Torture

I am training for a 5K. I do not think I have ever put myself through so much torture in my life. I hate running with a passion. I want to do it just so I can see for myself that it can and will get easier. I am excited for the race- and I am excited for it to be over! Maybe by the end I will enjoy running!? Every one tells me the first 5K is the hardest.
So- any advice you have when it comes to running would be helpful. I know little, and I could use any help! Thanks! Oh- and if you are interested in running the race with me let me know! So far my sister-in-law Britta, and my sister Emma are coming! We would love to have a whole pack of runners!! It is Oct.19.

Bananas and Orange Juice

It is a tradition in the Knerr family to eat bananas and orange juice. I think my girls love it as much as I do!

Recipe:
*Cut bananas in slices
*Put sliced bananas in a bowl or a cup
*Pour Orange Juice on top
*Eat with a spoon (it is like eating cereal, only it's not)
*Enjoy.

I have thought a lot about these days and the world we live in. Some times I have wondered if having too many children in a world like this is worth it. It is so scary to think of what the world/Satan can do with a precious soul. As scary as it is though- I can not imagine NOT having children. It brings more happiness, more learning, more living and more faith in good. The thought of having no baby brings tears to my eyes and hurts my heart more then I think I could possibly explain. I have been INCREDIBLY blessed to be able to have babies pretty much when ever I choose (so far). I do not take this blessing for granted. I think I am more thankful for this then most of my blessings.
What hurts the most is knowing that there are people out there who want, but can't have. I only have empathy for the hurt they must be going through. I have SOO many friends who have not been able to have children on their own. I am so thankful for adoption and some times random miracle children that just come. The latest story that has touched me I read HERE. Get out a tissue. It is touching.

Turning 4

Olivia turned 4 on Aug.15 this year! She had quite the birthday. On Saturday we had a butterfly party for her. Sadly only 4 of the 14 girls came. ;( And it just so happens 2 were twins, and the other 2 sisters. Good thing Livie could care less ;) All she cared is that she had some friends come! We made a butterfly cake- learned how HERE. We had a pinata, played in bubbles, and opened gifts. It was a fun little party. Livie got a bike for her birthday! It is her first bike and she is so excited to ride!

On Olivia's actual birthday we headed up to the canyon and invited family to have a BBQ with us. We had a good time making hamburgers and tinfoil dinners and enjoying eachothers company. We had Brett's parents, his brother Scott and his family, and my sister Emma and her family.

Here are some 4 year old questions I asked Olivia:
What are you most excited about?
"My 4 year old party!"

Tell me about Daddy.
"I like to play with him. He goes at work and basketball a lot."

Tell me about mommy.
"I like to play with her. I like to go to the museum with her."
(who knows where she came up with that answer!)

Tell me about Claire.
I like to play with Claire in the water and splash!"

Who are your friends?
McKenna, Anna, Neleah, Morgan, Jillian, don't I have a lot of friends?! Oh, and Gramma K is my BEST friend, right?"
(seriously Gramma- she really said that!)

What is your favorite food?
"Hot dogs."

Favorite treat?
"tootsie rolls"

What is your favorite thing to do?
"pick flowers and jump rope!"

What is your favorite thing to wear?
"my yellow shirt with the strawberry on it"
(this is now Claire's shirt, but oh-well!)

What is your favorite season?
"I like the snow to make balls!"

Do you want more brother and sisters?
"yeah"

What do you think we should name them?
"maybe Connor? But I don't know... or maybe Stawberry Shortcake!"

Favorite game?
"Sorry"
(the board game)

Do you like boys?
"A couple"

Who are you going to marry?
"not a girl, a BOY! ... maybe Ryan?"
(Ryan is in her primary class)

railroad

I don't think I ever posted this pic of the girls. It is too cute not to share!

Over-Sized Muffin

We indulged at Costco and bought some ginormous muffins. Today Liv thought it sounded yummy- so she took a whole muffin off the counter and started to eat. She left the bag out so Claire could get one too. So- now both the girls were running around with huge muffins. Instead of getting irritated that 1- Olivia did not ask first, and 2- now there are muffin crumbs all over the floor and anywhere they decided to run off to- I decided I'd take some pictures ;) I love my new blue walls as a back-ground!
Yes- I will post pictures of the house soon enough. I was trying to get up a video I made of the house, but apparently it is too big of a file.

Claire's First Piglet

Yesterday I called Liv into the bathroom to get her hair done. She came, told me how she wanted her hair styled (I always let her choose). Then she asked me "Mom- can Claire have a pig?" We call anything in a pony-tail a pig. I thought about it, and decided Claire may just have enough hair to shove into a tiny little pig. Claire did not like me tugging on her little bit of hair and kept slapping at my hands and screaming. We got it in though! And it was right on the very top of her head so she couldn't feel it to pull it out! Great!

Busy Busy Busy

Well- we have been so busy, and the busy times are still not over... It is has been lots of fun though. We have been in Oregon for a long 2 and a half weeks, came home to do a surprise party for Brett's Dad. All of his children and their families came into town to surprise him (it was his 60th birthday). We had a dinner party, and the next day we all went to the lake. We rented boats and a skidoo. It was a perfect day at the lake. For the next few weeks we will have Brett and I anniversary, Dr's appointments for both girls, Olivia's B-day, and another family reunion with Brett's extended family. It is just crazy busy lately! I have been bad about daily schedules and working out with all the comotion. Not good!

There was lots of "getting to know you" time for Claire. By the end of the trip she was okay with her Grandparents. She is just so shy though (and at a very crabby age! At least I am hoping it is her age and just a stage!!)


Livie had a great time. When I ask her what her favorite part of Oregon was she will quickly respond "playing with Grandma!"

This is 2 of my sis-in-laws. There are 5 boys in the family- so there are lots of sis-in-laws! They are all great, and we love to chat! It was fun to see them all! (Val- we missed you ;( )


This is the latest from our garden (Amy- you've got to start coming to gather your little tomatoes!) Our garden is doing pretty well. We are still waiting to the larger tomatoes to get red, but we have had zucchini, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and we are watching 4 watermelons grow really fast! Sadly we had an infestation of squash bugs on the zucchini plants. It was SOOO distgusting. I had to hand pick each large beetle bug off the plant and drown it in water. I kept screaming and getting chills every time I picked one up. There was about 50 of them. AAAH! They were just so nasty. The plants seem to have survived though and are doing well despite the bugs. Phew!