The Christmas Spirit is alive and well at the Medeiros home

I wasn't quite sure where the Christmas Spirit was around our house and then....there it was! Right there on my pillow! Last week, as I was getting into bed, a cute little note full of flames and pizazz was waiting for me on my pillow. Maybe I had been particularly grumpy with the kids and Sarah thought I needed a little holiday encouragement. Maybe she just wanted to spread some holiday cheer. Either way, she felt it necessary to make sure I knew where the Christmas Spirit was...and it certainly filled Chad and I with holiday cheer and laughter. I have no doubt that there was even more Christmas Spirit in our house after it was found on my pillow.

Christmas Eve is always the pinnacle of the holiday season for me. This year, we kept with tradition and headed to Kaysville for the our fish dinner by candlelight and our little Nativity presentation.  I'm not sure that the Savior enjoyed salmon and shrimp cocktail, but they've been added to the menu nonetheless! This year, I contributed my marinated Tilapia and I think everyone enjoyed that. With some of the cousins getting older and others not old enough, we had to do some creative casting for the Nativity program. This year we had a cradle-robbing Joseph (Tyler) and a very young Mary (Jenna). New this year was the fabulous addition of a camel (Conner). After opening jammies, it was off to our own homes to tuck the kids in.

This year, brought new skepticism about Santa. We had quite the little tester in Sarah. On Christmas eve, she left out a box with small gifts and a little note requesting a signature from the big guy. The gifts were gone and the "signed" note was left behind in the morning. A Dorthy (from the Wizard of Oz) Barbie, a holiday Barbie, a school play-set, Wii Sports Resort, the Far World books, a wah pedal and guitar case were among some of the favorite gifts with the kids. Jenna gave me a big hint about my gift several weeks earlier and I was delighted to open a digital SLR camera (thanks Chad and Heather!). I have already had so much fun playing around with it....lots more to learn....lots more to learn. I was so proud of my parents, for the first time, they left Kaysville on Christmas day and headed our way to spend some with us. We had breakfast with them and they got to watch us open some gifts.  Definitely something different for them, but I think they really enjoyed!  Now I, on the other hand, pulled off the biggest Christmas surprise Chad had ever had. It's always the other way around, but this year, I got him good. With some help from the parents, I  was able to pool our efforts and get Chad a snow blower. We've resisted for years...bound and determined to shovel. One north-facing home, and two corner lots later, our backs hurt and we are ready for some relief....especially Chad. Several weeks ago, I purchased the much-researched snow blower and tucked it safely in the Fletcher's garage. After all the hoopla of Christmas morning, I mentioned to Chad that Fletcher's wanted us to come over to see what they got. When we got there, Dorick announced he wanted us to see a new gift in the garage. Chad said as we entered the garage, he just knew Dorick had gotten a new snow blower. Now while, he was happy for Dorick, his heart sank and he was a bit envious. As we were all surrounding the shiny new machine and Chad was fighting back envy, I announced, "It's yours!" Ohhh, you should have seen the look on his face!! I know it's just a snow blower, but my eyes got misty. I have never pulled off a surprise like this before. It was a "red ryder bb gun moment" for sure. Love it, love it, love it!!! He had a smile on his face the rest of the day. Since we stayed home for the whole day, it was so fun to have the Madsen's over for dinner. It was so wonderful to have someone to share our Honeybaked ham with. What a great way to end the day!

A full month of fun!

December is always hectic for sure and sometimes you can see through the stress to realize there is a lot of fun to be had. A few of our December highlights so far have been:

-Ward/neighborhood party: It was catered by the Goodwood BBQ (wow! the church does that? what a fun change!) We also had a visit from Santa. This was fun to watch. At first, Jenna was too scared to see him and Sarah and Andrew were too cool to see him. In the end, none of them could resist the pull of sharing wishes with Santa

-Friend party: The Fletcher's hosted a party this year. Great food and crazy games. Just check out the picture of the guys with deer antlers (ie. panty hose stuffed with balloons). I think adults have more fun playing games than kids do!

-Shopping at the dollar store: This is fast becoming one of the kids favorite traditions. We give each of the children $10 and set them loose to shop for the family at the dollar store. They dodge and hide from each other, then they rush home to wrap their gifts. There are always some fun and interesting gifts. 

-Open houses: Megan and Cameron hosted their first holiday gathering (the first of many, right??). Go Meg and Cam on the domestic front...wassail, treats and a yard full of lights (and one big penguin!).

-Neighborhood parties: The Madsen's hosted a recital with some of the neighbors. The recital was even complete with roses for the guests to throw when the performers were done. From singing, piano, trumpet, to violin...what talent and fun was shared. Such a great event, loved it!

-Relief Society party: What a beautiful party...it looked like a wedding reception...complete with a live nativity on the stage.

-Gingerbread houses: It's become a tradition to decorate a gingerbread house with g'ma and g'pa Medeiros. This kids always look forward to the licking, tasting and time with the g'parents. This year, the kids got to open one gift from them since they will be gone on Christmas.

-Visiting the homeless shelter: The kids and mom had the opportunity to visit the shelter downtown to drop off some donations. This was such a good experience for them. Unprovoked, Sarah donated all her money. I even suggested any donation amount was wonderful, but she didn't hesitate to give it all. The kids were thrilled to be invited inside where they were treated to a photo with Santa and some hot chocolate.

I ran 10 miles today.

T-E-N, double digits. Yep. I did and I am shamelessly shouting it to anyone who just happens to hear. Since this blog has become my psuedo journal/scrapbook, I have to record this for posterity. If I don't, it's like it never happened and I'm not letting something like this be lost to history. I think many of you who know me, know that I'm kind of the anti-runner. It's hard for me and I'm slow. I'm not quite sure why I like getting myself involved in something that is fairly miserable. I think I like beating something I don't like and that is hard for me. It's been kind of cool to do something I never, ever thought I'd could do. I have been very anxious and nervous to reach this milestone. I was literally naucious this morning, knowing the run I had to do, but it's over now and I am one step closer to the 1/2 marathon in January. Lest you think I'm getting a little too prideful, don't worry. After my run today, I caught the tail-end of an ESPN special on the Iron Man. Have you ever watched as the exhausted athletes cross the line? There is something strangely touching about it, I must admit. Chad and I turned in on just as the last people were finishing. I'll never be that cool (or crazy) and I am so okay with that.

Been busy (?)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Yes, it's been awhile since my last post. I could list of myriad of excuses as to why I've shared nothing recently, but mostly, I've just been too tired/too uncreative when the thought crosses my mind. As you recall, I recently started a part time job. It's been an adjustment and at first, the output of mental energy was far greater than the actual hours worked. With just over one month under my belt, things are beginning to balance out and I think I'm settling in alright. So now, I present to you, an uninspired mega post to share a few of the things we've been doing.

 

With the month of December comes the inevitable round of recitals. Josh and Andrew did a wonderful job...getting better and more impressive each recital. And speaking of impressive, Josh is really mastering the slumped-over-I-don't-care teenager position...love the picture of him "enjoying" Andrew's performance. Sarah recently joined the ranks of those required to take piano. She is taking from our neighbor and my friend, April. She is an excellent teacher...and wonderfully patient with Sarah. A week or two before the recital, I wasn't too sure how her performance would go. I must say, she really stepped up and we were very pleased and proud of her performance.

I can't tell you how happy these pictures make me and I will tell you why. There is nothing, nothing digital, electronic or computerized involved in this playtime.  Just when I think I've completely failed as mother because the TV, computer and gameboys are becoming permanent appendages to my children's bodies, I see this. Actual creative play. And I've been seeing a lot more of it lately. And, seriously, how cute is she?

Sarah started taking jazz and ballet at a local "Stars" studio. Me being a purest (ie. ballet trained) I wasn't too crazy about an all-in-one dance studio, but I've decided this is a great way for her to get back into dance. So far it has been a mostly great experience. That is to say, Sarah is not crazy about ballet class. However, she had a mother who slept in her first pair of toe shoes and insists that ballet is a must!
On December 4, she had her first performance. She really "rocked" her dance routine. She had the best rocker stance, by far, of any of her classmates. Her daddy was proud.

Congratulations to Sarah! She received a 4th place prize in the PTA Reflections contest last month. This is quite an honor considering art had by far the most entires and she was judged with 3rd, 4th, 5th 6th graders (she is in 3rd).
I love, LOVE how much her entry was so authentically her. The theme was "Beauty is..." She immediately honed in on fantasy and imagination as her idea of beauty. Notice what she wrote in the description on the entry form. So Sarah.

Shift

Do you ever realize just how much you get set in your ways. Sure small things change, but overall, you just keep plodding forward just like you did yesterday, last month...last year? Recently, it seems my life has shifted...just slightly, but wow, enough to leave me feeling a bit off kilter.
There's been the small things. Take running for example. For something that I don't particularly love, it's taken over more time and thought than I'd care to make room for. I've committed to doing a 1/2 marathon in January. I'm thinking this wasn't the best choice...all my spare cold weather-holiday packed schedule time is getting filled with runner's guilt. "Today is slightly warm...I'd better run," or "I need to meet another milestone in my training...I have to go run."  I'm as slow as ever and I'm not even shedding any winter weight either. Grrr. I did hit the 8 mile mark....big milestone!
Then there's been the changes at church. Total change of pace going from Relief Society to Primary. I'm not saying this is bad...just different.  My friend told me to think of it as "spiritual cross training." I love that. I've also had the opportunity to be a small part of a neighbor taking the discussing and attending church. Something else that weighs heavily on my thoughts; "Am I doing enough," "Did I say the right things," or "How is she feeling about this." A lot to take in.
Then, I've had moments of change with my kids. More accurately, I would say moments of realization on my part. Realizing where I am totally lacking as a parent. It takes work to be totally aware of each facet of  their life. From social issues at school, to work ethic at home and school,  to lesson schedules, to individual desires and emotions....it's just hard to stay on top of. We recently had a disconcerting parent teacher conference....a real eye opener. Parenting is just A LOT of work. Constant re-awareness. Constant starting over (how many times do you re-start your family scripture reading or re-teach your kids how to clean the bathroom?) I feel like I am constantly falling short. I do the best thing I know how....start again.
Then, the biggest change in my life right now. Work. I had planned to start some sort of job when all the kids were in school, but not for at least a year. I'd been thinking what will I do? What can I do? Missions, college and weddings will be here soon...let alone the basement we dream of. Well, a couple weeks ago an opportunity came my way. The timing seems a bit premature, but they are totally willing to take me when they can. I am working for a retinal specialist. At this point only about 10+ hrs a week (in office and at home). Initially I thought I would be doing trascription and receptionist duties. I was a bit overwhelmed on my first day when the doctor walked out of the exam room and said, "Oh, will you re-numb his eye?" What? You want me to get in his personal space and put something in his eye? It was made clear to me that everyone is trained in everything. In addition to scheduling, phones, insurance, and trasnscription, I am also learning all the tech stuff. That means I will be the one that does the initial patient exam....accuity test, eye pressure, numbing, dilation, scans, surgery tray prep, and charting.  Oh and throw in the handling of syringes and medications that cost $2000 a pop. Ummm....don't I need a degree for all that? My brain has never felt so atrophied. All the acronyms, abbreviations, latin terms, medical terms....all very overwhelming. Oh, and I had have to dress professionally?! I only have one pair of non-denim pants. See what I mean....a total shift from where I've been. Right now, it feels like so many more hours that it is...this steep learning curve is mentally exhausting. I'm reserving total judgement until I'm feeling more settled in a couple weeks (or months), but I think I kind of like the challenge and patient interaction. We will see how this all settles in. Until then, I will continue starting over each time I fall short.

Little gems from the past

   Don't you love it when you unexpectedly find something?  Five dollars in the jacket you haven't worn since last fall? A lost necklace, for example? How about a photo you forgot existed or a letter from a g'parent that is now gone? This afternoon I found those very things. One made me laugh out loud, this other made me thoughtful and pensive.
   I am working on a Christmas gift for my kids (hopefully I can pull it together!)and I've had to sort through old photos and papers. Besides finding that my photo taking and paper keeping is a bit lop-sided between the kids (you know: oldest child vs. middle child vs. the baby!!), I've also found some wonderful gems from the past. Forgotten Mother's Day cards done in nursery, primitively scrawled names and great photos. Among these things, I found this letter from my G'ma Jensen. I loved coming across this letter talking about what was going on in her life. I loved seeing her handwriting. I loved seeing an article she knew I'd love. (about my dear great uncle Merrill). I even love the little pink post it attached to article. So glad I kept it all.
   Next, the laughter. I came across this  random photo taken at work. I was working for the Sears calling center in Provo. How old do you think I look in this photo? Now before you look at the date and do the math, give it a guess. I've shown this to a couple people today. Fourteen was one reply, and sixteen was the other. Nope, I'd be 24yrs old...pregnant with my second child. Yes, I can hear you laughing now. The bangs. The glasses. Oh, I thought those were so cute and made me look older. The shirt. Yikes! the shirt....an oversized courderoy number...so 90's, right? No wonder I got looks of pity when I went to the grocery store....looks of pity from everyone assuming I was a teen mom.
   Often going through old things just makes me melancholy. I get sad seeing that time relentlessly marches forward leaving loved ones gone and little ones grown up too fast. And then....and then....I find something funny like this that just laughs those blues away!

Miscellaneous cuteness

When we were working on the dining room two weeks ago (yes, it's done and yes, I will post photos), there were some tense moments. Hanging the new light fixture to a 20ft ceiling would be one of those tense moments. The kids wanted to be part of the excitement. Jenna and Sarah were hiding behind a chair to watch. Finally, we excused them all to bed so we could continue the fun. Needless to say, we didn't get it hung that first night. We even thought a few  "words" would help, but no, we would have to try again the next night. As I climbed into bed that night, I found a note from Sarah on my pillow. She leaves notes often and they always bring a smile to my face. This one had me laughing out loud. She could not have captured the night more perfectly. I promise, it's worth clicking on it to enlarge it. Can you see the picture? Notice the details: Chad on the ladder, me holding the light....and Jenna hiding under the chair in the corner. Can you read it? Notice the post script. It says, "P.S. What was that shattering sound?" Umm, that would be me tripping over the old light (although it didn't actually shatter) and that would also be when a few unacceptable words came out. I'm thinking that is what prompted this note of love and concern.

Next item of cuteness. There are a few things about Jenna right now that are so her. Four of them are in this awesome photo. 1) Helping mama cook. She loves to help me. Anytime I am in the kitchen, she scoots the white stool to my side 2) The shark goggles. Pretty cool, aren't they? I'm thinking her love for these comes from the kids love of the movie "Shark Boy and Lava Girl." She even wore these out to dinner a couple weeks ago 3) Gloves. She has been on a glove kick for quite some time now. I'm not sure how or why it started. We did have a spike of interest with the death of Michael Jackson. I think she noticed the connection with glove and him. She was overhead saying to her siblings, "Guys, are you sad that Michael Jackson died?" and "I'm sad Michael Jackson died."  Even so, her glove love has been going on even before that. 4) Boots. Whether it's the bright pink rain boots or the brown snow boots, she's always up for some boot-wearing fun.

These are just a few things that my girls have done that just absolutely make my heart smile. These are definitely moments that I wish I could freeze in time.

Brrrrr.........Chad is awesome!

Early this morning, Chad ran his first 1/2 marathon. I say first because I have a feeling he is going to keep this running thing going. He has been a real natural! The race started at Aspen Grove above Sundance and made it's way down the Provo River Trail ending in the River Bottoms of Provo. Chad ran with two of his Brother-in-laws; Cameron and Shawn. Let me just say it was COLD and they are AWESOME! While Amy, Megan and I waited to cheer them on at Nunn's park, my thermometer read a balmy 30 degrees. It felt colder. It was so cold that as the runners ran by, you could see that their sweat had turned to frost on their clothing. Chad said he actually felt a bit hot (Yes, he is!). The first 5 miles was a steep downhill...easy on the heart, killer on the legs. It began cold and foggy and it ended beautifully...sun and warmth! I was so impressed with the guys, they all did a great job and ended within 10min of each other. Oh, and they got really cool skull shirts and medals to boot! Chad was amazing and the long run didn't even seem to phase his body too much. Really great news given his I.T. band problems earlier in the summer. Way to go, Chad!!! (truth be told, I'm jealous...I wish I could run with as much ease and enjoyment as he does!)

Happy Halloween!!

Ominture/Adobe Halloween party last night....check (photos to come...maybe)
Halloween Half-marathon....check (awesome job, Chad...more to come!)
Candy ready (I think I bought way too much this year)....check
Messy house....check
Pumpkin-shaped pizza....check
Witches brew (dry ice!)....check
Make-up....check
Obligatory photos (I love that group shot)....check
Trick or Treat.....GO!

Blog post....check
I figured getting my blog post done would make the night go more quickly. I think I'm anxious for the holiday to be done...we've packed in a lot of Halloween stuff this year. Yes, it's been a slow start for trick or treaters tonight and I'm on door duty.  Maybe I'm a little bored. Chad's out with the kids and Josh is at a party with friends (talking to a certain girl I'm sure!) Which do you prefer; door duty or walking the neighborhood? Neither?

Bittersweet

"Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows,
through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones,
there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and
Savior is the living witness that such is so."

-Thomas S. Monson

 And in the words of Herodotus...

"Death is a delightful hiding place for weary men." Grandpa, enjoy hiding from your weary body and we look forward seeing you again. We will miss the teasing.  We will miss the stories. We will miss the honor of having one who lived such an amazing life in our presence. We love you.

More Hallow-een fun...

It's always fun to enjoy the Halloween traditions we've started with the grandparents.  G'ma and G'pa Jensen hold a big party/FHE each year complete with spooky food and games. This year, the kids loved playing the "head on a platter" and eye ball relays. They also loved popping the balloons to find the treats inside. (I love the photo of Sarah sitting on her balloon...an instant before it popped!) This years backyard spook alley attracted even more friends and neighbors than last year. Ron is always a huge help with that. With Grammy PJ, the kids love creating a graveyard cake.Or you could say, a cake with every bit of Halloween available sprinkled on top! Thank you to the grandparents for all your efforts to make the holidays so fun and memorable...we love you!

I did it.

Yesterday, I ran my first 10k. I have been running 5 miles at a time fairly consistently now, but wow, that 6.2 miles felt so much further. Why do I have a smile on my face? Why am I flashing the love sign (although I meant to do the rocker sign) like I just had the time of my life? I'm really not sure because truth be told, it was kind of hard and I kind of didn't have fun. I guess 1 hour and 12 min (I know...not a great time) of misery was worth a free (yes, the race was free!) Nike dry fit t-shirt! I don't know how race courses are ranked, but I'd say this one was not an easy course. We started out going up hill to Sugar House park. As soon as we reached the park, we ran on grass. For about a mile. Dodging pine cones. Once we circled around and finally hit some pavement, the hills started. Cardio wise, I felt fine. It was my legs that felt so fatigued. I guess I could blame it on week of climbing up and down a 20 foot ladder (painting my dining room), but the bottom line is, I just need to train more. Knowing that I've been sucked into a half marathon in January weighed heavily on my mind yesterday. I kept thinking, "...and this isn't half of what I will have to do then."  Yes, it looks like my winter days will filled with running. Ugh.

Last weekend, I went to "Witches Night Out" at Gardner Village with some of my girlfriends. Have you ever been? Wow...craziness. As you can tell by the photos, we were pretty decked out...as were about 8,000 other women from the Salt Lake Valley. No joke! We literally parked almost a mile away. I'm not lying. Look at the photos. And I was wearing high heeled boots. Ouch. Once our trek ended, we joined the throng of other women starving for a night out in full costume. Speaking of starving, many of us did. The line for the food was so long, it was hopeless. Good thing for Chili's at 9:30 on a Friday night! There are so many people you can barely work your way through the crowd. I say people because while nearly everyone in the crowd is of the female species, there were a few strange characters from the other side. Take Mr. Super-Creepy-Clown-in-a-White-Suit. Weird. Guess he didn't get the memo that the costume request was for witches. lol  Even the animal species was represented with a lady toting around an owl. See, I told you...it was craziness! With Witches Night, G'ma and G'pa's Halloween party, the neighborhood party and the Omniture party, I just might be done with Halloween before it even gets here! So much fun (with an itchy wig and make-up) is exhausting!

Am I that gullible?

As we were climbing in the car after one of our Sunday dinners in Kaysville, there was some sort of commotion between the kids. No surprise. Chad turns to Andrew and says, "You're the wizard of getting people in trouble." Andrew blurts out, "No I'm not!" And then with a little mischeiveous smile growing across his angelic face, "Well.......kind of."   Ahhhhh-ha! The tricks of a middle child. The master of deflecting to the older sibling. I can't believe I was so gullible all this time. Or was I? For the record, Andrew does have a record...very good record. He's not perfect, but we don't call him "Angel Andrew" for nothing!

Hi, my name is Julie and I'm addicted to projects.

I think I have a problem. It's called "projects." I've decided that since I never nurtured and developed my artistic talents, this is the next best thing to satisfy that need. Why is it a problem you ask? I've got several reasons and I will tell you a few. 1) I can't shut my brain off. Once I start thinking of something it kind of takes over. (do I need medication?) 2) I think I unconsciously use these projects to ignore all other responsibilities is life.Painting a room is so much better than doing laundry. 3) They create bigger messes that I ever think they will. and 4) While I am extremely frugal, I still end up spending money that maybe I don't need to. However, I must say, the end result almost always trumps these problems. I love dreaming and scheming in my head (dreaming=big budget, scheming=almost no budget).
I've been joking lately that even if I had the money, I'd still like to do things myself and hunt around for great finds. Am I just telling myself that because I don't have the money? Maybe. But, I'd still like to think that even if I had unlimited funds, I'd still be frugal and hands on with making my home my own. (Gee, I'd like to test  out the unlimited budget someday!)
So, currently, I am working on the dining room. It has been a blank and very boring slate for 5yrs now. For sure, the first thing I do with a project is to look at what I already have and to figure out what I can do myself. I've had a black table for several years and I had some natural chairs leftover from the kitchen project (they will be painted black). They are very casual chairs, but with a nice upholstered parsons chair on each end, I think they will do! I found these great chairs at Ikea. Very reasonable, sturdy (much better than the chair I loved at Pier One...and half the price) and the slip covers are removable (ie. washable!). My most exciting find was the chandelier. $60 on the KSL classifieds. Yes, this would be $400 chandelier at Lowes and I got it for almost pennies!! I little black spray paint and I think it will go perfectly (and nicely compliment my entry light to boot). In case you haven't talked to me recently, I am a huge fan of the KSL classifieds (think Craigs List). lol I have gone with an extremely bold paint choice. A Ralph Lauren gold (yes, GOLD) metallic paint. If it plays out like it does in my head, I think the black furniture and creams in the upholstery and dish display will work together wonderfully. I'm picturing a bit of a "Frenchy" feel. And....if things work out, I may have one splurge to finish the room....

Preschool field trip....check!

If you've read my past entries, you'll know that I had a terrible record for attending preschool field trips last year. This year, is Jenna's last year in preschool and she is my baby. I am bound and determined to mantain a better record this year. So far I'm 2 for 2!

A couple weeks ago, we headed to Thanksgiving Point to see the farm animals. Jenna loved the baby horse and having a tractor ride and a horseback ride.

Yesterday, the kids headed to a local pumpkin patch. She had so much fun pushing her own wheel barrow, picking her own pumpkin...and most of all the corn maze. I think she and her friends ran through that thing a half a dozen times!
I am really trying to enjoy and live in the now because wow....it is flying by was too fast.

Happy Birthday Josh...14 years old!!!!

Yea, yea...I know! How in the world can Josh be 14....FOURTEEN???? He can go to church dances now. And dance. With girls. I think there just might be a few girls already lined up hoping he'll ask them for a dance.

It seems with each year, it gets harder to celebrate and gift give. Gone are the days of the dinosaur theme party and a pile of gifts to be opened. The fifty bucks or so that bought several toys now buys ummm, say 3/4 of a cool gift suitable for a teenager. Fortunately,  Josh was just as thrilled with his new cell phone (Celtic green, of course...and no, it's not an expensive phone...we stayed within budget!) and Skull Candy headphones. So glad he "gets it."

However, I am Julie and I worry that I haven't done enough or his day won't be memorable enough. So what do you do?? Well, apparently you spend $20 in doughnuts and candy at the gas station the night before his birthday. (so much for practical gifts and budgets) I thought it wholly appropriate that Josh start his day off right....with a chocolate Dunford doughnut. The candy? I attached a "happy birthday" tag to 14 (get it??lol) packs of Josh's favorite gum and candy. I then asked his friend to distribute the candy to friends who would then in turn give them to Josh. About 8 packs in, it dawned on Josh that it was me that did it. He said it was the font and the tag that gave it away. I wonder what that says about me and Josh that A) he knows what a font is and B) he associates "fonts" with his mom. I digress.

Later that day, G'ma Chris joined us for dinner at the Training Table. (mmmm....thanks g'ma!)We ended the day with chocolate cake, ice cream and a few gifts. Sarah put together some  items she thought Josh would like (ie. very random things gathered from around the house). They were carefully placed in a white box tied with yarn. I love that she did that...Josh loved it, too.  I know Josh had a good day....he hasn't looked up from his new phone. We love you, Josh!!

How can this not make you smile?

Temple Riders

One of the things I love about watching conference in Utah are the little news/movie/biography vignettes that KSL plays between sessions. Stories about members, temples and events from around the world are featured. Today, "Footprints of Faith" featured the Temple Riders motorcycle group. Now really, how can you not smile when you see this? Our bishop in Colorado, Bishop Chuck Barton loved going on motorcycle trips with his wife Bea (I loved having Bea as my visiting teacher). I always loved that they had such a unique hobby together. There was a running joke that you could hear the hum of their motorcycles in the parking lot on the day he was released. Hmm...I wonder, are they part of the Temple Riders today?

"The Princess and the Frog 2"

It's always been clear that Sarah is very creative. Even knowing this, I am always tickled with delight and surprise when I see something she does. A couple weeks ago, she created an entire play. Complete with backdrops and people. Her stage set up was the best; it was flanked by pillows and a blanket draped over her head to hide the behind the scenes mechanics (i.e. her!). She was thrilled to have the family's undivided attention. It was so cute seeing her little hands peeking out from behind the blanket to manipulate that characters...then her little head poking out to change the backdrop. Her story line was a sequel to the fairytale of  "The Princess and the Frog." In this continuation of the original, the Princess decides she likes the Prince better as a frog. He travels to a witch, a wizard and a mad scientist to gain his frog-hood back. Ahh...but, there is a surprise ending. The mad scientist added an extra spell to the potion; turning whoever he kisses into a frog. The princess not only gets her wish of the Prince being turned back into a frog, BUT she gets to join him as an amphibian, too! It was priceless! Well done, Sarah...keep up the creativity. We can't wait to see what you do next!

Chad and I have often said that we don't need our kids to be better than everyone else at what they do...we do, however, want them to work hard and do their personal best. It is so exciting when we catch little glimpes of this inner drive at work. It's no wonder that Andrew exhibits this so well. He may not always love playing soccer, but while he is there he is 100% committed and determined to do his best. I'd like to think that he's not only doing his best for mom and dad, but for himself. Andrew is not  aggressive by nature and it's taken a couple of years for some aggression to develop on the field. I have loved seeing him stick with it...and I have loved seeing his upward climb of improvement. These characteristics are very evident in other areas of Andrew's life, especially his school work. Determined and committed to do his best work (and he does!). Hmm...maybe we can work on spreading this attitude to keeping his room clean? ;) Keep it up Andrew...you're awesome!

FHE with the Jensens

Sunday night, the Jensen clan gathered in Kaysville for a Family Home Evening gathering like no other. G'ma and G'pa worked on this for quite some time and were so excited to present this special lesson to the g'kids. After a dinner surrounded by closed windows (so the kids couldn't see the set-up in the backyard), we had a lesson on Lehi's dream and the Tree of Life.After the lesson, each child had a "veil" placed over their eyes and they were directed to the rod. The path was even lined with "the great and spacious building," complete with taunters (my favorite part...love that picture)! The kids made their way to the Tree of Life where small goodies awaited. I love that we ended the night with a family cheer. What a memorable FHE...we loved it! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

The other night I left the girl's bedroom window open. In the middle of the night Jenna bursts into our room,

"Mom! The window is flying away! 

It keeps flying up!"

Yes, Jenna is wearing Shark goggles in public...and I loved it!

Goodbye MAX

Nearly five years ago (December 12, 2005) I heard a tiny little meow from beneath a car at my  neighbors house. It was freezing outside and there was no way I could leave this little kitten to die. After checking with the neighbors to make sure it wasn't theirs and doing a little eyelash batting at Chad, we brought him home. The kids were thrilled with this unexpected surprise (Jenna was only 6mo old and I was no where near wanting a pet). He was quickly given the name Max Sparkly (Sarah's contribution!) Medeiros. So thus commenced the roller coaster ride of owning a pet.

Often frustrated with some of his shortcomings, I would refer to my care for him as a stewardship. Meaning, no matter how much I disliked his pee accidents,  the occasional nip at the kids, or the claw marks in the door frames (pre declawing), I would never consider dropping him off at the pound. I knew, we had taken him in and accepted that responsibility and therein much love grows for taking care of the needs of an imperfect creature. Chad and I often joked how nice it would be to have him gone...no worries while on vacation, no shutting doors (for fear of him peeing), and no random finds of a stinky accident. However, now that he is gone, I find emptiness in the special places he loved. The spot at the top of the stairs, our bath mat, under the girls bed, under Josh's blanket, on top of Chad's car. I find myself looking for him again and again in these "Max spots" or expecting to hear him meow to be let in or out of room. I will miss how he curled up next to me after the kids went to bed or when I napped.

So what happened? About two weeks ago, I suddenly noticed he had gotten dramatically skinny. I asked Chad if he had noticed. Then there was an increase in accidents. I knew we needed to take him in. Somehow, life speeds off and it gets put in the back of your mind. After coming home to another accident on Tuesday and realizing that he was not eating (only drinking) I knew we had to get him in. The kids and I took him in that afternoon. It wasn't good...not good at all. The vet ran a blood test and found that his liver was failing. He was in very bad shape. The prognosis was not good. A shot of fluids and antibiotics was our only hope.He needed to start eating and show signs of an improvement within a couple days. That night, I found that Andrew had lined up his food to spell his name...in hopes that Max would eat. When we woke up the next morning my heart just sunk when I saw him. He hadn't left the family room from the night before, he had peed where he was laying and hadn't touched his food or water. I desperately wanted him to be okay, but there was no doubt in my mind that we couldn't let him suffer. The kids were all very aware of his state and were all hoping and praying for him to eat and recover. When it was clear that this would not be the case, we all gathered around the family room for one of the most difficult conversations I've ever had. We were all sobbing. It was torture looking at Max lying there with his blue eyes knowing what we had to do. After a family prayer, the kids were left to process this. They drew pictures of Max, Sarah prayed that he would eat (her faith is incredible and it killed me to tell her this prayer wouldn't be answered), Andrew and Sarah wrote a song and Josh wrote "Max" on his arm. However dramatic this all may sound, I will add it was a very traumatic day with many emotions flowing.

Originally, I told Chad there was no way I could take him back to the vet. As the time came, I knew I couldn't let Chad do this alone. As I gathered him from beneath the girl's bed, my heart was breaking knowing what we were about to do.The kids said their final goodbyes and we headed to the vet. Surprisingly, Chad was the one that had to leave and go to the car. Don't get me wrong, we were both crying, but I was the one that had to sign the consent to euthanize form. Now, I know there are much more difficult things in life, but this was seriously heart wrenching. As with many tough experiences, this ended up being a really special experience for us as a family. To experience love and loss together. To see  the kids reach out and hug each other in comfort. To pray together and affirm the Plan of Salvation to our children. One friend described the love/hate relationship of a pet to that of having a teenager: Sometimes you can't stand living with them but you always want them there. Sure my house might be a little more clean and free from pet worries....but, it's a little more empty, too. We love you, Max and will miss having you here.

Utah State Fair: enjoy the goodness

For the last couple years, the kids have been attending the State Fair with Grammy (and sometimes Papa). The kids seem to have an internal clock whose alarm starts going off in mid August. "Is it time for that festival thing?" one will say. "When are we going on the rides with Grammy?" from another, and, "I want cotton candy!" Yes, the time has come. The Utah State Fair is here. Time for the children enjoy the Fair's nutritious and delicious offerings, feel the thrill of semi-safe rides and have a few lessons in animal husbandry. This year also threw in some rain, a meatball stain on mom's boob (courtesy of Moochies) and some $30 cotton candy (Megan lost money while buying a treat). No matter. We enjoyed it all the same. A highlight each year is sitting in on a session of animal judging (for lack of the correct term). Last year it was the sheep and their "cronches" (as Sarah said...lol). This year it was two varieties of cows; the Holstein and Jersey. Who knew a prized cow had a rear bone structure set high and wide....with full, bulging udders? Yes, love what we learn and what we learn to appreciate at the Fair! Thanks Grammy...we loved continuing the tradition!!

Food + Festival = Fun (ie. leaking money)

The kids are off track (yes, I know, school just started) and in an attempt to be "fun mommy" I've been trying to supplement our daily activities. I am bound an determined to keep them on jobs/workbook/piano schedule in the morning, but I am also trying hard to add in more trips to the library and other fun outings.

Last weekend was the Greek Festival in Salt Lake. I'm not sure why I've never taken part in the this local institution and this year the call of Greek food was too much to miss. Friday morning I headed downtown with Andrew, Sarah and Jenna. Right off the bat, I make a few cardinal mistakes as a mother; no stroller, shoes that were too small for Jenna and bad time of day. No sooner had we found parking, paid for parking, paid the entrance fee and joined the mile long line for the food (along the with rest of the SL workforce on lunch break), Jenna complains that her feet hurt. Being "casual mommy" I say fine, take your shoes off. As we are winding through the line, her socks get more and more black with each step. Oh well. While waiting in line, I did buy a tyropite to share....mmm....bring on the calories! We finally reach our destination to find each food item price a la carte. A scoop of rice, $2.00??!! I  frugally put food on two plates of all of us to share. A bit pricey (especially with kids) but mmmm.....delicious! As we were eating the pastry line in right behind me...and besides, I do have a few more dollars just begging to leave my possession. We end lunch with baklava and some sort of powder sugar covered cookie. Wow! I think I've just fulfilled my calorie in take for the week. So good! The kids had a great time trying the Greek food and I loved giving them the opportunity. We were disappointed that there was no Greek music of dancing while  we were there (the bad timing part of the trip...I should have known that most of the dancers are kids and are in school). Not wanting our Greek experience to only consist of food (but that is the best part isn't it?) we head over to the cathedral for a tour and brief introduction to the Greek Orthodox faith. Sarah exclaims as we walk in, "This is the most beautiful church EVER!!!!" I so clumsily say, "Well, yes it is...but, not as beautiful as the temple, right???"  Yes, I know....totally lame response. I momentarily let "hyper mommy" think that just because she thought this building was so beautiful it somehow weakened her testimony. Dang, I've got a lot of work to do with my mothering skills. In attempt to not completely throw off our cultural experience, we stick around a bit longer talking about the art and the infant baptismal font. All in all a fun field trip. Expensive, yes...but fun!

PS...these pictures crack me up...Jenna-no shoes and Sarah's "I'm so full I could puke" face after eating!

Primary initiation

     For the last 2 years, I have been working as a teacher in Relief Society. This calling has given me far more than I ever expected. I can't believe how much I learned. I loved, loved, loved this calling. Upon my release, I was asked to teach the (one of  three!) Sunbeam class...the (mostly) adorable 3 and  4 year olds. This will definitely be a change of pace from my previous assignment. While I may go home each week with what I call "the primary headache," I am never bored and I love it.These kids are sweet, sassy, and always liberally offer up secret family information ("my mom has a baby in her tummy," or "I broke my toy on purpose and hid it under my bed," and often, "my mom yells at me") While it always keeps my on my toes, I really do love teaching them and seeing their eyes light up as little seeds of testimony are planted.
     Today was a perfect example. This was only my second week teaching. Our lesson today was about "Friends." I begin by asking the children who I am...hoping that I could get them to see me as their friend. When I throw out the bait, they all cry out, "You're not our friend, you're a mom!" Hmmm....okay, that pretty much backfired. I continue with the lesson. Several times throughout the lesson, one  little girl keeps asking to tell a story about her dad. I gently remind her she will have her turn at the end of class. Knowing how badly she wanted to tell this story, I officially turn the attention to her at the end of the lesson. She starts, "I went upstairs.....and....saw my dad....NAKED!!!" Wha, wha, what???  It was out there and said before I could even react. There was no clue or indication of what direction she was heading in. Wow. What do you say to that? I awkwardly said something like, "Well, yes, we all take showers....we all have to get dressed...." It didn't matter. They were all lost in their giggling. At least class was over and some of pressure would be off me in sharing time, right?
     With our annual primary program fast approaching, the children are practicing their standing in unison and standing while singing. One girl in particular had a difficult time standing when she should be sitting and sitting when she should be standing. After about the third time trying to direct her, I reach down and to help her stand, except....at the exact moment that I bend over, she decides to jump up. (!!!!!!)  Did someone just ring a bell? That is what it felt like when her head was thrust into my lip. My eyes were watering, my lip was bleeding. I feel all the adults looking at me (trying to figure out what just happened) as I excuse myself from the room. My lip bleeding and throbbing, I needed a moment to gather myself. I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of what your lips feel like after a collagen injection. Mine felt nice and full. While my top lip was definitely swollen, I think it felt worse than it looked. I expected primary to be a change of pace. I just didn't think I would need protective gear!

Need a fast, easy read?

May I recommend....

"Flipped" by Wendelin Van Draanen

I loved this juvenile fiction. Yes, it was a charming, quick read, but it really had some depth. I loved the way the narrative "flips" between Bryce and Juli. This book is a wonderful observation on how the same situation is view by two different people...how there is always so much more to someone that we ever really take the chance to see. I know since reading it, I've caught myself thinking about how I look at others and how others might see me. There is always more to us than anyone ever sees. How can we change what we see in others and what others see in ourselves? I think this is a valuable read for anyone, boy or girl. I am passing this book along to my kids.

8th Grade

Is it just me or is he really, really looking older this year?

And the "Mother of Year" award goes to....

Just in case you were competing for this award, I'm pretty sure I've got the title secured. Yea, having another one of "those" days. Again. I seem to have a lot of these.

Today was Josh's first day of school. I bought Dunford doughnuts for breakfast (see I really am trying to be mother of the year...or not, if you're a healthy mom....ha ha!). I set the alarm bright and early to give us plenty of time in the morning. Alarm goes off (Chad is out of town btw, so I do have another person's awareness as insurance). I look at the clock and think, "Eh...this is too early. I will wake up in 10 minutes." Next thing I know, I'm being awakened by pounding on the front door. Carpool is here!! I throw on a robe and send carpool on their way and then get Josh out of bed. Luckily, being a boy, it doesn't take much to get ready. I even had time for a quick 1st day of school photo. AND...he even got breakfast. I knew I bought doughnuts for a reason! Just after I drop Josh off (he was on time!) I realize he has no lunch money. I will have to drop some off later.

Still more.

As I'm leaving the gym, I notice a call from the elementary school. I quickly realize that today is picture day. I even had this one written on the calendar (I swear calendars don't work...oh, yea, I have to actually check the calendar). My mind flutters with resolutions. Run to the school with a brush, go home get new clothes...or, do nothing. I concede to do nothing. I am going for authenticity in the school pictures this year. The kids just as they are...no cute hair, no clean shirt....heck, I don't even know if their faces are clean. It's all good. There is plenty of time later for perfectly presented children in photos, right?

Still more.

I have no brain. I wonder how many blog posts have egregious spelling errors and grammatical mistakes (I'm sure many in this post alone). I had done a fun little photo collage of a recent relief society activity. I was asked for copies and emailed them out. Last night I got a couple emails.
"The Higland 1st Ward Summer Salad Social." A few problems: we are not the 1st ward we are the 9th. So a totally fumble around photoshop and somehow change the number and email the new copy. More emails this morning. Ummm....Higland is spelled Hig*h*land. Whatever, it's already been emailed to the ward. I give up.

How wonderful to have Kerri visiting from Colorado! Although she was staying with Jackie, I got to see her a couple times. It was so fun to hit a few classes at Education Week in Provo with Kerri and Andrea. Just enough to know we'd love to do it again. We were totally cracking up that we went to all the effort to climb over flowers and stand next to Brigham only to have the person taking the photo cut his head off! Saturday night, Chad, Jackie and I went with Kerri to hear her friend, Dave perform. He was awesome...taking on any request we had with ease. What talent! Although it was quick, it was wonderful to Kerri...love you, Kerri!

Temple dedication

It still seems surreal to me that we have a temple literally around the corner. It has been an honor to witness the whole process; from construction, to open house and now the dedication. Chad and I were able to attend the first dedicatory session in the temple Friday morning. We sat in one of the sealing rooms upstairs (they really packed people in...even in some of the hallways!). I would definitely have to say that one of the highlights was watching the live feed of the cornerstone ceremony. This is something we most likely would have only seen photos and short media clips of. In this short ceremony we got such a human look at President Monson. I loved seeing him so relaxed and less formal. He did a lot of joking and teasing. He commented to President Uchtdorf's attempt at the mortar, "That's pretty good...for an airline pilot." I loved seeing such relaxed expressions from him...so nice to be reminded of his human-ness. As the dedication continued inside we were able to hear from President Packer and Elder Oaks. As we sung the "Spirit of God," I found knew meaning to the words, "...we'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven." Being inside the temple, I knew we were indeed, singing with the armies of heaven. Sunday afternoon, Chad attended a session with Josh, Andrew and Sarah (I stayed home w/ Jenna and babysat my brother's kids so they could go). Sarah has talked about it several times since and is treasuring her white hanky. I am so grateful for this opportunity we've had as a family to witness and take part in the opening of the Oquirrh Mountain temple.

You know what they say....

....all good things must come to an end. Summer might be winding down, but we are going to make the most of every last bit of sunshine!

What is the "Summer Salad Social?"

It is every one's favorite Relief Society gathering! This activity has become an annual tradition in our ward. It is one we all forward to with great anticipation. Food and talking. I mean really, how can you improve on that? I say don't mess with perfection! This event is always well attended. I love being ablel to visit with many women that I may not have the chance to on a regular basis. Everyone looks forward to sampling so many yummy and unique salads. Of course, there are the desserts, too...this year, the pina colada cupcake was a highlight for me! Not surprisingly, I had my camera with me. I realized how few (if any) photos I have of these wonderful women in my ward. I wanted to change that. I truly love associating and learning from this beautiful group of women and I want them to be a part of my permanent memory.

The music was definitely her idea

What's better than a cookie stand? A cookie stand with entertainment! This is so Sarah. I look out the window (notice a couple blurry photos) to see Sarah shaking her groove thing. Yep. The music was her idea and the dancing just can't NOT come out of her body. If you look hard you can see the princess boom box on the porch. It is playing a great selection from "Kidz Bop." Quite loud I might add. I love her personal touch to the roadside business. She always manages to show her personality in whatever she is doing!

A little spontaneity ...

Last Saturday, after a beautiful (hard!) trail run up Draper canyon we decided we needed some more girl time. We being myself, Andrea and April (who kick my rear in trail runs!). After cleaning up, we headed to some of the homes featured in the Parade of Homes. However, looking at homes is a lot of work and we needed to fill our stomachs. ;) A philly cheese steak was just the thing. While we were at lunch we noticed a farmer's market going on and decided to wander through. After picking up some produce, we continued our home tour. (Isn't that front door amazing btw?) Sometimes, it so much fun to have NO plan. I know I am guilty of needing a plan so it was really nice to let loose a bit and do whatever we wanted as it came our way. Sometimes simple things like this can be really refreshing. What a fun Saturday!

The Mandarin + Mel Brooks= Birthday Wishes for Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad! Actually, last Thursday was my dad's birthday (and my parents wedding anniversary!) but it's never too late to celebrate...especially when The Mandarin is involved. It was wonderful that have Heidi and Dave here from AZ. Lots of family members were missing, but it was great to get together nonetheless and celebrate my dad. My Dad deserves all the love and attention he can get. Do you ever find a gift for someone that is "so them?" I was so excited when I found a DVD collection of Mel Brooks movies for my dad. I knew it would be right up his alley and he loved it! WE LOVE YOU, DAD!!!

Sharing with others....

I am convinced that one of the biggest contributors to hate, racism, war, labels, contention and a general lack of progress and peace is a lack understanding. Either we don't care to understand each other or we don't try to understand each other. Ignorance is not always bliss. I think sometimes we avoid people that are not like us...it takes a little more effort to reach outside our comfort zone. Yes, I am getting a little deep here...stay with me. And, I bet you are wondering why there is an orange flag next to a picture of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I will tell you!

The street we currently live on has very diverse neighbors... ethnically and religiously. Sometimes it is a challenge but mostly, I think it is wonderful to be surrounded by so many that are different from me. There is one family in particular that I've gotten to know fairly well. They are a Sikh Indian family. We have had the opportunity to talk on a number of occasions. Several of our conversations have centered on their beliefs and my beliefs. I've learned a lot about the Sikh religion. Did you know it's only about 500yrs old? Did you know they don't remove any hair from their body? (yes, the girls are sad to not wax their eyebrows once they fully convert) Did you know they are vegetarian?

This last month, I invited them to the temple open house and they excitedly accepted. About two weeks ago, Boneeta came to my door with her sister Jasmine to tell me they were having a 3 day prayer and that there would be lots of cars on the street. They also invited me down for some food. I politely declined (why would I put myself in a slightly uncomfortable situation??lol). While they were at my door, I asked Boneeta what she thought of the temple. She said she loved it. I thought it was interesting that she specifically commented on the baptistry. Her sister, Jasmine (who lives out of state) expressed that she'd love to see the temple, too. That could be arranged easily enough! I told her that I would get the tickets and bring them over that night. I ran down the street to get some tickets from our mission leader. As I came to Jasmine's house, the garage door was opened and the garage was filled with beautifully dressed people from their group. As I gave them the tickets, I was asked if I'd like to stay for some food. Once again, I politely declined. After talking for a few more minutes, I was asked again if I'd like to stay. Feeling the sweat building, I thought to myself, "This is exactly the thing I need to do. What the heck, I will join them!" And join them I did! Yep, little miss whitey, feeling a little under dressed (and immodest) in my shorts, surrounded by a group of beautiful Indians, gorgeously dressed in their traditional Indian clothing. They were so gracious and even looked a little pleased to have an outsider join them. Yes, I felt sweaty, anxious and out of place but I loved that I took this step outside of my comfort zone. So there I sat with a plate full of delicious Indian food, listening to them speak Punjabi and learning more about their religion and culture. Boneeta then asked me if I'd like to see the prayer. "Sure!" I said, feeling a little more adventurous. I would have to take my shoes off and cover my head with an orange scarf. I entered the house to see a beautiful canopy in the living room with an older lady reading from their scriptures. You see, with this 3 day prayer, they are not allowed to stop. That is why there are so many people coming and going...they all take turns.

I can't tell you how invigorating this was for me. I like to think of myself as a nice person. However, even a nice person's mind needs a little expanding now and then. Growing up in Utah didn't offer me many mind-opening experiences and this was just the kind of thing to help counter that. I left feeling like I had gained a new confidence and ability to show my love for those that are different than me and to not be afraid to ask about or surround myself with those that are outside my normal circle. What a wonderful, wonderful experience!!

A few seasonl highlights...

I was thinking of naming this post,
"Summer: all 2 1/2 weeks of it"
but thought it might come off a little negative (read last post). Of course, the length of summer isn't actually that short, but to me summer, REAL summer has no school obligations involved. I like having our minds free and clear of any thoughts of school. Last school year ended July 2 and the new school year started this week. So that being said, our summer is quite short. In spite of this, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much we packed into this worry-free couple of weeks. We've had lots of fun!One of my favorite things about the month of July is that we seem to get a surge of out-of-state visitors. Whether it's for a quick lunch or an overnight stay, I love getting together to visit as they pass through.The kids had a great time at the summer primary activity. Josh and his fellow deacons got to help out (ie: cool way of saying they liked being there among all the primary kids)We went to a (free) Utah Symphony concert in Sandy's outdoor amphitheater. It was wonderful. This fact that it was free and the fact that they did a great mix of songs made it really enjoyable. This was a nice opportunity to enjoy the arts....with training wheels, if you will...a very non-intimidating crowd. (I'm not educated enough in the world of music or well dressed enough, or wealthy enough to attend in Park City or the concert hall) Another free event. (I like free!!!) We attended the float preview for the Days of 47 parade and it was really fun! I learned that for the Stakes, this is a calling and there are even float classes they can attend. I dare say, you could tell who attended the class and who didn't.Picking our first apples from our (tiny) apple tree! Yes, it's early, but apparently our variety (Lodi) are ready in July. Very tart and sour, though. Love that picture of Jenna tucking the apples in her shirt!Of course swimming. Lots of swimming in Dan and JaNel's pool. Here the kids are (minus Josh who was at scout camp) enjoy the pool in Grammy and Papa's neighborhood. Love the beautiful view of Timp from the pool.Jenna, Josh and I got to go hiking at Sundance with aunt Megan. The weather was perfect and the scenery was (of course!) gorgeous. That back view of Timp or "Cirque" as they call it is just incredible. After the hike, we watched the glass blowing.

A few more highlights without photos: sleepovers with Grandma and Grandpa, scout camps for both Andrew and Josh, the splash park