Grandma Helen

We had a sad weekend. Robbie's Grandma Helen passed away on Friday. She had cancer and did all of the treatments and was doing good and then the cancer came back. She has been sick for a couple of months now. The first time I met Grandma I was dating Robbie trying to figure out if I really liked him. He took me to their home. Not the hotel but the other house. I remember going in and seeing all of his family and loving it(and being scared out of my mind because there were 1000 relatives in this tiny house) because they all were hanging out at Grandma's on a Sunday. Robbie was only 5 years younger than Grandma's youngest child and so he grew up like one of her kids. He said he was always there but he knew she was grandma and that made a difference. He learned about honey and lemon for earaches there. Rob told me he did a lot of things the same as his Grandma. He was on his mission the same time they were on their mission in Fiji. He started teaching school the year Grandma retired from teaching school. He loved having his Grandma teach at the same school he attended. They wouldn't let him be in her class though. 3 years ago Grandma sent out a letter that told all of her children and grandchildren to prepare themselves to go to the temple. 2 years ago everyone who could go went to the temple with them. It was awesome. Grandma always gave all of her grandchildren gifts for Christmas. This was no small feat as she has 13 children and they all have large families as well. One year they made us puzzles that were impossible to figure out. Another year she crocheted every grandchild and spouse a nose warmer. I love Grandma Helen. I have been blessed to have known her these past 17 years. She will be missed.Robbie, Grandpa Jimmy, Grandma Helen, Carrie November 2008 at the Golden CoralGrandma and Grandpa at the Christmas party December 2008 Grandpa and Grandma at home February 2009

Random Photos

Malia at Football camp-Summer 2008

I love this barn. It is by Vickie and Jeff's farm where they pasture some cows.

We went to a home show and my men needed a picture with the Lennox air conditioning guy.

Skyler came to a wrestling match that the boys weren't even wrestling at. Malia had crazy sock day that day.

Breckin playing basketball. He is the best rebounder because he shoots once and then rebounds his own ball 14 times. Go Breck!!

Breckin my Band Man

I love that Breckin is in the band. He is really good too. He plays the Baritone. Surprisingly all 3 of the CJH bands are really good. Mr. Siegel does a great job with them.

Breck is in both band and general music. They have to go to a concert every term. We went and saw the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. First of all the Assembly Hall has amazing acoustics. We sat in the balcony in the middle. If you have never been there it it interesting because all of the benches are sloped so by the end everyone has slid to the end of their bench. Sitting in the middle is the only way to go.

They were great. I was not really looking forward to going. It was only because Breck had to go but I loved it. The music was tremendous and to watch the percussion's, incredible. I would definitely go again. Maybe even take Robbie although I would have to trick him and not tell him where we were going. He actually played the Baritone in band in HS.

My cute Breckin Half.

Aladdin-School Play

Malia has spent the last 3 months rehearsing for their school play-Aladdin. Everyone that is in it auditions and then everyone gets a part. Malia chose(It was the only thing she could remember) to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We had to make flash cards because she was so nervous about it. The day she sang I asked her if she needed the cards and she said no and then sang the song to me. I thought OK good she will be fine. She went in to sing and came out and said excitedly( like it was the best thing in the whole world), "Mom I got a part even though I messed up on my song. I got a part!" Thankfully she didn't realize that everyone got a part. She got the part of a street urchin and she really loved it. Tuesday and Thursday were her play and she did a great job and more importantly she had a lot of fun. Maren and Skyler came on Thursday and it was so funny to see how Skyler reacted. He was mesmerized. When he found Malia he told me she had silly hair.

Malia and her friend M. Wherever he was, Malia was right next to him. I think he was her safety blanket. My urchin and her citizen of Agrabah.

Weekend F-U-N

OK so this week has been crazy. All of my children have been sick for at least 2 weeks now. Tuesday I made them stay home from school 1/2 day to let them sleep and then sent them to school and to wrestle http://chargerwrestling.blogspot.com/. Brit comes home that night and has a fever of about 103. He stays home on Wed. and still has a fever of about 102. I take him in on Thursday and he has pneumonia. Nice. Mother of the Year once again. So Breck has been sick right along with Brit but Breck is never vocal about his pain(Brit is incredibly vocal). So he wrestles varsity on Thursday at 150lbs after he beat out CJH Varsity kid on Wed. 5-4. Way to go Breck. Anyway, he comes home from his match on Thursday (he totally beat the SDJH kid) and has a fever of 103. Friday morning to the Dr. Pneumonia!! So needless to say my week has been sleepless. Malia has ear infections as well. I swear that girl has been sick more this year than in her entire life.Along with all this sick stuff we have had people come through the house to look at it. This means crazy lady cleaning and that isn't super fun for anyone especially if you are sick. Sat. our realtor had an open house and so we were booted out of the house for 5 hours. We decided to have a family fun day. First thing we did is go bowling at Bonwood bowl in SLC. It was a lot of fun. We haven't done that for along time. Did you know bowling is stinking expensive. $25 for 1 game and shoes. Is this weird but I really like bowling shoes? I think they are cute in a quirky sort of way. I would totally wear them . Robbie beat all of us with a high score of 108. I came in second with a total of 101 and that is with using the bumpers. Malia beat both of the boys(bumpers again). It was fun. We are ready for the pros.
We worked up an appetite and went to Dees for breakfast. OK really lunch but I can eat breakfast all day. French Toast combo-scrambled egg and bacon. Yummy.

Then we went to see Race to Witch Mountain. I thought it was really good. The kids liked it and who doesn't like looking at "The Rock"? I was trying to remember the old movie and all I remember is that it was weirdly eiry with the girl with the bangs. I am going to have to watch it again.
After we got home from this Fabulous F-U-N day, we napped and then Robbie and I had to go run. We went down on the legacy and I ran 5 and Robbie ran about 6 1/2. The wind was howling and luckily it was at our backs and so it helped me along. Nothing better than an ice bath after and a good Clive Cussler book.

Healthy body image-love your body

I found this post on The blond runner and thought it was great.

January 31st, 2009

Self concept is such an interesting topic and so much more complicated than can be illustrated in this clip. However, I enjoyed this clip as it talks about the importance of the mother's role in a child's self concept. However, we must not forget that father's also has a profound influence on a child's self concept. Both mothers and fathers need to be careful to not be overly concerned or critical of their own bodies in front of children. Try to embrace the wonderful things the body can do and try not to focus on the flaws.

Although I didn't like to see the girls on this clip criticizing others, sometimes constructive criticism spurs change. While media images often misrepresent health, some can inspire us to be more fit and healthy. I think it all depends on how we view things – half empty or half full. The human body is wondrous and amazing in all shapes, forms and sizes. Celebrate your body, treat it with respect and care for it.

While there is nothing wrong with wanting to feel and look better, we need to make sure we are "giving off" a healthy attitude towards our body and looking for our best attributes. On the clip, I love what Karen had to say about believing in ourselves and I would echo her thoughts that we need to treat people as the amazing people they can be. Give service; share your gifts and talents. Believe in yourself and others. I believe there is a healthy person in everyone, embrace the healthy person in you.

Good Friends and Running

Robbie (in the floppy hat) and Jayson ( oaring the boat) with Brit in front going down the Snake.

Jayson was the YM president when I was the YW president. He always was really involved!!

I am the worst when it comes to taking pictures with friends. We have some great friends that moved about 2 months ago from our neighborhood into a great home that they got as a foreclosure. It is such a nice house for them. Christy also just had their first baby boy 2 weeks ago and he is adorable. Tons of black hair. They now have 2 adorable girls and a cute little guy. It felt awesome to me that I didn't have one baby hungry moment. Anyway, Robbie is Jayson's rafting friend. They have been to a ton of different rivers and they have two or three more they are going on this next summer. I love this because I am crazy lady scared of rafting. I will go but I am panicked most of the time. I totally trust both of them because on the river they are safety Nazi's but it still scares me some. This has become a great past time for Rob. A great diversion from football. We went and hung out with them last night and such a great time. It has been such a long time since we have just hung out with friends. It was totally relaxing. Loved it.

Ran 4 miles today. It was crazy hard because it was all hills. Good thing I have Rob to drag me along. Love him!!

Viewmont Musical Theatre

Last night Robbie took me and the boys to see the school musical. They put on Aida this year and it was truly amazing. I can not believe I am watching high school kids. Jeanne McGuire knows how to put on musicals. I look forward to the spring every year so that I can go to the musical. Since moving here I have see The Secret Garden (I love the music in this), The beauty and the Beast, Phantom, Phantom of the Opera, and Aida. This musical is seriously amazing. I love, love, love the music in it. We had two separate seats so for the first half I sat with Brit 2 rows from the stage. Awesome to see the sets, the costumes, and the actors up close. At intermission I changed seats with Breckin and Robbie and I had perfect seats in the middle. I am a complete woosy and cried. Aside from the fact that it is so grand that it moved me but this is a great Romeo and Juliet story about an Egyptian and a Nubian princess, about responsibility and duty and person feelings. I loved it. It is now one of my favoites. The boys thought it was pretty amazing also.

Talking in Church

My amazing 14 year old son had to talk in church on Sunday. We knew about it but went temporarily insane and forgot about it until Sunday morning at 8:30 am when the 2nd counselor called and woke us up(OK it was daylight saving and that puts me over the edge. I definitely did not have pretty church hair this Sunday because our church starts at 9am). Brit put this talk together in about 40 minutes. He did it all without our help and did a great job. I love this kid.

Goal and Planning for the future

Goals and Planning are important for many reasons. Goals help you have motivation for something. Planning is important because it helps you prepare for what is coming up. Last year one of my goals during wrestling season was to be district champion. When I set that goal before the season started I was able to be motivated by not wanting to let myself down. When I qualified for the district tournament I had to wrestle a really good wrestler. When I found out who I was wrestling I remembered my goals and that he couldn't beat me when I am motivated. I pinned him. The next round I had to wrestle the only person that beat me in the season. In the season we had gone to overtime and he had beaten me and I had not forgotten. I had revenge on my mind. I won that match by 4. In the finals I Pinned the kid and it felt awesome knowing that I had fulfilled my goals and that I was the best wrestler in the district. Another goal I had and still have is going on a mission. I am preparing every day by reading my scriptures and doing my laundry. Another goal of mine is to get married in the temple. I must be worthy to be married in the temple. In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." When a man and woman are married in the temple, their family can be together forever. This is a common goal of Latter-day Saints. That is my goal too. I want to be married in the temple. Sometimes goals don't come out successful. During last year's football season I made a goal to lead my team to the championship game. I thought we could do it and we were playing really good. Then against Woods Cross I broke my leg running the option. That made me mad because I couldn't help our team but I realized it wasn't just my goal but our whole team wanted the same thing. Our next games we won and they were both down to the wire but we pulled it out. In our playoff game we didn't play very well which made me kind of sad because all I could do was cheer my team on. We ended up losing that game but it was a really fun season. Planning can help a lot in school. In one of my classes we were having a term final. When he told us how much it was worth I started to study for that test. Almost Every day I would study when I was done I would say a prayer that I would know what was going to be on the test. When I went to take the test it was hard but I thought I did. The next couple of days I was wondering what my score was. When I got my test back I had gotten 96% on the test I was really proud of myself and when I got home I said a prayer of thanks. Every month my parents do a budget plan. When they are done they have planned out what they are going to do with the money. Tithing is always first. I am also planning to go to the Celestial Kingdom and that is also one of my goals. It is not going to be an easy trip but if I do what I am supposed to help people on my way I will reach my goal.

I bear my testimony that I know this church is true and that if we keep goals and plan for the future we will be successful and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen

Love Your Body

Today officially begins the training for the Odgen Half Marathon. I am nervous. I was in much better shape last year and weighed 20 lbs lighter. I am going to do this though. I have to talk myself into it almost everyday. I am doing something, I am running. I love running. Say it again. I LOVE RUNNING!!! One more time and maybe I will believe it. I love Running!! Unfortunately the snow is coming down and so it is off to the treadmill for me. I get on myself a lot about my body image. I saw this and loved it. I love my body, all of it.

Wrestling Boys

Boys are wrestling. Brit is wrestling 162lbs and Breckin is wrestling 150 lbs. Britton is varsity and Breckin is JV but got to wrestle varsity is week. This is the link to watch how amazing these two scrappers are.


http://www.chargerwrestling.blogspot.com/