Wishy Washy

I want a dog. I think it would be great for the kids in a lot of ways. I like dogs, and I want one. Then I think about the logistics. Where on earth would I put a kennel in this little house? What would I do with it when we went on weeks long jaunts to visit family? And Moving.... let's not even go there! Even thinking about taking a dog out to pee in the rain, and picking up poop, and buying dog food makes me reconsider. I do realize it would be a lot of work, but I think the rewards would be worth it. Maybe not worth it right now, but eventually, I really would like to have a dog. Unfortunately, that will have to be heavily negotiated first. I think dogs belong in the house. Dan firmly believes they belong outside. So we have to get that settled first. And then the host of other issues will have to be dealt with. I don't think I am ready to deal with all that yet.

I thought maybe we should start small. You know, get some of the benefits of pet ownership without all the difficulties. However, after looking into it, I think any pet is going to be difficult! Something small and portable and more easily loaned to a neighbor during vacations still has a cage that will have to be cleaned. Ug. And it will have to be held and socialized without being overly squeezed or smooshed or released into the wild. And the problem of where on earth to put it is still there.

I think I must be in a nesting mode. Rylee is a little short of 2 1/2 yeas old. I haven't ever gone this long without conceiving another. And that's not happening again, so I think I must be nesting and needing a new baby that requires less care (and gestation!) than the previous ones. So I have been researching dog breeds and different types of pets. They all look great and adorable and I want them. Then I think about the care and money and time and I'm a little less enthusiastic.

However, I told the kids if they can show how responsible they can be and if we can keep the house in better order, I would be better persuaded to get a pet. How long do you think I can milk that?!!

So Proud!

This week Callie was chosen as Student of the month. I would have enjoyed it more had I not received the call less than 24 hours before the luncheon, and had I not had a sick, vomity child to deal with. Difficulties aside, Callie was so pleased and quite adorable. They gave her a shiny certificate, a school shirt, a school water bottle, and this lovely sign to put in the yard. She was quite celebrated. (So it was surprising when she had a meltdown at bedtime and shouted that she wasn't really student of the month because her teacher gave something to another student.)

Marian went roller skating for the first time this weekend! She went to a roller skating birthday party and had a lot of fun. It was so great to see her starting off so uncertain and afraid, and to work at it and become confident. Well, mostly confident. I loved seeing her learn something new successfully. She really had a good time.

Dan is sick tonight. I was just going to put the kids to bed, but he said he would still read the girls their bedtime story. Here he is, all fevery, huddled under blankets for story time. They were just so cute, I had to take the picture. I love my family!

Spreading the Love

I had the opportunity to help out a friend this week. It was one of those times where I really didn't have anything I needed to do and I was fully available to help. I think for her, it was a big thing. For me, I was just so glad I was available to lighten her load. And honestly, it wasn't really that big a deal for me. It has gotten me thinking about things people have done for me that were a big deal to me. I have a hard time letting people do things for me because I hate not being fully self-sufficient. However, there have been times when my life was made better by those around me.

Some things were big.

When Delaney was born and flown to the Little Rock Children's Hospital (3 hours away from home), we were well taken care of by people we knew years before, but were not really close to. Them opening their home to us during an incredibly stressful time really eased our burden. Knowing people cared about us helped, and being able to leave the craziness of the NICU behind and to sleep in a real bed soothed the scariness we were going through. I will never be able to thank them enough for that. And it has inspired me to try to be more like them.

Sometimes small things were a big deal to me.

Years and years ago, I had to drop Dan off to go to 10 weeks of OCS. Then I went to church with new acquaintances and then I had to drive 3 hours home.... alone. After church, my new friend made me a bag lunch. And she put a lollypop in it. I don't know that I ever thanked her, but it was the most thoughtful thing. I had food so I didn't have to stop on a Sunday to buy something to eat, and I had a lollypop to help me stay awake on the long drive. For some reason, that really touched me, and 12 years later, I still remember that. Julie probably doesn't, but that's okay. It has inspired me to go ahead and do the small acts of service, because those do matter too.

Sometimes it was from total strangers.

The Christmas before Dan and I got married, he came to Arkansas with me to meet the family. We were suppose to drive back to BYU- Dan, me, and my brother and sister. Unfortunately, we had some issues, that cumulated in a tire flying violently off the car in the middle of a sleet storm. Several people stopped to assist us. Did I mention it was sleeting and cold and dark? These people stopped, offered assistance, and when they were done, they quietly disappeared. I hope that I can be that kind of person too.

This week gave me hope that maybe I am not so far behind on the charity curve.

I eat; Therefore, I run

I have been diligently running. I have been running 3-3.5 miles 3 days a week for a while now. I made sure to run while on the cruise, and I made sure to run while at my folks' house over the holidays. I keep waiting for it to get easier and to feel better. But it doesn't. Every single time I get my shoes on and hit pavement, I start to psyche myself out. I don't want to do it, it's too hard, my legs hurt, I'm tired..... I usually manage to push through and make it to 3 miles, but there has been a time or 2 when I didn't. And just to mention it, I am usually pushing the double jogging stroller with 2 whining girls quarreling in it. So its loads of fun all around.

I was doing 5 miles before I got pregnant with Rylee and got too sick to do it anymore. Then I didn't run until this summer. Is it the nearly 3 years off that's killing me? Or have I really lost my running mojo?

I thought it might also be something else. The Marine Corps Times had an article in it focusing on 6 different athletes and their diets. Yikes! I cannot imagine restricting my diet the way they do! I love my sweets and I love my variety. I could not eat that healthy every single day. I know that what we eat effects our performance, but I was hoping that just referred to people who's performance might hinge on a second's difference! For a 10 mile a week runner, shouldn't I be able to stuff whatever I want into my pie hole?

According to the scale, apparently not. Sigh.

Promotion

On Thurs we piled into the nice courtroom at Dan's work where his boss read the promotion warrant and then re-affirmed the oath.
Callie and her sister were trying to run the show with all the picture taking as you can see from the last post. Here's a nice pose with Daddy.