The Bench

Each year around Easter or Mother's Day we've gotten a photo of the kids on Grandma Donna's bench in her backyard. And as tradition continues, the kids oober goofy sides seem to be on display. I don't know why but every year they have THE goofiest looks on their mugs. I wanted to pull up some past photos but was only able to uncover these gems from 2010.

With just my kids

Notice Hannah?

One with all the grandkids.  

And this years with all the Grandkids.  

Notice Jaren and Hannah's goofy faces?  What up?

My Boys... and their hair

Jaren LOVES to grow his hair out. His hair has the perfect swoop and wings to boot. As a Mom, I love it. I think he looks like a cool California surfer who dreams of the perfect wave. I encourage it, His Dad... Not so much. He would rather see him with a short missionary hair cut. I figure, it's just hair. If he wants to express himself through hair, what ev. I think we need to pick and choose our battles. There is a point when Jaren does look a little scrappy and needs some trimming. When I took these photos of Jaren in his baseball uniform I was shocked at how grown-up he looks. He looks like the teenager he REALLY is. He's lost a lot of that "baby" fat/chub. His features are becoming defined and muscular. Please, Father time, slow down.

Can you see the "swoop" under the cap?

There's the scrappy wings.

He's not a baby anymore!!

And then there was Beckham. My boys have dream hair.  Thick, wavy and a beautiful blonde color.  When Beckham was a baby he had the most adorably curly hair.  And then my Mom convinced me to cut it on his 1st birthday.  What was I thinking?  Of course it was just baby hair and eventually it had to be cut.  Recently we neglected his hair so long that it grew long enough to be reward with a curl, just one. What?  

A curl?

Can it be, a curl?

YUP!!

It was quickly chopped by the hair police

Watching your kids grow up comes with so many ups and downs.  Feelings that you didn't do enough to make sure they can stand on their own feet, without you.  To stand up for what is right and true and good in this world.  To say "NO" when they feel like something is just not right.  Being a parent is hard stuff.  It sucks to feel like your free falling, trying to grasp onto anything good that you many have taught your children.  Hoping too, that they will grasp, hold tight, and pull through all the crap that is flung at them in this treacherous world. I am grateful for my religion.  For the hope that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to each one of us that chooses to grasp all that He has to offer. 

Spring Soccer

We like to encourage our kids to by physically active. One way we do that is enrolling them in city sports. They are allowed to play one sport at a time. The girls played softball for a few years and realized that they loathed the favorite sport of our small town.  When spring rolls around they opt to play soccer.  They love it and it's fun to have them play on the same team.  A little mercy for a Mom who has more then just one child in the sport.  I'm not too good at remembering to bring the camera with me so I made an extra effort this year to take some action photos. 

Miss Annika

Excellent at dribbling and even scored a few goals this year!

Isabel has no fear.

Although her Dad kept telling her to be More Aggressive

Annika watching the ball and ready to attack

Notice Isabel just behind her.

Miss Isabel

Soccer has been a great way for her to be aggressive 

without getting into trouble.

I think city sports is a wonderful way for children to learn simple skills like cooperation and good sportsmanship. It always irritates me when the parents(or coaches for that matter) take things a little too seriously.  We're out there to have fun and realize how great it is to get our bodies moving.  Leave your egos at the door and just let the kids play and have fun.  I actually had to call the city this year and complain about a coach that was instructing his girls to be a tad bit to aggressive.  So aggressive that one of my daughters got taken out.  Like I said, this is for fun.  

Visitors from Virginia

Towards the end of the school year my sister called me to tell me that her favorite sister-in-law was coming to Utah. Lisa was bringing Delaney to visit BYU Campus. Jessica has wanted us to meet and this was going to be the first time. Lisa was going to take time out of her busy schedule and limited time to come and see us. I arranged to just go to Sacrament Meeting so I could prepare for their visit. It was nice to just sit and talk to Lisa and Delaney without the kids running all over everywhere. It was wonderful to talk candidly about having twins. Lisa had her own set of twins about 6 months after me. Lisa is a lovely person. I found it very easy to talk with her and felt comforted in the knowledge that this woman lived close to my sister. Jessica told me that when they have big family get togethers everyone wants a piece of Lisa. Our visit was very short. I loved getting to know Lisa better and understand why Jessica loves her so much.

Me, Delaney, and Lisa

Just for you Jessica!

I sometimes think about how complicated families can be.  Especially when in-laws enter the scene.  Sometimes it takes a long time to get use to the new personality and they way they were raised.  Over time you begin to see the good in them and finally that love grows and you appreciate them for who they are.  Unfortunately that doesn't always happen and there is a struggle for what seems like forever.   Some in-laws are easier to love then others.  I've come to realize that all relationships need work.  Hard ones as well as the the easy ones. 

I am grateful to Lisa and the love and care she gives my sister when they see each other.  Family is so important whether they are a sister or a sister-in-law. 

Thanksgiving Point 2012

One of the most prettiest places in all of Utah in spring is Thanksgiving Point. I fell in love with it several years ago when they had their very first ever Tulip Fest. I've been every year since. I went a few times with my sis-in-law. Several years in a row I went with my Mom. This year I had a new companion and her two adorable children. It was a beautiful overcast day. I don't think I've ever seen so many of the tulips in bloom. It was breathtaking. One thing that we witnessed was a snake eating a frog. I didn't get a photo of it due to the amount of screaming elementary kids that were clambering over each other to get a better look. This year I opted to go with out my other children and went on a week day when it first opened. I'm all about beating the crowds. So you are now once again tortured to see photo after photo of my youngest. Who ever said the youngest gets the least amount of photos taken of them? Not the case with baby girl.

First Hikes of the summer

Last summer I found a new love for hiking. Before when I was a kid, I dreaded hikes. I knew they would be difficult and I would play mind games with myself.  Yes, I love hinking, No, I really don't.  No matter what self talk I had I was always amazed at the view from atop what ever mountain and trail we attacked. But I hated the journey. I hated how difficult some trails were and the way I felt during the journey. 

And then my attitude changed.  Attitude is a powerful thing.

Last summer I realized how much I appreciate what my body can do for me, like take me up the side of a mountain. The journey is still difficult at times, but has become rewarding.  I love feeling my legs burn, my heart rate go up, my breath become labored, and my face getting red.  All these things mean that I am alive, that I have a body that is allowing me to climb the mountain.  Without a good functioning body, hiking would not be possible.   

The journey hasn't changed from when I was a kid.  It's still difficult.  But I don't dread it like I use to.  I look forward to those feelings.  I know that my body in time will change as long as I have a desire to hike and to keep my life active.  

This summer I decided to bring my children along with me.  I only take a few at a time.  The first two to come were Beckham and Annika.  They were quiet along the trail.  They stayed with me and needed to stop several times.  There were many requests for water, which I did not bring.  Annika was not excited in the beginning.  By the end of the hike she commented on how awesome it was to look over our small city.  In the back seat I heard Beckham say, "Ya, it was actually beautiful."  I hope by the end they felt a sense of accomplishment.

The next two to come were Isabel and Hannah.  It was a different experience with these girls.  Hannah always has to be in the front.  She attacked that trail like she was  it's master.  I struggled to keep up with them, but found that I loved being challenged and pushed to my limits physically.  Isabel and Hannah raced down the mountain as well.  Trying to get in front of the other.  Hannah managed to always be in the lead.  

Despite not being happy with the way that I look(I'm back to being my good old chubby self), I am happy that I am at least striving to live a more active life. Involving my children in an active lifestyle has become a goal of mine.  I want them to appreciate and love their bodies for the gifts that they are.  I want them to see how strong they are and the amazing things they can accomplish through being active and positive.