A Tale of Two Childs

Caleb has been going to the REAL Salt Lake games with his brother or dad. He loves sports. This time we got to go on a date to one of the playoff games! It was so much fun! They tied 1-1, but since Soccer is not scored the same as other sports, we are now out of the playoffs, dang it, but it was a really eventful and suspenseful game, and we had a ton of fun. Caleb's poor arm will never be the same, with his wife grabbing him with every close call or every time they get close to a goal! It was a great night!

I have been feeling REALLY run down lately! I have been having a hard time staying focused at work- and really being enthused about my job. I was thinking of leaving, but I cannot bring myself to leave the people I work with- whom I have grown to love over the past 2 years. I have a feeling I ought to stay at my current job too. So I have decided to stay where I am working, and change my attitude.

I went to the "Women empowered" conference today, which my boss had us attend, and I realized that the good thing about staying where I am is, though, that now I can look for ways to still improve as a person and thus improve my organization. It also helped me put things into perspective- realize that I am lucky to a)have a job and b) be so fortunate to work with the people I do, which brings me to c) a good reason to go to work each day, that is not just a pay check.

The conference gave me ideas on improving myself personally and professionally. In addition to giving me a better attitude- it put things in perspective and helped me to be happier and more grateful for all that I have and I am learning, and to find out what I need to learn from this stepping stone in my life. So on I go to learn more, do more, and hopefully be more. Go team!

Once a year Caleb's family goes to Trial Lake in the Uinta's. It is so beautiful to spend time in nature, and even more beautiful to spend time with Caleb and his cute family. The stars at night were phenomenal. It was cold and rainy this year, but Caleb's sister was prepared with games and brought her game face and caught more fish than Caleb! I really do enjoy camping, and camping with the child family includes the best food you will ever eat among dirt trees and fire pits. Oh, and no worries, that wrap on Caleb's shin, he superglued another wound shut... Gotta love the adventure!

With 2 straight weeks of rehearsals behind us, and barely any time together, we approached last Sunday night with a bit of sadness. Caleb was not feeling well (a cold he acquired from the nephews) and we were both burnt out. Caleb has half day school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and was still not feeling well yesterday- I mentioned that we should both just take a half day on Thursday and we could take a break. His reply was "Tuesday would work better," I could not believe my eyes, so I told him to go home and I would make it happen. I talked to my boss- and was honest, husband going home sick, wanted to go hang with him... and so it was, I left after 3 hours, went to lunch with a friend, bought some new pants. I got home after 1pm, Caleb was studying by the fire, I laid by him while he studied, we took a 2 hour nap, we woke up, I made food and we had dinner together. Best "Sick Day" Ever!

We had the opportunity this May to go with My Brother and Sister-in-law and their sons to Disneyland. Caleb even came to Disneyland 2 days (a remarkable feat)! While we were exiting the park one night we found Pluto, with not too long of a line, and right before my nephews got to meet him, they told us that it was time for Pluto to leave for dog treats and he would be back again soon.

The devastation on the faces of my 3 and 6 year old nephew was evident. These boys are such good boys and so well behaved. I asked the Disneyland worker if he could have Pluto just wave at the boys. Since the small crowd had dissipated the worker said "how would they like to walk Pluto to go get his dog treat?" The boys were elated, so they each took a hand of Pluto, and went for a walk...

They were so excited! I think those 50 yards were the best steps they ever took. I don't know if they will remember that when they are my age, but I will certainly remember the tender feelings I had as the kind Disney worker made my cute nephews day. I almost got a little choked up- because they were SO happy in that one moment, their world was right. Perhaps Disneyland is more for grownups to see the joy in children (: I won't lie though, I still like the rides.

During the second week of August, the Business Depot that houses my building for work had its annual corporate games. All sorts of events are hosted throughout the week, including a 15 mile bike race. A bike race that does 10 laps on a 1.5 mile loop. The prizes for this race are 1st Place: $100.00, 2nd Place: $75.00, 3rd Place: $50.00. Historically not many women register for the event, and since I exercise regularly, I thought I could complete it, and in doing so, perhaps win a prize.

The race started at 7am. I get there- wearing normal workout clothes and tennis shoes... I borrowed a bike rack from my friend Amy. My bike had been sad, lonely and unridden for about 5 years- and was sitting in our backyard shed, but Caleb and I got them tuned up the previous week to go camping, so I had warmed up on it a bit. My bike is a 21 speed Diamond Back mountain bike that I purchased at a store on Hill Air Force base when I was 15- I got it with the money from my first job.

So me and my 12 year old mountain bike arrive at the race. I unhook it from my car and proceed to the starting line. As I move forward I am finding that my mountain bike and I are out of place. I roll in I see people with professional road bikes and jersey's, spandex shorts with butt pads built in for cushion, and here I am with my recently tuned up mountain bike... The men there had shoes that lock into their pedals and GPS devices to measure their distance- I confess I felt extremely silly. Some of these bikes cost more than a used car would...

As time progressed I did see one advantage: I was one of only 2 women who showed up. Since there is a Men's and a Women's Division, I was guaranteed a prize, even if I did not finish the race. 2nd place! Woo hoo! So I rode my little heart out on my 12 year old mountain bike. I finished last. I did finish all 10 laps. I have never ridden 15 miles on a bike at one time in my entire life. I got off the bike and my legs felt like Jell-o, but I finished! It took me 62 minutes to ride 15 miles. I guess 15 miles an hour is not that bad... right? Someone said that my bike tires provide a lot of resistance, so it is harder on a mountain bike, so I will stick with that story as to why I, probably the youngest person in the race, finished last. All the same, I got second place, which was 75.00 to Bingham Cyclery. Perhaps I will take up road biking, after all, it was a lot of fun. I just don't know if I can justify paying for a bike that is worth more than my Honda.

The pictures are just off the starting line, you can see all of the Pro Bikes and biking garb, and me with my Adidas shorts... priceless.

9 Tasty Slurpees, 8 quarts of gatorade, 7 Pilot Gel Pens, 6 Reese's PB Cups, 5 hours of sports center, 4 back massages, 3 hour mints, 2 liters of coke and 1 hot date with me! ( :

There is a day for Caleb, did you know? It is called Caleb Day. It began about 10 years ago. One day after the start of a new school year, Caleb was having an atrocious day, so Natalie and I went to visit Caleb. When he asked us what the special occasion was that predicated our visit, we told him that it was Caleb Day, and thus a celebration should ensue.

Since then, Caleb Day has continued every August 31st, with the exception of a short hiatus while Caleb was on his mission. When he came home, I was gently reminded that Caleb Day had been all but forgotten while on his mission (and I had forgotten about it...) so since, Caleb Day has always been a Celebration at our house. A Holiday created for Caleb. What could be better.

We usually celebrate with something small and a small gift of some sort, it is just a chance for me to remember how special Caleb is and take time out of life to recognize all he does for me.

This year I decided to do the 12 days of Caleb day, but due to a low budget- and not wanting to get Caleb Repeats of the same thing, I started 12 days out, counting backwards from 12. So according to my modified version, we are on the 10th day of Caleb day. I created notes that say "on the Twelfth day of Caleb Day your true love gives to you..." Day 12 was a 12 pack of Mountain Dew, Day 11, 11 packs of pez. Today is a 10 dollar gift card... he does not know that yet. ( :

I have been so excited for Caleb day this year, it has been a lot of fun giving him something each day that he likes. Especially as school is starting and we all know what fun work and college are!

Stay tuned for the remainder of the Caleb day items. I still have 9 days after today. I have been asked on more than one occasion by folks new to Caleb Day- if there is a subsequent Rachel Day... I tell them sure there is, there are about 362 of those days a year. Outside of Caleb's B-day and Christmas, he deserves at least one.

My brother posted a blog about a cookie I made his son - see link below.

http://blog.boysum.com/

My Aunt Connie died when I was 15. Each year for your birthday she gave you a plate-sized heart shaped sugar cookie- with a dollar bill. It was not an expensive gift, but I looked forward to that cookie for as long as I can remember. I did not have to share with my brothers, it was mine all mine. When my aunt Connie died, I was heartbroken. I look back and think on things that I wish she was here for, and I wish I could tell her. I would love if she could have met Caleb.

I decided I wanted to continue Aunt Connie's cookie tradition, because I remember what it meant to me (we are big on food on that side of the fam) So I started with my nephew, who turns 4 today. Even at 15 that cookie was one of the things I looked forward to the most. So to my big brother, I am glad it meant something to you, because it means something to me- to carry on the tradition of a loving aunt. And to my aunt: I miss you so much, but thank you for loving me. I finally understand how much.

So I have a kitty, his name is Hampton, we call him Hammy for short. Caleb is not the biggest fan of cats, and he is allergic. I love cats, and had one all growing up, but I get really attached to them.

About 2 years after we were married I started teasing Caleb about getting a kitty and how happy we would all be together. As we read our scriptures at night I would open the book and read to Caleb how the Lord desired for us to get a kitty, and we would live happily ever after. I would sing to the radio and the lyrics would magically turn to how Caleb would get me a cat and we would be happy. I think the best I came up with was to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight and it went something like "in the child house, the peaceful child house they need a cat tonight" and the chorus went "get a kitty get a kitty get a kitty..." you get the point. So on Halloween 2008, the doorbell rang and I, expecting trick or treaters went to the door. In a plastic orange pumpkin on my porch was a little black poofy kitty. My heart just warmed right up... I turned around and there was the allergic cat-hater Caleb. I said "what were you thinking" he replied "I don't know!"

Apparently he told someone he was thinking of getting me a kitty for me for Christmas around mid-october, and they called him a week later and said "we have your kitty, come get him." So that is how Hammy entered our lives. Strangely enough, I have learned much about myself with this cat, and you know what, I think it has been a good thing. I have found I will be a much more paranoid parent than I ever thought, and that my children will probably get away with much more than I would imagine I would tolerate. So there is Hammy, just like any cat, demanding to be the center of attention as I build a puzzle.

The best part of all of this is, every now and again, when he thinks no one is looking, Caleb secretly gives Hammy a pat on the head or sneaks him some treats and I know even he likes Hammy.

So my company sponsored an indoor soccer team. I have found out a couple things since joining... 1: I am out of shape, and 2: I have really missed soccer. I have played for a few months now, and Caleb is giving me pointers(he is a good athlete, I, however, am not). It has been really quite fun. Tonight though was extra special because in addition to aching knees and lungs pleading for air, I made a GOAL! I was so excited, and I have a real hard time keeping my dignity as I want to just jump up and down and scream! The best part though is looking up in the stands and hearing a "Good Job Rach" from Caleb ( : I have been married four of years and I still like thinking that I can impress him!

I decided to start a blog. Hopefully it will give me motivation to journal more and it will give me an outlet to reflect and share my goings on. So here goes my first ever blog post. I hope to refine my technique as time goes on, so forgive the rough draft beginning (:

This is a picture I took today of Caleb and my cute Nephews. I went to my brother & sister-in-law's house a week ago and on their mantle found a flower and a card from my brother thanking her for sticking up for him. Aside from being super happy that my brother picked a good woman who loves and supports him, it made me do some introspection on how I treat my Caleb, and I found ways that I could improve and better support him.

So back to the picture... after dinner with my family today, we went over to Rob & Ericka's. We had been there about 10 minutes when all 3 of my nephews HAD to sit with Caleb. Caleb has a genuine calming and kind influence on everybody, and people are drawn to him. It was one of those beautiful moments life hands you on occasion and I was reminded how much I love Caleb, and I am hugely blessed to be his wife. I was humbled and grateful for him and his gentility with my nephews who adore him. It reminded me of the song... "Can't help lovin' dat man of mine..."