Get my Alive! magazine button

Finally, finally! I have a button for Alive! Utah.Thank you Karynn, owner of bloomshot photography. Karynn is an old friend and one talented chica. She takes great photos and is running a giveaway and some great deals at her photo site. You really should check her out.

Here is where the begging ensues. I am trying to get the word out about Alive! and I need help. If you are an Alive! reader and a blogger will you put my button on your site. I will send all kinds of good thoughts your way.

Here is the code: the first half is the button and link. The second half is a code box, in case you want to encourage others to grab my button.









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Family pics

It has been six years since I have had professional family pics done. Three years since I had family pics done and 2 since I bought school pics. It is time for some family pics. Abbey Kyhl of AK Studio and Design took these. I am not loving the family pics as much as the individual photos. What was I thinking wearing that shirt? And Tom has some serious glasses glare, but overall I love them.

What great kids!

Is he handsome or what? Of course this is pre glasses and pre braces. But I still think he is pretty cute.

I do love that smile.

This photo reminds me of a photo of my mother with her young girls. Life comes full circle.

My favorite photo

My favorite photo

Or is it this one?

There are more way more. But enough is enough.

Summer Summer Summer

So, I have never taken two whole months off from this blog before. But summer has been insane here. Really really insane. Finally I am on vacation in California, staring at the beach from the hotel window. Awesome. I have a moment to breathe, So I am going to try and give you an update. I have been buried in kids, house and trying to make my online magazine work. I finally decided not to publish an August issue because frankly I was two minutes from a nervous breakdown. Next month I will have an awesome issue but for the next few weeks I wanted to spend some time with my family.

Isaac --
Isaac declared that he didn't want to do soccer, football or any team sports this year. He needed a break. He is not ultra competitive and so I think he just wanted to have some free play time. He did do golf and he has to work at his Dad's office once a week. However he did decide to do the Utah Shakespearean Festival's playmakers program. He loved it. And I mean loved it. Isaac got to do a scene from Macbeth and he was actually surprisingly good. If you are my facebook fan you can check out the video here. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1420417867&v=box_3&ref=mf#!/profile.php?id=1420417867&v=app_2392950137
Isaac also went on his first week long scout camp. I have never prayed so much in my life. All day long I prayed for that boy's safety. And I don't care what Tom says he must have been worried too because there was not a single family prayer that he didn't pray for Isaac's safety.  I was so happy to have him home safe and sound. He had a great time with no serious problems. The worst thing that happened was that someone stole his pocketknife and fly fishing flies.


Rebecca on pre-swim team

Rebecca has tried not to be bored. She is easily bored. She actually enjoys the stimulation school gives her. She would literally watch TV all day if I let her. However, she started pre swim team this summer and while the first day seriously kicked her butt and saw her in tears, she has learned to love it and is hoping she will get to be on the Jr. Swim team in September. She has really improved and can beat her brother in a freestyle race -- barely but he is 3 1/2 years older than her.

Lia has tried to keep busy. She took swim lessons too and she is busy getting ready to do her first year of soccer. After watching years of her siblings' soccer games she is so excited to get the chance to finally play herself. I am actually glad Isaac is not doing soccer this year. It is never fun to do three games a day. She will also start Kindergarten in a few weeks. She is excited to be at school.

We have had a busy summer full of fireworks on July 4th a rocking party for Tom's 40th where his band, some good cousin time and a few good days at Cedar City's reservoir where the kids literally swam and splashed for 3 hours. We are now having an awesome vacation in Southern California.

I got a new laptop (because my hubby loves me) and I am still trying to figure some stuff out. When I have gotten my laptop groove down I will add some more photos.

Milestones

The past 8 days have been a week of milestones. We now have a five year old and a 12 year old in our home. You know what that means. Our life just got expensive. Lia is no longer free at all kinds of attractions and Isaac is no longer a kid. He costs the adult price at the movies. But it also means some other amazing things. Isaac got the priesthood today. And I have to say that I am so happy to have my son given the responsibility and trust that comes with office of Deacon. I love and honor the priesthood. And I especially love and honor how it shapes young boys, young men and even grown men into the potential God has in store for them.

Lia is 5 and this week she had to have her Kindergarten shots. That means she is going to Kindergarten this fall, another milestone. My kids are getting older and some days I love it and other days I want to freeze them where they are.

It has been a long and active week. Last Saturday we headed to St. George as a family to celebrate Lia's b-day. My kids only get friend birthdays every other year and on their year off they choose a family activity. Lia chose to go swimming at the Washington rec center pool. Tom came along and the kids discovered how much fun their Dad is in the swimming pool. I don't really enjoy hanging out for hours in the water. I really don't. I would rather soak up the rays. So Tom spent almost the entire 3 hours in the pool with the kids. Unfortunately, he came home itchy and rashy and his feet were all torn up from the bottom of the pool but the kids were glad to get some play time with their Dad.

Sunday we celebrated Lia's actual b-day with the family in Cedar. Lia chose shrimp for her b-day dinner (She is her Daddy's girl). She was enraptured with all her presents. The girl is easy to please.

Monday we celebrated Isaac's b-day. He had a friend b-day this year and they went to see a movie and came home to sit around the fire pit and eat pizza, roast marshmallows and play football. The wind was a little blustery that day and the house and everyone in it smelled like campfire for several days.

Tuesday we headed to the park to celebrate my niece Kate's b-day. It was a partying kind of a week. By Wednesday three of us had migraines and sick stomachs. I am not sure if it was from all the junk food but I do have a sneaky suspicion that might be the case.

The rest of the week I stressed myself out over my website. It is deadline week. Saturday we went and listened to Rebecca and Isaac's piano recital. As soon as I get the video upload to work I will download the recital pieces.
Sunday Isaac was sustained and ordained to the priesthood. It was a sweet ending to a hectic week.

The Miracle of Sundays

That is a photo worth a thousand words for me. That fort is a descriptive image of why Sundays are a miracle in my house. On Sunday my children play together. They enjoy each other's company -- they play legos, build forts and play board games. Sometimes they sit and paint with me or play the Wii with their Dad. Sundays are the one day my kids actually act excited to play together. (OK Becca and Lia play together all the time but even that has its dramatic moments) And not just for an hour or two but for hours and hours sometimes. Granted cleanup time can get a little feisty and occasionally Lia has a meltdown, but their disagreements are never long on Sundays. For some reason the twelve year old is content to let his 4 year old and 8 year old sister descend upon his room with ther ridiculous array of stuffed animals and dolls and he happily plays along.

Mother's Day

I know we are way past Mother's Day. But I wanted to say a couple things about motherhood.
1. I love being a Mom it has made me into a stronger person. I do things I never would have done from fear or low self-esteem simply because I want my children to believe they are capable of anything.

2. I love "my people" I stole that phrase from my Mom because I seriously love being called one of "her people." My people are unique and interesting people and sometimes ( I admit this is not always the case) I really just enjoy their company and not just because they are my kids -- they really have cool personalities.

3. I truly believe that motherhood is a gift that our Heavenly Father gave his daughters. He gave us all the potential to be mothers, co creators, and nurturers because he knew our potential as his daughters. He knew we were up to the task. Yes sometimes we fail. That is why there is tomorrow so we can start over again. And that is why there is forgiveness. Because as mothers we sometimes need to plead for it.

I love being a Mom and I love my Mom. She is amazing. Sometimes, when I am missing her I imagine how she starts giggling as soon as she sees me. She is genuinely pleased to have me as a daughter and it is awesome to hear her giggle. Which is why I bought her a huge haul of her favorite hard to find candy from her childhood. I knew she would giggle when she got it. That and every Mom deserves chocolate.

I was well taken care of by my cute hubby on mother's day. He got me these awesome flowers from my favorite floral arranger. Her stuff is always so unique. He also got me a Wii fit to share with the kids. It is our family goal to get more fit as a family and the Wii fit really helps us track our fitness and work out in a fun way. I was up at 6:30 this morning doing yoga with it. I need to lose weight and get healthy if I ever want to get off the stupid blood pressure meds. They make me feel wierd. I am already on my fouth kind. So, the Wii fit was a really thoughtful gift from a husband who has seen how ill I have been lately.

I also got a cute stuff from my kids. Isaac drew me a picture. I rarely get pics from him anymore. Lia gave me a fancy rose pen and pad of paper -- which is frankly an awesome gift for a person who is always writing stuff down. Becca gave me sweet homemade cards. Becca also brought me breakfast in bed. Yogurt and a piece of toast with raspberry jam. This was also perfect because I knew there was hardly any mess and it was a guilt free diet friendly treat in bed.

I hope your Mother's Day was awesome too.

By the way. Alive! Utah has extended the Mommy Makeover Giveaway to the end of the month. We had some technical difficulties with our registration. So go enter it. The prize is over $100 of salon services. http://aliveutah.com/ If you still have problems logging in let me know and I will personally fix your problem.

A Mommy Makeover Giveaway

Yes, I have been buried in work stuff. I neglected to tell you about this incredible giveaway at Alive! for Moms. There are three days left to enter so you have to HURRY! The Deadline is May 9th at 10 a.m.

OK here is what you get
A day at the Salon (Salon Vision in Cedar) But who cares if you live in St. George this is still an awesome day of pampering.

A Haircut and Color & A Manicure and Pedicure.

You have to be a mom or entering for your own mom. I can't enter. I own the site. So I think it would be awesome if all my SILs registered at Alive and then entered. If they win and they don't want it they can give it to their Mom. Hello that is over a $100 worth of salon services. And I can vouch for the salon. My girls and I love Salon Vision.

I also think it would be awesome if all my bloggy girls had a chance to win. Because I can't think of a way to give a better gift to at least one of you.

So Hurry go enter:   http://aliveutah.com/content/mothers-day-giveaway-salon-makeover
Of course I will use a totally unbiased web site to pick a winner.

Oh and the May issue is out. You can take a look around at all our great stuff this month after you enter the giveaway. Alive! Utah