Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten

Lesson #1

When you hit your classmate, stop, pray to Jesus and ask Him to take away your sin.

Forgive one another and stop sinning.

First Day of School and a Rockies Game

Chloe had her first day of kindergarten this past Friday. She did great and loves her teacher, Mrs. Johnsen. The day started with tears and lots of hugs and kisses and ended with excitement for her next day in kindergarten. Ben and I both feel so relieved that Chloe is loving school.

Chloe sitting at her desk with her water bottle, lunch bag and back pack.

Elijah and Chloe at the Rockies game. We had a great time sitting in the Rockpile.

Ben, Elijah and Chloe

I think the kids watched about 20 seconds of the game. The rest of the time was filled with nachos, cotton candy and lots of clapping and dancing.

See you next year, Rockies!

Hiking Hessie Trail

Last week we did about a 2 mile hike, one mile in and one mile back, to a beautiful water fall. The hike is called Hessie Trail, near Nederland. This is a great hike for kids. They were able to do the walking on their own, much to our delight.

Elijah is taking a breather. He loves to hike but wasn't feeling so good this day.

Chloe and her walking stick

Mike, Meghan, Ethan, Avery and Honor.

Aunt Jenny and Avery

Chloe, Elijah and me

Hearing God's Voice

Chloe is attending a seminar today for kids that teaches children to hear His voice. When I told Chloe about it, her eyes got huge. She was so excited, she couldn't sit still and asked if she really was going to hear Him speak to her. I told her we need to learn and practice listening to our Father.

WOW, I am really far behind

Here is a quick catch up for weeks 25, 26 and 27:

Week 25

Mon: jog 3 miles

Tues: jog 3 miles

Fri: jog 3 miles

Week 26

Mon: jog 3 miles

Fri: jog 3 miles

Week 27

Mon: jog 3 miles

Fri: jog 3 miles

Notice how the run has turned to jog? Weight gain for this pregnancy is currently at 31 pounds. Amazing, isn't it! I still have 12 more weeks to go. I won't be the least surprised to gain my usual 50 pounds like the other two. I must admit that I am not being oh so restrictive on my diet but on the other hand, I am not eating everything in front of me either. Scratch that, I am eating everything in front of me and then some. My appetite is HUGE.

A Shout Out to All the Parent Helpers


I don’t know how anyone can raise a child without family, including a church family, there to help. It seems like every week there some situation where I need to ask for assistance from someone. Take yesterday for example. Grammie went to pick up Chloe and Elijah from childcare and take Chloe to swimming lessons. Ben and I were busy working. When Helen got in her car, she realized she was driving the car without the car seats. She called Aunt Jenny to go and check Chloe and Elijah out of childcare so they would be waiting there, ready. Helen went to the mechanic to grab the car seats from her other car and when she arrived, had no key to open it. She called the day care and asked them to leave a message for Aunt Jenny telling her to only check out Chloe and then take her to swimming. Grammie had to run back to the office, grab the key, go back to the mechanic, grab the car seats, pick up Elijah at childcare and then go to swimming lessons.

Big Summer Project

We decided it was time to finish the basement with the third babe soon arriving. Without our friends, we would never be able to accomplish this monstrous task. Ben is so grateful for his friends willingness to commit time, talent and tools. He mentioned last night that he has only had to buy 1 - $20 tool. I am grateful to all of my pregnant friends who are "allowing" their husbands to come over for hours on end. What a sacrifice for them as well!

Craig framing a bathroom and laundry room.
Justin and Aaron doing a little demo work.

Ben punching down a few boards.

Week 23 and Week 24

Life is getting very hectic in the Strait household. We started the major task of finishing our basement. Not only will this require time and effort but it will also require quite a bit of finances during these unsure economic times. Currently we live in the upper floor of our condo in a 2 bedroom, one bath home and really need the extra finished space. Ben and I feel like this is one of those times where you get to trust in the Lord's provision and go for it. If you are ever looking for something to do on a Saturday and want to burn some extra calories, give us a call. We can use lots of help!

Week 23 exercise
Sat: 3 miles
Mon: 3 miles
Tues: 3 miles
Fri: 3 miles

Week 24 exercise
Mon: 3 miles
Thurs: 3 miles
Fri: moving boxes around in the basement
and taking loads up and down the stairs.

I was off this week with the kids and decided to take advantage of an actual week off of work. To prove my point, I just polished off an entire milk chocolate bunny with a caramel center. Yes, I did find this in the basement while going through junk. No, it did not bother me that this has been in the basement since Easter. On the bright side, at least I am not eating paint chips.

Chloe

"Isn't it amazing? God is so strong and He doesn't eat anything! Isn't it amazing! I want to be God!"

Estes Park - Memorial Day Week

Week 22

I had a doctor's appointment this week and received some not so shocking news; I gained 7 pounds in 4 weeks. I guess that is what one does when one eats 2 bowls of cereal for breakfast and loves to snack on popcorn at 10 o'clock at night. The baby's heartbeat is strong and beautiful.

As far as the workout goes, everything seems to be going well. My biggest complaint is a lack of time. I hardly think this will change when the babe arrives.

Sat: ran 3 miles

Mon: ran 3 miles

Tues: ran 3 miles

Chloe graduates from Preschool

The red eye in this picture is pretty bad but her profile is adorable.

My little girl is surely starting kindergarten in the fall and it hardly seems possible. Her preschool class had a night to commemorate all of their accomplishments. Chloe recited scriptures, the Pledge of Allegiance and then sang a collaboration of songs. It was very precious.

Makin' cookies with Mom. I love Chloe's new apron that I picked up at Paris Street Market.

Here goes for week 21:

Mon: ran 3 miles

Tues: ran 3 miles

Fri: ran 3 miles

Weight gain: lots. Have a doctor's appointment next week to get the official results.

Week 20

Sun : bike ride with family

Mon : ran 3 miles

Tues : ran 3 miles

Fri : ran 3 miles

weight gain: 3 pounds since last doctor's appointment

I am running about 10 minute miles and certainly have lost any semblance of a waist. It is amazing how quickly your body changes. I feel great when I run and don't have any pain in the belly from all of the bouncing. Probably the hardest part of running at this point is motivating myself to go.

A Good Nightmare - as defined by Chloe

"I had a good nightmare last night, Mommy. I dreamed that I got lost but then found a nice mommy who helped me find you."

Week 19

It’s a boy!!!

Our family is now referring to the newest Strait boy as Elisha. He was the prophet that came after Elijah in the Old Testament.
A side note: Ben informed me over dinner last night that it is the woman’s responsibility to bear the children. It is the man’s responsibility both Biblically and traditionally to name the children. I will be waiting with the rest of family and friends to hear my newest son’s name.
Exercise schedule:
Sunday walked 2 miles up & down a mountain
Monday 2 and a half hour hike up & down a mountain
Thursday ran 3 miles
Various small hikes throughout the week in Estes Park
Weight gain ?

Week 18

This was another blur of a week with family in town and a trip to Estes Park later in the week. Exercise was slim again and the next week isn't much better. I am definitely slowing down with my mile times. I am running 10 minute miles at the moment. Not too impressive but at least I am still moving. Just like Elijah, I'm sure this baby will want to be jogged to sleep.

Weds ran 3 miles
Friday ran 3 miles
Weight gain ?

Week 17 and Other Miscellaneous Items

So I only exercised one day this past week. I ran 3 miles on Thursday. We had a super busy week between family in town and graduation. I went to my prenatal appointment this morning and we will find out the sex of the baby next week. I gained 4 pounds since my last prenatal appointment exactly 4 weeks ago. Not too bad, I think. I keep waiting for the month when I gain 10 pounds or more. Maybe with the changes I have made in my diet since my last pregnancy, things won't be so drastic.

Chloe and Elijah posing in front of the donkeys at the Littleton Historical Museum. Chloe remembered that Jesus rode on a donkey to Israel.... er... Jerusalem.

COUSINS!
Chloe, Tirzah, Elijah and Avery

Ryan and I

Ben and Elijah sitting on Chloe.

Week 16

Another week flew by. My mom came into town on Friday for my great grandma Ruby's funeral. My great grandma lived a very full life and passed away at the age of 94. She was glad to go on and be with our Lord. Having my mom here has been so good. I have become quite lazy due to her lovin'care.

Exercise:
Sun walked 4 miles
Mon ran 3 miles
Tues ran 3 miles
Weds ran 3 miles
Thurs
Fri ran 3 miles
Weight Gain: 1/2 a pound
This next week should be interesting with lots of family coming into town for Ben's graduation party.

Week 15

Okay, here goes with the exercise this week. I felt fine again and don't see any reason

to slow down at this point. Trisha pointed out that this does not include the time I spend chasing after two young children, cooking, cleaning, ironing, doing laundry, etc. She is right, those things should factor in but I will only include time I spend in the gym or outdoors.

Weight gain: Since my last doctor's visit (2 weeks ago) 1 pound

Note: this will greatly increase in weeks to come and I may decide not to post due to embarrassment.

Mon: ran 3 miles

Wed: ran 3 miles

Fri: ran 3 miles

I did not get to exercise as much as I would have liked because Ben is in the middle of his last few weeks of school and I was too busy running after my rugrats. Again, this should count for the other days.

Easter 2009

Celebrating with family. Incredible how large the family is growing!

Aunt Jenny, Elijah and Chloe
There is nobody better on earth than Aunt Jenny. When she is around, Elijah ignores everyone else.

The babes Easter Sunday.

Elijah's green egg

Chloe was very careful about getting the entire egg colored while Buddy focused on getting the most eggs colored. That pretty much sums up the difference between Ben and I. Ben is quality while I am quantity and it is so fun to see it expressed in our children.

Strait Baby Number 3

Being that this is our third baby, I am going to keep a log on how my exercise progresses through this pregnancy and post it on the blog. I ran until 31 weeks with Elijah, which seems like a real feat!

Week 14 exercise went really well. I felt strong and could have ran longer had time not been an issue. Ben juiced quite a bit which may have contributed to more energy as well as being firmly in my second trimester.

Week 14
Sat ran 4 miles
Sun
Mon ran 3 miles
Tues ran 3 miles lifted for 20 mins
Weds
Thurs ran 3 miles
Fri ran 3 miles

Weight Gain unknown

The belly at 14 weeks.