tubby time

Mack loves the bath. He takes smacking and splashing the water VERY seriously. And does it the whole time. He LOVES it.

But he does not like to get out...

May 26 - Memorial Day

This memorial day had special meaning to me and our family this year. It fell on the anniversary of my sister Tiphanie's death.

I have worked on this post for a quite a few days now (hence it's lateness), and I just can't seem to say what I want to say. It seems like everything I write is not eloquent enough or heartfelt enough. Someone would just have to know Tiphanie to appreciate any of the memories I have of her. She epitomizes the phrase "free spirit". Independent. Generous, loving. She had more insanely crazy adventures in her short 28 years than most people have (or want to have) ever. She was big into belly dancing and made all her costumes. When she lived in Idaho, she started teaching her own belly dance class there. When I was engaged to Dax and going to Dixie College, she emailed me and asked if she could belly dance at our wedding reception because she had the perfect outfit and the perfect song and that it would be the best gift she could give us. I told her yes and she was so excited and told me she would practice a lot. She danced at my reception in WJ and I LOVED it. Everyone there was glued to her. I am not sure if some of Dax's relatives almost passed out from shock, because I was too into the performance to notice. It indeed turned out to be the best gift she could have given because who cares about an iron or a toaster when you can say my sister belly danced at my wedding reception! And that totally shows who Tiphanie was. She gave her genuine self to

anyone. I regret that no one got the dance on video and that digital cameras weren't available when I got married. But her dance and the song is ingrained in my memory and although I could not find the song online (I can't spell in arabic), I found another belly dancing song that was one of her favorites called Habibi, which I added it to my blog's playlist. I am so blessed to have inherited the costume she danced in at my reception, as well as her sewing machine that she used to make it and many other beautiful creations.

I have thought more about Tiphanie and her death the past few weeks than ever before. My thoughts have given me a lot of understanding about her and about myself through her death, and although I wasn't super close to her in age or in relationship, I have some awesome memories of her. I am so grateful that I know I can see her again someday. And the best thing about this Memorial Day, was not only did it fall on the anniversary of her death, but we got to spend time with Tiphanie's son that she lovingly, selflessly, and courageously placed for adoption 14 years ago. He and his family came to my parents' house for a barbeque. My Dad and Mom, my sister Tisha and her family, my brothers Tyrel and Trent, and my family were there. How neat that my kids got to meet him and that the rest of us were able to see what a great boy he is. We were able to be close to Tiphanie that day in a special way. I think she was happy about that.

(Me, age 13, holding my sister's baby boy at the hospital) (Here he is 14 years later, rocking the rubics cube for everyone!)

as of today

Wowsers. Half the year is over? Ok, I've thought about my New Year's Resolutions and I am still going strong. Could improve, but not giving up.



So here's 2 words to describe us right now, today, half way through the year Two Thousand Eight-

our family - healthy, happy

Dax - booked, optimistic

Tristie - aspiring, hungry

Preslie - energetic, helpful

Hunter - thinking, loving

Mack - vocal, sweet



2 things we're into right now:

Family: movies, music

Dax: hunting, politics

Tristie: cub scouts, house dreaming

Preslie: polly pockets, monkey bars

Hunter: movies, computer games

Mack: mom, table food



2 things we're looking forward to:

family: reunion-campout, High School Musical 3

D: day off, hunting season

T: Oregon trip, weening Mack

P: week long visit at Grandma & Grandpa's, playdate at the park

H: preschool, swim lessons

M: next meal, crawling



2 things we don't like:

D: barky dogs, coughing

T: cigarette smoke, laundry

P: cheese, barbeque sauce

H: interruptions, mustard

M: tipping over, crying children



2 things we can't live without:

D: internet, Prilosec

T: peanut butter, dishwasher

P: shoes, mirror

H: DVDs, fruit

M: mom, mom



2 things we did today:

D: meetings, called his wife

T: cub scouts, scrubbed the tub

P: art projects, sneaked M&Ms

H: licked the ground, fell asleep in the car

M: got on all fours, pushed his highchair back and forth

the perfectly imperfect blend

We're not newlyweds anymore. It hit me when I threw away our rusted cake pan that I got at my wedding shower. It then dawned on me that we'd also replaced our vacuum, hand mixer, and VCR--also wedding gifts. I don't consider myself suddenly way experienced at being married now that it's been 7 years, because with each year, Dax and I experience things that we've never experienced before. I still feel like a newlywed in that respect and for the fact that I love him just as much (more) as when I married him. I am grateful for the chance to be married in this life and even more thankful that I scored the man I got.

It is always interesting to me just how different Dax and I are, yet how great we go together. I find evidence of how different we are by things that are in our home, and while our things don't necessarily go great together (the designers on HGTV would have a coronary),



I love that we are able to appreciate each other and allow for the other person to explore separate styles and interests. And while I would love to have a shed out back to put all of Dax's antlers in, the pile in the corner of my living room reminds me just how lucky I am to have him. I hope he feels the same way about me when we get a house and I paint the walls orange.

school's out.

We started out our week of summer vacation at a new park the next town over. It has been weird to have Sweet P home this week. When she first went to Kindergarten, I wished she could stay home with us. Now that she's gone to school for 9 months and suddenly she's home, I wondered what we ever did before she started Kindergarten. It is weird how you get used to things and when they change, you have to adjust all over again. But we've had fun. I've for sure let go of our schedule a bit. The kids have been going to bed later and staying in their pajamas longer each day. But we have lots of big things coming up, and lots more summer days ahead of us, so I guess I better tighten up before we get too lazy.

Mini Blogger

I could not resist the post Sweet P made on her blog today. The title is:

Daddy, Daddy, I love my Daddy!

oun day I was awt in the bak yard doeg the muke bors and I climd up on top and I was nrvis so I sent Hunter to get Mom she sent Dad he tod me to jump to him so I did bi bi.

bear adventure

Dax invited me and the kids out with him to release four bears into the wild on Saturday. We haven't been out with him for a long time and we had a blast. We had to start early for the long drive and so the bears wouldn't be traveling in the heat of the day. I was a little nervous when the first bear was released, but then it was super cool. Dax had to do some major persuading (dumping) to get 3 of the bears out of the metal cages they were in. Anyway, check out some more pics and video of the bears on Dax's amazing outdoors blog.