JULY MEMORIES

(I know, I know I'm waaaaaaay behind- but the kids are finally back in school and my hectic life is returning to a manageable pace). Now I get to play catch-up .

One hot month with record setting heat, lots of things kept breaking including our AC. Next the dryer died so we strung a clothesline. The same week our renters call and their air's out too. Then our phone lines failed, what is going on? If one more thing breaks around here I'm going to freak! Thank goodness for Daddy a real fix-it man, he saves us so much money, makes me pretty proud. By the end of the week everything's up and running. The house is cool our clothes aren't crunchy and we're talking on the phone again. Who knew that having your dryer fixed could make you so happy to do laundry?


We took the foot ferry to the Fountain Parks in Bremerton. Benjamin is almost 5 and still won't stand under them. Spent the Fourth of July with some really great friends, watched their fireworks show, felt like a kid again. Met Daddy in Seattle and went to a Mariners game. They lost-what's new but we had fun anyway. One night the boys wanted to camp out on the trampoline, by the time we got there with the popcorn they were fast asleep. But less than an hour later they came running inside, leaving their pillows and blankets when they heard coyote cries. Early one morning I was snuggling on the couch with Ben when we looked across the floor and saw a furry friend. I couldn't get a good look from where we sat, so we moved in closer and discovered it was a bat! Totally freaked I woke up the older boys, Jacob "took care of it" I love my brave boys. Swimming at Long Lake then playing at the Park. Who's the Lava Monster? It's Mommy, watch out!


Swimming at Horseshoe Lake then just before leaving "Can we walk over to the dock Mom, just for a minute?" Jacob wanted to jump off, but I didn't think he would. So we walked out to the end I was shocked when he did. Not to be outdone after Jacob jumped in, he was followed by his Kamikaze brothers JoJo and Ben! Needless to say we were there for a while, as they honed their jumping skills and belly flopped with style.
Summer movies at P.O. and G.H.-they're free! Couldn't wait for Lauren to see Little Mermaid on the big screen. Smoothies from Jamba Juice after the show. The best brothers in the world sitting through the Little Mermaid for their little sister. For FHE went skiing on the lake, the boys in inner tubes bouncing across the wake. Finished up the night with Daddy in tow, strapped on Papa's ski and slalomed like a pro. Making banana bread muffins, kids sneaking bites of the batter. After finally getting them in the oven I find Jacob up on the counter. Giving new meaning to the word "finger licking good" he had finger licked that bowl about as much as he possibly could. Great deals at garage sales, Sketchers and Jenga blocks, they drew a tower then built it to scale -future architects?

JULY CAMPING TRIPS.......

Blake Island Canoe Camping Trip

We found a great deal on craigslist for an old canoe big enough to hold a family of 6 with weekend camping gear! Amazing I know!!! We put in that weekend down at the beach near our house. But unfortunately we had to carry the canoe and all our gear out to the waters edge quite a ways since since neither of us bothered to check the tide chart and just happened to head out on a morning where it quite possibly could have been the lowest low tide of the month! That was GREAT planning! Lauren was scared when we first got in. But soon she was settled and had fun while we all paddled 3 miles (one way) out across the strait to Blake Island. I thought my arms were in pretty good shape, yeah, not so much. I felt like a baby when they started aching half way through our trip. Thank goodness Daddy's buff because we would've been stranded out there in the strait. The boys had paddles too but their muscle power wasn't much help either. Daddy tried to make it fun by making up silly songs as we paddled, it was only fun because Daddy can't rhyme and his best efforts only made us laugh even harder. Looking at the kids all snug in their little tent makes me smile to think that one day we won't believe they all used to sleep in there-comfortably.

Once we arrived we were lucky to get one of the only two available campsites. I felt sorry for the old guy next to us, who was probably hoping for a nice quiet weekend getaway. We tried to keep the kids quiet for him but you know how that goes....Didn't feel quite so bad when the same guy had his portable radio on all day listening to some weird SCI-FI talk show. He fell asleep with it right next to his face turned up pretty loud. Finally, when we couldn't take it anymore Aaron crept over to his tent and found the guy's head hanging halfway out with the radio 6 inches away. He was about to turn it off but felt too weird being so close to a perfect stranger in the middle of the night. Awkward, and annoying all at the same time. Finally the guy turned it off (I'm not sure when) but it was sometime before 1 am when we awoke to the sound of some other crazy guy anchored on a sailboat about 50 feet offshore. He was serenading the Puget Sound with his very loud saxophone!!!! It was beautiful music but not at 1am!!! He kept playing and Aaron and I both were worried he was going to wake up the kids. We tried to ask him to keep it down but he and his buddy were obviously drunk and VERY rude!!! Then they came onshore and Aaron grabbed his Man Vs. Wild knife "just in case". We both staked out the campsite in the dark until they left. Turns out they were just taking their dog onshore to go pee. We're nerds.

Hiking around Blake Island

We hiked around the island. Lauren hitched rides on Daddy's shoulders then piggy-backed on her big brothers. In the end her "tooshy shake" on Daddy's back had us all rolling with laughter. We hiked to the beach on the other side of the island where the kids played in the water and hot powdery sand (a rare find at a Washington beach). The boys build a dam that they were very proud of. Then laid in their "clubhouse" (a hollowed out tree).
Played catch with the football along the trail. On the way back JoJo lagged behind bringing up the rear. He walked the whole way back from the beach barefoot because his shoes were wet and he didn't want to wear them. Arghhh! We made rock people with a sharpie then hid them to be found again on our next trip back out there.


We found an even cooler clubhouse just down the beach from our campsite that you could only get to by climbing up into the roots of a fallen tree which led you to a clay tunnel then up into a sand room with roots that the kids climbed up. It was awesome! What a fun weekend, relaxing and close to home. I know we'll do it again but I wish I could just fast forward about 10 more years when I know the boys will be strong enough to paddle us out there themselves.

Lake Cushman Campground

Another fun camping trip, one we've been meaning to do for a while now. A pretty hike along a trail to see a waterfall. Lots of cool stops along the way. The boys loved the huge rock that they pretended to be holding up with their superhero strength. I love little boys. Jacob pretending to be Yoda with his mini hiking stick. Took a nap back at camp in the tent. When I woke up the boys were down by the shallow river next to our campsite doing "bravest boy" competitions. The water was frigid but that didn't stop them. You can really get boys to do anything if you make it a matter of bravery and strength. So funny! Aaron is so much fun with them, why can't I be a more exciting Mom? All I could think about was taking a nap in the great outdoors, I'm always so tired, as a result of my fatigue I only caught the end of the bravest boy competition. ):

Lake Cresent Camping

One of our favorite campsites on the pristine shores of lake Cresent. We had a great campsite right on the water, you can't beat that view. The last time we were here I was 8 months pregnant with Lauren. Time sure flies. The boys were skipping rocks as usual, bathing in the lake, making boats out of leaves and bark then setting them off on their maiden voyage. Later, after they had drifted out too deep to reach they threw rocks again trying to sink them. So clever. Reading the BFG around the campfire. Bathing in the lake, enjoying the beauty of this incredible place.

Hurricane Ridge

Aaron has been wanting to go to Hurricane ridge in the winter time to go sledding for a long time but it seems like we always end up settling for Snoqualmie's slopes instead. So, on our drive back from Lake Cresent we stopped at Hurricane ridge since it was kind of on our way back home. All I have to say is spectacular and amazing! I would have never thought to come here in the middle of the summer but I'm so glad we did. The view was absolutely incredible. The beauty of the mountain wildflowers, the deer grazing on the slopes, the gentle breeze and and the peaceful stillness that surrounded you. I felt a peaceful reverence while there that I've never felt while on a hike. I couldn't help but think about how the mountaintops were used in old testament times as temples. The trails were short (1-2 miles) and great for kids although it scared me to death on some parts of the trail where if you weren't careful and veered off the path even a few feet and lost your footing you would be a goner tumbling down the hill hundreds of feet. A very humbling thought and very a great spiritual parallel too . The picture of our family has a view in the background of the pacific ocean near Port Angeles. You can even see Canada in the background on the other side of the water. It was so incredible.

THE PIONEER TREK

This was definitely one of the highlights of July and our summer. When I was 15 I went on a Pioneer Trek as a stake youth conference and since then I've always wanted to do it again. So when Aaron and I were asked to be a Ma and Pa I eagerly accepted for both of us. Of course it ended up being a great experience. Aarons parents and my uncle took turns watching the kids and while away from our 4 little ones we were entrusted with 10 children: 5 daughters (Alex, Jackie, Larissa, Claira & Stephanie) and 5 sons (Evan, Scott, Zak, Nelson & Brady) for the 4-day adventure. We couldn't have asked for a better group of kids. They were all so much fun and such a joy to "parent." I really grew to know and love each of them and felt so grateful to be able to share in this experience with them. It was so fun to be a girl again and lay out under the stars with my sweet daughters talking about boys, dating and first kisses. And then as the hours stretched deep into the night finding ourselves engaged in meaningful discussions about the gospel, sharing our testimonies and our faith. Encouraging them on their path, so proud of the lovely young ladies that they are becoming. My sons were great too. Some of them stronger than others (; It reconfirmed to me the importance of teaching boys how to work. I loved them all dearly but found it so entertaining to see the different levels of physical and mental strength that they possessed. Some of them were "strong like an ox" pushing & pulling those handcarts up hills through rivers, etc. And then others were content to leisurely walk along the side while their sisters and mother did the majority of the work. Sometimes even lagging behind or asking if they could ride in the cart while we ladies pushed. It didn't make me mad at all I just found it very interesting. Aaron, however was not amused. He knew though that it was more important to help these youth have a positive experience and so he bit his tongue and practiced patience. In the end the lesson that I took away from much of this weekend was the importance of not judging but loving others for where they're at and being accepting of their offering however small it may be. I genuinely believe that those of my children who were not pushing or pulling their fair share were doing the best that they could do. It made me think of our Savior and His love and acceptance for each of us and where we're individually at. He doesn't hold us all to the same measuring stick. He is loving and compassionate to our individual abilities and only asks us to do the very best that WE can do. I know a lot of our sons and daughters were doing just that. But with that aside I just have to say that 2 of my daughters thoroughly impressed me. They were with me side by side as we pushed and pulled up and down dusty hills and steep mountain slopes over rocky trails and through freezing rivers. I felt proud to call them my daughters and was grateful for their hard work. They were my kindred sisters, and I bonded with them in a way different than the rest. But all were wonderful children.

Fun times were to be had after the long hours of pushing and pulling. Jumping in the river to cool down (and get clean), the stick pull for the Pa's (my husbands so strong), and even me arm wrestling a 17 year old boy which ended in a dead tie for over 10 minutes. They finally called it. Aaron doing back flips off the log above the river. Our Napoleon Dynamite themed skit where we traveled back in time using a plunger and a bead pan. Stargazing up at the incredible sky, watching shooting stars, eating burned oatmeal, telling funny jokes, playing hand slap games, trying not to laugh when one of my sons was using a pair of his underwear for a pot holder. Then on the last night dashing under the cover of trees when an un-forecasted weather system moved in and got us all wet. Good times and great memories, I hope we can do it again in 4 years.

Pushing through the Pain.....Why I run marathons

I hate this picture....

There is certainly nothing flattering about it. It was taken by a race photographer hidden somewhere along the marathon course. At first glance I dismissed it as yet another bad picture of me and normally I would have deleted it. Who needs another unflattering pictures of themselves, right? I certainly don't need proof that my hips are wider than I'd like them to be or that my "girls" jiggle when I run or that my hair turns into a nappy, matted fro every time I run long distances. So why am I posting this picture to my blog?

I'm posting it because when I looked closer at this picture I noticed something familiar about the expression on my face. I'd seen this face before. When I searched my memory it didn't take long for me to realize that I made this same face when I was looking at images of me while in childbirth. It's then that I realized..... this is my face of pain.

Pain has a lot to do with why I run marathons. Not because I enjoy pain but because I enjoy the feeling of conquering pain and silencing that voice inside me that would say "I can't" and crying out in response, "Yes I can..... and I will!" The day before this marathon I bought a new running shirt at the health and fitness expo in Seattle. On the front it says "marathon girl" on the back it says: "Marathon- a concept by which we measure pain". Pain is what it's all about and how I deal with pain.
I talk to myself when I run. Not all the time, but when I'm alone and when I'm hurting and it starts to get hard, I give myself pep talks. Frequently I'll utter phrases under my breath as I'm grunting up a hill or finishing the last few miles of a long training run, "you go girl", "faster", "you can do it", "don't stop, keep going." It's so cheesy, I know, but somehow it makes me feel stronger and keeps me going.

So why do I run marathons? It wasn't until this last one that I really started pondering this question. Halfway through the course there was a race volunteer directing the runners to the right or left depending on which race they were running (the half or the full). Standing on a platform he chimed down cheerfully to the oncoming runners, "Half Marathoners to the left, crazy people to the right!" So, I thought, am I crazy for doing this? And can there really be that many crazy people in the world? There were thousands of people running alongside me in this race alone.

I don't know if marathon runners are crazy or not and I don't know why other people keep coming back to do it again and again. One marathon a year is enough for me. But still, why do I go through the weeks of training, pay good money and put my body through that unnatural physical exertion? I can't speak for anyone else but I want to blog about why I do it.

Usually when people ask me why I run marathons I tell them I do it to stay in shape. Which is partially true. In recent years I've found an increased loss of motivation to work out and stay in shape. Not because I don't love the feeling I get when I exercise but because it's become harder to find the time to exercise amidst all the other things going on in my day. I'm also just so dang tired in the morning that sleeping in frequently seems like the more desirable alternative. I didn't use to be like this. I was the type person that was at the gym by 5am working out for 1-2 hours M-F rarely missing a day. I was the type that loathed the thought of a friend or coworker asking me to be their "workout partner". They'll only slow me down if I let them run with me. This was my selfish (early twenties) train of thought. Well, that was all before I had kids. As I started having babies, nursing, being pregnant over and over again I started losing that personal motivation to get my butt out of bed and go for a run. Part of that may have something to do with getting up several times a night to nurse, but still that's not an excuse. I remember clearly the day my milk came in just days after giving birth to my first child. I'd prided myself on eating so healthy throughout my pregnancy. Not one bite of chocolate, cookies, ice-cream-Nothing. I think I had a total of 6 TCBY frozen yogurts during my whole pregnancy and that was only because it was Aaron and I's tradition to go there after our childbirth class on Tuesday nights. So naturally, I thought that the weight I'd gained during my pregnancy would just slide right off after that baby was born. Well, it didn't. And on that day (after my milk had come in and I was totally engorged) I decided to be brave and get some of my pre-pregnancy clothes out and try them on. What was I thinking? The first thing I grabbed were my baggy overalls (yeah, that was the style back then). To my naive surprise I found that the snap at the top was not even coming close to reaching the button at the other end. I was so confused. I loosened the strap, attached the button then went to gaze upon my reflection in my full length mirror. I took one look at myself and how ridiculous I looked and I started to cry. That was the first time I remember looking in the mirror and actually crying because of the way that I looked. This was the beginning of many cries over the next 5 years that saw me through 4 pregnancies and 4 subsequent post pregnancy body's with all their glorious lumps, bumps and ridiculously large utters (uh, I mean breasts). After every birth it was the same thing. Sunday mornings before church was like a closet explosion. Everything I owned ended up on my bed. Only after trying it on, looking in the mirror, groaning, crying and self-loathing. Nothing fit. Nothing looked good. "How can anything flatter a body that is as disproportioned as this!" I moaned. Soon I found myself getting really depressed that I wasn't like my friend (and many others) who just seemed to bounce right back into their skinny jeans only weeks after having a baby.
I realized then that it was going to take me longer and I'd have to work harder if I wanted to be happy with what I saw in the mirror. But I also learned (4 painful times) to work hard, keep going and don't give up. Very slowly I climbed back out of that self loathing pit of despair, lost the weight and returned each time (before getting pregnant again) to a place where (after 24 hours of fasting on Sunday evening) I could go in the bathroom, suck in my stomach, look in the mirror and be moderately happy with my shape. So, back to the marathon thing. I was and still am so tired all the time. I would much rather choose to sleep in than to get up and work out. I think anyone can relate to that. But when I sign up for races and pay money in advance to run marathons I find the motivation to do it when it's hard because now I have something to work out for. Lifting weights, running & biking is done with a purpose-to get my body ready for the race. So after that lengthy explanation-that's one reason why I do it. To give purpose to my workouts. Because now that I'm a Mom, I NEED that motivation.

Okay, that was a really a long rant but I'm still glad I put that in there. Now I can blab about the bigger more important reason for why I do it.

I really run marathons to prove something to myself. I do it to prove to myself that I can do hard things. To feel pain and yet push myself past that pain to meet my personal goals. It doesn't usually start hitting me until the last few miles. My body begins to break down, everything starts to hurt. The fatigue starts setting in along with the self doubt. Can I make my goal?..... Will I finish in time?..... I've worked so hard to give up......Don't stop, keep going.....you can do it. Every time I start a marathon I see it as a metaphor for my life. The experience has many parallels to mortality and I reflect upon them again and again fueling my life's ambitions with every breath, every step along that 26.2 mile course. And then when I reach the end and run past that finish line knowing I've done my best I get that amazing feeling that's almost euphoric. Some people call it a "runners high". And when you've experienced it, you just know it. It's a feeling of exhilaration, peace and contentment. I don't just get it on marathons. I get it after any long, hard run where I've really pushed myself and met my goal. You're so happy to be done and that feeling of exhaustion mixed with accomplishment rushes through your body and fills you with peace.


In this last marathon I had a surprisingly spiritual experience that moved me to tears. At first I was reluctant to share this because I feel like I'll never be able to adequately describe the experience without making it seem trivial. It was a so powerful and moved me so emotionally that I had to force myself to get a grip and breath because I was starting to hyperventilate and thought I might pass out. It all started around mile 11. We were just entering the tunnel on Interstate-90 just after crossing the floating bridge. The tunnel was dark and dimly lit with those orange artificial lights. The sea of people was beginning to thin out by now but still there were runners surrounding you everywhere. As we moved through the long tunnel the sound in the air changed. The soft patter of hundreds of footsteps echoed softly in everyone's ears. Then people began cheering, hooting and hollering as they ran. It was so exciting to be there to hear our voices echo as our cheers rang out through the tunnel. Then after a mile or so people quieted down and we all fell back into our quiet running rhythm. Not long after that I could hear the faint and distant sound of a band playing U2-like music. The more we ran the closer the sound became and we all instinctively knew that the band was playing music at the end of the tunnel. I knew that we just had to make it to the music and we could get out of this dark, hot, humid place. It was in that moment that I was overcome with the spirit. My heart started to pound in my chest and I had this overwhelming feeling that this was like mortality. Coming here to earth, running the race of life. We all want to finish, we all want to get to the end. That music we hear at the end of the tunnel is so sweet and we hear the echo ringing out closer and closer as we progress further and further into the tunnel. There were no water stops in the tunnel, it was every man for himself. We were all tired, hot, and pushing ourselves to keep moving. In that moment I felt such a strength of spirit come over me. This is like life, I thought. Don't give up, keep going, be victorious against the pain and darkness. Fueled with this thought I started running faster and harder. It was like an adrenaline rush. Then as I was running past people I was suddenly consumed with a deep concern and love for my fellow runners, my spiritual brothers and sisters in this race of life. I didn't just want to get to the end, I wanted to help them and wished I could somehow, some way hold their hand and pull them along. Running nearly shoulder to shoulder I felt a pain in my heart as I realized that some of them won't make it. They'll get discouraged and give up. They'll walk or stop to sit down along the edge. They'll fall to the wayside as they watch the other runners pass them by. Don't they hear the music? I thought. Listen! We're almost there. I cried for them and I prayed in my heart for all those people in life that give up and can't go on. I want to help them, I don't want to leave them, I love them so much. I want to finish together. This is when I had to get a grip on myself because I was nearly sobbing as I ran.
And then when we finally could see the band, the other end of the tunnel came into view and our eyes were blinded by the sunlight that pierced the dark ugliness of that concrete tunnel. As I moved out of that tunnel and into the glorious sunlight the feeling slowly subsided and I was left with an experience that I know I'll never forget. It still moves me to tears as I reflect upon it now.

Running marathons is hard, and so is life. It requires a lot of preparation & training to run a good race and it takes a great deal of strength and perseverance to get to the end. One woman on the marathon had this written on the back of her shirt: "Courage to start and Faith to finish". I love that as it applies to so much more than running a race. I love running marathons because it reminds me again and again that I can overcome the hard things in my life. And testifies to me that the strength of your spirit can overcome the weakness in your flesh. The words of one of my favorite songs that I run to says...... "that, that don't kill me, can only make me stronger." I know this to be true. The trials and struggles we go through in life can only make us stronger, round out our rough edges and refine our spirits. But these struggles don't usually come easy. When I'm running and I see a hill ahead of me (and there are some seriously big ones out by my house) at first they seem so daunting, so intimidating. But as I begin I put my head down and focus on the pavement in front of me. I take small, quick steps and I keep going and don't stop. Not even when I get to the top. I keep going pushing through that pain, pacing myself to finish strong.

And when in a marathon I finish strong I have a smile on my face as I sprint past the cheering crowds and cross that finish line. A rush of euphoria fills my body and with it a sense of accomplishment knowing that I didn't just do it, but I did my best, and I did it well.

Canning June Memories, instead of Jam....

Unfortunately I just found out that I missed Strawberry season up in the Skagit Valley (they had an early crop this year). I like to go up there with the kids and pick berries then make jam like a crazy lady for the next couple days. I'm so bummed that I missed it so I thought I'd can some memories from this past month instead.

Walking down the driveway on sunny summer days. The buttercups are in bloom, school is almost out. Meeting that bus for the very last time, plopping fat salmonberry's into our mouths. We walk back up the hill giving grass to the horses. Hand in hand we talk about our day . Empty backpacks now hang on their hooks, waiting for fall to be filled again. 5am arrives and sunlight streams through the window-far too early. He sweetly pulls the drapes closed before leaving for work. Sleeping in, no schedule to keep-waking each morning to the chirping of birds. Sunny, no-TV days, finishing chores, gathering sticks then going out to play in the sandpit. Making castles and digging tunnels. Jumping on the trampoline, "Rocks, Bombs and Survivors" game. Pushing kids on the swings, playing "wilderness family". Bare feet and sandy toes. Warm summer breezes blowing through the house, peaceful naps out on the porch. Squirt guns, naughty boys playing in the hose-AGAIN! Drenching their clothes tracking sand and mud into the house. Filling up the pool on uneven ground, are there really no flat parts in our yard? Overgrown stone path, lost in the abundance of the thriving weeds. Smelling the wildflowers in bloom. Many a morning glory brought to my door hidden behind the back of a smiling boy. Picnic lunches in the front yard or under the shade of the walnut tree. Throwing grapes into each others mouths trying to catch them, and getting hit in the lip. Crystal Lite Pink Lemonade. Fencing in the field for the goats, building a chicken coop . Losing 8 chickens not to a racoon but our own dumb dog. Daddy pushing his bicycle up the driveway drenched in sweat after his long ride home. Starting the peacemaker award that became more of a burden than a blessing. The boys laying in the grass searching for 4- leaf clovers and finding dozens.

Getting family pictures taken, a boyhood obsession with giving bunny ears. Mom a broken record of "Seriously Boys!" Watching UP at the Drive-In Movie (first time for everyone). Playing in the rock pile finding "Crystals" and precariously stacking rocks. Nezzy (our kitty) gone missing, praying her home-a windy night brings her safe return. Reading Princess books to a little sister in exchange for her highly sought after snuggles. Fun with masking tape, ferry rides, Sounders game. "Go slow for Mt. Raineer......Wow!!!". Summer dresses & new hair bows....."Mama, you make my hair pretty?"

Little League season comes to an end to the great sigh and relief of Mom and Dad....

No more weeknight practices and 2 hour games. Our Saturdays are free again and we can get stuff done. No more dinner in a Tupperware for Daddy, Baked potato meals. water bottles, snack schedules, and "Mom-where's my cup?". Watching through the fence, snapping pictures, trying to keep Lauren & Ben out of the dugout-temporarily entertained. Standing between 2 fields watching both boys games. Daddy in the dugout coaching the teams. Mommy in the bleachers, I think I'm going to scream! Cheering loudly, sucking on sunflower seeds, bribing Jacob to swing off the machine.

Father's Day

For Father's Day Aaron requested that the boys "work together to make something" for him. After some intense brainstorming the boys came up with the idea to make a candy house using his favorite kinds of candy. Joseph even used some of his horsetail money to "buy the roof"-(Hershey Bars). After a lot of work they finished it then hid it under their bed upstairs. A day later I was cleaning in their room and found candy wrappers under the bed and a half eaten candy house. What was I thinking, right? We had to go back to the store and get more candy before Father's Day. Aaron loved it and the boys were so pleased with themselves. Aaron also needed new work gloves since he and his Dad were digging fence posts holes. We got some nice ones as a gift and had the kids sign their names in puffy paint.

After church on Sunday we headed to Aaron's Dad's house where we had a BBQ and spent the day with family doing guy stuff (playing numerous "ball games"-football, baseball & of course foosball.)

Words cannot express the deep joy that fills my heart when I see the way my husband loves and interacts with my children. I'm so thankful to have the kind of Father for my children that I did not have as a child. I count this as one of my greatest blessings in life. I'm also grateful to my Father in Heaven who has always been there for me from my earliest age. His love and influence in my life buoyed me up during the difficult years of my childhood. He has always been there comforting me and healing my wounded heart. What a blessing to so many lives is the influence of a loving father. I'm grateful for the father's in my life who have shown me the real meaning of Father and given me reason to celebrate this day.

"Mommy's Marathon"

Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon

June 27th

26.2 miles of pavement and 25,000 runners participating. It was literally a sea of people. I ran the whole way without stopping (if you don't count the 60 second dash into a porta-potty at mile 3-I drank waaaaay too much water before the race). In the end I made my goal of a sub 4-hour time. Hooray!!! The final result was 3:58:57 A little closer than I would have liked but still a new personal record by 3 minutes. My boys were there at the finish line holding up their handwritten signs cheering me on. That is my favorite thing in the world-seeing them there at the end.

Fearless little girl

I'm inclined to think that most 2 year old girls would not hold a chicken, hand feed a horse and beg to be pushed as high as humanly possible on the worlds largest swing. Lately I've been noticing (and coming to respect) what a brave little girl Lauren is....

Last week when we were walking down the driveway to meet the boys at the bus the neighbors horses came up to the fence. Lauren immediately grabbed some grass and ran over to feed them. She was not afraid at all to hold her little hand out to that big head and let the horse's teeth brush past her fingers sometimes holding the tiniest blades of grass for them to eat. Not once did I see her jump back or let out a single girly scream when they got too close.

Recently we got baby chicks and from the first time we brought them home Lauren wanted to hold them. This wasn't surprising to me, but what did impress me was how calm she was when they started getting bigger and didn't really want to be held. Trying to escape my daughters grasp they would chirp hysterically and begin dramatically flapping their wings. When I first saw them do this I thought for sure that Lauren would be traumatized by the dramatic show and drop the chicken and run. On the contrary she would continue to carefully hold the frazzled bird all along saying in a calm voice, "It's otay birdie, it's otay."

A few days ago I was out at the sandpit pushing the kids on the swings and I could hardly get Ben (my almost 5 year old) to let me give him an underdog. "That's too high mama!" he'd say, clutching the rope and tensing up with fear. Then at the other end of the swing set Lauren would be yelling for me to come back over and push her again because she was slowing down too much. "Higher, mama, Higher!" Every time I'd get her going really high I'd run around to the front so I could see her little face beaming with joy as the wind blew her hair back each time she swung forward.



I love discovering the inborn personalities and character traits of my children. Some are naturally loving, some naturally strong willed. Others are naturally compliant and have an innate desire to follow rules. They are all unique and each day their spirits unfold before my eyes and I wonder as their mother how these qualities will influence their adult lives. How will it be a part of the grown men and women they will one day become? I often wonder if mother's of astronauts or famous artists would say of their grown children, "I'm not surprised my son went to the moon, he always had a love of the stars or had an adventurous nature."

And what will my daughter do with her life? I'm sure I won't know the answer to this question for many years. But one day will I say when seeing the woman she's become, "I'm not surprised, ....for even at the age of 2 she was fearless and brave." ?

May Memories

Washing Daddy's motorcycle


Ben thought he'd be helpful and wash Aaron's motorcycle. I saw him outside with the hose and a bucket of soapy water spraying it down and lathering up the sponge. When I went outside to snap a picture of him he was at the height of his cuteness with his rubber boots and wet blue jeans smiling from ear to ear. A few days later Aaron was in the garage and tried to start up the bike. After wondering why it was running so sluggish, he revved it up and about a gallons worth of water sprayed out from the exhaust pipes. After questioning Ben he reluctantly admitted to spraying the hose water directly into the exhaust pipes.




"Mommy, will you marry me?"

Over Memorial Day weekend I was in the office trying to catch up on my blogging while the kids were outside playing. Later on that afternoon all three boys came in the house and marched into the office with their hands behind their backs. Then all at the same time they held out their hand picked bouquets and shouted in chorus,...."Mommy, will you marry me!?" I love my sweet little boys.

Father/ Son Canoe trip to Blake Island

Aaron had a fun outing with the boys on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. He borrowed a friends canoe and put it in just down the road by the Southworth ferry. He paddled across the water over to Blake Island where they camped for the night and stayed the next day hiking and exploring the island. Their campsite right on the water had an amazing view of Mt. Rainier. Lauren and I stayed behind and had a girls night at home. I'm so glad that he takes the boys out on these outings. Any chance he gets he takes them on little overnighter trips. I really do feel so blessed that my children have such a wonderful Father that genuinely enjoys spending time with his kids. I told him that next time though he was going to have to find another canoe because I want to come too!

Their campsite on the island. (Yes he paddled that canoe across the strait all by himself)

(The view of Mt. Rainier at sunset from their campsite)

Jacob's Diabetes Walk/Run

Jacob was very excited to participate in his school's Diabetes walk/Run. I happened to be volunteering that day at the school so I got to see this little guy running his heart out. They had the upper field coned off and all the kids ran or walked laps around the field. Every time they completed a lap they got a punch on their card. 40 laps around the field equaled 10 miles. Jacob ran every lap and over the course of the two days had his whole card punched equaling a total of 10 miles. He was very proud of himself for being the only First grader to have his entire card punched. The next day when he came downstairs for breakfast he was walking a little funny. "Mommy, my legs are kind of sore this morning," he said. I wonder why you silly boy!

Baby Chicks

Joseph's Kindergarten class hatched some baby chicks. It took several weeks of waiting but after finally hatching they were old enough to take home. Jospeh got to bring home 2 of them. We were already planning on getting some laying hens this spring (I've wanted to have fresh eggs for a couple of years now) so getting these first two kind of pushed us into getting the chicken coop built. We bought 8 other baby chicks and the kids have been enjoying them immensely. Joseph named the two from his class "Big Heart" and "White Charm." He announced their names to us one day right out of the blue. Lauren has cracked me up with her bravery when holding the chicks. Sometimes they will try to get out of her grasp and they'll start frantically flapping their wings in her face. Without even flinching she just holds on for dear life as she says soothingly: "It's okay birdie, it's okay." Here is a picture and a video clip of them holding the chicks.

Sticker Lauren

One night while I was making dinner Lauren was sitting up on the island playing with a sheet of stickers. After a while I looked over at her to find that she had completely covered herself with the stickers. All over her shirt and hair. It cracked me up to think of her carefully placing each one evidently she thought she was making her hair pretty. She didn't think it was such a great idea later though when I had to pull them out of her hair. Ouch! This month Lauren also did something else for the first time. She grabbed a pink little marker and drew nail polish on her fingernails and toenails. It was done very carefully and she was so pleased with herself as she declared, "Look Mommy, I make it pretty!" It was funny because the color she picked was almost dead on to the shade of polish I had on my toenails.



Playing Catch

Baseball season ends in June and our life won't be so crazy. Any spare moment Aaron has he'll usually be found out in the yard playing catch with the boys. I snapped this picture one day from the kitchen window while I was washing dishes. I love these simple little moments that mean so much. Aaron is so great about always taking a few minutes away from his laptop (when he works from home) to just go out and play catch. He teaches me so much about taking time out to spend time playing with the kids. I love that about him.

Mother's Day

When we were planning our Disneyland trip we didn't look at the calendar very well because it would not have been a part of my plans to get home at 10:30pm on a Saturday night with Mother's day being the next day. We were both exhausted from our flight and the hours of driving. I think we were up until at least midnight unpacking and minimally putting the house back together before we finally hit the sack. Aaron still woke up early though to make me my favorite breakfast (crepes with strawberries and yogurt) and got to stay home from his usual morning meetings to help with getting the kids ready for church. That night he barbecued some salmon (also my favorite) and we enjoyed a great dinner with me not doing a thing but enjoying my break for the day. I love Mother's day.

The boys made me some little gifts (beaded necklaces and a potted flower from school). But mostly what I treasured from them was their sweet pictures and home made cards. Now that they're getting older it has been so wonderful to hear them express themselves in words. I think every mother would agree that the best gift from your children is to hear them lovingly express how they feel about you. Their words warmed my heart and made it a very special Mothers Day.

Clone Trooper Helmet

Jacob worked so hard on this Star Wars Clone Trooper helmet. He came downstairs after being up in the playroom for over an hour working tirelessly cutting, coloring, taping and stapling. The end result was quite impressive. I couldn't help but smile when I thought of all the work and detail he put into making this. I love his creativity and his little imagination. So cute.

Blast from the Past.....Summer 2006

Summer of 2006.....

Jacob was 4, Joseph was 3 and Ben had just turned 2. I was pregnant with Lauren and she was due in September. This picture was taken in July on our big Laws Family camping trip to Cape Disappointment. After 3 years in a row of bad weather we finally gave up and tried a different location. Aaron used to camp here as a boy with his cousin so it was fun to go back and have a big camping trip with Papa, Grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins each year.

Taken at Cape Disappointment, one of our all time favorite pictures of Jacob and Joseph. Aaron was lucky enough to zoom in on this unopposed, candid moment between brothers.

The boys at Uncle Keith's house sitting in the back of his pick-up.

Back in the "Clifford the Dog sprinkler" days. Many summer afternoons were spent watching the boys (and the neighbor kids) run through the sprinkler in the front yard.

JoJo getting the pep talk from Daddy just before his maiden flight without training wheels. Like Jacob he was 3 when they came off (one of the advantages of living on a quiet cul-de-sac). Ben is almost 5 and since living in our new home (on a gravel driveway) he still needs his training wheels on.




Pregnant with Lauren
(In my last trimester) I spent most of my summer redecorating the spare bedroom in anticipation for the arrival of my little girl. My theme was "A swallows Nest." The round crib took months of stripping, sanding and staining to a rich walnut brown (it was previously lacquer white). I painted a soft sky with clouds on the ceiling and muraled Lauren's name with hand painted birds. I sewed her bedding, put up the chair railing (well Aaron did). Sanded, stained and attached a mirror to the closet door. Made a cornice box, covered it with my inspiration fabric and searched for months on e-bay and in antique stores looking for the perfect details to complete her room. My heart and soul went into her nursery and so did all my spare time that summer. Too bad that 1 year later we would move to a different home, and my daughter would only remember this room from the pictures we took.

This was the summer that we discovered Lake Cresent on the Olympic Peninsula. 2 weeks before Lauren was due we spent 3 days enjoying this magnificent place. It has since become one of our favorite camping destinations. The lake is gorgeous as is the view surrounding the lakeside campsites.

Many bike rides and evening walks with the Big Red Wagon were taken down our street. I miss those walks.

Summer sleepovers for the big boys. Jacob and JoJo eating ice-cream and sleeping under their "tent" that Daddy set up for them in the family room. I don't know why but they would get SO excited about having these little indoor campouts.

Our Trip to Disneyland

I took a ton of pictures from our week in Disneyland/San Diego. Way too many to post. Most of you have probably seen some of these pictures on Aaron's facebook page but for those of you haven't here are a few for your viewing pleasure.

It may seem silly but one of the highlights of the trip was taking the kids on their first ride on an airplane. Landings and take-offs were so much fun! I loved watching their faces when the engine was revving and we were zooming down the runway. It still puts a smile on my face thinking about it.

Day 1 at Disneyland, the kids fresh off the plane and ready to hit the park.

At the end of day 1 the kids were all crashed out.

Watching the steamboat and taking a churros break.

Waiting in line for the Finding Nemo Submarine Adventure. (One of my favorite rides)

Taking a break on day 2 we hit Huntington Beach half way through the day. Needless to say the boys LOVED it!




Jacob and JoJo helping Ben (who was a little scared) jump the waves.

What family vacation would be compete without the unexpected fun of changing a flat tire on the rental car.

We got lucky when we found Mickey Mouse in a back alley.....




The Jedi Training Academy was a HIT for my boys. They were instructed in the ways of the force by real Jedi Knights. Then they got to try out their skills on the bad guys...




Joseph got to fight Darth Vader with his light saber....




Jacob got to fight Darth Maal, (my camera was on the fritz during his fight) I'll try to get Aaron to post the clip from our camcorder.

My sister and her family joined us on our 4th day.

Taking a stroll with Goofy down Main Street.

The kids and their cousins posing with Goofy.

Lauren showing off her blue tongue. (Never underestimate the power of lollipops when your kids are wating in lines).

Aaron with the boys at Disney's California Adventure Park.




Waiting in yet another line with the boys...

Exploring the caves on Tom Sawyers Island.

Day 5..... Last time down Main Street just before leaving the park.

Eating Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen on our last night.

The kids with some of their cousins just before leaving my sisters house. I sure wished they lived closer. ):

Saying our goodbyes to my sister and her family just before leaving for San Diego. She was such a great hostess!!!

THE Jack in the Box where I worked as the Drive-thru Queen for almost 2 years in high school. Believe it or not I LOVED working there and have nothing but happy memories from those days.

Just for fun we stopped my my old high school where I graduated. While there they were taping the clip from American Idol for Adam Lambert (a fellow MCHS alumni).

The kids at Del Mar beach. It was so weird going back to this beach after all these years. The last time I was here I was 18 years old. Coming back with my husband and seeing my children play on the same sands was a little nostalgic.

My little Surfer Ben at La Jolla Shores.

At La Jolla Shores on our last day, just before leaving to catch our flight.