Live the life you love, love the life you live: January 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010

SUPA-STAR

AMP 1

Stand Up Basketball

January 2010

Last summer we were on vacation in Utah. We were eating at the

TRAINING TABLE. ring, ring. A man stopped Steve on our way our & asked him if he played a little basketball. Well, I'm not surprised! He IS tall...dark & handsom. Oops, I got caried away. After a long conversation, they exchanged phone numbers and Steve was invited to play on this stand-up basketball team called AMP 1. The team is made up of amputees from all of the U.S.

He was a bit honored, excited & tenative. He didn't know what to expect.

Last week FREEDOM INNOVATIONS, a prosthetic company, flew him to Utah for the game & speaking engagments. It turned out to be a great expierence for him as well as the rest of the team. They recieved awesome media coverage. They were on the news in Utah & in the Deseret News.

We are hoping this is only the begining! The next game is in Mattituck, NY in March. I hope I get to go with him...HE NEEDS THE SUPPORT all the way across the country & a companion in the BIG APPLE.

Don't you agree?

I am SO proud of Steve.

Always have been.

So much of what I love & admire about Steve has to do with that fateful accident that took place almost 22 years ago. He took what life gave him and has made the best of it. If you know him, you know what I mean!

I love to watch him play. I must admit, I love to hear the whispers in the crowd about how is an inspiration to so many people or that he really is good at the game despite his "disability." I sit quietly with sweet satisfaction in my heart as I listen. I am thankful that I am the lucky girl that gets to walk out of the gym with him!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Todays Agenda

Today it is raining...AGAIN. Around here WE LOVE IT!

This is what I am going to do today...

and them I'm going to read HUNGER GAMES

(after I take a HOT shower & run Harrison's glasses over to the school)

Mr. Mustache...

I can't stop laughing.
This was so funny to me. LOVE the tape on the nose!
What would posses those little minds to come up with this idea is beyond me!
Is my brain really that uncreative, fried, tired & stretched to the max?

I love Owen's creativity. He is so artistic. I didn't get that talent, I'm jealous. Along with his talent he is FUNNY. He comes up with ideas or one-liners that I would NEVER think of!
I will find things around the house in odd places or some cool structure around something, as if to hide it from the other boys. I have to laugh cause I know who put it there. Owen is so gentle, kind and the one to give in to create peace. I know I have to watch that so he doesn't get "run over" but honestly, I quite enjoy it. I figured out the other day that Owen is so much like his dad, whom I am in total LOVE with. Its no wonder I am amazed by him & love to watch his little mind work.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Long Lost Luv

Shoulda never sold you.

Weston Clark Butler

Ty is such a doting dad! Its funny & amazing at the same time. Weston looks a lot like him with the Claro italian eyelashes. I can't wait to watch him grow. I can actually enjoy all of his phases with out the exhaust en. I think I am trying to talk myself into the "stage of life" that I am in!

My baby brother & his wife had their beautiful baby boy Weston in September 2009. On Grammy's birthday. I got to be at the hospital for a little while before he was born. Little stinker took his time & I had to leave to drive carpool! CC was amazing and all went well with his arrival.

This only makes me yearn for another baby a tiny bit....OK a lot!

They are so sweet & amazing.

Playing Catch-Up

MOVING

I decided that this topic really deserves a post of its own...

I'm sure there will be more emotion to express in the future!

We were hoping for a great investment in building our house that would set us up real nice for the next one...then the ECONOMY changed that.

We made a BUSINESS decision.

It was hard, but felt we NEEDED to do it.

We knew we would miss being a part of such a great neighborhood. One that we felt loved and safe. Where the kids had oodles of friends with the same beliefs. Brunch in between conference sessions in the spring and fall. Next door neighbors with whom you could borrow an egg and not feel obligated to return cause they'd be over in a few days to borrow some sugar.

WE MISS IT. Not the house, for things are not what matter.

We hope to be back... real soon!

We really are enjoying the new house. It has a different feel and the boys tell me they like the new back yard a lot better than the old one. I know the chickens do too. More on them later. We are just a bit north from our old area but it feels so much quieter, separated. I kept the kids at their school, so they ride across McDowell (ugh!) & through the park or most often I take them cause we are LATE. So out of our routine!

Through all of the ups & downs we are CHOOSING to be happy. It's not hard. We are so blessed & have so many people that enrich our lives.

On to new adventures.

I'd still like to home school the kids, buy a motor home & travel the U.S.A

Liv won't let us!

Thanksgiving with the Osborn's

stuffing*cranberry whip cream grape salad*mashed potatoes & gravy*squash & kale gratin* relay races for all* cello/base performances at talent show* realizing Ryan has my fear/panic/sobs when up in front of an audience*Blake hitting Grandma in the face with a football*Amy*LOVE*

Lehi Crossing Stake Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
November 2009

I remember going to a groundbreaking ceremony when I was a little girl. I don't remember who spoke or what was said. I do remember thinking that I was a part of something important and felt the spirit. So when our stake announced that this was in the works, I knew I wanted to be there with my kids. Unfortunately, Steve couldn't attend, so I packed up the kids early at the crack of dawn and got there EARLY! We sat on the 4th row. We never do that either!

We have a great Stake President and he gave a talk that included a HUGE visual aid. He set a big power line pole in the center of the land and tied a ton of white strings from the top. The idea was that we all were a part of the history that was being created and that if we hold on and stay focused in life we will not be lead astray. It was a great idea that got all of the kids & teens attention.

While we sang the Hymn All is Well, there were a bunch of white doves released into the air. This brought me to tears because I was struggling with the emotion of moving from our home that we built and LOVED in this great stake. I wondered if should we find a place in the area to live in or move to Gilbert. The important message the Holy Ghost whispered to my heart was

that THIS IS THE PLACE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE. I was so grateful for the help and comfort that I received that day. Sweet and tender mercies!

Halloween
Olivia was SACAJAWEA for a school project but wanted to be a CAVE WOMAN with her friends!

Why am I such a pushover? Maybe one day she'll realize and appreciate me, really!

I think my chicken fixation is transferring onto my kids! Harrison was the great WHITE CHICKEN with his friends Colton and Lewis. Owen & Ryan were thrilled to wear hand-me-downs-(so was I after making Liv 2 costumes!!!) Owen was The UNDERWEAR WEARING SKELETON & Ryan was the FABULOUS & OH SO POLITE WHOOPEE CUSHION.

Good times were had by all!

OCTOBER BREAK

ROCKY POINT, MEXICO

Ahhh... The work getting out of town is always worth it wen you can relax by the beach listening to the sound of the waves crashing into the shore. The kids entertain themselves looking for shells and living sea creatures, playing games and eating fresh homemade tortillas!

We had fun on Sunday during our beach cleanup, service project, no church justification day, too