Stuff

Yesterday evening Jake called and said he was on his way home from golfing. I said, "we were just headed out to go on a bike ride, wanna come?!" He said, "sure!" We of course were excited that daddy was joining us. We got all the bikes out and I went to mom's to borrow a beach cruiser she got at a garage sale. :) It was such a warm evening and we had so much FUN!!! Daddy was the leader and we all followed. Ashton would get stressed if they got to far ahead but I would reassure him that I was with him and I knew my way home. :) The kids kept saying over and over, "this is so much fun...this is fun...mommy, daddy this is so fun!" Made my heart soar! :) I was having so much fun too! Then they said, "it feels like a Friday or a Saturday, not Wednesday!" Apparently you can't have FUN on a Wednesday! :) We rode to Jake's parents house, had a drink, sat and chatted outside and then headed home before it got dark. When we got home the sky was A.MA.ZING! Hot pink, my favorite color! I made strawberry banana smoothies and we drizzled chocolate on top! YUM! Today, ran 6 in the early morning. Had sushi with dad for lunch. Delish! Went and got kiddos from school and even pulled Sierra out too because we were going to stand on the street for the funeral procession for the soldier that was killed. Emotional every time we do it. An amazing experience. So grateful to the men and women that serve our country and fight for our freedom. They truly are HEROS! Went and got Tutti Frutti. Made cinnamon rolls for the surprise baby shower tomorrow for Ashton's teacher. Sierra did her first Pilates DVD and did so great!! She was sweaty and tired. I was impressed! Jumped with the kids on the trampoline! :)

a sense of sadness

My little girl, YES she is still LITTLE! has shown an interest in doing her own hair. She said that girls in her class know how to braid and do ponytails but she doesn't, how come? Well, Sierra has a mommy who LOVES to do her hair, I LOVE IT! That is probably how come! 2 nights ago she asked if she could practice doing my hair, sure I LOVE that too! Feels so good to have someone play with my hair. So she was practicing pony tails and braids and she was doing a great job. This morning she came out with her hair done in 2 ponytails. She asked if her hair looked ok? I said, Yes it looks GREAT! I wanted to take it out because I wanted to do it, but I know she needs to learn and she really did a great job. I was sad!

10

This morning I ran 10 miles with my mom...it was great! We ran out on the South Fork trail and because of all the rain there was a raging river flowing through the wash, waterfalls and everything. SO COOL! Never thought that just running through the middle of our valley would I get the privilege of running next to a river. I love water, loved every minute of it. We also had the privilege of going to Jake's parents house for a birthday party for Grandpa Elmo. He turned 90 years old yesterday. I don't have pictures but when someone emails some to me I will post them. He is a great man, he is my husbands hero. It was a pleasure to be with so many of Jake's family. His sister was in town, two of his uncles from Utah, his aunt and cousin from Orange County, his cousin from Texas. It was a great day!

Love where we live...

I grew up here. I was born at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. I married my high school sweetheart that I met while attending Hart High School. Our daughter was born at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. I have never really appreciated our valley. This morning I went running with my mom and when we started it was still dark, seems unnatural. As we are running the sun rises and it is such a beautiful sight. I was running up our 3rd hill and breathing hard and I looked over and next to me I saw a boy and a girl duck just hanging out on the sidewalk. Not many places do ducks just hang on the sidewalk. Now, in Lakeshore they have giant ducks that have baby ducks, cute right? Not when they try to attack you as you are just walking down the path. They made me go in the planter to get around them because that was their territory. Anyway, that was another time and another story. This morning was crisp and peaceful. A misty rain was falling on our faces. the ground was wet and clean. I'm grateful we live in such a great community, a wonderful place to raise a family.

The Gentle Barn

Today I had the pleasure of going with my boy on his K Field Trip to The Gentle Barn. The Gentle Barn is a fascinating organization. The owners have a home on the property. This is their farm. They have 130 animals and they are a rescue organization. All of the animals they have are rescued from terrible situations. They rehabilitate them, they fix their bodies and their hearts. My Ashton is not a farmer, he is very timid and afraid of the animals. That's ok, his momma is too! :) But I convinced him to touch the sheep because they are so fluffy. This is Monte the Turkey, he gobbles when you say his name...the owners do not eat meat so, no Monte will not get eaten for Thanksgiving dinner.

Ashton wanted a picture with this huge pig and there was an even huger pig laying down in the stall but Ashton wouldn't go near him.

While we were there a chicken layed two eggs. I got to feel the egg, it was still warm. The man who works there said that the owners do not eat the eggs. What?! Seriously! I asked what they do with them, "they feed them to the chickens, see..." and he threw the egg on the ground and it broke and two chickens ran over and started eating the egg. Crazy!

Peacock=AWESOME! What more can I say! Farmer Ellie said he was showing off for us. :)

At the end of our day we got to brush the cows...(that's Ashton in the red sweatshirt, it was just a bit freezing!)

New sites...

My dad just launched his website...he builds beautiful custom homes and remodels...
http://www.norrisconstruction.net/
and me...I make beaded socks...
http://www.sierrasassysocks.etsy.com/
Check um out! :)

DIG IT!

Yesterday was a busy day...ran 6 miles in the morning, made rolls for the Relief Society birthday party, went to Travis' birthday party at Wahoo's and then on to Dig It! Ashton S. in Kindergarten had a birthday and my Ashton got invited to his birthday party at Dig It. Now, my Ashton is way into dinosaurs and wants to be a Paleontologist so this was right up his alley! First, they were digging...
and got to keep two items from each adventure digging...

and then he drilled...and found a real fish fossil, the whole fish from head to tail, that was COOL!

Last adventure, breaking a Geo, found crystals inside!!!

FUN! FUN!

Finished off the day at the Relief Society Birthday Party. My mom was released from her calling as 1st Counselor in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. They went out with a bang...this was their last activity. They did a great job serving in their calling, serving the Lord for 3 1/2 years.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

we didn't get pinched...
the leprechaun's turned our milk green!

and we had corned beef and cabbage with grandma and grandpa!

It was a good day!

The Food Web

Sierra turned in her project today, the Food Web...she made each of the organisms out of clay. Her favorite is the tiny shrimp at the top.

She got a perfect grade! She was so excited! Way to go, Si!!!

I love the sunshine in my life...

we have had such beautiful weather and I'm so grateful that I am healthy and strong and my body allows me to run and run and run. Training for Ragnar has been quite an experience. Me and my mom run everyday but on Thursday we ran twice. We ran 6mi in the morning and 6mi at night, and at night Trish H., Megan C. and my bro-in-law Brett ran with us. Today me and mom and Trish ran 11 miles. I'm amazed that my body works the way that it does. I am grateful for my health and strength! :) I just LOVE running, I'm so happy when I get home!

We LOVE...

the V1 Elders Quorum President!

Saturday...

Today was a great Saturday...it was a special day getting ready for Sunday...we clipped nails and shined shoes. :)
We went to the store.
I got training in...my mom and I ran in the morning 6.6 miles and in the afternoon we ran again 3.1 miles. Training for the Ragnar Relay in April.
We had the missionaries for dinner...

Ashton's first presentation

K-1 did their first presentations today in the MPR. They each had to choose a community leader and research them. Ashton chose a builder, his PAPA!

In his picture it is Papa and Uncle Rich and they are holding hammers.

1. My Papa has been in the community his whole life, since birth, 1957.

2. My Great Grandpa and Great Great Grandpa were also builders in the Santa Clarita Valley, my Papa is 3rd generation builder.

3. He has been a builder for over 30 years.

4. He has built over 100 custom houses in our community.

5. He has also built a few commercial buildings too.

The Gardens

Today we went to the Huntington Gardens with my sisters and met up with some moms from our ward. Fun right from the start!

"Pinkie"

and "Blue Boy" were in the mansion

Fun in the Children's Garden

The "Stinky Plant"

In the Bog we learned about Carnivorous Plants (they eat insects), Venus Fly Trap, Sundew, and the Pitchers. So educational, worth taking my kids out of school!

Lucy is on her way!

Sierra sewed this bag special for our field trip!

Taken on my sisters I-phone

What a beautiful day!

We sat in a huge grass area before leaving. The kids had found cut outs that looked like a racetrack and they ran and ran through the track. I found Sierra off by herself knelt in the grass saying a prayer. What a great place to pray. What a sweet moment. :)