I have a confession to make...I have been shameful at Gymboree these last 3 days. I bought Hope a sizable chunk of clothes on Monday, Tuesday I wanted to exchange a size and bought her another outfit on top of what I had already bought her. Then today...I went in again to exchange another dress for a bigger size (she is between sizes on some things) and found yet another outfit and a pair of shoes that I could not resist. Here is the thing, the deals were good. Shirts for $7 and shorts for $11. You can't do that good at Target. Plus she has outgrown the little sizes at Target and now needs big girl. Not ready for most of those fashions yet. Plus, she is still my little one and she let's me dress her up, and she loves what I bring home. Dang, these shoes I just bought her I'd love to wear!

Happy Birthday Hayden!

Hayden at 19 months, those cheeks!

Hayden trying on glasses.

Hayden's smile.

Our little fella has turned 10. He is still my little guy. He let's me walk him to and from school still. It's still cool for us to come and eat with him at school for his birthday. He even wanted me to bring a treat (donuts) to the class. Sometimes, he still forgets to brush his teeth, but luckily he remembers most of the time now. I love this kid, he is the smiliest kid I know. Even his eyes smile. Happy birthday Hayden!!

Asian rice bowl salad

My parents came in yesterday for a visit. They started talking about Downton Abbey, and I was like THAT's it!!! I need to watch it, everybody was talking about it here, then Instagram started telling me to watch. They had only seen a few of season 2, I found all of season one on Hulu Plus, and we started watching yesterday. Very good! Oh that Thomas is a beast, and what's the lady's name with the curls in her bangs, she is nasty! Very entertaining. This afternoon was going to be so busy, but then Hunter was asked to run in tomorrow's track meet (Varsity!! 800 relay) and Hannah's track meet was rained out. So, guess what we did? Yep, we watched 3 episodes of Downton Abbey. I think we may squeeze one more in today. It was slightly less enjoyable once the children came home. I like to immerse myself in the costumes and the scenery and the accents and the scandal and...just watch. None of this helping with homework, and getting snacks while it's playing. I skipped yoga class this morning and yoga'ed my way through an episode.

Here is the recipe for that Asian rice bowl salad. I got it out of Shape magazine years ago. It's a keeper. It even gets Hunter's seal of approval for a "salad dinner". Enjoy!

This recipe as shown serves about 4. I always double and have some left over for lunch.

1 1/4 cups brown rice
1 1/4 cups broccoli florets
1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
1/2 head savoy or napa cabbage, thinly sliced (the cabbage it is yummier that regular cabbage)
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Dressing
4 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil (I always use olive oil)
8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast (I slice it into bit sized pieces and saute it in a pan with a little olive oil) or 8 ounces firm tofu (I have used the tofu option, but that was not nearly as popular with the family :)

I cook the rice, chop all the vegetables and put them in a big bowl. Add the rice, pour the dressing over the salad and mix it up well. Let it marinate around in the dressing for a few minutes before you serve.

Beneath the Surface

I was looking in a few old issues of Yoga journal this week. On Tuesday the YW in our ward asked me to teach them a few yoga moves, I think I already told you that. So anyway, I was looking in some old issues and I happened upon this article in the May 2011 issue. It does a really good job of explaining "the core" to you, it gives some good advice and explains some commonly misunderstood things, and it shows you exercises. Here is a little sample:

It's almost summer—and chances are good that people all over America want to tone up their tummies, and they're adding crunches to their routines to do it. But sit-ups alone won't make a potbelly disappear. In fact, they just might have the reverse effect!
To achieve a toned and healthy midsection, you need to work with a number of muscles that are commonly called the "core." Your core includes more than just abdominal muscles. Most exercises that target your abdominals can actually tighten the muscles around your tummy in such a way that they prevent abdominal tone and, if done without proper awareness, can push your belly out and even hurt your back.
It's often the psoas that will cause you to lose the battle of the bulge. A key muscle at the very center of your core, the psoas is all too often overworked in ab exercises. You'll benefit most from your core work if you learn the actions that not only tone your tummy, but also tame a tight psoas.

Go check it out, we all want flat"ter" tummies, and even more important to keep our spines healthy and strong!

4 years ago...

I have gotten myself worked up into a frenzy/slight depression this afternoon. Ever since Hannah's birthday, I have been looking at old pictures more, mostly in scrapbooks. Well, yesterday Scott called and asked me if I knew what day it was. Hmmmmmm, what day was it? It was the 4 year anniversary of when we sold our house on Brush Canyon Drive, the day we signed the papers, the day I sat in the of the mortgage place and sobbed like a baby. Uhhgg. On one hand it seems like longer than that, and on the other it sort of seems like yesterday. I get a pit in my stomach just thinking about that day, how everything was packed up and I went from room to room and said goodbye to my house. Today would mark the 4 year anniversary of when we left Houston and physically moved to WA. A whole new adventure. What an exciting and scary time all rolled into one. I did so love our time there. But those first few weeks or so were very lonely and scary. Then something clicked and we had a brand new life, full of new friends, a new house and a beautiful rainy new city.

I went upstairs to find a picture of the Brush Canyon house, I didn't find any. Those would be on an external hard drive and way too time consuming for now when I should be making dinner, because I'm going to Hannah's track meet in about 20 minutes (she is running the 1.5 miler!) and then on to Hunter's track meet (he is running the 1 mile and 1 mile races today), and I won't get home until late. Hope and I just ate a big bowl of popcorn, so who's hungry now? Who even needs dinner?? I know a much better way to spend my last few precious moments at home... why don't I get sucked in watching old videos and looking at old pictures, and then blog about it??!! I'm feeling panicky, like life is rushing by too quickly, slightly sick to my stomach and a little depressed. They were all so little and so cute. I miss Hayden right now too...sniff sniff. Really, I'm fine, nothing a big old squeeze won't take care of. Ok. Get a grip, get those big girl panties on girl and get yourself out the door to some track meets. Live in the moment and appreciate each stage.

God's beautiful creations

Another picture of a beautiful sunset. Last night I was closing the blinds right by the kitchen, when Hope told me not to close the blinds there was a pretty sunset. I looked for a second and thought, yeah it's pretty but I've seen prettier. (snotty of me, right?) The length and quality of my look, was not sufficient to her, and she told me so. She really wanted me to take a picture of the pretty sunset, but I told her I had just taken a picture of the sunset last week and I didn't need another. She was insistent. In fact, she told me, "You are not appreciating God's beautiful creations, Mom!!" That stopped me. So, I got my camera phone, walked outside, took a picture, admired God's beautiful creation for a little while with my sweet little girl, and thought to myself...she was right, it really is another beautiful sunset. Then I started to think, how many pretty sunsets do I miss because I don't really look. I just quickly glance and call it good. I would have missed this one, if my little one hadn't insisted. Pay attention people, you don't want to miss any of God's beautiful creations!