Love of my life

Every year as summer approaches I think about the summer of 2001, when I met the man of my dreams.  I had noticed Jason around the apartment complex I lived in and wanted to get to know him, but had just started dating someone else.  My roommates joked with me that I'd never settle down with anyone because I was so "boy crazy".
When Jason and I finally started dating I was amazed that I had found someone who had the same goals and aspirations that I did.  We'd talk for hours, sometimes until the early hours of morning.  He'd make me laugh and every moment with him was fun and exciting.  He was always the perfect gentleman...so much that I started wondering if we were really just good friends.  I was working two jobs at the time, so I couldn't see him as often as I would have liked.  I found myself constantly thinking of his smile, his laugh and wanting more time with him.  I still cannot believe how quickly I fell in love.  I remember getting back to my apartment one night after he had broached the subject of marriage and I cried.  I had never been so happy before in all of my life.
We were young.  I was really young.  I was 19 when we decided we wanted to spend eternity together.  Some of my friends told me I was crazy.  I didn't care what anyone thought, I was in love and looking forward to our life together.  We knew we wanted kids right away.  We also knew that I'd stay home and raise them.  I never thought we'd get rude questions or outright insults about this decision, but we did.  Once again what everyone else thought didn't matter.
We started our little family and of course life became hectic.  We were thrown some curve balls within just a few years, but we always felt happy and blessed to have each other.  The man who performed our marriage in the Provo, Utah Temple talked to us before we went into the sealing room for our ceremony.  He was sweet and told us that he could see we were in love.  He promised us that our love would grow and we'd be amazed by it.  I honestly thought I couldn't ever love Jason more than I did at that moment.  But he was right, I am more in love with Jason now than I have ever been before.  10 years later and I still love this time of year and all that it means to me.

A Springtime Tradition

The kids started expressing interest in running races when our elementary school announced their first 5K and 1 Mile Run for Technology last year.  We all participated and ran some other races together that summer,  beginning a new family tradition.  I love getting out and encouraging the kids to stay healthy and active.  It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite traditions. Ironic though, since I hate running!

We were all quite excited when our school announced the 2nd annual run for technology.  I loved being more involved this year, as I helped out in organizing the event.  Matt was very excited when a picture he drew and colored was chosen to be on posters throughout the school announcing the race.  

On the day of the race it was a bit chilly and windy, but that's what you come to expect in these parts this time of year.  Everyone had a great time, running and cheering for each other.  Jason finished the 5K in 21:46, his best time yet.  William finished in 32 minutes, just a couple minutes later than last year.  Matt and Rachel ran in the 1 mile race without stopping for anything, their little legs going as fast as they could.  Owen hung out in his stroller, content to sit still and snack on fruit roll-ups.  I ran around helping where I could and managed to get a few pictures...

My Ellis Island Experience

Oh, the things we do for our kids...

The kids and I were headed home after piano lessons when William reminded me that tonight was the immigration open house at school.  In PACE he's been studying immigration all year.  He's worked hard and was quite excited to go to school tonight and participate in a mock-up of the Ellis Island experience.

I figured Owen would be grumpy so I was kicking myself for not getting a babysitter, but that's what happens when I forget to write these things on the calendar.  I was right, he was a very angry little guy.  It didn't help that the lines were chaotic at best and he doesn't like crowds.  I wanted to leave, but tried my best to keep a smile on my face and let William know that I really did want to be there and participate with him.

The best part of the evening was getting my new identity.  I was Maria Milano, an 88 year-old Italian woman.  I was illiterate, had arthritis and was so weak I was considered to be barely alive.  I had to act out my part in several stations.  It didn't take long after the health station for them to decide I would be deported.  So back to Italy I would go within 24 days after arriving in Ellis Island.

The local news was there and you can see a quick news clip here.  Owen and I are in the background, but it's not very easy to spot us.

Another trip to West Yellowstone

Our family loves West Yellowstone!  When we woke up yesterday morning we didn't have any plans but knew we wanted to get out for the day.  We quickly decided to head back to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center with some good friends of ours.
This time around the kids fed the grizzly bears, which they've never done before.  The grizzlies were taken out while the kids took little buckets of food and hid it under rocks and wood piles.  Then the kids were taken out and the grizzlies let back in.  The kids couldn't wait to see if the grizzlies would find the food they had hidden.  It was only a couple bucks per kid and so worth it!  They loved it.  A couple of the bears actually got a bit territorial while scavenging for food and growled at each other.  What a crazy, creepy sound!  I hope to never hear that terrifying sound in the wild!

When we were finished watching the animals we headed to our favorite candy store in West Yellowstone.  They make the most delicious chocolate and caramel apples and I find myself craving them all the time.  I cannot leave West Yellowstone without getting one, every time.  The candy store was closed though, so we tried out a little ice cream shop nearby that our friends recommended.  Of course I ordered Montana huckleberry and it was SO good!  I've had a lot of huckleberry ice cream and have never been disappointed, but this was definitely the best.

Easter festivities

This has been a great Easter weekend and we've made a few changes to our past traditions.  We decided all of our activities revolving around bunnies, candy and eggs would take place before Sunday.  We also encouraged the kids this morning to remember that this holiday is all about love.  We believe Jesus Christ suffered and died for us out of love.  We talked about service we can do for those around us, especially in our own home.  The kids have been at each other's throats bickering a lot lately, so we'd really like to see more love between them.

Instead of an egg hunt this year the kids had fun beating up an egg pinata.  They loved it and even Owen got in on the action! I think every year we'll switch off between an egg hunt and pinata.  The Easter bunny actually dropped off gifts while the kids were outside playing after dinner Saturday night.  They were quite surprised and excited.   It was fun to watch them play with their new toys and pig out on candy.  While playing with toys Owen actually learned some new words.  I was taking pictures of him and told him to say "cheese".  Of course I didn't expect him to actually say it, but he surprised us all and said it with an huge, adorable grin on his face.  William was playing with him while I was taking pictures and Owen did his best to say William's name, "Wawa".  Jason asked Owen if he could say "I love you".  Next thing we knew he was trying his best to say that as well, pronouncing it "O you".  What a cutie!

The Family

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of The Family: A Proclamation to the World, until yesterday...

Yesterday morning I knew I had too much to do in the little time I would have to accomplish it all.  I felt completely discouraged and it was only 7am!  I turned on the Mormon Channel so I could listen to something uplifting as I made breakfast for hungry tummies, prepared school lunches and started on the huge mountain of laundry awaiting my attention.  I found a two-part discussion on The Proclamation and decided to give it a try.  I learned so much, especially practical application for my family that I just hadn't noticed or thought of before.

I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the tools and resources we've been given to help us in our daily lives.  Julie B. Beck talked about the endowment we all receive when we go to the temple and how we're immediately given the power to build eternal families.  I never thought about my endowment in that way before, I've thought of it more as a future promise.  I realized how much I lean on my own capabilities (which are never enough), forgetting that I have access to power from on high. I need to ask for it much more often.

I definitely recommend listening to these discussions.  You can find the first part here.

Conference Weekend

Wow, keeping the kids relatively quiet for conference was tough this year.  I don't know what it was, but they were a lot more rowdy than they've been in the past.  The Sunday afternoon session was, by far, the craziest.  During the closing prayer Owen was pulling on me and yelling at the top of his lungs.  He is one persistent child!
We talked to the kids about conference before they went to bed and asked them what they remembered.  I loved hearing them re-tell something that was said in conference, usually one of the real-life stories that was shared.  It's such a relief to know they do actually hear what is said and some of it sticks with them. It's always fun to hear what specifically stuck with each child.  It feels like a sneak peak into what their strengths will be one day.

And of course we took lots of pictures.