Help!

Calling all camera-lovers! I'm in the market for a new camera (and even still debating with digital and SLR cameras)--been reading up on advantages and disadvantages with lots of different models and now am thoroughly CONFUSED!

So, just wondering if YOU love your camera & why, or wish you'd gotten a certain model. Mind sharing your thoughts?!?

Summers End...

How we said good-bye to summer 2008......

Moon Lake

Midway

Can't think of better places to recoup and regroup before the crazy-busy buzz of school comes back into full swing next week. We really enjoyed ourselves for a couple of days & thanks to my surgery--kept things at a slower pace! No real pics because, sadly, the camera died at Cecret Lake!

Goodbye, pesky Gallbladder

Sludgie, the Evicted gallblader

(There are some sick people in this world, to make little stuffed organs like this!:)

I've had a few bouts with random abdominal pain over the past two weeks, but Friday was a real dousy that wouldn't go away! I called Casey at work who reassured me that it could be anything from really bad gas to cancer (Oh, that narrows it down!) and he encouraged me to be seen.

Casey met me at the ER, which was how we spent our date night, and I was in surgery after a few hours because of some large gallstones. I am now gallbladder-free and walking like an old lady, all hunched over, but am feeling better now that I'm not in pain anymore!

Mostly, I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to my family that stepped up in a big way (and when it really was so inconvenient--sorry:{ and to the great neighbors who have called, come over, and even brought some yummy food. Lucky us!

Little People...

It hits me in waves all the time. When I look at my oldest daughter and realize that her pants are suddenly FLOODS, or getting ready to head out the door to church and Ty's shoes just don't fit anymore, or just changing out things from season to season. They are growing up, and faster than I'd like.

What especially gets me every time is when the baby moves up from 0-3 (which is what we're in the process of doing with Bree right now), then 3-6, then 6-12 month sized clothing and I have to pack up those shoes, or that dress that SHE won't fill anymore. Because it keeps on happening, faster and faster with each child. Each year is more lightening fast then the last and I can't quite figure out how to keep that rock on their head, and they keep breaking their promises to me to just stop growing up so fast!

And because I am SO head over heals in love with my babies. Their smell, their velvety soft cheeks, those first grins that are directed to ME when they look like they are going to burst at the seams. How they feel cuddled up to me in the Baby Bjorn or sleeping on my chest for some quick zzz's.

But I really realized something today. It is something that I keep having to learn over and over again, that some day I may master and happily--caught another glimpse of this afternoon. As I sat on the porch with Bree, sipped my Jamba Juice and watched my 3 bigger kids play & explore in the small brook in Sugarhouse Commons, it struck me that I really enjoy having big kids. Big enough to take off their own shoes, use their own imaginations to come up with various games--like what will float down faster, crocs or leaves?--big enough to have real conversations, work out real compromises with, big enough to help their younger siblings, or come up with "how to fill the rest of summer" lists (with things that I'll actually ENJOY doing, too). Big enough to decide between ballet or soccer this fall (and trying to bite my tongue when she chooses ballet:)

Big enough to also have real feelings--hurt, ecstatic, first crushes, feeling left out, learning how to be a good friend and how to choose good friends. I love watching them turn into real people--that I know inside and out, yet am still trying to figure out daily. Because they are evolving and trying to figure out for themselves just what makes them tick. And I'm so relieved when they still want me to be a sounding board, to help them work through things, to play with them and to snuggle up with a good book, or just hug them when they have just lost it. They are MY little people, who are the greatest people in the world to me (as they should be, right?!) And not only is it okay with me that they are growing up, it can actually be fun (and hard, and crazy, and chaotic...but that is for another post...).

So as I pack up Bree's newborn clothes and move on to the next size, I'm trying harder this time around to not be so sad about the "lasts", as closing up each box also means the promise of new "firsts", new experiences and opening up new, endless possibilities.

It's not a secret anymore...

If you haven't gotten a chance to get up to Cecret Lake yet this year...put "Breaking Dawn" down then run to your closet--don't walk, grab your hiking shoes and head up past Alta! The flowers are amazing right now, weather is great and the views are soul-filling! Now GO already!!!

Blessing Day thoughts & a few photos!

Sweet Bree's Blessing day. I think I get weepier with each child's blessing day. It's such a special day of celebration, unconditional love, family and reaping rewards from the priesthood. Casey mentions how amazing it is to see so deeply into each child's little spirit and recognize just how much love our Father in Heaven feels for each soul. We are the luckiest to have her in our home & family.

Move over Paula Dean...

Seriously. This is a "suprise breakfast" the kids & I woke up to the other day. Ash often will whip these out and put my homemaking skills to shame. She doesn't miss a beat--from the napkins, cups, etc. And yes. If you look closely--That IS a bay leaf as a garnish for the sliced bananas. Hilarious! She rocks! I especially love it when she opts for the all-paper-goods presentation. Easy clean up for the mom (Who let's be honest, was too pooped to get up and make breakfast for the kids. Hmmm...feeling a little lazy as I'm writing this!)
Random photos by the kid photographers: Here are a few from Ash

And then there are the photos by Ty. Yes, that is Tink and Ty fighting over the camera, and you can see by the photos who the ultimate victor was...
Poor Tink!

Another Nerd Alert

Some of my sisters and I went to the Breaking Dawn Midnight Premiere Party at Barnes and Noble. Because I thought the books were fun--an easy, enjoyable-enough read--but let's be honest. Mostly to see the KIND of people that come out of the wood work for funny events like this! And there were some that did NOT disappoint...

Then my awesome sister showed up, in her actual junior prom dress (circa 1992--and yes, she STILL fits in it, but don't be hating her!) AWESOME!!!!


She was even in the costume contest...


The best part about it all is that SHE HASN'T EVEN READ THE BOOKS! She's just always up for a good time, and she made it great!


We got pictures taken with "Edward"....


Then "graduated" from Forks High...


And all I could think while we were doing it was, "This is fun, but boy oh boy am I giving Casey some major blackmail material." Yes nerdy, but fun to be out with my sisters doing something new! So I'm beating you to the punch, honey--and posting it on the blog.


That and one up-ing it by mentioning the time we were too cheap in med school to fork out money for the newest Harry Potter, so you went to the grocery store, picked up the book and sat down in the corner by the pharmacy and read--ALL NIGHT. I was starting to get worried that something had happened to you when I woke up the next morning at 6:30 and you were STILL gone! And now it's an endearing story that all our friends from C-ville remember when they think of you...


Hey, at least we're literate, right?!?