Memorial Day Picnic

For fun on Memorial Day, our friends invited us to go on a picnic at a nearby lake. We stuffed our faces (as you can see) and our kids had fun playing in the water. The Youngs brought their canoe and all the kids got a ride and jumped out to swim in the murky water. They loved it. The day was pretty muggy, but sitting in the shade was nice. We had a fun filled afternoon. We are so thankful to have good friends who invite us to do things. Life would be lonely here without them.

Kari and Scott Young....mmm....mmm....good!

Dave and Brooke Whittekiend....the baby is due in July. She threatened me when I took her picture.

Posers.

Fun in the canoe.

Wesley cried when he found out he wouldn't be the one paddling.

Rolla Fun? Run

This morning we supported the scouts in our ward by running (or walking) the 5K fundraiser they put on. I decided I wanted to try to run my fastest 5K yet, and had my friend Kari to run with to talk me through the rough spots. Tom took the double running stroller to walk the route with our kids. Reili said she wanted to run it and was able to for a short distance. The run was anything but fun, but I did finish it in 26:12 and took second in my age range. Once it was over, I felt great and I'm really glad I did it now. Now there's just work to be done to get faster. I used to feel like a 10 minute mile was about the fastest I would ever be able to run. Then a couple years ago I ran a half marathon at an average 9 minute pace. Now that I am 35 and just 4 1/2 months after the birth of our 4th child, I am finally learning that it is just what you train your body to do and you can really do almost anything you are willing to train for. It is all in what you want and believe you can achieve (barring any serious health issues of course). It makes me think...if I had just thought about this when I was younger, I might have been a little faster by now. On the other hand, I think...how fast do I really want to be?

Pre-race feeling a little angst.

Kari and I standing at the starting line...only a little perspiration...it was muggy!

Post race....Tom had to get a picture of the beads of sweat after I walked back to meet him.

Kari took first and I took second in our age range (30-45).

I won a $10 coupon to a local pharmacy.

Amberly, Reili and Tabitha after the race.

Reili and Amberly both walked the 5K with Tom. I met up with him about a half mile from the end and he said he was never going to do that with 4 kids again. I don't blame him. Amberly and Wes were fighting over the free spot in the double jogger the whole way. Tom took off back to the house with Wes and Ellie from there and I wanted to get the two girls to finish the race (and we needed to get the van). They did it (with a few complaints here and there) and I am so proud of them! Reili says she wants me to help her train to run one sometime. I told her first she will have to train just to run 1 mile and we will work up from there.

Just in Time

Just in time for our anniversary, I finally got my braces off. Yahoo! It is exceptionally satisfying to have perfectly straight teeth. Brushing and flossing are so much easier now. Thanks so much to Rachel, who finally convinced me to get braces while Tom was deployed. Big thanks to Tom, for funding my dream and to Kari, Rachel and Hannah who took care of the kids every time I had one of those blasted appointments. My only regret is that I didn't get it done 15 or 20 years ago.

Up close and personal.

Cheese!

Tom and I had fun going to Sybill's last night for our anniversary. I had to get a couple pictures of us. We do look a bit older than we did 10 years ago. The food was yummy! We were carnivores last night. Tom had Prime Rib and I had a New York Strip steak.

Jane and Mr. Studman.

Luckily someone walked up in time to take our picture.

10 years....and still going strong!

Ten years ago today I married the man of my dreams. It was a beautiful, sunny, perfect day in Manti, Utah, and I felt like a princess at the end of a fairytale. That day was actually just the beginning of something even better....an eternal family. Though life isn't always as dreamy as that moment in time, each challenge has brought us closer and made our love stronger. I feel so blessed that Tom has stuck with me through the all ups and downs these years have brought us. I love you, honey! Happy Anniversary!

Here we are ready to take on the world!

10 things I love about Tom

1. He always tries to make me laugh (even when I am mad).

2. He dreams big and works towards those dreams.

3. He is a hard worker and brings home the bacon.

4. He forgets a lot of the not so great things that I do.

5. He is always trying to learn new things.

6. Let's face it, he is super hot and handsome!

7. He loves babies...and loves to play with them.

8. He is a great planner and organizer.

9. He is a great saver and budgeter.

10. I always feel safe when he is home. He is a great protector.

Tom...I love you! Here's to many more years together!

Summer is coming....

as Wesley's new hairdo attests. A nice short buzz for summer! Now the weather is sure to follow right?

Another milestone....4 months!

Babies grow up entirely too fast! I have to admit that 3 and 4 months is one of my favorite stages. Ellie is already a pro at rolling over and has been the whole month. I love that she can't really move yet, but is happy where she is most of the time. When you talk to her she smiles and squeals. She is just such a pleasure to have around. I love that I can kiss her cheeks hundreds of times and she just lets me. This week we finally got out the exersaucer. She seems to enjoy it and so does Wesley. He is always going and playing with the toys when she is in it.

Too tired to play...I'll just take a little snooze!

The three sisters pose for a picture on the 4 month birthday.

Let's climb on Dad!

He's Three!

Last Sunday Wesley turned the big 3! He got to share his birthday with Mother's Day....the Lucky Kid. All our birthdays are about food and presents, as you'll see from the following pictures.

Coo Coo for Cocoa Puffs!

Presents came first, he just couldn't wait until after cake and ice cream (and neither could his sisters).

Me and my buddies!

Love the Lasagna still on the face from dinner. (Wes didn't get to pick his birthday dinner because Mother's Day trumped, so we had frozen Lasagna (he loves it though.))

A smile after blowing out the candles. He did pick the strawberry cake.

One thing Wesley had to give up on his third birthday was his binky. After a couple wakeful nights this week, I think he is finally over it. He only asked for it once or twice the first couple of days. I'm glad it didn't take longer. He has been somewhat more winey and emotional this week come to think of it, but I guess I have been chalking that up to being three. Three...the year of Drama!