I Heart Warm Summer Days

I have defiantly evolved into to warm weather creature. I love almost everything about it but one of my favorites is that is allows for large family gatherings with a plethora of activities. The other day (before the cold front invaded) we had my whole family over. I realize that when most people say "the whole family" they are referring to siblings, parents, and sibling's children. Well, in my family the sphere extends much wider to include aunts, uncles, cousins, and now second cousins. I grew up with my cousins being my best friends and gratefully that hasn't changed.
Anyway, enough genealogy and back to the blissful summer memories. I think most would agree that a good summer BBQ is rooted in delicious food and lots of it. Jackson was not obliviously to this dove in without shame or regard for cleanliness. I let him go at it. Nothing a little pre-treater and a good washing couldn't handle.

If your family is not familiar with the time honored tradition of blongo ball I would highly recommend it. Throwing strung golf balls at PVC pipe. Hours of wholesome family fun.

Luckily we have a small house which allows for a huge yard. Big enough for a full volley ball court with room to spare. Bump, set, spike it! That's the way we like it!


No BBQ is complete without a friendly game of red light, yellow light, green light, stop! There is always a good helping of cheating and someone, usually more than one someone, ends up with some blatter control issues due to excessive laughing. I won't name names but see photo below, Bobbi.

I love summer and my family for making it so fun.

I TRIed

This year my New Year's resolution was to do things that scared me. Not like watch scary movies scared but do things that took me out of my comfort zone. I heard that if you are comfortable you are not growing and challenging yourself. Well, I thought doing a triathlon would cover all these things. Three months ago I didn't know how to swim (still wouldn't call myself a swimmer), had never been on a road bike, and had never competed in an individual sport. I was defiantly scared, to the point of being physically sick the night before.

Yesterday was the big day and I did it! I was harder than I thought it would be, mainly due to the ginormous hill that they threw into both the bike and the run but when I crossed the finish line I actually got a little misty eyed.

Here I am standing in the pool waiting for some room to actually start swimming amid the masses of others. Yes, the swim was in a pool...baby steps.

My friends and training partners. I couldn't have done it without them.

My time was a couple of minutes over my goal but it gives me something to shoot for next year. Also, next year I won't have my training/race partner that although added motivation at times sucked the very last ounce of energy out of me. How does something so little do that?

Six Years

I know what you are thinking. "Is it legal for 16 year olds to get married in the state of Utah?" Well, contrary to what the picture looks like we were both well out of high school. But man we look young. Today we celebrated both Mother's Day and six years of wedded bliss. Jackson thought he would honor this special day with a sever case of the stomach flu. How sweet of him. Actually Mark took care of him most of the day and let me go to dinner at my moms and celebrate. Mark and Jackson even gave me biking shorts and Mario Kart. Nothing says love quite like spandex and video games. I loved it.

Here are some memorable moments from years past.

• I married my high school hottie on May 11, 2002 exactly 5 years from the day we started dating (Junior Prom).
• It rained and was freezing on our wedding day and we had an outdoor reception. Oh, well.
• We lived in a disco carpeted kitchen, ghetto apartment during our starving student days.
• We both finished our college degrees, yeah!
• Bought and renovated/renovating our first house.
• Went on some fun vacations including San Diego x2, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
• Had our first child.
• Are excited to welcome our second in December. Oh ya, we are prego.

Like all couples we have had good and bad times but I am continually amazed and what an amazing husband and father Mark is. He seriously is way too good for me and I am so lucky to have him.

Wedding Day

On Friday my youngest brother Christopher was married to the lovely Keesha. They are just the cutest young love birds ya ever did see. Too bad their handsome nephew didn't enjoy the day as much as they did.
Look at this happy boy at home.....

Now at the wedding, grouch-a-rama. Just wanted to walk around outside with Grandma and be anti-social. Still the most handsome boy there.

Slacker

I have not been purposing ignoring my blog, just nothing has been going on. Jackson did go to the speech therapist and he is about 6 months behind so we were sent home with the "how to better parents handbook and get your child to talk" workbook and we have to go back once a month. I have to admit that when he told us my eyes welled up with tears and I had an "I am a bad mom" moment but Mark was able to talk me down and we are moving on. I am also enrolling him in the early intervention program through the school district. He also gets his hearing checked this week to make sure that is okay.

Other than that no news is good news I guess.

My wonderful sister-in-law Heidi took some way cute of pictures of Jackson so I thought I would share.