to whoop and jump around. It was so cute. Travis told him he was going to have to help us with them, and Patterson agreed. He is now the official "pooper scooper" and he can't wait to get started.
Yesterday, I went out and cleaned their hooves, groomed and trimmed their mane and tail, and brushed them down. And guess what the first thing they did after I was done walking them? They rolled around in the dirt and got themselves filthier than they were in the first place. The stinkers.
Patterson and Corbin also got to ride Susie Q (the dark brown gruela). They thought it was awesome, until Susie Q decided she wanted to check out our other animals, especially Never Be Bacon, our potbelly pig. Then I had to take Corbin off because Susie wasn't minding very well.
Our other horse is a pinto and she has an F on her right side. We are undecided on what to call her. At the moment we are calling her Fancy. We feel it would be cool to find a name that starts with an F. If anyone has any suggestions please post your comments. Fancy is a little more skittish than Susie Q, but she is starting to come around. They are both used to being around children, so they are a great addition to our family.
My friend Kara and her kids came over yesterday and I wasn't quite sure what the horses were going to do. But they came right over and started poking their noses out through the fence, begging for pets and carrots. Her kids loved the horses and our other animals.
Both of our little mini's are a little tubby around the middle, so we are going to put them on an exercise program. I want to start taking them on walks, just like you would a dog. I plan to use them to help me train for my runs. It will help us both out. Yes, I am sure I will get some weird looks, as I run down the road leading a small horse, but everybody needs a good laugh.

Travis's Passion

Patterson and Travis are going on their first flight together. Just them. Patterson even got to fly the plane all by himself. Travis has had his private pilots license for about two years, getting it in August 2006. Almost a year ago we purchased a small plane. It is a 1946 Stinson 101-1 that has been completely restored. It is considered an antique and it is a beautiful plane, that Travis gets endless compliments on. It was a bit of a challenge to learn to fly for Travis when he first got it, but he has got it mastered now. Travis has been enjoying flying it this summer. Recently he went to Three Forks, MT to the Annual Montana Antique Airplane Association Fly In. He camped for two nights and had a great time. Currently, all the pictures of our Stinson is on our laptop, so I don't have access to them at this time. I will post some later.