Havasupai 2006

I want to post these pictures of our trip to Havasupai in 2006 for a few reasons

• I did not have a blog then
• it is beautiful there

• Steve took awesome pictures

• to show you how similar Max and Noah look

(I thought for sure Noah only had a pacifier until 6 months old but this picture proofs me wrong. Well, I am glad to say we already got rid of Max's.)

• to remind myself of what I looked like when Noah was 8 months old (No more excuses!!)

• to let you know that backpacking with one kid is fun, with two under 4 it is (almost) impossible (I think we will still try this summer and let you know how it goes)

• I am sick and in bed with not much to do
  
• I LOVE cliff jumping
  

• I like reminiscing

Kindergarten Stein

Noah geht hier seit Oktober zweimal die Woche morgens zu Preschool*. Es gefällt ihm sehr gut, aber heute beim Mittagessen haben wir uns über den Kindergarten in Stein unterhalten, wo Oma als Kindergärtnerin arbeitet.

Unsere Unterhaltung verlief in etwa so:

Noah: "Schade, dass es im Kindergarten kein Sand gibt, so wie im Park."
Sarah: "Bei Oma im Kindergarten gibt Sand."
Noah: "Ja, echt viel. Und sie haben die Kipper mit den echt vielen Rädern."
Sarah: "Wenn wir im Dezember nach Deutschland gehen, kannst Du mit Oma in den Kindergarten gehen. Kannst Du Dich erinnern, es gibt da auch Laufräder, Dreiräder und Hänger?"


Noah: "Ja, cool. Und Fabi hat mich im Hänger gezogen. Dieses Mal werde ich Fabi ziehen."
Sarah: "Fabi ist vielleicht schon in der Schule und wird nicht da sein."
Noah; "Warum?"
Sarah: "Weil er älter ist als Du und wenn Kinder 6 Jahre sind, dann gehen sie in die Schule."
Noah: "Ich bin älter dän** Fabi."
Sarah: "Nee, Fabi ist älter."
Noah: "Nein, ich bin stärker dän er."

(Noah denkt überhaupt, dass er der Stärkste ist. Natürlich nur, bis er mir helfen soll. Dann ist er plötzlich ganz müde.)


Noah: "Und sie haben den Hügel, wo man drüber rennen kann."
Sarah: "Ja, mit der steilen Rutsche."
Noah: "Ich will JETZT in den Kindergarten mit Oma."
Sarah: "Da müssen wir leider bis Dezember warten."

5 Minuten später

Noah: "Und sie haben einen Traktor. Können wir JETZT zu Oma nach Deutschland gehen? BITTE. Max, da muss man ganz lang im Flugzeug sitzen."


Wie ihr sehen könnt, freuen wir uns schon riesig auf unseren Besuch im Dezember. Ist zwar noch eine Weile, aber wir können es nicht abwarten.

Frohe Ostern!
Geniesst euren Feiertag. Ihr habt doch sicher mindestens einen, oder?


* Es gibt auch das Wort "kindergarten" in Englisch, aber hier ist "kindergarten" so was wie erste Klasse. Von 3 bis 4 Jahren geht man zur "preschool" und mit 5 in den "kindergarten". Ich weiss, erst klauen sie unser Wort und dann können sie es nicht mal richtig benutzen...

** dän = than = als
Ich bin mir nicht sicher, warum, aber Noah hat wohl beschlossen, dass "dän" Deutsch ist. Er sagt so gut wie nie "als".

Treasure

I was sitting at the playground today with not much to do. I was playing with my soft shell and rediscovered its little chest pocket. I thought:

"Mmhh. I wonder if, a while ago, I put a little treasure in there. I should open it."

I was thinking 'treasure' as in 'five M&Ms' or 'a couple of Jelly Beans'. I guess I was hungry, so candy was on my mind.

I open the zipper, reach in, and what do I find? A much bigger treasure than expected!


Yep. My wedding ring was hiding in there for the last year or so. At least. I can't remember.

I was pretty sure that I took it off one day at church. Sitting makes my fingers swell, especially when I am pregnant, and so I usually take it off at church and put it in a safe place. I am also pretty sure I have looked in that soft shell like 10 times since. But never in that hidden pocket, I guess.

I was never too worried about it. Never did some big search or anything. Just looked in a few places. I knew it would show up some day. In the meanwhile, my finger has been enjoying its freedom. I am not a big fan of any kind of jewelry. The only thing I wear is my indispensable watch. Gotta know what time it is.

I am really glad I have my ring back. I think it is beautiful and perfect for me. But now I have to actually wear it. Maybe I just won't tell Karl I found it and put it in some other safe place. One I can remember.

Jackson

It was about time. Except for a little trip to Logan in January, we have been stuck in Provo for way too long. Winter camping with two little guys just does not sound appealing. To me. Maybe it does to Karl. He is free to take them on a winter camping trip anytime...

Anyway, Becky Ellis' super nice sister let us stay in her (second) house in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a long weekend. So we invited Karl's sister, Brenda, her husband, John, and their kids, Sam and Toby. We love to go on trips with them.


Highlights of the trip included:

• Playing with Sam and Toby. Noah just absolutely adores them.
  
• Cross-country skiing. Skating on a nicely groomed trail in a beautiful canyon for free. While the boys were with Brenda. It does not get much better than that.
  
• Sleeping in a red bunk bed on the top. Noah loved it.
  
• Downhill skiing. Noah's very first time and my first time in more than 4 years. I've been wanting to do this all winter. What little adventurous boy does not love to cruise down a hill? Noah thought it was awesome. So did I.
  
• Swimming at the rec center and playing on the aqua climbing wall. So fun. The leisure pool was a nice 90 degree. Max decided to get in and enjoyed his first pool swim very much. We can't wait for summer.
  
• Running on trails and seeing Moose. Brenda is one of my favorite running partners.

Not so fun:

• The long drive.
  
• Tubing. They claimed Noah was too little and would not let him go down. Funny thing is: we went tubing the week before at Snowbasin and he loved it.
  
• Having to leave.
  
• Not getting the camera out of the bag until it was time to go home. Oops.
  

First Race 2009 - my version

Thanks to Karl for the last post. I feel bad he had to miss the first highlight of his season - the Buffalo Run. He had been excited and training for it for months.

I, on the other hand, happened to see a sign for the Splash&Dash on Wednesday morning at the pool. I thought it would be a fun little "warm up" for the upcoming races and so I signed up (after I had found a babysitter). I have been lucky so far - no flu symptoms yet.

The truth:
I was not ready for it. I did not really care. I just wanted to see where I am at in my training. But it was true.
I am out of shape. I know, maybe not compared to some other people. But remember, being out of shape is relative. But it is hard and boring to train by yourself every day. I need training partners... Max (and Noah) in the Chariot don't count.
I am 10 lbs. over race weight. At least. I am not saying that I am fat. But all these extra pounds are not making me any faster. I am using nursing as an excuse but that won't last much longer.


(I threw this picture in here because I dislike posts without pictures. No, this is not the Splash&Dash. This is the Ironman I did in Germany in 2007. No 10 lbs extra here. It is the only picture I could find of myself racing (not on the bike). Sad, I know.)

Back to the Splash&Dash.

I had a blast. It was so fun to be back and racing after all this time. Also, it was just a little BYU race. No one knew who I was, so there was no pressure.
After my warm up routine (which I could barely remember), I told Emily that I was worn out already. That was honestly how I felt.
They started the race and everyone went off like crazy. I was afraid I might exit the pool close to last place. As usual, they were all bluffing and I managed to get out in second place. I felt as good during the swim as I hardly every do in a race. That was nice.
Passed the other girl right outside the pool and never looked back. I thought there would be some guys ahead but I never saw anyone and no one ever caught me. Kinda lonely but that is how I like it. I realized a while ago that the only way I ever win races is if I am in first place at the beginning of the run already. I am not sure what that means. Probably that I need to work on my running, so I can stay with girls when they pass me. Luckily, I did not have to worry about that on Saturday.
Noah and Karl were cheering for me at the finish. Cheerleader #3 could not have cared less. He was busy eating, as usual. Thanks, Emily, for taking such good care of my men.

The End. I am tired. I am going to bed. More sleep = less likely to get sick.

The Fast Mama

So the Mama of the family decided her first race of the season would be the BYU Splash & Dash. It's a nice little race that's held every year and she's done it many times before. She of course was saying all kinds of things about how she wasn't really ready for it, how she is slow at everything these days, and it's been a year and a half since she's raced. Well, true to form she not only won the Standard distance for the women, she also beat the fastest guy! It's just proof that the Mama of this family has been getting herself to the pool early early and has been running daily while pushing 1-2 children in a chariot also laden with an extra 20+ lbs of toys and diapers.
Meanwhile, the Papa of the family missed the Buffalo Run 25K trail run, which he will humbly admit he was totally ready to rip up but had to miss due to flu. Not that he's jealous of the Mama or anything.

A huge thanks to the amazing former roommate/Cherry Chub Emily for watching the kiddos before, during, and well after the race.

Me!!!

Hi Everyone!

It is me again. Max. The neglected child.

Ok, I am not really neglected. Just when it comes to pictures or posts of me. So I have to take matters (once again) into my own hands.

I have to admit, I can't crawl yet. I am really trying hard though. I thought by now I would have it figured out. I blame it on the lack of role models. I tried to convince Mama and Noah to crawl around all day so I can copy them, but no luck.

I find other ways to get around. Like riding with Papa.
(Looking at this picture, I hope I have Papa's bum genes, cause then all the chicks will want me.)


While it was nice and warm for a few days, I did not mind just sitting at all. Sitting outside is awesome. I can eat grass, sticks, sand, bugs. I am not picky. I will put anything in my mouth.


Plus, being outside makes me happy. So I was happy a lot.
























Speaking of food, I get to eat real food now. Of course, Mama did not bother to take any pictures of my first solid meal. Why should she? She already has one of Noah. That will do.

First, she gave me peaches, berries and other juicy food in a little mesh thingy. That way I could get the juice but no pieces. I kinda liked it for a little while but then I realized that this still is not the real deal. So I refused. Why can't I just eat what everyone else is eating?


I definitely hate baby cereal. Tastes like card board to me. And I know what card board tastes like, believe me.
I do, however, like lots of other food. My favorites include: banana, sweet potatoes, apple sauce, squash, etc. I love chewing on biscuits. Mainly, because it gets so messy and I love messes. Also, because then Noah won't touch me because he does not want to get his hands dirty. That way I can enjoy some peace for a minute.


I am also proud to say that I have 6 teeth by now. 4 pretty big ones on the bottom and 2 that just barely broke through on the top. Here is the proof.


This teething thing is hard work. Of course, Mama won't give me anything for the pain. I guess she wants me to be tough or something. I try not to complain too much.

Now, with teeth and better hand coordination, I have the pleasure of feeding myself. Peas, cheerios, fruit pieces, bell pepper, cucumber. I love it and can't wait to see what else is out there.

That is it for now. I will keep you posted.

Max