The Magic in Your Hands

There is so much magic in your hands.

It just depends on if you are going to use it or not.

I did.

I still do.

It has made the biggest difference in my relationships with my two boys.

Can you see the result of the magic in this bag?  No.  You will.

During the time when Steve was trying to figure everything out with his anxiety he went to a psychologist.  He came home with pearls of wisdom but no actual help for himself with managing his anxiety.  One of those pearls of wisdom had something to do with the power of physical touch.  I don't even remember what it was that Steve said, but I feel it was a message from heaven.

It was also about this time that I noticed my oldest son was thinking he was too cool to give hugs.  And, thinking that okay that's what cool pre-teens are like, I let it slide.  Now this son is pretty independent so there were times as I walked up the stairs to go to bed that I would think, "Have I even talked with Tyler today?" I know, pretty sad.

I didn't really mean to let that happen.  It just did.

So, I started making him give me hugs.  At first it was awkward.  In fact, my friend who is a photographer took a picture of me hugging my boys.  She said it was painfully obvious that one was really comfortable with it and the other not.  Do you think so too?

Anyway, this small little act of giving each other hugs changed our relationship forever.  He and I have a much better relationship and a closeness that I cherish!   I know he feels it too because we've talked about it.  Luckily for me, he and I have a lot in common.  We like the same books, love the same food, and enjoy watching the same tv shows.

Once in a while, while I am subbing at the school, I have the chance to talk with Ty's math teacher.  I think we would be great friends if that was our focus (our husbands are).  So, one day I was talking with her and the next thing I knew I felt this body pressed up against my side.  I turned, and it was Ty standing right beside me.  I put my arm around him.  I loved it.

This newfound closeness also had another benefit that seems so obvious but I found it executed in unexpected ways.  I wanted to be a better mom to my son.  I found myself checking my response to certain situations.  I think know that he did the same.  At first, I also struggled because I found myself wanting to be his best friend.  But, I am a strong believer that parents need to be parents.  I quickly checked that response and am proud to say that I am his "best" mom!

I cherish my relationship with him.

And, about a week ago, my other son was having a melt down.  He and I are way too much alike for me to be any good with him when he does this.  Usually, Steve handles the situation and does a great job with Ethan.  Well, in the middle, Steve had to go and talk with one of the men working in our basement.  That left me.  Uh oh....I approached with great trepidation.

However, as I approached, I felt inspired to touch him.  I did and wow!  It completely diffused him.  I could see his countenance completely change.  I couldn't believe it.  During the rest of the entirety of our conversation, I just rubbed his arm or held his hand. And, from there, I was able to talk with him and to work out his issues.   

I am still in the beginning stages of working my magic on him.  I have no doubt it will be the same results.

Back to the bag.

Somehow, my most responsible child has been the child to lose his lunchbox.  Ethan and Laney still have theirs.  So, one day after making Ty's lunch I was putting it in his brown sac.  I wanted to write "I love you" on it, but at the same time, I knew my gesture might not be appreciated because of growing pre-teen angst.  So, I drew a star on it.  I told Ty that the star was my way of saying, "I love you," and that he needed to think of that when he saw it.  He smiled.

A few days later, I was subbing all day at the school and needed to take a lunch with me.  I had placed my lunch on the table to get my coat out of the coat closet, and when I turned around Tyler had drawn a star on my brown sac.  My mommy heart melted.

Unharness the magic in your hands.

Just begin.  

The rest will follow.

Tyler was Double Teamed

That is a polite way of saying he was "bullied".

At least, that is how the school is labeling it.  It could just be kids being mean to one another.  Either way, it made me feel the way I do when I am facing a full court press.  Like, "Oh shoot, what is my best move to handle this situation."  It's hard trying to balance his need to not be embarrassed and my need to protect my child.

You can close your mouth from shock now.  I have.  Although it's taken awhile.

I know bullying is such a big problem, but I really thought it wouldn't affect my children.  I was very naive.

Luckily he handled it well, almost too well if you ask me.  It was only because another child stepped up that it was even brought to the teacher's attention.

Tyler has a little coterie at school.  It is a mix of genders and they all seem to be good friends.  From what I can tell.  I am glad he has found his little niche and seems so happy.  Although he won't be allowed to date until he is 16, Ty is like his dad and always has a crush.  There may have been a crush on a girl (it isn't confirmed).  They would text back and forth.  It seemed like she would be mad at him every other week and then they wouldn't be talking.  Oh, emotional girls.

Anyway,  the rumor started that Ty liked another girl.  I don't think he does.  But it was started.  So two boys (the double team) decided to write a love letter to the girl and sign it with Tyler's name.  Supposedly the double team did all this to protect the first girl.  Seriously!   Not sure how this makes sense in their world.

Some how Ty got a hold of the letter, read it and threw it away.  At this point, another classmate of Ty's picked it up out of the trash and gave it to a teacher.

That day after school happened to be my day to drive carpool.  Ty and his friend Greg got into our car talking about this love letter that someone had written.  They both came to the consensus that the boy who wrote it was mean and his opinion didn't matter.  They forgot to tell me one little detail that day:  THAT THE LETTER WAS ABOUT TY!

The next day I happened to be subbing in Ty's very grade.  Poor Ty was at home with a fever.  At one point, one of the teachers and one of the aide's were talking and called me over.  They wanted to know if Tyler was really sick.  I know I gave them a strange look.  That is when they clued me in to what had happened the day before and that the letter was indeed about Tyler.  (So, I assured them that Ty really was sick.)  But, I was shocked.  They also assured me that things were being handled but I, as the parent of the "bullied" child was not allowed to know what was happening.  ugh!

My Ty!!!   He didn't seem rattled by it at all.  But, I still made sure he knew for future (hopefully he won't ever face this again) reference how to properly handle the situation.

I hope he doesn't.

Enough Already and Tender Mercies

ENOUGH ALREADY!
I, along with the rest of my family, just want to shout, "Enough already!  Cancer.leave.us.alone!"  There have been 7 family members to have cancer in the last few years.  Most within the last two years. And, now,

my mom makes number 8.

 I have to say that while I was expecting "the call" that Mom would have cancer, it was breast cancer I was really expecting.  After all both her sisters and mother had breast cancer. Not non-hodkins lymphoma (a blood cancer).  To me this makes it a little bit scarier...a little more unknown.  Cancer has a culture (of vocabulary, of procedures, of being torn between despair and hope).  I am already beginning to learn it.

All the messages from friends and family have assured me that my mom is a fighter and if anyone can beat this, it will be my mom.  I know that.  It's one of the things I admire about her, and hope that I inherited from her.  That feisty spirit.

I have always said that being away from family when fun things are happening is hard; but, being away when hard things are happening is even harder.  This time it is really hard.  I am the one child who is a stay at home mom...I could go to each and every appointment with her.  Hold her hand.  But, instead, I am here with only a prayer in my heart.

But, Mom, please remember that I am only one phone call, and one plane ride away!  I would drop everything and be there if you called.

So, Mom,  I guess it's time for you to find a football uniform and to enter the playing field.  And on, on to the victory!

Mom, I love you to my bones!


TENDER MERCIES

...I was released from my responsibilities at church about three weeks ago.

I knew it was coming.

That still doesn't make it any easier.

I am used to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher.  It is a calling I never dreamed of wanting or of LOVING so much.  I was content to be taught at the feet of those who knew more than I.

I had such an opportunity to be able to literally feast on the words of Christ for the last three years.  And, I did.  And, I loved it.

It's so funny to me that I cried 3 years ago when they gave it to me.  If it is ever offered to me again, I will be doing cartwheels.

The thing that I loved the most about that calling is the learning that happened.  I was so afraid that wouldn't keep happening.  But, I have had tender mercies from the Lord.  Those moments where the same type of learning has occurred.  Those learning moments are for anyone who wants to know the scriptures and makes the "sacrifice" of the time involved.   I am so happy to know this.  I have a bucket list of scriptural things I want to study.  Now, since I am not focused on a lesson, I can study what I want.  That is a good thing.

Birthday Week

When I was living at BYU, I had a roommate whose birthday was a week after mine.  She started birthday week.  She made a snake out of some extra material and placed 7 little presents in sectioned off pieces of the body for me.  It was adorable!  So it was birthday week, mine started it hers finished it.

Birthday Week this year took on a new meaning.

I was able to fly home to be with my family, and triplet siblings to celebrate our birthday.

Boy did we have so much fun!

We had a family party at my older sister's house the day before our birthday.

I had requested this Costco chocolate cake!  So yummy!  Delicious!

There was lots of laughter.  We were laughing so hard that my stomach started to hurt.

I was able to spend a lot of time with Buff which is never dull.  He took me on a tour of the island, we sat in their hot tub, we went on a walk for some exercise, we played euchre (a game Buff learned at Dartmouth).  He is such a great guy and I am lucky he is a brother to me.

On our actual birthday, Paige and I met my mom at a restaurant called Cava.  And it was again delicious!  Paige's suggestion.  

After our lunch we went and were pampered with manis and pedis!  I love them!  

That night we had dinner with her friends.  She is so lucky to have a great group of friends that love her and think she is as amazing as I do.  Oh, and Paige's husband, Andy, added to the fun as well.  We had just settled into our seats at the table when the waiter brought over drinks for the table.  (Andy had called and pre-ordered and paid for them.)

We had a delicious dinner.  Paige and I split a steak and a corn salad.  

After dinner her friends had the waiter bring this sweet treat over:

It is an ice cream cake from Cold Stone, I think it is Peppermint Chocolate Perfection, or something like that.  So, before we cut into it, I asked Paige to let me take one more picture of her with the cake.  She obliged willingly.  She was even so kind as to pick up the plate so I could get a better angle of the cake in the picture.  She didn't foresee that the cake would slide from the plate right onto my lap!

We were laughing so hard.  We had such a great night!

L'Auberge Chez Francois.
Because we decided to abandon our plans to travel to New York and see Wicked (due to Hurricane Sandy) we had to come up with something special to do.  That evolved into going to dinner at L'Auberge Chez Francois. This fancy restaurant has BIG meaning to my family.

• For my high school graduation, while everyone else was getting luggage, my mom gave us (triplets graduate high school at the same time, haha) culture.  We went to a matinee of Les Miserables and had lunch at L'Auberge Chez Francois.  That is one day that is an experience on my dash  (a previous blog post).  
• After being a fabulous single woman for several decades my mom found the love of her life.  She married him.  And, she married him in the beautiful gardens of  L'Auberge Chez Francois.  What another great day!  Of course the reception was there afterwards!  I just remember being with my family and laughing.

And today was another day of laughter with my mom and sister.

We were able to go to the United States Holocaust museum.  (More on that later.)  But on the way, we stopped to "smell the roses" and took these fun pictures.

We were able to meet up with Todd at Panera Bread on Thursday morning for breakfast.  I really enjoyed my time with just the three of us.  Most of my formative years (teen years) it was just the three of us and my mom.  So, I always feel young when the three of us are together.  I think it's a good thing that we don't have a Panera Bread here in Utah.  I would be there everyday.  Their Pumpkin Pie bagels with streusel on top was ah-mazing!!!

We also were able to get facials. It as Paige's present to me.  I haven't had a facial since I was a teenager.  I honestly have never felt so relaxed in my life.  Even from all the massages that I've had.  It makes me wonder how much tension I store in my jaw.  Then we had a complimentary makeup touchup.  I loved how the girl did my makeup!  I wish I could duplicate it!

That night we had a homemade dinner of chili and cornbread at Paige's house.  We again played euchre! Amid lots of laughter.  I guess you could say we were a little addicted.

And, Thursday night I was able to see my mom's new place and spend the night there.  She is such a gracious host.  I really enjoyed the one on one time with her and Al.

Friday we all met back up again for Tobin's football game.  A play-off football game for State Title.  I felt so nostalgic being back in the football stands.  I always loved being in the stands during a football game.  That is why I only cheered for basketball season when I was in high school.  We had hot chocolate.  We laughed.  We were warm under our blankets and mittens.  And we got to see Tobin play.  He did great as the quarter back.  Although, I have to say that I was a little worried each time he would get tackled.

Robin was able to drive me back to the airport.  I loved that time with her!  She is such a great big sister and I appreciate her for all that she brings to our relationship!

Of course, due to the winter storms in Utah, my trip home was anything but boring.  Boring is good.  Boring means things goes as expected.   Let's just say that I didn't arrive home until 4 a.m.--which means 6 a.m Maryland time--4 hours later than anticipated!  Boy was I tired.  And Steve, he was such a trooper!  Never once about complaining about having to drive to the airport twice.  Once on really snowy roads.  I love him!  I was so happy to fall into his arms.  I think it it was socially acceptable outside at passenger pickup, I would have fallen asleep right then in his arms.

Women of Steel Relay

Meet my team:  Moms on the Run.

R1  Brendi, Candis, R2 Sara, Paige  R3 Francel, Tiercy

A few months ago my friend started trying to put together a team to run in this event.  When she asked, I didn't hesitate to join her team.  I also had been wanting to try a relay race.

I had been wanting an new running goal for a while.  

I also want you to meet the Woman of Steel.  

Candis.

Although I was in high school when she was born (true story), I am in awe of her.  She has so many qualities that I envy and wish I possessed.  She it tough as nails and a fighter which helped her to endure many rounds of tough chemo and to beat cancer but throughout it all, she is as sweet as anyone I've ever known.  I envy that dichotomy.  

One of our teammates saw on the Women of Steel relay site that you could nominate a team member as the "Woman of Steel." She immediately thought of Cadis, as any of us would have.  

She won!!! 

We were so excited for and I loved the look of "shock and awe" on her face when they announced her name. The race directors called her up and read the submission entry and crowned her.   I loved that throughout the day other racers kept telling Candis what an inspiration she was to them and they couldn't wait to share her story with other family members fighting cancer.  If they only knew half of what I knew...

...like the fact that she is running with a partial lung due to a surgery to help eradicate the cancer.  Despite doctor's "suggestions" that she not run more than 3 miles at one time, she has pushed through the pain and run up to 6 miles.  

Our team ran 54 miles in 8 1/2 hours.  That is an average of 8.88 per mile.  Awesome!! (I won't mention that the Number 1 team did it in just under 6 hours.)

Francel and I as we waited to run our first leg of the relay.  Look at the beautiful country we enjoyed as we ran.

We each ran three 3 mile segments (well approximately).  We each had a hard or very hard, moderate, and easy leg for each segment. 

This is me finishing my moderate run.  I was booking it and finished 2.8 miles in 24 minutes.  Which is under 9 minutes a mile...which means 8 something a mile. Which for me is awesome.  I was quite excited.  

I also finished my VERY HARD 2.8 leg in 25 minutes!  Yea me!  I was quite excited because it was, well, very hard.  When I started out there had been a girl in pink quite far ahead of me.  As I ran, I realized I was gaining on her.  So, I set a goal to catch her.  By the end, I just wanted to pass her.  But, it wasn't to be.  She beat me by about 15 feet.  My fast time may also have something to do with a stupid little dog that was yapping away at my ankels for a block or two.   Anyway, I was stoked and happy.

We decorated our support vehicle.  Each window was covered and so fun to see as we ran our legs.

My last leg, my easy 3.03 leg was actually the hardest for me.  It was long, hot and I was already exhausted.  But, I still finished in in 29 minutes, which is my usual time for 3 miles.  So, I can't be too unhappy.  It's just that it felt like one of the worst runs of my life.

If truth be told, for me, this relay was harder than my half marathon.  Even though I actually only ran a total of 9 miles.  I think it was the stopping/starting, muscles being warmed up/muscles cooling down, I had a BIG knot in my calf muscle and my last leg was during the heat of the day.  I always avoid running outside in the heat of the day.  It really effects me and not in a good way.  I am sad to admit that I stopped and walked two times.  I wouldn't really let myself walk for long, but it's the fact that I had to do it.  During this run, I had to cross at a busy intersection and race rules demanded that I follow traffic rules. When the run started I was hoping to hit the intersection at a green light...but I ashamedly admit my spirits were dashed when I reached at green and I could keep running.  There went my hopes of having a legitimate reason for stopping.  But, it was good and I was so happy when I was done and knew there was only one more runner before we crossed the finish line.

See, it was worth it!

At last, at the finish line.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to First Grade I Go

I have dreaded this day since the day she was born.  Seriously that long.

She had her first day of first grade today.  Which means she is gone all day.  Which means  I am home alone all day.

I have to say that I didn't even get teary eyed today.  I am quite a bit shocked actually.  I may be ready for the boys' missions yet.

But, no worries today.  Luckily Steve took the morning to spend it I mean support me through it.  I am so lucky.  I know because he did this that it made it a great day for me.

Steve and I went and worked out together at the gym.  I love when we get to exercise together.  Then we came home and quickly got ready for a 10:30 a.m movie, went to lunch at our favorite restaurant (well, one of them anyway) and then I stopped by The Sweet Tooth Fairy and tried her Salted Caramel cupcake.  I have to say that I think it is my favorite of all the ones I've tasted.

I decided to make these grade signs because I noticed in a scrapbook that I had put the wrong grades.  You always think you are going to remember...

So, today my boys started 5th and 6th grades.

Those are the grades I remember the most and have my longest remaining friends from 5th grade.  So, these will be big years for them.  Ty is looking so grown up to me and he is so ready to be a teenager.

I know I will miss her but she is exactly where she is suppose to be.  There are so many opportunities opening up to me right now that I feel this is a new stage of adventure in my life to see where I end up.

How to Stand Up to a Bully...Primary Style

Our ward Primary Presidency is awesome!  At the beginning of the year they asked the Primary children what topics they wanted to learn about.  Each topic has been assigned as a talk each week.  I love the thought of teaching the kids to apply the scriptures to everyday situations that arise in life. This past Sunday was Ethan's turn.  He was assigned the topic:  How to Stand Up to a Bully.

On Friday, during our usual scripture scavenger hunt, I had Ethan write his talk instead...all by himself. Wanting to help him and to get him started, I told Ethan that I had the perfect scripture story for him.  One that I love.  But I didn't get that far because he just as excitedly told me that he had a story he wanted to use, his favorite:  David and Goliath.   I guess my story of Nehemiah and Sandballot will have to wait for another day.

He was a cutie and sat at our computer and didn't ask for my help once.  I was a little surprised by this.  Actually, I think I helped him find the story in the Old Testament.  That was it.

So, as I tend to do, I got distracted and went about my stuff that day.  It wasn't until I sat down at the computer later and saw his talk saved on the desktop that I read it.  And boy was my mommy heart smiling.  The way he applied the story was phenomenal and I had no idea he could make those connections.

Here was his connection, I mostly left them in his words:

"David stood up to a bully, even though he was smaller, because he was bigger on the inside because he had faith and goliath didn’t.  If you get bullied tell a adult because an adult is like your faith and your faith can beat a bully. Think of the story of david and goliath."

For a 10 year old, I thought this was ah-mazing!  

You Weren't Raised in a Barn

That was a phrase I heard when I was growing up.  Oh, it was never directed at me of course, but for sure at my siblings.  lol.

The funny thing is that I have heard myself saying that exact same thing to my kiddos.

Manners.  I truly believe they are the greatest service we can do for others.  Manners really don't impact ourselves but are for other people.  I mean, if I chew with my mouth open I can't really see the food.  But, you, sitting across from me would see the food.  See, it's for you not me.

We have been teaching our kiddos manners since seriously before they could speak.  Truly.  I know because I taught them a few sign language signs that included:  Please, Thank You, More, Milk.  (Because my boys were so close in age, I needed my oldest son [still a baby himself] to be able to communicate with me after his brother was born.)

Fast forward about a decade later and I still was wanting to pull my hair out at some of their "social graces" at the dinner table.  I couldn't take it.  Most especially the open mouth chewing.  Really they aren't that bad, but I can.not.handle.the.chewing.with.your.mouth.open.while.you.have.food.in.there!!!  (That also applies to gum.)

I honestly once stopped dating a guy because he didn't chew with his mouth closed.

To say this is a pet peeve is understated.

So, I read an idea online and knew I had to try it.  

I pulled out this little guy from our Pass the Pigs game.  I told my kiddos that for every eating infringement they would get the pig passed to them.  (Only Mom and Dad are allowed to determine that the pig gets passed.)  And, the person left holding the pig at the end of dinner has to clear the table.  

Of course they wanted to know what would happen if I still had the pig at the end of dinner.  I told them that I would happily clear the table and smile the whole time because it meant they were learning manners.

To my great surprise, the "game" has worked.  And it worked quickly!  I don't think it even took one full week before I was left with the pig at the end of dinner.  And, now it happens consistently.  I am so excited at the progress I have seen in my kiddos.  Unfortunately, if they aren't paying attention they revert back to old habits.  We need to make manners the new habit.

And, Laney for sure loves it and is always getting the pig out if I forget.

Hopefully, my kiddos will never have to be asked if there were raised in a barn again!

In Case of Fire

People always say, "What would you grab in case of a fire?"

Now I know.

Thanks to some people who decided to go target shooting in the dry brush on the mountain right by my house, now I know.

I grabbed my scrapbooks and clothes and makeup.  Scrapbooks because I don't feel like they can be replaced and clothes and makeup for our immediate needs.

On Thursday, June 21st, on my way home from a brunch with a friend, we noticed a fire.  It surely hadn't been there when we left.   It was hard not to be distracted by the fire and it's dancing orange flames for the rest of the day.

This is my friend's picture.  By the time I got my camera out the flames were gone.  

Maybe I felt a little tinge of worry; I am a worrier after all. But no one else seemed worried.

In fact, my friend who lives at the bottom of the street across from the field on fire set up a lemonade stand: her boys, and some neighbor kids including my daughter.  Because she lives as the bottom of the street, she had a great vantage point to see the fire and people kept coming there to see what was happening.



She had all the kiddos split the money.  I was shocked when Laney came home with $3.25 for her portion.


 The next morning after aerobics, the flames and massive black smoke made it impossible to ignore.  Still no one seemed worried.  I came home and went about our normal Friday morning routine.  The boys were doing their Scripture Scavenger Hunt and I was helping Laney with her math when the phone call came.

We were being evacuated.

A mandatory evacuation.

Word on the street is that had the fire headed in the direction of our houses, it would have been here in 9 minutes.  (I found this out later.)

We all jumped into motion.  I had the kids put their scriptures in the car.  And from there they were pretty much the most amazing children ever!  They did what needed to be done, without fighting.  And they were so helpful to me.  I loved it and took a moment to watch their teamwork with my mommy heart smiling.  It was really fun to me to see what they brought and thought was important.  I loved that Ty reminded everyone to get church clothes.  I also loved that Ty was the one who reminded me of our non-member neighbors that should be told.  And, he was the one who grabbed my wedding picture off the wall.  Laney grabbed my jewelry.  And Ethan was the one who grabbed clothes for Steve.

Having the church in this situation was amazing.  I received a phone call from my Visiting Teacher (a sister assigned to visit me once a month) checking on me to make sure I knew and I also called the sisters I visit teach in turn.  A system.  I love it.  Ironically when I moved to Utah about 17 years ago, I didn't realize we were right on a fault line.  But, I would ask myself, "Who is going to come find me in an earthquake?"  I think because I didn't have any family out here at that time, I was always assessing.

During the time we were packing up, I was able to see the gospel in motion.  People kept stopping by to make sure we knew and to see if we needed anything.  One of my neighbors even thought to ask me if I knew how to turn off our gas because it had been recommended.  I saw neighbors checking on other neighbors.  It was great to see.  And, it was my 11 year-old son who remembered to go tell our non member neighbor.  I was so proud of him.

Silly me, I know, but I had to shower first before we left.  I knew we weren't in imminent danger. So, it took us a lot longer to leave the neighborhood than everyone else.  Did I  mention that I did the dishes and made my bed.  I thought if I were going to imagine flames engulfing my house, I wanted to know that my bed was made.  It seemed like a ghost town as we were on our way out:  kids were no where to be seen, mom's weren't out watching their little toddlers play, there were no cars in the driveways...it was a little eerie.

This was the string of cars on the road as we were trying to leave.  I usually don't see this many cars on this road ever!  And, especially not at this time of morning.

After talking with Steve, we decided to meet up at Red Robin's for lunch.  While we were there he surprised us with tickets to see Disney's new movie Brave.  Afterwards we went to his parents house (who were out-of-town) until the evacuation order was lifted.  Officials recommended keeping cars packed in case of a middle-of-the-night evacuation.  We did.  I actually went to bed that night fully expecting to be evacuated during the middle of the night.  Around 11 p.m., Steve and I stepped outside to see the flames and they were amazing.  And higher than I thought they would be.  And closer, than I thought they would be.

I went to bed that night praying for a boring night.

I have decided boring is great.

This picture was taken by my friend from a house on my street.

This was quite the experience.  Over all it took four helicopters, an air tanker, five hand crews including three "hot shot" groups, numerous fire engines and 200 firefighters to battle the fire.  And even more firefighters were expected to join those already fighting.  A big thanks to those men and women who worked tirelessly and around-the-clock to ensure the safety of our lives and our homes.


Now I know what I would grab in case of fire...

Birthday Manna

My husband has the best sister-in-law ever!

It also doesn't hurt that she kinda looks like me!

Look what she sent him on his birthday:  Georgetown Cupcake!!!

Our family loves to watch the cooking shows and Cupcake Wars is one of our favorites.  Well, the owner of the Sweet Tooth Fairy won one of the episodes from our very own state of Utah.   Thus, Steve wanted to try them.

After one trip home to Maryland where Paige had treated us to these sweet treats, I asked people on Facebook what cupcake bakery they liked in Utah.  The Sweet Tooth Fairy seemed to be the popular choice.  So I tried them.  I thought they in no way compared to DC Cupcake (aka Georgetown Cupcake).

Steve wasn't with us in Maryland at that point in the trip so he missed out for sure.  But, fast forward about two years later, Paige wanted to know what Steve thought of DC Cupcake.  So, with a magic click of her mouse a dozen of these sweet treats showed up on our doorstep!

Yea sis!  You get the sister-in-law of the year award.  I had to keep telling myself they were for Steve, for his birthday.  Luckily he loves me and shared with me.

He thought they were good and that some flavors he liked better from DC Cupcake and others from The Sweet Tooth Fairy.   But, he says he really thinks he needs to taste DC Cupcake fresh.

Ummm....I am sure that can be arranged sweetie!

DaMudEaters

It was a giant playground for adults.  And, our little ones too.

On June 2nd, we had so much fun participating in our first Dirty Dash.  DaMudEaters was our team name.

I seriously couldn't capture the spirit of the race the way the website did.  So here are their words describing the race:

ABOUT THE DIRTY DASH

Have you ever said to yourself, “Marathons are too easy, and Triathlons are for sissies?”

We haven’t either…those races are really hard. Think about it…the first person to run a marathon actually died.  HE DIED!...and he probably didn’t even have fun along the way!

Well, welcome to a new kind of race: THE DIRTY DASH.  This race that puts all other races to shame.  The Dirty Dash is a mud run obstacle course where a military boot camp meets your inner five-year-old’s fantasy and subsequently converts boy to man and then man to swine. 

You’ll need endurance to trudge up mountains of sludge, courage to overcome uncompromising obstacles, a complete lack of shame to wallow in pits of mud and a smile to show through at the end!

So let this mud run obstacle course become your new guilty pleasure. Go solo or with some of your dirtiest, filthiest, & uncouth friends.  Either way, you’ll be able to look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am a Dirty Dasher!”… and then proceed to clean yourself off.  

Here is the beautiful race course in Soldier Hollow (where the cross country skiing was during the 2002 Olympics).  The kiddos were watching some of the early runners during the Dirty Dash.

Trying not to fall in the slippery mud.

Tyler, Ethan, and Alayna ran the Piglet Plunge.  And they LOVED it! They ran it according to age, so Steve ran with the boys and I ran with Laney along with the camera.  Laney did a fabulous job!  She ran so much of it with her mom yelling, "Laney, wait!"  Her little agile body could weave in and out of the other runners.    She wanted to run the whole thing.

 After running the course with Alayna, I thought to myself that the boys might be a little disappointed that it was short and not a ton of obstacles.  Luckily for them, some of the kids running in front of them veered off course and they ended up running far more than they were suppose to.  They didn't mind.

I am pretty sure I heard them asking if they could do it next year.

Making the race even more fun was meeting up with my friend and her family.  We ran most of the race with them.  I loved it.  Her boys were hilarious and their costumes too.  We didn't get to see them at the end, because Steve and I had taken the "shortcut."  We were a little worried about leaving our children.  And, then we realized how hot it was and how sunburned Ethan was getting so we left to get some water and sunblock before Kelly and her family were finished.  How did we not have those with us?

There was no salvaging the clothes or shoes.  So you can donate them.

They actually do clean up the shoes before they are donated.