14 on the 14th . . .

. . .which makes this one "golden"

let me tell you, this is one great girl! i know i am her mother and mother's say that about their kids, but she truly is remarkable. the fun thing about being a mom, is that you get to raise some of your very best friends. abi is my right hand, she frequently asks if there is something i need help with and is willing to do pretty much anything for me. abigail is fun, loyal, a great friend, sympathetic, caring, mature, genuine, confident, and beautiful:) happy birthday dear one.

ready for the traditional balloon launch

birthday wishes sent to the sky

abigail's favorites:

birthday dinner: bbq chicken salad

dessert: "i am on a no sugar deal"

candy bar: twix

color: purple/red

book: the help

movie: the little mermaid

activity in my spare time: hang with friends

subject in school: english

toy: ipod

primary song: when i am baptized

holiday: christmas

animal: kitty

scripture story: alma the younger

when i grow up i want to be: a hair stylist

here is a sampling of one of abi's piano pieces. piano is something she does because we feel it is important . . . not necessarily because she loves it. she is really developing a wonderful skill:)

summer highlights

{june}

boise half ironman . swim lessons . late nights . early mornings . pinewood derby . roaring springs waterpark . yard work . yw girls camp . fathers and sons campout . fathers day . summer buzzes . kids out of school . smoker

{july}

trip to utah . surprise visit from doug . 4th of july bbq at brasher's . firworks in holladay . hiking mt. olympus . stadium of fire . temple with mom . baby henry is born . time with cousins . kiddie klippers . ward campout . doug's birthday . caring for baby bird . boise spudman . walking with mom . scout day camp . book club . lunch with sis in laws . shopping with mom and girls . piano practicing . morning reading . summer goals . running group with abigail

{august}

hawaii trip. bbq with friends . visit from mom and dad . football, football and more football . gymnastics . claire visits . kayaking . zip lines . secret service agents . rope swinging . waterfalls . long hike with kids . running along the coast . time with cousins . dinner with brasher adults . late night visit with jay and kathy . abi b-day . boogie boarding . swimming in the ocean . gecko's . sea life . sunday brunch . fhe at the beach . toads . shave ice . back to school shopping . school starts:(

my baby . . .

. . . eighteen months so soon. little locks grown long. mouthfull of teeth. first words. my baby, not so much of a baby anymore. each new milestone celebrated. every stage enjoyed. i will always carry a piece of my babies forever in my heart.

my friend shawni (i call her my friend, but she has no idea who i am:)) she put into words just how i feel:

"There is something magical about having a baby. Your baby. The way you know just how they like to be held. The way their eyes light up when you walk into a room. The way you can understand every noise they make (most of the time after you have put in some good sweat and tears to figure that out). The way your heart feels like it just may burst out of you when you watch them sleep at night. I looked forward from the time I was practically a baby myself to that time when I would be able to carry my own around on my hip, their pacifiers as a ring.

Sure, they were trouble. Sure, they caused me to loose sleep and hair and stomach muscles. But they were mine. And I could never, ever seem to get enough of them."

I am so thankful to have been blessed six times over. . . to be able to swaddle, soothe, nurse, nuzzle, sniff, sing to, and mother six of my own. i am hanging on tight to these busy, full days of all six under one roof. each day is truly a gift.

one week ago today

my man was swimming, biking and running for a combined total of 70.3 miles in the boise half ironman.

pre-race picture of ironman competitors and friends

getting ready for the swim.

the race started at 12:00 p.m. doug was in "wave 8"

starting at 12:21 p.m.

one final salute before he hit's the water

cheerleader's

you would think the water would be a bit warmer by noon, but normally this is a swim that will definitely require a wetsuit as water temperatures around the 54 degree F mark can be expected on race day.

total swim distance 1.2 miles

time: 36:47

running to transition 1 to get set for the bike ride

the bike course features quite a varied terrain of flats, hills, and rollers. this course has a history of howling winds appearing out of nowhere and for the athletes the wind that appears will most likely be a race-day surprise. this year however, the conditions were perfect.

in from the 56 mile bike course

time: 2:45:02

the bike course took the competitors downtown where they made their second transition into the run.

the two-loop 13.1 mile run is known to be quite spectacular and took the runners along the Boise Greenbelt pathway system that is lined with trees and follows the Boise River.

the run finished in the heart of downtown Boise in the BoDo District.

making the first loop. half-way through the run!

running to the finish!

13.1 mile run

time: 1:47:42

overall race time: 5:24:05

congratulations to these amazing athletes. you are an inspiration to us all!

smile . . .

. . . it's friday!

stumbled into this pic going through family archives.

i don't know how this image managed to slip through the cracks,

but it made my day. how can you not smile looking at that cute face:)

mitch: "mom, that looks like a grandpa"

happy friday. happy spring. happy day.

farewell

Aspen 1996-2011

Our sweet kitty died this last Saturday. She has been with us for 15 years! She was a birthday gift to me on my first birthday two weeks after we were married. She has been there through every move, six new babies, lots of learning, and a whole lot of living. She will be missed around here.

Carter was mowing the lawn on Saturday and discovered Aspen in the grass. It looks as if she was walking along and just fell over dead. She looked perfect . . . no wounds or anything. We knew her days were limited, but I expected her to get sick and slowly decline. Even though this came sudden and unexpected, I am glad we didn't have to make any decisions regarding her life.

For Family Home Evening last night, we had a little funeral for our faithful friend. After dinner the site was chosen, the hole was dug, and we laid our kitty to rest.

Changes are hard. What a gift this little life has been to our family. And now, we move on with her memory and spunky personality always in our hearts.

After the burial, we all shared stories and memories of Aspen. It was a sweet bonding time for our family. I prepared a little slideshow to share with my kids. It may seem silly, but it was fun for me to look back through the years and be reminded of all the life we have lived. Time sure does fly by! We are all so blessed.

window to the soul

The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore,

thine eye be single, thy whole

body shall be full of light.

3 Nephi 13:22

the strongest generation

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an

example of the believers, in word, in conversation,

in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 TIMOTHY 4:12

"I have tremendous confidence in the young people of this Church.

I love you. I believe in you.

I have every confidence that you are going to do the right thing;

that you are going to make a go of life;

that you are going to make a contribution to society;

that you are going to live the kind of lives that are productive

and produce wonderful results.

Notwithstanding all of the temptations that you face,

I believe that you are the greatest generation we have ever had in this Church."

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy

heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth.

ECCLESIASTES 11:9

"Let us from this day forward be a little better,

love one another a little more,

treat one another with greater kindness,

and look to God and live."

Pesident Gordon B. Hinckley

15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

a mother's mite

The Widow's Mite

James C. Christensen

"And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, . . . and he saith unto them, . . . this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had . . ."

Mark 12:42-44

The Mother's Mite pendant is a symbol of selflessness and generosity. It is a constant reminder that you aspire to give your all. From humble beginnings, both the mite and the pearl represent the best within us.

Let your best be enough!