Never say Never

All growing up I would say that I would never own a mini van, only SUV for my family. Since Gypsy (My Mazda) decided to throw a rod, meaning I would need a new engine. We had to decide, do we fix the Mazda or get a new car. Once we got the quote from the dealer stating that the repair would be over 6,000 dollars that made the decision a little easier since my car was only worth about $7,000.  So it was out to the dealerships, and looking online. So for about a month we looked and then we decided that I would drive the Xterra and that we would buy just a little commuter car for Jeff. As we looked online for some time we just couldn't find anything and if we did by time we called it had been sold. So we decided once again to look for a mini van, so after the race we went to just look at one and ended up buying it. I have enjoyed having it, the one thing that sold me on the mini van is the automatic sliding doors, I just love them!!! SO I say never say never because you never know, and now I'm a proud owner of a MINI VAN!!!

13.1

The past 11 weeks I have been training for the Salt Lake City Half Marathon that was held on April 16th. My good friend Ann Marie and I ran it together, it is so fun to run with her. During my training I felt good I was running two days during the week, cross training two days and my long runs on Saturdays. But as the race day was drawing closer I was getting a little nervous, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I set two goals 1: To run the whole thing without stopping, Because when I ran the half in 08 I walked the last 3 miles. 2: I wanted to finish in 2 hours in 10 min (10 min miles). Then came the race day, I had to wake up early since the race started at 7. With my fuel belt, Ipod, new running shoes, and a great running partner I was set. Once the race started I was feeling great we were keeping a 9:30 pace. Mile 1, 2, 3 went by fast and I was so glad to see my family at mile 6 and 9. The end of the race it a little more challenging especially since they had a incline at mile 12. But all in all it was fun, my finish time was 2 hours 4 min and 28 seconds. I was happy with that, I met both of my goals. This was such a great experience I can't say I loved every minute of it but it was good ,and I think I may try to run the Halloween Half in Oct.

Mile 9

The Finish Line!

My running partner and good friend Ann Marie

Emma is 1

The last year has gone by so fast I look back over the last year and can't believe how fast it has flown by. Emma is changing every day, she sure makes our family laugh! Her smile just make you smile and her two front teeth are the cutest thing. She started walking about 11 months, we were hoping she would walk before her 1st birthday. Although it was a Frankenstein walk , she was walking. As the weeks have gone by the arms have started to drop and now she doesn't look so silly. Her birthday party was fun, we did a barnyard theme, since Emma can tell you the sounds a cow, a chick, and a dog make. We started the party our by making puppets our of lunch sacks the guests could choose from a pig or a cow. Then we did a little Ol' McDonald lost his animals and the kids had to find them and then we sung the song. Following that was presents, cake, and ice cream. What a great first birthday party!

Opening Presents

Yummy Cupcake

Can I have another one?

Eliza's 4th Birthday

It's hard to believe Eliza is 4, okay she turned 4 in January (just a little late on the post)! This year she decided that she wanted to do a cousins party and have it be Ariel themed. We had a few games such as Ariel Bingo, pin the crown on Ariel and a fish pound. Of course we had to do our tradition of making and frosting a cake to match the theme. This year we decided to put the kids to bed a little earlier so we could tackle the cake and not be up to odd hours of the night, this year it was only till midnight. Every year we say we're not going to do it again but some how a year makes us forget and we do it again. Secretly we enjoy it! I think everyone had a great time I know Eliza did!

Mr. Cake Boss!

Marathon Relay

Since I figure I will most likely never run a marathon, because my knees are bad that I should try a relay. My brother Christian and 3 of my friends( Andrea, Ann Marie, and Lily) all did a marathon relay on September 11 each of us had to do 5.2 miles. It was so much fun, I swear you do one and then you are addicted to running races, just the energy and the excitement that is there is awesome. My goal was to run it in an hour, and I did better then I thought, I completed it in 55 min so I was happy about that. As a team we finished in 4 hours and 15 min. I so glad I did it and thanks team and remember, Live Long and Perspire( that was our team name).



( My good friend Ann Marie and my brother Christian)

Firetruck ride

Our friends and neighbors the Kelly's have a little boy named Myles who loves trucks. I told Andrae a couple of weeks ago that we should go to the "Hook" for dinner and then a firetruck ride. Since the weather was getting a little cold I decided that we needed to do it soon or we would miss our chance this year. So Friday we took them for Myles first firetruck ride, it is so fun to see how excited little kids get, he was so cute. After the ride we came back to the hook and let Myles and Eliza honk the horn and pretend to drive it, here are a couple of pictures.


Eliza, Emma, Myles and Andrae

Preschool

My little Eliza has started preschool, I can't believe she is of age already. Although I'm a little sad my girl is growing up, she on the other hand was so excited for the first day of school. The night before school I wanted to make sure she went to bed early so we could get up and be on time for school. Eliza was so excited she couldn't fall asleep, it reminded me of the night before Christmas, tossing and turning and talking to herself. Eventually she fell a sleep, when I came down in the morning to wake her up the first thing she wanted to do was put on her back back, she just loves that thing. As we left for school in the car she had to tell me that she was to walk up to the door first( miss independent). I think she why she wasn't scared is that her Great Grandma Robin is her teacher so that made the first day a little easier I feel. I know she will have fun this year, she enjoys school and loves to learn new things.

2010 Football season has arrived

As most of you know my husband is a big sports fanatic, he enjoys watching every sport especially football. As the summer draws to an end, along with cooler temperatures, the changing colors of the leaves, also comes football season. Last week we had the opportunity to go to the Pittsburgh and Utah game, it was such a blast! It is always nice to spend some time with just Jeff and I( which rarely happens) and what a great game it was, we both lost our voices( felt as if we had a cold) from screaming so loud. There were many times throughout the game where I thought we had lost the chance to win, but those Utes hung on strong and won it in over time, Go Utes!!!




You would have thought with all the people there I could have asked some one to take our picture, but no, had to pull out take it yourself skills.

4 month check up

Emma had her 4 month check up last week and is doing very well. She still is below average on her weight(42%), but her height is 84% she is just tall and skinny. Now that she is four months she has started rice cereal at night, maybe this well help her gain a little weight. She is doing well with the cereal, it's funny to see her trying to eat, because most of it comes right back out. She is getting better each day and seems to enjoy it, it will be fun to start feeding "real" food in a couple of months.

She has been such a good baby thus far and I hope that she continues to stay that way, she is sleeping from, between 8:30-9 all the way to 8, oh how that is a blessing. she is also starting to reach for things what ever it is she finds always ends up in her mouth. Being a mom is so much fun, I'm so grateful that I can share these moments with her.

Emma's first trick

Since last week Emma has been trying to roll over and on Monday she finally did it. Now every chance she gets she is on her belly, she still takes a minute to get her arm out but eventually she does it and is content on her belly, unlike Eliza was. I get a little nervous at night because I have found her on her belly in the morning, call me paranoid, I just worry about SIDS so I have to check on her like three times. I just love watching them develop it is so amazing and fast how they start to figure things out.

The Big 28

Happy Birthday Sweetie! can you believe you are 28? So old!( I can only say that for another 7 weeks) It is so funny how time flies, 28 already. Sometimes I still think that I'm 25 but after doing the math I have the sad realization, that age has come and gone. I'm so glad that we could share this day with you hope you have a fantastic day. Don't forget that your girls love you!

Say Cheese!!!

Last week I had the girls pictures taken, I meant to have them done last month for Emma's three month pictures but time has flown bye and took me a little long to get it done. I'm pleased with how they turned out, I was nervous, Emma was being a little pill and just cried every time she was put down. So I was surprised that we got any good ones of her. Eliza on the other hand was such a big girl, she cheesed it up the whole time. I sure love my little ones!

A little summer fun!

I just love the simple things that summer weather allows you to do such as, swimming, BBQ's, playing at the park, riding bikes, going on walks, eating Popsicles, oh how the list could go on and on. This summer has been a little laid back, we didn't get rage passes this year since I didn't want to attempt watching a newborn and a 3 year old by myself at a water park. Although rage is usually our life in the summer even with its absent we still have managed to get some good swimming in. We have used our pool at our complex, it is no rage but at least it is something. Eliza Just loves the water( she is her mothers child), she could stay in the pool all day if I let her. Emma also loves the water her new thing is dipping her hand in the water and then bringing it to her mouth so she can drink it, she just loves sucking on her hands I guess the little added wetness makes it that much better. Aunt Amy was up for a week while she was on summer break, it was so nice to spend some time with her, and of course we had to hit the pool many times.On the third Saturday of each month the Harden clan tries to get together an do something, this month we went fishing, let me rephrase that, the boys went fishing while the girls sat around and visited! and that is why I love fishing. We went up to the Uintas to a lake named teapot, it was a little cooler then I thought it would be, so I have learned even in July when it has been 95 degrees in the valley you still may need jackets, pants, and maybe a beanie in the mountains. Although the weather didn't cooperate it still was fun being there and soaking in some of mother natures beauties. When we got finished fishing, we headed down to the hatchery for a little more fish time, it was interesting to see how many fish they had and hear about how they raise them and then plant them. One we finished there since we were so close to the camp ground my dad is leasing, we headed over there for a little BBQ. What a fun day!

The past two months

So I thought I would be able to blog a little more since I would be staying home, and as you can see that just hasn't happened. Life got a little busy once number two came a long, so this post is going to be the last couple of months in a nut shell.

Emma is getting so big, I didn't realize how big she was until the arrival of Baby Khari and Avery. At her last appointment which was at the first part of June she weighed 10 1/2 pounds, she was 75% in her height, 36% in weight and 35% in head circumference. So that just told me she is tall, skinny and has a little head, we'll have to see what the 4 month appointment will bring. Emma is sleeping through the night which has been a blessing for us, we have transitioned her to the crib this week, which made Eliza happy now baby sister is in her room. Emma has started to smile and laugh it is so cute, it's so fun to see them develop.
We Blessed Emma on June 6

Eliza, where do I begin with her? She has been so good with Emma, she just loves her so much, and I'm so grateful for that. She always want to give her hugs and kisses, although she does have to be reminded many times to be a little softer and she responds " But I love my sister", and there is not doubt about that. Eliza took some swimming lessons this summer and loved it she keeps asking when she can take some more. She did well, I was a little nervous since the class I signed her up for was for 4-5 year old. I was selfish and didn't want to get in the water for the mom and tots so I figure she would be fine, and she was. She learned to go under water, back and front floats, and how to be safe around the pool. She has also been learning to ride a big bike and of course it had to be a princes bike. She has done really well, we bought the bigger bike so she didn't out grow it so fast, so I was a little worried that she wouldn't be able to ride it but she has done great. She also got her first real hair cut, I've cut it before but it wasn't very much off, so her Great Aunt Aline trimmed a inch off because it really needed it. Eliza is a good girl and it has been so great to stay home and raise these beautiful girls!


As for Jeff and I not much is new, Jeff works and I spend the money! We did go camping a couple of weekends ago with my parents which was really fun, I don't get to many one on one with my parents so it was great to spend a couple of days with them. Also my brother was in town this past week and boy it was sure fun to see them, little Reed isn't so little and has the cutest personality. We went to Ragging Waters with everyone it was just like old times! It made me miss all the family that lives out of state and wished that all of you would move back!

Emma's first Ragging Waters experience
Jeff and the girls at Ragging Waters
Gramzee and Eliza playing with the sprinkler when we were camping.


These pictures are from Easter I know it's really late.

Do you think Jeff has a little OCD?