6 Years Ago...

today Stewart and I had our first date together. He won me over with his card tricks :), love of Thai food, and easy going fun personality. We went on a group date where we had a picnic and played games at the park. We then watched a movie and snacked on candy. We dropped everyone off and then we sat and talked outside my dorm until 3:30 am completely unaware of the time. He hugged me goodnight and I could not stop smiling. I was hooked. Six years later I still am. Stewart, happy six years of dating. May they never end. :O)

Ready or Not

I feel it again and I don't want to be feeling it. It is the start of a new chapter of our lives. This past chapter has been really rather delightful. It hasn't been without its challenges but it was so much better then the one before it that it was heaven sent, literally! I can tell we are entering a new chapter and I am not sure what it will mean for us. Stew is in his third year which is totally different from his first and second year. He will be gone a lot...I feel so cut off from him. I cant get a hold of him during the day and when he is home it feels so fleeting and hurried. I hate waking up every morning to find him gone and not remembering when he left. Which also means good bye to my daily alone time doing my morning runs. So sad.

Our kids are growing up so much. Benjie is crawling all over the house and it freaks me out when I realize I have no idea where he is and then find him in the bathroom eating something funny off the floor. Yuck. And the three year old tantrums are so much worse then the two year old ones. Bridger has always been so dramatic and passionate about everything he feels and when he feels sad, mad, or grumpy watch out. Not that my two year old is not full of drama and tantrums herself. The combined forces of these two is really something. Half the time I am have no idea what to do with them as they scream for thirty minutes about their broken "food sticks".

I have to admit I am feeling a little lost in this new place and pace of life. I have to adapt a lot and I feel so un- able to do so after coming home from our week long vacation time. I want to get settled here in Reno and get back to the daily grind but I realize I am only here for a couple weeks and so I just feel overwhelmed, unmotivated, and at a loss. I have so much to do and I don't want to do any of it. I feel petrified. I try to get things done but day after day my to do list is just as long as the day before. I am having so much dread for the next six months because I know I will miss my husband so much and I know it will be really hard on the kids to not have their daddy around, to be in other homes other then our own, and to have a stressed out tired mommy. Stewart gave Bridger a blessing the other day and blessed him that he would not feel abandoned when his daddy was gone. I know that will be a struggle for Bridger. How do you consul your children when they are crying for their daddy and he is not coming home for a really long time? We'll be fine. I just don't want to take this step into the future. Am I ready? Am I really grown up enough? ... Well, I guess all I can do is grit my teeth, slap on a smile, and brace myself for my life that is coming at me ready or not. Oh, and pray a lot. :)

Love'n Our Independence Day

We were festive. We were in Utah. We were with tons of wonderful family. We partied at the parade.We ate tons of really awesome food. We caught up with the Larsens at the reunion. We did fireworks. We didn't want to leave. We loved our Independence day.

Trying to get a good pic of the cousins at the parade
still trying...:)
being a little goofy ;)
Who needs to watch the parade when you've got Aunt Meridee's RED HAT?!?!?
Together at the Larsen Family Reunion :)
Happy 4th of JULY!!!

Hot Summer Days in Vegas

Stewart had a week of training to complete in Vegas before he started his third year rotations so we packed up the family and headed to "Mama" and "Papa's" house. We had a really REALLY fun time. During the day the lady folk and the kids played in the sun and in the evenings we played card games and watched movies. We stayed up too late every night and enjoyed every minute of it. Mom and Dad, thanks for always making room for us.

In Vegas they have all these fun parks that are completely shaded and have water squirt things. So much fun. Bridger called the one we went to "The special water park. With slides and swings." I am jealous that we don't have these parks in Reno.

Oh, and we ate a lot of Popsicles too! :)

You can tell these two are cousins for sure. Such dolls!

Benjie's first Popsicle! He loved it.

And Whit, she loves them too. ;)

And the kids verdict of their time in Vegas? "I want to stay here forEVER!"

"Y" I still got it

When I moved to Utah for school my freshman ward did a hike to the "Y". I got it stuck in my head that I was going to run it someday. It took me a couple weeks to get used to the elevation but soon I was running from Hinckley Hall to the tippy top of the Y every Saturday. I was in the best shape. I would power up not just the switchbacks but the long road and steep hills just to get to the trail head like it was a walk in the park. But soon it was Fall and with school and cold weather my running the Y stopped. I gained 20 pounds got married and for a couple years wondered if I'd ever make it back up to the top of the Y. After having Bridger I began training to run it but finding a free Saturday with us both in full time school and with a new baby it was hard. Just as I was starting to run/hike the Y again I found out I was pregnant. So after Angeli was born I knew I had to run it again to prove to myself that I was not going to become a frumpy mom at 22. I worked hard and got back in shape and ran the Y again. I found it was sort of too easy. So I started running from the creamery on 9th to add to the degree of difficulty. I wanted to run from Hinckely Hall again but I had some vein surgeries and we moved before I could. So two years later, living a state away, and another baby added to the mix I wondered if it would ever happen again. A couple weeks ago I told Stewart that next time we made it to Utah I was going to try and run the Y once more thinking that opportunity was really far away. But over the 4th we found ourselves in Utah. Keeping true to my word the morning of the 4th I woke up at 5:30 am, threw on my running clothes, and gave it my best effort. I thought I would not be able to do it. BUT I totally did it! And it was easy! It took me 38 minutes to get to the top. I got to the last switchback and realized I was almost there and sprinted the last bit. I was so excited that I could do it. After six years and giving birth to three kids I still got it! I haven't totally lost touch with that young totally in shape girl who met and hooked my hubby. And knowing that somehow means a lot to me. Knowing that I can set and accomplish goals that seem at best difficult, with many obstacles, and lots of potential excuses means something to this frumpy mom at 24. Heck, not only can I climb mountains I can run them.:)

Spooner Lake

We decided last year that every year we live in Reno we wanted to have a special day of hiking (one of my favorite things) and swimming (one of Stewart's favorite things) up in Tahoe. So with Stew's week off from school it was the perfect time. It was a great day. It was fun to think back to last June when we did this hike and I was pregnant with Benjamin. Last year that boy was like three inches long in my tummy and now he is 20+ pounds cradled in my arms. Life is pretty sweet.

*Sorry for so many pictures. I sort of went crazy and posted a ton of them. They really don't do justice to the prettiness up there. Just photoshop them in your head to imagine the beauty.

The Beach

Lowbuget Camping Fun

So we have three kids three and under and have only a tent as camping supplies to camp with. We have nothing else. Well, we do have two flash lights...but yeah we haven't gone camping since I was 9 weeks along with the Bridger and I have been aching too go for so long but with endless school, lots of pregnancies, and no money to go we have not really made it a reality. But we really wanted to this week so we did, just in a really low budget way. We camped in our backyard and it was so much fun. We fired up the BBQ for the first time since we got it, did s'mores and everything, went swimming at our clubhouse, and then put up the tent and had a slumber party complete with watching Bedtime Stories on the laptop and making flashlight shadows. We had a blast. I can't wait until we can do it again. And with our backyard being so close I don't think we'll have to wait too long for that one.;)

My good look'n MAN doing his tent prep.
And no, that is not the setting sun that is his natural glow. ;)

Ta Da!!!

post pillow fight hair ;)

Bridger's Review: " I want to camp forever! Its my favorite."

Watch Out World...

He CRAWLS!

Yup, the boy has gone and gotten mobile on us. Now I must vacuum at the very least daily and go through all the toys and throw out all the tiny hazardous ones. Oh, and I must also marvel at how adorable my son is as he discovers his new found ability and independence. Time is really flying too fast.

Eyes the Target

Makes his Move

Touch Down

Enjoying his victory