Sigh

It's been a day (and a half).  Here are some random tidbits:

Mauri has thrown up a dozen (+) times since 1 am.

Thankfully Bill took care of her needs throughout the night.

He only had to clean the toilet twice.

Spring Break officially began on Friday.

The same day Lex and Shi were told that a beloved teacher at their school had passed away the night before, after his nearly year-long battle with cancer.  (Read more about him here)

My ears started plugging, my nose started running, and my throat felt scratchy.  

(If I am sick over Spring Break, I will scream.)

A very dear friend went through the temple for the first time.  

This morning we ran (okay, drove) to a track meet to see Lex race.
Bill and I arrived just in time to see her compete in the first event.  

The medley relay.  

Heat 2 of 3.  

Over 20 teams in attendance.  

People everywhere.

We got in video and camera position.  Lex loosened up.

The gun went off.  The first 100... the second 100... the 200... Legend was in first place.

Lex readied for the hand-off.  Later, when she looked at the pictures, she could see her error.

 Notice how she is standing.  Notice how everyone else is standing.

 The moment before... the fall.  

Crossed feet, tangled legs, who knows.  But Lex went down.  AGAIN.

Both knees, this time.  A loud, audible groan from the crowd.

Again, she picked herself up, and took off.

Again, I was proud of her tenacity and strength.

(Although, I have to admit, I was crying my eyes out.  Thank heaven for sunglasses.)

She held her own.  She couldn't catch that first place spot.  Or even second.  But she held on to 4th place, and didn't let that girl on her heels out-kick her at the finish line.

I heard comments from the crowd.  Non-participating high-schoolers (not deserving of much credence).  Laughing.
One boy said, "I wouldn't have gotten up.  I would have just sat there and cried."

I wanted to yell, "Stupid kids!  Where's your compassion?!"  

But I didn't.  I maintained composure.

Afterwards, Bill went to check on Lex before we headed home.

He consoled her while she puked (he was used to it after the night he just had) and gasped for air.

(She has an inhaler... and refuses to use it due to a first-time-try-tongue-numbing-gag-inducing experience.)

But she's a survivor.

We attended a lovely baptism and luncheon following our brief stop at the meet,

then headed home.

I have spent 99% of my time since, preparing a lesson for Relief Society.

I only stopped to get a drink, take a potty break, and down two doses of Alka-Seltzer Plus.

My family has enjoyed basketball (go BYU),

and tape-delayed American Idol.

I'm ready for bed.

Decisions, Decisions

When we moved to Colorado from Utah over 9 years ago, we discovered some fairly distinct differences as far as houses, yards, and landscaping go.  We had always been fans of the rambler (Colorado calls them "ranch") style of homes, large yards, and materials that required little or no upkeep.  

I remember sweating the decision of aluminum or vinyl siding on our first home.  We chose vinyl, knowing full well that we would never have to lift a finger to keep it looking good, except to maybe hose it down every-other year or so. We were thrilled with our reasonably large lot, but had dreams of a bigger and grander yard, possibly even a half acre.  I loved those white vinyl fences, and knew that someday, if I was careful and frugal enough, I, too, could have my yard incased in such awesomeness.  

After we moved to Cedar Hills, the land of stucco and faux stone, we noticed some homes in our neighborhood that looked like they actually had wood siding.  They had an obvious non-Utah look to them, and I marveled that someone would want to purchase such a house.  They would need to paint it, for goodness sakes.  Who paints these days with all the amazing products that promote themselves as
aesthetically pleasing
and, more importantly, maintenance free?

Then we started looking for homes in Colorado.  Tiny yards.  Wood siding.  Predominately two-level.  No long-coveted cement curbing... anywhere.  Lots and lots of rock.  Nary a vinyl fence to be found.

Lucky for us, things worked out better than we could have imagined, and our two-level, wood-sided house, on it's rock-landscaped corner lot with a split rail fence has been lovely.  Truly.  

But it's in some serious need of paint.

I finally got the thumbs up from Bill, so the process has begun.  Let it be said, I am not good at selecting paint colors.  One of the bedrooms in our home has been painted five times -- within about as many years.  (Right now it's a glowing near-neon pink, and has been for years.)

It's a stressful decision, especially when you will have to live with your choice for the next 8 to 10 years.  So I've been looking at paint colors I like.  Slowly perusing surrounding neighborhoods, snapping pictures, hoping to find the perfect color combination for my house.

After snapping what felt like were boatloads of pictures, I came home to review them.  That's when I realized that I definitely have an affinity for the greenish hue.

I have pondered the choices.

I have painstakingly purchased samples, and painted them on the side of my house (no going back now).

I have looked at them from every angle, and in every light.

I have requested input from my family and neighbors.

I think I have made my decision.