Why a clean room is bad

So, a few weeks ago I spent a day with the boys helping them to deep clean & declutter their room. We went through all their clothes, toys, junk drawers (aka nightstands), etc. and decided what to keep, donate, or throw out. We also moved furniture and vacuumed under it (I'm always amazed at what has been hiding there for 6 months to a year - how often we do such a deep clean).

At the end of the day, the boy's room was spotless. They were instructed on how the best way to keep it this way was to always put things back where they belong. (This instruction comes from a mom who can't do this herself, but maybe one of my children will be able to someday)

Later that day, or maybe the next day, Andrew walked into the kitchen after getting ready for bed. Our conversation follows:

"Mom, I don't like having my room so clean."

"Why not Andrew?"

"Because now I feel like I have to put things away to keep it clean."

I got quite the chuckle out of this one. I went up a bit later and sure enough, he had put his clothes away that he had changed out of. One of the few times in his life that I haven't had to ask him to do it!

I wish I could say that he is still putting his things away without being asked, but sadly he has reverted back to his leave it on the floor until mom "forces" me to behavior. What can I expect, my own clothes from yesterday are on the floor of my room waiting to be put away as I write this.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

(one day late, but better late than never, right?)

10 years ago my little drew-drew came into the world. He has brought a lot of happiness into our family. He our joker and teaser, much to the lament of his siblings, and gets into trouble because of it often. But all he has to do is smile and look at me with his big blue eyes and my heart melts. He also has a heart of gold and never forgets to remember his siblings when he gets a treat at the store. I often here, "Can we get one for Cory & Rachel too?" He's growing up too fast, but I'm excited to find out what kind of man he becomes.

With his cousin Kellen
(yes, there are real babies under those jackets)

sucking his thumb
(an old favorite past time)

10 months old and walking already
(Halloween 2000- superbaby)

look at our chubber-dubber

Always adventurous

Another birthday

Kindergarten Graduation

Pinewood Derby

Happy 13th Cory!!

Cory joined our family on August 30, 1996 at 4:30am

(he waited until the morning after grandma harward left to come)

One of my favorite pictures of Norm & Cory

Cory's first day home

1st birthday
(in California @ Grandma Harward's)

2nd birthday
(at our home in Renton, WA)

One of many messes he's made in his lifetime

(he had fun with a bottle of baby powder in the car)

3rd birthday

(at our first home in Tucson, AZ)

4th birthday

1st day of 1st grade

1st lost tooth

8 years old- baptism day

Learning to waterski

6th grade

(1st day of school)

running cross country

7th grade

(running track)

Driving the boat this summer

1st day of 8th grade

Turning 13

August 30, 2009

Cory has been a great blessing to have in our family. We were so excited to welcome him into the world and have enjoyed watching him grow and develop. We will enjoy the continuing years as he continues to grow into a young man that will someday have children of his own.

I still remember sobbing while I was pregnant with him about how my little baby boy was going to grow up, get married, and leave me. Every year it comes closer to becoming true.

15 Years

Yesterday, was Norm's & my 15th Wedding Anniversary. It's hard to believe that what seems like so much time has gone by since we were married. We have grown so much in so many ways since we met and married at a young age. I thought I'd reminisce by posting a few pictures of our life together.

The night we met: May 18, 1994
(our friend must have had a premonition to take a picture of us together) About a month later when we were engaged

Wedding Day: August 13, 1994
(look at how young we were!)

August 1999: 5 years later
(our first home)

Norm running the Tucson Marathon & me very pregnant

Cory (age 3) and newborn Andrew

August 2004: 10 yrs later
Cory's baptism

The extended family at Cory's baptism
(little Rachel up front in her pink dress)

August 2008
Celebrating our 15th a year early in Hawaii
(Norm & I really need to get an updated picture together)

We've had our ups and downs, but overall it's been a wonderful 15 years and I'm looking forward to the many more years we have to spend together.

First Day of School

The kids started school yesterday (I guess I'm a bad mom since it took me until this morning to post this, unlike all my friends). They were all very excited about the new year and new teachers. They each got a few new items of clothing for the year. I was most surprised at how much Andrew and Rachel had grown since last year. I'm excited to find out at what age each of them grows tall enough to look me in the eye.

Brothers

Rachel: 2nd Grade, Ms. Strosin

Andrew: 4th Grade, Mrs. Samuelsen

Cory: 8th Grade (am I really that old??)

Everyone got new shoes

It will be fun to see what this new year brings. Cory has the opportunity to go on an 8th grade trip to either DC or Florida and was excited that he tested into Algebra (he'll be starting on his high school transcript). Andrew has the opportunity to go to the Grand Canyon and I'm hoping to go along with him (overnight bus ride and all - I already have my custom ear plugs). Rachel is just excited to be in second grade and told me that she's going to be hatching butterflies this year.

Summer Lake Fun (and the drive home)

We spent Tuesday through Saturday at Apache Lake. On Tuesday we arrived in time to set up camp and relax for a bit before darkness fell. Wednesday we were up pretty early, ate a quick breakfast and headed out on the boat. Cory took the first try on the wakeboard, didn't get up, but maybe another time. Andrew seems to be a natural on the wakeboard. No effort needed to pop his little body out of the water. He likes to one hand it and still is learning how to control the board. He rides "goofy-foot" like his dad (left foot forward instead of right- his dominant). Rachel goes next and is a bit excited/scared. She needed my help in the water to get set up. She pops right up like Andrew, but isn't ready to stand up so she just squats her entire ride. I take a turn and was very happy to get up on my first try (I think I'm finally getting the hang of it after 3 seasons). My goal this trip is to get myself back into the wake since I can get out just fine. Didn't get up the courage to do it on Wednesday, will try again Thursday. The rest of the day was spent avoiding the heat/sun in the shade and water and doing some tubing.

Thursday we slept in a bit, but still got up earlier than most of the boats. Rachel and Andrew joined us in the morning (Cory prepped for almost being a teenager by sleeping in). Norm got the first run on the glassy lake. I went next, took a good faceplant spill when I caught my edge. It took me a few minutes to recover, but I went at it again. I got the courage to take on the wake and got in, but couldn't keep my balance and crashed. One more run, but no wake this time, I quit on my own time. Rachel decided she wasn't up for wakeboarding, but Andrew jumped right in. He had a few good runs and is attempting to go out of the wake without falling. Finally we headed back to camp to find Cory up and wondering if his family was ever coming back for him. We picked up Cory and headed over to the marina to pick up some ice and treats for the kids (Andrew had earned his by wakeboarding). Cory and Rachel eventually earned theirs by giving the wakeboard another try. Cory took a turn on the skis- his personal favorite. He smiles the entire time he's out there. The Smith family had arrived during Tuesday night and that afternoon the kids had a fun time hanging out in the water with them. More tubing in the afternoon and I think Norm got in a few more runs on the wakeboard himself too.

Friday we slept in really late. More wakeboarding for Andrew, Norm, and I. I even crossed back into the wake without crashing- YEAH! Tubing for all. A nice day overall- a bit overcast in the am, but it didn't last. That afternoon we spent with the Smiths at a nice shady cove to beat the heat. Dinner and bed. Very hot that night- it really didn't cool off much like the last few nights.

Saturday's plan was to get up early, wakeboard a bit, then head back to pack up camp and leave before the serious heat. Norm got his runs in. Andrew went too. I went and got up the courage to try crossing back into the wake again. I did it a few times, then figured that I should be able to cross out the other side and did it without crashing my first try! I did the whole thing a few more times just to make sure it wasn't just luck. Happily it wasn't. I'm hoping that our next trip I can still do it and keep improving. After Rachel and Cory decided that they didn't want to wakeboard or ski, we headed back to pack up camp. Did a quick job and headed home. Little did we know what adventure lay in wait for us

Just outside of Superior, AZ one of the tires on our boat trailer blew out. No problem, we have a spare, right? Well, it was flat, so after unhitching the boat, we head back to Globe where we (when I say we, I mean Norm- All thanks go to him for being out in the hot sun working hard) fill the spare and head back. After getting the spare put on, we're on our way again. A few minutes later (about 5-6 miles) the spare blows too! What to do- the Jeep spare wouldn't fit or we would've used it. Thanks to having some survice on my cell phone and internet we find out that the closest tire repair store is in Apache Junction. We unhitch the boat again and head out. Got to the tire center just about 2pm and I noticed that they were bringing in their display tires- are they closing?? Luckily the manager was happy to take our $$ in exchange for 2 new tires & one new wheel. I think the employees worked double time so that they could get out of there for the day (they were closing up when we pulled in). Got some lunch for the family and headed back to the boat. Norm sets to work chaning out the tire again. Just as he's about done a highway patrolman stops to help. The patrolman surpervises and Norm finishes the job. We arrive home safe and sound 8 hours later. 4 hours longer than the trip should've taken. Thankfully there were no injuries or damage (except for the tail light on the trailer that got busted by the first blow out).

(For pictures see Facebook- my battery died on Friday, so no pics of any of the Saturday fun)

Arizona Distance Classic

The kids & I before the race

Feeling tired going uphill

Getting some encouragement from Rachel

My race number & medal

I ran a half marathon this morning. When I started running again last summer, I had a goal to be able to run a half marathon by the end of a year. It was a very hilly course and the last few miles were tough, but I finished in about 2 1/2 hours, which is the time I expected to run it in. Next year, my goal is to shave 15 minutes of my time. (Yes, I'm going to do it again)