Summer recap

This doesn't even come close to re-capping our summer, but I thought it would be nice to prove that we are all still alive.  Emily's hair is getting longer (actually I think this was taken a few months ago...it's past her shoulders now) and is regularly in either pigtails or, more recently, braids.  Yay for having a girl!



The kids have been CRAZY loving the pool at G&G Snow's house.  I think we were there about twice a week for the entire summer and still going strong.  The pool is getting a little cold for the wimpy mom over here but kids don't care about silly stuff like numb appendages when there is fun to be had!



This is a freaky photo of me with all of my "Joseph" makeup on.  I participated in the Herriman community theater doing a production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" which was crazy-busy, a TON of fun and a great way to make new friends in my community.  For anyone that doesn't know me it doesn't actually look like a lot of makeup...trust me, it is.  I'm usually good with a little blush.  The black eyeliner in this show took me about a week to take off.  But I didn't mind cause I had a blast.  I also have to send MAJOR, ASTRONOMICAL, UNBELIEVABLE props to my sweet husband who picked up all of the slack during the rehearsals.  For the last 3 weeks I was gone EVERY night and for half the day on Saturdays, while he took care of kid-duty, bedtime duty, sometimes meal duty.  He did all the major outside work as well, but our front garden looks like rubbish piled on top of weeds because that was my job and I was never around to do it.  Oh well, there's always next year.



We had our first garden!  We grew an insane amount of tomatoes (all of which were mushy...can someone tell me what we did wrong?) and cucumbers, different peppers, onions, garlic...and the best part was how much the kids loved to help weed, water, and generally care for the garden.  They also loved to harvest, which is what is pictured below.  David is carrying an onion inside for me.



Michael and I did our first triathlon in years.  It was a little pathetic but at least we finished!  This is a 'before' picture at some ridiculous time like 5:30am.  Just 2 hours later I was nearly drowning in icy water that felt about 2 degrees.  Yikes, just thinking about it makes me panicky.  Good experience but I'm not sure I'll be doing an outdoor swim again anytime soon.



Emily took this picture, I just thought it was cute.  Also, it shows the families' favorite hangout...mom & dad's bathroom.  Why is that?



Also cute.  Love my boys.


I have a ton more photos but they're all still on my camera and it will take me an hour to download and blah, blah, blah... I'm lazy and want to go eat ice cream with Michael.  I love weekends.

On a more somber note I was thinking of all the things I've done in the last 10 years since the Sept. 11 attacks.  Just 2 weeks after that happened I was boarding a plane for England to serve an 18 month mission for my church.  (It was strange because I got used to the British calling it "11th of Sept." cause they write their dates differently, with the date before the month, and I had to get used to it being called "Sept. 11th" when I got back.  Anyway I found while being away that most people were sympathetic, supportive and almost apologetic towards me as an American.  It was an interesting perspective to have after such a nationally traumatic event.)
After my mission I met an adorable guy who made my knees weak, we got married a year later.
We bought our first house.
We had our first baby.  A boy.  We became parents and changed forever.
We moved to Asia (for reasons we can never quite explain) and had a life-changing experience and met some life-changing people.  We also had a little girl who changed our family dynamics forever.  For the better.
We moved back to the US.
We had a baby boy.  He's the happiest little goober I know.
We changed jobs at least 4 times.
We lived in at least 6 different houses.
With tragedy striking 10 years ago and every day, everywhere, somewhere, since then it makes life seem that much more precious and I feel almost anxious to hang on to every second.  My favorite parts of my days are when I'm with my family.  Like today, playing Uno.  So silly and unimportant but also so memorable.

I can't even imagine what my life will be like in another ten years.

I can't wait.