All That I'm After...

22 years ago today...

we were just newborns in the world of marriage.  Babies.

We're probably not much more than know-it-all teenagers now

(although I will be the first to admit that I don't know it all... just don't tell Bill that).

I know there's more learning to do... more wisdom to gain... more knowledge to acquire.

But I can't help but smile when I see these pictures, remembering:

the excitement of the morning (which led to excessive gum-chewing on my part)

Bill's oh-so-white tuxedo (I begged him to wear black)

the St. Patty's Day parade going on down the center of Main Street

the fake rose I brought for pictures (WHY???  it's possibly worse than the white tux)

how skinny I was

how dark Bill's hair was

how the photographer kept hitting on my mom

how we didn't eat anything before the reception, and all the refreshments were gone when it was over


how we were so restrained as we fed each other wedding cake

how we hid the car so nobody could decorate it

how we went through a Burger King drive-thru on our way home after the reception

how we spent our first night together in our second floor apartment at 2310 W. Orion Way (apt. J) 

how we borrowed sheets from my parents for our bed (Bill's Christmas present from a few months earlier)

how we had all of our family over the next day to open presents

and how I felt guilty for skipping church that day

...there's definitely more things to smile or chuckle about.  Some that will stay just between Bill and me.

Infants.

And the honeymoon is a whole funny story on it's own.

Some of that stuff will go into my Things I've Learned notebook, so my kids can reap the benefit of all that learning.

The best part is:  I chose wisely.

I have been blessed to have a wonderful husband who is willing to learn and grow right along with me.  

And the VERY best part is:  we can be together forever.  

And I have the faith that we will.

She's Counting Too

All of my kids are looking forward to Spring Break.  
Something about just leaving everything behind and enjoying someone else's life seems appealing.  

Mauri has been especially excited to see her cousin Hannah.  
She has spent several hours talking on the phone to her...reconnecting...making plans.  
Those girls are so cute together.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of them:

Mauri's counting the days until she and Hannah can be together again.  
She'll endure the 16 hour car trip.  One way.  

Let the crafting and giggling and games begin.

Give me a break!

I wasn't going to post anything today... I am just trying to get out the door to mail packages to Taylor, Britta, and my nephew Kade.  Then I started clipping coupons...  And  all the while I have been trying to hurry and get through yesterday's mail (which included mail since Saturday).  Oh, and I had to get all the random checks laying around from babysitting and birthday gifts ready for the bank.  Needless to say, I need to take my own best advice that "to be everywhere is to be nowhere."  While I have been hustling around this morning the TV has been on.  Good Morning America.  Then Inside Edition comes on.  I know, I know... it's certainly NOT news.  But it comes on right after GMA, so occasionally it remains on until I hear something absolutely disgusting or ridiculous, then it either gets turned off, or I switch over to Rachael Ray.  I've asked myself WHY I leave the TV on, when most of the time I'm not even listening.  But that's a thought-provoking and soul-searching question to contemplate another day.  I'm too busy today, can't you tell?

Back to why I am posting anything at all today.  Disappointment.  Disbelief.  Frustration.

As I was flipping through those coupon flyers (which I am not one of those dedicated super couponers -- so I'm not sure if my time is worth the monetary benefit in the end), a story came on that show.  It was about Marie Osmond's son and his sad death.  The reporter talked about how the funeral was held at the TEMPLE near their home in Provo.  Come on, now.  The temple???  I am seriously worried about the news we get in general.  Clearly, the funeral was not at the temple, it was at a church building.  Oh, and then they cut to another reporter who attended the funeral.  At the temple.

This only compounds the frustration I felt when reading an article in the Parade magazine (or one of those type periodicals that come with the Sunday paper...) recently about Glenn Beck.  It said he joined "The Church of Latter-day Saints" because his daughter felt good when she attended.  I've heard the story.  There's a lot more to it than that.  But my BIGGEST frustration is with how reporters, who we trust to bring us an accurate and true portrayal, tweak it to fit their own belief and opinion.  In our own local town paper and in the larger Denver Post I have read about "The Church of Latter-day Saints."  Where is Jesus Christ??  I mean, seriously... they choose to leave the most important part of the name out.  And people don't think we are Christian.

Give me a break.  

(This is the xray of Shilo's break back in 2005... with the pins in her arm.  Makes me cringe just remembering it.)

My husband recently attended a meeting with Elder L. Tom Perry.  Elder Perry shared some really interesting statistics on how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is viewed in the U.S. as well as world-wide.  I don't have the actual numbers (Bill does... in his meticulous notes), but it was fascinating to hear that there is a fairly large percentage of people that don't know anything about us and our beliefs right here in the USA.  And that some view us as members of a cult.  Maybe the only exposure some have are from those great news-magazine shows about polygamists.  The fundamentalist LDS.  And from the newspaper.  So if those reporters could just give a little more attention to the ever-important details (like the name of Jesus Christ), we could possibly have a head start with sharing the truth about who we are and what we believe.

I guess for now we will just have to open our mouths and do it ourselves.

First Track Meet

Yesterday was Lexee's first high school track meet.  Mine too.

The last time she ran track she was in 8th grade.  

She was good, and made it to the district level in several events.

She wasn't interested in doing track last year.  

Maybe because she didn't have that all-important friend support (a buddy on the team).

Or maybe she was just worn out from the seemingly never-ending cheer season.

But things were different this year... thus, our first high school track meet.

Our high school is new, so there are only freshmen and sophomores on the team

(because we only have freshmen and sophomores in the school).

Even though this qualifies the school to compete on the 3A level, 

these kids are competing against older kids... those juniors and seniors.

As I have watched the various forms of school competitions the past two years,

it is very apparent that there is a big difference in growth, maturity and experience

(that can only come from growth, maturity and experience... can I be any more repetitious today?)

between those "full" schools, and our freshman/sophomore school.

But those kids at LHS have done us proud.  They have performed well and played hard.

So back to the track meet.

Lexee was in the sprint relay -- a 100-100-200-400 

(for those of you who understand track lingo -- I'm learning.  It's actually very similar to swimming I've discovered).

She was running the final 400.  She had competed earlier in another relay where she had to run an 800.

She was tired.  She couldn't breathe.  She didn't feel like she could run that final relay.

I was worried... she thought she might throw up along the way... I know how embarrassing that is

(from experience -- Britta's first cross country meet as a freshman.  She lost it at the finish line).

The race began.  The first 100... then the next... the 200... Legend was in last place.

I worried.  I knew how much Lexee would hate being the last one across the finish line.

The baton hand-off was less than smooth, then Lexee forgot to cut to the inside lane as early as she could have.

But she ran... and ran... and ran...

She passed a runner, then another.  She was soooo close to that first place girl.

The Legend supporters were cheering her name.

She crossed the finish line second, but it was close.

Lexee's coach told her she had set a new school record for a girls 400.
Another proud moment for my mommy memory book.

There were smiles after the meet was over... and the promise of a yummy hamburger lunch.

And random pictures...

The day was beautiful.  

And Lexee's goal of someday making it on the "Wall of Legends" at school may be a little closer.

2 Weeks & Counting

For some reason, February was the LONGEST month I can remember.  It just wouldn't end.

Now that March is here, I hope it moves along a bit more quickly.  At least the next two weeks.

Then it can slow down for a while before it picks back up again.

We are heading to sunny California for Spring Break... and I can't wait.

It's been 2 years since we've been there.  This is what we left in Colorado back in 2008:

We were actually stopped on the freeway for over an hour because of an avalanche.

And before you knew it, we were basking in the glorious sunshine at Laguna Beach:

Where would YOU rather be?

Birthday Rundown

As you know, I turned 42 yesterday (officially around 10:30pm, I think), which only makes our usual late-night celebrating more authentic.

With our busy lives, it seems like we really have to squeeze in those birthday cakes and candle-blowing ceremonies.

Yesterday was no exception.  A rundown on the day:

I decided to try the "selfie" technique my girls always use.  I've never tried it before, and since there really wasn't anyone around to take a picture (or to laugh at me taking pictures of myself), I decided to give it a shot.  Lexee and Shilo thought they were hilarious when I showed them the pictures last night.  

This, of course, represents the fact that I am in my forties.  I have no idea what that black stuff on my fingers is... it doesn't come off.

Here's the other two years.  Yep, I'm THAT old.

My friend Steph took me to lunch, then we spent 2 1/2 hours shopping at Home Goods.

That slow, no-need-to-hurry, take-your-time-to-browse kind of shopping.

Landon didn't necessarily appreciate it (it wasn't a toy store), but he was definitely a trooper.

When I got home I was pleasantly surprised to find my husband home a little early...

...making a huge bouquet out of the 42 roses he brought me.

Then Mauri and Bill headed off to their Dad and Daughter dinner for Activity Days.

They had a great time.  For one of the activities, the dads had to make a costume for their daughters...

an animal costume... from a brown paper bag.  The animal would be determined by a random drawing.

Bill and Mauri drew a VULTURE.  Once finished, there was a parade.  And singing.

Bill even recorded some:



This video totally cracked me up.  All I can say is, "That's my MAN!"

When everyone got home from their Tuesday night activities, we had cake.

Yeah, those are all the random pink leftover candles I had left off of Bill's cake.
Shilo made my favorite:  angel food.  And she whipped the cream.  That girl is so domestic.
Lexee was the strawberry-cutter and photographer.  She got some great shots...

The cake was yummy.  I had two more pieces for breakfast this morning.
Thank you for all of the kind wishes and gifts.  I have a wonderful family and amazing friends.
I am so lucky.

My Best Birthday Wish

Yes... today IS my birthday. I feel old(ish), but not just because it's my birthday.
Maybe it's the wrinkles... the gray hairs I find all over my head these days (I've tried to tweeze them, but I just find more)... or how it hurts if I stretch a little too much in the morning??

I don't despise getting older. I think that with age comes wisdom. I didn't always believe that, but I can see more clearly (although not literally) as life progresses how true that statement is.

I believe aging can be beautiful, if we just let it happen... naturally. I've always thought I would rather be a Marjorie Hinckley than a Joan Rivers (in more ways than just appearance, but you know what I mean).

Regardless, it's another 525,600 minutes marked in my life, and it brings special birthday wishes from my children. I got an email that made my day from Taylor yesterday. It was probably especially meaningful because Bill and I have often talked about how we were not so prepared to be parents... and how the first child usually gets the brunt of the learning curve. We certainly have regrets, but I have always consoled myself with the thought that we did the best we could at the time.

Life is about lessons, learning, and growth, right?? 

Here is the sweet message from my son:
Hey mom, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and tell you how special you are to me. The other day I was writing in my journal and I started to think about the family, you and dad in particular. You have been such a great example to me and the girls for so many years. I was thinking back on all my childhood times when you would go far, far out of your way to make us happy and to teach us what is really important in life. Thanks to you, the girls and I will be able to look back happily on those days forever and ever. I can't express how awesome that it, especially after being out in the "real world" and seeing so many broken homes and torn up relationships. Thank you. I hope your birthday is great. Next year I will be there to celebrate it with you all. I love you so much more than words can describe. -- love, Elder Syddall

This picture was taken in January at a zone meeting... these were Taylor's first two companions (he was in a threesome) in the mission field. Elder Alvarez, the one in the middle, just went home a couple of weeks ago. He is a native of Mexico and has never been to the U.S. He called us the other night. It was a riot listening to Bill try to communicate with him on the phone (Elder Alvarez speaks very limited English), but it was wonderful to hear how highly he thought of Taylor (Elder Ibarra, the other Elder in the picture, was transferred to another companionship soon after Taylor's arrival). Bill expressed his gratitude as he talked to him, and in a humble, kind way, Elder Alvarez said that Elder Syddall had taught HIM so much. Missions are such a great experience, and even though I miss Taylor immensely, I am so grateful for the lessons he is learning while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.