Matt's birthday and some good pictures.

Matt's birthday was low-key but fun. The day before, Matt and I went out to lunch (with Nathalie) to Panera Bread for a yummy meal. On his birthday, we went to Wonderlab (pictures in the next post). We also dropped by this running store where he spoiled me and bought me a new pair of running shoes since I've had mine for, oh, 6 or 7 years. We had a quiet afternoon and went out to eat at Chinese buffet in the evening. We haven't been to one of those in a year or more. It was good! Emily liked the ice cream. So did Nathalie. She would scream if I didn't get it to her fast enough.

Oldefar while Matt is opening presents. I love my grandpa.

Matt anxious to open presents. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Oldefar feeding mac and cheese to Nathalie. It's been a long time since he's fed a baby!

My grandma has these stuffed animals. Since Emily loves Where the Wild Things Are, she carried Max around and slept with him while we were there.

So I've been lazy...

I'll finish posting about Spring Break. I admit to shirking my duties and enjoying the sunshine later in the day. I'm loving this daylight savings, but my fridge looks a little bare because I'd rather spend time outside than go to the store. And we've had beautiful weather!

Emily calls my grandparents Oldefar and Oldemor. It's Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma in Norwegian. My grandfather immigrated from Norway when he was 15, then later on, he and my grandma served a mission there. This is one of the many wonderful traditions we carry on from my Norwegian heritage. The girls loved my grandparents and my grandparents loved them right back.

Emily was upset that night and wanted Oldemor, not me.

Talking about birdfeeders.

Emily was so excited to fill the birdfeeder with Oldefar.

She was trying to "get" his buttons.

Spring Break Continued...

For Matt's Spring Break we headed to a neighboring state to visit some friends and family. We started the trip with Matt's best friend from high school, also named Matt. Matt and Matt are very similar. As my Matt put it, "We had too many things the same that we could either be worst enemies or best friends!"

Since their birthdays are only a few days apart we had a little cake and ice cream. We ate the MOST AMAZING RIBS I've ever had also. They were SO GOOD. I want to eat them again RIGHT NOW just thinking about them. My mouth is actually watering. Okay, time for some distraction from thinking about those ribs.


Nathalie (10 mo) and their baby (8 mo). They were very curious about each other.

Emily and their daughter reading together. Their daughter is a little older so she was doing the reading.
The other Matt picked the cake--French Vanilla with strawberry frosting. It was great! Instead of putting 26 candles, we wrote "Matt" with the candles.

Matt and Matt, 2002.

Matt and Matt, 2010.

On Balloons

Apparently Emily loves balloons.

Me: Emily, let's brush your teeth!
*brush brush brush*
Me: Okay, Emily. Spit!
**Emily spitting**
Emily: A beautiful balloon, Mom.

Yes, her spit did indeed have a balloon shape to it.

Let's Start At the Very Beginning.....

A few days before we went on vacation, we had an FHE where we started our garden. We started peas, green beans, lettuce, two types of tomato, squash and a few other things. It was great fun. They're already growing! At the begining of May, we will be planting them outside. What Nathalie did during FHE.

Emily loved this.

Matt pouring the seeds to give to Emily.

Emily planting.

Picture taken today.

O-L-D

Matt turns 26 today! Thank goodness for cheaper insurance rates. Happy Birthday!

P.S. You're going to have to wait for a blog update. I'm enjoying vacation right now.

Incorporating a Double

One of my New Year goals was to run a 5k they have here in April. I've been running a few times a week and can now run the 5k. Unfortunately, Matt's schedule is such that I'm lucky if I'm able to go running 2 times a week. As it gets closer to finals, Matt will only get busier and that will mean less time for me to go running.

So....I decided that if I'm going to go running I have to take the girls with me. I have a double jogger that we love. They don't mind being in it while I run. I did it today and ran 1.6 miles--the shorter loop in my route. But I need advice! It was definitely harder to run with the stroller. Hopefully you can answer these questions for me.

1. How often do I still need to run the 3 miles without the stroller in order to keep that distance up?
2. How do I work up to running 3 miles WITH the stroller?
3. How do I run with a double jogger without feeling like I'm dying?!
4. Am I getting the same workout running the longer distance without the stroller and running a shorter distance with the stroller?

I'm not sore after running today, which usually happens about 50% of the time. But I feel like my whole body has been worked instead of just my legs, even though my legs don't feel as tired.

I know I have runner friends out there! Share your wisdom.