Drowning with Style

I have always wanted to be a better swimmer since I think it's the one sport I'm actually ideally built for, but have never really put much effort into it because my hair has always fallen in my face even when I pull it back. Wet hair in the face makes breathing even harder than it already is in swimming. But then, Mike bought me a swim cap. (Dang! He cut out my #1 excuse!) So I got pregnant. Oops! Can't fit a swimsuit now, buck-oh! Well, now she's out, and there goes plan B.

Really though, my get-back-in-shape plan after having Madie was to start swimming in the mornings. And today, only 1 1/2 months later, I FINALLY went.

And I almost died.

I did four laps--if that's what you can call the middle two where I stopped half way through and thought to myself "What on this blessed earth made me think I was actually BUILT for this?! Obviously if I was, I'd have fins and a blow hole on the back of my neck!" But I kept going ... kind of. So the goals for the end of this month are:

1) swim two mornings a week

2) swim four laps in a row without letting my heart give out entirely

Wish me luck!

Caught!

I have been trying to catch her smile for the past couple of weeks now. I have been spending a lot of time with her since I'm only taking 6 credits this semester, and she will smile at the most random times. I FINALLY CAUGHT HER!

For Mal's birthday we went to Red Robin in Idaho Falls. If you sign up for their E-club, they will give you a free dinner/dessert on your birthday! So, I signed Mallory up. You can really see how much Madie looks like Mal in this picture.

I love this picture with Mal and Madie.

Madie after a traumatizing bath.

It's fun to be the one to console her in the giant towel.

This is a video from Red Robin.

We had a fun time for Mal's birthday. She got a blueberry pancake, sausage, and avacado shake breakfast, family dinner at Red Robin, a few gifts, and a huge get together with our friends in the evening. Good day!

Happy Birthday Malie!

Hey, you're 23 now! Happy Birthday!

The Pillow Hog

Now we know who really runs the show.

Fall is upon us!

We are now starting our third week of school, and have both been enjoying our classes. Our schedules have worked out so well this semester with work, school, and Madie. Special thanks to Tari McDonald for babysitting Madie! Mal is taking about 15 credits, and I'm only taking 6. It works out really well. I'm glad I get to spend so much time with her during the day. I figure that I will never really have the opportunity to spend this much time with any of our kids in the future due to working full-time/grad school/etc. So here is what has been going on!

The name "Madie Ali" has been coined by Mallory's sister Alexa, due to her dukes always being in fight mode. We snapped this shot at TGI Fridays, very fitting.

Madie is helping me do some homework here. This is the slug I have been referring to laying across my chest.

Another trip to Grand Teton National Park you might ask? Well, of course! When you buy a National Parks Pass, you've got to take advantage of it and get your moneys worth. Our mission today was to find some fall foliage. We found it in it's beginning stages.

Here is Mal and Madie (if you can find her) at Jenny Lake. She did so well on our trip today.

Our friends Angela and Andy came with us for the trip. Here is Ang and Mal trying on apparel.

The marina at Coulter Bay with the Tetons in the background.

Beautiful aspen trees.

I have quite the knack for running into moose. We drove by this bull while driving back to Jackson. I would have gone a little closer had the bull not been in an National Elk Refuge enclosure.

We finished the day in Jackson, and ate at a really good Mexican Restaurant. We snapped this photo in the restaurant of Madie clinging to her pacifier. We walked around a few shops afterwards, and enjoyed some afternoon rain. It was an awesome day.

Think on This

I thought this was a very interesting post by my cousin, Ave, addressing her own apprehensions about a possible explanation for why she feels the way she does about Obama. But even more important are the last two paragraphs which address how people in this country act towards the man in the white house--whoever it is.

I agree with Ave that we as a nation do a poor job of giving enough respect to whoever holds the position of president. I disagree with politics regularly--that's bound to happen. I've heard some pretty ridiculous ideas coming from the person in charge for years, and nothing is new now. I've also heard some good ones for years, even from people I didn't particularly like. But to paint the leader of our country as some kind of ignoramus or outright wicked being is a horrible thing to do. It is a position I doubt a quarter of the people in this country would be capable of, and so we are left with those who are at least willing to do it. That willingness to take on such an enormous task deserves our respect.

Just to Catch You All Up

I'm posting with a 21 1/2 inch long parasite that takes up my chest, belly, and left arm so I'm typing a little slow. I ask you to pardon any typos.

First of all, I finally got my hair cut. I've been looking at styles since April or so but haven't been able to find one I liked and was long enough to not break Mike's heart until the day I went into labor. Then it took about two weeks until I could sit on a hard seat again so that's when I made the appointment.

I'm actually glad it worked out the way it did. In certain island cultures the women cut their hair shortly after having a kid -- in fact it's traditionally the only time they get it cut. I don't know all the reasons behind it, but I think it's going to become a tradition of mine to let it grow long during pregnancy and then chop it short a few weeks after. There are few things as effective as a really different hairstyle to make you feel fresh and clean after such a draining and frankly gross ordeal as delivery. I highly recommend it.

Madie was blessed! Her gown and bonnet were made by my cousin, Chelsea. She's got more stuff here.

We just put the bonnet on for this picture. We took it off 'cause she kept trying to eat the ties. And it's just a tad big. I'm excited for her to grow into it though; I think she'll be wicked cute!

She was blessed at home by Mike, Dad, Bryan, Bishop Packer and one of Mike's closest friends, Sean.

The crowds are gone. Grammy and Grampy and Aunt Eden headed out on Wednesday. It was great having everyone here -- especially Mum, she was such a help -- but it's nice to be in some kind of routine and to have our new apartment in order. We miss everyone more than ever though and look forward to weekly video chats!

School has started. Mike has two classes and I have five. We're both working part time too. I know: a fairly typical new-parents-still-in-school situation, but it's still daunting. Thankfully, the Lord gave us two great first days of school. We both feel relaxed and that we maintain some sort of control over our situation. We don't even need a babysitter but for three hours a week!

For more pictures, we should all hound my mother for a post of her own. :)