Ready?

I guess we are ready for Halloween fun tonight!

Those faces sum up how I am feeling about our six week vacay to Austin Texas:

excited

nervous

anxious

but mostly excited.

We fly out with Jimi and his airplane tomorrow!

Tour of St. George

We were all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning.

If you noticed, my gloves do match my shirt. Jimi bought them for me.

Here is the trick to a successful bike ride: set your standard super low. That way, when you do better than expected, you are happy.

Example: my goal was to finish 75 miles in 6 hours (riding time) and/or finish before Jimi (doable since he had 25 more miles than me.) I finished in 5 hours riding time plus a half hour at the aid stations. I finished a little bit before Jimi, so for once I was there to watch him come across the finish line.

He had a flat tire to change and his chain came off, but still finished so fast. He did 100 miles in 5 hours, 50 mins plus 20 minutes of stop time.

I got a picture of him at the finish finally.

 

The day before, Joe was giving us some tips on completing a long ride (he has done two centuries before), and he said not to underestimate how much food you need to consume. So I pretty much ate the entire time: bananas, protein bars, orange slices, shot blocks, sandwich, cookies, peanut butter and jelly...

and then the free lunch afterward...then for like two days I had a raging appetite...

 

Where were my kids all day you ask? Same place they have been for the third weekend in a row! With G and G Larsen (and Grandma Cook).

There is a big hill that ends near their home, so I called to make sure they were outside with the kids when I rode by -- best part of the day!

On the way there, all sorts of fire trucks, ambulances, and rescue vehicles were in the middle of the hill. It turns out a rider had a heart attack and died while riding. Crazy!

I am kind of bummed we don't have anymore races lined up. They are so fun. I have pretty much been laying on the couch eating bon-bons since last week.

One thing I found out while training: running sprints works the same muscles as riding a bike. Which is lucky because on days that I couldn't ride, I could run the kids down to our park and do sprints. Avery was able to get out and play, Evan could look around in peace, and Piper golden-retrieved a ball. It was so much better than trying to run three miles with the stroller, yelling at the kids to stop fighting and whining, assuring them that we were having a good time.

Then here's something strange: the other day I went on a leisurely run, and the next day my legs were crazy sore! More sore than riding 75 miles. Weird how your body uses different muscles -- don't ask me. 

Stars in My Eyes

Of all the dolls on the floor there, Evan is the cutest for sure.

Today we went to the spanish branch to watch the primary program. I was sitting there supervising Evan and Avery's fishy consumption when Dr. Juarez sat down up on the stand next to Pres. Gutierrez. I suddenly turned into a pre-teen at a Bieber concert. I was all giddy and trying not to make eye contact.

I turned to Kitty (stake pri pres) and asked in a wistful whisper if he was now in the branch presidency (he is).

That guy is one of my biggest heroes. I'm serious.

(mostly because of this but also because of this)



Cozies

The First Year

We have this notebook that is used for drawing/scribbling. I was looking through it today, and found this picture I drew almost exactly one year ago. We used to go out and walk on the trail, and meet daddy on his bike. I was pregnant with Evan. Looking at this picture reminded me we actually used to exist without Evan in our family. Once a child is added into your family, it is close to impossible to imagine life without them.

So excuse me while I go on a crazy mom sentimental rant.

The first year of my babies' life is so special. That is the best word I could find to describe it. Special.

You are the center of their little world. They fit so perfectly in your arms with their feet tucked into your armpit. They let you cuddle them in the cradle position. You get to kiss on their cheeks the whole way up the stairs on the way to a nap. Their breath smells so sweet without all those teeth to stink it up.

It is the only time that I like to have them sleep in bed with me. I love to watch their closed eyes, and their little lips, and their slow breathing. Sometimes having them asleep next to me helps me sleep better. This is not so once they are a year and older.

The first year is so short. After that, they aren't a baby anymore. Every day they change right before your very eyes. Evan woke up with some sticky upy hair the other day, and he looked so old and big.

When we walk around the grocery store, people coo and goo over the bald little guy sitting in the shopping cart all bright eyed and excited about the condiment isle. And he is my little baby. I get to take him home with me.

I love being a mom! I am so happy to be a woman and not a man. Maternal land is where I belong.

But it's also a hard year. I am up two to four times a night. I hate wearing a nursing bra. Babies can't do anything for themselves. Diapers. Hormones.

But anything that is hard is also amazing. And that's what the first year is. Special and amazing.

Peek a Boo!

So Who Knows

I have been meaning to discuss our upcoming move, but I was kind of waiting for the time to get closer and things to become more real.

For a while we knew that Jimi's airplanes would be headed to Branson MO for a six week contract starting in November. We had to decide if we wanted to go with him, or just see him every few weeks. Of course we decided to go with him. They would provide a hotel room, but we wanted to look for a place to rent since we would need a kitchen and more than one room.

If you have ever heard me complain about Jimi's company, I am always vague as to why I dislike the place. I can't ever think of specifics; they are unprofessional and don't communicate at all with the pilots. I feel like I am living in a George Orwell novel sometimes. Everyone just puts their head down and looks out for #1 so that they don't get in trouble.

Here is a good example of why they kill me:

I put off looking for a place to live because it just seemed so daunting and unreal. Yesterday both Jim and I spent most of the morning looking. We only have two weeks left, you know. But no one is really excited to sign a six week lease, so our final option was this kind of gross place across the street from a gas station and auto shop.

That afternoon Jimi had to go into work for a safety meeting. While there, he walked past some co-workers out smoking. They casually mentioned something about Austin and Houston Texas.

Upon further investigation, he found out that the six week base has been changed to Texas.

So...seriously? Jimi finds out about this big decision change just by chance? From a flight attendant trainee?They couldn't just throw out a heads up email to let us know anything? We were an hour away from signing a six week lease to a crappy little place in Missouri.

I dare not say for sure that we are heading to Texas in a few weeks because I just don't know.

And we've been told that in January the fleet will be moving to Louisville KY. So that may be our permanent residence, but who the heck knows? Do you know? Have you heard anything? You may know more than we do because your girlfriend is a flight attendant. They seem to know more than anyone else.

Throw us a bone, Vision Airlines.

When we took this trip to Mt. Charleston in September, we were fasting for an interview at another airline. We didn't get called for the interview.

We really are thankful to even have a job...but just frustrated. I have NO IDEA where I will be living, but I do know we will be moving in the next few weeks. I think.

Kid Speak

Any word that ends in a "k" sound, Avery sounds out with a "t" sound.

She knows there should be a snapping noise, but she hasn't figured out how to make it with the back of her tongue. But she can make it with the tip of her tongue.

Thus:

pink is pint

pop is pot

milk is nilp

book is boot

pumpkin is puntin

you get the idea.

Evan's first word is "mama".

He says it all the time.

muh ma! muh ma!

He seriously loves me.

And I don't think I have ever discussed Avery's importing/exporting.

She loves to take toys from one place to another. Over and over and over. Back and forth. Sometimes it keeps her busy for a long time.

I am not sure if she is importing or exporting in this picture, but all her dolls got busted at the border.

Viva Las Vegas Bike Ride

Saturday Jimi and I did a 50 mile bike ride. I was kind of afraid, but it was one of the funnest races I have ever done. Second only to the triathlons I think. It might have even been more fun.

Yes I think so.

I have been training with these two gals, and it was a blast riding with them. It was more like a playdate than a four hour assault on my nethers.

We are at the summit of the Red Rock Loop in this picture. Gorgeous. And hooray for downhill.

I'm pretty.

I was at the start line with Jimi, but of course he took off and left me in the dust.

He took 6th place...so proud.

My goal was to finish before noon, and we came in around 11:30.

This coming Saturday is 75 miles for me and 100 for Jimi in St. George.

Except I won't have Tina and Gina with me this time. Boo.

Anyone want to join me? Anyone? Come on.

Maybe I will just have to keep up with Jimi and Joe.

ha ha I'm also funny.

8 Months

8 months in the Fall

7 months so funny

6 months I love your eyebrows

5 months I love your lips

4 months I love that outfit

3 months furrowed

2 months two sets of eyes lookin at me

1 month why didn't I take more pictures back then

0 months Grandpa's lap

Playing

Stormy

We all go crazy around here when there is rain.

Then all hail broke loose.

It was so loud, it woke up both babies from their nap.

Avery and Evan take turns being the "easier" one to take care of.

Right now, Avery is easier. She just plays with her toys all day long. She also eats all foods again.

Every once in a while she will bring me something and say, "here you doe, mommy."

Evan might be getting teeth or something because he needs constant affection. He cries like his world has ended if you walk past him without saying hi.

Blowhard

Blowhard:

the view = spectacular

the trail = way too technical for me

 (Cedar Breaks in the background)

For a couple of hours we were breathing cool mountain air, looking at beautiful vistas, with no one else around for miles.

Oh and I was eating dirt (crashed a few times), scared, and trying not to break my arms.

Finally we made it to part of the trail that wasn't a 12-22% grade. (I'm not kidding).

A lovely (but still kinda tricky) ride through the trees. The leaves were changing color and falling. I guess it really is Autumn in the rest of the world.

 

At the end of the trail we met Avery yelling "mommy! mommy!", Gpa Larsen holding the gate open for us, and Gma Larsen and Cook holding Evan. 

A few hours later we were back in the blurry heat of Henderson. Just like that.