Early Mornings

Just about every week day morning, I drag myself out of bed around 5:20 AM-- much too early for my health.  However, on a good day, I'm showered, dressed and ready to start my day around 10 AM.  It takes me five and half hours before I am ready to work.  What is up with that???????

Maybe it is because I spend about 2 hours driving David to seminary, waiting for seminary to end, driving David to school, and then navigating the some 2,500 students, teachers, and adminstrators funneling through the two high school entrances just to make it home by 7:30 AM.  Or maybe it is because I spend 45 minutes exercising each morning or maybe it is because I need to play mom in order to get Max and Bram out the door to catch the school bus by 8:45 AM.    Maybe it's because I start a load of laundry, clean up the kitchen and prepare the evening meal .

I could certainly use some time managment techniques-- Does it take you over 5 hours just to get showered and dressed.  Any advice?

Moment of Joy

For the past three Saturdays, David and I have left the house at 6:45 AM.  I think we're totally insane for getting up this early on a Saturday morning especially since we leave the house every week day at 5:35 AM.  Why do we leave the house this early -- we have a standing 7 AM appointment with our personal trainer. 

We start with our warm-up-- David runs a 7 minute mile on the treadmill while I'm right next to him blazing on the elliptical.  We than do our dynamic stretches; we plow through these at about the same pace.  Then David starts to kick my butt.  He lifts heavier weights, he can do more reps and blows me away with the ab routine.  My flexibility is the only exercise I can do better than him.

As we're pumping the iron, twisting like a pretzel and trading weights between sets, I marvel that a 15-year old teenage boy will get up early on a Saturday to work out with his middle aged mom.  The pain and fatigue from performing those exercises I just hate, melts away as I pretend to use my sweat towel to hide my bewildered, joyful tears.  I find it difficult to articulate the joys of spending this time with David.  I'm on borrowed time; I expect any day for David to realize it is just not "cool" to spend such time with his mother.

Today's Happy Thought

I love fresh cut flowers, and whenever I see a good deal or cannot resist the urge, I bring home a bunch to display on the dining room table.  The boys (including the big boy, Neal) all know they can always make me cry upon presenting a flower bouquet.

Today, I was arranging a bunch of flowers, picked up at Aldi's for $3.99, when Max and Bram arrived home from school.  Max asked, "Why did you buy some flowers?"  I replied, "I love fresh cut flowers, and they were cheap."  To which Max replied, "I love fresh vegetables!"

Moment of Joy - March 7, 2010

Today, Taylor found me in our mud room putting stuff away. She spontaneously gave me a hug and said, "I love you!" What can be more joyful than your teenage daughter extending her tender mercies.

--March 7, 2010

Breakfast @ IHOP

Summer has began, and so we have commenced with our "Summer Reading Challenge."  Our first benchmark reward was breakfast at IHOP.  We always reach the first benchmark quickly because books that are in process when the chart is posted are quickly added.  It is like reading a book that starts on page 20 even though you don't read the first 20 pages because it is just miscellaneous information.  Fortunately, Taylor participates in our reading challenge.  She is our heavy weight reader and added 1,260 pages towards our first 2000 page benchmark.

Max and Bram both discussed frequently their anticipated breakfast orders for two days prior to our schedule IHOP date.  They both had their menu planned down to the chocolate sprinkles in their hot chocolate.  Breakfast is always a hit at IHOP, and we love to see our favorite personal waitress.

Our conversation on the return trip drifted toward the topic of flatulence.  Taylor proclaimed that if she ever has boys they will never fart.  In fact, they will be put on time-out for farting.  Bram informed us that he has the following names for his farts--

• Bubble farts
• Push-out farts
• Machine gun farts
• Walking farts
• Gracie farts
• Wet farts

Next time you see Bram, ask him to explain all the above farts.  It will lead to a very interesting discussion. Fun times @ the Top Family

Palm Springs Movie - Take Two

Past Happy Thoughts

Max & Bram- Having the missionaries over for dinner!




David - Showing the missionaries his beat-boxing skill.



Taylor - Sharing her dessert with the missionaries.

Moment of Joy - 2/28/10

Today during church, I looked to my left and saw Taylor and Bram both reading their scriptures. I looked to my right, Max was not only reading his scriptures, but was marking them. My heart was overcome with joy as I witnessed my children internalize gospel principles.

Moment of Joy - 2-26-10

Today was another snow day! It was another typical snow day for the Top Family-- we all had breakfast in the kitchen, the kids suited up and played in the snow. Later that day they returned home all wet in cold. Hot chocolate was on the stove ready to warm up cold bodies. What more joy can there be in a snow day.

Moment of Joy

Max, Bram & David have built two large mountains of snow in the back yard. The goal is to dig out the center in an attempt to make a snow cave. They plan to sleep in the cave tomorrow night. It was joyful watching the boys work and play in the snow

Palm Springs – Feb. 2010

In January, on a whim, we booked flights to Palm Springs.  Thinking that we were very clever, we booked four of us on AirTran and used Rapid Reward tickets for the remaining two.  We all counted the days until we would be leaving for Palm Springs--  Palm Springs is one of our most favorite places.  Max and Bram would lay in bed at night developing commercials for In and Out Burger.  Max was very emphatic that the first place we would stop would be In and Out Burger.  Check out our vacation pictures--

Still trying to figure it out

I've spent the last few days trying to figure out this whole blogging thing.  I want to have separate postings on my page for the sidebar options.  Can anyone tell me how this is done?

Starting a blog----

Today was the day to start my blog. Unfortunately, the children arrived home from school before I was able to finish. Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow-- maybe I'll finish it tomorrow!