It all stinks. Esp me - I need a shower.

I'm learning that going to the pool doesn't replace taking a shower. Although I desperately wish it would. Over the last couple weeks my hygiene has been, well, um, a little on the poor side. This was brought to my attention yesterday when I gave Mike a hug and he scrunched up his nose and waved his hand in front of his nose. Really. I lifted up my arm, turned my head, inhaled deeply through my nose, and I still didn't smell anything. You know it's bad when you can't even smell yourself. I guess I need to go back to showering right after I run. That's my new goal. Even if I'm taking the kids to the pool. I need to remind myself that it doesn't count as a shower - esp since I usually don't even dunk my head. Okay, enough dirty talk. You probably don't want to know that I stink.

This week we hit the halfway mark for our marathon training. Only 10 weeks left. On Wednesday I passed my 400th mile for the year - and it's only JULY. I'm just going to pause and pat myself on the back real quick... Okay, I'm back. The part that STINKS about this is that our mileage starts to go up - way up - this weekend. My next 5 Saturday runs go like this: 14 miles, 16 miles, 18 miles, 6 easy, and then 20 miles. WHAT - does that really say 20 miles. I have never run more than 13, so this is going to be interesting. Very Interesting. I'm excited, nervous, and dreading it all at the same time. I need to remind myself to just stay positive.

So my kids got to spend a few days with their great friends Carly, Max and Tegen while they came to load up their house that they finally sold. Yay! The part that STINKS is we had to say good-bye all over again. Morgan cried for a while after they left, but I think they'll survive. Here's the little monkeys..

Will and Tegen are the same age and they were so cute as they played side by side. The part that STINKS is that while I was babysitting Tegen, she pulled the kitchen chair over on top of her. She had a huge fat lip and a huge goose-egg on her head. I felt terrible. The first injury of a child I was watching that wasn't my own. I felt terrible. It STANK.

Well it's late, and I really need a shower. But I am going to the pool in the morning. Maybe I should just wait until after the pool....

What you'd possibly see if you stopped by our house

Warning: This post contains nudity.

If we aren't at the pool, then you can find us in our little pool out back.

Who needs a swim diaper in the privacy of your very own back yard... Not Will. Will prefers to swim at home for this very reason. He's like his dad and brother (and most of the Dehner men) - a nudist at heart.

Even going down the slide is better when you're "free". Grammie Dehner loves nakie babies - so grammie, these pictures are for you!

While the kids swim, Mike can usually be found working his magic on the grill. YUM

would you stop your murmuring already

I woke up today with a bum knee. When I climbed out of bed and took my first step the pain made me stop dead in my tracks. CRAP. I know this pain.... I've had it before. I felt the exact same thing 3 years ago when I was training for my first half marathon. It's called runners knee, most commonly from overuse, but in my case I think it's from weak quads. I've always struggled with weak quads - dang my weak quads. Dang me for not continuing to go to body pump. Argh. Mike injured his foot last month from training, and I was confident I was going to join the small fraction of people that get through marathon training injury free... Well, I guess I've joined the masses. Hopefully it won't take long to clear up. Mike's solution is for me to meet him at the gym and ride the bike... What?? The bike?? Just the thought of going to the gym and riding the bike makes me want to vomit. Doubt the bike would work anyway since it's the bent knee position that hurts. It's really put me in a bad mood. Morgan (and Mike although he was much nicer and more understanding) told me to stop my murmuring (can you tell we've spent a lot of time in the book of Nephi this month). So I'm going to try and baby my knee without murmuring. The murmuring I've done up until now doesn't count. I'm starting fresh... Doubt it will last, but here's to trying to be positive. It just sucks when you've put so much effort into something for so long and then - poof - you must stop. No if, and's, or but's about it... STOP. It stinks. And not just because I can't run (although that's the biggest annoyance) but also because I have to chase the kids around with a peg leg. If I keep my leg completely straight and swing it out and around when I step, I feel fine. I just can't get anywhere, fast... Blah. Maybe I should dig out the pirate costumes from the toy closet downstairs. May as well since that's what I look like walking around. So much for my vow to stop murmuring... I'll try tomorrow. I should get one freebie day to gripe. right??



Let's focus on what's positive around here... SUMMER!
Yummy fruit

Lots of time to practice new tricks... Here's Miles thinking he's mastered going cross-eyed.

Will loves to brush his teeth. If the bathroom door is open he climbs right up the stool and screams until I turn the water on. He loves to get his toothbrush wet and then suck the water out. He makes the cutest little sounds and smiles so big. Even though we're using a ton of water, I can't bear to turn it off. He's in heaven.

I love when we have warm rain to run around in. Miles is odd sometimes - he's sucking the water out of Morgan's clothes and hair... Weirdo.

Summer has been fun, but I must admit I'm counting down the days until school starts. I am ready and I'm sure the kids are ready too. If they'd just stop fighting... There I go complaining again. Oh, and did I tell you my knee really hurts??

Our trip to Hilton Head Island in a mere 31 pictures

A couple years ago The Dehner Family started a tradition where every two years we go away for a Dehner Family Retreat. For 2010 we headed to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. It was a dang good time!
The entire clan...

One day we went to The Salty Dog Cafe for lunch. Will didn't cooperate so Mike and I had a somewhat miserable lunch, but everyone else seemed to enjoy their Salty Dog food. (It really wasn't Will's fault - he had a messy diaper and we didn't even notice. We are awesome parents! We just thought he was cranky because it was a million degrees outside. Poor guy!!)

Morgan and cousin Kelsey in their matching good luck sparkly palm tree necklaces.

The beach house where we stayed had a pool in the back - which we swam in... A LOT...

We went shopping and lounged around the beach house.

There was some Guitar Hero played until all hours of the morning (not by me - I'm way too old for that).

Once the kids were in bed we played a few intense rounds of Mexi-train. I don't know the real name of the game, but that's what we call it. Playing games after the kids were in bed was one of my favorite parts of the trip - it ranks up there with our girls night out to see Eclipse, by far the best yet. (Yes, I admit I've seen all the movies - and I read all the books. It's not something I like to admit or am very proud of, but yes, I enjoy the whole Twilight Saga...)

The boys and I took a mid-night trip to the beach.

We spent tons of time at the beach. Hilton Head is perfect for kids - the water is so warm and shallow and the beach is soft without sharp shells and crabs. In my opinion it was the perfect beach.

There was biking and running along the beach...

Boogie-boarding...

Playing in the sand....

What's with Morgan's face in this one??

Mike sliced the bottom of his foot pretty good on something sharp in the water, but that didn't stop him from getting right back in.

Will loved his first beach experience and can't wait for The Dehner Family Retreat of 2012!!

My last bird post - I swear.

The baby birds change so much everyday.

This is how they looked the day we left to go to the beach a week ago. Pretty ugly!

When we got home this morning, one of the birds has already left the nest. The younger baby hops around the little tree trying to fly. It's so cute. I bet it will fly away soon. It's so much cuter than it was! They grow up so fast, don't they??