Good time with Grandparents

To My Mom and Dad,


When you first phoned to tell us the news of your visit. I instantly got busy with anticipation and excitement being my driving force. It isn't often we get to welcome you into our home and our lives and my determination to make this a fun and eventful visit was soon set into motion.


While you have been here nothing has given me more pleasure than to see you with my children.
I love to see how much they love you.
I love to see how much they need your hugs and kisses.
I love to see you laugh at their little corks, and smile at their amazingness.
I love to see Rylie's eyes light up when she hears your voice and her squatty little legs as she runs towards that voice.
I love to see Carson enjoying the fact that there is more maleness in the house and jumping up and down when the "boys" go out, whether it is to the dump or store.
I love to see Savannah gently touch Grandma's shoulder and whisper, "I love you Grandma" in her ear.
I love to see Madison snuggle up next to Papa whenever he happened to be lounging around.


But although I have enjoyed watching you with my kids. I have also enjoyed the moments when they go to sleep and it is just the four of us. The Wii comes out, the laughter begins. Good times! Thanks for everything! We have loved every minute of having you around and we are so sad to see you go. It is almost enough to convince us to move back home! Almost!




Love your goofy moments Dad. Imagine this face as we taught Dad some good stretches for his back. It was about the same!
This is a common face Grandma wears. Pure paranoia, anxiety and worry! "Be Careful" was what we heard out of Grandma most of the trip. This picture captures it perfectly!

Part 2...

The drive up there was like many others. Green, rainy, and cloudy. I am not sure where it started to change, it could have been when Rylie finally fell asleep, or when Grandma stopped having anxiety attacks over my driving. It happened when peace settle in the car and I was able to look at my surroundings. Suddenly I was taken back in time. The countryside was nearly untouched with modern day conveniences. There were green mountains and hills. Landownership was separated and distributed by beautiful stone walls. It was a cow, sheep, horse paradise! Rarely does anyone get to see beauty such as this.

We loved the Lakes District so much our diversion to Scotland was soon cancelled and our journey through the middle of the district began. Here are just a few pics of our journey!

Sightseeing Frenzy! Part 1

Mom and Dad are only here for such a short time so we have been trying to cram as much as we can into the 10 days they are here. So here is a brief synopsis of what we have been up to!

Let's just make this easy and do it alphabetically!

One day just the three of us were able to go to a local castle. Ashby de la Zouch Castle!

Harvey took the day off of work to watch the kids so my Mom, Dad and I could make a day trip to Bath without kiddos. This was by far one of my favorite places so far in England. I wasn't expecting to see so much of the Roman influence throughout the whole city! It was a beautiful city and the countryside was some of the best I have ever seen!




Bradgate Park is our family's favorite park, so we just had to take them there! We got up close to the deer, saw the old ruins and played in the stream. It was a beautiful day, they definitely brought the sunshine with them!



We also spent a nice relaxing Sunday at Sence Valley. A local park!


On the way home from Bath we took a short trip over to Stonehenge. You have to see Stonehenge, whether your the underwhelmed with it, or overjoyed, it is a must. Right?!



Another one of our family's favorite places in England is Stratford Upon Avon. We love this place! It is the a place to delve into the Shakespeare era and appreciate the beauty of England's once upon a time thatched roof houses!



And then of course, the coolest castle in the Midlands, is Warwick Castle in the Midlands? Anyway, it is an incredible castle and we just happened to arrive when they had turned it into a "Medevil Summer". They had reenactments of jousting, sword fighting, and all dressed up in their Medevil Costumes. The kids loved it!



Now we move on to the North! I'll catch you up in Part 2!

Sharing your life...

I can't quite explain it; we visit them every year. We embrace the comforts of their home and living in the States. We relish in the sunshine; always having a blast in summer fun.

And as always we thank them for sharing their lives with us. They allow our family of 6 to take over their house, their fridge and their comfortable routines. This gracious gift though is the reason my kids love the tradition of "going home," every summer. Thank you mom and dad!

But NOW IT IS OUR TURN!!!!!!

There is something about sharing your life, your experiences, your day to days, with your parents. Having them see where you live, what you do everyday, even things like where you go grocery shopping, helps me feel as if I am sharing my life with them. I love it!

How to...

How to get a stubborn, self-assertive, strong-willed baby to eat her veggies?
Submit all control over to her:

-Give her the whole bowl

-With her own spoon

-No bib

-No Highchair

-No adults are allowed to comment

-And big siblings aren't allowed to be anywhere in the proximity

The Table

To Our Table,

You are made of oak; good and strong. You have many uses throughout the day. At one point laundry is folded upon you and then you transform and become a place to make and display our artwork. While you support these tasks you also display our daily dose of fruit, enabling the temptation for good foods to befall. However important these duties are though, none are as important as your nightly obligation.

It takes place in the evening when the entire family gathers around you; both adult and child. When all are assembled it is you, our mighty oak table that supports the dishes with which we all eat upon. But that is not the task of which holds importance. It comes from those whom you support. It is the people that you allow to gather round. For without you, the conversations that occur at such a gathering would cease to exist.

As our table, you create an environment that allows the child to discuss her troubles from her day at school. You allow the laughter which is initiated by dad. You allow a child’s first joke to occur. Updates are given on distant families and friends. Accomplishments of the day are told round you with pride and compliments are given. It is as if the fighting desists and the good times begin.

Our table; what a great purpose you hold. For you allow relationships to blossom, memories to be made and love enhanced. Our table; our unassuming crossroad. You are not only functional in household tasks, but you are obliging in our family resolve for unity and closeness.

A Childhood Rite of Passage

I woke up thinking it was going to be just another average summer day. A day with nothing on the agenda; spent in the sun with relaxation and a crying baby. Wait, can those two words be simultaneously together?

It wasn’t until the yell of 5 boisterous children coming in my direction that I awoke from my blissful afternoon rest. “We were so bored, and we were thinking of something to do! And we have a great idea! We want to do a lemonade stand! Can we? Please?” I glanced over at my sister, whom was also expecting a relaxing day with kids entertained by cousins. She gave me that look that all mothers are familiar with. The look that indicates the phrase, “I know we should let them, but I DON’T WANT TO!” The situation that arises from this look is usually when your children are asking you to do something you know they’ll enjoy but the work required from you means the possibility of you enjoying it, isn’t likely.

But together my sister and I conjured up enough energy to get ourselves to work. Together with the children we made a plan of action, a to do list. I took all 5 children to the store, while Michelle watched the babies, there they purchased the goods to sell. Savannah made the sign, while the boys came up with the “stand” portion of the lemonade stand, and Madison kindly designated herself the one to find the “money keeper” (a bowl from under Grandma's kitchen sink). They found themselves a good corner street, set up and waited, and waited, and waited.

Finally the first car arrived, now I usually see children selling lemonade on the street, but rarely stop, due to being late for something, no cash or change, or just plain and simply I don’t want to stop! I now have a new understanding of how to become a hero in the eyes of a child, STOP, stop your car and buy their lemonade. The children were thrilled with their first sell, and 6 cars later, one which include their biggest sell; Uncle Chad, they had made $-15 of their sells back. After one hour they were ready to close out their business and willingly go bankrupt. Conclusion, Lindsay would make a horrible business woman.

But as the title says, it is a childhood rite of passage; every child must have their lemonade stand. It is a child’s chance to see the fruits of their labor, to have an idea and see it through (even if that is only an hours worth). It is a chance to relish in your childhood and make memories with cousins that will last forever. Thank you Papa, Grandma, Michelle, Parker, Tanner, Lexie, and Miranda for making our summer a happy one! Oh yeah, and Angie, you can never forget Aunt Angie, it can never be a real party without her there.

How do you keep a toddler entertained during profit making hours? Give them the sweet product your selling!

Ode to the Road

I have been off my foot now for 2 weeks. I have had to pass on my 1/2 marathon. I have been feeling the loss of the race, but I am now feeling the loss of my daily dose of road time. I miss the running. So as a tribute to my run, I decided to post a very long article I wrote almost a year ago. But endure, you will finish it eventually....(enjoy my Ithaca friends!)

A Country Run

I stepped outdoors and breathed in the crisp morning air. Was I ever going to overcome this lack of motivation? As I mulled a bit over this question I began to set out on what I assumed would be another strenuous run where with each step taken brought regret for ever attempting to exert myself. So there I was ready to go, looking at the pavement wondering if I would ever be able to get the motion going and find that much needed rhythm, left foot, right foot, left foot.

I hesitantly set off, however in only an instant did I realize the day was positively beautiful. For the first time since we arrived in England the sky was blue and the birds were singing. It was the perfect running weather; for you start out feeling slightly chilled, but as you get on your way the cold soon feels refreshing. I actually found myself invigorated, wondering, was I actually going to enjoy myself this time? It has been many years since I last felt the overpowering need to go running. The kind of need where when your out running you are suddenly cognizant of everything around you and a sense of being alive sets you into your pace and at the end of it all you feel as though your ready to take on whatever lies in your path that day. Unfortunately these last few years, running has become something sporadic and a dread rather than an aspiration.

But today I was feeling something different as I ran. I felt lighter with each step, running in wonder at the beauty around me. I instantly thought of Ithaca, New York. For it was in Ithaca where I last felt this true love of running. It had been 3 years since I had lived in Ithaca! The scenery was quite similar, the squared out farmlands, the abundance of trees, the hedges along the streets. Oh the streets, my favorite part of running in Ithaca, the narrow and rarely driven on streets. The streets where at times the only thing that has been on them that morning was you and the occasional horse, (knowing this because of the horse manure I leaped over as I ran). Of all the parallels of course, what I found most similar was in fact, the abundance of hills. As I approached the steepest hill of this particular route I wondered if the feeling of dread was going to set in again, were all these reminiscent feelings I was having too good to be true? However, now as I look back on this moment I realize this was the most enjoyable and comical moment I experienced that day. Although this is somewhat hard to believe, a very steep hill, comical? Better yet, enjoyable? As I was struggling up the hill I found myself listening to my rapid breathing and my distressed heartbeat. So to focus off those things, which were making me all the more tired, I tried to focus on the sounds around me. Instantly and very loudly, I took notice of a herd of sheep, just over the hedge. Now to hear that many sheep say baa, baa, is quite laughable, at least it was to me at that moment. For there I was completely exhausted and looking like it I’m sure, and the bah bah's almost sounded as if they were mocking me, making fun of me. And as if I wasn't struggling enough to breathe, I broke out in hysterical laughter. Here I was in a new neighborhood, a new city, and even more substantial a new country, and feeling as though I had returned home again. Home again, to the evocative feelings that running was once again becoming intermingled with the very fibers of my existence.

Here in England there was nothing but beauty around me, and the nostalgia of running in such beauty made me feel alive almost free. Free from the stresses of life and the all-consuming insecurities we all carry with us.

Of course, without saying I returned home; now knowing that running wasn’t just a chore to be done, a way for me to regain my pre-pregnancy body. It wasn’t about getting those few minutes of alone time. I have relearned since this moment for me why I run and why I have reacquired this motivation. Whether I am running alone, or with my babies in the jogging stroller, or better yet, alongside my husband, I truly do feel alive, I feel a sense of purpose and being, and most importantly I feel gratitude.

So as not to put into minds that I never have a day of lacking in motivation or a day where with each step I jog my legs feel like 2 ton bricks, I still do; and at times like those I have to remind myself, why I do it. I am just so grateful it now only takes a few minutes to reacquaint myself with those feelings instead of a very long 4 years!

The Ultimate Daddy-Daughter Adventure

What would be the best date a Father could take his horse loving daughters on? Well, the answer is quite simple. A 3 hour horseback riding trip! It began at Deer Valley, and it was one hour up the mountain, followed by a cowboy feast of pulled BBQ pork sandwiches and fiddlers to accompany. And then it was one more hour back down the mountain. The views were breathtaking, the scenery amazing, and the quality time with daddy was priceless. A memory that left daddy in no doubt will be treasured forever by all three participants.

Park City, UT

It is known throughout the world. A place where many vacation, a place to snow ski, but also a place to enjoy nature's spendor. But this week, it was a place where our kids could experience not only the beauty of Utah, but scream to the hearts content, exhaust themselves with hours of swimming, zooming down a mountain at lightening speeds, and shop until, well, mom and dad dropped!

It was a place where sisters could bond while on ski lifts, zip lining down mountains, and of course, ice cream.

It was a place where adults could anxiously put kids to bed so they could play "settlers of catan", "wow", and of course eat ice cream, or chips, or soda, or M&M's, or york patties.

It was a place where Papa could escape on his mountain bike and get some moments peace and quiet. Where Grandma had full access to munch on Grandkids cheeks.

This week Park City was fully aware the "Graham, Scott, Martinek, and Christensen" Families were in town, and we made memories that will hopefully last forever.