Birthday Boy!

 This year J turned the big 3-8! We celebrated with chocolate cake and English toffee ice cream. The day before his birthday, J bought a propane torch kit with which to annihilate the weeds in our yard. Best. Birthday. Present. Ever. Here he is unwrapping the second and third best birthday presents ever:

 The kids wrapped it.

 Can you tell?

 Strawberries and blackberries from our garden and hard candy.

 Because every boy needs a lunch box.

The day before J's birthday was a whirlwind day. I was in and out all day -- taking kids to piano class, running errands, picking kids up again, taking boys to buy jammers (the tight swim bottoms for boys, which at first embarrassed them and then became awesome because Olympic swimmers wear them), going to lunch with an awesome friend, driving up to IKEA for a few things, going to dinner and a concert with a couple more awesome friends -- and didn't get to spend much time with J. The day of his birthday was the Brigham City Temple dedication, which made it so we were home by 11:30AM. The rest of the day was spent relaxing with our favorite furry white guy. I love him so much. Yes I do!

A Big First...

 This Big First made me cry. Up until now all of our kids have worn clip-on or zip-up ties with their dress shirts (when they wear a tie at all.) S asked for a green tie to go with his green shirt, so I bought him a regular tie. Here is J, teaching him to tie his first tie:

 This is my favorite picture:

 My handsome boys. I promise they were all happy -- not just H.

Sundance Sunday

After church one Sunday in September, we headed up to Sundance Ski Resort to ride the lift up to the top of the mountain. (All these pictures are from S's camera.)

Here we are on the shuttle:

 S and me on the lift:

 Our whole family is in this picture somehow. Can you spot us all?

 A furry little friend we encountered at Stewart Falls on the hike down:

We want our kids to know that there are many many ways to commune with their Heavenly Father and find joy in spending time together as a family. What a blessing it is that we live so close to such beautiful places -- the best of the Lord's creations. The kids love hiking and enjoying the view. While we were on the lift, S pointed to a spot in the distance and began telling me of the house he was going to design and build for me when he becomes an architect. Not too big, lots of windows, and a room for him :) Perfect.

September

We began September with a Praying Mantis...

 

 ...crawling all over S...

...whose freaked out face in the previous picture was just because it was tickling him as it crawled up his arm. He was so fascinated by it. Every time it tried to leave him, S would pick it up and place it back on himself.

 

Grandma Lundgren came to visit for Grandparent's Day at H and O's school. 

Who is that mowing the lawn?

Is that my 5-year old?

Impossible!

But true. 

H mowed the front lawn all by himself. Amazing kid!

And, to get in on the fun, O did the back.

He came into the kitchen to get a drink of water and said, "Whew! It is hot out there! I'm mowing the lawn, Mom! I'm going in circles and curves! I don't want it to be all straight like when S does it!" Sure enough...

I am a Jedi Master. Make me breakfast, you will...

Red Rock Relay Zion, Year 1(?)

This year I ran the Red Rock Relay Zion with a group of fantastically fun girls. I'm only sad that I didn't get any pictures with our Van 2. We barely saw them and didn't get to spend much time with them at all. I hope to do more running with them in the future to make up for it.

Here's Melanie at the start, waiting for her turn to go!

 And the pass-off to sister Andrea...

 ...who passed off to sister Brooke.

 

Captain America

 The shots of the view speak for themselves.

 Done with all of our runs!

I loved this relay! It was beautiful! We started up at Brian Head ski resort. My first run (Leg 4) was through Cedar Breaks National Monument -- so peaceful and gorgeous. My second run (Leg 16) is nicknamed "The Dirty Devil." It was 5.8 miles uphill on a straight road in the pitch black. That means I saw the lights of the finish right when I started. Running on a dirt road alone in the dark, with millions of stars twinkling down on me, no music -- just the sound of my shoes and breathing, the end in sight, got me thinking about how that particular leg was a metaphor for life. (Don't worry -- I won't share it with you. One day my posterity will read it in my journal and groan :)) It was a great leg. Our Van 2 got to run past the Mountain Meadows Massacre site in the middle of the night. Glad I didn't have to. My last run (Leg 28) was toasty but pretty. And more importantly, it was the last. Halleluiah. We ended up leaving to come home before our Van 2 arrived at the finish. I hear Fast Mitch brought us in well :). Next year I will bring more toilet paper. And maybe a Go Girl.