A Daughter After All!

That's right folks, it's a beautiful little girl. This photo is terrible because its a picture of a picture but she has a cute little pointy nose and chin. Some of you may know that this pregnancy has been a lot more stressful for me than my others but seeing that little baby on the ultrasound has me filled with love and reminds me that it is all so worth it. What work is there that brings such a huge reward?

So despite a few predictions from friends and family that we would have all boys, we get to have a daughter to raise. I already feel protective. I can't wait to meet my little one! I have five more months to go!

Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the good weather, BBQs, America, and all of the things that mean the fourth. But mostly I love fireworks. I feel like a kid again when I get a punk in my hand and a little stack of fireworks to burn. It doesn't matter if they are artillery shells, snakes, or smoke bombs. I love it all.

We spent the actual Fourth at my Dad's house and when it was dark we went out on his boat on Lake Steilacom to watch all the rich people burn their money away. Seriously, some of those people must have spent ten thousand dollars or more on fireworks but it was beautiful, and free to us. With fireworks on every side refelctng on the water it was breathtaking. The best firework show I have ever seen.

The next day we went to my Mom's for the traditional melee that I love. Its a firework free for all. We have a few rules but for the most part its just people running around holding punks in the haze of smoke listening for the regular shouts of "watch out" "back up" or "run away." Even little Eli lit a firework all by himself. Unfortunately the parachute inside ended up on the roof but he was ok with that. Amazingly, Isaac went to sleep at around seven and slept through it all. Here's a shot of him holding a sparkler (maybe next year we will actually light it for him).

Point Defiance

We recently spent the day at Owen Beach in Point Defiance. Grandma Conway came along with my niece Lela in our carpool and my sister in law Shila and her kids Alisha and Asher joined us. We had a picnic on the beach and then just relaxed and watched the kids play for a few hours. It was truly an ideal Saturday. I love being at a beautiful place with people love, and no schedule to keep. The only thing on the agenda was... nothing. The rocks alone were enough to keep the kids entertained. Eli throwing them in the water and Isaac trying to eat them. Isn't that picture of Isaac and Grandma cute! He can be so cuddly. Plus, he loved her sun umbrella.

Send Your Prayers

My sister-in-law Mimi (John's wife) will be induced tomorrow to give birth to Mia, who will need a heart transplant shortly after. Please pray, and if you feel you want to, fast for them.

Also, my step-dad Dean is starting chemotherapy this week for cancer they found in his colon. keep him in your prayers as well.

Elijah turned 3 on May 17th

Eli blowing out his candles was one of the cutest things you'll ever see. He would blow and blow and blow with all his might, nearly hyperventilating but get almost nowhere because the air was going up towards his nose instead of down towards the cake. He loved his birthday party(s) and opening all of his presents. His uncle Derrick got him a nice set of little golf clubs just his size. We'll see what we can do to make him a little golf buddy out of Eli.


On Eli's actual birthday we went to a U-Fish and had a ton of fun with the playing around outside on what was probably the only nice day in May. The U-Fish is on what used to be my Grandma's property growing up. It looks a lot different but there are little hints here and there that we played there as kids. On old grate we used as a bridge, a tattered rope hanging high up in a tree that we used to be a favorite swing. It was fun to be there again.

Spring Fair (Another April event)

We went to the spring fair this year. It was pouring rain and very cold but I just laughed and bundled up the kids. "I am a Washingtonian at heart after all," I said. Little did I know that the rain would continue until the end of June! I realized then just how much I missed Utah and its beautiful springs.

In any case, the spring fair was fun and the kids loved it. The are young enough that all of the free things are a lot of fun. In this picture Isaac is holding a little drum stick that he was using to pound away of an interactive sculpture full of chimes, bells, and other metal instrument like pipes and springs. Isaac loved watching the little newly hatched chicks in the barn and Eli, of course, loved the rides. Oh and the fair treats too of course. Or maybe that was me.... I think I did end up eating that entire elephant ear myself...