It's Time ...

... to make this blog private, too. I've been debating for a while, and finally decided it's time. If you'd like to keep reading, let me know by leaving a comment. If I don't already have your e-mail address, please be sure to include it.

I Can't Wait ...

... to get these printed, framed, and hung in my kitchen.

(only minus the "squished" effect from having to edit

the HTML to get them to fit)

Love This

Found this with the heading "The Power of Words" on a friend's blog. Love it. Doesn't it just make you want to write someone a letter or curl up with a good book?

Eliot's "First" Fourth

Even though this was officially Eliot's third 4th of July (he was a newborn in '07 and one in '08), this was the first time he got to experience the full day, start to finish. It started early with meeting me at my 5K in Provo and ended late with the "Cul-de-Sac of Fire" in my in-laws' neighborhood. We packed the day with family, swimming, a BBQ, and fireworks. No wonder Eliot was so zonked after it all ended! He seemed to enjoy himself, especially swimming. He's been a little timid of swimming until now, but after Grant threw him in the air and let him splash down in the water dozens of times, Eliot didn't want to get out, and sobbed when we made him. He kept saying over and over, "Swimmun!" and "Wadder!" My favorite moment? Hearing the "Star Spangled Banner" before our race started and saluting the flag. I got a little choked up and had one of those moments when I felt so grateful to be a citizen of this country and thankful for the many blessings and opportunities I enjoy.

The Freedom Festival runners, 2009 -- my sister Mary, me, and my sisters-in-law Lisa and Tori. We really do like each other, I promise -- we were still a little sweaty from the muggy morning race and didn't want to put our arms around each other!

Me with Eliot, my usual "running buddy." I didn't race with him this year since it ended up being a little stressful last year. This particular race can have about 3,000 runners, so it gets a little crowded and hairy with a stroller. I missed having him with me, though!

Check out my big boy who thinks he needs to eat all by himself at the kids' table now! (Oh, and check out his cross-eyed cousin Katie, too!)

Eliot and his cousin Katie (who he's just a little obsessed with right now!) enjoying their 4th of July hot dogs.

My "All-American" boy!

My brother-in-law Louie, niece Maddy, and sister Mary. The 4th of July weekend was extra special for their family -- Madelyn was blessed by her "Ampy" (my dad) the next day!

Miss Madelyn getting her first taste of the Fourth!

One of my favorite photos of the day -- my little nephew Mikey, whom we've nicknamed "Bruiser" for all of his owies he's been accumulating lately!

Part of the "Cul-de-Sac of Fire" festivities is a cake walk for the kids. Grant couldn't bear the thought of Eliot not participating (there were Hostess products at stake, after all!), so he took him out to walk the walk. Cute, huh!

Grant with the littlest of the kids at the cake walk. The fabulous paint job on the ground was provided by James Christensen, my in-laws' neighbor who's also a quite famous painter. He and his daughter spent days before the 4th using large wooden stencils to paint the stars. It looked great!

Again, Grant with the younger kiddos. As you can tell, Eliot was cooperating fabulously.

The triumphant cousins, Alex, Scottie, Katie, and Nate, who, unlike their younger counterparts, actually won goodies at the cake walk. Their stash? Hostess cakes. And what is more American than a Twinkie, anyway?

Grant with Eliot and Michael (Eliot's "twin" cousin) after the cake walk. They came so close plenty of times, but never won a treat! We're pretty sure Grant was a lot more disappointed than the two boys, though! Every time they called a number other than theirs, it was so sad to see Grant's reaction!

This year the performing group at "Cul-de-Sac of Fire" was "The Bonus Brothers," not to be confused with "The Jonas Brothers" playing down the road at the "real" Stadium of Fire. From what our family members who attended the Stadium (vs. the Cul-de-Sac) of Fire tell us, we were better off with the lip-sync version (sorry to offend any fans).

As a surprise grand finale, however, we did enjoy the musical entertainment of Carmen Rasmussen, a former American Idol finalist (yes, the real deal!). She is apparently married to the son of Gary Herbert, Utah's newly appointed governor, who also made an appearance at Cul-de-Sac of fire. When he showed up in his motorcade, with lights flashing and sirens wailing, my nephew Alex put his hands in the air and said, "I'm innocent!"

And of course, what would the 4th be without fireworks, not to mention a little Neil Diamond?!

This picture doesn't capture Eliot's reaction to the fireworks, which he got to see for the first time this Fourth of July. This was the best I could do without annoying everyone with my flash, but the wonder on his face was my favorite part of the day.

If Only Every Weekday Could Be This Fun ...

A couple weeks ago we got to enjoy a mid-week getaway to Midway and Park City. For Grant's birthday, his sister generously gave him some coupons she had gotten from work for a getaway to a resort in Midway. Since we had just been to Park City and couldn't afford to do another overnight trip, we decided to let my sister Lauren and her husband, Bryan, take advantage of the deals, since they weren't able to have much of a honeymoon a couple years ago and are expecting their first at the end of July. The only condition was that we wanted to meet them for golf and shopping. When my dad found out about the plans, he wanted "in," too, since the Homestead Golf Resort, one of his favorite haunts, is just across the street from where they stayed. So we all went together and had a wonderfully relaxing ... Wednesday! Grant took the afternoon off, and we went up the canyon and enjoyed a great day of fabulous food, some of our favorite pastimes, and most of all the great company of my parents, sister, and her husband!

Me, Eliot, and Grant at the golf course cafe at The Homestead resort in Midway. What a great place for lunch -- beautiful view of the greens, delicious sandwiches and salads, and our table was right next to the Coy pond, where Eliot had a great view of the fish and ducks! Perfect! We could get used to this kind of life!

Bryan and Lauren (and baby Collin, due at the end of July!)

My mom and dad. After lunch it was off to the golf course for the boys and off to Park City for some outlet shopping for the girls. Could the day get any better?

After a "grueling" day of shopping and golf, we went to dinner at the Mountain House Grill in Midway, a place Grant and I discovered on anniversary trip of our own. It did not disappoint, especially since the boys were able to take advantage of the Prime Rib special!

Eliot couldn't get enough of the house specialty -- raspberry lemonade in a sugar-rimmed "glass" (more like pitcher -- at least there was plenty for sharing!).

All of us in front of the restaurant. I'm amazed that Eliot's actually smiling in this. If figures that setting the camera on a timer is more effective than making silly faces and trying to get a good shot.

"Peppy" (as Eliot calls him) and his "Tater Boy" (as my dad calls Eliot). In the background is a building with some of the Swiss architecture that Midway is known for.

The girls -- my sister Lauren, me, and my mom.

And of course the Golfing Guys, Bryan, Grant, and Dad, each claiming to be #1.