Maddie

Get ready or not, I'm going to try to get caught up on my blogging, so Richard can take over for a little while (laughing). Maybe it is the 21st century nesting, but I've been feeling like I needed to get caught up on my computer stuff before this baby gets here.

I haven't posted anything exclusively about Maddie for along time and she had a crazy last few weeks of school. Here's what's been happening in her life....At her dance recital, she received an award for passing off her splits (both sides and center). As anyone who was around Maddie throughout the year knows, she practiced just about every waking minute on her splits. Passing them off was a piece of cake for her. For doing this, she got a gift certificate to Coldstone, my kind of reward. Maddie showed us last week that she has mastered the ability to do the splits up the stairs. She's got talent, what can I say.

Maddie had a fun soccer season this year, and she even scored a few goals. She is getting pretty good on the defensive side (I think that is what they tell me.) I've only been watching Richard play soccer for 17 years now, and I still don't get the stinkin' game. My ADD kicks in big time during the game. I thought it would be better watching kids, but it really isn't. At least I'm there though....RIGHT?

At school she received her Golden Hawk Award, for completing certain requirements established by the teacher. Maddie met every requirement set! Way to go Madders! Also, with about 2 weeks left of school, and some serious "Whocaresitus" had set in, she brought home a stinkin' assignment for an Oral report on dinosaurs. With the report, she had to create a visual representation. It was due the last Wednesday of the school year. I was really thrilled about this! We almost boycotted, but decided that wouldn't be a very good example, so we did the report on an Ankylosaurus, and because I am the crafty queen of the world, haha, we decorated a cake. She did 95% of the work herself, and I must say she did a very cute job! The "Richard" side of her had a map all drawn out with very detailed labels of where she was going to put everything down to the dirt piles. As much as I complained, she had fun doing the assignment, and loves to ramble off fun facts about the Ankylosaurus. Quiz her next time you see her.

Maddie also finished up her Girl Scout year. They did some fun things, but her favorite activity was going to Build A Bear. Her troop had a year end party at Bouncin' Off the Walls, and we had a great time. She earned a ton of badges and a Gift Certificate to Boondocks.

It's hard for me to believe she is done with 2nd grade. Third grade seems so old to me. I remember so much from my 3rd grade year, that it seems like this is when you really start your memory. She's a great girl and such a big help around the house. I don't know what we'd do with out her. We're excited to start a new school and see what that brings. Way to go Mads---we're proud of you.

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

We're celebrating today because SCHOOL IS FINALLY OUT!!! We had a last day of school party with the Olsen's. The kids all voted on going to Up Chuck A Rama for lunch, and then we went back to Heidi's and they jumped and had a little water fun. We (I) didn't think this day would ever come! I've complained about it before, but driving back and forth from Riverton to West Jordan 3 times a day has gotten really old. I think I was more excited today than the kids were. I just don't know what I'm going to do with 2 extra hours of free time on my hands....oh yeah....have a new baby! I guess this is another reason to celebrate....
(Sam and Mrs. Ruoho)

(Maddie and Miss Gibby)

(Let the party begin)


I went to my Dr.'s appointment today and I officially have a scheduled induction date for July 14th. It is later than I was hoping for, and would be only 1 day early, but at least I won't be going over my due date. I was hoping for July 10th, but I guess you can't get everything you want in child birth right! My dad reminded me that the 14th is my Grandma's birthday, so that would be neat to have it on her birthday, and who knows, if we can't come up with anything better, Arlene might be a pretty cute name for this baby.


On that note, we don't have a name still. We're stuck on Lauren (Richard/Sam) or Ellie (Katie/Brinley/Maddie). But I'm not sure I want to do either one right at the moment, so I'm open to suggestions. My mom has come up with some winners, her latest is Johannah. I think she was offended when I laughed at her. Sorry mom!

Our Comedian

Brinley has been keeping us in stitches lately. She says the funniest things anymore. She makes up new words to songs, and busts us up. The other day she started singing Pat-a-cake Pat-a-cake bakers men, but instead of bakers men, she said "Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, spank yours men."

Last night as I was putting her to bed she had a little crusty booger so I picked it off. She was so offended. She said, "Hey that's my booger, put it back." I told her that's gross and that I couldn't put it back. She took it off my finger and tried to snort it back up her nose, and then started laughing because it tickled, so of course the crusty boogie went flying out of her nose.

Constantly, I wonder what people do for laughs without kids.

Brinley's Favorite Spot

Our church time is from 1:00-4:00, which we enjoy our nice lazy mornings, but it is a killer on nap time. One nice benefit is Brin usually sleeps through sacrament meeting, and then wakes up happy and ready to go to nursery. Yesterday, this is how we spent the hour. By the time the meeting was over, I was melting and a little uncomfortable. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to take a picture during sacrament meeting, so watch out for the lightening!

And yes, this is about the only way I'll take a picture these days. That belly is gross!

Funny Things

Here are just some funny pictures of our weekend in Ogden.

All the runners went for a "Carb" Dinner at Olive Garden, and Brinley looks like she has an addiction problem in some of these pictures.


A really bad hair day...





All snug and cozy...

Getting ready for the race....

Richard after finishing (a long time after finishing)...

A record

Maybe I've turned over a new leaf! I've blogged more this month already than I have all year. Don't get used to it, however. I can't promise to keep it up....but I'll try.

We had a fun weekend. Richard and a group of friends ran a relay race in the Ogden Marathon. So we all spent the weekend in Ogden enjoying the race festivities. Richard ran just over 6 miles, I think! I can't remember! Sorry Richard. After getting 2 stress fractures in his feet last year doing a half marathon, he decided to ease into the marathon life a little bit. This was an easier race for him, which I still don't understand! He said he won't do the relay again however because it was a little too anti-climatic. So, he's ready to start training for another half marathon. He had one friend run the whole 26.2 miles of the marathon and did awesome! He finished in 3:50:06, which was 11 minutes faster than his time last year. The amazing thing about this guy, is that a few years ago, he almost had to have his foot amputated due to a soccer injury. He has no range of motion in his ankle, but he still loves to run (there is something crazy about these runners...they must be into self torture or something).

(Some of the running team) (2nd Generation running team)

For those of you who have never attended a race, it is awesome. You can't help but get hyped seeing the runners cross the finish line. Even those who collapse, or barf across the finish line are so proud of themselves! I enjoy watching---only watching---everyone finish. I always think that I'm going to go to race and be inspired to start training, but every year I leave asking "WHY?!?!?"

The kids were able to run in a Kids K, which is just less than a mile. All 3 of them ran, and had so much fun. They are ready to do it again. I guess here comes the 2nd generations of runners in the Murray Clan. Crazy! They loved getting all the free sandwiches, Creamies, Jamba Juices, water, etc. They each got a tee shirt and cow bell for finishing. Way to go you racers! I'm proud of all of you!

(Maddie and Alex)

(Sam)

(Brinley & Richard just after finishing)

The Performance

Here are a few pictures from Sam's kindergarten program. It was so cute! Sam did such a great job! He even got an award from his teacher for being the best singer in the program! Way to go Sam! Sorry about the possessed looking kids. We were on the back row, so the red eye was really bad.