outings

We've done various hikes and outings this summer. On this particular hike, Logan insisted on bringing his backpack with a water bottle in it. He hiked with it almost the whole way and randomly would stop to take it off and help himself to a drink. He is a great hiker and fun to watch with his sideways hat and independent spirit.

Lincoln and Ella

Me and Landon. I sure wish he would leave a hat on.

Logan and my mom. He ditched the backpack on the way down.

A silly group.

Another day we hiked along the river trail and checked out flooded 2nd dam.

We found some cute baby ducks.

Father's Day

The kids created custom golf tees for the dads in their lives.

I sure am grateful for my dad.

My kids couldn't ask for a better grandpa.

They sure love him.

sprinklers

Ragnar 2011

I participated in my first Ragnar this year (12 runners running from Logan to Park City...192ish miles)

1. Ella and Brittney decorating our van. Everyone got a good laugh at my artistic abilities.

2. Starting line: Michelle, Shay, me, Brittney, Braden, Savannah

My first leg was a 7-1/2 mile run up Avon Pass.

It was super dusty and my teeth were brown at the finish.

I have no pictures of my 2nd leg as it was in the middle of the night and we were all way too tired to worry about pictures. Below is my 3rd leg, just a 3 miler, but a pretty decent hill in the middle of it. I stole some of these pictures from my teammates...hope they don't mind.

The finish line with our whole team! Shay and Michelle did a great job organizing this.

It is such a great feeling to accomplish something like this. The worst part was getting walked in on by a guy while using the port-a-potty and being super embarrassed. We both let out a little yell/scream. I stayed in there for a while and then ran to the van and changed my shirt hoping he wouldn't recognize me again. Why do these things happen to me? Ah well. Other than that, I enjoyed it so much I am already signed up for next year.

spring break

Seriously, how long ago was this?...forever.

We stayed in Green River and hiked around Arches, Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse Canyon and the Green River itself. It was memorable. It was the first trip with just me and the kids (and a lot of my family). I remember:

Wind, wind, wind.

A teething Landon screaming in the night in our small motel room complete with the neighbors pounding on the wall.

Happy kids, jumping and playing on the rocks.

Helpful sisters and parents.

A tired mommy.

Me and Logan

My dad and Landon

Katrina, Evelyn, Ella

all of us

relief society

I was asked to share my thoughts on parenting and personal history at a relief society quarterly activity tonight. It was my first public speaking since our lives got flipped upside down 8 months ago, so of course I was emotional, but I think I was able to keep it in check enough to be understandable...I hope. This is what I shared:

Debbie asked me to talk for a couple of minutes on parenting. I am the parent of 4 kids, Ella (6), Lincoln (4), Logan (3), and Landon (11 months).

As a parent, there are so many things I wish to teach my kids, but sometimes at the end of the day, I'm satisfied if the kids were dressed, we ate 3 meals, and maybe we read a book together. We have a tradition of playing "best and worst" at the dinner table. We go around the table and each person shares the best thing that happened to them that day and the worst thing. You know it has been a good day when none of them can think of a worst thing that day. Or maybe it just shows how bad their memories are.

We have definitely had hard times as a family, but we have had so many good times. I keep a blog and have documented lots of silly things my kids have done, like when Lincoln yelled out "faster, woman, faster" as we were driving down the road...or how when I told Logan I was tired he said I didn't need a nap because my "eyes were turned on." Unfortunately that day I was unable to find the off switch.

So many great moments are documented and I love looking back through my posts. There was one post I never published as it was a little close to my heart that I would like to share. It was a post I did one night as I pondered being a mom and why I was even doing a blog, especially during a time in my life that has been especially painful...figuring out how to be a single mom. Several months ago, I wrote this:

The real reason is that I want my kids to be able to look back at this time and see how we were during this time of our lives. We cried...a lot...and we were sad...a lot...but we also were very happy. We loved each other more, held each other tighter, and prayed more often. We kept on doing all the things we should be doing to help us through this, like prayers, scriptures, being nice, sticking together. I want them to know I loved them. I never stopped loving them. I didn't turn my back on them. It's okay to have problems and trials and hard times, and they will have more, but what is important is what are they going to do about it. Don't run away, don't ignore, don't pretend its not happening. Face it, deal with it, and then live your happy life. That is what I want them to know...and hopefully by the time they read this, I will have convinced myself.

I love my kids and I love being a parent. I thank my Heavenly Father every night for them. Thank you for letting me share.

***I will be updating pictures and fun things soon...promise***