letters to Beth {YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!}

Dearest BETHY!!!

        Today is your 30th BIRTHDAY!!! HAPPY HAPPY DAY! i found this picture of us in one of my many kitchen baskets and just had to show it to you. I turned it over and found that I had actually written on the back of it. It said Unity Conference Chico 6th Ward Sept. 2002. Ten years ago my friend, can you believe it?! I just remember that it was really early in the morning, and we had all camped out in tents. Wasn't someone playing a guitar and singing outside of our tent super late?? Dallas??? and someone got in trouble for boys sleeping in tents or something like that? My memory is not so good anymore, I just remember drama, but there was ALWAYS drama in student ward, hahahaha!!! Oh the memories:) I still have that sweatshirt, but I never wear it. Why on earth did we have makeup on so early in the morning in that picture. Mascara even! Oh how times have a'changed. 20 seems like just yesterday, but OH so long ago too. I hope you get to eat something fabulous and love on all of your people on this special SPECIAL day! My skype said I missed a call from you yesterday. I was so sad! I will keep one eye open for you on skype all day.

        I am so very glad to hear that Bryce is doing better. By "better" though, what exactly do you mean? Can he pick heavy things up again? Is he back to his old self? Give him a big hug from the GIB's. Oh happy day for a new flat downtown. Tell me all about it. Pictures PLEASE!!! How many rooms, carpet or hardwood, tile or linoleum, how is the kitchen, the view, tell me all! I hate moving, but I love starting new and rearranging furniture.

        I am so envious of your trip to Italy. I dream of eating a huge plate of fettuchini alfredo in the motha' land. My mouth is watering as I type. NOM NOM NOM. Did you rent bikes? I've always wanted to ride an old fashioned bike in Italy.

        We blessed Chase last weekend. He was as darling and perfect as ever. I had the entire family over for BBQ pork sandwhiches later that night. I did a Carolina style sauce that they cooked in the crock pot with, and served it with a Rocky Mountain BBQ and homemade cole slaw. Sides were sweet potato fries, watermelon, corn on the cob, and jello salad. There were cookies, raspberry tarts, ice cream cones, and sugar cookies for dessert. You can never have too many desserts! Little Chase face is waking up as we speak and sounding like he hasn't eaten in a year. Have to run.

Love to you on your 30th birthday!
THIRTY, FLIRTY, & THRIVING!!!!

Em     

everything my heart loves most {home}

max and brennan were playing cars in the big room.

i was rocking baby chase to sleep between the kitchen table and the pantry.

bouncing his little bundle, 

and softly patting his bum.

kissing him between his two eyes, 

right at the top of the slope of his nose.

his eyes rolling back.

the sound of him sucking his binky.

brennan and max chattering about driving their cars on the car mat.

dishes filling the sink.

beans and peas scattered across the table, 

left over from quesadillas at lunch.

watching my corn stalks sway in the wind through my kitchen windows out back.

the pumpkin plants vine-ing out.

the sunflowers stretching up.

with one of my favorite songs playing in the background.

and i was just happy.

b/c i was doing everything my heart loves most.

with all of my babies.

and i wanted to tell them that wherever we are together,

we are home.

and we can get through anything.

safe and home.

together.

.....

"hold onto me as we go
as we roll down this unfamiliar road
and although this wave is stringing us along

just know you're not alone
'cause i'm gonna make this place your home

settle down, it'll all be clear
don't pay no mind to the demons, they fill you with fear
the trouble it might drag you down
if you get lost, you can always be found

just know you're not alone
'cause i'm gonna make this place your home"

-"home" by phillip phillips

freedom {a photo gallery}

the ashes from the fireworks were falling down on us like rain last night.

we sat under those big huge fireworks in the family yard,

and it felt so calm and quiet.

in a loud kind of way.

chase slept in my mom's basement like a baby.

max sat on my lap and hid under her blanket.

the fireworks still scare her.

brennan sat by sean in his spiderman chair.

we would tell them to cover their eyes when the ashes fell.

and look down at the grass as it all softly patted our heads and shoulders.

all of the children {kids, cousins, friends} 

would light "glowies" {sparklers} 

between firework sets.

and drop them in the grass when the tiny flames got too close to their little fingers.

by the end of the night our ears were ringing and my head was aching a bit,

but sitting in that warm summer's night air, 

with those big huge fireworks atop, 

and our family all around, 

was the moment that you wait for all day to grace your special holiday.

HAPPY HAPPY FREEDOM:)

{my house is filled with the smells of rain this morning, thank goodness the moisture is finally here.}

...

blueberry pancakes

fried ham

pioneer day float 

{my cousins were in charge of building it this year}

KFC

family reunion

skyping to Belize

sunscreen

swimming

inflatable horse races

sprinklers

snow cones

chocolate dipped ice cream cones

hamburgers & hot dogs

lindi's famous fruit salad

treats a'plenty

gigi's baked beans and corn on the cob

Popsicles

swings & slides

cookies the size of your face

sandbox

play house

and

FIREWORKS.

just another 4th of july.

{minus the "just another" part}

oh happy day:)

{i just LOVED her eyelashes}

{and yeah, the bunny is holding green jello--we ARE in utah you know.}

{troy and his summer treats--bliss.}

these little beauties shot fireworks up that dropped red parachutes down after.

so cute. 

{and then there was the part where some aerial fireworks shot right at us. spooked us right home. not fun!}

god bless troy for saving us all from that one.

 {max hiding under her blanket on my lap}

 {THE END}