Happy Birthday Ashlee!

Ashlee's birthday was the 29th :)

On her birthday she chopped her hair off! I love her new look. She is gorgeous!

Ashlee is the sweetest person I know. She is always thinking of others; whether it's her family, friends, or neighbors. If she knows someone is having a hard time, she'll take them something or call them just to see how they're doing. A couple weeks ago she offered to watch her neighbor's 3 little kids because their mom needed help. When we asked why she did it (because watching 3 little kids, plus Owen seemed like a lot for one lady!) she said. "Because if I was in that situation I would want someone to help me." She can put herself in other people's shoes and doesn't hesitate to help, even if it seems inconvenient.

She is an amazing wife. She is such a supportive spouse. She is incredibly selfless. She always makes sure her boys are happy. She takes such good care of her little family.

Aren't they so cute together??

She is such a good mother. She is so patient with Owen. I can tell she absolutely loves being a mom. She takes her time with him and enjoys the little moments with him. When he does something funny, whether it's jibber-jabber or if he makes a funny face and we laugh, I can tell she takes those things in and cherishes them. It's so easy for parents to ignore things like that. She is a great example to me and I hope I can be as good of a mother as she is one day.

I love this picture. I can't believe this was a year and a half ago. Owen looks so little! Times flies!

She never forgets when I have an event or something important happening. I can always count on her to send me a text and wish me luck, or call me after to see how it went, without fail! When I was in high school, one day when school was over, I went out to my car I found this note on it:

She put it on my car when she was driving by that day, sweet huh?

She is my little cheerleader when it comes to doing things out of my comfort zone. A couple years ago we went to Lagoon and she and Justin somehow convinced me to do the Sky Coaster. I thought I was going to pass out haha. Whenever we go to waterparks she makes me go down the scariest slides. She's encouraged me to do Ragnar and our triathalon. Those things are definitely not my cup of tea. But Ashlee helps me do things to live life to the fullest :)

I love our faces in this picture. We were havin' some fun! :)

I love Ashlee's personality. She's not afraid to be wild and goofy. I remember growing up she'd dress up, blast music and sing and dance around. She particularly liked "She thinks my tracker's sexy" by Kenny Chesney. She would crack me up!

Just one of the many times we dressed up all crazy!

Us at girl's camp, 10 years ago? Love love love this picture :)

I love you Ash! Thanks for being such a wonderful big sister and example to me!

Happy Birthday! :)

Bryson's Very First Track Meet

Bryson is doing track this year! I'm really excited for him. Looking back at my high school experience, I wish I would have been involved in more activities. So I'm happy he's starting out his high school career being super involved :) He wasn't sure if he wanted to do track, because it was out of his comfort zone, but after his first meet, he's glad he's doing it :) It was so fun watching him compete! I'm looking forward to many more meets.

He got third in his heat of the 100 meter dash!

Woot! Woot! Go Brys!

In the 4 by 1 he anchored the freshman team, and they didn't get last! :)

He also ran the 200, which I failed to get a picture of unfortunately. He ran it in 28.5 seconds and got first in his heat! Way to go Brother! I'm so proud of you :)

Happy Birthday Bryson!

On my last blog I forgot to mention how my mom's birthday officially kicked off 'Birthday Season' for my family. Between March 4th and April 25th we have 6 birthdays, it's a right good time :)

Bryson's birthday was yesterday, the 12th. He's 15! I can't even believe it. He's always been my little baby brother and now he's going to be driving and going to high school! Goodness, where does life go?

Wasn't he the cutest kid ever? Sometimes I forget he's not this little guy anymore.

He's always enjoyed playing sports, but he especially LOVES basketball and has always been a Jazz fan. The proof is in the picture above :) This year at school he made his ninth grade team! Go Brys! He also tried out for the high school team and made the first cut. Pretty good for a ninth grader!

Brys in action!

Brys and I are the only kids left at home now. It's given us more 1 on 1 time than we've ever had before. It's been different, but fun, just my parents, he and I at home. He's always been my bud. I can always count on him for a race in Mario Kart, a game of HORSE, or a good board game. I like the fact that we're 7 years apart. I used to think it was too far, but lately I've realized how fun it's been :) Growing up and becoming an adult can be tough at times, but it's easier when your little brother asks you to play with him. It's funny how playing and laughing can take your mind away from the stresses of life. Thanks Brys :)

Us, probably five years ago, at the Great America theme park, by Spongebob's house :)

At Lake Tahoe, I think 4 years ago.

The day we realized Bryson was taller than me, back in 2009. I swear the kid grows inches overnight. I was 19 and he was 12!

Bryson teaching me how to mow the lawn. I'd never done it before, and a couple summers ago I wanted to learn. After doing it once, I decided to let Bryson keep his chore of lawn mowing :)

Last Summer on our road trip, just hanging with some pioneers ;)

To celebrate, yesterday we went to the Spaghetti Factory then had cake and ice cream at our house. Happy Birthday Brys! No matter how old we get you'll always be my little baby brother! I love you :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

March 4th was my mom's birthday! She and my dad went to Disneyland for the weekend to celebrate, lucky ducks! We celebrated with the fam last night. We got Papa John's pizza (our favorite ;)) and some delicious doughnuts from our new favorite bakery, Schmidts :) It was a fun night!

The birthday girl!

Something I've noticed my mom say every now and then is something about her "ugly hands". I beg to differ. I find them quite lovely. She's done so much with her hands:

She's tucked me in around 4,000 times. Counting all her kids, she's done around 20,000 'tuck ins'. If she only had a dollar for every time she did that :)

She never made me eat school lunch. She made me a lunch to take to school every day. They were creative too. I remember she made 7 layered dip in a little plastic container. . . My friends were always jealous :) Sometimes she'd leave little "I love you" notes in my lunchbox for me to find. Or "Happy Birthday" notes on my birthday. Or when I had a ridiculous obsession with Spongebob, the note said "Spongebob loves you".

I kept this from elementary school :)

She's played and practiced the piano, teaching me the importance of developing the talents I've been given. I never wanted to practice, I'm not sure if she wanted to, but she always did anyway.

She's text me words of encouragement when she knows I'm having a nervous day.

In 4th grade we were assigned to write a book. I thought I could hand write mine. . . until the day it was due. I was nowhere near being done. Being the lovely lady she is, she dropped what she was doing to type my book for me so I could turn it in on time.

Us at a mother daughter activity for church. I like this picture because we both have Winnie the Pooh on our shirts :)

She's made countless meals for her family and for other families she's served. She even puts the food in disposable containers so the family doesn't have to worry about returning dishes. How sweet is that?

She's held her five new born babies, and one grandbaby :). One day she and I were talking about having babies. I told her I didn't think I could do it, it'd be too painful and scary. I won't forget the look on her face when she said, "Oh Karinne, but when you hold them in your arms for the first time, it makes it all worth it." She was so happy describing that feeling. I don't think I've heard anything so sincere. After that conversation, I know how much she loves me and my siblings.

My mama and me :)

She's wiped my tears after breakups. . . and believe me, there have been quite a few.

She scratched my back the night before I started middle school. I was nervous and awake in my bed, and she came in to make sure I was okay and rubbed my back and talked my nerves away.

She's always written in a journal, setting an example for me to do the same. Had I not had that to look up to, I wouldn't have written all the years that I have. And my journals are something I cherish most.

Us last summer at the Winter Quarters temple :)

She drove me to and from about 35 orthodonist appointments. And I wouldn't trade anything for my pearly whites :) Thanks Mom!

She's comforted me after disappointments.

She's passed the Ragnar bracelet off to the next runner 4 years in a row. Her example has taught me the importance of exercise, taking care of your body, and having goals.

Ragnar 2011

She's clapped and cheered at her children's swim meets, dance recitals, baseball games, choir concerts, basketball games, track meets, soccer games. . . Not to mention she drove us all to all our practices and events.

She's flipped countless pages to hundreds of books and taught me to love reading and learning. My mom always has a book she is reading. Through all my school years I didn't like reading, but a couple years ago she convinced me to read one, and now I'm hooked!

She's held my dad's hands faithfully for 28 years. . .

and still going strong :)

She's taken care of me for years and years and years; done my hair, tied my shoes, washed my clothes, washed the dishes, cleaned a house full of 7 people. . . and the list goes on and on. She's worked hard for our family.

I'll be a lucky girl if one day my hands look as beautiful as hers.

Happy birthday mom, I love you :)