Our Forever Family

I have been on the hunt for a really good photographer for a long time here and there.  And I think I found one that did everything I wanted.  First, she comes and looks at the feel of your home.  For us I just sent pictures of our living room where I wanted the pictures placed.  Then she suggests colors to wear and sent pictures back with our room and picture placements she puts on the walls.  And with 5 kids, especially Jenna, you really have to photo shop A LOT!!  Almost every photo with Jenna she had to photo shop.  She did amazing!!  I was so nervous when we went over and viewed our pictures at her house.  As David put it after our photo shoot “She has to be a magician to get anything good out of that!  That was a disaster!”  After looking at our proofs I said, “well, you are a magician!”  And David said after leaving and climbing in our car to go home “That was worth every penny.”  Success! I do have a few faces to...

Melanie started piano lessons the beginning of the month.  There are about 5 ladies that teach in our ward.  Melanie’s teacher is our ward organist and just started teaching again, which was great because everyone else is full!  This is a bummer about moving.  I have really liked her!  She teaches 3 lessons for the first 3 weeks and then the 4th week she has a mini recital where they perform a song in front of the other students and then play games related to music and learn about composers for an hour.  This is what they made this week. They made notes with pretzels and large hershey kisses.  She clapped the notes and had a fun time.  I hope we can find a good piano teacher that has room when we move!

Every birthday is filled with excitement around here.  I saw a cute idea of doing a birthday countdown.  I am going to have to make one of those.  I think it will be fun for each of the kids to count down their own birthday.  Jason has been especially excited this year.  It was a week long celebration for him.  David was out of town to New York on Jason’s big day so I tried to make it as special as I could without opening presents.  I took treats to his class, Hershey bars, upon his request.  He also got to wear the birthday crown in class.  I think he felt pretty special!   Then I took him out for a happy meal to McDonald’s and he enjoyed playing at the play place.  I met my friend Bonnie there with her 2 boys.  It’s been a while since seeing her, so it was fun to catch up!  She is expecting her 3rd boy!! Thursday Jason got to go to the store and pick out a new toy with his birthday money from G & G McGary.  ...

Saturday I ran the Park City Marathon. I was glad that we have been so busy looking for a house and everything that goes with that that I didn’t have time to think of my nerves for this upcoming race! Friday night Jodie, Renae and I stayed at the Newpark Hotel. The race started right next to the hotel. That was very convenient!! We got our room key and put our bags away. Then we went and looked at the indoor track across the road to warm up on, got some bananas at Smith’s then went back to our room to get ready for bed! The whole time I was thinking that this could not be happening. I felt mentally unprepared because my mind was so much on other things and not the race until we got there! I had SO MUCH FUN with these girls!! Renae, Jodie, Me: David made the drive up early. The race started at 6:30. The kids said they slept in their clothes the night before so they would be ready to go. It was a nice surprise when I heard “MOM!” and then little hands wrap around my legs...