...and played Minute to Win it one day. 
Other than that, we spent a lot of time eating, doing puzzles, playing games, hanging out and shopping in Park City. 
Love you Mark.
The Lehi Legacy Center holds lots of different activities in conjunction with Round Up Days. Mind you. I am not really a bird lover. In fact, I'm not really an animal lover. I like them. But you won't find me hugging them, holding them, kissing them, cleaning up after them (which is one reason we don't own any). Unless it is a horse, then I'm good. But in particular, I've always thought of birds as dirty and kind of infected. Problem is I have boys. Little boys. Dirty, smelly, animal loving little boys. So I took one for the team and took them to this bird show. Verdict: I loved it. I'm not a hater. I said I like animals and am mostly intrigued by them. And since there was no touching allowed, it was especially enjoyable. And the boys thought I was so cool for taking them. So pretty much I am awesome and I learned a few things. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner.(excuse the bird pun)
After church we went to Tooele to be with all of the Dad's in our lives. I don't think my boys could be more blessed. I think Mark summed it up perfectly shortly after we found out just how close we could have been to losing Ryan last year. He said to Ryan "You know that if anything ever happened to you your wife and your boys would want for nothing." I seriously can't imagine our lives without them in it. There isn't anyone that could fill the void of not having my own father here any better than my father-in-law. He takes a very involved concern in our lives and in teaching our boys to be helpful and grateful...as do their uncles. 
Ryan ran the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay with Xango again this year. I love that he gets to do it (especially on their dime), but I hate that it takes him away overnight and all the next day. So to pass the time we had a pool party and then made Daddy this sign with the neighbor kids. Max was in awe of Dad's medal and told all his friends that his dad had won the race...which somehow they all believed and were very impressed that Max's dad was super fast. Way to impress Ryan.
Hair nets anyone?
McCade and Max...buddies
Ready for the tour!
So her first lesson is to get the kids not to fear the water when they go under. They only learn this by learning not to freak out when they go under. So incidentally, they go under a lot. She spends the first several lessons doing Bobs--up and under, up and under-- until they learn to quit crying, and start blowing bubbles underneath. 
Once they learn to remain calm, then she can get them to float on their backs, get to the wall, and turn over and get themselves out of the pool. And once they get it...Momma rewards them with a giant lollipop! 
I'm not gonna lie...it's not cheap, it's not easy to watch (at least for the first couple of lessons when they are screaming and you feel like you just threw them into a den of lions).
Every day before swim we say a little prayer that we can be safe, not cry, blow bubbles, and listen to our teachers. I was telling Max one day after his lesson that I was proud of him because I knew it was so hard and scary for him. The next day after his lesson he got out and said to me "Mom, I can do hard things." So I'm thinking this is turning out to be more than just lessons in swimming.
Luke is definitely one of the favorite clients. He just loves on Miss JoD and she falls for it...most days. I think sometimes she spends more time loving on him than anything else. I guess it's okay... he seems to trust her.
Luke fell in the pool, fully clothed one day while trying to toss rings to Max. My first reaction was to jump in and get him as he first panicked. Then I saw his little arms go behind his head, and his belly and toes start to float up. That was right about the time that Max freaked out and grabbed his jersey, keeping him from floating up. Once I pried a very scared and protective Max off his little brother, Luke floated right to the top. He knew what to do. At that moment I knew it was worth the small fortune, time, and tears we put into it. 
He as grown so much socially, is so much more assertive, made a best little buddy, experienced so much of the world around him...oh yeah, and learned all his letter sounds and numbers. 
Tina is really amazing and goes above and beyond for her little Tots.
Max's best buddy, Jayce.
Mom and Max post end of the year program. He did so well and we were so proud of him!
The other 99.9% of the time, we enjoy him like this...
I don't know where he gets his motor from, but it rarely shuts off.
I have come to realize through recent trials that "Mother" is the identity of which I am most proud, of which I am most connected, of which I most want to perfect. Not "Runner", not "Social Worker", not "Friend". I am a Mother. They are part God, part me, part Ryan. I am in a partnership with Heavenly Father, to nurture them, to love them, to teach them, to discipline them. I have a work to do. My life is not my own. And I want it that way. I want them and they want me. This is what I chose. I get to wake up to kisses, have mid-day wrestle matches, and fall asleep to hugs and stories. I get to be more than myself because they demand selflessness. I get to be better because they need example. I get to learn because they teach, unprovoked. They are my refining fire. Patience, Understanding, Unconditional Love. Heartache, Forgiveness, Grace. There is no better way to gain such godly attributes than that of being a parent.
I am a Mother. 
