On Father's Day....

The boys and I want to take a moment and tell you all how much we love their Papa.

He's always there to help them learn to choose the right, and answer their gospel questions.



He encourages them to step out on a limb and try new things but is always right there to keep them safe and encourage them.

When their legs are tired, he is the first one to pick them up and give them a ride.


He loves to play cars almost as much as they do and always takes time to teach them how to work new toys.

He's almost always up for an adventure, whether it be playing in the snow, climbing rocks, or going on a bike ride. He loves to have fun with his boys.


He lets them help build speakers even when it means that it takes longer or he has to refine some of their efforts. Everyone gets a chance to be involved in the projects.



He encourages them to help one another and perform acts of service both for members of our family and others.



But the best thing about our Papa is that he loves us and we want to grow up to be just like him!

Happy Father's Day 2009!

Spring Soccer 2009

I know that soccer has been over for awhile but the memory card for the camera was misplaced so I couldn't upload any of the pictures. The Engineer has been wanting to play soccer for a couple of years but the mom has always missed the sign-up date. So this year (thanks to a friend who was signing up her son) we made the deadline and got him signed up. He had lots of fun running and chasing the ball with his teammates but wasn't very sure what to do when he got to the ball. It was kind of fun watching him run in slow motion the closer he got to the ball hoping that one of his teammates would get there first.


While the Engineer was busy being a soccer player his brothers were kicking balls along the sidelines.


In the photo below he was able to get in his second kick of the season. Unfortunately the amateur photographer missed getting the foot action into the shot.
Overall he had a great time and now understands more of what soccer is about and he's excited to play again next spring.

Butterfly Out-takes

So while having a Monarch butterfly bless the bride as it dries its wings is way cool and a neat remembrance of the day. It wasn't all nature, love and beauty. It was still a sticky, wet insect crawling all over my face. Did you know that butterflies have a claw like structure on the bottom of their feet that feels like they are pricking you with little pinpoints everytime they move?

So here are some of the other moments as the butterfly prepared itself to be able to take off on its first flight.....


And what about this lovely shot where it looks like I have a butterfly shaped growth on my neck?

What you don't see in any of the pictures is my friends holding onto my hands to keep me from swatting it away. I didn't want to swat it but the urge was pretty uncontrollable based on the way it felt on my skin.

So now you know the truth.....


I love butterflies.....


but....



prefer to admire them from afar!

Nine Years Ago......

I woke up not remembering when my mind finally calmed down and I drifted off to sleep. It had stormed all night long and the winds had blown branches every which way. Then I remembered that today was THE DAY!!!!

It was beautiful, sunny and full of anticipation. Friends and family had traveled from far away and far-far away to celebrate ....

with a boy.....


and a girl.... (who was only an hour late for the ceremony)


as they pledged their love for each other and joined their lives together for all time.



Mother Nature even joined in the celebration and had a Monarch butterfly newly out of its chrysalis bless the bride as it dried its wings before taking flight.


I've been told that in some cultures the butterfly symbolizes rebirth into a new life after being inside a cocoon for a period of time.



I think there just might be something to that.......

Can we have a snack?

So school is out and summer time is here and multiple times a day one child or another asks that all important question, "Mom, can you make us a snack?" Since the Comedian had surgery last week most snacks around our house over the last week or so have consisted of ice cream, Popsicles, and a variety of slushies.

Today however the ever-reoccurring request was followed by the Engineer making a request that today he "wants a really healthy snack, no junk food for him." So I think of all the healthy options that we have and offer apples, bananas, carrots, cantelope, crackers and cheese the answer to each is "no, I don't feel like that today"

Finally out of ideas and options and quickly losing my good will of wanting to make them a snack at all, I ask them what they would like (I know should have done that one sooner).

Both older boys eagerly chimed in that they wanted a slice of bread with mayonnaise and ketchup spread on it, topped with a slice of cheese.

As I'm about to shoot their option down the Engineer chimes in with "remember mom the bread is 100% whole wheat and cheese is in the dairy group"

So I give in and let them have a disgusting snack......

I thought of taking pictures but then decided that I'd spare you all the visual imagery.

I did however water down the juice I gave them.....

So you don't need to send a nutritionist in to rescue them just yet.