Here's the album.... Cross your fingers it works....!

What's up with the Harper's? Click to explore...


Open the album and click on the slideshow, hopefully I'll figure out how to add a slideshow directly to the blog, but this is a huge step for me.  There is more, but this is a small snippit.  We are so blessed to have healthy girls and a happy family, and I love to share and document as much as I can.

What we've really been up to...

I think I've managed to make a picasa web album of our doings of late, at least some of them.  That is coming... but most importantly is Emma's baptism today.  She was so beautiful and the day was nearly perfect.  Emma was really in tune with the Spirit, and was just so sweet.  She has a special spirit about her, she is one of those Spiritual Giants who just knows. 

Where are we?

That is a GREAT question!  When I have the answer, I'll let you know.  We are a busy family.  I don't know how we got to this point.  I guess it's not a point, rather it's a phase of our family. I'm so blessed to be working 5 days a week right now.  It's a kicker on the body, but at least the finances are not as scary.  Emma is out of school and just turned 8. Her baptism is scheduled for July 9th and we are so happy for her.  Audrey and Kennedy are just so much fun at ages 5 and 3.  They all keep us busy, more Tim at home with all of them while he's working on graduate school/employment/cars/being amazing.  I'm running a little bit still, planning for a half marathon again in November, but the hardest thing for me is the time away from my family when I go training.  I have terrible "working mom" guilt.  I'm sure that it's just in my head and I should just forget it, but that's easier said than done.  Until then, I try to spend as much quality time with Tim and the girls.  My life feels like a bullet point list these days.  Most of it stuff I feel like I need, but don't want to afford (example:  new running shoes and possibly a visit to the chiropractor because of an injury caused by my 350 miles old shoes...etc! both of which will cost $hundreds$) But, it is all important, so trying to decide what is not as important is really difficult for me.

 My biggest challenge lately is the time vaccuum of digital toys...ie music/mp3photos.  I would love to be able to listen to the latest and greatest music and I love to listen to the Ensign Magazine on my phone, and share amazing pictures of my girls and family, but I am seriously BACKWARD when it comes to that kind of technology.  I don't know if it's because I am not into buying the latest greatest mp3 or phones to do it (because I am a Frugal Franny) or what, but I end up spending time I don't have (which at this point is more valuable than the money).  Maybe I just need validation that it really does take a lot of time to do that junk, but I can't see how it is worthwhile to waste that much time.  I never thought I'd say this but I wish I had my old cassette walkman and my mix tape recorded form the radio!!  I'd rather believe I'm just so technologically declined it doesn't work for me, because it's me. And that's all the time and patience I have to talk about it.

realization

It is Easter.  I am so thankful for the gift of the Atonement and Resurrection of my Savior Jesus Christ.  I know He lives.  I KNOW! I do know by the tender mercies I experience every day in my life.  I want to share one this  morning.  Backup, last week we went to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple with the girls.  They LOVED it.  Audrey kept asking if they really did that to Jesus (having difficulty distinguishing between the actor and the actual story) but I could tell she could feel the Spirit witness to her.  So, this morning I showed them an amazing montage on Mormon messages about how Jesus had to Stand Alone based on a talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland.  Similar images were depicted in the film that Audrey saw in the Pageant.  She asked the same questions.  I told her He loved us SOO much he endured all that for you and me and everyone on Earth.  Wheels started to turn... and I don't remember exactly what I asked, but I something about how the Holy Spirit feels when we feel it, and she turned so quietly to me and said, "Mom, It is what I feel right now."  I could tell she was having a spiritual experience, and I didn't want it to pass by without remembering it.  I let that happen too often, so now it is recorded, and I set a goal again to strive to make moments remembered by writing it down.  Audrey's birthday is tomorrow, and She'll be 5 years old.  I love her so much.  She asks good questions.  She asks questions I don't even begin to fathom asking, and yet at her young age, she is like an old soul.  I am thankful she can identify how the Holy Ghost feels when she feels it and that will help her to seek and find truth.

"I'm Lovin' San Diego... This place is off the Shizam!" - Marty from movie Madagascar

Kennedy has been saying that all week. We're here in Escondido and Lovin' it!  The weather has been less than stellar, but we've had enough sun to feel like we're really on vacation.  It was raining the moment we arrived on Sunday (after a 2 hour detour because we had NO map, NO GPS, No IDEA where we turned wrong from our printed directions, some nice people in Julian CA directed us 60 miles back on track!!).  We finally made it to the Welk Resort in Escondido.

 Monday it rained most of the day, we made it to the grocery store and Costco (which if you thought it was busy in AZ, you ain't seen NOTHIN"!).  We stopped by the beach at Buccaneer park in Oceanside to check the surf, and it was higher than we've ever seen, and higher than the locals had seen it too.  Probably related to the tsunami and the moon being closest to the earth in 20 years.  They said it was 6 feet higher than normal.  It was crazy, but beautiful.

Tuesday we went to Sea World.  It hasn't changed much, except for commercialization.  It was great for the kids, and the dolphin show was part "Cirque De Dolfin" and it was great, Shamu show was a bummer because the trainers can't get into the water due to the accident a while back where the whale killed the trainer.  So, that was a bummer.  All the whales did was jump out of the water and splash.  Oh well, the kids really enjoyed it.

Wednesday we stopped by the beach to check it out, and couldn't help ourselves.  We didn't have any swim stuff or towels or anything (or camera), so after the kids ran around in the surf and soaked themselves in their clothes, we went back to the resort and went swimming.  It was great.  Tim has been cooking like the amazing gourmet chef he is and the food has been spectacular!!

Thursday (today) we hit up the beach (after all night rain and hazy morning, the weather after 10 was sunny but the surf was high, and riptide was strong. We all just ran around the surf and sat on the rocks because there was still no dry beach.  The girls loved it, and Audrey actually got washed upside down and took it like a champ.  So, then we came home after a few hours and ate lunch and went back to the pool where we played another couple of hours till the girls were almost asleep on the poolside chairs.  Now we're back resting getting ready for the evening and the next few wonderful days we have here.  I will figure out how to make a public album to share all the pictures. They are great!

Time for Me

Does that exist?  If it does, where? What would I do with it if I found it?  Here I have maybe 3 minutes, that's if the internet works and I don't have a daughter crisis.  I wanted to post that I need to compliment myself.  I had an awesome weekend at Ragnar, then a full week of work until Friday morning at about 10 where there was a situation wherein things were done/said and I was sent home and layed off.  It was really crappy.  I loved working at that office in Fountain Hill and had been there 15 months.  I felt really crummy all day Friday and Saturday, but Sunday the lesson at church was amazing about pride from Conference 2010 and 1989.  It made me think a lot about myself and my attitude and now that it's been about a week, I feel much better and am looking toward the future with a huge smile.  There were some crazy things about that work situation.  I had given my notice to the other office I worked in and was scheduled to start full time in Fountain Hills, and that was all cut off.  I am blessed to be able to work again at that office Dr. Smith because he allowed me to come back.  I really didn't want to leave, but they made me a great offer in FH, and it took me 8 months to accept it.  Now I know why I felt so hesitant to take it and put all my eggs in one basket. Never again.  Dr. Smith is wonderful, and I can find other work as needed and stay with him from here on out.  He was so understanding when I called him sobbing about what had happened and he told me I could have my position back.  I am so blessed to have the support of my wonderful husband through this.  I think it's harder on him to see me get fired, because I'd be absolutely LIVID if he got fired in the manner I was subjected to.  He is my best friend, and he had a birthday this week and it was crummy because I saw him for all of 45 minutes.  I am so grateful for the physical and mental strength I have gained from running that helped me through that blow last week.  I love to run.  I hope my body will allow me to do it for a long time.  I'm starting to ramble and the kids are calling me and... more later... I hope.

more ragnar pics

Here we all are at the finish line. Yay! We did it, Ragnar 2011

Carolyn, Marinda, Shauna, Machell, Collette, Julie, Jarrica, Amy, Kellie, Misty, Jane (not pictured: Wendy)

Ragnar Pictures

I Rocked at Ragnar! I had a great time and ran 21.2 miles. It was a great experience and I would do it again for sure. I'm addicted to running, and had such a great time with the girls I ran with.

If I were...

I really want to learn how to use my camera.  We had our door open last night and the moon and clouds were AMAZING!! After all the rain the air smelled so clean and the wind in the pine trees was so peaceful.  I had to get a picture, but of course it doesn't do it justice.  It was beautiful.  The rain all weekend was wonderful and I went out for a run yesterday morning and it was perfect, 55 degrees, no wind, cloudy, just perfect.  Good last long run before my Ragnar Relay on Friday/Saturday.  I'm excited for that, but it could be because I'm not sure what to expect, I just know I love to run and I'm excited to see my friends I haven't seen for a while.  Hopefully the moon will shine on for me on Friday night at about 2 am when I'm running on a trail non-supported in the middle of the desert somewhere around anthem.  Here's hoping!  Happy running, and moonshining (in a clean way ;)

Actual pictures

So, I have these, the most recent pictures of the girls, but I finally got the pictures organized, but need to figure out a way to make them faster and better sized for the blog.  This is a start though. I have pictures from before Halloween last year to post. Events to cover:

Half Marathon

Moving

New house (at Harper's)

Thanksgiving

Christmas

New Years

New school for Emma

Bike riding (CHECK!!)

Here's the bike riding pictures.

Here's Audrey riding free.  She is growing up so much.  She's had the most difficulty with the move and the change with our family.  She is so sweet and tender and this was a huge thing for her to build her confidence in herself.  She's amazing.

Kennedy riding the bike she inherited from Audrey.  She is a peddling fiend. Watch out, here she comes. 

Emma giving her "I love you"/"Rock On" hand sign.  One handed riding on her bike from Santa.  She is rocking on two wheels. 

pictures...

I really need a tutorial in how to be faster with this dumb blogger thing.  It is simple, no frills, but I would rather cut off my arm than sacrifice the precious time to "cutify" it.  That's my own word.  SO, if anyone has a short tutorial on how to make a slideshow, or upload pictures quick, I  mean Lightning fast, or even how to organize my pictures so I can find the good ones to share.... do you sense my frustration.  I haven't given up on the blog, just overwhelmed by it.  I'd rather be running. I should be running. Ragnar is 4 weeks away.  I'm getting my shoes. Later