Tender Mercies

Dallas and I do our budget using mostly cash envelopes.  We're pretty strict and do our very best not to go over our budget.  At the beginning of the month I refill the envelopes, and I always hope that I can fill them entirely with the money I made at the restaurant.  When I did the envelopes this morning, I realized that we were going to have to withdraw $140 from our checking account to make the money balance.

Dang.

But then I realized that today is the 31st!  And I worked tonight!

It was busy at the restaraunt tonight because of Swiss Days and the Sheep Dog competition at Soldier Hollow.  I was slammed from 5:00 until 8:30- at one point I wondered if I would even be able to catch my breath.  Before I knew it I didn't have any tables and my manager was sending me home.  I tipped out the busers, and when I got home I counted my tips.

$145.

Amazing.  This has happened to us so many times over the last few years.  We always have enough.  I know this is because Dallas and I pay or tithing faithfully- without even giving it a second thought.  I'm so thankful for how our Heavenly Father watches over us.  It was such a wonderful tender mercy tonight.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

In an attempt to get an accurate representation of the munchkins, today I'm not going to gush about how good my kids are.  I will first post some pictures in which they are cute and we do fun things:

Will makes his own PB&J these days.

And he jumps of diving boards!

Gracie is still our best friend in the whole wide universe.

Annie made pink butterfly cupcakes from the stuff she got from Grandma Kristie for her birthday.

And she got to eat the leftover frosting all by herself!

Fun and cute, right?

Totally.

And now for the bad (which makes me ugly)...

Today Will and Annie went to play at our friend's the Carter's house.  Will and Beckham get along smashingly.  Well, they had to watch another little boy named Jack.  Will doesn't really know Jack.  Sometimes Will gets uncomfortable around people he doesn't know (and by sometimes I mean all the time).  He's shy- I GET THIS.  Instead of just being shy, he tells Jack that he needs to go home.  When Jack wouldn't go home, he gets all sulky and goes to my friend Breona and tells her to send Jack home.  Poor Jack!  The kid didn't do a dang thing but show up to join the party, and here's this stranger telling him to get lost.

After a little while (and some bedroom time at Breona's), Will snapped out of it and played like a good kid.

When we got home I went to talk about what happened with Jack.  I asked him how he'd feel if someone told him to go home when he was playing this a friend.  His response-

A stiff lipped "I DON'T CARE."

Oh, yeah!  I'll make you care!  Bedroom time, nap, no legos- and me as the UGLY MOM.  Nothing sets me off quicker than when my kids are treating other people badly.

And Annie.  She's three.  Three, I tell you!  I'm trying to think of a good word to describe her lately and belligerent comes to mind.  Is it too strong?  Probably not.  It might not be strong enough, actually.  She loves to ignore us, make giant messes with lotion and soap, raid the fridge, and do anything else that she knows she isn't supposed to be doing.

You see, this is why three is so hard- THEY KNOW BETTER.  It's like they're teenagers in baby form.

So right now, both kids that have pushed me to my wits end are in their rooms (asleep or not), and they will stay there until I feel good enough to get them out.  Could be in an hour.  Could be three.  Because you know what?

Sometimes Mom needs bedroom time, too.

Ebb and Flow

I just got home from the best run.  It was cool out and there was a little breeze blowing the entire time- just strong enough to cool you off without taking your breath away.  I wanted to run forever, but figured Dallas would start to worry since it was getting close to bedtime, so I turned around and came home.

It has been a long time since I've had a really good run like this.  A long, long time.

Isn't it interesting how even with something you love so much, there tends to be an ebb and flow with it?  I will go from complete highs to wondering why in the world I torture myself so much.

It's the same with life.

Sometimes we can't help but wonder why we're still trudging along when things don't seem to be getting any better, but then the sun starts shining, or you hear the kids giggle and you remember that pain and frustration doesn't last forever.

I read the best quote the other day from C.S. Lewis.  It said:  "We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."

Life is hard, but we're promised that it won't be hard forever.  I'm so grateful for that.

Come and Go

Summer is over.

Whaaaat?

Dallas went back to school today- he'll be leaving each day at 6:15AM, and will be home for dinner and then head down to the dungeon to finish homework until bedtime.  Nothing quite like reality hitting you in the face!  I'm going to miss his help with the children, but most of all I'm going to miss hanging out with him in the evenings.  Seinfeld just isn't nearly as funny without my best friend by my side.

The nice part about him starting school this semester is that we can see light at the end of the tunnel and we know it isn't a train.  Only 3 more semesters and we'll have a college grad in the house!  I'm so proud of him.  He's such a hard worker and he does it all without a complaint.

Will has kindergarten testing on Friday and then he will start class the Tuesday after Labor Day.  He is so ready.  We've talked about school and he's shared a bit of his worries with us.  He's worried that his teacher won't like him, and he's nervous that he won't know anyone and won't have any friends.  We talked about how all of the kids feel the same way, and he seemed to do a bit better.  Will puts on a tough exterior sometimes, but really he's such a shy boy.  I think I'm just as nervous for him to start as he is!

My Annie.  Well, she's definitely three.  Lately she's all about telling us "No."

Me:  Annie, will you go put your toys in your toybox?
Annie:  No.
Me:  Will you come give Mommy a hug?
Annie: No.
Me:  You need to go use the bathroom!
Annie:  No!

You get the picture.  She has been pretty defiant lately.  She has been having an especially hard time with transitions (ie- leaving a friend's house to come home).  She usually starts screaming and telling me she doesn't like me and she doesn't want to come home with me, so that's fun.

At the same time, she is still a sweetie.  She loves to snuggle and sing songs.  She has the funniest little growl voice that she will use sometimes that gets everyone laughing.  She is excited about learning and I'm excited to have Mommy and Annie "School Time" when Will is in kindergarten.  Lots of fun things are in her future!

As for me- I've been really enjoying my porch swing and Pace bars.  Nothing beats watching my kids play in the afternoon while I swing away.  My current favorites include chips and salsa, cucumbers, the band Mumford & Sons, and preparing for the upcoming Red Rock Relay at the beginning of September.

You know what I'm looking forward to?

Cool nights.
Jackets.
Norah Jones on my iPod.
Sunday morning family bike rides.
Shakespeare.
Night running.
SCHEDULES.

I love to see summer come, but I also don't mind to see it go, either.

The GREAT Nicoll Family

There's nothing like camping to bring everyone together!  We spent this last weekend at a campground just below Causey Reservoir with the extended Nicoll family.  We bonded over food, fishing, mud, rain, cards, photo scavenger hunts, and slideshows.

It's nice to be reminded that our family is awesome.  Eternity is going to be a blast.

Trennen Little and Annie

Mark Nicoll Grandkids: Will, Annie, and Thomas

Reunionizing

Over the last few weeks I've spent some time catching up with old friends.  I attended my 10 year High School Reunion, as well as my 10 year 2002 Advanced Theater Class Reunion.

I would say that mostly I laughed for the entire weekend about the places life has taken us, the things we used to do "back then," and how different everyone looks, but how everyone is pretty much the same people we were 10 years ago.

Life is funny that way.

We think we grow up, but give yourself ten minutes with old friends and you might find yourself shoving 28 Utz Cheeseballs in your mouth to see if you can break your old record.

We went to surprise Andra (the reason we all ended up being friends) at her house after the reunion.  I see Andra fairly often, but it's always so good to see her!

28 Cheeseballs.  Boom.

Below:  Kandyce Cameron, Me, Ashley (Liljenquist) Baird, Tobey (Wosnik) Roos, and Kalie

I was so excited to go to the class reunion so I could meet up with Tobey!  She lives in Michigan while her husband is completing his residency as an ENT.  We grew up in the same ward together and have been friends for a very long time.

PS- It was so hot in the un-air conditioned school!  Boo.

Kandyce is one of my oldest friends- dating clear back to kindergarten I believe!  Justin Stanford and I did theater together, as well as spending many a late night goofing off.

Left side:  Kalie (Casselman) Chamberlain, Me, Andrea (Muhlstein) and Devon Dustin
Right Side:  Sean and Vanessa Barker

I  grew up with Andrea and Sean.  My favorite part of this reunion was getting to spend some time with them.  We talked about how the ward we grew up in (the Kaysville 14th ward) was the best ever.  I felt so blessed to be able to grow up where I did and have such great friends.

 As part of the High School reunion they did a 5K- I won the race outright!  (I won't mention that it's only because the two guys in front of me took a wrong turn which put them waaayyyy behind...)

Over ten years later, I still call Kalie one of my very best friends.  I'm so blessed to have her in my life.

They call me Mom.

 Some days all I want is a break. 

Jerry Seinfeld said "having a two year old is like using a blender without the lid," and I would say that having Annie means I have at least two of those blenders... in every room.

Will loves to pester Annie because she screams so loud.

I'm baffled by how my kids are always hungry, but yet I can never get them to eat all of their lunch/dinner/breakfast because they are always full?  Anyone have the answer to that question?

You know the drill.  When my Mom asked if they could take my kids up to Island Park with them two days before Dallas could leave, I of course jumped at the chance.  I met her in Salt Lake to take the kids, and as soon as they were gone, I didn't know what to do with myself.

What did I do?

I cried.

I missed my kids and it had only been an hour!  I cried every day and watched home videos over and over again.

What it boils down to is that I would rather deal with a million little things that wear me out than not have the chance to deal with them at all.  I'm so grateful to be a mom.

And I'm especially grateful to be Will and Annie's mom.  I'm not sure if funnier kids have ever hopped on this earth.

When we finally arrived at Island Park I burst into the trailer to giggles and smiles from both of my little ones.  It felt so good to be together again!

They made me a present while I was gone- a beautiful hand beaded necklace.  I wear it all the time now.  They poured their blood, sweat, and tears into that little necklace with the mismatched beads and the fake cherries, and I love it more than any of my other "real" jewelry.  It was made with love.

Island Park 2012

I declare that Island Park and Yellowstone are  the most wonderful places on Earth.  No place smells better, and no place feels better.

We got to spend 5 days with my parents in their trailer in Island Park (the kids actually went up with my parents a couple of days before us).  We loved every minute and were so glad we were able to go on this spontaneous vacation!

Annie's Favorites:

• Making necklaces with Grammy.
• Getting a strawberry ice cream cone that was as big as her head.
• Singing songs in the car as we drove.
• Getting a new friend- Twisty the purple moose.

Will's Favorites:

• Every single geyser.
• Checking out all of Grandpa's lures.
• Catching Hopper- a little pond frog.
• Finding animals with his binoculars (especially bison).

Amy's Favorites:

• No dishes for 4 days!
• No cooking for 4 days!!
• Sitting in the lawn chair and enjoying the sights and smells of Island Park.
• Being in her favorite place with her most favorite people.

Dallas' Favorites:

• Hiking into a Grizzly just up from my parents lot.
• 6 point Bull Elk, 4 point bucks, a mother grizzly and cubs, coyote, bison and elk galore.
• Still being able to browse KSL before bed while eating Oreo's and milk.
• Prime Rib dinner at Yellowstone Lake Lodge.

DAY 1

Fishing on Henry's Lake

DAY 2

West Yellowstone

"Bears" IMAX movie

Old Faithful geyser loop

DAY 3

Church in the A Frame

Making necklaces

Wildlife drive

Family hike

DAY 4

Firehole River

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Yellowstone Lake

Wildlife spotting

Mud Volcanoes

The Running Blog

For the last year and a half I blogged about my running journey on a blog entitled "Run My Guts Out".  It's essentially what I do every time I hit the pavement, and it has been really fun for me to share my journey with others.  It was a real source of encouragement, information and advice, as well as friendship for me.  I was able to connect with people I never would have met otherwise, and these people have enriched my life.  A few weeks ago some of us got together to say goodbye to one of our fellow bloggers- Julia- who is leaving Utah for bigger and better things.

I love these girls!  They are such a source of inspiration to me and I am so grateful for each of them.

Ashley, Julia, Me, Rachelle, Janae

Modern technology is such a blessing in how it allows us to connect- with old friends and new friends.  I felt it was time to say goodbye to my running blog.  Will and Annie no longer nap, and I couldn't seem to blog without it taking time away from them.  A quote from President Monson really sealed the deal for me:

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

Blogging isn't important (well, unless it's your family journal like this blog is), and my time with my little kids is beyond precious.

A miracle occurred...

We survived a 101* day at Lagoon with 6 kids- AND NO TANTRUMS- and lived to blog about it!  Amazing, I say!

Annie was big enough to ride some of the bigger rides which made it fun.  Annie's favorite ride still ended up being Bulgy the Whale, and Will and I loved Rattlesnake Rapids.  It has been a fun tradition to go with Jenn and her kids the last two years- we're so grateful to have such fun cousins to spend time with!