We have an 8 year old!

Happy Birthday to the best, most beautiful, most kind and considerate, brightest, most helpful, and responsible,

8 year old we know!

Happy Birthday, Rylee!

If you can't find us...

We're probably here:

And, loving every minute!

The Wee One

I haven't posted any pictures of Olivia in a while - shame on me! She's 9 mos now and is still our little button. She'd been scooting (slowly) for a little while, but has now managed to move around on all fours (still slowly). She loves to talk and sing. Her favorite words: mama, dada, baba (bye, bye), papa and hi. Olivia will wave good-bye, and it's my favorite to see her get excited and clap her hands - I love that. A new trick she learned this past week is to fall back (from sitting on our bed) whenever she hears TIMBER... pretty cute. While we'll still waiting for her to cut some teeth - those darn buds have been there for a couple weeks now, she's as pleasant as can be.

From a Prophet

"If you sometimes get discouraged, consider this fellow. He dropped out of grade school. Ran a country store. Went broke. Took 15 years to pay off his bills. Took a wife. Unhappy marriage. Ran for House. Lost twice. Ran for Senate. Lost twice. Delivered speech that became a classic. Audience indifferent. Attacked daily by the press and despised by half the country. Despite all this, imagine how many people all over the world have been inspired by this awkward, rumpled, brooding man who signed his name simply, A. Lincoln." (Wall Street Journal.)

'It is important to know, when you feel down, that many others do also and that their circumstances are generally much worse than yours. And it's important to know that when one of us is down, it becomes the obligation of his friends to give him a lift. I hope that each of us will cultivate a sensitivity toward the feelings of others, and when encouragement is needed, make an effort to extend it. Be a friend, and you will have a friend. God be thanked for wonderful friends.'
--Gordon B. Hinckley, "Strengthening Each Other," Ensign, Feb. 1985, 3

Fun Run 2009

Better let than never, here are pictures from this year's Fun Run:

Clay right after running his 1/4 mile.

He ran so hard, he really wanted a medal not just a "lousy ribbon. EVERYONE gets a ribbon." There was a moment of learning that day. Although he did the best he could, he didn't get a medal and it was a little tough for him to swallow.

Miss Rylee (in the blue) running her 1/2 mile

And, right after she finished.

I found out when I picked Clay up at noon, that I should have stayed for the award's ceremony. Because Rylee came home with this:

Rylee with her bronze medal.
(The top 3 boys and top 3 girls of each grade received medals and somehow I didn't get that Rylee was in the top 3. Nice one, Mom!)

Luckily, I had all afternoon to lift Clay's spirits and help him be happy for his sister. He did a great job - they both did.