To Alaina on her Birthday

Dear Alaina,

Today is your birthday! You are four years old! Four years sounds like such a short time, but it is hard for me to remember my life before you were in it.

This past year has been an adventure. Since your last birthday we have lived in 5 different places. That's a lot! But in each place we lived, you quickly adjusted, made friends, and always seemed excited about it all. And I tried to keep up and be as excited and outgoing as you.

This next year will hold even more adventures. With your help, Daddy will graduate from medical school and we will move somewhere to start residency. You will go to preschool. I'm sure you will grow some more and learn a lot. I know you will make us laugh with your witty comments and keep everyone around you smiling. That is just how you are.

You have taught me so much, my Lainy-girl. Sometimes I wonder if I teach you anything. You have taught me how to be a mom. I don't always get it right, but you are so patient and forgiving. You have also helped me get a glimpse of Heavenly Father's love for us. For you and me and all of His children. I didn't really get it before I had you.

This is my favorite story of you from the past year.

On one of our travels we went through Salt Lake City, Utah. We didn't have much time to spend there, but Daddy and I thought it was important to visit Temple Square. It was a really hot day. We walked through the grounds, pausing to stop and touch the temple walls and squint up at the Angel Moroni. Then we made our way to the visitors center. We walked up the ramp to visit the Christus statue. I was holding Leah and took her up to look at the statue. You were behind me with Daddy. I turned around to find you and saw that you had fallen to your knees at Jesus' feet. My first reaction was to get you off the floor, but then I saw the expression on your face. It was beautiful. I will never forget it. I could see how much you love Him. I learned a lot from you that day.

You are so special. I love being your mom! I hope you have a Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mommy

Idaho for Jeff's Homecoming

My brother, Jeff, got home from his mission last week. He went to Paraguay, spoke Spanish and Guarani, and turned out to be a really incredible missionary.

It was so good to see him! He's the one child in the family who inherited my mother's red hair and freckles. He's also overflowing with artistic, musical, and creative talents. We've missed him.

Lainy prayed for him every night he was gone.

Jeff got home Friday afternoon and we flew in late Friday night. Brad stayed until after Jeff's report Sunday night, then he had to get back to Seattle. The girls and I stayed until Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, these are the only pictures I have of the trip...

Brad and Leah on our late-night flight to Idaho

From the left: Leah, Dad, Mom, Brad, Lainy, Kayt, Kristen, Ella, Jeff

watching a movie on the flight home

Just know that we had a wonderful, if short, visit. I cried through his whole report on Sunday. It was incredibly touching to see my little bro up there sharing his obvious love for the people of Paraguay, his love for the Lord, and his gratitude for having the opportunity to serve Him. There's something about Jeff that just gets me. He's an awesome kid and he's going to do some amazing things with his life.


Here are a couple of quotes from Elder Smith, taken from various letters home:
"Finding, finding, finding. It's kinda strange how in missionary work you spend so much time finding people, finding their doubts, finding their testimonies, and all the while you're really just finding yourself."

And from his last letter:
"I love the Lord. I love this people. I love you all. I testify this church to be the only true church, the possessor of divine right, power, and ordinance, and proclaimer of the living Christ. I know He lives. I testify of His love and thank Him for His confidence in a little red headed Idahoan boy that in the beginning knew not even how to confide in himself. I know this work is true and seal this epistle in the holy name of my Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, amen."

Welcome home Elder Smith!

The Failed Camping Trip

Brad got home early on Friday, so we decided to go on a last minute camping trip.

We packed and were on the road in less than an hour, headed to a campground 30 minutes away.

We were all excited! We haven't been able to go camping for a couple of years and really wanted to get out of the city for a night.

We got to the campground... and it was full.

Bummer. And I mean bummer.

On our drive home, we bemoaned our ignorance of the Western Washington woods and wished we were back in Idaho where we know of many places to camp on a whim.

Then we decided to make the most of the situation.

We pitched our tent in our living room. We made s'mores on the grill. We sat on our deck, lit our lantern, and sang songs around it's glow. We even picked out a few dim stars high above the city lights. Then, satisfied, we went to sleep in our tent.

It was a memorable night. Not exactly how we'd planned to spend the night, but fun nevertheless!

Blue Angels Air Show

Last weekend we went to the last Seafair event of the summer: the Blue Angels Air Show over Lake Washington. They actually close the main  bridge over Lake Washington so people can walk out onto the lake.  The Blue Angels do their show right over the bridge.

Both Thursday and Friday the girls and I heard the Blue Angels practicing. They'd roar over our house and we'd run outside to try to catch a glimpse of them. Leah learned to say "Jet!".

Saturday we found a great parking spot and climbed up some steep stairs to the bridge. We walked way out to the middle and settled down for the show.

People on the bridge

Leah and Brad - can you see the boats lined up in the lake?

It was awesome!! They did some crazy tricks/formations and flew right over our heads a few times. Wow.

A C-130 nicknamed Fat Albert

Brad's favorite trick. Two of the 4 jets are upside down.

Flying right over our heads!

Lainy loved it. Leah didn't like the thunderous rumbling that accompanied each fly-by. But we had a lot of fun!

Another fun Seafair event down!

Lainy Cuts Her Hair: Take Two

Yesterday I walked into the bathroom to find this:

and Lainy admiring her work in the mirror.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I said (in capital letters).

She said that her hair was too long.

"It's okay, Mom" she calmly informed me, "It will grow back."

"Yes," I said," It will grow back. You're right. But not for a long, long time!"

And then I cried.

And then Lainy cried.

And then Leah and Addie joined in too, completely baffled.

After we had all settled down (the babies with animal crackers and milk), Lainy and I had a nice long talk about how no one, NO ONE, cuts their own hair. Not Mommy. Not Daddy. Not even Aunt Rachel cuts her own hair (and she is a very talented hairdresser).

Then I inspected the damage. She'd hacked a couple of inches off both sides (not bad), and a chunk off the back of her head to the scalp (eek!). But no mullet.

Like my sister-in-law said, at least she's getting better.

Luckily, Lainy's Sunbeam teacher is a hairdresser. I called her, we went over to her house, she evened out the sides, put in some layers, and pretty soon everything was okay. Shorter, but okay. You can't even see the chunk missing from the back unless you're looking for it.

Hopefully this is my last time reporting another haircut by Lainy. I think she's learned her lesson (knock on wood).

Hayley and Justin Visit

Last weekend my sister Hayley and her husband Justin drove up for a visit. They are awesome and we did some fun stuff together.

We took them downtown to see the sights...

This is a puppet near the Space Needle singing "Swinging on a Star." Leah was fascinated. Lainy was horrified.

Fountain at the Seattle Center

 We ate at a cool restaurant above Pikes Place Market...

We went canoeing on Lake Washington (and were very relieved when we made it back without capsizing)...

We went to Carkeek Beach and watched the sunset...

 

Not pictured are the good food we ate, the laughs we had (particularly when Justin read Skippyjon Jones to Lainy), Lainy's infatuation with all things Justin, and Leah's endlessly entertaining antics (including refusing to ride in the canoe and preferring to be dragged beside it in the water).

It was so nice of the Bairds to make the long drive to come see us during their weekend off. We had a blast! Thanks for being such easy guests! We love you guys!

Weekend Retreat

The Friday after Brad took his boards, we decided to take a mini vacation. We needed a change of scenery.

We didn't go far...just to a hotel in Bellevue, but it felt like an escape to us.

We spent two days swimming in the hotel pool, ate great food, and enjoyed spending time together with no deadline looming over Brad. It was great!

Here we are hanging out in the hotel after swimming.

Lainy was kind enough to share her ice cream bar with Leah...

This was her first bite

Yum!

Lainy even got a few bites in herself.

Yay for great hotels near us, fun in the pool, and quality time with family!

Milk Carton Derby

A couple of weeks ago we went to another Seafair event... the Milk Carton Derby at Green Lake! It was a day full of races between boats made of milk cartons. The weather could have been better, but it was fun watching the races. Some of the boats sank right away, some barely made it to the finish line, but most of them were very impressive!

Here are a few of our favorite boats:

Horse and Carriage

Space Needle

Orca boat and almost sinking boat

Angry Birds

Octopus

Pirate Ship

Brad wants to save our milk cartons so he can build a boat to compete in the derby next year... Anyone want to help?