Gotta Wanna!

I am having a serious problem! I seem to be having an overwhelming addiction to anything with sugar. Let me give you a rundown....

Tuesday night I had to run to the store to get some milk, of course I walked out with cookies! Who wouldn't when a yummy Lofthouse cookie with Memorial Day sprinkles and cream cheese frosting are just waiting to be devoured! Came home, ate 2! Yes not 1, 2! 

Proceed to Wednesday morning. I am headed off to my regularly scheduled workout when I see one of those devilish Lofthouse cookies staring me in the face, so naturally I grab one for the road and eat it on my way to exercise.  NICE! Kinda makes the whole 60 minute workout routine seem kinda null and void right?! Yeah....it gets better.  Moving on to Wednesday afternoon, I notice I have an UN-opened package of El Fudge grasshopper cookies. I grab a couple and promptly toss them in my mouth where they all to quickly melt away.  As if that weren't enough I go ahead and eat a couple more WHILE I am in the process of MAKING chocolate chip cookies that include 1lb, that's right an ENTIRE box, 1 POUND of that yummy, melt in your mouth goodness...BUTTER! I'm not sure if I dare mention the 21/2 cups of sugar that were included as well.  I will say this cookie recipe is a rare splurge because it is obviously so clearly BAD for you.  So why did I make them? Palin and simple...I didn't have any shortening....I say that as if that were an excuse. Nope, just fact of the matter. 

Here's the funny thing.  Brandon, "the I am going to lose weight starting TODAY and everyday" husband of mine, comes home from work and immediately grabs a cookie while I am cutting up some zucchini squash for dinner. I say to him, you know if you were looking for a healthier option it would have been the squash rather than the cookie.  Kettle black anyone??? I mean really, I am not even sure I thought about what I said before I said it.  

Despite my best efforts to give away as many cookies as possible I still have a container full.  So while up in the middle of the night what do I do?  Grab a cookie of course.  I figured it was earned since I was up with a sick kid and not out of lack of wanting to actually be asleep.  As if that weren't bad enough, I go ahead and have another cookie for breakfast when I get up for real and then add to my diet a delicious, fudge covered, soft, chocolatey, divine, gets me every time, BROWNIE that my sweet neighbor brought me as a Thank You.  Do you see the problem here?!?!

Then I run upon my friends blog, who just happens to be having a glorious giveaway for a HAPARI gift card.  Then, and only then is it I am recognizing that as much as I would like to win that giveaway...I CLEARLY am having a sugar addiction! I think of that fact that I really do need a new swimsuit and if I could win a gift card and get it for free, wouldn't that be better? That leads to my next thought...it is almost swimsuit season and I am eating NOTHING but sugar and cookies! Fabulous! Can't wait to see what I look like in suit this year.

So, call this accountability, admitting I have this crazy love affair with sugar or even a chance for you to benefit and earn the HAPARI giveaway knowing full well you will probably look better in that beautiful swimsuit than yours truly.  After all, you have gotta wanna...and as much as I wanna win this giveaway, as much as I wanna be a slim and gorgeous girl flaunting a 120lb weight and as much as I want all my efforts at aerobics and running to be maximized, I'm not sure I wanna give up a yummy cookie, or lets be honest A LOT of yummy cookies.  So until then I guess, I will dream of the day when I really wanna!!! So, here's to you as well as me winning that HAPARI card.  Maybe that will kick me into gear. 

To enter the giveaway go here

The inevitable!

It's inevitable right? Every child will at some point make their grand debut into the wonderful world of the Emergency Room! Fear not, Brooklyn can check that of her list of things to do. I am actually surprised we haven't been there sooner with her. This girl is WILD! She is car more curious than her brother ever was or has been. She is a firecracker with a mission, a mind and will of her own. 

Here's the rundown. A couple weeks a go the back sliding glass door shattered after a rock hit while Brandon was trimming the lawn. 

Fast forward a couple weeks and the kiddos want to play outside, this was Tuesday morning. I noticed there was still some glass on the back patio and wanting to avoid an accident thought I should clean it up. So I told the kiddos (Cannon, Brandon's niece Kara and Brooky) to hold tight while I cleaned up the glass. Next thing I know I am standing there putting glass in the garbage when I see Brooky fall from the top stair, about 3-4ft high, only to land on the concrete head first! PANIC mode set in!!! I was freaking out! 

Suddenly I am thinking why didn't we clean up this leftover glass sooner? 

Why have we never replaced this stupid railing? 

Why didn't my reflexes work fast enough to catch her? 

A million questions, no answers! Poor Brooky was understandably hysterical! I called my mom, she quickly came to the rescue. Then I called the pediatrician! Her poor little face was so swollen, I felt terrible! Her ped tells me to take her to the ER to evaluate for CT scan. Ughh...yes the tears are swelling at this point and I am so upset. Luckily she never lost consciousness, she cried immediately and the ER is just down the road. I will tell you one thing, if you need an ER visit 10am is the the time to go! We got right in, no wait! It was glorious! Brooky was champ as they took her vitals. I remember going with Cannon to PC and he was a nightmare so I was thankful she was an angel for the nurse and the doctor!

Waiting for the Doc with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

They brought her a baby and a coloring book to play with.  She was in heaven!

Chomping on her ice! She loves ice!!!

Hi Daddy! She really was saying "Hi Daddy" in this pic. 

They kept us there for a couple of hours for observations but she checked ok and no CT scan was needed!   I was so relieved!!!

Later that day...naked! Yep this is how I found her after her nap.  No shirt, no pants, no diaper! I guess she was feeling better.

The next day.  Pretty bruised up but otherwise ok.

Moving on to Wednesday...9pm a bat of vomit decided to make it's debut into the Ball house.  She was throwing up pretty consistently for a few hours then she seemed in the clear.  Thursday noon, the throw up returns and it was back to the doc! The ER said if she started to throw up call her ped! I called they want to see her ASAP! We head to the doc for an emergency follow up, they checked her out and they sent us on our way.  The doc thinks it was just a tummy bug because she had diarrhea too, but also thinks she suffered a minor concussion. NICE! So, we will deal with the stomach flu for a few days with a keen eye out for other symptoms! 

Oh heavens....Brooky Cookie you are one tough, WILD girl! 

RRR Moab

Every year since I have discovered running I find myself in one of those "Why am I doing this" situations. Why would this year be any different?! It wasn't, thus there was a return to Moab! There is something about this race that is invigorating! Maybe it is the 4hr drive to the land of the red rocks with a bunch of chatty girls. Maybe it's the hilarious over-nighter. Maybe it's the team (people) watching, the competition (kills) or the incredible feeling you have when you turn around to see how far you have come. Perhaps it is the months of prep that are finally coming to an end. Or maybe at the end of the day it is being able to look back at the pictures, remember how much FUN you had and being able to say "yeah, I did that." I climbed those mountains, I contributed to those 70miles, I accomplished something hard! I don't know what it is, but it keeps me coming back. Who wouldn't want to with a bunch of lovelies such as these...

Enjoying our YUMMY pre-race dinner at Moab Brewery! Delish!

Me and the Jack Attack! She was on another team with Brandon's cousins. It was fun to see her and some of the Ball Fam.

The crew before the race! Wishing we could ride in that Razor instead of running.

Good times, Moab style!

Seriously, look at some of that scenery! BEAUTIFUL!!!

Ahh, the blessed finish line! Go Team "Does this Skirt Make my Butt Look FAST?"

 

I had so much fun with these ladies! They all rocked it and we finished the 70 miles in less than 12hrs! We beat last years time! My goal is to someday cut that down to 10ish.  Yeah, we'll see! It's hot, steep and let's face it, I am really only a pretend runner! Until next year ladies!

Ogden Dinosaur Park

We spent the first weekend of May in beautiful Pineview Utah. Brandon's boss was kind enough to invite us up to their time share for the weekend. It was gorgeous up Ogden Canyon! We had a yummy BBQ with some choice steaks, a fun night with friends and no sleep thanks to Brooky baby! She decided to pull an all nighter, not exactly what you hope for on on ovenighter with a house full of other people. Thank you Brook! The next morning, after about 2hrs of sleep, we packed up and headed to the Ogden Dinosaur Park. It's been a hundred years since I had been there, so it was fun. I think the kids liked it too. 

 I think sometimes we just get stuck in our day to day and we forget to take advantage of the world around us. Especially here in Utah where we have so many lakes, trails, reservoirs and other beautiful creations! The world is truly amazing and awe-inspiring.

The dinosaur park was fun but I don't know if I would say awe-inspiring. :)

 Here are my Ballers take cover under "Little Foot."

Monkey see, monkey do! Yes, Brooklyn has to copy everything her brother does.

Exploring the WILD dinosaur park!

Little Miss poser! She's a keeper, pretty dang cute!

C-man would fit right in with those Flintstones.  Look how cute he is in this pic!

It was nice to have a little getaway! Thanks for a weekend Brewer Fam!

Deja Vu!

Sometimes I have moments like this....

I think this is what they call Deja Vu or kid #2! :)

Happy Easter!

I am pretty sure this is how most photo ops go for the majority of moms on those "special occasion" days.....
Say what?!

Go Gangsta!

Lets try again with a little more cheese and a little less gangsta.

How about one more?!

Okay, good enough I guess I will settle for this!
Love my little chicks!

What a wonderful holiday Easter is. It is the kickoff for SPRING, flowers, longer days, sunshine, warm afternoons, walks, talks with the neighbors and a glorious time look at the world around us in absolute awe!!! The singing birds, the blossoming trees, the budding flowers, the greening grass! How very LUCKY we are to have such a wonderful occasion to celebrate thanks to a loving, selfless, understanding, compassionate, miraculous Savior! We are so lucky to have so many subtle, beautiful reminders that He lives! Jesus has risen!
Happy Easter from the Ball Fam and our little peeps!

And it Came to Pass....

And it came to pass....that they did eat crow all the rest of their days!

So, this is our new ride. I will probably call it CROW because I will be eating it for the

REST of MY LIFE!!! I caved and fell victim to the "mini!"

Let me first tell you that when I married Brandon some 9yrs ago I had ONE, yes just ONE stipulation and it wasn't; "I will never live in P-town."

"I will never be a cougar fan."

"I won't put up with hours upon hours of endless, senseless sports, ESPN, Jazz rants, BYU games, football etc".

It wasn't "I will never live in a trailer" (though once upon a time Brandon made me go look at one he wanted to buy near Trafalga and I was starting to panic a little).

It wasn't "limited nights with his BOYS."

It wasn't "I can never be poor."

It wasn't even "I will never follow you around the world moving from place to place."

It was..... "I WILL NOT EVER, EVER, EVER, I am telling you NEVER, EVER own a mini van!!!! If this is a problem for you than you are free to break the deal here." Yes, it may quite possible have been the most serious conversation we had ever had in our pre-marriage days and I am telling you I meant every word!

Fast forward 9yrs. The Path has seen her day and it is time to start "looking" at our options. With both cars far exceeding the 100,000 miles marker (the Path 170,000+ and the Civic 225,000+). We are not naive to the fact that we need A new car before we need new CARS! We have one of the MOST AMAZING friends ever who happens to work for a car dealer. He brings us home some cars to try. I tell him my dream is a Tahoe, so if he could be on the lookout that would be great. I am set that my next car will be some sort of SUV. We try a few different things including a Honda Pilot and I can't get over the climbing of the seats, the lack of cargo space, the opening of the doors etc that I will still be required to do for X amount of years. I also can't stomach, rather Brandon can't but lets face it he is the smarter of the two of us and on occasion his smarts rub off, the gigantic payment that accompanies a large SUV along with the gas bill that would probably equal our payment. Our dear friend, a one child, mini owner himself suggests we try the dun dun dun...minivan. We do and the rest is history.

So here she is, the "NEVER, EVER, EVER I mean EVER" has come to pass and I am now a minivan owner before the age of 30. Perhaps I have grown in maturity, or maybe I have been "tricked" by husband and various other van lovers. Maybe I have overcome some of that "status" paranoia (although I am cooler now in my minivan than I have EVER been ;)) or maybe it just makes sense because after all I AM mom with carpools, kids, Costco runs, soccer games, family vacations etc, and I will be for quite some time. So maybe, just maybe it really does make sense and it really was the right call. I have to say, it is pretty pimped out for a mini and so far there are no complaints from this girl!

For those of you who are wondering, this is not an announcement, or even a preview of an announcement. Some day we will add to our little Ball baby brood, but that day is quite away from it's come to pass! Until then I will be enjoying the years and years of crow that I have regretfully earned!
HAPPY NEW CAR DAY!