Running and Winning

So Greg has been running again. He probably started about a month ago. We used to go to Bryce Canyon every year for him to run the Rim Run, which was 5 miles. It was a nice vacation and he would train during the summer when he had a break from school. Well now that the kids have gotten older, he is going back to running. It has been great to be a part of it. Last minute, he found about a run here in Spanish Fork. It was either the 5k, which is 3 miles, or a half marathon. Well Greg decided to do the 5k. He will eventually get to the half marathon, just not now. So we had the kids ready to go by 700am. Usually there isn't a problem getting them up. They have been waking up early, but today, they decided they wanted to sleep. We got them up and going and we were there for Greg. They got to the play in the park and we enjoyed pancakes and waffles while we were waiting. It was a fun morning and now everyone, but me, is zonked out.




Greg did great! He got 6th overall and 2nd in his age group. He ran it in 22 minutes. For me, I would've ran just a mile in 22 minutes. He did so awesome and me and the kids are so proud of him.

Silly Billy!

Since Caden has started school, I have been able to spend more time with her before I put her down for her nap. Man, this little lady is a blast! I love this girl. She makes me laugh all the time.

Crazy Weekend

So last weekend was a crazy one. It started with Greg working graveyard and we had a yardsale at 730am Saturday morning. We had the yardsale until 1230. We had a princess party at 2, but we didn't get there until 230. We had a family party at 5 in Salt Lake so we had to leave by 4, but I needed to be home by 330 to pack. Both kids took a nap on our way to the family party because we were stuck in traffic so we were actually an hour late to the family party. We got there at 6. The kids played outside and in the hot tub with their cousins and finally got to bed at 10pm. We spent the night at my in-laws. At 1030, Greg and I decided to take advantage of being there and went out to Chili's. We got home at 1130...exhausted. Kids wook up at 730am. We got ready, packed, and left to go home around 1030. We got home around 1130. The house was a disaster so we cleaned. At around 1230, I made lunch and Greg went for a run. He came home, we had lunch. We all had to shower and get ready for the day because we had a baby blessing to go to at 230. After the baby blessing, we came home and changed and met everybody from the blessing at a park for lunch. We got there at 315. We stayed until 415. Lola fell asleep once we got home. Caden wanted to play Lego Batman, and Greg and I decided to sleep. Caden came into my room at 6 to sleep. He fell asleep. I woke up. Lola came in to my room and laid on my bed and fell back asleep. Greg woke up to play Lego batman. I made dinner. Greg and I had dinner. 830pm, we put Caden's jammies on and he went back down for bed. Lola woke up, but didn't want to go back to bed. We watched Planet Earth until 10pm and put Lola down for bed. Greg and I were in bed by 1030pm. Monday started at 6am.

First Day of School

It was Caden's first day of preschool yesterday. This is his second year and he is going 3 times a week instead of 2. He loves it and can't wait to go again the next day. I just have a hard time with Lola coming home with me after dropping him off. When is it going to be her turn? Soon.

Birthday and Anniversary Celebration!

I turned the big 2-6 and Greg and I have been married for 6 years. It was a wonderful weekend. My in-laws watched the kids while Greg and I spent two night in Park City. We had a good time eating out, shopping, getting a couples massage, watching movies, and just chilling. 6 years has gone by so fast and it has been the best with Greg by my side. xoxo love you babe

I LOVE YOU SAN FRAN!

Oh how I love you San Fran. I love your food, your weather, your location to beaches, your large hills that I often climbed, your transportation system that I thought I got, but I didn't. I love your city feel, your sailboats everywhere on the water, your wonderful and clean public bathrooms, your colorful homes on the streets, your architecture, and your palm trees. I love your desserts, your 90 min. wait for your famous Ice Cream Soda Shop, your oh-so-many jaywalkers, and your many wonderful stores, but oh-so-high sales tax. I love your early risers on a Saturday morning, the runners on the piers that seem to run all day, the way there is a Starbucks in every corner and a cafe in between. I love the way English was the foreign language and the way I could never find someone who actually lived there for recommendations. I loved how there were people that were rude and didn't help a tourist get around, but get us even more lost and I loved how there were so many friendly strangers that would tell you to get off the bus because you were on the wrong one. Oh I love you San Fran. I love the memories I have from the moment I got there to when I had to leave. I hope to see you soon and I will let you know the details of my trip to the amazing San Fran.

Spotlight on Lola

Terrible Twos. It comes with every toddler. Every stage has its ups and downs. Right now, hands down, I would have to say that Lola is at that stage and is by far my favorite age with her. She makes me laugh like crazy, she is so smart, when you meet her, you can't help but adore her. When you are on her good side, it makes you feel good that she likes you. She is so special and our family would not be complete without her. I love you, baby girl!

Summer Time

We found a few new places around here that we have enjoyed. Spanish Fork has a reservoir that is a great place to cool down. The water is freezing, but it feels good when it was 100 degrees. There is a sand area and you can swim around. It is pretty deep in the middle of it. You can fish and we have even seen scuba divers come up. It has been fun to go as a family and to go with friends. Both my kids are loving the water. We have also had a great time at the Scera pool and the Payson pool. We have been going to so many places that the kids and I can just cool down.






Spanish Fork, every year, around Pioneer day, has Fiesta Days. We were able to enjoy the carnival here. It was the first time the kids have gone on rides. Grandma and Grandpa Brusik came down and went with us. The kids screamed the whole time. There was one ride they chose a different car to ride. It was hilarious, they didn't know what to do with themselves. They kept looking for each other and they weren't able to enjoy the ride. It was so cute!





It has been an amazing summer and it has gone by really fast.

Funny Lola

I was giving Lola a bath and went to get the phone. I came back and found Lola like this. "Mama, I'm swimming." What a funny girl!

Sleep Over

Superhero Dance

So the past couple of weeks, the city offers a Youth Arts Festival which kids can choose to do classes for two weeks and then there is a showcase at the end. Caden wanted to do a Superhero Dance class. It was the coolest class for little boys. Different days they would learn new moves and each would be after a different superhero. The boys got to pick which superheros, but a couple of the classes I did watch, they had props. One was Star Wars and they all got lightsabers and another they got huge rubber bands for Elastigirl. The teacher was amazing and great with the boys. Firm in discipline and energetic in dancing. He did amazing at his showcase and he loved performing in front of the crowd. I had a hard time downloading his video, but this is a pic of his class. I asked him why he wasn't smiling and he told me he was mad because his friends were squishing him.

Swim Lessons

Caden had his first swim lessons the past week. He did great and loved the water. He may even loved it too much. He even made me nervous while he would wait his turn because he would want to go under the water and show off. I would just watch him when it was his turn and turn my head. We did lessons at a private pool instead of through the city and I just loved it. Right next to the pool was a gated playground and it was great for Lola. He was just a fish in the water and his favorite was the diving board. It was so much fun and I just can't wait for next year when I put both my kids in lessons.

Conversation with Caden

The funny things Caden says....

Caden: "Mommy, look at that baby. It's a really cute baby."

Mala: "Yes, she is really cute."

Caden: "I want one. Can I have one for Christmas?"

Now what are you suppose to say to that?

Surprise....Surprise!

So my friend Stef and I decided to surprise our husbands with a mystery date. We didn't tell them what we were doing and just told them what time they needed to get off work. We have had this planned for a while and we went out last night.

Greg couldn't handle the surprise. We are not good at surprises at all. I mean, since we have been married, we have never been able to wait until Christmas to open our presents. It is so hard for both of us to wait so doing this took a lot of effort from me not to tell Greg.

We went out to dinner to Magleby's and got tickets to an outdoor concert. The concert was to see Kelly Clarkson, who Stef and I really like and, surprisingly, Jonathan (Stef's hubby) likes too. Greg is indifferent.

Well, when we got the tickets, we were picturing a wonderful, hot June evening, but it turned out to be cloudy and rainy. At least it didn't pour. It turned it really nice actually. I love the rain and I haven't been in it for a while. Plus I got to use my hot pink rain boots. We even got a rainbow. It was really fun! The music was awesome! Kelly is so good in person, probably even better than on her recordings! We had a great time people watching and eating!

It was a great date night and a fun surprise.


Our view!

The beautiful rainbow

Stef and Jonathan

Greg and I...a picture together...finally!

I know...It's been forever!

I know it has been a long time since I posted. I warn you...this is going to be a long one. We have been busy working, playing, traveling, and doing the normal things. People say that when your kids get older, it gets easier and busier. The easier part....sometimes I wonder if that is really true or not, but busier....I really believe it. Not like it isn't busy when you have a baby and toddler, but when you have a toddler and one in school it's even more. I know it is going to get even busier when both are in school.

The past couple of months, Caden finished his first year of preschool. He has grown up so much, learned tons of new things, and has made lots of friends. He has another year of preschool before kindergarten so that will keep us even more busy next year because that will be three times a week instead of just two. The end of April he had a school program. He was so cute singing and waving at us when he wasn't suppose to.

May was crazy. The first weekend, I went up to Seattle for Hannah, my best friend since 3rd grade, who had a bridal shower. I went up there just by myself for the weekend and it was fun. When I came home, a couple of weeks later, I went to a bachelorette party in Canada in the middle of May and that was a blast. It was my first time in Vancouver and it is gorgeous. It was the longest that I didn't talk to Greg because it was roaming there and we don't text. It was hard, but I think the kids had a fun time with dad watching movies and eating junk food. I came back on that Sunday and on Monday, the whole family drove back to Seattle. We take a couple of days and it is cheaper for us to drive because we have to pay for all four tickets now. Our dear friends, Hannah and Nate, got married on the 23rd. I was a bridesmaid, Caden was the ring bearer, and Lola was the flower girl. They did a great job and were the cutest. I wasn't able to take pictures, but it was such a crazy time and I didn't have any time . It was go, go, go all week. Weddings are stressful, but with kids, it just adds a little more. It was a good trip to Seattle, but really crazy. It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for Aunt Hannah and Uncle Nate to finally make it official. They dated for 8 years and we have all been waiting forever for that day. We came home and haven't had a break since. We have been playing tons. The kids don't have lots of cousins in Seattle, so I had to get them playing with other kids right away. So we have been doing that every day and our wonderful friends, the Morgans from Oregon(with the exception of Kyle) stayed with us for a few days. It was fun to have them here playing everyday. It is so nice for the kids to know each other even though they see each other every 6 months or so. They just left yesterday and it was a wonderful visit. Lots of staying up late, chatting way too much, watching Twilight with our wonderful commentary throughout the whole thing (I think Greg really LOVED that), Stan's fries and shakes, catching up with Defreese, and just lots of playing and plenty of time outs :)

Before I forget, in May before I left for Canada, it was Lola's birthday she is two. I just want to post a little about our Lola. I feel like I don't talk about her enough. They say that with your kids, you spend most of the time with your first. You try to even it with all your kids, but even if you try to make up for it, you still give most of your time with your first. I know for sure that is for pictures. I have tons of Caden and I do have a lot of Lola, but it is really hard to get Caden out of the pictures with Lola. He always jumps in. It drives me crazy. Yes, Caden is cute, but sometimes I just want to take a picture of Lola for goodness sakes :) She is the sassiest, funniest, craziest, cutest, smartest girl ever. When you first meet her, she has such an attitude. Your lucky to have any eye contact from her, and if you do get it from her, you just hope to not get a scowl. You may think it is rude, but it is plain funny. She likes her space and does not forgive easily. She holds grudges with other kids and will play with you when she wants to play with you. She makes me laugh so much every day. Her laugh is so contagious. She has the biggest mouth and she shows it to you when ever she laughs and eats. You can see every little tooth she has. She copies everything you say and is such a bright girl. Instead of calling Caden his name, she has nicknamed him Honey. It is adorable. She loves jumping, dancing, can't stand it if anyone sings, loves getting her nails painted, snacks all day instead of eating meals, likes to put herself in timeout, has cherry red lips that you can't not kiss, has a cute hoarse voice, but knows how to scream to make your eardrums pop. That girl drives me crazy and I just cannot get enough of her. We celebrated her birthday with the family. It didn't faze her at all. She didn't even get into the whole present and cake thing. She just wanted to play with her cousins. We didn't do too much for her bday because it was in between the trips, but we tried to do what we could.

I will post pics or a slideshow soon. I don't have that much time right now.

Well I think that is good for now. It is sizzling HOT outside and summer has begun. Pool days and snow cones...here we come!

It's Official!

Lola has had way too many breakdowns and tantrums this week. She has entered the world of terrible two's!

Dancing Munchkins

I Love You!

Happy Birthday Caden!

So my baby turned 4 last week. It was my first real party that I threw and it was so much fun. Caden loves Jumpin Jacks, which is an inflatable fun place, so we went there and he was able to invite some friends. He picked the party room, which was a castle and dragon, so we decided on a princess and knight theme. We got pizza, I made a castle cake (which totally fell apart on the way there), the kids played, the adults played, and I got great favor boxes from Oriental Trading. It was so much fun! Caden loved it.

Over the weekend, we took Caden out to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa at the Asian Buffet, which is just the best. We had a family party and we decided to go to Chuck E. Cheese. The kids had a blast! Caden and Greg went off playing games and winning tickets while Lola and I went and did the rides. They keep asking to go. We had a great birthday. I am so happy and sad that my baby is growing up. It keeps getting better as he is getting older, but they sure grow up fast.

Fun in Oregon

So we just got back from our trip from Oregon. We went to go visit our best friends, the Morgans and we had so much fun! It was a nice break and it was way too short. Last minute we found out Kyle had to go to class to play Army and was staying on the coast so we wouldn't be able to see him that much. We made plans to stay on the coast for a couple of days so we would be closer to him. We had a blast enjoying a suite life, playing at Pump It Up, napping everyday, driving on the beach, visiting sea lions, playing games all night, and letting the kids play all day. It was freezing, but the weather was overall really good. Caden, Jed, Lola, and Lyla got along great. We miss living so close to the Morgans, but we have been so lucky to visit them and have them come here. May seems like forever.

We flew to Oregon this time because it was going to be a short trip. Our trip was stressful there, but we learned and the trip home was so much better. We haven't flown as a family in forever so it took a little adjusting, but Caden did love going on the airplane. We enjoy driving probably more than flying so I am happy that our next family trip will be to drive to Seattle.

Happy Chinese New Year!

The Year of the Ox!

Here is a little bit about the ox personality.

Still waters run deep, as anyone who has observed an Ox will tell you.

People born in the Year of the Ox are the supremely self-assured, and as a result are noted for inspiring confidence in others. Generally patient and thoughtful, they measure their words, and will speak clearly and concisely often when it matters most.

Born to lead, Ox people can be quite stubborn — but also stubbornly loyal to those they love. However, when opposed, their fierce tempers are legendary. So always follow this very wise advice : never cross an Ox!

Generally placid and easy-going on the outside, the Ox can be very dogmatic. There are no gray areas evident within their narrow scope of vision, and they often only see things as good or bad. Therefore, they are never easily persuaded by a clever argument. Possessing an excellent memory, the Ox can often recall verbatim a conversation weeks or months after it has occured.

Their physical stamina combined with their mental alertness is a distinct advantage when it comes to completing any task at hand. In fact, Oxen can often be seen patiently working away ... long after everyone else has dropped from sheer exhaustion!

Ox people are also generally good with their hands, and together with sterling leadership abilities are often successful as doctors or surgeons, construction managers, army generals or business leaders.
Years
1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033

Our Holiday

We were able to celebrate Chinese New Year over the weekend. I don't remember too much growing up, but we always had good food and red envelopes with money. We started a few traditions for the new year. The kids still get their red envelopes and they get to pick out whatever they want. Caden decided on a toy that transforms (Bakugon balls) and Lola ended up just picking out a couple of balls to play with because Dozer chewed/popped her other ones. She had a little bit left so I helped her pick out some dress up shoes and jewelry. We woke up the next morning and had a great breakfast and we got all new outfits to start off the new year. We cleaned out the house to wipe away all the bad spirits in our home and then we went to the Asian Buffet, which we love! We relaxed the rest of the day and had a wonderful weekend together.





Here were our fortunes that we got from our cookies after eating.

Lola- An unexpected payment is coming your way!

Caden- you shouldn't overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.

Mala (I got two, lucky me!)- Now is the time to call loved ones at a distance. Share your news.

Your discover treasures where others see nothing unusual.

Greg- Tomorrow your friend or partner will tell you some exciting news.

So, by putting it together... I will find some unexpected treasure and I am going to tell Greg and share the news with friends, but we aren't going to spend any of it.
That sounds pretty accurate. What would be your translation of our fortunes.

Hope you had a wonderful Chinese New Year!

Back from Break!

Well it has been a while since my last post and has been crazy with all the holidays. We have gotten plenty of snow storms to keep us stuck in the house. Everybody seems to be getting hit, even my parents in Seattle. In Seattle, no one seems to function in the snow. My dad and brother haven't been able to drive to work or drive to the store for my mom so my brother walks to the store to get a few things or just to do something. It is crazy! I wish Greg didn't have to go to work because he couldn't drive, but by the time we wake up, all the roads are already plowed. Why does Utah have to be prepared for snow? It sometimes stinks! :)

Our break was so much fun. We played in the snow, went to the Festival of Lights, went to the Children's Museum, and hung out with friends and family.

Christmas was wonderful. We always get together with Greg's family for Christmas Eve dinner. It was very low key with ham and turkey sandwiches and appetizers. It was great and so fun for the kids. We had a white elephant exchange, sang songs, and did our secret santa gifts for the family. We didn't get home until really late and the kids were zonked out. They weren't even awake to open their Xmas even jammies, but we put them on them anyway. Christmas day was just the best. Hanging around in pjs all day, having a wonderful breakfast, and just chillin. The kids opened their stockings and we only gave a couple of presents, like books and games. We played in the snow and made snowmen and family came to visit so it was very quiet and relaxing.

Growing up, I didn't grow up celebrating Christmas and so I don't go all out. We buy our kids tons of stuff throughout the year and we have Chinese New Year and their birthdays soon after so there isn't a need to go crazy. That's great if you do, but sometimes it isn't feesable. One tradition with Greg and I that has stayed since we have been together is we never wait to give each other our gifts. We can't help it. We make the kids wait, but we just don't. We like that tradition.

Greg had the rest of the week off so we just hung out and shopped. It was so much fun. I love it when Greg doesn't have to work and we do nothing all day. It is the best!


For New Years, we hung with the Wetzel crew until 230am. We played games and ate party food. At midnight, we lit fireworks and confetti poppers. It was a great New Year and we paid for it the next morning. It wasn't too hard to get up, but Greg and I took turns napping in the morning and we both napped in the afternoon. Now that is New Years. A day full of naps. Way to start the new year.



The past couple of weeks have been crazy and the new year is going to be even crazier!