Catching Up

So much has happened this past week...so, here's the scoop...first of all on Richard's health...

Richard had a check-up with his cardiologist this week and everything looks great. There doesn't seem to be any complications with the device they used to close the hole in his heart. We are so happy!! He also received results from his CT scans and everything looks great. Still cancer free. We are so grateful. We always feel a little bit stressed every time his scans come around, but we feel so blessed that everything turned out to be normal. Thanks to all of you for your prayers on our behalf. In September Richard will be two years out of treatment and we are so glad everything is still looking good.


Richard had a stake camp with the Young Men on Thursday night. So, you know the saying..while the cat is away...the kids and I went to play. We went to the Mayan Adventure with my Mom and sister Casey. The kids loved it and well, it is interesting for sure. I don't know what to call them, actors (maybe?) roam around speaking some crazy language and interacting with the kids. The whole idea was a little freaky to me, but hey the kids loved it and were entertained for a couple of hours. I guess that is what counts.


Richard came home on Friday afternoon and we packed up for the annual Bud Campout. This is an activity we look forward to every year, because we camp and hang out with lots of our friends from high school. So many people think it is crazy that after 13 years we still keep in touch with so many of our high school friends, but it really is just the greatest time with some of our most cherished friends. This year we "camped out" in the Blake's backyard because there are quite a few of us that are pregnant. The Blake's live on an acre of land in Saratoga Springs, so everyone just set their tents up in their backyard. I was so proud of myself because at 7 1/2 months pregnant I slept in the tent! We laughed lots, ate smores and the kids enjoyed playing together. We also had an awesome group breakfast together (thanks men). The guys enjoyed playing volleyball, while us girls sat and chatted. Already looking forward to next year...











We got to hang out with my sister Ashley and her husband Keith on Saturday night for our ritual game playing night. We haven't been able to get together as much lately, so it was good to play again. We had a great time and the kids always love it when they come over.


I am realizing that I really am losing my mind being pregnant. On Sunday morning I was so hot...seriously. I was sweating getting ready for church. Richard chalked it up to my hot showers. I realize that I take hot showers, but it didn't seem any hotter than normal. Anyway, after church I was still dying of heat when all the sudden I realized that I had turned off the air when my sister was cold the night before and never turned it back on. The house was 82 degrees by that time. Thank goodness I don't have to give up my showers! =) I also found myself squinting the whole day yesterday and couldn't figure out why. I just kept thinking my contact prescription must be wrong. When I went to take out my contacts that night, I realized I had only put one contact in and never even thought about it as I was squinting. I guess I 'm not functioning at full capacity.


Just a funny note to end on. Karissa was throwing one of her usual tantrums this past week. While she was throwing her fit I turned to Sam and said, "What are we going to do with her?" He came and whispered in my ear, "The person you need is Nanny McPhee." It made me laugh so hard. Just what I needed in that stressful moment, and will probably only be funny to you if you have seen the movie...so if not pick it up and enjoy!

Thoughts on SF

"No city invites the heart to come to life as San Francisco does. Arrival in San Francisco is an experience in living"~William Saroyan

San Francisco was such a blast!! We had such a wonderful time laughing, shopping, eating, spending time with family and so on. There truly is no place on earth like San Fran. Some reflections and favorite memories from the trip:

-Eating at the Cheesecake Factory in the Macy's building in downtown San Francisco (picture of me alone above taken from the CF terrrace). I didn't think it could live up to all the hype my sister gave it -- but absolutely the best food I've had in a long time. I already can't wait to eat there again. Seriously, it was that good. Mmmmmm.

-Seeing Paul, Sherri and their boys sealed in the temple. Such a great experience that made me reflect on my own family and how grateful I am we are forever! When it all comes down to it, you realize that what really matters in this life is family and the gospel.

-Totally relying on public transportation to get around downtown. Sure better than driving in all the crazy California traffic. What an adventure -- thanks Ian.

-Shopping downtown San Francisco. So fun, so many great stores, so close together. The three floor Old Navy and Gap Stores were pretty awesome too. (And, I only spent $30!!)

-Getting to hang out with most of my extended family on Saturday afternoon after the temple and realizing how wonderful they are and how much I love them. Honestly, I have not laughed that hard in a six hour time frame in a long time. Good times...

-Mostly, this trip made me realize how blessed I am to have my wonderful husband who watched the kids so I could go off and enjoy myself for a weekend. I just can't get over how amazing he is and how much I love him. Being away from him for 4 days made me realize that vacations just aren't the same without him, and after 10 years he is still my very favorite person in the whole world to be with. Lucky me!!

Hoping that all of you get a chance to rejuvenate and relax with some of your favorite people out there soon in some place wonderful....

Summer is Here!

Well, I officially survived the first real day of summer. I know summer doesn't officially start until the 21st but with all of the kids home (and the weather for casted to hit 100 this week!) it sure feels like summer. I think Kaela is surviving being home all day too. Yesterday we got up and made a to do list book. We came up with several items that she and Sam need to accomplish everyday. Then we took the books to the copy store and had them bound. Hopefully it will get the kids motivated to get some worthwhile things accomplished this summer. We'll see...

I also had a great weekend!! I somehow found the motivation to get things done that I have been putting off for a while. I finally got the girls closets cleaned out and organized. Bye-Bye winter clothes, and clothes thrown in spots they should not be. There is just something about an organized space that makes me happy! I had to go open Kaela's armoire several times after it was clean...which made me realize how organizing something just makes you feel empowered (I know many of you are laughing at me right now). Richard had been camping with Sam on Friday but when he came home realized his dream of spending Saturday's organizing was happening and so he cleaned out the garage. He moved everything out of one side and literally scrubbed the floor of the garage. That floor is so clean you could eat off of it. It felt great to get things done. Usually when Richard brings these sort of ideas up to me I tell him Saturday is a day to get out. I still love getting out but I do love the feeling of getting a big project done (well, at least I love it when it is done!).

I also got quite a few creative projects done. I made my friend Tennisa some baby bows and a bracelet for her new baby Isabella. They turned out cute and made me excited to make some for my own baby. I was able to hang out with my girlfriends from high school on Saturday. We had such a great time. There is something about these friends that always makes me feel refreshed and happy. These are my friends that I can just laugh at everything with and be myself. I always feel better after spending time with them. While hanging out I finished a mini scrapbook that I had purchased a while ago. It turned out really cute.

I finally got my wall finished that I had bought vinyl for five months ago. Richard helped me center it last night and I love it!!! I finally got to Rod Works to buy picture frames (thanks Tennisa and Allison). This one wasn't the one I was planning on buying, but I like it even better. I think it goes really great with the vinyl. Now I just have to get the girls room finished that I bought pictures for 5 months ago. I guess you can understand why I get so excited about a project completed!

I am getting so excited for my trip to San Francisco this weekend. I can't wait to see family and hang out with my Mom and siblings. Besides Richard they truly are my best friends and I love spending time with them. So grateful for Richard for being so supportive of me and encouraging me to go on this trip. What a wonderful Father's Day gift he is getting -- a chance to spend the weekend alone with the kids! I am sure I am going to owe him plenty of game/camping nights after this. But, I am excited to see Paul and Sherri (my uncle and aunt) sealed. It is going to be so wonderful.

Eight is Great

"Recall it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears you out. "

-libbie fudim

There comes a time in every parents life when you realize you have become those people that you once thought were old...that happened for us this weekend. Kaela was baptized on Saturday!!! I really can hardly believe that we are old enough to have an eight year old daughter.

The day started out a little rough. Kaela woke up with the stomach flu and was pretty sick. I asked her if we should wait until July for her baptism, but she said no. Richard gave her a blessing and we all got ready. Kaela was still sick on the way over to the stake center, but once we got there she was fine. She made it through the whole baptism, smiling (actually beaming) and all. Once we got home she went to sleep, but when she woke up she was as good as new. She was so beautiful at her baptism and we are so proud of her. We also enjoyed having our families over for lunch afterward. We feel blessed by the love and support they constantly show us.

We have often commented on how grateful we are that Kaela is our first child. She is such a good example to her younger brother and sister. She has a zest for life and for the gospel. She loves to read her scriptures, write in her journal, and sing primary songs. She even cried on our vacation when we couldn't go to church (hope that lasts in her teenage years!). I have often commented that she gets that trait from Richard, his parents have commented that his convictions were similar at the same age. She gave the family home evening lesson last week and I had to fight back tears because of the wonderful job that she did. I am just so grateful for her and her sweet little spirit.

My earliest memory of Kaela loving the gospel was from about the age of 18 months, when she just fell in love with the nativity story. You never saw such a young child taking such good care of little figures. People were always afraid that she would break pieces, but I always assured them that she was more careful than most adults! She has since acquired around 10 nativities, most of them gifts from family members who saw how much she loved them. I can say that she has never broken one piece and always has at least one displayed in her room.

Kaela, we love you so much and hope you always have the same convictions and light about you. You continually amaze us with your goodness. We are so proud of you and the wonderful daughter that you are.