fly like an eagle

Just got back from a wonderful Relief Society dinner. It is theraputic to mingle with ladies and be reassured that I am ok and the things I do and go through are normal and are even pretty funny. It is great to do that once in a while for more than 30 seconds and without a baby trying to climb on and fall off everything and without a pre-schooler hitting me in the butt yelling, "Let's GO! Let's GO!" Great to remember I am a person and not a Mom robot. And holy cow there are a lot of people that run. It is great to be considered part of that crowd, even though I am a wanna-be. But I can't wait for my run tomorrow. I've had to take it a little easier for the past 2 days because I had a wisdom tooth pulled on Tuesday. But Tristie is BACK! I am ready to kick my own butt.

Ok, that was everywhere so here is a more focused portion of my post. We spent last week in sunny St. George and I am starting with the coolest thing we did which was fly with a family friend Ken in his little airplane over SG, Santa Clara, Snow Canyon, and Pine Valley then back again. Preslie, Hunter and I went and then Ken generously took Mack out for a little stroll with Dax to supervise. The whole rest of the afternoon Mack said, "That was the BEST airplane ride EVER!" He was so pumped and cute about it.

We got to see Dax's bro's family for a fun bonus and spent the day playing. We had a picnic lunch then rode the carousel in downtown St. George,

stripped at the splash park, hunted Easter eggs with Grandma and dined in the back yard. Quinn loved her baby cousin Everett and wanted to hold him for way long! He is almost bigger that her.

We got to celebrate Nadine's b-day with her. Yay for birthdays and yay for Nadine. Best MIL ever.

Here is us playing at the water splash river thingy. It was warm and sunny but we didn't have our swimsuits. Mack and Mya stripped down to their undies.

We came back a couple days later prepared with our swimsuits but it was cold and overcast. Still fun but we did have to crank the heater in the car for the kids afterward.

Here is my little animal lover! There is no time for clothes when a cat is nearby..Smokie was a semi-good sport but would bolt whenever Quinn let out a blood-curdling squeal of joy.

This is a super fun park in St. George we call the Ikea park. It has unique and modern playground equipment that my kids love.

Dax and I were able to get to the St. George temple also- it has been 11 years since we were married there and it was good to go there and visit. Walking out, we saw a wedding party and I was so happy for them and remember that excitement so well. But I would never go back. I love the stage of life I am in. Dax and I have done and learned so much together. We are living our happily ever after!

bragger! bragger!

I am freeking awesome. I have been running for 7 weeks now WITHOUT QUITTING! I am totally NOT a runner. But I love how it makes me feel ALIVE! I can't say enough good things about a good old fashioned kick-butt aerobic exercise! As if that weren't enough, look at my kick butt lunch I had after my run yesterday. Grilled chicken with fresh mango salsa: yes, please. The Reece's eggs I had for dessert were also delicious.

My baby is SO crazy adorable, it's sickening. She goes and gets a towel if anyone spills anything on the floor. She tells me when her diaper needs to be changed and even backs up to the potty and pretends to go "pee pee". She is just so cute and sweet. She loves to hear or see birds outside. Or cats or dogs. I just love seeing that fuzzy head cruisin around!

Preslie is such a go-getter! It puts the 10-year-old me to shame. She recently joined Girl Scouts. She is the best homework doer on the planet; never has to be reminded. She loved Dr. Seuss week at her school and came up with this costume pretty much by herself. She looks exactly like "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" doesn't she?

My husband is freeking awesome. He helped find that nut you may have seen on the news that shot at a police officer out in Vernal. Everything turned out great. Wow I am out of control with this bragging today! But my husband flew in an airplane with the FBI. The FBI, people!

I should also throw in that his ward ball team won the tri-stake championship!

Mack has been such a sweetheart lately. He usually gets a bad rap because of his frequent shenanigans but he really has been a good boy and so fun to have around. I am glad I get to keep him for another year before he goes to Kindergarten. We have lots more adventures and things to do together!

Lastly, Hunter is such a stud. He has been working his guts out to earn enough money to buy a certain Lego set he has his eye on. He is the smartest 2nd grader ever. His new favorite catch phrase is, "Tell me something I don't know." He competed in his school's poetry reciting contest. He has recently learned to throw a football, spiral and all.

I think all this exercise and sunshine is doing wonders for our family!

Mack moments

Just had to record a couple things before I forget...

Yesterday, I was at the grocery store and Mack had to pee so I took him to the Ladies Room. On the door was a sign like this one and he asked me,"Is this a bathroom for Moms with one leg?"

Then today when we got to the library I was suggesting different books for him to rent and he said, "I don't want to rent the stupid Bearnstein Bears. All they do is commit crimes."