Chad~

Today is Chads birthday!  He is 38.  We have been married 10 1/2 years.  There is so much I could say and want to say about Chad.  He has so many unique qualities.  He is smart and persistent.  He is strong and funny.  He has a great smile and even better legs.  I love his testimony and that he takes me to the temple.  I love that we laugh in bed together at night. I love that he challenges our children and loves them completely.  I love that he dares to try almost anything.  I love that he can talk to anyone.  He is a good friend and dependable.  I love that he holds the priesthood.  I love that he can do so many things for our kids that I can't.  I love the fact that he loves sweets and candy.  I love how adventurous he is.  So here are a few pictures to show some of the great things Chad loves.

Golden Crack Moab, Utah

Second time he climbed "The Grand."

Baby Alex!

Chad hanging with the Terracotta Warriors in China!



MBA Graduation!!



One of his many LOTOJA rides!!

Swinging off the rope at Bloomington Lake in Idaho!!

Second Iron Man in Arizona

Maui

Family hike in Moab

Bamboo forest ~Maui~

Chad-Johnny and Aunt Barbara..Notice the grow boxes Chad built

But, the thing I love the most about Chad is that he lives and he loves.  Happy Birthday Chad!!!

~Shoes~

The other day I took the kids grocery shopping with me.  As I was rushing down the isle and in a hurry to go home and start dinner, I turned around and noticed their shoes.  I smiled and thought, I need to blog about this.

Here is Sami in her cowgirl boots.  She loves her boots.  She walks like a lady and takes pride in how she looks.  She tucks them in her pants and wears them with skirts.  They don't go with everything, only certain pants and skirts.  She twirls and dances in them.  Did I mention she loves them?

So here is Alex.  He loves his boots and wears them whether rain or shine.  Apparently, tying your boots is optional.  He wears them with anything and everything.  Sometimes one pant leg it tucked in and the other isn't.  It doesn't matter and he just doesn't care.  (Are his pants "high waters")?

And then there are Zach's shoes.  (Notice he is not in picture.. he fell asleep at 6:30 pm and we are NOT waking him up.. I will tell you about  that later)  His shoes have a hole in the front.  They are little and scuffed.  He rides his bike and drags his feet.  He stumbles and falls a lot.  These shoes are well worn and used a lot.  He wears them to church.  He wears them to pre-school.  He wears them everywhere! 

I guess from looking at their shoes and spending time with them I have realized that girls are girls and boys will be boys.  Girls care and boys simply don't!

This Made Me Smile~

Tonight, we were driving in the car and Alex said, "dad, next time you go to the junk yard, I want to go."  Chad said, "ok, why, though"?  Alex replied, " because that is where all the smart scientists find their good stuff." 

Zach said to me tonight.  "Mom, I wish I could rip all the skin off my stomach so I could see where my food goes!"

Are these two a work in progress.  It is always so refreshing to listen to my kids.  The things they say and the outlook they have on life is great.  I love when they start talking and asking questions and you finally get a little glimpse at what is going on in their naughty little heads......

I Would Do Anything~

So, being a parent sometimes is  so hard.  I think we all know that.  The way I love my kids is crazy and almost obsessive.  I would do anything to  help them.  I mean anything.  I am sitting here on hold with the hospital trying to figure out what is the next treatment or test to do for Zach.  The thing is, is that I am his mom and I should be able to help him.  I don't want him to go to Kindergarten or first grade and get made fun of  because he can't run and jump.  I don't want him to get discouraged and be down on himself.  He is such a vivacious, smart little boy.  He is  happy and so sweet.  He is strong spirited and not easily discouraged.  I want him to always have self confidence.  The frustrating thing is, that there are no answers.  We go to doctors and have tests and then go to more doctors.   I love him so much and I really want to help him.  I just don't know how.  So, then I wonder if I should keep dragging him through all this medical stuff.  Will they ever know what is wrong.  Any kind of diagnosis would be better than all  the limbo.  People are starting to ask about him more... Is something wrong?  Is he ok?  Has he seen a doctor?  The answer is I don't know.  I wish I did.  So for today, I will get on my knees again and pray.  I will pray for strength and comfort and for knowledge to know how to help him!

Christmas & New Years

 There is always so much to say about the Christmas holidays!  These are a couple of shots from Christmas morning.  I love this last picture.  It seems almost as if all of the kids are moving, and yet, there is no blur.  That is how I could mostly describe my life with these three little kids.  They were good sports on Christmas morning.  We all slept late and then opened one present and then went to listen to Grandma Sans speak in another ward and then come home and open the rest of the presents.  They didn't complain.  They just simply got ready for church and were obedient.  After we opened presents, they were so happy and gracious.  I was so proud of how many times I heard each of them say "thanks." 

Then comes New Years!!!  I have always loved New Years eve.  I love holidays and any excuse to get together with people and have fun.  Growing up we always went to my grandma's with 50 cousins and aunts and uncles and ate and played games and banged on pans at midnight.  Well, here I am.  My kids are getting older.  My family doesn't live close by and it is New Years eve.  I want to start fun traditions so that my kids will love the holidays like I did.  This year Chad and I took the kids up to Snowbird.  It was great.  We ate pizza up at Snowbird and then went outside on the deck.  The sky was dark and full of stars.  There were a few other people there bundled up, just like us.  The air was cool and crisp.  There were barrels with fire in them.  We huddled close and kept warm.  We watched Zach chase the fire embers as they landed on the ground.   (he thought it was fun to stomp them out)  Then as we looked up on the mountain there was a parade of skiers coming down holding torches.  It was magnificent.  The whole mountain lit up with light.  It looked like a long orange snake.  The kids were thrilled.  Then as  the snake made it's way to the bottom of the mountain the sky lit up with fireworks.  They were loud and bright.  The kids stood there with their necks cranked and squealed with delight.  It was a really good firework show.  Then we loaded up  in the truck and came home.  On the way down the canyon, Sami said, "this was the best New Years ever."  I was so glad to hear her say that.  I hope that when they grow up they will remember all the little things we have tried to do, and all the fun we have had.  Happy New Years!!!

Motherhood~

Last night I had one of those "ah hah," moments!  I had tucked my kids in bed.  I was doing the dishes and cleaning my kitchen when I heard padded footsteps behind me.  I turned around and there was Sami.  I asked her why she was out of bed and she asked if she could talk with me for a minute.  We sat down together and started talking.  She had a problem and she needed me.  As we started talking, the tears started rolling down her cheeks.  I took her in my arms and simply loved her. I smelled her hair and felt her frustrated breath on my cheek.  I tried to listen and validate.  I tried to comfort and reassure her.  When I looked down at her crazy fluffy hair, her cheeks red and stained from crying, and realized that it was me that she needed. I felt so honored. She trusted me. She wanted my advise and support. After we talked for a few minutes, she felt better and was able to relax and go to sleep.  I  laid in bed and just kept thinking about how much Heavenly Father must trust me to have given me such an incredible child.  I thought a lot about the role of a mother and the power you hold in your heart and hands.  The power to heal and comfort and to make everything ok, when no one else can.  I thank God for the power of motherhood and for the power I hold in  being a mom.