Day 9

A photo I took:

This is one of my favorites of all time - we used it for Cole's birth announcement.

Day 8

A picture that makes me happy:

I had to show the sequence. As I looked back through some old photos, I giggle every time I see these pics or even remember the moment in time! Hunter was 10 months old and we were visiting my parents in Kansas. He kept crawling over and bugging our dog Ginger, who was SUPER old at this point in time, and I kept moving him away. Well, Ginger finally got up to go get some food/drink and Hunter crawled slowly over to the dog bed. He looked at me and gave me this look of "are you going to stop me again?" I didn't move - so he took the plunge. HE ATTACKED the dog bed... rubbing his face in it, tossing it up in the air, kicking it.... it was the funniest, side busting event ever. I wish we had had a video camera - obviously, pictures don't do it justice - but, ohhhhhhh, that was FUNNY!

Day 7

A photo that makes me happy:

I LOVE THESE BOYS!

Day 6

20 of my favorite things:

Shayne
my kids
daily talk with Lara
clean house
kids doing chores, without me behind them
being with family
my bike
6am bikerides in the summer
taking pictures and loving the pic!
my home
watching Danny on the trampoline
hearing Hunter and Cole playing "imagination" together
Jackson Hole
going to the gym with my girlfriends
Extra Gum - Berry Pearadise
Marshmallows
Berries
Utah summer evenings
Going to the grocery store without kids
Playing piano or clarinet - either one is a luxury these days.

Day 5

My Favorite Quote(s):

"It'll all stop hurting, when it all goes away." -my dad

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:..." -Eccl. 3:1

Both of these come to mind often - especially being a mother to young children!

Day 4

My Favorite Book:

This is tough. I really love to read! My most recent "top picks" are A Thousand Splendid Suns and Roots. I felt very changed after reading A Thousand Splendid Suns - I felt empowered by being a woman. It was a very eye-opening book and I felt like I got a glimmer of what is happening in the Mid-East. I felt like a changed person when I finished that book.

As for Roots, that is what I read last and I thought it was amazing. Not just the story - but the overall message of the book - "Remember who you are, and where you came from." Not only did I find myself thinking about my ancestry (geneology), but I also thought about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Truly knowing and understanding who I am and where I am from--it changes my perspective and my actions. I found myself questioning myself, "Do I really remember who I am on a daily basis? Do my actions reflect that knowledge?" Once again, I felt like a changed person when I finished that book, too.

Now for two other books that I HAVE to mention:

The Book of Mormon - I don't read it enough. But when I do, I know I am being spiritually fed. It seems like the "sunday school" answer to this question - but really, what other book has had such a significance in my life? None. Every time I open it, there is something new for me to ponder and learn. I am grateful for it and I can not imagine my life without it.

On Becoming Babywise - (by Gary Ezzo) - random, I know. But, this book saved me after I had Hunter. It became my handbook with each of my children. I know some people are strongly against the advice in this book, but it worked for me and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Cole's soccer season starter

Yesterday, Cole had his first soccer game of the fall season. He burst into tears as we were walking out the door when he figured out it wasn't the same team as last spring. Luckily he cheered up when he saw his buddy, Kash, on the team!

The best part of the game was what happened on the sideline. Cole would sort-of run and played pretty good on the field (especially when you consider how much he DID NOT do last spring). But, Hunter was the coach for the evening. Here are a few of the things Hunter said:

• "Cole, you've got to run REALLY, REALLY fast. Like you are running after a THOUSAND dollars - do you know how fast that is?"
• "Cole, I'm downloading super powers, here you go (and then the pass-off to the wrists where all downloads go).""
• Cole, I was wrong about the green lightening, that's the speed of a turtle. You need blue lightening. Be as fast as blue lightening, it's the FASTEST."
• "I think I gave you the wrong powers, here are new and better ones."
• "Cole, do you need batteries? Here are some batteries (imaginary batteries were passed off and Cole plugged them into the back of his neck)."

And even better was watching Hunter prepare his little brother with a few back rubs, even helping him massage his legs... seriously, I wanted to capture those moments in a bottle and keep them forever. What a great big brother! To top it off, Cole got his VERY FIRST goal during the 2nd half - it was just a perfect summation of all his big brother's help.
(ps is summation a word?)

Day 3

My favorite television program:

My absolute favorite show is The Biggest Loser. In a close 2nd - is The Office. I started to watch The Biggest Loser 2 seasons ago and I'm a little obsessed. I know they draw out the drama and obviously, these people are in an unrealistic setting, but it's still fun. I love seeing the change in the people - sizes, confidence, and habits. When I watch them, I feel inspired to go beyond my comfort zone. If they can do it, why can't I? When I decided to do the 100 mile bike ride, I kept reminding myself several of those contestants ran a MARATHON. That blows my mind. I know the contestants are counting calories and watching every morsel of food that enters their mouths... I'm not there yet. I admire that about them. I love food too much to quit eating the junk and the yummy stuff. But, I want to be more like them--eating better and healthier. For now, it's inspiration to change little habits. It's my "feel good" show.