Mirror Lake

We finally made it camping this year. After a traumatic camping experience when Bridger was a few months old, I swore we would NEVER go again.  It was traumatic only for me, the boys had a ball.  But with baby Bridger, who didn't sleep for 2 days or nights (aside from 20 minute cat naps) and who rolled around in the dirt, eating every twig and rock in sight and licking the ground like it was ice cream, I could only take so much of the "great outdoors" before I wanted to fake my own death just to get out of there.  It has only taken me about 4 years to recuperate.  Not bad.  I figured we could try again now that Bridger is upright, walking and not snacking on dirt.

We decided to try out Mirror Lake in the Uinta mountain range in Utah. 

 Here's Hayden and Dad, setting up the tent. 

 Such concentration!

 We had barely set up the tent, when the boys all said they were just exhausted and needed a nap.  Huh?! I've never heard that phrase come out of their mouths before. But I surmised they wanted to try out their sleeping bags and sleeping quarters.

 Yup.  Everything seems to be in working order.  Good thing they checked. :)

 The lake was freezing, but that didn't stop them from hopping in. What's a little lower body numbness when you're having fun?

  

 Hey look!  It's Ranger Rick.  Good thing he was around to make sure we all stayed safe.

 Ooooh, a creature of some sort.  Turned out to be a leach.  Eww.

 Swimming in skivvies.  That's right. I'm THAT kind of mom. Don't be a hater.

A rare moment of brotherly love.

 Cutting some firewood.

 A bunch of goofballs...

 the goofiness continues...

 Enjoying a row on the lake.

 Gannon spotted a trout in the creek and Hayden jumped in, wrestled around for a bit and caught it with his BARE hands.  For reals, people.  I watched it all go down with my own eyes. Hayden's got cat-like reflexes that are a sight to behold.

 Smores!

 

Roasting the marshmellow to burned perfection.

Expertly blowing out the flames.

 

Reaping the rewards of a Smore well done.

 

 

 My motley crew.

 

Completely beat after the weekend.

Football

Hayden and Gannon played spring flag football.  They loved it, but I'm sad to say I didn't take any pictures of the games until Hayden's very last one.  I'm blaming my lack of picture taking on the weather.  It was horrid and freezing and 90% of the games were played in 40 degree weather.  My soul purpose at the games was to keep myself and Bridger warm enough to last through all four quarters.  We made it, but just barely. :)

Ahh, warm weather.  It was a treat to watch in short sleeves.

 Eying up the competition.

 He is completely focuses on that red flag.  Look at that face!

Triumph!  Way to concentrate, Hayds!

Birthday Boys

April is an anticipated month at our house, with 2 out of the 3 boys having a birthday.  Bridger turned the big "4" this year and was "willy, willy" happy about this.  He looks dubious in the picture below, but the emotion he was really feeling was elation at such a fantastic cake.  I promise.  This was my first attempt at Mormor's famous Mandarin Orange birthday cake, and although it doesn't look as pretty as hers always did, it tasted delicious.

He's going through a horse phase and wants to know what every horse we see is called.  He'll shout out as we drive past horse pastures, "Mom, that horse has a blaze!" or "Look at that horse's stockings!".

A new helmet to go with his new scooter.  We must protect the ol' noggin.

Bionicles!  We were hoping that by giving him his own, it would stop him from sneaking into Hayden and Gannon's room and stealing their Bionicles.  This kid is as stealthy as a ninja.

Hayden is 9!!  Stop the madness! I know, I can hardly believe it either.  Where has the time gone?  It seems like just yesterday I was sending him off to Kindergarten and now he's reading books like Harry Potter all on his own.

 

Proud owner of a Flash Rider 360.

Hayden begged to have the same cake that Bridger had, but alas, the second time was not the charm.  The frosting was a little thin and wasn't cooperating and the oranges kept slowly sliding down the sides.  But we carried on anyway and Hayden didn't seem to mind.

Jeremy's birthday was the day of our move in February, hence all the moving boxes in the background.  So festive, I know.  I go all out.

Happy Birthday to all these boys!

I love to see the temple

While unpacking after our move, I came across some boxes of photos that I'd forgotten about.  These little gems from a primary trip to the Denver temple were uncovered.

When we went last year, I'll admit I wasn't looking forwarded to getting the boys all dressed up in Sunday clothes (on a Saturday), driving an hour, and then trying to help them be reverent for an hour tour around the Denver temple grounds.  However, I'm so glad we made the effort because it was a neat experience and strengthened my testimony of the power and purpose of the temple.  To be able to feel the spirit so strongly by just being outside of the temple, it's wonderful to know that even greater blessings await us when we enter the temple.

Easter

Kaisa, Keaton and Carter came to visit us for Easter.  We had a fun-filled weekend dying eggs using silk neck ties and natural ingredients like cabbage, turmeric and beets.  Quite the experiment and as you can tell by my expression below, we were shocked at how well the tie's pattern transferred onto the egg.

Here's Kaisa modeling her beautiful egg, wrapped expertly in cabbage leaves.  Notice her stylish belt made from cut up neck ties. Always the fashionista.  On the other hand, please disregard my humongous mu-mu t-shirt that I stole from Jeremy, and that I wear to bed.  Yes, Kaisa got dressed for the day and I did not.  Don't judge me.

Isn't that blue egg awesome? It looks like leaf imprints, but the pattern is from an ugly blue striped tie.  Apparently, the uglier the tie, the better the egg!

The boys displaying our creations.

I'm slightly obsessed with how cool these eggs are.  And the adorable chubby hand that's holding it.

The hunt is on.

Look at that face.  You would never guess what's in store from that sweet innocent look on Keaton's face.  But brace yourself for the next photo...

Ewwwww.  I tried to warn you.  Good thing his grandpa and uncle are dentists because he's going to need it. :)

I'm sorry about all the graphic pictures.  But we were working with FIVE boys...this was bound to happen.

Like I said, just keeping it real.

Carter and Hayden wanted to take pictures of us moms. We started out like this....

And then threw in a few super model poses.  Because we could.

It all went downhill from there...

Kaisa decided to dislodge her jaw for the sake of a fantastic photograph. What a giver.

 
  Love the little blue eyes peeking over Kaisa's shoulder.

Who are the drama queens here?  We told the boys to give us their best pouting faces and this is what results. Keaton and Carter are quietly sad and Hayden and Gannon are lamenting and wailing as if their toe nails are being pulled off.  What goofballs!

Feel the Burn

You don't need a fancy gym to keep in shape, just a pair of pink dumb bells and a whole lotta heart. This was an impromptu workout session amid all the moving boxes.

 

 

Feeeeeeel the burn!

 

 

I never look this happy when I'm working out.  I've got to take notes!

Christmas

Christmas was a blur for me this year.  I look back and don't really remember it happening.  It's a good thing I took some pictures, so my boys will have some memories of the day.  Sadly, My mom passed away on December 21st, after a year long battle with Pancreatic cancer.  Even as I type this, it doesn't seem real that she is no longer here.  I'll think of something funny I want to tell her and then all of sudden it dawns on me that I can't just call her up.  This has happened repeatedly overly the past month and it shocks me every time when I remember that she is gone.

Even though my heart is heavy, I'm grateful that she isn't suffering any longer, that she is now free from pain, both in body and spirit.  I feel eternal gratitude for the Savior.  I've always believed in the atonement and thought I understood what it meant.  But since my Mom has died, I am achingly aware and have a deeper understanding of what the Atonement means to me personally.  I can't adequately express the gratitude I feel to my Savior, that he would suffer and descend below all things and die, so that we might live again and be reunited with our family for eternity. I know that this is true and it brings me immeasurable peace and comfort to know that I will see my mother again.

I was asked to write her life sketch for her funeral.  It was such an overwhelming, daunting task, but extremely cathartic at the same time.  I spent days reading through 5 binders, filled with her journals and letters from her life.  I've read through good portions of these binders in the past, but not all of them completely, and I felt like I really came to know and understand her more as I read about her life in her own words. We had more in common than I ever thought and my one regret is that I never truly appreciated her while she was here.

In reflecting on her life, I remembered so many little things that I loved about her.  She was a great listener and seemed to really enjoy it when I told her about something happening in my life.  She made me feel like I was witty and interesting and I always knew that if I wanted to share something, she would be a willing ear.  I loved her giggle.  I mostly told her my stories just so I could hear her laugh.  It just kind of bubbled up and her whole face lit up.  She never forgot a birthday, even Jeremy's or the boys birthdays.  Even when she was in such pain right before she passed away, she still had Gannon's birthday on her mind and she wanted to make sure that she gave him something and that all of the boys had a gift from her on Christmas.


I love her for all of these little things and for her example to me of perseverance, strength and unwavering faith.  I feel blessed that she was my mother.  I love you, Mom.  You will be dearly missed.