Bear Lake

We had such a great time at Bear lake! The boys were on cloud nine with family, cousins, water, and constant play time for a whole weekend. Grandma and Grandpa Ellertson were too sick to go, and that broke my heart. They were missed terribly. I'm grateful for the tradition they started and stuck with for over 20 years! Our Highlights were the "speed runners" (wave runners) that the boys were so brave to go on, the circus party night, the playground, "the little boat" (rowing in a raft), throwing rocks, the playground, and making a sand race car. Owen spent hours walking and running in the shallow water and watching the sand dust up behind his feet. He called it smoke and was pretending he was a race car. They were at great ages for a trip to the lake!

Pictures in no particular order:

How Lewie responded when we told him it was time to go home.

Both boys crashed about 3 minutes into the drive back. 

A good sign of a very good weekend.

Making good days

With each pregnancy, I have been surprised at the blues that hit. The whole process of carrying, delivering and having a baby is such an emotional roller coaster! But about half way through I have consistently hit an emotional wall that I'm never quite prepared for. I'm ready for tears and irrational sensitivity, but this is not that. It is a numbness. No energy. No motivation to get stuff done. If I want a good day lately I have to so calculatedly plan and prepare. I need to exercise, eat healthy, have a plan for the day, keep up on my iron pills, pray hard and even having a written list to check off helps a lot. On the days I waver on any one of those items, the day is shot. I am lazy, boring, tired, and basically have no feeling at all. I have felt so bad for my sweet boys that used to have a pretty fun mom, with the physical ability to play hard, and enough lap room for them to sit on. These days I feel like I don't have much to offer. 

So here's to starting new tomorrow and working hard to make good days happen. 

No matter how immobilized and dazed I feel, at the end of the day, I have an overwhelming gratitude for the 3 sweet boys in my life. 

I love these pictures of the munchkins that give my life a lot of meaning. 

Class of '13

It was a big year for graduations! Landon graduated from Dental school in Nebraska and they're back in Utah. We are in heaven having them and they're sweet kids around. Owen has loved playing with Kinnie and Andrew so much. Both Layton and Lauren worked so hard and graduated for the University of Utah. Treavor was able to attend Gunnar's graduation and I was able to attend Haylie's graduation. Where I took a lot of pictures.

I really can't believe our little blue eyed, round faced, happy go-lucky little Haylie Jane is all grown up. It hit me hard that night, how quickly my little baby sisters have become women.

Out at the Ranch.

We got to have dinner at Chad and Tiffany's a few weeks ago. The boys always love the fun toys, the huge yard, the cousins, and of course the beautiful horses. Lewis was a little nervous and made sure not to get too close, Owen couldn't get enough. He pet them all over, talked to them and never wanted to leave them.

4th of July

The 4th was such a good day for all of us. We spent the morning at the Peters home where I alway fail to get enough pictures on my camera, because of the magic Kathryn works behind her own. We had a big, delicious breakfast and a huge pool party. Every year is full of family, cousins, a small history lesson from Grandpa Dennis, the pledge of allegiance, food, water, sun and lots of red white and blue. The perfect way to begin our day and celebrate our independence and freedom. 

After  our fun morning and big naps we were off to the Bell home for a BBQ and fireworks at sugarhouse park. Owen was a little more comfortable with the fireworks that he was last year, but still had his hands over his ears most of the time. Lewis loved them.