Fun Run

This year the Fun Run was in the fall. For that reason, it seemed to really sneak up on us. Because the kids didn't train at all, we really tried hard to down-play it. We didn't run with the kids or invite grandparents. We just let them run and told them to do their best. It was so fun to watch them cross the finish line! My total and thorough hatred for running really endears their efforts to me. Seeing their little faces flushed with exertion makes we want to burst into tears. I am so proud to see them trying so hard! Fisher took third among the boys in his grade, and Loryn took fourth among the girls in her grade. They both ran so fast and so hard!

 I was pretty proud of this shot. Doesn't she look like she's glowing! Like the heavens have parted and are shining down on her! I love this little girl so much. She is all heart and soul, this one.

Doesn't your heart just burst open when you see this? Ok, so it's just mine. But honestly, look at how hard he's running. This is right at the finish line when he's fighting for third place. The fourth place little boy was literally right behind him.

These girls are darling. I am so glad they have each other. They both have spitfire personalities that sometimes only they can truly understand. They love and fight like sisters. They challenge each other and stand up for each other. And the second they are in the same house together, they disappear and we don't see them for hours. They still love to pretend, play, and imagine.

This is the third year in a row that Loryn has come in fourth place, just off the podium. Most girls would give up and stop trying. But not my Lo Lo! She never goes down without a fight.

These were the top four finishers in second grade. And they're all best buddies. Such a cute group of little boys.

Here is Katie with her friends. Meg (middle) won in her age group and plays soccer with Katie and Loryn. She is wicked fast!

Taylor's 13th Birthday

Taylor's birthday fell on a Tuesday this year. On odd years, the kids have "family" birthdays as opposed to "friend" birthdays. So, this year Taylor got french toast and Kneaders syrup for breakfast. Then, I took donuts into her math class at the junior high. Then, Dan and I took her to DP Cheesesteak for lunch. (Yes, our celebrations usually revolve around food!) After school, we went to Fisher's soccer game and then the whole family went to Brick Oven for dinner. Taylor had her grandparents and cousins over for cake and ice cream the Sunday before her birthday. Here we are cheering on Fisher at his soccer game. It had been an usually cold and rainy week.

I can't believe my baby is an official teenager! I was surprised by all the feelings I had as I prepared for her birthday this year. While she is growing into an amazing young lady, I couldn't help feel sad at the passing of time. Literally, where is the time going?! As the oldest, Taylor has had to patient with us as we've learned how to be parents through trial and error. She has been an easy, steady, constant child. She is so helpful, so nurturing and patient, a natural athlete, and has a very quirky sense of humor. She has been an wonderful blessing in our lives and I feel so lucky to be her mom. She has taught me so much.

Taylor has been shamelessly BEGGING for an iPod Touch for years now. And we told her "no" with equal conviction. So, imagine her surprise when she opened one for her birthday! We had wrapped it within several different size boxes, so she had to keep unwrapping until she finally got down to the iPod. This was her honest-to-goodness reaction and I am so happy to have caught it on camera. This is the most emotion you'll ever see from Taylor, so we had to make sure it was well documented.

Camping at Hobble Creek

We only had one free weekend in all of June and July, so we took advantage of it! It was just a quick overnighter up Hobble Creek Canyon, but we had so much fun. Jen and Katie came up and ate dinner and roasted marshmallows with us.

 Fisher had so much fun with our new tent box-- simple pleasures!

 What's camping without s'mores?

 I LOVE my boys.

  . . . and my girls.

 Pillow face anyone?

My darling baby.

Summer Basketball Tournaments

Taylor played in two weekend tournaments this summer with her Stars Team. One was played at UVU and the other at the Salt Palace. Her team won both tournaments and she played well. It was fun for us to watch her on the "big" court at UVU. And the little kids enjoyed running up and down the empty rows! She and Loryn also attended Timpview's basketball camp and had a great time.

Piano Recital

 The girls had a piano recital in the open air gazebo at Riverwoods on Flag Day this year. There was a patriotic them and they both looked darling. They performed well and we were so proud!

Slip N Sliding

We dusted off the ol' industrial tarp and stretched down the side of Jen's house again. The kids spent hours running and sliding and getting sunburned.

So, here we are another year past (or is, passed?). I'm the English major, I should know . . .but I don't. Anyway, I digress.


Obviously I haven't written. For a year. A whole year. And guess what else? I haven't really done any other means of meaningful journaling either. So here it is. Another feeble and likely futile effort to document our lives. If you want a long list of all the other things I haven't been doing (and should have been), I could give you a very robust list. If there is anything my life can do for you--it's to make you feel better about yourself ;)

Alas, I have maaaaajor issues with public blogs. The whole "no privacy" thing. The whole "my blog is ugly" thing. (Especially in comparison to a handful of uber talented, uber creative, uber well-written cousins and friends of mine--you know who you are!)

But despite those issues, I'm going public again. I have to go public so that I have some sort of obligation to my mother and Becky and Megan to write regularly. Those are the only three readers of this blog--so this is for you! But really, it's mostly just for me. For my kids. For my journal.

So cheers to yet another try! (And because blog posts are just downright boring without photos, I will just randomly post my favorite pictures from the last few weeks.)

This is our "School is Out!" celebratory dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

 This is Dan and the kids on Easter. Such a handsome family I have! I love that Fisher and Dan are matchers.

I wish I could magically merge this pictures. I was too lazy and too late for church to go ask a neighbor to take a picture. I have to force Dan to take the occasional picture with me in it to prove that I actually exist!

 Fisher cozying up at our Labor Day BBQ at Uncle Gary's house.

 We were lucky enough for go to the Seven Peaks pre-opening party again this year. Sadly, it fell on a VERY cold day. The kids didn't spend much times in the water. I LOVE this picture of Quincy and her pretty blues.

The actual day of our anniversary was very busy with lots of soccer games. But we managed to squeeze in a cake to celebrate the birthday of our family. Don't pity us, though. Dan and I were able to go to on a date the day before. Aren't these kids a funny bunch? Look what 14 years can give you!