Caught being cute!

Poor Avery, strapped in her car seat is waiting to go home. If only the Moms would stop chatting away. . . but wait, here's Jenna coming to her rescue.

Everyone loves a good Pat-A-Cake!

Old is New Again

What movie had Ryan jumping up an down with excitement, literally and the girls swooning like lovesick puppies?

Having no cable means we don't watch a lot of t.v. I think the last thing we watched was "Dancing with the Stars" last season. Instead we usually just go to the library and pick out a movie or t.v. series to watch. I love our library. You can get any movie. If they don't have it there you can request it online from another library. It's like our own personal Redbox.

Saturday Jenna and I went to the library to try and find something for the weekend. While she was off picking out her Arthur and Dora the Explorer selections I was trying to find something for the older kids and I to watch. There wasn't much to choose from, probably because it was the weekend. But then I found it, a classic. The movie Aunt Traci loved and watched over and over-"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." I took it home wondering what the reaction would be. It's an old movie so. . .but the kids put it in and I loved watching their reaction. This movie had something for everyone. Forget that the movie came out in 1954 and the color is off and the backgrounds are fake. My kids didn't care. Ryan was so into the movie, okay, maybe not the singing parts but the fighting scenes were right up his alley! He was laughing and jumping up and down with each punch. I stopped watching the movie and just watched him! Kelsey and Kate on the other hand loved the love story. Such a fun movie. According to the Morrow household it's still a Classic!

Jenna Got To See Her Daddy!

Jason came through again. This time I took Jenna. She was thrilled to see her daddy! I forgot to bring my camera but luckily had my camera phone. Our visit was again short, about 10 minutes.

It really felt like 2.

But it was enough to see us through these next few weeks until he comes home for good!

Looking For Friends

SO I've been told it's more fun to go on a cruise with friends. Anyone want to go with us? Our cruise is April 26-May 3. We are cruising to Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico. Anyone want to join us? Seriously!

We're Going Cruisin'

This will be our home for 7 days in April, Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. Isn't it beautiful and HUGE!! I couldn't believe it when Jason called the other day and said more seriously this time, "Let's go on a cruise when I get back." We've always TALKED about going on one. The first time was for our 10th anniversary. We ended up moving to Guam instead. No complaints here because instead of visiting the tropics we lived in them. Since then we've been too busy moving and having babies. While the timing isn't perfect (we're supposed to be getting ready to move) it's needed. As you've read from previous posts Jason's been gone a lot this assignment and I've had to hold down the fort. 7 days is just what I need to regroup. And if it so happens to be on a big cruise ship in the Caribbean with my husband, then lucky me.

Indoor Triathlon

I DID IT! I finished my first triathlon AND I got 3rd place!!!! I am so excited!! The local YMCA posted notice of this triathlon over a month ago. It peeked my interest but I didn't commit to it until the week prior. These days I seem to do everything last minute. The triathlon consisted of a 400 m swim, 8 mile ride on a spin bike and a 2 1/2 mile run on a treadmill. I've been spinning consistently for awhile now so that wasn't a concern. My concern was the pool which I haven't dipped a toe into since before Eric was born (that's over 15 months) and running. I AM NOT a runner. I started running this summer while Kelsey had swim practice and have been running off and on since. When I say running I really mean jogging. My pace is really slow. I told Traci that I run at a 5.0 on the treadmill and was trying to build up to a 5.5 Then I asked her what her pace was. She told me she warmed up at a 6.5. Okay, then. Needless to say I had my work cut out for me and only a week to do it. I started running more seriously and swimming the week of the triathlon and hoped for the best. The race was this past Saturday. My heat started at 12:45. We got into the pool and warmed up but due to technical difficulties (the treadmills blew a fuse) my heat ended up waiting about 30 minutes in the pool expecting it to start any minute. Finally, we were off. I went out a little too fast and I was gasping for breaths toward the end. The person timing me was supposed to put the kick board in the water signaling me that there was 1 lap left. When I thought I was finished I put my head up and she put the kick board in. Wait, I thought I was finished! So I did another lap only to get out and find I had done an extra lap. I wasn't happy but I didn't have time to deal with it. Off to the bikes. This was my strongest set. I got into my rhythm and felt really strong. Then off to the treadmill. I decided to start at a 5.8. The adrenaline was really kicking. I moved it up to a 6.0 and my final lap a 6.3. Then I was done. I DID IT! I haven't competed in anything since high school. So fun. I can't wait to do it again. Of course I'll train earlier and better.

They didn't have the results posted when I worked out yesterday so I had to wait until this morning. I couldn't believe it. 3rd place. Wow! I needed this. And I was only 4 seconds behind 2ND place. If only I had pushed it just a little more. (I was 3rd out of 22 women 30-39 age group. I was 19th out of 54 men & women overall) Here are my splits

400 swim 8:38I'm the second one from the right
8 mile Bike 19.44

The Y just got these new spin bikes. They are Keiser M3 and they are AMAZING! I can gush and gush over how wonderful they are! Such a smooth ride especially compared to the junk that we used to ride.

2 1/2 mile run 24.22

She's turning off the monitor for me. Got to stay focused. My favorite song to run to is Gotta Be Somebody by Nickelback.

My total time was 54:39. I can't wait to show off my medal to the kids. I mentioned to Kelsey that there was a 5K coming up in April, so we are going to start getting ready for that. This will be my first 5K. What can I say I think I'm hooked!

Catch-Up

We are down to 1 month. Just 4 weeks to go until Jason is home! We don't have a date yet but we're hoping he'll be home for Kelsey's birthday on April 1st. (when she turns 14!)

We are doing okay. Some days are easier than others. All days are busy!

Kelsey-My Other Twin

Kelsey is my other twin. She reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. She's just a much better version. She teaches me everyday that I have a lot to improve on. She is still writing poems. Her latest was for Ryan. Although he teases and tortures her endlessly she really tries hard to overcome her frustration with him. I'm sure this is one of the reasons she wrote this poem. It's too long to post but are a couple stanza's

Ryan, My Brother

I have a special brother, whose name is Ryan

He is so cute and funny, he'll leave you sighin'

He has bright blue eyes you could swim in,

And a cute smile that he keeps hidin'

But best of all, he is my brother

But our favorite stanza is

I have a special brother, whose name is Ryan

He tells people he's not that good at reading, but nobody's buyin'

He loves to read and read and read, and we are proud'

Cause he is on Harry Potter 5, which means he isn't loud (so true-love quiet time)

But best of all, he is my brother

This past week Kelsey participated in Solo & Ensemble. She ended up with 4 first Superiors. I thought I played well when I was her age but it just goes to show you I was only warming up the clarinet for which Kelsey now plays.

Kelsey also likes to play with my camera. Let's see if this will stop her!

Kate

Kate is turning into a young lady. She's excited about shopping and baking but NOT cleaning. She still struggles with this daily! On one of their snow days Kate and her friend decided to make their families dinner. They wanted us to get to know each other. Amanda's mom and I talk every week. But I guess they felt they needed an excuse to get together and that's the best they could come up with. But really, all she needs to do is mention that I don't have to make dinner and Amanda is welcome to move in. I took them grocery shopping and then they spent the whole day making dinner and dessert. Chicken Roll-Ups and Cheesecake. YUM!

Ryan

Trying at times and funny at others. Our favorite time is when he is reading because he's not teasing or tormenting or reminding me that he doesn't want to go to school. Instead he's just quiet. He's in love with the Harry Potter books and since they are so long it's perfect! He's in basketball right now and at his last game shot 2 baskets. This age is still learning the basics, passing excluded. No one wants to pass off the ball when they can try for a shot. It's all about making a basket. What I like about Ryan is that he's excited when anyone does well.

Since turning 8 in January Ryan joined Cub Scouts. He can't seem to get enough of his Cub Scout book. That first week he was always shoving it under my face to sign something off. I know I need to encourage this behavior while he's still excited but . . .

He has his first Pinewood Derby Race a few weeks ago. Our hometeacher came over and helped Ryan with his car. It turned out great but Ryan was a bit disappointed with it's speed on race day. Who knew there was so much involved in making a car go fast!

Jenna

She is growing so big physically and intellectually. These days our conversations consist of me trying to answer her "Why" questions. They are endless and I am obviously not smart enough to satisfy her. My favorite thing that Jenna says to me is, "I'm a good listener." Because right at that moment and only at that moment is Jenna actually listening!

She still loves Dora and trips to the library to get Dora DVDs. She's into friends and I love hearing who her "best" friend is today. Her feelings get really hurt when her friends tell her that she's not their friend. But she's also very forgiving when they tell she's their friend again 2 seconds later. Life can be very difficult for a 3 year old.

Eric

Anyone have ideas how to get Eric to stop playing in the toilets. We have 3 and he knows where they all are. I just know I'm going to have plumbing issues soon. He likes to tear little pieces of toilet paper and then throw them in the toilet. But what's really fun to him is fishing them out and throwing it all over the floor. Gross!! I know. Help! He still has a love affair with his blanket. He leaves it on the floor, goes off to play and then when he sees it again falls all over it as if he hadn't seen it all day. Eric also loves his shoes. The first thing he does every morning is go into the hall closet and fetch his shoes. Of course if he has his shoes on then that means we get to go outside, right mom. He can't wait to roam free. We've had a few warm days (up to 60) and Eric took advantage and spent the WHOLE day on the back porch. Both he and I loved it. Unfotunately, Eric doesn't understand that when the temp drops back down to 30 it's too cold to go outside. I get these puppy dog eyes and it breaks my heart. I try and distract him but he just stands at the door looking out at the fun I'm keeping him from. Already at 1, I'm a mean mom.

Sister Photo Op

Whenever Traci visits we never seem to get away for more than a trip to the grocery store together. So our last morning together, after stopping at Wal-Mart I told Traci we needed to get a few pictures before she left. We headed to a nearby park and took a few. It was the best we could do with my camera timer on and a barricade.

Good-Bye

Because we're twins and we think alike I'm just going to echo my sister's blog and add a few pictures from our visit. I'm so glad we got this assignment. Heavenly Father knew I needed my sister!