Time Out For Women

Hey everyone I just wanted to shout from the roof tops that Time Out for Women is coming to St. George! Hooray! If you've been to one of these events you'll know why I'm so excited and if you haven't you need to get to one so you can join in our group cheer.
Ren (baby sister) actually introduced me to my first Time Out and I've been hooked ever since. I'm so glad she talked me into going. I've gone every year since and the memories I have make me smile, laugh, cry (in a good way), every time I think of them. The speakers are amazing, the music is inspiring and just being sent to "Time Out" with a thousand other women is like a little piece of heaven.
The St. George event isn't until November 6th and 7th, so I'm giving you plenty of time to save your pennies or ask for a ticket for Mother's Day (you'll be glad you did.)
If you need more information go to www.DeseretBook.com and click on the T.O.F.W. button.

Lucky Girl(s)

This past month Abbie and the other girls in her Activity Day Group have been preparing for the much anticipated Daddy-Daughter Date.
One week they planned the activity, the next they made invitations, and the next they made lasagna to freeze until the appointed day.
Abbie was looking forward to having dad all to herself, since this doesn't happen very often. Abbie and I kind of got caught up in the moment looking for an outfit, the right shoes and doing her hair, in the middle of the fun Katie came in with her church shoes and ask if she could wear them, I said yes and she proceeded to put them on. I didn't think anything of her choice of footwear and I went on with my business.
When Joseph came home I started taking photos of Abbie and Joseph. Katie slid in next to Joseph to have her picture taken with them. Once again I'm kind of clueless and go on with the "photo shoot". Then Abbie and Joseph started out the door and Kate had a melt down...it broke my heart once I thought about it. She had put on her best shoes thinking she was going to get in on this big night too. We sat her down to explain that it was just Abbie and Dad that were going on the date (that didn't go over too well.) So...being the good daddy Joseph is he promised when he got home he would take her out on her out for ice cream. Hooray, dad saves the day again.

Considering Duct Tape

Adlai and Noah are wrapping up the city league basketball season. It has been so much fun to watch them play, to learn and improve. They both have some really great kids on their teams and have made some new friends, both Adlai and Noah are so scrappy and smart (just the way a basketball player should be). Noah's coach is excellent. He's super positive and believes in teaching and building the kids. They haven't had the most successful season but they've learned a lot and everybody tries really hard to do their best. I'm a really great mom when I go to Noah's games, really I am.
I cheer and clap when it's appropriate, I don't raise my voice and I've never said or done anything to embarrass Noah (heaven forbid).
But it's a different story when I go to Adlai's games. It's like I'm Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I'm aware of why I go through this transformation (I'm unable to divulge it in order to protect the innocent). None the less these are 7th and 8th grade boys, you would think a grown women could control herself. Before you get the wrong idea it's not like I run out on the court and pile drive anyone (even though I've thought about it), or yell curse words (out loud). It's just that I might say something like "Holy cow could someone please box out?" or "Goodnight! Stop shooting three pointers and pass the cotton picken' ball!" Once in a while something similar to "for the love of basketball could you please look down the court, there's a kid wide open underneath!" might slip out. I've apologized to Adlai for embarrassing him but he acts clueless and says stuff like "I didn't hear you say anything." But I heard myself say something and I know I need to STOP (notice the capitals.)
My mom came to the game the other night and said "Robbie, you kind of remind me of grandma." For those of you who know my Grandma Allen know that I would take that as a compliment if it were said anywhere else besides a gym.
So...I've heard the first step to recovery is knowing that you have a problem. I've got that down, now what? What is the second step? Having Joseph video tape the game and I watch it later? Taking some kind of pill to relax? Pretending it's okay to be lazy when your playing sports? (just typing that last sentence gets my blood boiling!) If I don't get some good advice I'm considering a piece of duct tape for my mouth. Anyone know a good sports shrink? As you can see I'm deseperate and Tri-State basketball hasn't even started yet.

It's our birthday shout hooray!

It's true we were meant for each other, I mean come on not only do we have the same anniversary(ha ha)....we have the same birthday! If this isn't evidence of true love I don't what is. I'm not going to tell you how old we are because I don't want anyone feeling bad because of how incredibly young we look, but I'll give you a few hints, but first let's get something straight-even though Joseph and I share a birthday he IS two years older than I. Even though one of us looks considerably younger than the other. No need to go more in depth than that. So on with the hints:
In high school...
1. We both wore peg legged pants.
2. We both thought MC Hammer and Michael Jackson were cool.
3. We both know people who took their 501's out and shot them with shot guns then wore them to school.
4. Both of us considered finding someone to shoot pants for us, because they looked pretty cool.
5. Both of our parents said we couldn't wear shot gun pants.
6. We both have to buy packages of candles in order to put the correct amount on our cakes.
I've heard that you're only as old as you act. That being said we are much younger that our birth certificate states, plus life has never been better so excuse me while I'll dust off my MC Hammer CD and get down.

We took Family Home Evening on the road last night. We thought a change of scenery might be fun, so we took the kids bowling. We had so much fun and we didn't have to ask anyone to "please get up off of the floor and listen" one time. We also didn't teach any gospel principles either, but going on tour for family home evening can't be too bad once in while. Can it?
The kids were diggin' it (bowling), dad was diggin' it and mom was totally diggin' it because I got to bowl with the little ones on the lane with bumpers! SWEET! It would have been even more cool if I would have beat Joseph. I didn't realize until last night that it was possible to lose even with bumpers. You learn something new everyday.

My Everything

Normally, I'm not the type of gal to scream from the mountain tops about what a wonderful man I'm married to...well maybe I am. Okay I really am, for all of you who know me I do have a problem bragging about Joseph and his awesomness, but I can't help it. He's like...well you know....PERFECT. I told this to a woman once and she said "No, he isn't I used to work with him when he was in high school and he isn't perfect, he's great, but he isn't perfect." Well, she obviously doesn't get it. He doesn't have to be perfect for her, because quite frankly he's mine. And for me he is perfect. I dig everything about him. I couldn't ask for anyone that would make my life more complete or more happy. I can't help but think that Joseph is God's way of saying that he loves me. It's true he makes me smile and has now for 15 years. Happy Anniversary to my hunky hubby.

This next little ditty is for just for Joseph...

You make me sing, You're every line, you're every word, you're my everything.

Anatomy of a 100 mile bike ride

Most of you heard the news we (Goulding sisters+Mom) completed our bike ride and we did it with style. Some of us showed our personal style by our fabulous "dos", elaborate head dresses, extraordinary ability to make up lyrics to just about any tune or by showing just how much air we could catch speeding over bridges or other ramps on the road. No matter how we showed our personal style each of us followed a similar pattern as we started, endured and finished our bike ride. Follows is what I like to call the anatomy of a 100 mile bike ride.

The night before the big ride is especially important because that is when you really need to get a good nights rest, which is exactly what is running through your head all night as your laying in bed wishing you could just calm down enough to get to sleep. Your mind flips from "I'm so excited this bike trip is going to be so much fun." to "I hope I trained enough so I don't end up eating licorice in the truck." to "Holy crap, I really need to get to sleep."

Morning of bike ride-Wake up at 5 a.m. to mom flipping on the lights and yelling "Good morning sunshine, it's time to get started." just as you've finally fell asleep (shortest night in history). This is when the thought "Why are we doing this again?" runs through your head. This is photo illustrating Laurie

and I asking "Why?"

Thought that runs through your mind immediately before you mount your bike out in the middle of nowhere with two gentlemen helping you get ready-"Man, I wish we would have thought to bring a porta potty."

Miles 1-12 Pedaling, pedaling, enjoying the beauty, and grinning from ear to ear because you know it's going to be a great day.

Mile 12 Geo-Cache at Widstoe Cemetery (find it if you can)

Miles 12-25 Pedaling, everybody gets in their own groove

Miles 25-27 Flying down the canyon with the wind in your face, hoping you don't bite it or get bitten by one of the many snakes spotted on the road (most of them dead, but hey most girls are really freaked out by them, dead or alive.)

Miles 27-40 Pedaling, feeling great, singing, laughing, and encouraging each other. Before we knew it we had gone as far as any of us had trained (40).

Miles 40-53 Most of the talking, laughing, singing, and giddyness comes to a stop, because its time to get serious. Wondering where all of the down hill was? You know the "it's all down hill" that mom promised us. Pedaling, pedaling, finally feeling the pedaling....and finally feeling the seat on your seat (if ya know what I mean?). Entering Kingston Canyon and being too scared about getting hit by a car to feel your legs and bum. Getting through the canyon feeling ecstatic that we didn't get smushed and finally knowing we are going to finish (at least the first day.)

Lunch (dutch oven potatoes and chicken), visiting with aunts and cousins, watching mom (who just finished a 53 mile bike ride) and dad (who spent the entire morning babysitting us, lifting bikes and making lunch for everybody) set-up, entertain, feed, and clean up after everyone. Wondering the entire time how they have so much energy. You much get more energy the service you render. (Something to think about.) Then the blessed showers, the even more blessed massages, homemade oreos... and then sleep enough said. Night two the only thought that runs through your head is "Boy this bed feels.....(loud snoring noise)"

Morning of day 2 waking up feeling better than you thought you would, getting on your bike and thinking "Wow my bottom's not as sore as I thought it would be, then sitting down completely and thinking well....maybe it is." (See Photo at Right)

Miles 53-60 Doing your own thing, pacing yourself, seeing large hills ahead and knowing you need to ride with someone so you won't notice how large they reallyare. Laughing at Pee Wee and counting all of the road kill (entertainment is hard to find).

Miles 60-75 The time flies by as do the miles and apparently the beautiful "vases" of sunflowers and elaborately placed arrows placed carefully by the road. Singing starts again and many new and fabulous songs are created-such as Bring Back my Pee Wee, and Oh, Mother Dear. I'm sure they will both hit the top 40.

Miles 75-95 We hit a bike paved trail that was fit more for mountain climbers than bikers, mother nature called at the tunnel, we entered the land of road construction, water trucks, mud puddles, and the laughing becomes louder so we can hide the fact that we are all tired, sore, muddy and praying that we can make the last 5 miles.

95-101 For the first time since the beginning we all ride as a group so we can cross the finish line together. We finish and now the answer the question that we ask ourselves the first morning- "So this is why we did this!"

Dad greeted us with roses, hugs, and water. He really is the best support crew we could have ask for. When it was all said and done we did just over 101 miles in 9 1/2 hours. There is only one thing to say about this whole experience...GOULDING GIRLS ROCK!