I miss blogging.
I like tennis and have a new fore-hand I can't wait to keep practicing.
I am really enjoying running in the early mornings (and its been so easy getting up this week!).
In the last week I have been deeply inspired by a dear friend (TVC) and a totally random blogger I stalked.
Today was a fantastic, happy kids, happy Mom, mountain biked Daddy, beautiful weather, fall, even made butternut squash and sweet potato soup, super day.
And those are my thoughts of the moment.

The Conley Wedding Trip

Oh they are funny. But in this one everyone is looking in the right direction.

McCormick Ranch Train Park (aka the best deal for train rides, carousel, and park ever!)

Probably our best photo, although Penelope had just been traumatized by a cactus, and only Andy's shirt is tucked properly, and my pale arm seems to be dominating the photo. And Katie thinks its weird we are "in the middle of cactuses" or cacti as they are properly known.

Crop-able. I love my family, can't you tell? We had a great Arizona trip (if you take out the drive home, at least we had the candy to bribe with, eat in total frustration, and throw at the children in desperation). The wedding was blissful (the most darling couple ever!) and we still got to hang and explore. Trader Joe's was hit twice since it was right next door to our hotel (I curse the peanut butter chocolate minis), the company was fab (we got to see bff's Tiffany (me) and Alex (AK) and the Knight family), the restaurants and shopping are sorely missed, the scenery was amazing, but I am still wondering if a drive with the kids is worth it. I am desperately trying to talk AK into a no kids trip next time, but I don't think Grammy and Grandpa would like that one bit. The kids went swimming (even though I think it was record cold for Scottsdale), I went running (10+ miles I believe), we all got to trick or treat together (no one had to stay home to pass out candy). Fun was had by all.

Scones & Cider

The Strays (aka what David B. affectionately calls non-family who hang around the house aka by the Knights as the darling neighbor kids) and H (aka Plo Koon, 2nd from left) and O (Optimus Prime) and not-costumed PJ (3rd from left).

Our little "wild thing". She loved being "kitty" until she discovered her hands were unavailable to handle candy.

We are headed to celebrate Linny & Jared in Phoenix! We will be trick or treating there as well. My kids are thrilled to celebrate Halloween with their Arizona cousins.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Pictures were taken, pumpkins were picked, running was rampant, fun was had by all. And we are back. All is well.

First Day of School 8.25.09

Okay these are out of order, but I am growing impatient, the girls (AJ & PJ) are wandering the house, Andy is packing for L.A., and I will have no computer for 10 days. And I will miss him. Anyway, first day of school went off without a hitch. The boys were very happy, nervously excited, but then thrilled with their classes and friends after school. Owen liked first grade even better than Kindergarten and Holden said the same about third. For the record, the P&G people finally picked up the Impala today.

New outfit for Holden and new shoes for O, but I was feeling really guilty because the child with 200 shirts didn't have a new one to wear to the first day of school. I just couldn't bring myself to buy another shirt! He really didn't notice or care.

I totally made them pose and pretend they were walking to school (we were waiting for AK & PJ).
I love knowing they walk to school together and Holden is totally excited to pick up Owen and walk home with him. We get great reports from neighbors about the boys walking together to and from school, laughing, playing, being late but having fun together, looking very carefully to cross this street, etc. I am glad we have many other eyes and ears looking out for them (on their 12 house walk to school!).Giving a big hug (and/or trying to pick him up) to Zeke. Tough stuff Owen was even quite nervous, it was cute.

Andy's Modeling Days

Have you seen this lately? (wait for the handsome Andy to appear, the pictures change) We are bummed Clark Dana, DDS is no longer at Draper Smiles (he sold the practice) but we will always have Andy's modeling days to remind us.

P Jane

I just love my little Penelope! We have had a few occasions the last few weeks to be alone, out shopping, at home, snuggling, giggling, and I have realized (knock on wood) 1) her "terrible twos" are going away and 2) I now prefer to take her on errands than the boys. That is both boys. Both constantly snarling and fighting and tattling and name calling boys. Can you tell I am practically counting down the minutes until Tuesday morning at 8:45, well 8:30, when the boys head down the street to school? Oh if I were more patient and would actually look up a site to give me a countdown timer - I would. But I'd rather go on about it. Anyway, Penelope. Right now, we have just woken from our afternoon naps (I finished the latest Sophie Kinsella, I cried, they are all the same but still so endearingly clever!), and she is carrying around her naked baby (the real looking one that Emi gave us, and no I have still not dressed it!), which I love seeing her be so tender despite its heaviness. The other day while Andy took the boys to the BYU football practice (aargh, another story, another time) and infiltrated them with BYU t-shirts and balls and other propaganda (and no, I don't get the affinity either, he did not graduate from the BYU!) P Jane and I were doing errands, Post Office, bank for PTA, a little stroll through Foothill Village, then to REI, she toted her naked baby and occasionally left it oddly laying in an aisle (until a man saved her and sweetly offered the naked baby back to its obvious little owner). She loves trying on shoes, being particular about her outfit, loves bubblegum (my kids are convinced a. bubblegum wards off hunger and b. it is a food group), "running" like momma, and being just cute all around. I still have to keep her from falling in the pool during swim team practice, getting hit by Owen's tennis balls during practice, screaming, and hitting Amanda, but I see we are heading to a more mature, enjoyable, sweet, talkative phase of which even more adventure awaits. But thank goodness she still naps in the afternoon and goes to bed before 8!

Pictures from Holden and Weston cheering on the Tour of Utah riders today coming, if I can figure out how to download from my phone.

Thank you Mary Sue for the cute picture I poached today!