Photo class

I took an online photo class summer of 2012.  I learned some good things about shooting with a dslr, and then I didn't practice after the class ended... I might need to retake it this summer.

Pictures of our little beach

We loved going to the little beach in our neighborhood when we first moved here.  Plus, a picture of two ecstatic parents on their first date night away from kids in three months.  It takes a while to get to know babysitters!

My Aunt

I went to California last week for my Aunt Karri's funeral. She battled cancer for the last four years, exemplifying hope, faith and courage the entire time, before finally passing on Friday, April 20th. I remember the shock and confusion I felt the Sunday before she died when my Dad informed us that she was back in the hospital, he said words like "hospice" and "liver failure" and it just seemed unreal. The family had just completed a big ongoing fast for Karri and she had been able to go back to teaching school.

When we last saw her in February, she seemed positive, vibrant, and cheerful. In short, she seemed like herself, even though she had been dealing with some painful complications at the time. But that was my Aunt, she always saw the best in any situation, and in her 4 year war with endometrial cancer, she was indomitable, refusing to be beaten, refusing to lose hope, or to give in to negativity. As the week passed and her physical condition deteriorated, I thought a lot about my Aunt, about what an inspiration she has been to me. Karri was the kind of person that you could depend on always for a pick me up, she was always so genuinely happy to see you and to hear about what was going on with you. She was unflappably cheerful, patient and kind. And when she would briefly lose her temper with you when you were an annoying pre-teen that spent hours at her house over the course of the summer, you knew you deserved it, and you knew that she still loved you (I speak from expert personal experience about that one).

I feel so grateful that I was able to fly home for her funeral, to hear everyone's memories of her, and to share with my family our immense love for Karri and our horrible grief at losing her. I spent 4 full days in California, and got to spend a lot of time with my family, and that part was wonderful. But by the 5th morning, as I headed back to the airport, I missed my little family. I really, really missed them. I missed what a welcome distraction my busy little kids were when I felt preoccupied with sadness. I missed Caleb's sweet, loooong hugs that he would give me when he knew I was "feeling sad about my Aunt". I missed their bustling, busy presence when I thought about my cousins and my Uncle being without their mom and wife.

Since I've been back home, my Aunt has still been in my thoughts frequently. But now, I think about the legacy she left to me as her niece. Her example of taking the hand you're dealt and making the most of it. Her example of enduring patience and cheerfulness. Her example of kindness and Christlike service, especially to her family that she loved so much. I think of her pure love for her children, for her family, and how I can try to be like her. I think of how I'm grateful that she is now in a wonderful place with no pain or suffering, and for the Atonement that makes it possible for Karri to be reunited with her family after this earthly life.

I miss my Aunt, and I'm so sad for her family who undoubtedly feels the pain of her absence much more than I do. I know our family will never be quite the same without her presence, but I'm grateful to have known her, and to have benefitted from her shining example.

Trip to the big island

In April 2012, we took the kids to the big island for our 10th anniversary.  While being accompanied by three kids the entire time wasn't exactly the romantic getaway we'd imagined, it was still a very fun trip.  We stayed at the Hitlon Waikoloa, and the kids couldn't get enough of the lagoon and the sandy bottomed pools.  We hung out at the resort for the first couple days and then drove down to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  It never occurred to us that we'd be going way up in elevation to see the crater of Kilauea and that we may want to take that into consideration as to what we were wearing.  We froze.  We walked through the Thurston lava tubes, and went into the different visitor centers, and the Jaggar Museum.  I think Weston had his heart set on seeing some active lava flows, but seeing the steam vents and smelling the sulfur, looking down into the caldera at Kilauea was cool enough.

 These parrots at the hotel were really cool, until the kids got to pose with them and one pooped all over Caleb.

 I'm still not used to seeing all the hibiscus flowers

Iris loved the lagoon.  It was calm and shallow, and she and Caleb could explore all over it. 

Ten years!

 Breakfast of champions

 Weston getting to sit up front in our sweet ride because he started to get car sick.  Nothing like cruising around in a Lincoln Continental.  

 Black sand beaches!

 Thurston lava tubes

 Up at the top of Kilauea!

Steam vents

Iris turns 3

Iris turned three, and I promised her a bubbles and balloons party.  One thing came up after another, and Weston kept reminding me that I never actually had the party, so in late August, when I realized it was almost Caleb's birthday and I couldn't very well throw him a party when Iris never got hers, I invited a few little girls over and we played with the bubbles and balloons to ours hearts content.

The kids got to decorate their own mini cakes