Memorial day and a great family...

We went to see my wonderful family over Memorial day weekend. We all got together and cooked out hotdogs and hamburgers. Food was great, company was greater. I love being with my family. I have great sisters and brother. I only wish our other two sisters and their families could have been there. You know what else makes me happy? My husband adores my family. So many families I know have issues loving their spouses family. It's hard to mix two families, no doubt about it. We are raised differently... then expected to mesh as one. It's very tricky. But Chris has always been close to my family and that makes me a happy girl. I know they think he's pretty great too. It makes my parents happy that I am well taken care of. P.S Dad gave all the kids leftover reading glasses that he no longer needs. The younger ones wore them all weekend. Fun times.

It's coming...

The kids had there end of the year Spring concert a few days ago. Grace made it through Kindergarten and I'm so proud of her. I'm excited at the prospect of having all six of my children home for a much needed rest from everyday stress. ONE MORE WEEK!! WOOT!

Happy Birthday, Halee bug...

Halee turned 15 years old. I have a child who can drive. BIG milestone to prove that I'm getting old and she's getting more radiant. Everywhere we go heads turn at her loveliness. I can't help but be proud of this wonderful, beautiful girl. The best thing about Halee is that she shines from the inside out. Her spirit is a delight to my soul. I'm grateful to be her mother. Only 3 more years with her home... and I'm going to enjoy every second of it.

The only time I have ever been a hippie....

I finished another half marathon this weekend. This is one I have never done but had heard lots of good feedback on. What could be better than running on Mother's day weekend with a bunch of other awesome women?? I love running races because I somehow feel a connection with other runners. I know how hard they have worked to be there because I myself have worked hard to be there. I was worried going into it because when we woke up the morning of the race it was already 62 degrees out and calling for a high of 85. I ran with my friends Tammy and Alexis. I loved being with them. It made the time fly by. The race itself was one of the very best races I have ever ran. Not in terms of getting a PR, but just because I felt great. I never felt like I was running out of gas (which is usually how I feel by mile 10.)Tammy has been training for a marathon and so I have been running 12's and 13's with her for the past month and I believe that is what made this run so much more enjoyable. I coulda/shoulda pushed myself harder but I just felt so good that I wanted to savor it. I finished in 1:56:32. An 8:53 pace. I will run this again in a heart beat. Thanks girls for making the time fly by. You both inspire me.

Why I miss dirty stinky diapers...

I think being a mom means loving it even when you hate it. I used to hate smelly diapers. I changed them day in and day out. Year after year, day after day. Now I have no babies in diapers, and what do you know? I miss it terribly. I miss silly things. Just this very night my kids asked why we never drink Vitamin D milk. I told them because it's disgusting and creamy and not okay. But then I remembered that the only time I ever had it in the house was for my 1 year olds. Again, I missed it. I have determined that I will never stop missing it. But this is good news. This means that I absolutely and positively love being a mother. I love the good. I love the bad. I love the ugly. I have a loving Heavenly father that guides me as I try to teach them. I couldn't do it on my own. I rely on him in every step I make, and ask him to help me be more patient when I am not. Mother's day was a good day for me. Thank you husband. Thank you children. You make my life beautiful.

What was I thinking???????

This is hypothetical before and after. *Mel happy* is me before I decided to run the scary grueling tough mudder race, and the *mel scared* is me ever since I signed up (which was a year ago.) I'm surprised I don't have an ulcer from all this worry. I knew going into it that fear would be my biggest opponent. I get scared of lots of strange things. I don't like tight spaces, I don't like having my feet off the ground (especially above water) and I don't like getting cold or shocked. Ooops...all of the above is what tough mudder race series is all about. Crap. Still trying to figure out why I decided to do this in the 1st place and now I have only one month before the race. Crap again. If you pass me on the street and see the *mel scared* please reassure me with lots of lies that everything will be just fine and have absolutely no need to be afraid. That will help a bunch. Crap, crap, crap, crap.....okay I'll stop.

Grace Elisabeth...

Dearest little Grace Elisabeth. I thought after having 3 precious boys that dad and I no longer knew how to create girls. I really wanted to experience that again, so when we went in for an unltrasound while pregnant with you, and I was told you were a girl...I cried. On the way home that day (in December 2006) the radio was playing "It's the most wonderful time of the year." That felt so true for me at that moment. When you decided to enter this world, you came out crying your sweet little heart out. You seemed scared and unhappy with the whole thing. You cried all night long. I started to think you were going to be a very naughty baby. But to my surprise, we brought you home from the hospital and you didn't cry anymore. In fact you hardly ever cried about anything, ever. You were always happy and content. To this day, you are happy and content, and loveable beyond words. We love you for everything you are Grace. Happy birthday to our sweet 6 year old.