Smiling in Season

Problem....

2010-10-06T22:34:00.000-06:00

Savannah came home from her playgroup yesterday and I greeted her, "Hi Savannah! How was playgroup?"

She sat down beside me and said, "It was fine, but there was a problem."

"Really? What happened?" I was curious.

She began, "Well, I started it," and then with some exasperation, "but NO ONE ended it!"

Can you believe it!? We might have to find a new playgroup.

p.s. I'm s.l.o.w.l.y. updating and catching up on my blog. I post additions with the actual dates of the events. (I have to since this is like a family journal.) I think I'm all caught up to March of '09. Sad.

Bride and Groom

2010-07-18T21:38:00.015-06:00

Who doesn't like a good love story?

One of my favorites is between a girl named Kristina and a boy named Tyler.

It's a match made for heaven!

Family and friends gathered for a dinner on Thursday evening to celebrate their upcoming wedding. The food was DE-LISH and Tyler sang a sentimental song. (He's good!)

On July 16th they were married for time and all eternity in the Draper Utah Temple. The ceremony was beautiful! Kristina was beautiful! Everything was beautiful!

Of course they were themselves. Dancing, walking with a spring in their step and being robots. The real photographer got even better photos here.

And we were ourselves; sampling everything on the table,

Cam made some fast friends and Mason kept us on-the-go all night long.

I was myself, frantically running around before the reception. I learned a hard lesson when I ruined my dress just an hour before I was supposed to put it on. Sad, but not a catastrophe. The dress had lots of static and I tossed it into the dryer with a dryer sheet because I was in a big hurry. So it turns out that when the tag on a dress that says "line dry" it really means you can't put it in the dryer - even for 90 seconds. The heat from the dryer caused the the beautiful champagne fabric to become very splotchy. I wish I would have spent those 90 seconds reading the label.

No matter. This was a day to celebrate because...

families are forever...

and it is a marvelous occasion to mark the beginning of a new one!

In the middle of the night...

2010-06-26T06:24:00.002-06:00

Many of you know that Russ and I both served as missionaries in the Philippines. Eleven years later we finally got to go back. Pictures and details will be coming, I just want to share one quick experience.

At 2:30 a.m. I woke up to someone coming into our dark room. I had been in a very deep sleep and when I heard this person talk, I didn’t know who she was or where I was. She approached Russ on his side of the bed and with the little light coming from our bedroom window I could only discern that she had long hair. She was short and I thought perhaps she had a form of dwarfism. What she was saying didn’t make sense, something about a noise and that she was worried. Her words were all jumbled. Russ spoke to her and said, “Wala ‘ko kadungog.” (Meaning, “I didn’t hear anything.”) I was glad he spoke to her in Visayan, because her English was so confusing and I was sure that we would better be able to understand this Filipina if we just spoke in Visayan. However, this only upset her and she couldn't understand.

Finally it came to me that this was our daughter! I just didn’t know which one and I was relieved when Russ identified her as Savannah. With a weak voice I called her over to me. She came and I was just about to let her climb into bed with me when I realized that we were home and instead of the hard floors in the Philippines there was carpet and she could bring her bedding into our room and sleep next to us. When I suggested that Russ protested. I knew what he was thinking and explained, “There’s carpet on the floor,” and he replied, “Oh, we’re home.” After she got settled, I laid awake and reviewed the event in my mind, the parallel thought processes between husband and wife, and my dwarfism assumption. I laughed off and on for almost ten minutes, for some reason things are even funnier to me in the middle of the night. Russ did not laugh, he was trying to go back to sleep.

Philippines - Day 1

2010-06-10T23:05:00.000-06:00

On June 9th we kissed our kids goodbye and left them in the good hands of their loving grandparents. Our first flight took us from Salt Lake to Los Angeles. It was supposed to be short and easy, but Russ had a serious migraine. Thankfully the migraine subsided and after a short layover we flew to Seoul on Korean Air.

We sat next to a lovely Korean girl that giggled about everything and taught us how to mix up our lunch, bibimbap. We watched Invictis, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Extreme Measures. Sure, we had our own personal screens, but we crossed over the international dateline and it was suddenly our anniversary so it was only fitting that we synchronize our screens and watch movies together, read at the same time and try to nap at the same time.

The Seoul airport (which is actually in Incheon) is immaculate, much better than the old one I flew into in 1998. We landed and tried to find some kimchee to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We had a hard time communicating with the hostess and waiter at the airport restaurant, but the menu abbreviated English translations sufficed. They brought out a pot of pork stew with kimchee. It boiled and boiled in the little cast iron pot. I wondered if it would ever cool enough for me to eat it. It did cool. However, the fiery spices did not. Russ finished it and I ate the other items that came with. One was a boiled potato and the other side dishes, while unrecognizable, were still both chewable and swallowable. Our bill came to 11,000 wan. I know airport food is expensive, but three zeros on any receipt is frightening. Oh well, it was our anniversary and we weren't going to eat Subway while in Korea. (Turns out that was less than $10, phew!)

Our flight left that evening around 6:00 pm and we flew directly to Cebu City in the Philippines. The contrast between the Cebu airport and Incheon airport is like comparing Nordstroms with your local 7-11. As it turns out we like the 7-11 better and we were so excited to be back! In a way it was like coming home after a very long absence. We funneled through the terminal with a throng of Koreans. I believe Koreans migrate to the Philippines with the same frequency that New Yorkers migrate to Florida.

We went through customs in the foreigner line. Russ was unsure which of the forms he should keep and which one would stay with the customs official. He asked the official, "Akoa ba 'ni?" (Is this one for me?) The official slowly turned his head over his left and right shoulder, trying to figure out who had spoken to him. When the official saw no one he looked a bit bewildered, even a bit spooked. Russ repeated the question, and the man looked at him, dumbfounded, while his female co-worker burst into a hearty laugh. That was the beginning of many such experiences. It's not just surprising to Filipinos when Caucasians can speak Cebuano - it's really funny!

While waiting for our luggage we noticed two American men dressed in suits. We suspected they were in Cebu for the same reason we were, (for the temple dedication) and struck up a conversation. One was Elder William Walker of the Quorum of the Seventy and the other was Tom Coburn, who manages the temple department for the Church. They introduced us to the Elder Walker's wife, Vicki, and we also met Ralph and Lee Cottrell (they served as mission presidents in Cebu from '90 -'93.)

The clock approached midnight and we were anxious to get settled. We checked into the Golden Prince Hotel and after a couple mango shakes we slept soundly.

V-o-l-l-e-y-b-a-l-l

2010-05-19T22:54:00.001-06:00

I played volleyball again this winter and spring in two different city leagues. It's good exercise, nice to get out of the house during the cold winter months and where else can I compete? This is the second year I've played with this group, most of them anyway, we added Shanna and Annie and lost one player. Their coaching and encouragement has really helped me to improve. (We were all relieved when I finally got my serve down!)

Our first season didn't end well. Our matches were close, but we struggled to finish them with a win. After our final match, and one of our most frustrating losses, we decided to sign up in another league that was about to begin play.

Adjusting to the new league took some time. We missed having referees, score keepers and cramming three courts into one gym was kind of annoying. We played all twelve teams in the league and came up just short of being placed in the upper-division tournament. Lower-division was a bit disappointing, but we liked our chances of winning our remaining games.

We beat our first opponent in the tournament and barely lost to the second. The following week we won our first match and advanced to the championship, which was a rematch with the team we lost to the week before. Because we were coming from behind we had to beat them two out of three sets and then again in a set to 35. We lost our first set, won the second and the third and then beat them 35-18 in our final set.

2010 Champions!

Twins!

2010-05-08T22:18:00.001-06:00

I've always wanted twins and last week my wish came true! Not once, but three times over. We watched some of our friend's kids while they took a trip and it was an adventure.

Aren't they darling?

Kate and Mason

They are just three weeks apart - close enough to count as twins. Kate is a sweetheart! She turned two in October and does very well with her large vocabulary. On her first night here I helped her get ready for bed and she said, "You are so nice!" in the cutest little voice ever. The next day we were out shopping at Costco and she randomly declared, "You look nice!" She says "sank you" about 12 times a day, likes when I sing, and takes at least three hour naps. I could keep her forever. Seriously.

Savannah and Nicole

Nicole is very loving and expresses it in so many ways. On Friday, the UPS man came to our door to deliver a package. As I signed the tablet Nicole rushed outside and gave him a warm hug. He looked down and said, "Aren't you a sweet girl!" He seemed to appreciate her sincere gesture and I couldn't help but think that world really would be a better place if we followed Jesus' teaching to become like the little children. (Certainly the UPS people would like their jobs better.)

Naomi and Alexis

Naomi and Alexis are two months apart. They happily played together for hours, only pausing for meals, school and sleep. Alexis is thoughtful and analytical, she's also witty and easy-going. She and Naomi put together their own cookbook with six or seven original recipes. They were so pleased with their creation, that is until one of the two year olds colored on it. (Hint: it wasn't the exceptionally polite one with pigtails.)

The oldest daughter is two years older than Cam so I can't count them as another set of twins. Allison is a mother's dream. She is selfless, considerate, polite and very helpful. (She even likes to bake and cook!) I don't think we could have handled the full house without her.

After four days our friends returned home from their trip and they wanted their beautiful girls back. Sigh. It was fun while it lasted.

Naomi Lives Here

2010-04-26T23:14:00.001-06:00

Our home is blessed with our daughter's beautiful creations.

From a very early age we knew that she had an artistic flair,

and a knack for color schemes.

Our dining room table often looks like this.

She makes our place prettier,

every part of it,

and certainly has a mind for detail.

I can't wait to see what she will do with her talent. Naomi could be an artist, an interior designer or perhaps a gang member with duties as chief tagger.

Whatever she does, Naomi will leave her mark.

Cam Update

2010-04-26T14:26:00.001-06:00

First up, calling him "Cam" is all the rage.

Cam is a member of the Bear den in his Cub Scout Pack and the lucky boy has his Grandma Shearer as one of his den leaders! Life is good for scouts, this month they participated in the annual pinewood derby. Russ and Cam made a nice car (that I failed to take a picture of.) It was black with a LEGO man driver and trust me, it looked goooood!

Last week we went to the BYU Paleontology Museum with the Bear Den. I thought is was perfect for kids his age. They gave us a 30 minute tour and admission is free!

They are sticking their heads into the jaws of a prehistoric crocodile that was the length of school bus!

Recess is the first thing he tells me about when he gets home from school. I get animated play-by-play accounts of how this happens to his clothing on a regular basis...

Cam participated in his first Hershey Track Meet this month. Third-graders from five Elementary schools gathered at the local high school to compete. Unfortunately, we missed Cam's events, the standing long-jump and the 200 meter, while picking up Savannah from preschool. However, he did well, had a great time and is already anxious to compete next year.

Perhaps you noticed the red spot just above his lip. Here's another shot taken a few days later.

This is what an airsoft gun can do to your face. He doesn't care. After his first airsoft war with a big group of kids in the neighborhood, all he can talk about is buying one of his own. I can hear echos of The Christmas Story. "You'll shoot your eye out, you'll shoot your eye out." He promised to wear goggles so we are going to give him a probationary period to prove he is responsible enough to own one. I suggested a year long probation, but he didn't like that so much.

Cam keeps plugging away with piano lessons. This month he learned how to play Ode to Joy. He might play this for the recital in June and has a month or so to polish it up.

Cam works hard at school and recently became a fan of a reading program that the school is testing out. It's called Ticket to Read and he can't wait to do his reading homework each night. We are thinking about buying subscriptions for our kids this summer. It's less expensive if you buy them in bulk. If any of you are interested in going in for a group rate please let me know. You can get a 14 day free trial here.

Blossoms!

2010-04-21T22:27:00.005-06:00

The previous owners of our home must have loved blossoms because nearly every tree and shrub has spring blossoms. For two weeks our place feels magical!

Easter Weekend

2010-04-04T22:55:00.006-06:00

Easter weekend began with the arrival of cousins on Friday afternoon. Elise and Jacob came to stay the night with us and Savannah went to Grandma's house for a sleepover with cousin Madeline. On Saturday morning we ate breakfast and listened to General Conference.

Around noon we gathered with relatives for an egg hunt. The forecast predicted snow in the afternoon so we met inside a seminary building.

We spent the afternoon session at home and welcomed Randy, Daryl, Tim, Jen and their kids to come watch it with us. Afterwards the men went out to eat before attending the Priesthood session and the rest of us stayed at our house.

On Sunday morning I woke up in an okay mood. The layer of snow on the ground was pretty but I just didn't feel the "happy" part of Easter. I made the mistake of reading some news and that sent me downhill. There are so many problems in the world and sometimes I let them get to me. I tried to remind myself that it was Easter and I should be celebrating Christ's victory over the grave. That wasn't so helpful, it only sparked the emotions connected to death.

Easter is the celebration of Christ's Resurrection and I felt like a doubting Thomas for being so down. I started to think about the untimely deaths of family and friends. I thought of my widowed sister, the recent passing of two angel cousins, and and a friend that lost his wife to cancer in February. I ached for them. Sometimes the Resurrection and Christ's return just can't come soon enough. I'm not much of a crier, but Sunday morning I really cried. Of course it wasn't for my own pain, but for the intense and lonely sorrow of those grieving their enormous losses.

I pulled myself together and joined Russ and the kids to watch the Sunday morning session of General Conference. I walked in during this talk by Elder Richard G. Scott. (Keep in mind that Elder Scott is a widower and that his first born son died at a young age during heart surgery and that his second child lived for only a few minutes after birth.) He spoke of things that I know, but the Spirit helped me to feel it in my heart. His message was profoundly sincere, comforting, reassuring, hopeful and uplifting.

Easter means more to me than it used to. I don't know that it will ever be as festive and light as it once was. It's now heavier - more tender and it leaves me with a sense of longing. Longing for the end of grieving caused by separation. However, it's also more personal and poignant. I know the Atonement is real and I am thankful for the miracle that is assured to each of us.

Christmas Music!

2009-12-08T09:53:00.001-07:00

Music to help me remember the reason for the season.

Holiday Party Music

2009-12-08T09:48:00.004-07:00

I spent way too much time looking for Christmas music this week. I want to share what I've found so that I can feel like my time was spent productively helping others as well. (That's not too much of a stretch, is it?) Enjoy!

Blogging Sabbatical

2009-04-12T21:43:00.002-06:00

So I've been on a little blogging sabbatical. Perhaps I can ease my guilty conscience by explaining myself. After many years of having Russ work full time and go to school part time his December graduation means that we now have time to just hang out together. Before, when he did homework I blogged, so naturally no homework means no blogging, right? Now we just talk and talk without stress or interruption. We've taken on a several projects together and I've found a few community groups that have kept me busy in the evenings as well.

Now that I'm behind I must catch up. Over the next week (or two) I will go through pictures and fill in most of what I've missed. The blog dates will match the date the events occurred, which might be against blogging ethics - but it's my blog and I'll do what I want to. (You would predate blog too if it happened to you.)

Easter 2009

2009-04-12T20:44:00.003-06:00

We did a lot of normal things this Easter...

We also did some not so normal things...

My mistake!

2009-04-04T22:10:00.003-06:00

Our kids were visiting with my parents. I was at home frantically looking for my missing keys because the kids and I were supposed to meet Daryl, Becky and Addy for dinner. I found the phone in my search and called over to my parents, hoping that if I gave them a heads up they would be ready when I got there.

A sweet little voice answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Hi," I said, "Hurry up and get your shoes on because I'm coming over to get you right now!"

Pause.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"This is your mom."

"My mom?"

"Naomi?" A gasp mixed with my laughter. "Sorry, I have the wrong number."

Whoops! Poor little girl.

Favorite Things From This Winter

2009-03-20T23:29:00.001-06:00

1. Yoga (December and January)

Yoga amazes me. It's good for strengthening, balancing, flexibility and I think it's perfect for those who need some peaceful-getaway-productive time. Pictured above is the "Pigeon Pose." It's a nice stretch that eases the tension in the hip joint. It's my favorite and I'm always sad when the instructor moves on to the next pose.

2. Birthdays (January and February)

When it's cold out and the days are shorter, family birthday gatherings seem to be even more pleasant. Here are a couple birthday celebrations without their own blog entry...

Daryl's Birthday
&
Addy's Birthday

3. Ugly-Sweater-Cousin-Curry Fest (January 16, 2009)

80's-cool-cousins with sweet sweaters and Masamen curry - does an evening get better than this?

4. First Black President (January 20, 2009)

America has come a long way! Four decades after the civil rights movement we have an African American holding the highest office in the land. That is something worth celebrating whether of not one agrees with his policies.

5. The Theater (February 7, 2009)

Hurray for the fine arts! And hurray for a nearby university with great performances. We took the kids to see a theatrical production of "Go, Dog! Go!" Camen, Naomi and Savannah are familiar with the book and laughed and laughed at the creator's interpretation.

6. Volleyball (February and March)

I should begin with a little history on this subject. I went out for the volleyball team in 7th grade and 8th grade and I didn't make the team. Who gets rejected at such an early age? Well... um... me. I played intermurals instead and secretly hoped that the coach would referee one of my games and then my impressive skill would earn me a spot. It never happened. Then I moved out of state and never tried out again. I think I was partially afraid of rejection and part of it was that I moved to a gargantuan school in Texas where students were strongly encouraged to pick one only sport or activity and excel at it. I choose basketball. I've always enjoyed volleyball and never miss an opportunity to play. One summer, at BYU, my roommate Charis and I played several times a week and I loved it!

This winter I signed up to play in a women's league. Not knowing anyone who was interested I signed up by myself. The same was true for my teammates, and since we were the only team that didn't register together we dubbed ourselves the "Eclecticats." My teammates had all played in high school and one played in college. Wow! It is so cool to play with that kind of skill! Nice sets, killer hits, steady serves and the just the right amount of a competitive drive. We did pretty well in most of our games and they helped me grow with some nice pointers and a little coaching. (Thankfully, they were patient with my unreliable serve.)

We entered the final tournament in the top tier. We played at 5:30 and lost, we played at 7:45 and won, we played again at 8:50 and won, by 10:00 p.m. we were exhausted but very excited to begin play in the championship game. The better (and younger) team won. We didn't get the championship t-shirt, but 2nd place and a few extra hours of fun on the court was a great consolation prize.

7. Family Bike Rides (February 21, 2009)

Utah winters can chill you to the bone, and then two weeks later the snow can all nearly melt and you can go for a bike ride in a light weight jacket. So we did.

8. Girl's Gymnastics! (January, February, March and April)

Naomi and Savannah had an encouraging teacher, new friends, games, mats, beams, and trampolines to look forward to once a week. It's a great way to burn energy when the wind is blowing and the ground is covered with snow.

We had one unregistered participant that also had a great time.

The teacher insisted that I allow Mason to play on the apparatus. I guess she knew that I wasn't going to be able to keep him on a chair in the corner. Savannah was put into a class with kids two years older than her and she needed (or wanted) a lot of help. I got a great workout running back and forth between chasing Mason and keeping him out of the other kid's way and helping Savannah do her cartwheels, somersaults and handstands.

9. New Haircut (March)

I have been ready for a new haircut for about four years. Finally my little sister, Kristina, helped me out. Ahh, something different!

10. Snow (March 10, 2009)

Eight is Great!

2009-03-20T21:56:00.015-06:00

Camen hit the magical number eight. I took a child development course in college and one of the few things I remember from the course is that this is the age when the right and left hemispheres of the brain become fully connected. Interesting, huh?

For those of our faith the 8th birthday is a monumental, it's like the 12th birthday for Jews, but our celebrations usually pale in comparison to most bar mitzvahs. We celebrated simply with a Betty Crocker cake mix, a few presents and lots of family. (We do friend parties every other year.) Camen was happy with everything and was so excited for his upcoming baptism and confirmation.

We wanted to be sure that Camen knew that baptism was his decision and didn't ever want to leave the impression that he had to be baptized. Living in such a homogeneous population it takes extra effort to teach kids that not everybody believes what we do and to introduce some beliefs of other religions.

We taught Camen the Gospel and put extra emphasis on helping him to feel and recognize the Spirit. Intellectually he proved himself capable of understanding the doctrines and my anxiety about his ability to feel a spiritual confirmation soon dissipated.

It's hard to define and articulate spirituality to a seven year old. It's also challenging to measure and really know what a child has felt. However, spirituality oftentimes comes naturally and easily to children, I think that the cynicism we develop as we mature is what makes it unnecessarily complicated. Faith, hope and humility are fundamental in feeling the spirit, and as it turns out Camen was the one who did most of the teaching.

On the morning of his baptism I arrived at the church and most of our family was already seated. My mother-in-love, (new term I picked up from Emily), was playing some soft prelude music on the piano. I smiled and felt awkward for coming in just minutes before we were to begin. I sat down next to Russ and greeted Aunt Raquel and her son Truman who were seated behind me. A moment later Camen found me and while my back was still turned he squeezed me with a warm hug. I was a bit surprised as he doesn't initiate random hugs very often. I turned around, returned the hug and noticed the happiness in his eyes. He didn't seem nervous or uncomfortable, he just looked happy.

The program was simple and personal. As a member of the Primary presidency I had the assignment to speak about baptism, Russ's dad and brother Jayden sang a beautiful duet, and then our bishop gave a memorable talk on the Holy Ghost. Russ then baptized Camen and confirmed him. Spiritually, it was a very sweet.

It was wonderful to have so much support from our family and loved ones. In this photo Camen his with his parents, grandparents, and paternal great-grandparents. (I wish I would have taken a large group photo with everyone.)

Camen has a pure heart and it is a joy to have him in our lives.

Our Little Wolf.

2009-03-10T21:56:00.003-06:00

Camen is now officially a Cub Scout. I had no idea this would be such a big deal - turns out it is a huge deal! He's been counting down the months until he could enter the pack. We went to the local scouting office and $65 later he has a uniform and a book. (I paid the high price believing that the BSA had their shirts made in the USA. Wrong, it was made in China.)

He was formally introduced at his first pack meeting in March and afterwards pestered me daily to help him finish up the final portion of his Bobcat Award. Do you think we can maintain that pattern until he gets his Eagle?

Valentines Day!

2009-02-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

I have fond memories of my mom making a big deal out of Valentine's Day. It wasn't every year, but I love to recall the feelings her special surprises induced. What simple joy to find unexpected tangible emblems of her love for us!

This year I wanted to do the same thing for my family, actually I've been meaning to for the last couple years. I was going to do it by myself but life is busy and I was running behind and had to recruit my amazing husband for some help. We went to work late Friday night and then on Saturday morning our kids woke up to a fabulous snowfall and to this...

And they came running!

Here's a classic expression.

We had raspberry lemon muffins, juice and cheap chocolate for breakfast.

Later that morning Russ took Naomi out for her "special day." They went to Elaine's French Bakery in Orem, which is a must visit for anyone living in Utah County. They took some treats over to Russ' grandparents, built snow chickens and spent some time looking through Grandpa's amazing museum. I love that Russ got a picture of Naomi hugging her great-grandmother. She gives the warmest hugs ever!

After Mason's nap we took advantage of the fresh powder and went sledding.

And it was lovely.

Six Years Old!

2009-02-13T22:11:00.006-07:00

Naomi celebrated her 6th birthday today! Before our very eyes she is changing from a little girl to a little lady. She gets smarter, sweeter, taller and funnier every day. I really can't get over how much she has grown. We love her creativity, her sense of humor, her willingness to serve and genuine compassion. I feel that many of her strengths are my weaknesses and I'm humbly learning from her good example. Naomi is quickly making her place in this world and she has undeniably claimed a very special place in our hearts.

*kiss*

February Birthdays!

2009-02-07T22:26:00.005-07:00

Naomi and her cousin Gavin (James and Jennifer's boy) share birthdays. Savannah's birthday is only ten days earlier, so we celebrated them all together in one smashing occasion. Ages 2, 4 and 6 they make a cute bunch.

Sweet Savannah is Four!

2009-02-03T13:30:00.009-07:00

Happy Birthday Savannah! Our sweet angel is four. We celebrated by "blendering" a birthday cake in the morning and had a simple family birthday party in the evening. She loved her cake and presents.

Just look at this enthusiasm...

This fun energy is just part of who she is. Savannah is so happy with life and anxious to share her joy with those around her.

To finish the evening we watched a slideshow of Savannah's first four years.

We love her and are so thankful for the sweet sunshine she brings into our home.

Special Day: January

2009-01-31T22:47:00.002-07:00

Last year Russ and I started a tradition with our kids. Every month we take turns taking them out individually for a "special day." They love it, we love it and we highly recommend it. The child gets to choose the activity and without fail they like to include some sort of treat in their plan. It's a great way to do activities that won't work for the entire family because of age differences, costs, or lack of interest. We've done things like sporting events, painting pictures in the park, bowling, and long bike rides.

This January it was my turn to have a special day with Camen. He chose to go running on BYU's indoor track. He's in much better shape than I am. After he lapped me, (and laughed at me) I decided that it's time to get back in shape. Afterwards we went to MickeyD's for a grease laden breakfast, and it was good and it felt like the modern American thing to do.

Draper Temple Dedication

2009-01-29T21:12:00.003-07:00

On Saturday, January 24th we attended the Draper Utah Temple Open House. For those who aren't LDS, a temple open house precedes the dedication of a new temple and is open to the general public. The first open house I attended was in 1986 in the Denver Colorado Temple, the second was the Mount Timpanogos Temple (American Fork, UT) in 1996, and the third was this one. It's an exciting once-in-a-decade kind of experience for me. We looked forward to taking our kids and showing them the inside of the place that we talk so much about. It is meaningful to have a tangible connection to the temple since they won't be able experience it for themselves until they are much older.

We went with Russ' parents and really enjoyed their company and help while we waited for our turn. The tour included a brief movie about temples shown in a nearby church that explained a temple's significance and educated us on the history of the city of Draper and the surrounding area. We then entered the temple and walked quietly through the baptistry, the endowment rooms, the celestial room and the sealing rooms.

More than a million people walked through the Draper Temple open house, so the traffic was steady and had a necessary directional flow to maintain order and reverence. As we entered the celestial room (that symbolizes heaven) I noticed a man and his four young children had left the designated walkway and were huddled together. He held his children close and they all looked upward together while it seemed that he was explaining something.

He wasn't wearing a wedding ring and it was obvious that a mother was missing from this family. His eyes conveyed deep emotion and the children's expressions were mostly inquisitive. It occurred to me that perhaps their mother had passed away and this father was taking time with his children to review, in this setting, things they had talked about before. The thought brought tears to my eyes.

Death can be such a vicious and painful divider between loved ones, but the ordinances of the temple and the great power of the Savior's Atonement ensures that the separation is only temporary.

Sorry Guys

2009-01-09T22:49:00.004-07:00

Savannah and I sat down yesterday afternoon and looked through a Utah Valley magazine. There was an advertisement for prom dresses on the back and she wanted to know when I was going to get a dress like that. I tried to explain that those dresses are for girls in high school and that when she gets older she could go on a date with a boy and wear a pretty dress, pretty earrings and do her hair like the models in the advertisement. I just knew that my three year old, who loves dressing up and reading fairy tales would get excited about a real life ball.

Her response was, "I'm going to be busy."

"Oh," I said, "you're going to be busy?"

"Yes. I'm going to be busy... shopping." Then another pause. "I just want to go shopping."

So there you have it boys. Don't ask this princess, she's not interested.

2009 Will Be Fine!

2009-01-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

Emily is my inspiration. She posted this on her blog, and after reading a few I decided I want a list of my own. I had to stop reading hers before I finished my own, in hopes to be semi-original.

In 2009 I have 25 goals to make the year better.

#1 Make a snowman.

#2 Install Carbon Monoxide detectors (Thank to an old friend on Facebook for bringing my attention to this simple and important safety measure.)

#3 Complete magazine project. Pictures and explanation will come later.

#4 Write a book, a children's book that is.

#5 Bake bread. This may seem simple to some, but for me this is a major undertaking. Baking and I just don't get along.

#6 Attend my first live performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

#7 Plan and execute "Operation Us." This means Russ and I get to spend a day or two or three by ourselves.

#8 Make a sandcastle at the beach.

#9 De-clutter the closets.

#10 Run a 5k. (I've got to start somewhere.)

#11 Make Chicken Tiki Masala. I had some on my birthday and have been craving it ever since.

#12 Make a movie for Mason.

#13 Make a movie for Savannah.

#14 Make a movie for Naomi.

#15 Make a movie for Camen.

#16 Learn how to make a very authentic Italian dish. My brother-in-law Tyson will be my mentor.

#17 Visit a planetarium.

#18 Hike in southern Utah.

#19 Ride Splash Mountain for the first time.

#20 Put up outdoor Christmas lights.

#21 Spend an afternoon reading a book under a tree.

#22 Visit a local museum that I've never been to before.

#23 Attend a theatrical production.

#24 Go Fishing

#25 Star gaze with all the kids.

Just like dominoes..

2009-01-02T22:14:00.003-07:00

Families should share. Except when it comes to viruses, then all sharing should stop immediately. The stomach flu is a terrible virus that is so hard to contain, especially with little people. We were struck just after the holidays and down we went, just like dominoes - one after another. Parents know to avoid this like the plague and I was very sad that because of the ill-timed intrusion we missed visits from family (Tim and Jen) and friends (Ben and Mary Ann). Alex and Melanie came to visit only because they knew they could leave their kids with their sister and not expose them to invisible monster.

To celebrate New Years, Russ and I take turns making our plans for the big night. This year it was Russ's turn. He didn't feel well and desperately needed rest in bed. We watched a movie and went to sleep just after midnight (and the neighbors fireworks). Then at 1:00 a.m. we awoke to a sick child, then again at 3:00 a.m. and then 5:00 a.m.. Not exactly a happy new year, but the bright side is that it will only get better.

December in a Nutshell

2008-12-31T18:43:00.003-07:00

Once again the Christmas season came and went far too fast!

In the middle of the flurry I forgot to bring my camera for a few of our gatherings, including two family gatherings on Christmas day. Here are a few of the pictures that I did get...

December 2008

We made many good memories with family and friends and loved setting aside time to think our Savior and his birth. For me the climax was really the sacrament meeting program at church. The music was heartfelt and beautiful. I felt peace, gratitude, and joy as I listened to the simple narration and testimonies of those who participated. It was the quiet moments of introspection that completed the celebration and made the season truly special.

Favorite Things of Fall 2008

2008-12-30T22:24:00.013-07:00

Fall is over, but just barely. It officially ended Dec 20th, so I am only a little late. :)

Here are my favorite things of fall 2008:

1. Roommate Reunion - In September my old roommates and I got together for a weekend getaway. With seven of us living literally from coast to coast I think it was a huge success that we were all able to be there. We stayed at a cabin in Heber (20 miles from Park City, Utah) for a couple nights and we had a great time catching up, talking, eating, laughing, making jewelry, soaking in the hot tub, hiking, playing ping pong, and just relaxing.

(America, Erin, Diedra, Charis
Anna Marie, Gina, Melissa)

I love these women. They are good, strong, wise, funny, spiritual, humble, intelligent, caring, insightful and for many years now they have been some of my real-life heroes. I’ve always admired them, and after spending a few days with them my admiration for them only increased. A lot has happened to each of us since we were nineteen and twenty years old. Life never quite turns out exactly how we expect. Each of them is stronger because of their trials and has greater compassion and love. I admire them for the contribution they each have made to their families, communities and to the world.

I really could go on and on about them individually, their strengths, ambitions and all their accomplishments - just like a proud mother. I feel so blessed to know them and I want everyone to have the same blessing. We talked about putting a group blog together, so when that gets going I’ll post a link. Until then I can refer you to Gina’s blog. I love reading it! Even if I didn’t know her I would love reading it.

2. Russ’s last semester!

For those who missed this chapter of our lives, or if you are one of our children and simply don't remember, I’ll try to briefly fill you in. If you’ve heard this before just move on down to the next one. After Russ graduated from high school he worked for a six months before serving a two-year mission. When he returned he started school full-time. During his first semester we started dating, got engaged, and in June of 2000 we were married. I had one term left before graduation, so that summer Russ worked while I finished school. By July we were anticipating our first baby in March. Our plan was for me to work full-time while Russ went to school until the baby came, but everything fell apart when the morning sickness took me out and I was way too sick to work.

That fall Russ enrolled as a part-time student and worked full-time, by October he had a job offer to work full-time in for a start-up tech company. Like many start-up companies the hours were long (50 - 70 hours a week) and the school pace slowed significantly. Russ wasn’t sure what he wanted to major in, he loved to teach, had a passion for history, and also had a knack with computers. After a year of wavering and trying a few other courses he decided to major in Computer Science. In 2001, Russ was hired as Software Engineer Consultant for LexisNexis in Provo. We bought a house. He continued taking classes at night. Naomi was born. Then he worked for the LDS church as a software engineer. He was called to serve in the bishopric. Savannah was born. He was then hired by VitalSmarts as a software engineer. We sold our house and bought a new one. He was called to serve in the Young Men’s Presidency, which includes weekly activities and occasional weekend scout trips. Mason was born in 2007. All along Russ took classes year-round, one, two and sometimes three at a time. Every other year I would have a little breakdown and insist that we sell the house, he quit his job and just finish school. Then we would talk through it and look at all the options, and then ultimately decide that it didn't make a lot of sense to quit the same job he would hope for after he graduated.

He stuck it out. We stuck it out. Now he is done and it doesn’t quite seem real. We don’t know what life is like without homework, tests, finals, research papers, and projects constantly hanging over head. I try to look at the bright side of this alternative route to a bachelor’s degree, there are some advantages to combining work and education, but we will both quickly add that we don’t recommend it.

3. Daddy-Daughter Derby

My last activity with the Activity Day girls was a good one. For the annual daddy-daughter event we had a pinewood derby. The girls and their dads put together some creative cars and without any weight rules or limitations we had some exciting races. It's a beautiful thing, dads and daughters spending quality time together.

4. Oh Baby! I received one of the cutest pictures ever in my inbox. This one...

Isn’t he absolutely darling?! Calling him a cutie pie is an understatement, he is more than a cutie pie! Did you notice his long dark lashes, his perfectly round cheeks, and every lovely locks? His name is Truman. I just wanted to give the everyone a chance to adore him as much as I do. Thanks Aunt Raquel and Uncle Jesse! It’s really fun to be related to one of the world’s cutes babies and to get such gems in my inbox.

5. School for the kids! Education is a good thing. Keeping energetic kids busy is also a good thing. I really like when kids go to school.

6. Football - We went to the BYU/San Diego State game. (Thanks for the tickets Aunt Pam!) It was a nice long date and BYU won!

7. New Camera! I've loved playing with it!

8. Mild weather is always a plus. We made extra trips to the park this fall, and all the neighbor boys had a few more days to play outside.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-30T22:18:00.003-07:00

We celebrated Turkey Day in Arizona with Russ' brother, his family, Randy and Daryl. All the kids were thrilled to spend time together and it was a pleasant getaway at just the right time of year.

We went to Chuck E. Cheese,

witnessed the baby blessing of our newest darling niece,

ate lots of good food,

made some good memories with Grandpa,

and Grandma,

and went to the Phoenix zoo.

I’m thankful for so many good things. This year I’m going to name 2,008 things that make life wonderful.

2,008. Cars - We can go anywhere we want, anytime we want!

2,007. Antibiotics: Have you had strep lately? These things are AMAZING!

2,006. Music: This universal language touches our souls. It can soothe us, inspire us and bring back sweet memories.

2,005. Red bell peppers - sweet, crunchy and delicious!

2,004. Dreyer’s Thin Mint Cookie ice cream. Move over cookies-n-cream, I have a new favorite.

2,003. Bubble Baths - What a luxury! Hot water on demand in a porcelain tub, we have it so good!

2,002. Technology: laptops, cellphones, digital cameras, internet, ipods and so many ways to store information.

2,001. Toothbrushes.

2,000. Spring - The annual reawakening we can count on.

1999. Children’s laughter.

1998. Children sleeping.

1997. Mountains with trails, or even without.

1996. Grandma’s caramel brownies.

1995. Washing Machines: After living in a country where most people wash their clothes by hand I vowed never to complain about laundry. If I have, I officially take it back.

1994. Public Libraries

1993. Good lotion

1992. The sun. We are so dependent on this fiery ball that gives life to everything. It is perfect!

1991. Games! Board games, card games, lawn games, mind games - the fun never ends!

1990. Cilantro - Yum, this could be the world's greatest plant.

1989. Kind people, especially kind and thoughtful strangers.

1988. Fingernail clippers, so simple and yet so nice.

1987. Good humor and belly laughing

1986. Modern conveniences that are not ubiquitous worldwide; ovens, refrigerators, microwaves and dishwashers. We have so much more time and freedom without making daily visits to the market and going to cut firewood. Instead we can buy in bulk, zap our food, store it, freeze it and then stack the dishes in a nice machine for later automatic cleaning.

Just kidding. I won’t actually name 2,008. (You're welcome.)

On our way home we went to the Grand Canyon. We had a grand time trying to get our kids to be quiet and settled in at the lodge and then Mason woke up at 1:00 am and started crying at maximum volume. We tried all our tricks, but he wasn't going to be quiet. Surely he woke the poor souls that were unfortunate enough to get the room next to ours. Russ took Mason out to the van and spent two hours with the engine running off and on to keep them warm. I laid in bed with my regular clothes on, coat on and shoes on my feet ready to take my shift and worried about how Russ and Mason were doing. It was a long night. Parenthood non-stop fun!

We went to breakfast the next morning with tourists from all over the world. Russians, Japanese, Indians, Europeans, and guess who everyone stared at? I mean really stared at. Us! I've lived in the little Utah County bubble for so long that I forget we are an oddity. Four children, under the age of seven, most of the other visitors didn't even have children, let alone three or more. Or maybe my zipper was down. You never know.

We then walked out to the rim of the canyon. The walk became a hike because we were walking parallel to the rim and didn't know it. (Ha ha! Those shuttle buses are for people without four kids.) We finally arrived and found a good location to take a family picture. I asked a woman if she could take our picture, she suggested that her husband do it since he is a good photographer. So a nice tall man took our picture. He carefully lined us up to make sure that no one was standing in another's shadow, and then insisted that he get one of Russ and I together because he knows that sometimes it gets to be all about the kids. He was so kind and asked us about where we were from and if we are done having kids, and he seemed so familiar.

Here we are...

I told him that and he said, "Well, I am an actor. I'm Michael Gross you might know me from Family Ties." Then it clicked and suddenly he didn't seem like an actor at all, I felt like I was meeting Steven Keating. I don't know if he was acting all those years, I think he was just being himself.

So we took a picture of him...

That evening we drove home and saw a beautiful sunset...

and we gave thanks.

He's Walking!

2008-11-24T08:28:00.004-07:00

Here's a short video of him just starting out....

Step-by-Step Instructions for Family Pictures.

2008-11-23T22:36:00.014-07:00

1. Be stubborn and insist that your family portrait must be taken outdoors.

2. Wait until the last warm day of the year to do it.

3. Scramble to find clothing and shoes to coordinate family.

4. Realize that you still need to go shopping.

5. The night before pictures explain plan to patient husband.

6. The next morning the patient husband must leave for work at 6:00 a.m.

7. Rush through morning routine without husband and miss him.

8. Don't forget that it is also picture day for the kids at school.

9. Comb daughter's hair but don't do anything fancy.

10. Complain about moms that do fancy things with their daughter's hair.

11. Bathe baby and preschooler.

12. Curl preschooler's hair and feel good about being a mom that did something fancy with your daughter's hair.

13. Drop off preschooler - late - but with curls.

14. Take baby and scout out location for family photo.

15. Go to the mall to find missing items.

16. Make last-second-desperate-purchases.

17. Thank the kind lady that tells you your son is missing one of his shoes.

18. Retrace steps looking for shoe. Don't actually find the shoe.

19. Leave immediately to pick-up kindergartner.

20. Clean-up mess in kitchen, make lunch, then regret bathing baby before his lunch.

21. Bathe baby again.

22. Pick-up preschooler from play group.

23. Be happy that preschooler's tantrum ends with her stomping off to her bed where she takes a much needed nap.

24. Don't be surprised by 2nd grader that REALLY doesn't want to take a family picture.

25. Help bathe kindergartner and get out girl's clothes and shoes.

26. Threaten 2nd grader. Tell him he can either cooperate and get ready or be grounded for the remainder of the week.

27. Listen to preschooler tell you she just put a very large and strange hole in her tights.

28. Be grateful you purchased two pairs of tights earlier that day.

29. Rush to meeting place with nice brother that has agreed to serve as photographer.

30. Pass tissue back to kindergartner that suddenly has a cracked and bleeding lip.

31. Pass another tissue, because it's really bleeding!

32. Pay for unexpected "entrance fee" at designated location.

33. Park in front of locked gate that the attendant assured you would be unlocked.

34. Fix preschooler's hair that is no longer curly and must in some way be restrained.

35. Do your best to keep kids corralled and baby smiling.

36. Wonder why you did not insist that all kids use the bathroom before going to a location without bathrooms.

37. Wipe baby's runny nose between every four pictures.

38. Smile.

39. Keep smiling.

40. Remind children of bribes you have promised them for smiling.

41. Try to force kids to smile.

42. Remember that you are outnumbered.

43. Concede that you are not above begging.

44. Recognize when the baby has reached his limit.

45. Suggest turning him upside down because he likes that.

46. Feel good about being right and feel foolish about thinking that it would last longer that .23 seconds.

47. Surrender!

48. Finally, be thankful you got anything worth keeping.

30!

2008-11-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

Russ hit the big 3-0!

Isn't he great!

Happy Birthday Dear.....

2008-11-07T09:21:00.003-07:00

Our little boy is a year old today! It may be a bit cliche, but I can not believe how fast the last 12 months have gone by! We've done out best to cherish every passing stage and milestone of his, our experience has taught us that babies don't stay babies long enough.

We celebrated with family and friends and had a memorable first birthday party!

Mason has a lot of personality and we have enjoyed becoming acquainted with his sense of humor, determination, energy, likes and dislikes. We have learned that Mason is playful and very comfortable being the center of attention, he relishes getting all of his siblings laughing at once. Mason is very vocal, he combines his strong will with his strong lungs and communicates what he wants emphatically. He is an explorer, I can hardly engage him when we are in a new environment, he does all he can to get out of my arms and into whatever catches his eye. He discovered the phrase "What's that?" and uses it often. He's a dancer. Mason hears the music and does his own version of a tap dance. He likes to try new things. It doesn't matter what food is already on his plate, if he sees something new then he insists that he gets a taste of it. Mason gives great hugs and kisses. He is such a sweet boy and fills a void that we never knew was there!

We love you Mason!

Election Day 2008

2008-11-04T01:50:00.000-07:00

I'm having a hard time concentrating today. I'm rather emotionally wrapped up in this election and I thought blogging might help me get this out of my system.

First, I think I owe an apology to some of my friends and family. Over the past 18 months I've sent a few unsolicited-politically-charged emails and more recently I've used facebook to express my opinions. These actions may have rubbed some people the wrong way and for that I am truly sorry. I recognize that this is a subject that many people are passionate about and I hope that in expressing my views I haven't been offensive.

Also, I hope that I haven't been too negative about our current situation. I want to express how much I love this country and I'm so grateful that we can disagree with each other and the government and work for our different causes. I have tremendous respect and appreciation for opposing viewpoints. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. Some have complained that this election has cost too much money and that it has all been a waste. I don't think so at all, freedom is priceless and worth every effort and penny.

(That being said, please stop reading here if you find opposition to Obama offensive.)

Secondly, I feel a need to explain myself. Almost two years ago word spread that Mitt Romney would be running for president. This made me very nervous, as a fellow Latter-day Saint I was very concerned about the mudslinging in politics and worried that it was going to come in my general direction. I started reading a lot about politics.

In the spring of 2007 I was pregnant and miserably sick during the first trimester. I read incessantly to distract me from the awful nausea. I learned a few things during that time, the first is that journalists have an agenda and by and large they are liberally minded. (I know, I'm a little slow on that one.) After pouring over articles daily I was appalled that so many writers would twist and contort things to fit to their liking. I knew that most Americans weren't reading political news for 8-10 hours a day like I was and they weren't getting a complete picture of the candidates, their positions, their records and the full context of all those variables. Instead America read headlines on MSNBC or Yahoo and heard sound bites on CNN that consistently leaned to the left and most assuredly reinforced the shortcomings of the GOP candidates, particularly the ones they felt would be most difficult to defeat.

After much deliberation I sided with Ron Paul. Even though he was never considered a top-tier candidate I agreed with everything on his platform and I felt passionate about promoting his campaign. For months I watched in disbelief as the media did everything possible to squelch his campaign. He was a threat to Republicans and Democrats because he had an entirely consistent record, no history of backscratching, he opposed the war and most importantly he defended the Constitution unfailingly. Those with power and money don't want a man in office that can't be bought or persuaded for their own special interests. His campaign was first ignored and then ridiculed.

I did what I could. I donated money, joined political forums, I put a sign in our yard, talked with friends and neighbors, I made phone calls, and sent emails. Unfortunately, it was like trying to dam a river with a toothpick. The power and the influence of the media is overwhelming. I'm sure it's great for Obama fans, it's probably a lot like setting up a sail and letting the wind carry the boat.

Here we are almost two years later, though it feels like decades, Romney is out, Clinton was trampled on, Huckabee is missing in action with Chuck Norris, and Ron Paul's campaign is a memory. Some will only remember Ron Paul in terms of a name spray-painted on a bed sheet, hanging from the overpass on the freeway. To others, like me, Ron Paul is a quiet hero that stood his ground in defending the Constitution - no matter what!

Who do we have left? McCain and Obama, two people I disagree with. I honestly can't support either of them, so I voted third party. It's depressing and frustrating. With Obama and McCain on the ballot I feel a deep sense of hopelessness.

I'm looking down Obama's path and I see a dead end. Socialism (I'm not trying to be offensive here, I'm just calling it what it is) demands taking liberty from the people and giving more control and power to the government. Many are fine with Obama having that control, but what about the presidents that follow? Could there be another Bush in our future that will have even more power and influence? Is socialism going to be limited to the banking and health care industries? What else will the government "have to" control?

Sometimes I wish I could get caught up in the hysteria. I would love to be in the middle of the excitement of dawning a new era, leaving all the negative behind and pioneering a new path. That would be refreshing and exhilarating. And at other times I wish I didn't care at all. Apathy seems like an easy and amiable course.

However, I do care and I am alarmed that at this moment America stands at the crossroads and appears ready to move towards bigger government with the "hope" that that will cure our problems. Obama recently called those who oppose his proposals "selfish." That's really hard for me to swallow. I've been called many things and some deservedly, but I know that I am not selfish. This is about more than just money, the price for his new government is our liberty. Liberty lost is never easily regained. Yes, Senator Obama, I am selfish with liberty. You can add it to the list of things stubborn Americans cling to.

I disagree with the campaign's promoted philosophy of "Yes we can!" because what follows is, "... vote for a man that will change our country." With the loss of liberty the power of the people is being handed to the government.

I believe that America's greatness lies in the hearts and minds of the people. Undoubtably we face challenges. The question lies in how we are going to address them. Are we going to have more government or less? Will we create a system of learned helplessness and a nanny-state or will we nurture self-reliance and personal accountability? We could embrace changing the country by ourselves. Why do we need the government to have greater control? Do we need more social programs to fight poverty? Is the government going to handle Universal Health care the same way they've mismanaged Social Security? Do we need the government to hand over alternative energy sources or can we innovate that ourselves? The government can not do this as well as the people can. Americans give more time and money than any nation on earth. We are industrious, creative and very capable. We have resources and we have people that care.

We will see presidents come and go in our lifetime. I hope that at election time will embrace sound principles that cherish freedom and liberty above all else. I hope that when we face problems we won't point a blaming finger towards Washington, rather we can look within ourselves for the solution. Working collectively, without coercion, we can care for ourselves, each other and the world.

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
- George Washington

Costume Time

2008-10-31T22:21:00.002-06:00

Halloween 2008

Family Picture
(SWAT Team Member, Sarah Palin, Napolean Dynamite, Football Player, Pocahontas, Pink Princess)
Mason - Needs to put on his game face!

The kids got a lot of use out of their costumes this year. They wore them to the church festival, to school, they each went to two parties, and Savannah wore hers just to look pretty around the house.

Savannah at preschool.

The girls at a neighborhood party

On the 31st I got to help with Camen's class party.

Getting Ready!

That night we ate "Mummy Dogs" for dinner.
and then Mason tried on his warmer costume for trick-or-treating.

(Thank you to the Johnsons for lending it to us.)

Russ went out with the kids, while I passed out candy and cleaned up the house. I love cleaning when I don't have four little characters working against me!

Afterwards the kids oohed and ahhed at Camen's loot.
Thank you kids! That little Twix was just what I wanted!

Tree

2008-10-19T22:22:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time we planted a tree.

It was a tall 'Autumn Blaze'

The tree grew,

and grew,

and grew.

Then one autumn it was ablaze.

Now and Then Tag

2008-10-18T23:17:00.004-06:00

With some reluctance I accept the challenge of a tag. I’m kind of an all-or-nothing-person. I think if I take one tag then I will be morally obligated to participate in all tags for the rest of my blogging career. I can’t commit to that, especially in a timely manner. I really liked this one and so after two months of slowly putting this together, here it is... (Thanks for waiting for me Brenda!)

20 Years Ago...

In 1988, I was 11-years-old and living in the beautiful mountain paradise known as “The Air Force Academy.” Our home sat on the edge of base housing in Douglas Valley and in our back yard we had acres and acres of pines trees and trails. It was an ideal childhood, roaming through the trees with friends and siblings making forts and playing night games in our blissful cul-de-sac. The forest extended for what seemed like miles in three directions. Even after five years of roaming those trees I am certain that I left behind unexplored places.

I was blessed with good friends that were kind enough to put up with me. We had just finished elementary school, and in August I was anxiously waiting for my sixth grade team assignment. (The middle school divided each grade into three teams, that basically determined who you would be taking all your classes with.) I was hoping that I would have at least a friend to brave the big middle school with me. When my letter finally came in the mail I was thrilled to learn that Kim Ward and Sandy Wilson were also on the “Blue Team” and so sad that Lynn Wetzler wasn’t.

15 Years Ago...

In 1993 I was a high school junior in Texas. That fall an average day went like this;

1. Early morning seminary (6:00 am)
2. Cross country practice (7:00 am)
3. Theater Arts (That's what the schedule in my scrapbook says but I have no memories of this class. Is it possible that I slept through every single class?)
4. Physics
5. Pre-Calculus
6. Study Hall
7. Lunch
8. AP English
9. Government/Economics
10. Athletics (weight training/endurance)

Photo: A portion of the girls cross-country team.

I was the President of the Interact Club (the high school branch of Rotary International) and Laurels President in our ward, which meant by default I was on the Stake Youth Committee that helped plan firesides, stake dances and youth conference. Like most teenagers I was busy, but it was never too overwhelming and there was always time for friends, dating and goofing off. Even our late night cram sessions for Mrs. Caddie's tests were fun--well, kind of.

It was a toss-up between me and Cable Rose as to who had the best car at our school. It's hard to compete with a sky blue Ford Fairmont, but this 1980 Ford Fiesta was one unforgettable little machine. (I thought I could find a picture of my competitor online, but it seems that nobody wants to show off their Fairmonts, at least in sky blue!) There were other great vehicles in the school parking lot, including three convertible '65 Mustangs, but who could want for more with this beauty?

Fifteen years ago was a happy carefree time with great friends, a good school, just the right amount of challenge and a wonderful balance of growing intellectually, physically and spiritually.

10 Years Ago...

Ten years ago I was a missionary in the Philippines. I had just transferred from the island of Negros to Cebu City where Sara Clemons was my companion. She was an angel to me and to the people we served. Sister Clemons worked hard and loved deeply. I can’t help but cry when I think about her. On one occasion we were had just gotten off a jeepney (Filipino public transit) and we saw a woman Sister Clemons knew from her previous area. They ran to each other, embraced and tears literally flowed down both of their faces.

I was quite surprised by the level of emotion they displayed, but in the months that followed I learned how two people who had only known each other for such a short time could feel such love for each other. Sister Clemons has a big and welcoming heart and this Filipina, like many others, was innately warm and willing to bond on a level that our culture rarely sees between fast friends.

Together we served in a community known as Lahug. It included part of a hillside that housed many squatters and a comparatively affluent area in the valley. The stench of the squatters is something not easily forgotten. I had seen some poverty previously, but not until the summer of 1998 did I get my first full helping of it.

What did I learn from my experience? I learned that money does not equal happiness. Simple enough. Middle class Americans generally accept this with the comparison to their wealthier counterparts, but do we know that you can be completely destitute and still have a genuine smile on your face?

This is a picture of young girl (maybe eight or nine years old) preparing food in the "kitchen" while simultaneously caring for her sister.

We worked closely with Nilor Mojado, Randy Mayol, Philmore Oteda, Arnel Bardoquillo the Rodriguez family, and the Tolado family. I miss them. We also spent time serving in a community immunization clinic. Our primary responsibility was to keep track of the documentation. All of the papers were "filed" in overflowing, ripping folders which were then stacked on top of each other on wicker shelves, any available desk space, and in an assortment of boxes. Somehow their strange system worked. At the time I couldn't help but think there were better ways to do this.

In October Sister Clemons was transferred and I began training a brand new missionary. Sister Roque was from Olongopo, a city on the main island of Luzon. Thankfully her English was great since she didn't know the mission language of Cebuano and I couldn't speak in her native Ilocano or the national language Tagolog.

I was the "trainer" but I learned more from her than she ever learned from me. Sister Roque was always kind and thoughtful and it was very easy for her to understand people and feelings. She had tremendous faith and great work ethic. Her laughter still ripples in my memory. She sang like an angel and her countenance was consistently peaceful and soft.

Here's a picture of the semi-annual Sister's Conference.
Here's a picture of me and three of my companions. (L-R Clemons, Shearer, Roque, Badidoy)

5 Years Ago

2003 - We were living in our first home in Provo, going on 16 months. Camen was 2 1/2 and Naomi almost 8 months old. Camen was pretty cute and Naomi was just coming out of the irritable mood she had that lasted almost 8 months. In October of 2003 we took a trip to Disneyland. We spent some time with my parents in Mesa, Arizona and then we caravanned to Anaheim, California.

On the way there we stopped in Eagle Mountain, California. At its prime Eagle Mountain was a busy mining community. My grandfather took his first job there as a new immigrant from Zimbabwe. That very small mining community was where my dad gave up his British accent and learned to play American football.

The mine shut down long ago and it has since turned into a ghost town. It’s was kind of eerie to drive through the quiet neighborhood streets. Windows and doors were boarded up, the lawns were all dead and the only sign of life was the high school that is still in use by residents from the nearest community. My dad wanted to take a look around, so we all got out of the car and approached the tall chain link fence and the courtyard of the school. Camen was a bit bewildered. With obvious disappointment he asked, “Is THIS Disneyland?”

3 Years Ago

2005 - We were still living in Provo. Life’s pace picked up as we now had three kids, ages 4, 2 and our newest addition, Savannah, was almost 8 months old. They looked like this....

2005 was a good year that turned terrible yet somehow ended on a positive note. Savannah was born in February. She was the sweetest most perfect baby, our brother-in-law died in April, Roxanne lived with us for a few months following his death, my brother James married a wonderful girl named Jennifer, and my dad retired and moved to Utah.

1 Year Ago

Last October Russ's parents took their married children on an amazing vacation to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. We visited many Latter-day Saint history sites, including the Sacred Grove, Hill Cumorah, the Peter Whitmer Farm and Kirtland, Ohio. We also crossed the border into Canada to tour Niagara Falls. I was almost 37 weeks pregnant and feeling quite big. I wasn't at all concerned about going into labor, all three of my pregnancies went a full 40 weeks and I knew I would be fine.

It's hard to quickly summarize such a meaningful and enjoyable trip. Does it suffice it to say that I LOVED IT! We had a fabulous time and it was the perfect getaway before having our 4th baby.

2008

Yesterday, October 17:

The kids were home from school because of UEA weekend. Without the rush of our normal routine I considered either mowing the lawn or cutting the girls hair. It was kind of a slow morning and I had this nagging feeling that I should check the calendar, but I put it off thinking the I had the day's activities all lined up in my head. I put Mason down 30 minutes later than usual (10:00 a.m.) and finally checked the calendar. I had forgotten that I made plans to meet Charis at 10:30! I intended to pack a picnic lunch and showering is always a good idea before leaving the house, but I just had enough time to get everyone in the car, grab a bottle for Mason and Capri Suns for the kids. I then noticed the vibrant leaves on our maple so I ran outside and snapped a few pictures with my parent's camera that I've temporarily taken over. I'm so distractible sometimes! In my haste I also forgot to bring the box of granola bars I had in my hand before I saw the leaves.

We met Charis and her kids, Siena, Christian and Joseph at a park midway between our houses. It really was a beautiful morning. The kids played on the swings and ate all the good snacks Charis thankfully remembered to bring.

Around noon we left to buy a birthday present for Savannah's friend, then stopped at the grocery store for salad makings, but again I was distracted. A case lot sale! We recently took an inventory of our food storage and I had a good mental list of the items we needed.

Poor Camen, if it wasn't for all the great sales, I could have gotten in and out faster and he might have made it to his friend's Halloween party on time. On the way home the kids ate bagels and at 1:15 we ran in the door and Camen put on his new costume. I insisted on taking a picture, I knew that in sending him to hang with a group of rowdy 7-year-old boys hyped up on sugar it was very probable that the cheaply constructed costume might never look the same way again.

After eating a little more Savannah and Mason went down for naps while I worked on laundry, hoping to have my black shirt clean. I wrapped the birthday present and then woke Savannah from her nap. Her friend's birthday party started at 3:00, the same time Camen was finished with his party. Savannah was very excited but a little hesitant at the door. I'm very grateful it didn't take her too long to adjust since I still need to run home and take that long overdue shower. By 4:20 I was clean, had made a salad and very sad that my black shirt wasn't yet dry. We all got in the car and picked Savannah up on our way out of the neighborhood.

An old friend of mine from Colorado, Holli invited us over for dinner with her family. We lost touch with each until last year when Naomi and her son Jaxon were in the same preschool class. Naomi and Jaxon hit it off well, and Naomi gets a silly grin on her face whenever she hears his name and I think the feeling is reciprocated. Russ met us there after work where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and the kids had a great time playing together.

We couldn't stay too long as I made a commitment to listen to my friend from high school speak on campus. It was a very enlightening evening and I'm going to dedicate an entire post to her message because I loved it.

After Jenny's presentation, her little sister Audrey and her friend Michelle invited us to go out with them for something to eat. There's a new restaurant lounge in town called Spark. Wow! You will not find another place like this on the planet. It has a bar that only serves non-alcoholic drinks, a fine menu with cool dishes like "Dueling Edamame" and desserts like "Pink Grapefruit Sorbet with Lavender Froth." It's very hip and the prices fit Provo.

Did I mention Jenny is dating Christian Bale? I had to get a picture of them together.

Today October 18th:

If you don't want to read anymore, my feelings won't be hurt, this is just a long post.

1. Put together shelf for more food storage
2. Take care of kids while Russ trims lawn
3. Mow lawn while Russ takes care of kids
4. Laundry and Lunch
5. We were in West Jordan by 3:00 pm to spend time with family.
6. Family watches Mason, Savannah and Naomi while Camen, Russ and I go to major league soccer game. Bryan (Russ's friend from way back) treated us to a REAL Salt Lake game. It was held in their new stadium and Real beat FC Dallas 3-1!

Have I mentioned to my single friends that Bryan is a super nice and single?

7. Russ drives us home. He did homework on the way there and I blogged on the way back.
8. Eat divine chocolate cake (Thanks Holli, it was sooo good!)
9. More laundry
9. Sleep

I started this post back in August. It took a number of writing sessions and I was easily distracted once I got into all my old photos. However, this was really fun to put together! I won't tag anyone but instead will encourage everyone to take a trip down memory lane and record it on a blog.

Pumpkinland

2008-10-16T21:35:00.005-06:00

Today we went to Pumpkinland! Roxanne joined us for the afternoon and the weather was perfect! We found our way through the corn maze, saw bunnies, birds and goats, visited the inflated slides and tramp, played on the playground and found a few pumpkins to bring home.

The kids all picked out a pumpkin, the only requirement was that they had to be able to carry it themselves. That wasn't a problem since the mini-pumpkins were so popular. I don't blame them, after their mean mom turned down every request to buy them at the grocery store how could they resist? Camen considered a very interesting gourd that closely resembled a pumpkin, but it might also have been a mutated-leprous-orange-football. I'm not sure. I am glad he opted for the variegated mini-pumpkin instead, the other one could have deterred potential young visitors. (I really should have gotten a picture.) Here are our final selections...

Photography...

2008-10-11T09:41:00.003-06:00

I found an old friend from BYU on Facebook. Anna Jones, formerly Anna Pearson, now lives in Salt Lake and is a very fine photographer.

I love her work! She uses natural light, creative composition, and vibrant color to make masterpieces. I am so excited that she is now teaching small groups and that I'm going to attend her first class (with my new camera) on October 25th!

To me photography is both artistry and the preservation of history. I've dabbled with photography off and on for awhile, and have met some frustration with our little digital camera that is often too slow to capture the moment and limited in its ability to do what I want it to. I also have a traditional SLR that broke after a couple years use. While it is still semi-functional it surely isn't reliable, which is especially annoying after you spend money on developing the film. (Yes, some places still develop film.)

Last month Russ told me he was going to surprise me with a camera for my birthday, but since there are so many cameras he decided to let me in on the secret so I could have a say in which one I got. At first I was surprised, and was in the mind set that, "It's okay, I don't really need one", and, "We can wait until later." All that has changed, especially after he convinced me he'd been saving for a loooong time. Now I can't wait and I'm doubly excited to get some good instruction!

There might still be spaces available for the class if anyone is interested. If nothing else, I highly recommend looking at her blog, it is amazing!

I'm a big fan of good family pictures. Trust me, I know that it's very challenging to find coordinating clothing, get everyone dressed, do hair, and then hope that everyone is still happy and capable of smiling. The task is so daunting that we are still waiting to get a family picture with Mason. I would like to have an outdoor winter family picture, maybe it won't be too much longer as snowflakes were falling this morning. (Although, we do have currently a baby with a cold and should wait until he gets better.)

Soon I would like to start taking pictures of family and friends. I'm very much a beginner so anyone willing to find coordinating clothing, get everyone dressed, do hair, and then smile would be doing me a big favor, so I won't be charging.

A Plug for Google Reader

2008-10-06T22:23:00.002-06:00

I have a very tech savy husband that tried to convert me to Google Reader a long time ago. I resisted, I scoffed, I saw no need to change my ways, until... I joined the blogging community. Google Reader is a huge time saver. I made an account, subscribed to the many blogs I follow, and now I can simply login to Google Reader to see what's new!

It's wonderful! Thanks tech-savy-husband, this time YOU were right! ;)

Check it out here.

Soccer Season

2008-10-02T21:50:00.004-06:00

Camen has come a long way over the past few years and is maturing into a great little soccer player. I think his progression can be attributed to his love of the game, 20 friends to play soccer with everyday at recess, committed coaches, and some great instruction at the BYU sports camps.

Three years ago I remember watching Camen timidly trail behind the pack of kids chasing the ball. If the ball happened to move his direction he cautiously looked over his shoulder and exited the pack. Eventually he moved out of his comfort zone, had a few collisions and learned that it's okay to bump shoulders.

This year Camen scored his first goal, which also happened to be the first goal of the first game! He had three or four more in the games that followed. Camen has great footwork (if that's the right terminology) and is growing increasingly competitive.

Yesterday I overheard him talking to a friend that plays in a different league. Camen wished him luck on his game and his friend replied, "Yeah, we always win."

Camen enthusiastically responded, "Hey, we do too! It's soooo easy!"

Tonight was their last game and their team did go undefeated. Sometimes I have the parental instincts to teach him that life isn't easy, it's going to be hard. But hey, when you're seven years old maybe life should be good and sooo easy!

Mason in Motion

2008-10-01T20:43:00.003-06:00

Last night I went shopping. Mason's birthday isn't too far away so I walked through the toy aisle targeted at little people under the age of two and noticed that we already have a lot of those toys. Unfortunately, our soon to be 11-month-old doesn't really care for any of them and the displayed prospects didn't look very promising. I guess he just has different interests.

This morning Mason was busy as usual. With his toys? Of course not.

He would much rather help clear the dishwasher, especially since he recently discovered he can climb up and now reach the top shelf.

Savannah didn't want plain old water with her breakfast so she decided to get a lime from the refrigerator. Mason wasn't going to miss that opportunity.

He likes going through his sister's art supplies. It's past time to find a new home for these.

The pantry is a great place for fun, there's nothing like pulling plastic bags out of the IKEA container.

Mason likes blinds. Last month he broke a slat. :(

Mason repeats all the aforementioned activities two or three times. I'm starting to get anxious for his morning nap and thinking that two hours is a long time to chase this boy around.

I then tried to entice him with a toy while simultaneously documenting his newest word.

It lasted exactly that long (15 seconds).

A few more adventures in the afternoon...

Mason has cut six teeth. His favorite thing to help those sore gums are shoes.

(No photo, as I know Russ find this beyond disgusting.)

While I was helping Naomi with her math, Mason found the forbidden trash can!

Getting in to trouble is pretty funny!

This year for Mason's birthday I think will find something practical that he can enjoy....

or maybe his own clean-never-been-worn...

Happiness is Your Heritage!

2008-09-28T23:00:00.005-06:00

Last night I went with my mom and my sister Kristina to Salt Lake to attend the General Relief Society Meeting. Members of the Relief Society General Presidency spoke as well as Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Their talks were inspiring and I came away with two thoughts that I want to become a part of me.

The first was from Sister Julie Beck's message, she said "We can do the work of the Lord in His way when we seek, receive and act on personal revelation. Without personal revelation we can not succeed, if we heed personal revelation we can not fail." She then quoted Elder Maxwell who taught that receiving personal revelation requires, "serious mental effort on our part. Revelation is not a matter of pushing buttons, but of pushing ourselves, often aided by fasting, scripture study, and personal pondering. Most of all revelation requires us to a have sufficient degree of personal righteousness so that on occasion revelation may come to the righteous unsolicited." I believe our Father in Heaven is anxious to communicate with us on a personal level, he has guidance for us, but I'm afraid I put far too much energy into getting things done "my way" instead of exerting the energy to seek the wisdom of "His ways." I'm going to work on that.

The second thought came from Elder Uchtdorf's talk. (Sa Cebuano para sa mga gwapa.) He talked about finding happiness through service. I know I am happier when I focus on other people. And when I feel discontent and empty, a little soul searching helps me to realize that I'm simply too self-absorbed. The notion that we will be happier when we serve others seems rather counter intuitive and is an unlikely path for someone who is struggling for inner peace. But that is why we need the help of the gospel, we need the wisdom of the Almighty to show us a better way. The vain ambition of self-seeking is also self-destructive. When we understand that God lives and that we are literally His children we can trust His wisdom and His path. He is perfect and has perfect happiness, like Elder Uchtdorf taught, "Happiness is your heritage." In other words, happiness belongs to us by simple reason of our birth, if we will but do our part and accept this great inheritance.

How 'bout them Cougs!?

2008-09-24T09:29:00.007-06:00

When your alma mater is doing well it's a good time to remind the world that you've been a fan for like EVER! It's important to separate oneself from the wishy-washy 'I was a fan when they were in the top 10, but now I'm looking at other options' fans or the 'I have liked them since 2005' fans. No, no, I am not one of those. I was born in Provo, my blood is blue (really!), my first word was 'Unga', I cheered for the Cougars while we had season tickets with the Air Force Falcons, I seethe when I think of Utes, I am one of those believers-even-during-the-Crowton-era-kind-of-fans!

Have you seen the team this year? Do you love it like I do? Can you just see the possibility of repeating 1984? It's an uphill battle, but wow, with a QB like Max Hall and the most incredible offensive line that hasn't allowed a sack all season, future opponents are rightfully worried!

It's not going to be easy, not with the self-favoring BCS (and all it's unfair bias) and not with refs like those in the Pac-10. BYU has it's work cut out for them. Right now the Mountain West Conference has three teams in the top 25, BYU, Utah and TCU. This weekend TCU is going to play #2 Oklahoma, and that could be a huge upset, one every non-BCS fan should be hoping for. I hope TCU humbles them just like Boise State did last year at the Fiesta Bowl (This is one of my all-time favorite football games and yes, it made me cry.)

It's going to be a great season!

Goodbye Summer! I Love You!

2008-09-21T21:12:00.000-06:00

Sunday, September 21st is the last day of summer. The summer of 2008 will be remembered fondly with all the lovely little things that make summer superior to winter.

1. Fresh Veggie Trays

My favorites are red peppers and black olives. (Can you guess what is missing from this beautiful assortment?)

No sugarsnap peas! (The greatest tragedy is that I had some at the bottom of my vegetable drawer and forgot all about them.)

2. The Mountains!

I especially like to be in the mountains during the summer time, they are beautiful during every season, but I don't like to be cold or worry about hungry mountain lions, irritable bears or avalanches.

3. No Socks! (means less laundry).

With twelve feet in our family multiplied by seven days a week = A minimum of 84 socks a week to be washed and mated during the cooler months!

4. 4th of July

Patriotism, food, fireworks, neighbors, family and friends!

5. BBQ

Grilled Chicken, a nice cut of steak, savory salmon, shish-kabobs and a cooler kitchen when all the cooking is done outside!

6. Lavender

What a soft, fragrant, soothing addition to any garden. J'adore lavender!

7. Family Reunions Leaving behind the routine to gather with family and just catch-up and have a good time.

8. Playing in the water and sunshine!

9. Homemade Ice Cream

A family favorite, "Truly Key Lime Ice Cream" (For best results let chill 24 hours mixing in ice cream maker).

10. Sponge Dodgeball!

The same traditional game with large sponges substituted for the balls. It's all the fun of water game without messy things like water balloon pieces.

Update!

2008-08-11T11:31:00.009-06:00

It's been a busy week!

Monday

Camen and his friend Brodie started a week at the BYU All Sports Camp. They had a great time playing soccer, tennis, gymnastics, football, baseball and basketball. The highlight was the endless supply of food (aka junk) in the all-you-can-eat cafeteria. He ate doughnuts, sugar cereal, jello, cake, root beer and ice cream! (No worries though, it's not difficult for a seven-year-old boy to eat like that and then head back into the heat to play for a couple more hours.) He listened closely to Bronco Mendenhall and BYU atheletes like Jonathan Tavernari.

Tuesday

Notice the top tooth that has drifted to the center of his mouth and is barely even attached. Camen has had the good fortune of having all of his other loose teeth literally fall out. However, this one was just hanging on for dear life and he refused to let anyone help him. I spent days encouraging him to pull, tug and twist it, but this little stubborn tooth was not cooperating. I couldn't stand it any longer and with the fairly good excuse that it was too dangerous to play tennis with a dangling tooth, I resorted to putting Camen in a loving headlock and pulling it out. It was only momentarily traumatic and I'm certain that I prevented him from making a trip to the Primary Children's Hospital to have it removed from his lung. :)

Wednesday

We went to Seven Peaks Water Park with Thomson cousins! (That is Naomi, Savannah and I went to the water park. I left Mason with a babysitter, Camen was at camp, and Russ was at work. It's the only way it could have worked for me, until we have more confident swimmers or more helping hands two kids about all I can handle.) Savannah and Naomi loved the slides, the wave pool and the lazy river! My cousin Keltie is six years old and she did a great job of teaching the girls how to float face down in the pool. We are going to have to get them together more often, it's too bad they live 800 miles away!

Thursday

We hosted a "Birthday Barbeque" for Roxanne and Leticia. They have been friends for a long time and they were both born on August 7th! This year Leticia and her husband Ben flew in from Virginia for a nice vacation and birthday celebration. We knew Leticia's family in Colorado and then we both lived on Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. For two years we drove to early morning seminary together and Leticia and I ran cross country for Randolph High. Old friends are the best!

Friday

Russ continues reading "The Chronicles of Narnia" to the kids. (I think it's very nice to have activities and traditions that are just for dad and the kids.) That day we also did a little shopping for school and Naomi went to the doctor for her final shot before kindergarten.

Saturday

We hiked to Stewart Falls with Russ' parents, Ben, Becky and Addy. It's a popular hike that is between 3.5 to 4 miles long and approximately runs between Sundance and the base of Mount Timpanogos. There's plenty of traffic on the trail, so much that we ran into Ben Skinner (a friend from our mission), Russ' coworker, and teenager from our neighborhood. I've hiked this at least twice before and remember it being a very easy "kid friendly" hike, after all, half the hikers are under the age of nine. It wasn't until I hiked it with four kids of my own that I learned it might be kid friendly but not necessarily parent friendly. Two hours is a long time hike when you are three or under, then you get to the Stewart Falls and need to turn around and hike back. It was an adventure! Mason was certainly the most content of all of us. He sat peacefully in the backpack enjoying the view and had a couple naps along the way.

Thomson Family Reunion

2008-08-03T13:56:00.002-06:00

July 31 - August 3rd

The Thomson Clan gathered in Utah for the "Every-Few-Years Family Reunion". The descendants of my grandparents, Rulon and Marguerite Thomson, came from as far south as Phoenix, Arizona and as far north as Alberta, Canada. Grandma and Grandpa Thomson had five children and today their posterity includes 24 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. My Grandpa passed away in 1980 and my Grandma followed in 1993. We miss them and for us it is a joy to be together and to honor them and the good lives they lived.

At the reunion we also welcomed my Great Aunt Norma, some of her kids and grandkids, and some honorary "adopted family members". We had so much fun camping, playing, swimming, eating, listening to stories, and just being together!

That weekend we attended church and during the Sunday School lesson the teacher covered the scripture Alma 37:6 where it says, "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." I had been thinking about this throughout the reunion. My grandparents didn't do anything that was particularly worthy of the world's acclaim, but they did raise a great family that continues generation after generation. While discussing this with my uncle I learned that they were also humble members of their own local congregation. Uncle Larry said, "The entire time I knew [Rulon Thomson] he was a greeter at the church, never a bishop or a stake president, just a greeter. But, look at what they left."

They did the simple things, they prayed, they taught their children from the scriptures and they built their family foundation upon the rock of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was love in their home. The served others and taught their children by example.

Through small acts they left a happy and loving posterity that continues in the same tradition. All of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are active in the church, and even though we are far from perfect we are all trying to follow the perfect example of our Savior.

I love being with my extended family! For me, it's a huge blessing to be surrounded by so many people that I love and admire. I am strengthened by their faith and I recognize the lasting influence of a good mother and a good father doing the small and simple things.

Activity Day!

2008-07-29T15:00:00.005-06:00

Twice a month I get together with these great girls. Last October I was called to work with two other women to serve the ten and eleven year old "Activity Days" group from our church. I love this age group! They are exceptionally sweet, helpful and happy to be involved with every activity.

We meet during the week and do a variety of activities that help them learn and live the gospel, serve others and develop talents. For example, we have made blankets for the needy, played Ultimate Frisbee, had a Daddy-Daughter game night, provided babysitting, made journals, planted flowers, had a voice lesson from a finalist in the Miss America pageant, and this Tuesday we learned about Family History.

This is a church calling that I would be happy to have forever!

Socializing without Smothering

2008-07-23T13:22:00.000-06:00

As parents we do our best to teach our kids how to be polite at the table. It's a never ending list of dos and don'ts and slowly over time children become socially aware and able to function without being offensive. We teach them basics like not to belch and not to say rude things like "That smells disgusting!" or "Ew! That looks just like (fill in the blank)!"

Unfortunately in all this socialization, expressive children often turn into average adults that say polite-but-dull things like, "Thank you for dinner, it was delicious."

Imagine if adults listened and learned from some of the positive things kids say. For example, "This is great! Could you make this for my birthday?" Or, "Mmm! I think this is the best ever!" Surely that kind of unrestrained praise would go over well with any host. My new personal favorite came from Camen last Monday when he kneeled in the seat at dinner and belted out with heartfelt enthusiasm, "This is the JOY OF THE UNIVERSE!!!"

Give it try! ;)

Almost but not quite...

2008-07-23T08:32:00.006-06:00

There's a familiar combination of sounds in our house. It's the fearful cry of Naomi and two pairs of feet running. I know exactly what is going on, Savannah is on a rampage and Naomi is fleeing for her life. Yes, it's also surprising to me that our sweet Savannah can go on the offensive like that, but it happens.

This morning I heard the familiar noise and the girls met me in the family room. Naomi was truly worried and told me something about Savannah trying to hurt her face. I looked sternly at Savannah and asked her what was going on. With a harsh tone she simply stated, "I'm going to say sorry - MEANLY!"

She then walked over to Naomi and said a quick "sorry" without even a hint of sincerity. Savannah then gave her sister a half-hug that ended with whacking Naomi on the back!

Well, we are half way there.

Let's FINALLY Go Fly A Kite!

2008-07-18T21:02:00.006-06:00

Our kids have been asking to go fly kites for a long time, I would rather not specify exactly how long because it's quite embarrassing. Today we went shopping for a birthday present for Camen's friend and while we were wandering through the toys we found three cheap kites. It was seven dollars well spent! We had a great time this evening while we played on the playground, took some fun pictures and waited for the evening breeze to pick up. Everything was perfect! I only wished I had more hands so that I could help the kids with their kites and hold the digital and video cameras all at the same time.

Lunchtime Conversation

2008-07-18T12:21:00.004-06:00

We all sat around the table eating when Camen asked, "Mom, how much money do you have?

I rarely have cash on hand, but this time I happen to have more than usual. "I'm not telling," was my response.

Exasperated he cried, "Oh! That's not fair!"

Trying to satisfy his desperate curiosity, that I'm sure he inherited from me, I answered, "I'll say that it's more than ten dollars.

"Just tell us!"

Silence. (Except for whatever Savannah is talking about, but I can't remember because there's always some kind of chatter and I find that I can quickly disappear into my own thoughts.)

A minute later Camen casually inquired, "Mom, when you die will you leave your money with us?

A little taken back by his indifference to my death and eagerness to get some unknown sum of money, I said, "No. I'm taking it with me!"

"You can't do that!"

The offense began to sink in and with perhaps a little hurt in my voice I asked, "What kind of question is that!?"

I look over and notice the pained expression on Naomi's face. I'm touched that she doesn't want me to die. So trusting that one of our more sensitive children will console me. I ask, "Does that make you sad Naomi?"

Naomi softly answers, "Yes." She sinks in her chair and covers her hands over her eyes that are quickly becoming wet with tears. "Because when I go to heaven I want to take my teddy bear and Minnie Mouse with me."

Feel the love!

Swimming Sensations!

2008-07-09T21:51:00.000-06:00

Our kids are crazy about swimming lessons. It's the highlight of their day and I feel bad that this is the first year we've really participated. (I can't count the the mother/baby class I took with Camen years ago.) Savannah especially struggles with trying to be patient for the four long hours between the time she wakes up and the time lessons start at the pool.

Camen, Naomi and Savannah are all in different classes that meet at the same time. I sit with Mason and try to make sure they don't drown in all the commotion. (Thankfully there was only one close call.) It's really nice to sit and act as honorary lifeguard while nice teachers work with them. I'm confident that their good teachers persuaded my kids to do things that I would not have been able to do. Camen jumped off the diving board, Naomi jumped off the racing platform and Savannah cautiously reached out to her teacher from the edge of the pool! They are all pretty timid and it took the firm persistence of kind teachers to make all the progress they did.

Land of the Free and Home of the Brave

2008-07-06T21:52:00.006-06:00

We had a great Fourth of July weekend this year. Provo puts on a stellar Freedom Festival and it's one of the many reasons we like living in Utah County.

On Thursday night we attended the Colonial Days. It's my kind of family event - free, educational, outdoors, and something of interest for everyone. The volunteers dressed in colonial costumes and there were a number of displays and activities as well as plays, music and dancing for entertainment. Some highlights include the Mayflower replica, the kids's colonial games and the smell-free port-a-potties. :) The Mayflower display included a list of passengers and we found Russ' ancestor, William Bradford. (One of the great things about knowing your family history is making personal connections to America's history. Russ is also a descendant of Jacob Bloom, a signer of the Constitution.)

On Friday morning we went to the parade. We found a good spot and ran into some old friends (The Giles Family.) I had the misfortune of sitting close to an anti-American. I know there are plenty of Americans that don't like America, but why would one go to the 4th of July parade? This individual's refusal to stand when the color guard brought the flag down the street, and telling her brother "you know me better than that" when he suggested she put her hand over her heart was quite irritating to me. I tried to be patient and blamed her sour attitude on her ignorance. Her general disposition kind of rained on my parade. Next year I would like to gather a large group of patriotic and very lively friends to view the parade together. I will supply plenty of otter pops, flags, blankets and chairs for anyone who will stand when the flag goes by, waves at the WWII veterans, cheers for the BYU float and claps enthusiastically for the Freedom Festival Award Recepients. Please let me if you are interested, it's going to be fun!

Russ made us "Patriotic Pancakes" for lunch, (there wasn't time in the morning.) The kids took a nice afternoon nap and then for dinner we had a delicious barbeque with the Shearers. My parents made some awesome turkey burgers and then we went to Great-Grandma and Grandpa's house to watch the fireworks. Here's a little video of Mason an hour before the fireworks. (Forgive the gushing and Motherese, for a doting grandmother and I are in love with this boy.)

Happy Anniversary to Us!

2008-06-26T10:16:00.011-06:00

This June we celebrated our 8th Anniversary! Every year has been better than the last and we are learning that we have much to look forward to.

Every year we try to get away for a few days to celebrate all by ourselves. We love this tradition and believe that it's a must for those married with children. This year Daryl (Russ' mom) watched our kids for a couple days while we went to Lagoon and spent some time in Salt Lake. There are a couple great restaurants downtown worth recommending, a New York style pizzeria called Rusted Sun Pizzeria and the breakfast buffet at the Garden Cafe was fabulous.

After 8 years of marriage here are 8 reasons that I love being married to Russ:

1. He is a wonderful friend. Russ was my friend long before anything else, he listened to me with sincere concern, understanding and without judgement. Over time he has only gotten better.

2. He has incredible work ethic. He gets things done, at home, work, school, Scouts or whatever is asked of him. I tried (and failed) to make him this great "Super Man" apron for Father's Day, I thought it would be a fitting gift for someone with supernatural-well-rounded-work ability. (Hopefully someday I'll be "Super" enough to be able to iron on a simple decal to a premade apron!)

3. He makes me laugh, and for some reason I think he's even funnier when jokes around in Visayan. (Sayang na dili na siya bisdok) ;)

4. Spirituality. He quietly maintains the inner peace that spirituality brings, and it inspires me.

5. I love the little things. He savors fine dark chocolate, gets transported into the emotion of novels and movies, gives me regular updates on "Tech News", he's a master of being both generous to others and living frugally, and he is genuinely happy to help family, friends and neighbors.

6. I appreciate his passion for learning and growth. He has a variety of interests that keep him reading and soaking in all he can.

7. Russ is a great dad. He loves to play with our kids, teach them, and counsel with them. They have a number of original games that I don't know how to play, including "Numbers", "The Rabbit Game", and "Mountain". He adores each of them and they reciprocate his affection.

8. I love the way he loves me. Cliche, maybe, but that is how I feel. It is so wonderful to have someone care so deeply and who manifests it daily in word and in deed.

She's off!

2008-06-20T16:59:00.003-06:00

This week Naomi came to tell me she can ride her bike. I was a little surprised since I am certain that no one has helped her learn how. (Unless you count me accidentally backing over her training wheel, crushing it, and thereby causing us to remove them.)

She just decided to get on, practice and learn by herself. The least I could do was get the camera out and chime a "Good Job!".

Common Characteristics of Uncommonly Good Men

2008-06-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

Happy Father's Day to my Dad, Husband and Father-in-law!

This year as I prepared for Father's Day I thought about their personal strengths and the specific qualities that help them in their roles as fathers and husbands. I appreciate that while they are certainly distinct individuals, as dads they have so much in common. Here's a short list of mutual traits that I believe make them exceptional fathers...

1. Devotion - Love of God and family.

2. Selflessness - They put the needs and wants of their families before their own.

3. Tender Hearts - They exhibit great compassion and concern for their children.

4. Work Ethic - Putting in the time and concerted effort to excel and provide for their families.

5. Dedication - Total commitment to the welfare of their wife and children.

Randy and Russ

My mom (Barbara), Mason, my dad (Robert), my sister (Roxanne)
Camen, Savannah, Naomi

The Little Girl That Could

2008-06-01T21:55:00.014-06:00

Savannah is one determined little three-year-old. Sometimes this makes me crazy, but I like to think that her stubborn-strong-will is an asset that will help her accomplish many great things. On Saturday she put that tenacious energy to use and hiked the 'Y' all by herself! It may not be much of hike for some, but it's not bad for someone who is only three feet tall and weighs less than thirty pounds!

Naomi and Camen also completed the hike by themselves. Camen raced to the top with his friend Blake and Russ and Naomi stuck together, while I had the pleasure of hiking with Savannah.

It was both amusing and inspiring to watch little legs and feet get her up the steep incline of the mountain. For a stretch she kept repeating, (with enthusiasm) "I'm getting closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer..." After we reached the top we rested at the very top of the 'Y' and then noticed the trail leading up the rest of the mountain. Savannah was very upset that we weren't going all the way to the top. We couldn't talk her out of it and resorted to our most reliable means of persuasion - we picked her up and started by down the trail. (What are we going to do when our kids get too big to carry?)

Next time I'm faced with a big task I'll think of Savannah's example and enthusiastically remember "I'm getting closer, and closer, and closer, and closer.."

Hogle Zoo

2008-05-24T22:15:00.001-06:00

On our way home from Idaho we stopped at Salt Lake's Hogle Zoo. We met Russ' parents there and had a really nice afternoon together. Eager children and mild weather made this outing both amusing and pleasant.

My cute little cousin is not so little anymore...

2008-05-23T16:40:00.000-06:00

My sweet cousin Karen is one of my younger cousins and one of the people that I've frozen in my mind to a very young age. I remember her as a baby, a toddler, and cute little girl, so it's hard for me to believe that someone I remember so young is now old enough to be married. Karen just finished her bachelor's degree and was married to a good man named Zane.

We were so happy to attend their wedding in the Idaho Falls Temple and celebrate with them and all of the extended Thomson Family.

Now all five of the Christensen kids are happily married.

I love this family!

One and One makes New

2008-05-09T15:51:00.001-06:00

Here are some pictures of the newest family we love. Jayden and Shelley were all aglow on their big day. They are two of kind; thoughtful, kind, and always so willing to help others. We loved being with them in the Salt Lake Temple to witness their marriage. We wish them all the best in their new life together!

Three Years Later

2008-04-24T14:59:00.004-06:00

Three years ago my brother-in-law Brad died at the age of twenty-four. In April of 2005 he was within weeks of graduating and ready to be commissioned as an officer into the Air Force. He and his good friend John decided to have one final adventure before receiving their diplomas and moving out of state. They went canyoneering in Southern Utah and faced unexpected conditions that caused them both to die of hypothermia.

It was an unbelievable nightmare for my sister, Brad's wife, their families and friends. Brad and John were both experienced outdoorsmen, skilled climbers, athletes and Eagle Scouts. When we learned that they were overdue for their scheduled return we naturally assumed that they were so strong, capable and intelligent that they could not possibly be seriously injured or worse. The days that followed were terrible. We waited helplessly as the terrain was so treacherous that only trained search and rescue could enter the slot canyons to look for them. We waited, prayed, worried and did our best to think positively.

We are all so vulnerable to pain we can't prevent or control. Roxanne, my sister and Brad's wife, is doing okay, but what else can she do? The only good option is to move forward and do your best to be happy. The loneliness doesn't disappear and neither does the loss. Sometimes I feel the bitterness of injustice and almost angry that life isn't fair. However, I recognize that life is a small fraction of eternity and eternity is fair. Because of Jesus Christ all have equal access to eternal happiness.

We miss Brad. His goodness, humility, dedication and example of living life well have inspired me to be better. I trust in God's plan and give thanks for the mercy of sending His only begotten Son that overcame death.

Flexibility at Its Finest

2008-04-19T21:46:00.000-06:00

I'm going to resume yoga next month, Mason has inspired me!

Shelley's Shower

2008-04-19T21:06:00.000-06:00

Today we welcomed Shelley into the family. As tradition has it, the formal way to do this is for only women to get together, eat delicious food, and shower the future bride with lots of presents. Three generations gathered to visit and welcome the newest member of our clan. Now that I'm a "mature" woman I think there is so much wisdom in this practice. I enjoy kissing my husband and children goodbye and catching-up with loved ones away from home. (It's not quite the same with regular family gatherings as most of the time is spent "catching-up" with energetic children.)

In preparation for the bridal shower I asked Jayden and Shelley to each send me a list of ten things they most love about each other. It was so sweet! They have so much respect and admiration for each other and the special kind of love that every person hopes to have in their life. Together they are on cloud nine!

For me, Shelley is one of those people that I instantly feel comfortable with and liked her immediately. She is very down to earth and so easy to get along with. Our kids adore her, as do their cousins, and so it's not hard guess who will be the favorite aunt.

The photo includes my sister-in-laws and mother-in-law. (Yes, I know it's challenging to distinguish the youthful looking mother from the sisters, one would never guess she is 50.) (L-R, Becky, Shelley, Daryl, Jen, Me)

Lucky Man Marries Lucky Woman

2008-04-12T09:18:00.001-06:00

Years ago Russ and I decided that "lucky is the man that marries Elisabeth". Elisabeth is Russ' cousin and our in opinion nearly flawless. We love her sense of humor, her ability to laugh at herself, her genuine concern for others, and passion for making ordinary days special days. I've personally been impressed with her complete lack of pride and love of life.

Tyler is the lucky man, and after getting to know him we have also decided that Elisabeth is also a lucky woman. They have so much to look forward to, because life is good when good people make it good.

Scrapbook a Scent

2008-04-03T15:07:00.002-06:00

I wish we could preserve memories by capturing every part of the experience, the temperature, our mood, the background noise, the breeze and the smell. I vaguely recall a Star Trek episode where you could walk into a room and re-live a memory. I don't know if I want to take it that far, but I would like to preserve certain elements and keep them in a "Super Scrapbook." If I could scrapbook a scent the first would be the smell of a freshly bathed baby. That's a pleasant little joy that makes me smile.

"Look for the Sunlight in Life"

2008-04-02T23:20:00.000-06:00

This weekend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will gather for the 178th Annual General Conference. This one will be different than the others. Last January President Gordan B. Hinckley passed away, he will be missed greatly by the membership of the Church. His presence, testimony and love seem such an integral part of Conference. He has presided at every session of conference for the last 13 years and for as long as I've been alive he has participated as a member or the First Presidency or an apostle. After years of listening to his wisdom, personal experiences and heartfelt expressions of testimony and love, I felt like I knew him personally.

President Hinckley possessed so many of the attributes that I lack and by listening I felt that I was in the process of acquiring what I needed. He once counseled, "Look for the sunlight in life." I want to be an optimist, but I'm afraid that I'm naturally inclined to be a pessimist. It's very challenging for me to think positively about the future of our society and world. Moral degradation, idolatry, materialism and selfishness seem be taking over all that was once good. Naturally discouragement follows such dismal thinking.

President Hinckley was an optimist. I looked forward to hearing him speak because it was like being lifted up to better view of reality. He helped me to see the bigger picture and recognize that while there is so much wickedness, in the end good will triumph and in despite of our troubled world we can be happy and enjoy life's journey. He didn't just preach that message - he lived it! He joked often and helped me to stop being so serious and laugh with him.

When I heard about his passing my first reaction was just happiness that he would be with his deceased wife Majorie. My second thought was, "Don't leave us, we need you!" Now I feel a sense of gratitude. My life is better because of his, I feel more hope and less worry.

Here are some of his last words given to the membership of the church

"We know not all that lies ahead of us. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others, disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do not know. But one thing we do know. Like the Polar Star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith.

In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us.

He is the central focus of our worship. He is the Son of the living God, the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is “risen from the dead, … the firstfruits of them that slept”. He is the Lord who shall come again “to reign on the earth over his people”.

None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare His divinity without equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak the name of Jesus Christ in reverence and wonder. He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! He lives, resplendent and wonderful, the living Son of the living God."

Citation, Strep, and Snow

2008-03-30T09:54:00.001-06:00

On Friday I woke up with a sore throat. I had planned to run several errands that morning, including urgent tasks like getting Naomi registered for Kindergarten, but I didn't feel like going anywhere. Ten minutes after I decided it just wasn't worth it I got a call from the woman who drove Naomi to preschool and learned she was going to take her sick daughter home and that I would need to go pick Naomi up.

Reluctantly I put Savannah and Mason in the van. Savannah is three years old and very independent. She likes to control where we go, how long we stay, and what she wears while we are out. I understand that it's not fun to be carted around against ones will, but it's simply not practical for her to take her large blanket with her into the store, to wear only a t-shirt when it's snowing, or for her to wait outside while I run into the mall. This spring, like last, the thing I'm most looking forward to is warm enough weather so I can avoid the daily struggle of putting a coat on Savannah. We compromised with a sweater on Friday morning (it has been a bit warmer) and made our way down towards the mall.

I drove a little faster than I should have, thankfully I noticed the police car waiting at the bottom of the hill early on. I slowed down and with a some "I feel lucky" relief passed the cop and made my way towards Main Street. The light was green for what seemed like an unusually long time. I watched the intersection closely and made a right turn onto Main Street. A few minutes later the same police car I passed earlier was behind me with his lights on. The officer approached and asked if I knew why he pulled me over. Is that some kind of trick question? Is it a way to have a driver confess something the officer may have missed? My pathetic response was "I was going too fast?". I was feeling miserable, my throat hurt, my joints hurt and I had a headache. It was tempted to unload my list of reasons for driving poorly.

He agreed, "Yes, a little too fast and you made a wide turn and failed to turn your signal on."

I thought I had signaled but I wasn't in a position to argue. He wrote me up a citation with a fine of $82. That seems a little pricey for an "improper turn". Whatever the case, if ever driving in my hometown be sure that all of your turns are proper ones.

That evening my symptoms got worse and I decided to get a flashlight out and take a look at my throat in the mirror. It was "strawberry red" and all of my other aches and pains seemed to indicate that it was strep throat. The only clinic open until 10:00 p.m. is about a 25 minutes drive from our house. I left at 9:35 and prayed I could make it there before they closed the door. I had green lights all the way there and walked in the door at 9:55! Before I even thought about going to see a doctor I took two Tylenol P.M.s. I forgot about them until I was in the waiting room and they kicked in. My body is particularly sensitive to medications. I fell asleep sitting up in the waiting area and then during my turn to be seen I tried to tell the nurse what my symptoms were and it came out kind of slurred and incoherent.

The strep test came back positive and I expressed concern that my four-month son might catch it too. The doctor said children under the age of two rarely get strep throat, he advised me to be cautious but not overly concerned. I was anxious to get started on an antibiotic as my past experiences have had great results in a very short time. I went to the only 24-hour pharmacy in the county and after walking around for a while sat down in the small waiting area. I couldn't keep my eyes open and again fell asleep until they called my name. I knew I needed to get something to help me stay awake for the 20 minute drive home. I passed by the Easter Candy clearance table and picked up some "Cocoa Peeps" and then grabbed some bottled water. In case you're wondering, "Cocoa Peeps" on strep throat feels exactly like swallowing sandpaper!

Saturday was spent in bed. I haven't slept that much for years. I kept waiting for the antibiotic to really kick in, but to no avail.

This morning we woke up to snow on the ground! This will probably be one of the last snowfalls of the year. After a long winter with plenty of sickness going around I'm so ready for the warmer spring and summer months and good health that usually accompanies them. I'm still waiting for the pain to subside - I miss the ease of normal drinking and eating. I'm afraid the bacteria I've contracted has evolved into something that Zithromax can't take care of. I'm not sure why I'm particularly vulnerable to Strep. I think I've had four times in the last three years. Before that the last time I had it was as a child.

Russ does a great job of getting everything done when I'm sick. The kids have been understanding about letting me sleep without interruption. This weekend Savannah has asked me twice if we are going to have another baby. I didn't realize that me being sick and pregnancy had such a strong association for her. That was good reminder that as miserable as I've felt, it's only for a few days.

The Beginning

2008-03-27T15:11:00.001-06:00

My life is a blur. It's been easy to blame this on sleep deprivation, the distorted mind during (and apparently years after) pregnancy and the lack of monumental changes to give some distinction to daily routines. I'm tired of looking for excuses and have created this blog to record events, thoughts, feelings and to bring clarity to my passing mortal existence.

I want to write as if I am the only audience. For me, it's sometimes paralyzing to write with an audience in mind, I find myself tip-toeing around everything because I know that just about anything could be a sensitive subject or hurtful to somebody. If I had more time I would make a separate blog, but I know that I only have the energy for one. My intent is to be honest and just get something done before I'm ten years older and wondering what happened during that "fuzzy decade."