Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Just thinking...



Don't let the words, "just thinking" worry you. (What do you think Tymber is thinking here?)

I have just been reflecting over the last several days about my life, my family, our destiny together.

It has been a long time since I have taken the time to write down some things I want my children to know and always remember long after I am gone.

I have been busy with loading pictures of wonderful family vacations, fun times with the youth of our church this summer, birthday celebrations, and so much more, but not-so-much the stuff that is in my heart.

Like how I felt on that family vacation when a huge crater in my heart was healed when an outpouring of forgiveness happened.

Or how I felt when I watched A.J. finally take that field as a Varsity quarterback for his State winning team.

Or how excited I am for Madie to have the opportunity to show how beautiful she is, inside and out, on her Homecoming Court.

Or how I feel every morning when Annie and Tymber finally find me with their sleepy eyes and shy smiles.

These are the moments I never want to forget.

Motherhood is a privilege.

It is.

Don't let anyone ever allow the complaints, the trials, the hard work, the tears of frustration to override the honor that it is to be a Mother.

I have been a mother now for almost 17 years.  Actually, 17 years and 7 months, because the day I saw those two lines on that test all those years ago, my dream of being a mother began.

There have been so many days since then.  Some filled with amazing triumph, and others, deep dark despair.

But I never took being a mother for granted.

I think that just may be the trick.

I love seeing those messy chocolate faces if they are accompanied by a smile that shows a mouth full of baby teeth.

I love waking up to a bed full of little girls whose faces are made of some of the softest skin I have ever seen.

I am a realist too.

I don't like having to clean up that chocolate mess.  Especially, if it was consumed in the car seat, that is completely impossible to take apart and reassemble after washing.

But who can really be mad when the chocolate came from a sister who shared her sweet reward with her baby sister?

I don't like not sleeping well, because I am surrounded by little girls who bodies don't believe on sleeping with their head on the soft down pillow and their feet squarely at the bottom of the bed, but rather the diagonal position, or better yet, the horizontal sleep.

But who can really be upset when those sleeping beauties are tucked in next to the man I love who helped me create this amazing life?

I just wanted to take this random Wednesday, and thank my Heavenly Father for the good and the bad.

The days when everything seems to be falling apart, the parenting job I work so hard at seems to be failing miserably, and my husband is sewing his own collar button on an old shirt, because I forgot to pick up the dry cleaning on Saturday days.

All the way to the good days, where the older kids get up on time, have great attitudes, and are happy.


Today is one of those days.  Happy children, loving husband, and a very, very blessed Mother.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Day 7~BEAR LAKE~Last day in the sun...and goodbye Bear Lake


A few of my FAVORITES for the last day...followed by pure fun!

It was bright and very sandy!

Keara and Tymber had so much fun playing on the beach together!



I couldn't resist this picture of Tymber's sandy face!
Beautiful Keara...
...and dirty Tymber
Easton, (with his fried lips), Melissa and Spencer ready to head out on the boat!

Everyone headed out for one of the last runs for the day!




A little beach beauty...
...and a couple of beach "bums", excuse the pun!

Quinn, Brooke and Ellie taking a break in the warm hot tub!

I love that smile! Sweet Ellie!
Annie waiting her turn to do this trick!

Lucy heading down for her turn


Annie's final trick of the day!


She was so diligent at practicing her swimming, but her life jacket was hindering her practice, but smiling nonetheless.
Go Brooke!
All the girls on their last boat run of the week!

Quinn, Brooke and Ellie all smiles waiting for a crazy ride!

Lots of waiting on the boat!  Waiting and smiling!


Killer ride for Brooke and Caroline.  Caroline was so cute!

Julie and Steve enjoying some alone time on the waverunner.
Annie, Kenna and Lucy's turn!

This is the "keeping it real" pic.  Ellie started having a little breakdown on our last run.  Neither of us can remember why now, but it made for some memories.  Watch as the crying turns to calmness, and eventually fun!


Reese and Easton sporting their need for haircuts and some speed on the water!
Caroline, Kenna and Brooke's last run!







Brooke had gone out the day before and Aunt Julie caught her first wakeboarding run ever, but here is Day 2.

She seriously ROCKS!

A.J. had told her earlier in the week that she would never get up, but boy did she prove him wrong.

I personally LOVE the tongue...DIEKER trait baby!

Seriously, WATCH the TONGUE!













I had to capture every.single.moment. of her first runs!

Someday she will wow us with tricks, but she was amazing today!
Look at this beautiful girl!

Kenna and Ellie wanted to try it too.

Since Ellie had lost her opportunity based on the crying pics above, Kenna got the last run of the day.

In the water and ready to GO!






Look this form for this amazing beginner!

I love this shot, because she actually plugged her nose before she crashed.  Too funny! :)
Beautiful girls in beautiful braids!  Thanks again Aunt Julie!

Hyrum looking handsome!
Keara and her beautiful mom!
Spencer and Easton racing it to the top!
I love that it says, "It's up to you to make the right decision."  Why don't they just put the CTR symbol?  SO cute!
Brooke looks like she has some serious competition from the boy on the tree, but she just cruises right by him.

Brooke, Ellie, and Kenna climbing away.  (Look at Ellie's upper body!  Why can't I have shoulders and arms like that?)


 Ellie
 Brooke
 Kenna

 Robbie

Quinn
 Caroline...not so sure!


 The little girls suited up too!  Annie and Lucy were awesome!

 Look at those cute buns!
 Go Robbie!
 Lucy rings the bell!





 Dad and Tymber cheering Annie on!

 Brooke hits the bell!
 Look at Annie's legs!  I want Annie's legs, Ellie's arms, Brooke's hair, Tymber's cool eyes, and Madie's determination in my next life!! :)


















"Next to Nature Itself" Really? Palm Trees this tall in Utah?



 Quinn is our resident trapeze artist!


 "TA DA"  Quinn was literally an amazing performer!
 Caroline taking another try!

 Tymber and Keara sad that they were too little!  Maybe next year!

 Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Dieker for renting this out for the grandkids.  The kids had a blast, and it was a great way to end a wonderful vacation!

 Tymber dreaming of surfing!
 Brooke and Hyrum playing a card game!
 Gunner pretending to be a towel
Tymber just wanting to walk on her own!
 This was the picture I captured on a wipe board on our way out this morning.  HAPPY GIRLS!

 The Diekers donned us with leis for the goodbye.  We loaded up, and headed home.

 
The girls were awake on the ride, and Tymber...was not!
We loved Bear Lake! It is such a hidden treasure.  I loved that there were families just like us.  Families that were there to be together.  Whether that meant on a boat, digging in the sand, eating yummy food around picnic tables, playing family games, and BONDING.  The thing that is the glue that holds families together...TIME!

We are SO grateful, and looking forward to next year!