Change. . .What brings it on?!

So, I've been jogging about 3 miles a day now and I'm loving it!! Yes, you heard me right. . . JOGGING--ME--3 MILES!!! (yes, this is Liesl writing this post) Who knew I could/would ever get out and jog, let alone LOVE it? I'm not sure exactly what got into me, but one morning I woke up and announced to Dave "I think I want to try running this morning". (I wish you could have seen the look on his face. . .it was awesome!) I didn't know what to wear, where to go, or how far to run, but (with a little confused encouragement from Dave) I headed out. Next thing I know, it's been a month and I've been doing it almost every day since my first urge to try it! I cut some old capri's into shorts, dug out a few T's from my drawers, bought a new pair of running shoes that I transferred my inserts (made by my awesome bro-in-law) into, and Wah-Lah. . .I have something to wear! I love going out first thing in the morning while the kids and Dave are still in bed. But what I love the most is going with friends! Anything is fun when you have someone to chat with, right? Well, maybe that is the key for me. . .I have actually gone a few times by myself, but I've mostly been lucky enough to have friends who can go with me. The only problem I'm having is my knee is swelling/hurting a little. I learned quick that I really need to warm up before and after running. That has helped a bit, but. . . ! I hope it (my knee) won't stop me from being able to jog! So, what changed? How did this happen? I really don't know, but I'm really glad it did. . .I just hope I won't wake up one morning and decide to quit! lol No, but seriously--has this ever happened to you? I mean, with trying anything new? Do you just wake up one day and "feel" like doing something you've always despised? I'm just curious what might happen next. . . !

So, over-all, I've been more active this year than I have in the past 10 years (since I had my first kid)! I've gone skiing again, started running AND working out with my sisters every day (arms or legs), AND I just went hiking for the second time this spring AND I LOVED THAT TOO! What has gotten into me? Is it just that I CAN now that my "babies" are older? Is it that I just turned 35 and realized that I'm not getting any younger? Is it that I'm going to Fitness Ridge in June? I suppose it's a little of everything. . .whatever it is though, I just want to make sure it doesn't go away as fast as it came! Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm surprised that I'm being active--I've always loved playing lots of sports--it's just the activities that I'm choosing to do now! Running, hiking, and weights/intervals? What the. . .?! Anyway, if you're still with me after all that rambling, I hope you enjoy the pics of my (5 1/2 hour) hike today. . .IT WAS AWESOME!

Here we are just heading out

it got pretty steep in some places

Hawk and Hunter were troopers--they ran circles around us for the first half hour!

We had some great views of the valley.

And some gorgeous views of the hills!

Comment!

When I first started reading everyone's blogs I NEVER commented. I liked anonymously reading what people were up to and seeing pics of their families/activities, etc. . .kind of felt like I was a fly on the wall (enjoying w/o their knowing!). Anyway, I didn't really think much of it, I would just read and move on. . .well, now that I've started my own blog (and have actually kept it up for 5 months--thank you very much!) I WANT TO KNOW who is following my posts! I know it's not really fair, because I didn't do it for so long, but. . . ! OK, I don't have a good reason, I'm really just curious. So, when I realized that I wanted to know so much, I figured that others would too, and therefore started commenting. I L-O-V-E keeping up on your families through reading all of YOUR blogs (if you are reading mine and have a blog that I don't know about . . . oooooooooooooooh!) and seeing all of your pics/videos, and I hope you've enjoyed keeping in touch with me/my family a little more through mine too. I admit, I still anonymously follow a couple blogs, but for the most part, you all see me there at least once in a while! Anyway, if you want to make my day, comment! Even if you don't have anything to say, just leave a smiley or something so I know you stopped by! :) Come on, you feel the same. . .don't you?!

Call Home!

Can I just say--I'VE HAD THE FUNNEST MONTH E-V-E-R?! So, first of all, it was my birthday, so of course I "partied it up"! It all started with WICKED! Rachel, Katie, Sarah and I all went to the broadway play Wicked and had the best time. I loved it! I sat by Dan and Stacy (Gordon's) and we had a good time chatting--not during the show, of course. :) Then I went skiing with Robert and Sarah. I can't believe how fun it is to ski again! We even had pretty fresh snow. On my actual b-day two of my friends went with me to get pedicures and lunch. . .LOVED that! (my nails are now orangish) I caught a glimpse of Kim and Jon as they arrived late and left early for MO, but it was fun to see them anyway! I went to the temple with Edyn--and of course, out to lunch after and then enjoyed a fun "girls-night-out" with a bunch of my friends/neighbors where we played games. The next day Rachel, Becca, Irene, and Af (of course, with Boston, Reed, and Robyn in tow) took me bowling and again out to lunch! We had so much fun. I bought myself a new pair of running shoes (as I think I can say I am officially a "jogger" now)! I've been meeting up with one friend or another, or just going by myself, almost every morning to jog a 3 mile loop that I'm so proud I can finish! I went hiking with Becca, Hobie, and Irene and found that my knees didn't do so well coming DOWN the mountain. But, I loved it anyway--it's SO refreshing to be in the mountains. Vicki and Dennis took us out to dinner for my b-day and I got to have crab legs! Ooooooh, LOVE it! I had friends over last night for scrapbooking--even mom and Gordon joined us before it was all said and done. The kids LOVED watching Hannah get baptized and confirmed this morning, we're so proud of her. And, we'll be having everyone who wants to come over tomorrow night for dinner to celebrate before mom and Gordon fly out to visit Chrissy and Jared! I also got to slip away for a couple hours today to make some more cards with my friends. We've been to the park a bunch this month--the weather has been PERFECT for that (it's been great to actually have SPRING weather this year), and we had two HOT days where we got out the slip-n-slide. . .need I say more? I took Kyra to kindergarten orientation and she was soooooooo excited, she can't wait for school to start. It's nice to see her be so ready! Mark is looking forward to going back to school too--we are SO excited about the Montessori school. We had a great Easter-- full of egg hunts, baskets, candy, toys, dresses,and get-togethers. Dave had a fun weekend in CA where a bunch of guys on his team competed in the jiu-jitsu tournament and did well. I enjoyed watching conference while he was gone and not having to get the kids through church by myself. We loved having Walden and Michelle and family here for a weekend--the kids enjoyed playing with those cousins that we don't get to see too often, and I loved having everyone get together, of course! Kyra had dental work done TWICE and was a trooper both times. She had to get a crown and two fillings--yikes, sounds like she got the Simmons teeth like most of the rest of us! :) (well, ok, either that or I'm just horrible at flossing her teeth. . .hmmmmmm.) I'm still on FB every day and still blogging--I love getting to know some of our cousins that we've never had a chance to know, and it's such a fun way to keep in touch with friends. I love both. Sorry if this is repetitious to those of you who keep up with my blog--but I know that's few (hint hint) so I'm not too worried about it.

Slip-n-Slide

OMGosh! My kids (and their cousins) had SO much FUN playing on the slip-n-slide in our backyard. I saw one the other day and couldn't help buying it. We had two days of 80 degree weather and since the pool isn't open I HAD to have SOMETHING the kids could do outside! Check out my action shots:

It's My Birthday!

I had THE BEST birthday! I can't believe I'm 35! I realize now that I am totally an adult. Like, you don't get any more adult than being in your mid-thirties! Weird. . .I don't think there's anything I could be asked to do that I could justifiably think "I'm not old enough", or anything that anyone else is doing that I'd be justified in thinking "it's because they're older than me". It's just so crazy for me to realize! I DON'T FEEL AS OLD AS I THOUGHT I WOULD BY NOW! So, I was having this conversation with my mom the other day, and she admitted that she still thinks that way sometimes--even at 62 yrs. old! So, apparently we never FEEL like we're ready for say, a big calling, or big assignment, or to lead up a big event, etc. I thought others felt prepared and able to do these things, but they must be running on faith as I would have to! Luckily, I haven't been approached with anything like this in my life so far, but I'm watching it happen to people all around me--and MANY of them are even YOUNGER than I am! OK, whatever, if you're still with me, I'm just curious if I'm the only one who feels this way, or if we ALL do!??

Anyway, back to my awesome b-week! I went skiing with my sister Bec and then with my neice and bro-in-law for the first time in about 10 years! It was AMAZINGLY FUN--as great as I had remembered--and it came back fast (only it hurt my knees more)! Then, Becky and Trisha (my awesome friends) went out with me to get pedicures and chat over lunch. The next day I went to the temple with my cuz (actually my hubby's cousins wife, to be exact) and again out to lunch for some more chatting, and that night I got to hang out with some great friends/neighbors for games and laughing! And THEN the NEXT day my sisters (Rach, Bec, Affy, and Irene--I missed the rest of my sisters!) took me bowling and. . .yep, you guessed it, out to lunch again! For more chit chat of course! :) What a fun week! I sure felt loved! I also have to mention that I LOVED getting all the birthday wishes on FB--it brought a smile to my face each time I read who had thought of me for even a split-second that day. Funny how fun that was! :) I'm truly greatful for all the friends and family I have around me and for all the chatting, giggling, and pampering I got to enjoy with them!

On the slopes again!!! (w/Sarah)

Bowling with my sisters and their little ones

Oh, and yes, I did win (they insist they didn't LET me) even with the sad score of 126! :) We had a great time!

Easter Fun

Boy, we make a bigger deal out of Easter than we ever did growing up. We took the kids to an egg hunt in the neighborhood, had a little egg hunt at grandpa Call's, searched for Easter baskets and colored eggs at grandma Meyring's, woke up to new dresses (even Baby got a dress to match Darci's) and shoes on Sunday morning to wear to church (of course, with baskets and a few more candy-filled eggs), attended church to remember the TRUE meaning of Easter (the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how the atonement blesses our lives every day and in every way), and now we're looking forward to having dinner with more family! The kids love it and therefore we love it. . .that's why we do it all, and why we will do it all AGAIN next year. . . :)

Digi Scrappin'

When I mentioned that I was going to try out digi scrapping, a few of you were interested in what I thought, so now that I've been doing it for a little while I thought I'd update you all. I'm TOTALLY ADDICTED and LOVIN' IT!!!!!! :) I wouldn't say it's faster to create a layout, but I've been able to scrapbook a lot more often (at the dentist, doctor, while watching movies in bed, etc.) and I've LOVED that aspect of it. I do a book for myself and also for each of my kids, so even though doing a layout takes me the same amount of time, it will be WAY faster in the end because I'll be able to use the same layout for each kid and just swap the pictures! Anyway, I started a scrap blog (mainly so my sister in MI can see my pages) and I thought I'd let you all know in case you want to check it out. Now remember, I told you before that I'm not real fancy, but some of them look that way a little because they're quick pages and other's don't because they are my own creations--you'll see what I mean if you check them out. The link is on my side bar. LMK what you think. . .are any of you interested in switching from paper to digital? Do any of you think you'd do digital even though you don't do paper scrapbooking? Just curious.