I haven't had time to blog because I've been at the gym with my sister in law.

 I have been a lot less lazy. 

When I get home from the gym I feel like my limbs are made of quivering jello and I haven't eaten in days. I eat and eat then I flop on my bed as much as possible to rest my jello limbs. 

Ashley is amazingly strong. You should see how much she can lift. 

She has been my personal trainer. Thanks Ash! 

My brother James is a blessed man. 

Going to the gym makes me feel tough. I want to feel tough. 

I've always seen myself as a skinny, uncoordinated weakling. I would like to change this belief I have about myself. 

I reject this belief!

 I now believe I have a long, lean, toned body that is getting more coordinated every day. 

How's that? I feel better all ready. 

Spring is heaven. I don't know how any other season can be better than spring. 

We have worked in our yard today.  Nate and I thinned our raspberry bushes and we planted a peach tree. We still have a nectarine tree to plant. 

Our chickens think we dig in the dirt just for them. They come running and look for worms where we are digging. 

Our little chicks are growing up. We had them out on the grass today. 

Tabitha our dog is scared of our big chickens. 

One of the big hens is very bossy and will chase Tabitha, but the little ones she wants to chase. One of the chicks lost some tail feathers today. Tabitha couldn't resist chasing her. I'm glad we were able to intervene. I don't need a chicken death on my conscience.

The kids have spent the day playing soccer, running through the sprinklers, playing with friends and cousins. 

My kids have it good.

I'm recovering from my long busy day. I still have things I need to do and it's past my bedtime :( 

Just wanted to post quickly. It's been such fun week.

Have a great day.

Love Kristen

less lazy

Emmaline had a tea party with her friends.

She promised me she'd clean it up. 

She did.

When I saw the stack of wasted sandwich edges with the fine deli meats and cheeses,

I refrained from being a party poop and saying

"Did you have to waste all this good food?"

No.

I took a picture and was happy my daughter has sweet friends.

It was easier to refrain because I had such a nice lunch with my dad.

He's a good dad and I've missed him.

Scheduling fun in my life helps me be a pleasant mother.

(most of the time)

Today my friend Leilani came over and saved me from a clinical depression

 brought on by piles of un-put-away  laundry.

You think I'm exaggerating.

I'm not.

Sometimes my need for fun makes my house look like I'm a lazy bum. 

Then I wonder....maybe I am a lazy bum?

If I am then that's no fun.

My mum was never a lazy bum.

What's wrong with me?

Am I that lazy?

At least I've birthed 5 kids as proof that I can get something eternally important

 all done!

Tonight I'm going to do yoga in public.

In a real gym that I plan to become a member of.

All the 38 years of my life I have never joined a gym.

Why would I want to exercise for the sake of exercise?

 In doors.

 With other people who might look at me?

My reasons for making such a drastic life changing choice?

I rarely do yoga at home anymore and when I do I'm so easy on myself.

I hold the poses only as long as is very comfortable for me. 

I want to feel like I'm getting stronger not weaker.

I want to do something that really makes me aware that I'm here on earth in my physical body.

I hope I don't embarrass my sister in law Ashley.

We are going to be new work out buddies. 

She is sporty and runs and plays indoor soccer and the like.

It will be fun to be with her.

I choose fun

It's Monday.

My favorite.

It's Spring.

My favorite, favorite.

The last few weeks have been very full and very good. 

Luke's birthday.

Family vacation to California.

Easter.

Luke's baptism.

I want to do a big I love Luke post soon.

Today I'm going to lunch with my dad.

 FUN

I can always tell how busy my life has been by how the laundry room looks. 

Today, massive piles of clothes to be put away!!!

I have a lot of fun and I take naps.....this means that my house is sometimes unorganized and messy. 

Saturday night and Sunday I was feeling like a loser because my house is messy and un organized but

I always feel like winner when it comes to how much fun I have and how I love a good nap. 

Today I choose fun. 

No surprise.

Today I choose to feel like it's my choice to have piles of laundry waiting because I'd rather go to lunch with my dad. 

kindergarten shots!

Is Sarah tough or what?

The little boy that went before her went completely postal. 

Gwenyth has been so excited to get her shots for kindergarten. 

I've been pumping them up for it. 

It worked. They, especially Gwen were looking forward to being tough and brave and getting a prize.

They forgot about the prize! 

I told them I'd take them swimming. 

I'm sure they'll remember at some point but they were just so excited to show their friends their battle scars and tell them how brave they were. 

It is so exciting to see them grow and see how they are ready and happy to move forward in their lives.

It's been a great week. 

music, media, meditation

For the past several days the only person I want to hear singing is......

Kelly Clarkson.

Yep. I mean it.

Pandora station is set to 

Kelly Clarkson

My ring tone is

Kelly Clarkson

 "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!!!"

Every time I hear that song it's like  shazameeee is injected into my blood stream!

Her voice has this franticly intense sound but it's still under her total control....like a wild thing living in her throat that she has some how tamed and can use to make her point. I want that.

I'm also enjoying a few other punky little singers.

 I must have some pent up mad and mean that needs a harmless release through music. 

Can there be such a thing as a punky, mormony, mamma singer? Singing me some gospel? 

Oh the world of music and media we live in. It really is amazing.  

Today I watched T.D. Jakes on Oprah's next chapter.

My mom watched T.D. Jakes a few days ago on Oprah and told me how insightful and inspiring his take on the loaves and fishes was.

After watching him today it made me want to take a trip to Texas with my  mom and hear him in person.


Tonight as a family we watched
We Bought a Zoo
It was so happy, moving, spiritual, fun and sweetly sad.
Matt Damon  and Scarlett Johansen are so great in it.



Are you wondering how I have so much time to watch TV and movies today?
That's just the kind of cushy life I lead ;)
Really though,
my friend invited the twins over to play. I was going to go out on the town running errands but then a big glorious thunder storm rolled in.
I turned on the heat, got under a blanket....with some chocolate and enjoyed the storm.
Once the storm was over

 I meditated.
You know, to help me live in the now, and keep me from getting all anxious and grouchy.

Once I was all done aligning my chakras I turned on Oprah.

Then tonight, movie with the kids.

Fun day.
Good day.
I'd like a repeat tomorrow.

Law school friends are friends for life

While in California we drove up to Del Mar Beach to visit some old friends we haven't seen in years.

Now I'm realizing I would have liked to have gotten a picture of Nate and I with Becky and Adam.

They are friends from our Arkansas law school years. 

In those days we both had 2 little girls. 

Now look at the population explosion. :)

10 kids between us. 3 of my kids have the same names as 3 of her kids....

We didn't do that on purpose of course but  it's a funny little coincidence.

Adam is a big tough marine. God bless America.

They got us a great deal on a beach front cottage on the U.S. marine base

Thanks friends!

my Luke had a great time with their 3 sons, one of whom is also named Luke :)

Becky brought her kids wet suits for my kids to wear. I think they look like cool little surfers.

Here we are on our last day in California kissing the beach good bye. 

I hope I don't have to wait 2 years again to see the beach.

You couldn't pay me to get into that freezing water but I sure love to be on the beach with the sky and the sound and sight of the waves and the smell of the salty air.

Becky, move to Utah and be my neighbor. 

You could help me not be so lazy and I could help you learn the art of doing nothing.

You see Becky above with her energetic self. She built us a bond fire on the beach. The kids ran around in the dark all over that big beach. I hope they remember all the happy times in their childhood and forget all the times when they fight or when their parents have no clue how to be parents. 

Forgive us children!!! We are trying I promise.

Well that's about it for our trip. 

It's been beautiful spring weather since we've been home so it's made it easier to be here and not California. 

The trees have beautiful blossoms and the grass is greening up.

Today I had the windows open as I lay on my bed.

I'd been a good little worker all morning, my kids had gone outside to play with friends and I was comfy and content in my breezy room.

I'm not always comfy and content so when I am I savor it. Mmmmmm yum.

In fact a lot of the time I'm blah and unmotivated and grumpy.

Those are the times when I'm not being grateful.

Sometimes I'm so anxious and confused. 

Those are the times when I'm not living in the moment. If I'm anxious and worried it's because I'm trying to  figure out my life for the next 20 years and of course that's impossible.  Either that or I'm comparing myself to people and feeling like a loser. That's always an effective way to make myself miserable. 

But that sounds like a topic for a whole different post.

It's raining right now and it sounds so nice. 

I've been blessed today and I feel so happy and grateful and in wonder. 

Have a good day or night and I'll see you soon.

Disney Land

I didn't think I was that scared. 

I wish we would have gone on Splash Mountain again and made sure to be able to see the twins faces. Gwen is behind my hair :(  She didn't want to be in front.

Emmaline is the one behind AnnaKate with her hood over her head. She was so scared and pitiful. She acts as if Nate and I are abusive for going on this ride and encouraging her to come with. Should we have left her to wait? 

5 year olds at Disney Land are way better than 3 year olds! No melt downs, all fun from these 2.

Well maybe one melt down while waiting for the shuttle bus back to the car at 10:30 at night. 

They were so exhausted they could hardly walk.

My little brood.

Nate was too shy to ask someone to take a picture of us or even let me ask? ?  

What a weirdo he is. 

You should see him at firm parties dancing like a drunk disco queen, but to ask a nice person at Disney Land to take our picture is too much?

Some nice people walked by and volunteered to take our picture.

This line was long but no complaints from my lovelies. 

All the lines were long. It was incredibly crowded.

Somehow we still had so much fun.

Minnie's day bed.

It's a small world.

This is my mom's favorite ride. 

I love the words to the song.

"It's a world of laughter a world of tears.

It's a world of hopes and a world of fears.

There's so much that we share that it's time we're aware it's a small world after all."

So simple and quaint but so true.

I just liked this picture even though it's grainy.

The parade was so great! It moved me to tears, which isn't hard to do.

The best rides for our family were

Big Thunder Mountain

Space Mountain 

Star Tours (new and improved!)

Splash Mountain

These rides made us laugh, scream, and cry with joy or fright....which ever.

WooHOo!!! 

That was a fun day.

I love hearing my kids talking about it now that we are home.