Thank you, thank you very much...

Just wanted to thank all the people that commented 2 posts ago. I loved all your ideas and I LOVED HEARING FROM LONG LOST FRIENDS that have seldom or never commented before {Ashley from Alabama, Stacie, Danielle, Annette, and AO}! I just finished speaking at the fireside tonight and I think it went well. I may post my talk. I don't know. But thank you everyone so much for all your kind words, ideas and support. And mostly I want to thank Dax for providing such GREAT material for my speech. He is the best husband and I am so excited to spend this week with him. Tomorrow, we are giving Preslie and Hunter to Dax's parents (at their request, bless them) for a WHOLE week!

my little performers

Amy Adams, eat your heart out...

So you think you can DANCE? Hunter gets my vote, hands down.

The kids crack me up with their blogs complete with playlists. They're pretty into their music. The songs from the video clips are from Preslie's playlist. Hunter's playlist includes "What's This?" from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, "Life is a Highway" by Chris Ledoux from the movie CARS, and "Route 66" by John Mayer, also from CARS. I love their versions of the lyrics, too.

"Get Chick Hicks on Route 66."

Close Hunter, VERY close.

Keeping the *Spark*

I have been asked to speak at a fireside for my church next Sunday on the topic "How to keep the spark in your marriage". So I am asking YOU, my blog readers (whether you are a faithful or casual reader) to give me ideas from your personal experiences. I know who you are (I have a site tracker set up) but only 10% or less of you comment regularly. So here is your chance to repent, stop lurking, and LEAVE A COMMENT so I know you love me! Even if you are not married, I know you have great ideas so I welcome ALL feedback. Even if you don't think you know me well enough to comment, it is time we get acquainted my friend! If you DON'T comment, I will assume you want my speech to bomb and my marriage to fail. And no one wants that on their conscience, right? If you have forgotten how to comment, just click on the word "COMMENTS" below this post, type in the space provided, then type in your google account info. If you DON'T have a google account, click the bubble next to Name/URL and type in your name, then click "PUBLISH COMMENT". Now, get to it... How could a couple keep the spark in their marriage? Click on COMMENTS....NOW. Thank you!

To the reunion, and BEYOND!

The 2008 McDermott Reunion-what a crew!

Whoa, we are FINALLY back from our crazy fun long trip. What a week! Here is a (LONG)breakdown of what we've been doing for the past 7 days... Last Thurs we drove to Logan and Dax met with his statistician to get that part of his thesis done. We are happy to keep moving in the right direction with this project. I stopped by to see my friend Kim for a bit before we headed up the road to camp in Idaho. The big reunion started on Friday when family from all over began coming together and having a super time. We camped 3 nights in a tent. We opted to leave our little pop-up trailer home this time and brought our tent instead. Camping without it reminded me just how convenient it is to have it, ESPECIALLY when it came time to cook and eat. Just to eat a simple breakfast, I had to grab spoons and bowls from the tent, cereal from the car, milk from the cooler, and then take it all to the picnic table. I got spoiled with my trailer having it all in one place and at arms reach. During the first (cold) night, I was more worried about the baby with keeping him warm and hoping he'd stay asleep all night but it was Preslie who had us up with intermittent puking spells. All the roughing it was worth it for the fun times we had playing with Dax's aunts, uncles, cousins, and second-cousins. These are GREAT people. Happy, down-to-earth, fun, loving, and pretty darn hilarious at times.

Southern Idaho is beautiful. We enjoyed the natural surroundings as well as the the big horseshoe championship, crafts, treasure hunt, campfire chats, all the little kids, delicious food,and most of all, good company. Sunday (Father's Day), we packed up and drove to my

parents' in WJ. We had dinner together with my parents and 3 of my brothers but I forgot to snap a picture with my dad! It was better than last year when I forgot to call him. I know, nice daughter. When I did eventually call him, he had not disowned me. He is probably the most laid back, low-maintenance dad there is. Having the big McDermott reunion every Father's day weekend distracts me from doing anything really special on Father's day for Dax or my dad because I am so busy packing and getting ready for the campout. One of these years, I will plan ahead and be ready. But they know I love them! Preslie had fun when Grandma taught her how to play the game Pente. Hunter loved spraying the bottom of Grandma's feet with the water bottle to cool her off. And they both loved watching endless movies with Grandma. I finally went to see Tyrel's apartment for the first time--he only lives a few miles from my parents. He is such a cool, cute guy. I can't believe he is still single! I love the litte craft we are standing in front of in this picture. It says, "prayer changes things". When I commented about it he said, "Oh, that came with the apartment and I felt too guilty to take it down."

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Monday, Dax drove back to Roosey to work and the kids and I stayed and hung out with my mom and also tried to get ahold of some friends. We went swimming with Katie and 2 of her kids at her in-laws house. It was great to see her and catch up a bit. We've known each other since we were 3 years old. She lived a few houses away and we did everything together as kids. Primary, girls' camp, Oakcrest, Lagoon, boys, dance class, piano lessons, sleepovers, birthday parties, you name it. We were BFF all through elementary, middle, and high school and shared a locker almost every year. We got married within a year of each other and our first babies (both girls) were born 6 weeks apart. She had a baby boy 3 months after Hunter was born. On our 3rd baby, she beat me to it not only in timing but in number. She had twins (a boy and a girl) a year before Mack was born. I am grateful I didn't follow suit with the twin thing. I was quite nervous about it since we'd done everything else the same! She is a much better and saner mother than me and handles twins wonderfully. She is one of those moms who always seems to have it together. Her husband is a wonderful guy, her kids are darling, her house is way cute, and she is always cute. But the most important thing is she is a great girl and a loving mom and always has her priorities straight. She puts her kids and family first but also takes time for herself to do things she likes. She is amazing and I love her!

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On Tuesday my friend Tina brought her 2 beautiful children over to have lunch. I haven't seen her since we graduated high school. We got reconnected a few months ago when she found my blog. Tina and I became friends in third grade. She is truly a sweetheart who is always so kind to everyone. Her love for people and her positive attitude about life match how gorgeous she is. It was fun to catch up with her and meet her little darlings.

That night, Dax came back to WJ. ____________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, Dax flew to Boise and back. I did my last errands and tried to pack up a week's worth of our messes. When Dax flew in, we drove to Utah County to have dinner with our friends Mike and Tiffany and their family. We met their cute family in Logan 4 years ago when they moved in directly above us. I still miss hearing their kids running around above my head. We love their family and cherish the fun times we shared when we lived close to them swapping babysitting (so nice!), having barbeques, and just chatting outside while our kids played. We had a great visit, yummy food, and got to see their new house. We drove home late Wednesday night.

I enjoyed this trip so much. I really didn't want to come home. Probably because I have piles of laundry, sleeping bags, and cub scout stuff to do. But I guess vacations can't last forever!

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