Happy Birthday John!

My brother, John passed away this February and today is his birthday. So in honoring him, I made this video that celebrates all the good he has brought our family over the years. Because his birthday is on the 25th of August, it was often overlooked by the excitement or dread of the first day of school and the hustle & bustle of back to school shopping. So this year I wanted to do something special for him to prove that I remembered.
I remember last year all he wanted for his birthday was to see his daughter, Megan's first day of Kindergarten and somehow he miraculously managed to get leave from Iraq so he could be there. This year for his birthday we are all wishing for him to be here with us and although he physically can't be, maybe again he will miraculously manage to get a short leave so that he can.
This movie was so fun to make because it felt like reliving my childhood with my family. If you watch it, pay close attention to our outfits and hair styles. Maybe your family had similar photos taken... but probably not the one of everyone in bathing suits though! I still can't believe my mom took us to the photo studio in our swim suits. Ha! Enjoy!

(If you have a slow internet like mine, you may want to push play & then pause, let the movie load, then watch. It's much better than starting & stopping. I also suggest clicking on full screen. Enjoy!)

Fun in California Sun!

James, MaryKate, & I took a needed vacation from ElderHostel tour guiding to relax in Cali with my sister's family, the Lees. We had so much fun. MaryKate is growing up so fast and so are Mary's kids.

We went to gymnastics with all the kids and had so much fun. I've always wanted to fall into the pit of foam!

We went to the Jelly Belly Factory to meet up with my friends, Lindsay & Julie. The kids came too and Tanner even ate Rotten Egg Flavored Beans! Yuck!

Julie, Lindsay, Ada & Me... it was so nice to see the girls. I just love them!

The girls!

James surprised me with a date to the city to see Wicked & to dinner at Basil. It was sooo awesome! I loved the surprise. We sat very high, but it was perfect! My first broadway show!

Cambria had her 3rd B-day party and MaryKate helped set up the tables... or should we say unset the table!

Happy Birthday Cambria! We loved your pink party!

Cambria convinced Mary to buy her and MaryKate matching dresses. Because they were on sale and Mary is MK's name sake she was a sucker for the darling dresses! Thanks Mary!

MaryKate & Cambria are so darling together. Notice that MK is standing, crawling, & walking with a walker much better!

Fun at a lake in Pleasanton... the paddle boats there were a blast too!

Lee's Make Me Smile

Here's a little music video we made with the Lee's, while we visited them. Get ready for awesomeness and a lot of cuteness.

Adventure At Every Turn

This week working in Park City as a family went very well. We had a super nice group of people, good weather, & no poop explosions. The kids loved MaryKate so much that I fear she's like a squirrel in a crowded state park. She's being fed very well & very often with not just food... also lots of attention and love. Here are just a few of her great adventures with us this week:

MaryKate at the Heber Creeper

Hiking Timpanogos Cave with our great group

MK & I inside the cave (she slept 1/2 of the tour...must enjoy the cool, dark)

MK at the ropes course

MK at the Park City Museum

James, MK, & friends at the Resort Pool

James & MK at Seven Peaks Water Park (in the lazy river)

MaryKate is exhausted from so much fun & so are we!
We can't wait to go relax in San Francisco next week!

The Insanity Begins!

Definition of insanity= parenting an infant & tour guiding simultaneously full time. Daily I question, "Are we crazy? What made me think we could do this? A tour guide & a mom at the same time? Nuts!" Luckily James & I are in this madness together. We're nearly done with my 3rd week & James' 2nd week. Usually we're based out of Park City, but last week was Aviation week in Provo. James & I had the chance to learn to fly along with all the other people in our group. We're having a great time, but we've had some insane moments like MaryKate's Explosion. Read on only if poop stories don't gross you out:

It was go time! After a long day of flight lessons and rocket construction, James & I were trying to round all 31 participants up for a group picture & then pack them into our vans. It was hot, we were running late, and we still needed to finish cleaning up all the rocket supplies. James had already strapped MaryKate into her seat and set her seat on the floor near the exit. I walked across the hanger to load her in when I noticed her sock was a solid green. I thought, "Is that a huge grass stain?" She was giggling and wiggling in her seat. As I got closer to her I noticed the green on her sock had oozed from her clothes, car-seat, down her legs, onto her feet. She was having a blast moving & playing in it all. It was green and oddly smelled like poopy tuna fish. What should I do? I called for James. He told me there was a shower next to the bathroom for the pilots... Miracle! While James finished cleaning, I went to work cleaning MK. I peeled her clothes off her poop covered body & set her in the shower. I had no clothes for her, no towel, & no time! I grabbed a roll of paper towels & baby wipes & cleaned her car-seat the best I could while she sat on the shower floor rinsing off. Then I wrapped her in paper towels, put a diaper on her, and hurried for the van! Crappy Catastrophe Solved!

Don't worry. She didn't fly with me. But she was frustrated that I wouldn't let her play with all the instruments. I think she wanted to fly!

MaryKate gets sleep anywhere & whenever she can. Here she is at the Ropes Course & it's 9:00pm. Sayonara schedule! She sleeps when she's tired & eats when she's hungry... that's her schedule.

We flew with Cornell Rich Crandall. He's a good friend & the only person who could convince me to fly in a private plane after my uncles plane crash. I trusted him with our lives and he took good care of us.