4th of July

We were in Arizona to celebrate the 4th of July this year. There was food, fun, and fireworks. Mom and I braved the traffic (haha) to attend the firework display with the boys. We decorated and cooked, spent time together in laughter and teasing, we were quizzed as to the meaning of the flag, fireworks, and freedom.

My mom says that I am the girl that would bleed red, white, and blue. She is right. I am proud of our country. I respect the freedoms that I have and try to use them wisely. I teach my boys the importance of those who have made this country great both in big and little ways. I believe in the American dream. I believe that in this country you can become anything you want. We can accomplish anything. All these things are possible because we are a nation blessed by God. And if the day should come that we no longer a righteous nation we will no longer have those blessings. Pray for our country, her leaders, and our soldiers. Pray for our families for that is where the strength of our country lies.

Trips to Arizona

We have taken the opportunity this last month to visit family in Arizona a couple of times. We have had big happenings going on and we wanted to take advantage of only being 6 hours away (come August it will be a couple day drive from San Antonio). Along with lots of baby holding and blessing, we have been able to go swimming, celebrate Papa's birthday, visit with family, and have much needed dental check-ups. It will always feel like we are coming home when we visit Arizona but we are coming to adopt the saying "Home is where the Air Force sends us".

New Additions to the Family

Our family has been blessed with growing numbers. Two long awaited nephews have arrived and we were so lucky to be able to attend both blessings.

I love babies. I love the way they smell, the way they move, I even love their little cries. I love being an aunt. Being the aunt means that I can enjoy all those things about babies that I love and then give them back to their parents when the less desirable aspects happen.

I love the way my boys are enthralled with their new cousins. I love the way Doug starts out stiff and slowly melts when he holds one of the baby boys.

What I love most is to know that these little ones are so recent from our Heavenly Father's presence. I love how much joy they not only bring to their immediate family but also to those of us who can claim some relation to them.

Thank you Bryant and Stephanie for your darling Dallin

Thank you Craig and Jymie for your precious Vash

Everyday Memories

This last month I have been in a funk. I have felt like Eeyore with a cloud over my head. I don't know why, maybe I've been too busy or not busy enough. Maybe I've not been eating right or not getting enough exercise. Or maybe it was just one of those times that I needed to be in a funk. Needless to say, I have emerged. I am using my planner again (yes it had gotten that bad), showers and make-up are being accomplished, and I even want to spend time with humans.

Yesterday, I sat wondering if I was making "everyday" memories with my boys. I do pretty good with big events (holidays, birthdays, outings, etc.) but I wonder if my boys have things that they will look back and say "Do you remember when Mom did so and so" (with so and so being something good). So I decided to make an "everyday" memory with the boys.

Doug and I try to teach the boys to work hard but to also balance that with play. Right now it is more adding work to play but we are trying. So yesterday I told the boys that if we got the house (including their rooms) dusted, vacuumed, moped, and generally put in order we would do something special. Now I haven't raised any dummies and so they wanted to know what the special thing was. I told them we would blow up the camping air mattresses so we could lay on the floor and watch as many Harry Potter movies as we could stand.

For those of you who have never lived in a place that reaches 110 degrees outside will wonder what am I thinking keeping my boys inside and rotting their brains with T.V., but trust me this is much better than heat stroke.

My boys happily helped get the house in order and were so excited to get our movie marathon going. The best part for them is that I laid on those ever deflating mattresses with them the whole time and we even slept in the living room that night. We all had our favorite pillows and blankets to snuggle into. I was able to hold them close for hours and even closer when the movies got a little intense.

I hope that one day they will look back and say "Do you remember when Mom pumped up those old camping mattresses that wouldn't hold air and laid on the floor with us while we all watched those goofy Harry Potter movies. She was nuts and we loved it!"