We All Choose Something to Love

Joshua Loves Animals

Joshua is my first kid to NOT be afraid of dogs. No matter how big or bouncy or loud, Joshua is interested in any dog. He pretty much loves all animal. He asks for random pets constantly, a hamster, a dog, etc., and is always up for a trip to the "animal zoo." He wears a dog costume around as a dress-up for hours on end.

Halloween 2008 he was the cutest little giraffe ever.September 2009 he went straight for the leopard dress-up in the Children's Museum theater.

Parker Loves Clowns

Halloween 2008 Parker found this clown costume in Grandma Dyreng's dress-ups. He couldn't pass it up, no matter how hard Randy tried to persuade him to be something else.And what costume did Parker find first at the Children's Museum...the clown of course.
He even has enough confidence to not be embarrassed that it is a little on the small side. Yes, I know this is technically a jester, but close enough.

Let's Call in Sick

Randy has "use it or loose it" sick days at work. At the end of September he decided to take a sick day. We enjoyed a family outing at Red Butte Gardens. Gabby had been there two days before for a class field trip so she was the tour guide. Our kids are all old enough now to survive a short hike on their own two feet.Gabby took us up into the foothills above the gardens.We enjoyed the view of the city,rode atop a moose,
napped on the backs of giant lizards, dug in the sand,

and leaped for joy.

It was great weather, great views and even better company.

Parker's 6th Birthday

Parker started kindergarten this year, and being one of the oldest, has already turned SIX. He loves school, loves his teachers and loves learning. I think he especially likes being big enough to run off to class without his mom's help.This year Parker decided that he does not like cake. His request was to have cookies, so we whipped stacked up some cookies so we could at least balance some candles on it. Parker's cousin Carter.Parker's cousin Owen.Gabby proud to be giving Parker a great gift. Joshua amazed at all the cool new toys.

Happy Birthday Parker!

Family Photos 2009

My awesome and beautiful niece is trying her skills at photography. I saw some of her other shots, most with one or two people, and thought it was worth a try. We gave her the extra challenge of having five people to hassle with and pose. We were very impressed with the results. The scenery was amazing, the lighting was great, and the kids personalities shone through. Thanks Jess for taking our pictures. I hope you are looking forward to more business from us in the future!Gabby (age 8)Parker (age 6)Joshua (age 3)

Randy & Caryn (ages undisclosed...mostly for Randy's sake!)Even with Joshua's tears we make a pretty cute family.

And the true personalities come out. We do love laughter.

Back to School = Harvest Time

Another school year begins. Another grade older. Our kids are growing too fast, and it is that time of year that makes me notice. All the clothes that are too short have been pulled from the drawers. Backpacks and lunchboxes are now decorating my doorways. Homework, dance, piano, t-ball and soccer fill our evenings.

Gabby is now in 3rd grade, her last "lower grade" year. She was excited to return to school to see her old friends. She quickly organized her time to make sure she could get her homework done, practice piano, dance, and still squeeze in a little Brady Bunch. (I'm pretty sure my schedule was just that, minus the dance, when I was in 3rd grade.) She is a pro at getting herself up and ready, including eating her breakfast in the dark so she doesn't wake anyone else up, all by her big self. I am, of course, not in bed but gone running or to the gym and return just in time to get the hair done, pack lunches and possible sneak in a shower before we are out the door.
Parker started kindergarten this year. He is so excited to be there. He loves his teachers, especially the one who laughs at him all the time. I told him he should like me because I laugh at him too, but he said she laughs when he is trying to be funny. He loves his backpack. He loves eating lunch with his new best friend (still trying to learn his name!). He even loves having homework. He doesn't even look back when I drop him off. Love you too buddy.Joshua gets to run around with me to help out at the school, run errands and simply enjoy being the only kid at home. So far, he seems to like it.

With the beginning of school comes harvest time. We love having a garden, even if it is small. We have an apricot and a plum tree. This year the trees produced well and we had plenty of plums to juice. By Christmas this juice will make plum jelly for all the neighbors!In the garden we attempted egg plant for the first time. The plant is very pretty with purple blossoms, and the eggplants are even more beautiful. I'm still learning how to prepare them. We also did well with tomatoes, lemon cucumbers and of course, zucchini and yellow squash. It is amazing how accomplished a garden can make you feel!

Top of Utah Half Marathon

Everyone else thought they were slow to post about the run...but as you can see, I beat all.

On August 29th some of my running buddies and I ran the Top of Utah Half Marathon. Everyone except ME, beat their best time. I ran it in 1 hour and 55 minutes. My best was 1 hour 54 minutes so I was only a minute off. I can still be proud of my accomplishment, I know. I do blame that one minute on a bad side ache at mile 11 and losing one of my running pals that knows how to push me. Someday I hope to be an independent runner that can carry it all on my own. I am also strongly considering carrying a watch. I just know I could have made up some time if I would have been watching my pace. Oh well, I will just have to make sure there is a next time.

Enough about the time, lets talk about how fun it was to leave the kids for a night, go to dinner, laugh about things we shouldn't laugh about, have a sleepover, wake up at 4:45 a.m., take a bus up the canyon, run 13.1 miles, celebrate with the girls, enjoy a well needed lunch and even get a 1/2 hour nap when I got home. That is the life.

Marci, Caryn, Jessi and Alisa waiting for the race to start.The whole crew (Alisa brought some family along). Alisa, you did catch that we are related through your sister-in-law, right? Second cousin-in-law I think?! Okay, maybe not. Hey, at least were friends.Marci, Jessi, Alisa and Caryn after the race...the normal pose. Nice work ladies.And the strange pose. I swear I followed Alisa and this. I don't want to point fingers, but someone keeps making us pose this way. It is not the first time, and not just after a long run when it appears that we can no longer hold our bodies up. I will not fall for it again!

Thanks for the fun, girls.

And Randy, thanks for hanging with the kids and allowing me a nap.

You're the best husband and dad ever!

Our Final (Random) Summer Post

To finish up the summer...

We played.

We had a few BBQs.We said goodbye. And, we prepared to go back to school.
I must mention my final summer luxury, courtesy of Parker.
No, my toes aren't bleeding. He's just a little wild with the polish.
It did make him proud!