Thursday, March 7, 2013

January

On New Years Day, Ryan took the 4 oldest skiing. 

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It was Jane and Seth’s first time and they had lessons.  Everyone loved it.  Ryan gushed about what a great day it was.  I hopped (still couldn’t put much weight on my busted knee) around the kitchen and made some homemade donuts that were hot and ready when my skiers walked in the door. 

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Faith and I stayed home that day and I got some worrisome news regarding my knee and the test required for the knee.  It was a rough day to be alone, but it led me to some really good prayers and conference talks, so it was worth it, I think.  I’ll have to do a post sometime because these last few months have been extremely trying and spiritually intense, which is necessary for growth, but not always fun.

Speaking of my knee, we found out during the month of January that I’d torn my ACL completely, had a minor tear in my meniscus, had a  possible osteo chondral injury, had to reschedule my February surgery to March 13, and that the repair would be a hamstring graft instead of a cadaver graft.   Lots of doctor appointments and a few tears.  The osteo chondral injury repair will keep me from being able to run longer than a few miles, so we are really hoping that it’s just a bruise instead of a hole in the knee bone. 

On the bright side, I was feeling 90% within a few weeks of the injury and was able to walk (here’s my first walk for exercise:

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bike, swim, elliptical and do any kind of housekeeping/childcare necessary.  ACL injuries are weird that way…they feel fine most of the time.  (Makes it a little hard to go under that knife again and re-injure myself, but I know it’s the only way to feel 100% again.)  I also had SO MUCH HELP…lots of meals, rides for kids, childcare, phone calls, little gifts brought in.  When you’re hurt, you realize how much acts of service are needed and brighten your day.  (Filing that away for future use…)

We had a sunny January, though cold, and enjoyed playing on the frozen  lake a few different times.  Such a fun venue for pictures.  In some of the pictures, Ryan is pushing kids across the lake in a contest to see who could slide the farthest.

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Gabe gave his first talk in sacrament meeting, Emma played church volleyball, Seth went on a date with me to the arcade in the mall,

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Faith started full on reading (she’s got 1.5 years BEFORE SHE STARTS KINDERGARTEN)

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and I read and discussed the FABULOUS book Daring Greatly and Ryan went and got this game:

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from the Daines and we played for hours one Sunday night.

And that’s January for you:  skiing, comfort food, indoor games, with everyday life thrown in for good measure. 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

January Instagrams

Location: Silver Mountain

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Riding the gondola for a day of skiing. #4yearoldsandbrokenmomsstayedhome #everyonesuperpluslovedit

 

Location: Silver Mountain

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Veterans (E and G) and beginners (J and S)

 

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Heading to the surgeon’s office with my marathon shirt on. #sendingmykneeamessage #wewillberunningmarathon4

 

Location: Scrud’s

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Things I like about this picture: my date, the best burgers in the area, 4 different fry sauces. #healthyeatingchallengestartstomorrowokay?

 

Location: Chez Romney

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Making “toads in a hole” recipe from the latest favorite library book. #mykidsthinkimawesome

 

Location: Chez Romney

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Plate of healthiness: roasted red potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, squash, pepper, mushrooms and homemade applesauce. #thisismykidsdinnertoo #becausetheyaregoodeatersANDimameanmom

 

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Crazy Hair Day. #janegetsembarrassedeasilysotheorangebunisperfect

 

Location: Liberty Lake Athletic Club

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Injured knee exercise routine. #becauseiHAVEtohaveanexerciseroutine  #notasfunasrunningorbootcamp

 

Location: the library

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After not-so-good news from the surgeon yesterday, being with her is so comforting and fun that I’m teary all over again.  #happytearsbecauseimaluckymommy

 

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That is the doctor’s diagnosis notes.  The big otange arrow is the bad thing that we didn’t know about before.  If it’s a very big injury (they can’t tell till surgery—March 13), it means no more long distance running.  #pleasesayprayerstheresamarathon4

 

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Cleaning the church on a frosty morning.

 

Location: the actual Liberty Lake

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Boy scouts outdoor activity: ice hockey on our Liberty Lake  #19degrees #busysaturday #yesthatsanactualfrozenlake

 

Location: the stake center

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Volleyball huddle #busysaturday #emmaisalwaysposing

 

Location: the actual Liberty Lake

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Back on the frozen lake.  #busysaturday #makingthebestofwinter #nofilter

 

Location: Spokane Valley mall arcade

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Skeeball! #datewithSeth

 

Location: Chez Romney

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I’m in love with my spice organizer.  I didn’t initially love it because Ryan surprised my by buying it and reorganizing without my knowledge but now I would like to admit he was oh so very right.  #controllingmuch  #wouldhelovemetoorganizehisoffice?

 

Location:  Liberty Lake Athletic Club

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Really?  900 pages of Harry Truman is fascinating? #whoknew #younevercantellwithPulitzers #imkindofshowingitoffatswimlessons

 

Location: Chez Romney

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I’m prepared for this Serrano pepper  #whoneedsgloveswhenyouhavesandwichbags

 

Location: Chez Romney

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Captain America here made these without one single bit of help from me. #hehasadreamtoopenabreakfastrestaurant

 

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This room redo has begun! Adrianne is coming next week to help/do everything!

 

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What is takes to go on a week long trip without kids  #pagesandpagesandtonsofemailsandtexts

 

Location:  Dallas TX

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Almost family reunion in Texas! #familytripsarefunwithoutmykids

 

Location: Castle Hills, TX

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Nighttime walk with sister in law #62degreesat8pm

 

Location:  Dallas, TX

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A morning game of pool between brothers #lifeofleisure

 

Location:  Dallas, TX

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I felt sad to not have matching PJs, so Zaundra wore her matching Old Navy flats today.

 

Location:  In N Out

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Their names should be In and Out.  #buttheyrereallybreeandbrynn #twinneices

 

Location:  The Cheesecake Factory

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Girls Night with my SO Great Sister In Law

 

Location:  Cheddars

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Lunch with famous I’m A Mormon Rochelle.  #wearepracticallythesamepersonithink  #iatethemontecristoyikes

 

Location:  Dallas, TX

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Me and my boys.  #arentmybrothershandsome?

 

Location:  Dallas, TX

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Breakfast.  #pizzaandcornwithforks #herbalteaintheteapotipromise

 

Location:  Dallas, TX

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Anyone guess where I am?  #xmarksthespot

 

Location:  San Antonio Botanical Garden

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Location:  The Grist Mill

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For Paige:  our table was great but the chocolate pecan pie…was perfection.

 

Location:  San Antonio International Airport

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No mother of 5 minds the 6 hour flight/reading time/peace and quiet that ends a vacation.  #lookedforwardtothisalmostasmuchasthevisiting

Friday, March 1, 2013

Quick Quote

 

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Upon observing the janitor and the principal at school,

Jane decided: "Hey Mom's like the janitor and Dad's like the principal,

except sometimes Dad says: 'UGH! I'll just clean it myself!"

My favorite things about my/our Dallas Trip

(MATT:  HERE IT IS!)

Back in November, Southwest offered a screaming deal to fly to Dallas.  The catch was that you had to fly on a Tuesday or a Wednesday.  Because Ryan couldn’t miss a week’s worth of work, we were going to fly in on Tuesday morning and leave Wednesday night.  And then….I remembered that I DON’T WORK!  I decided to stay from Tuesday till Tuesday and really, January in Texas, is just a lovely place to be.

1.  SO MUCH FAMILY.  Ryan has 4 siblings within 4 hours of Dallas, I have 2 siblings near there as well and Ryan’s parents moved to area last summer.  We don’t see any of them near enough, so we thinks it’s such a bonus when something like this comes us!

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2.  NO KIDS!  I love them and love them to hang around their cousins, but…it was so nice just be an aunt for a week.  I got to pay much more attention to each of them and it was a totally different experience.  Plus, it’s so fun to not have to dish anyone up at meal time, or pay for them at activities, or worry about there bedtimes or their suitcases.  It was really lovely.

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3.  THE SUN.  Of course, my Texas brothers and sisters in law all thought 55 degrees was cold.  Silly Texans.  I won’t be seeing 55 degrees for another month! I loved loved loved going for walks, sitting by the window and hanging out at parks, just to soak up that vitamin D.

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4.  ALL THE TALKING.  There weren’t a ton of activities planned, we weren’t there for any event, so honestly, I think I spent a good 6 hours a day (not joking) just discussing life with some of my favorite people.  I loved making the connections and deepening the relationships that way.

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5.  FINALLY GOING TO THE JFK STUFF IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.  I’m a museum/history junkie and I loved it!

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6.  SEEING THE NEW HOUSES.  4/6 siblings have moved in the last year.  Their houses are beautiful and it’s so nice to be able to picture people in their homes when you live far away.

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7.  MEETING UP WITH ROCHELLE.  We’ve been blog friends for years, and I knew from previous experience that meeting up wouldn’t be awkward and just fun.  And it was.  We are VERY much alike, which made conversation just flow and leaving was painful!

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8.  THE SAN ANTONIO BONTANICAL GARDENS.  Super impressed.  Especially, loved the Garden for the Blind…a virtual flood of sounds, textures and smells. 

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Typing about trips when you’re home a month, is just kind of a bummer.  I want to go back!