My First Time...

It's been an eventful past couple of days!  It's nice to now have a minute to sit and breathe. :)


My computer's speed and Photoshop haven't been cooperating well for me, so I'm not quite ready with posts of this weekend's happenings.  


But here's a taste of what's to come:

I am thankful for a loving, thoughtful, and supportive family,

good friends,

and the stunning, perfect beauty of the great outdoors.

Girly Graditude

A girl's gotta have her make up.  


I look and feel a zillion times more presentable when I have my face on.  If there's one item in my little bag that I just couldn't live without, it's 


mascara...

..something I am very thankful for.  Makes my light lashes go from drab to fab in no time flat!

Kiddie Gaga

I am a mother of routine.  

My kids have a morning routine, nap routine, bed time routine.  That's me.  I feel happier with things that way (and I think my kids do too).

Now a slightly embarassing confession here...until recently, a large part part of our routine has been that Taylor gets to watch TV while I shower and get ready each morning (Russell just follows me into the bathroom and gets into every drawer that he can).  Not my intention of course, but I often end up taking longer in the shower than I should, and then Taylor ends up sitting in front of the TV much longer than he should.  

The result: from the moment the day begins, I have cursed my preshooler into becoming a truly difficult child for the rest of the day (this is the part where I scream!  Do anyone else's kids get rude after they watch TV?)!

Well, with poor Taylor as our guinea pig first child, Andrew and I have learned a lesson in parenting and have revised TV watching in the Norris household.  At first, it took a little creativity for me to omit TV for high-maintenance Taylor and still get ready for the day, but I'm glad we made the changes that we did.  It's been really worth it.  

Since making changes, one thing that has replaced TV a lot in our house is music.  

Both of my boys love to listen to music and LOVE to dance.  At least once every day, they ask me to blast some peppy pop song though our living room speakers and push the furniture aside so they can move their little bodies around.  (And I have to add that yes, they ask.  Little 17 month-old Russell has invented a sign for "song" or "music" that looks like he's raising the roof.  Pretty cute!).

I love watching them enjoy each other, the music, and the dancing.  

I am thankful for dance and music. 

Medicine

I am thankful for vaccines, modern medicine and a gas heated home.  

I don't know how my ancestors survived without... I guess its no wonder that the pioneers got so sick all the time!

Health

Have I mentioned that I'm going to run my first half marathon on Saturday?

  

On trails. Through scrub oak, viewing panoramic scenes of downtown Denver and DTC, hopefully past wildlife.

I wanted to seize this moment in my life, when I am in the best running shape I've ever been in, loving feeling fit and competing in races, having now proven to myself that I can run 10 miles on trails and love it.  I figured, "what's 3 more?"

I am looking forward to this adventurous new race experience.

I'm also nervous.  I've never run that far before! I've also been teeter tottering through feeling sick and healthy, healthy and sick, over these last three vital weeks of training.  Talk about a pain--literally.

As most of us are, I am no stranger to pain and illness.  Whether it be moderate or extreme, each time I feel a little helpless because my body isn't cooperating the way I want it to, 


my graditude for good health when it's around increases.

I am so thankful to have a healthy body that I can depend on most of the time to do what I need and want it to do.

I am blessed.

(On a side note, I am also very thankful for the flu shot that I received today!  Hopefully it'll put an end to the sickness see saw thing).

Missionaries

Today was fast Sunday.  

In my church, this is a time when our members give-up at least two of the day's meals to fast for a personal purpose and and to donate the equivalent cost of those sacrificed meals to the Church to assist those in need. Our Sacrament Meeting worship on that day is called fast and testimony meeting--a time given to those in attendance for the expression of their testimonies.

It's my favorite Sunday of the month.  

Today's fast and testimony meeting was especially great.  I identified with so many members' testimonies--one which came from a missionary from Idaho who is currently serving in our ward.  I was so impressed with his spiritual strength and sacrifice, his obvious love of the work, and his positive attitude.  

Cousin Chase Harrison & Kyle

Elder Weeks's example today made me think of my brother Kyle who is currently serving a mission for our church in Brazil.  It made me think of my husband who served a mission before we were married.  It made me think of my brother Larz, Andrew's siblings, and countless others close to me who have given two years of their lives to serve the Lord.

  

I am thankful for missionaries.

Larz as a missionary in Denmark; Kyle, who's currently in Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Andrew, who served here in Denver.

These guys sacrifice so much to serve: their education, career, finances, close contact with friends and family, etc.  They leave home to serve for two years and they don't go home on the weekends.  They are given the opportunity write letters to loved ones once each week and to call home twice a year--on Mother's Day and Christmas.  It's a hard work that they do.  (Every returned missionary I've ever met has told me that it's worth it.)

Later today as I made final preparations to mail a Christmas package to Kyle, I found such joy in sending just a little to my brother who is giving so much more.  

These missionaries are my heroes.

Halloween

I must admit, I feel a little mourning for the absence of witches, jack-o-lanterns, and black and orange in my home.  This year's Halloween season was a fun one.  

We sure played the part:

We ate lots of them.  

Homemade applesauce, apple cider, apple doughnuts, CANDY, yummy baked goods from friends...  

My favorite memory: Taylor not being able to keep his little sugar-magnet eyes and fingers off of some adorable festive cupcakes made by our new friend, Jamie.  (Can you guess which one he chose to eat?)

I got to host Taylor's playgroup during the week of Halloween.  

We learned about skeletons.  

We got to play with Taylor's new flexible skeleton toys, made bone formations out of noodles, played Halloween games, and read a family favorite Halloween story, Once-A-Year-Witch, which my grandma read that to my dad as a boy, then later to me.  It was fun to introduce to Taylor this year, who now loves it too.

A few days before Halloween, our ward hosted a Trunk-Or-Treating party and chili/ pie cook-off.  

It was there that we unveiled this year's costumes: 

Taylor, the cowboy (my dad's costume that he wore when he was Taylor's size!) and Russell, the dragon.  Oh yeah, yeah...and Tiff the pirate.  Sorta. :)

The boys loved trunk-or-treating, and we all managed to sqeeze into the church to warm-up and enjoy some yummy chili too.  It was so crowded in there...possibly the most well-attended church activity I've ever been to!

Andrew and Taylor carved the pumpkins that we had bought at the pumpkin patch the week before and created the scary Jack-O-Lanterns you see above.  Andrew encouraged Taylor to reach into the pumpkin and pull out the "guts" inside.  And Taylor thought it was cool...for a little while at least.  

The kids were cute for Trick-Or-Treating while they lasted.  

Little Russell was hyper-stimulated and loved living it up in his costume with all the kids and candy around.  

But poor Taylor--after just under an hour, his energy left and some tears came.  He cuddled-up to his green monster bag like a blanket and told us some of the most shocking words that have ever come out of his little boy mouth: that he wanted to go home and sleep...for a long, long time.  

Poor sick boy.  Talk about bad timing.

On a happier note, the next morning he was mostly back to himself.  Naturally, he was totally in the mood to eat lots of Halloween candy and help Mommy take down Halloween/ decorate the house for Thanksgiving.  

Love it.  I wish I could rebound like that. :)

Thanksgiving

Lately when I get on Facebook, I've noticed a handful of my friends have chosen to celebrate this year's Thanksgiving by updating their statuses with expressions of graditude.  


What a great idea.  I'm sure this year's holiday will have deeper meaning for them because of it.


I'm five days behind, but I'd like to follow their example and take a little time to express thanksgiving for blessings in my life each day this November.  Lofty goal for me, posting each day...


First up.  I could easily express my graditude for this every day:


My husband Andrew.

Isn't he so manly and handsome?


I am SO thankful for him.  I have said that before, and I mean it--completely--each time I do.


Yesterday when on the verge of total malfunction from dealing with an incredibly stubborn, disobedient Taylor, I called Andrew and told him that I may have to kill myself or our 3 year-old before I went completely insane.


I knew that Andrew was listening when I said that, but I had no idea how much. 


When he came home from a long day at work, rather than taking much-needed time for himself, he instead made my dreams come true:  First, he played with our kids and let me have some "me" time.  He also fed our [cranky] kids, tidied house, then while I put our boys to bed, Hubby dressed-up super hunk-a-liciously and staged our family room for the perfect date night:

Then he drove away...to return home shortly after with a Redbox movie and this:

Mr. Sushi?? 


Ooohhh, Heaven.


Friday night was one of the best date nights we've had in a long time.  It felt so nice to talk with my best friend...in our warm, quiet, candle-lit home, over a delicious meal...it felt so nice to be cuddled-up to a movie and think about nothing but Andrew (and "Thor") for a while.  By the end of the night, I felt completely recharged.


I am madly in-love with that man!


He has a magic about him that uplifts and calms me, calms our children, and brings back a feeling of simplicity to life.  He is my miracle.


Sometimes I have to pinch myself that he married me.

Pumpkin Patch

Our trip to the pumpkin patch at the Denver Botanical Gardens @ Chatfield this year was for me, simply perfect and absolutely fun.  Perfectly warm Fall day.  Perfectly festively-dressed little boys.  A fun barrell train ride for Taylor.  And bonus!  Mom was with us this time.

I love how the cheery Fall colors come through in pictures of the Gardens at this time of year.  I couldn't keep my finger off the shutter!  If you'd like to view or download the high res photos of our trip to the pumpkin patch, click HERE.

Football

Andrew came home from work last week with this Broncos football.

It now sits on Taylor's dresser (that is, when he's not playing with it!).  

While he was playing Bronco ball one afternoon, I asked Taylor if he knew about the "horse" on it.

"He's a mean horse," he said.

"Oh yeah?" I asked.

"Yeah.  The MEANEST horse in Africa!!"

Ha ha.  Where does he get this stuff??

Wildcat Mountain 10 Mile Trail Run

Another race completed!  This stuff is so much fun.  I think I'm hooked!

Donna and her outgoing friend Cindy joined me for this one.  If they could've seen the weather coming for our big day, I'm not sure that they would have...

...because it was the coldest day of the year so far.  By far.  Instead of checking out the race venue before we ran, we huddled in the car to keep warm.

The trail looked so wet and gloomy; we even talked to race officials and nearly switched to racing the 5 mile race instead.  But right at the bitter end, with only 20 seconds remaining until the 10 miler began, we changed our minds and went for it.  

I'm so glad we did.

We got to run on snow-covered dirt trail under foot, through foothills filled with scrub oak and light snow falling overhead.  The falling snow created an illusion of mist and fog all around, and a calm stillness that seemed to stop time.  Other runners were always near, but I felt alone and at peace.  

It was beautiful.  

Perfect.

Just under two hours later, I turned the last corner before the finish line to see...

...something I couldn't stop smiling for!

These guys!  

With big grins on their faces, cheering "Go Mommy!"  and the most handsome man I've ever seen (their dad), standing beside them taking pictures.

Ahhh.  They are what I live and die for!  

Cindy and I then waited for our comrade to cross the finish line, where Andrew was again prepared to capture the moment.  Way to go, Donna!

Finally stopped--the realization that our hands and faces were beginning to freeze, that our feet were sopping wet from running in mud and snow for hours, and that our bodies were exhausted--sank in.  It gave a feeling of relief to be finished, but mostly a sense of friendship, fun, and accomplishment.

I would do this again...

...in a heartbeat.

(snow and all). :)

I think I want to try my hand at my first 1/2 marathon now.  Anyone want in?

Telluride Part 3: The Gondola

View of Mountain Village from the Gondola

Exploring and playing together in Mountain Village 

It was a lot of fun.  And such a BEAUTIFUL place!  

Wow, getting these photos out again makes me nostalgic.  Wish I was there. 

Glimpses

It's been a little under a week since I've been here, but I feel fairly exhausted...more than just six days' worth.


Here are some glimpses of my recent past:

To celebrate our little Taylor's accomplishment in becoming a "big boy," we offered to either buy him a new special toy or take him on a family outing of his choice.  

On Thursday, we made this 3 year-old's dream of a perfect evening come true:

We ate Ramen Noodles and chocolate milk for dinner.

We went to the "inside pool."

It was such a fun evening for all of us.

But Big Boy was especially impressed--who since, hasn't failed to say a meal time or bed time prayer without remembering to thank his Heavenly Father for his "getting to go to the inside pool."  

What a sweet heart.

I'm only four days away from running my 10 mile trail race.  To prepare, I've been running nearly everyday, almost everywhere (it seems).  

My personal record breaking distance run on Friday took me nearly two hours, going 8.36 miles through neighborhoods and past parks--driving my little guys crazy with cabin fever and completely wearing them out.  I felt so cruel running past so many parks and not stopping to let them play at any of them!

So as soon as we got home, we got right back into the car and drove to one of the coveted parks to play.  

If any kids deserved park play that day, mine did.

Aunt Donna, her friend Cindy and I drove to Highlands Ranch on Saturday morning and tested a portion of the 10 mile trail we'll race on this weekend.

It. was. BRUTAL.

I was under the impression that "10 mile trail run" meant something like, "10 miles on a joint-supporting, flat, dirt surface."  Oh, boy, was I ever wrong!

For those who wonder the truth:

When you read "10 mile trail run" on a race website, what it actually means is that you run several miles UP UP UP a steep-grade hiking trail, and then DOWN DOWN DOWN another steep-grade trail for several more miles.  

Put simply, the downhill part is really nice.  But the uphill, well...

Later that same Saturday, I began watching one of my favorite church traditions on TV:

(Click above to hear Pres. Monson's Sunday morning talk)

General Conference.

It happens twice a year--when our church leaders share spiritual messages in five 2-hour sessions over a Saturday/Sunday weekend.

It's tough to choose my favorite talk from this recent conference...perhaps Elder Uchdorf's "Forget Me Not" talk, Elder Bednar's talk on the Spirit of Elijah, Sister Dalton's talk about raising daughters...

But I can say this for certain: 

More than anyone at conference time, I look forward to hearing from our sweet prophet, President Monson.  He is such a good, kind, charitable, happy, positive, genuine person.  He radiates love.  Every time I hear him speak, I learn so much and wish even more that I could be just like him. 

To me, there is no question that he is God's prophet.  

I love that man.

My little boy was another one of my teachers this week. 

He and I shared one of my favorite moments when together, we took some time to just be still... 

He led the way as we walked together and absorbed the perfect evening sunshine.

Holding hands.

Making "discoveries."

Picking flowers and making wishes.

And I remembered why I, amidst all the chaos-- the meals, laundry, cleaning, diapers, stressful disciplining...

...am more blessed than I know.

I love my family.