Rollin' with my home boy

Oh Monday. I don't hate them like I once did, but there still seems to be something overwhelming about them. Monday is cleaning day here. Not my favorite, but someone's gotta do it...plus I LOVE a nice clean house. Anyways. This Monday needed something to spice it up a bit. Kyle and I needed to have some fun.

I love to exercise, but only when it doesn't feel like a chore. Tell me I HAVE to get a workout in today and I suddenly can't bring myself to do it...but I happen to really enjoy certain activities that could definitely count as exercise. So I choose those, and it all works out better. But I also realized I do everything before Kyle wakes up. My fave classes and my runs are always sans Kyle. We stay active playing during the day, but wouldn't it be nice if I could get some good exercise with Kyle? Not only to increase my activity to the next level, but to start showing him by example that being active is important. I can't stand running with a stroller (go moms who do it!), and Kyle has a very short stroller attention span.....UNLESS....then it hit me. I LOVE to roller blade. Ever since I was a little girl I would strap my blades on as many hours as I could in a day. I bet Kyle would love the stroller if it was moving that fast.

And so we went. It was wonderful. He had a blast, I got a mid day "work out" (blading makes things burn I never knew existed), and we enjoyed the beautiful weather. It was a success. I am so happy we now have another activity to fill our days together. Something we both really enjoy. And of course we take a while to visit the ducks, slide, and swing while we are at the park. Of course.

I am sure I look like a fool out there rolling around, but it is so refreshing to have fun like that.

What's up doc?

We recently made a big decision. Well, it felt big for us at least. It will surely impact not only the next few years, but the rest of our lives in some ways. I feel like this stage of life is unique in that we never quite know what the future holds and we are constantly having to make big decisions that might change the way everything else plays out. I know life is always unpredictable, and you never really know what happens next, but something about age 18 to whenever this ends seems special. Anyways, just as I thought this stage was about to end...something changed.

The plan was for Ryan to graduate early next year with his Masters. This meant he would start applying for jobs this summer and hopefully sign with a company by late fall. The finish line was so close. I had stopped thinking about ways to fix up and decorate our house, I started organizing things in a way that would be easy to load onto a truck, I was doing everything short of making an actual paper chain counting down to the end. I was so excited for the next chapter. 

Then Ryan came home one day a few weeks ago and said, "what if I get a PhD?" It came out of nowhere for me, and so I just laughed and basically told him that's not what he wanted.  Well as the night progressed, and it was a very late night, I discovered he really did want it. Ryan is a very quiet, usually emotionless type guy. But this? This he got excited about. I knew that night he needed this. I would not be the one to get in his way. So the planning began. What school? When? How long? 

We had several options and all of them seemed ok. Most of the schools were far away from here and I got excited at the thought of a new adventure even though it would mean major downsizing and at least four more years of surviving on a student budget...it would still be a new adventure. The thing I had been craving most. Then came another option. Go straight into a PhD right now, not get the masters and just stay at BYU for the doctorate. This option meant we would stay in our house, and only add two years onto the previous finish date. I was a little devastated. You might think I am crazy for this. We live in a nice house, on a lot of land, for only a bit more than our previous apartments. It is beautiful. We live close to family, I have a good clientele base, and things are nice. So why am I bummed about staying? Nothing important enough to expound on:)

But after much deliberation, prayer, and talking, we have decided to stay. It is an incredible opportunity for Ryan to do what he loves. In the long term 3 years is nothing.  We  feel blessed and lucky to have this as an option and I am elated Ryan is chasing his dream. I am coming around to the idea of a few more years here and am finding a lot of reasons to be happy to stay. I know it is the right thing for our family. So many things fell into place so fast to make it feel even more right. Sometimes you just need to add a whole chapter you never knew was there, before moving on to the next one. 

And so begins the journey to become Dr. Ryan Lundgreen. Get excited!

These are a few of my favorite things.

Favorite things about racing, that is. Little story. Back in December some of my siblings in law decided to run a half marathon together. I was excited. I was just a few months out from my marathon so I wasn't too worried about training. I ran semi regularly....but then in February the whole gallbladder situation happened. From the time the intense illness started, to after my surgery, I had been down for about 6 weeks. So since I hadn't actually signed up for the race, I opted out, thinking it was just too fast to be ready. BUT THEN. We were eating dinner at Kris and Becky's and Becky said Kris had registered but decided he didn't want to run and offered me his spot. I instantly got so excited that I just said YES. I'm in. I got a little nervous, but I got some new shoes (so sad to part with me old ones, but the new ones are fab) and went for a long run to prove to myself I could do it.  While I was running, I started thinking about all the reasons I absolutely love running, and love running races. SO of course I am going to share.

• I love having a specific goal to work toward. I love the motivation it gives me to get out and run. I also love the feeling or working hard accomplishing something. I get this feeling not only at the end of a race, but at the end of any challenging run.
• I love making the time to train. Everyone is busy. I don't claim to be especially busy, but I like to run solo. Finding time to run when Ryan can be home with Kyle can be tricky. I have found getting up before the sun in the best way to guarantee I get my runs in. When I run early in the morning it is beautiful. It is almost a spiritual experience every morning. The world is quiet and I am all alone, left to think about anything I want. It starts my days off right. No matter what else happens the rest of the day, I feel accomplished. 
• I love the starting line. People are nervous and excited. There are all types of people with all sorts of backgrounds. Some have time goals, others just want to finish. But everyone has worked hard, and put hours into getting to this start line. Some are even about to make their lifelong goals and dreams come true.
• I love listening to myself breathe and to my shoes hit the pavement.
• When I run, all the negative thoughts disappear. All of those not good enough feelings are gone. I feel strong. I feel proud. And feeling that way, makes running worth every ache or pain, blister, and any money spent worth it. 
• I love all the spectator support. My parents, Ryan, and Kyle have been at all of my races and it means everything to me. But I also love watching everyone else's families and friends. I love all the signs and shirts. I almost get emotional when I think of all these people and how proud they are of their loved ones running. I love the little kids with to "go mom/dad" signs. I love their faces as their runners pass by. There is so much love and support in the air there. 
• And of course, I love the finish line. For many it is an emotional time. There is so much joy and relief. The ice cold chocolate milk they hand you doesn't hurt either:)

Running is great for me because I am in control. I am in no way a natural runner, it does not come easy. But I enjoy the hard work it takes. I enjoy challenging myself. As an adult it is easy for me to get comfortable and rarely be required to leave my comfort zone. Running keeps me on the edge, always challenging myself to improve. Getting my runs in and reaching my goals doesn't depend on anyone but me. It is my thing. I like having full accountability. 

This race was so fun! It was a beautiful day and the course was fun. I like running into downtown. The part I loved most was having so much family there. We cheered each other on, it was great! Everyone did so well. Kevin made AMAZING time. Erin did her first bike tour, and got a fabulous time to boot! Becky finished in great time despite an illness that required two 7-Eleven stops, and Kate finished her first ever half marathon after having a baby 6 short months ago! These people are crazy cool! Proud to call them family. 

Other weekend highlights: Watching Ry play tennis. Emmett's birthday party. Kyle having cousins over to play for a few hours, and watching our nephew's little league game. Grilling. Delicious fresh fruit. 

I love this pic of Emery helping Kyle around the yard to look at the flowers.

Sweet 16

Kyle turned another month older, which reminded me it is time to journal a bit about him and my favorite things he does. Again, this has been my favorite month so far. He just keeps getting better.

• He talks quite a bit. He has a lot of words and will usually at least attempt to repeat anything you tell him to say. Better start watching what I say!
• He likes to flex his muscles.
• He regularly goes and gathers his shoes, socks, and jacket and stands by the door saying outside over and over again.
• He likes to make you laugh.
• He likes to dance.
• He has more hair! And the top is curly.
• He loves animals so much.
• He loves honeydew melon more than anything else...except maybe chocolate.
• He moved his bedtime back a few hours thank goodness!
• He needs to explore. Always wants to figure everything out.
• He is forming so many opinions. What songs he likes, what foods he likes, what games he likes....it is fun to see him have his own preferences.
• He is hard to distract once he wants something.
• He likes to hide.
• He is starting to get a little shy. He is smile and hide around new people, and will never perform.
• He loves to color.
• He loves. loves. loves. bubbles.
• He would stay outside around the clock if he could.
• He is happy 99% of the time.
• He is always smiling and laughing.
• He loves tv/movies....too much.
• He likes to play on smart phones...or pretends his hand is one when there isn't one around.
• He likes to turn his humidifier on and dance like its a fog machine. 
• He has learned to whine, fake cry, and throw full on kicking screaming tantrums...but is usually pretty good:)
• He can eat an avocado like an apple...biting through the peel (learned that the hard way at the store..oops)

Kyle loves to have fun. He makes us laugh so much, and makes everything feel happier. I love having such an active, curious little boy. 

City Creek

Yesterday Ryan had a "reading day". This means no class, so Ryan thought he would only work a half day and then we could go downtown to the new City Creek Center. It was cold and rainy but we decided to go up anyways. I am so glad we did! It wasn't crowded and with the roof up and heat on it was totally comfortable shopping in the "outdoor" mall. I loved seeing all the super expensive stores I will probably never get to buy anything from, and loved even more spending the day with my two most favorite people in the world. We had so much fun. Kyle was a gem and really liked the dino play land. I am so glad we got to go. Anything with Ryan and Kyle seems to be a blast. I am so lucky to have people I love so much to call my own little family. 

Having Fun Isn't Hard...

...When you've got a library card!

Any other Arthur fans out there that know this song? Well I sing it every time we go to the library.

My mom does story time once a month at the library...she is sort of amazing at it. Kyle loves to go. Here was last week's trip.

 Kyle picks a new stack of books to take home. Thank goodness for new books...I can only read Llama Llama so many times...

Cousins+Story time by Grandma= life is good.

Easter and Roommates

This weekend was great. Not only was it a holiday, which always means fun, but Jeff and Katie moved into our basement for the summer! We are so happy to have them.

Saturday morning I was so excited to be able to attend the Taylor Family Easter Brunch. My family has done it for a few years now, but in the past I have worked on Saturdays and so I could never go. We had a great time being able to go this year! The food was amazing. On site crepe chef anyone? Yum. Then Kyle got to participate in an egg hunt and story time...he loved it all, though busting open his eggs and devouring the chocolate seemed to top his list. Wonder where he gets that from? Anyways it was really fun AND delicious.

The face when he discovered chocolate.

Later on that day I worked a little, and Ryan played some tennis because it was just a beautiful day. Then we all decided to go redeem our pass of all passes and thought we might as well play some mini golf while we were at it. Jeff won, but let's not forget who got the most holes in one. That would be me. Thank you very much.

 That is totally the real Washington Monument

What Jeff? Trying to ruin our picture? Well I think you just made it better. Also...Ryan and I are twins in our striped v-necks. Awkward:)

We ended Saturday with some egg dying. The tie dye ones worked well...the metallic ones struggled a bit.

And now onto Easter Sunday! It was a beautiful day. Love this spring weather. We had stake conference, which was SO good. Thanks to Ryan chasing Kyle I was able to really sit and listen. I loved it. Then we made an insane cookie/brownie/oreo/hot fudge dessert (thank you pinterest) and headed to Ryan's parents house for dinner.  Kyle even let me do a before church photo session in our yard. I love nothing more than a little man in his Sunday best.

If I had the ability I woulda photo shopped me outta there. 

It was such a fun weekend. We have loved having some built in friends to have fun with, and Kyle is in heaven with the extra attention and lovin' from his aunt and uncle. Summer fun is just about here. I can feel it, and I am oh so excited.

Last Weekend

This weekend was a good one. Packed full of stuff to do, and people to see. Friday we grilled for the first time this season...yum. Then Saturday we did things like fly kites, hunt for eggs, attend Zorro the musical, and watch conference. Sunday? Delicious breakfast and a relaxing day of uplifting words. Fab.U.Lous. Picture highlights.

 find me some eggs!

 I struggled to keep the kite up...

 watching the kites.

 these boys...my favorite

 busting open his eggs to find the goods. I was shocked at how independently well he did on this egg hunt...hunted, found, and opened all on his own.

 hot date at Hale Center Theater SLC

yummmy conference breakfast

Such a great weekend! It has hard to see it end...luckily another one is only a few days away.