Running Club

At Tatum's school there such thing as Running Club. Two days a week after school the members of this club see how many laps they can run. Tatum decided she wanted to join and of course, I encouraged her. Well, come November she was DONE! She no longer found it exciting and dint' care that some of her best little friends ran with her. I was a mean mom and told her she committed and had to stick with it until after Christmas. Well, her teacher convinced her to keep going because the races were coming up and she would really like them. Tater chose to continue and her teacher was right, she LOVED the races!

The evening before her first race we talked about how if she does her very best she will always win. Being a kindergartner there was absolutely no way she'd win the race. Chris pipes that there are winners and losers and if you don't Cross the finish line first you're a loser. Nice. I wish I had lazer eyes, I would have zapped him! She went to bed excited for the next day!

It was SO fun watching her run. Tucker and I screamed her name and jumped up and down like fools. I liked how as she approached us she tried not to smile or make eye contact. She's SO cute!

Here she is nearing the finish line. The entire coarse is 1.5 miles, a far run for little leggies!
In the end all the pain, sweat, and tears were worth that green ribbon! Oh was she proud of that ribbon! She totted it around every where she went! And just because she was running a race didn't mean she didn't need her bows, bracelet, and necklace on!

I was proud of her for sticking it out the entire season!

Good bye Rose, Hello Lula

For Christmas Santa brought Rose, our hamster. The blondies instantly fell in love and Tucker decided her name should be Rose, and so it was. Rose was a good addition to the fam-damily. Though we didn't appreciate when she nibbled on our fingers she didn't seem to mind being held and the blondies spent many an hour playing with her. She only escaped once and Chris, of all people, found her and had to capture her. Back up, Chris is AFRAID of this little fur ball. He didn't like Rose and didn't approve of Santa bringing her so for him to be the one to capture her was a big deal! Quite comical actually! One morning I held Rosy, that's what we affectionately called her, and noticed she was bigger. I thought she might be pregnant and ran to the computer to research, she wasn't. We soon noticed other maladies and sweet Rose was obviously sick. As the days went on she became worse and worse. It was quite clear Rose would soon die...but she wouldn't die. I tried giving her an enormous dose of morphine but the stubborn thing wouldn't take ANY of it. She needed to be put out of her misery and soon!

Chris, being the loving guy he is-insert a chuckle, matter of factly said he'd "take care of her". So he got all pumped up, made sure his BB gun worked AND that the blondies were fast asleep, but in the end he just couldn't do it. He called a buddy in our ward and he agreed to do the dirty work. And that was the end of Rose.

The blondies knew she was sick. We talked about her at dinner that evening and I assured them she was so sick that tonight she would die. They didn't know what Rose's fate was. I broke the news to them the next morning over breakfast. Crappy way to start the day. Tatum quickly whipped up a few tears. She asked while sobbing, "Tell me you didn't flush her in the toilet!". Seriously Tatum? Thankfully we didn't. I assured her she was buried in a lovely box. Then she asked, "Will she get a headstone?". Ugggh, I hate that they know all about headstones. Tucker went and sat on the couch and angrily yelled at me, " Why did you tell me that!?!?!". He wouldn't let me hug or console him. They soon dried their eyes and before breakfast was over Tatum wanted to know if we could get another. So....

Meet Lula. They picked her out all themselves. The only requirement was that she not have red eyes; red eyes are scary! She's a blondie, just like T&T, they liked that. She has yet to let us really hold her, she's flinchy and squirmy. T&T are quite persistent, eventually Lula will see it their way!

It's Official!

Yes, the rumors are true.

We are moving to Utah so Chris can go to Physical Therapy (PT) school.

His school is in Provo so we hope to live in either Orem or Springville.

Having never lived there we'll have to base our decision on their elementary schools.

I admit, I'm a school snob and want only the best for my blondies!

School starts May 10th, so soon!

Chris will be moving all by his lonesome as Tater's school doesn't end until June 2nd.

A whole month as a bachelor and a whole month as a single mom!

I'm not afraid of my blondies!

It's a two and a half year program, begins in May 2010 and ends in December 2012.

We'll be back in AZ before we know it!

T&T are excited, well...mostly.

When I broke the news to them Tuck says,

"What the hell?"

Lovely.

I don't think it's registered that they're leaving their family and friends.

They'll find out soon enough.

But we're excited.

A little nervous.

Looking forward to the gorgeous summers dreading the arctic winters!

It doesn't matter where we live...

As long as we're together!

Valentine's

How cute are these!?!?! I LOVE how it looks like Tucker is really holding the sucker! SO cute! Tatum's finished product is coming soon!

Lemon Juice

When life gives you lemons FIRST get your goggles and THEN make lemonade!

Jersey's Christmas

For Christmas Santa and the Grandmas gave sweet Jersey flowers for her headstone. It's sad for me to go to the cemetery and have nothing adorning her little spot. I don't want people thinking we don't take care of our princess! I think they're prefect, girly...so fitting.

Little Friends

These two are so cute together despite their age difference. Tatum is 6 and Lauren is 3. Lauren is the little sister Tatum doesn't get. I love how they're both in their frilly pink skirts and how Tatum is reading to Lauren. Tatum is always so attentive to Lauren, it kind of stings watching them. The way Tatum lightly puts her hand on Lauren's back guiding her and how she alters her voice at times while speaking to sweet Lauren. I'm thankful Tatum has her, I'm thankful for the small opportunity she gets to feel like a big sister!