I don't know how people do it.

I don't know how people do it. I just finished reading a blog about a family whose 7 month old baby boy has cancer. They found out in June, and have been going through Chemo and living at primary children's and then this last week was given the news that the cancer had spread and that their baby only had weeks left to live. As I read the post, the tears would not stop. My heart broke for them. For their family. For their other kids. For their little baby that has already had to go through sooooo much. I wanted to call them, to find them, to hug the mom and cry with her and tell her how sorry I am, I still can't stop crying.

I don't understand why people have to go through things like this. I don't understand why such little innocent babies have to go through so much pain. I don't understand why we have to lose those we love. I don't understand why some people have to carry such heavy burdens. I DO know though, that our Father in Heaven loves us, and that we can be comforted. I know that we are here to help each other get through these hard times. I do know that that little family will be reunited once again. What a joyous reunion that will be. Families can be together forever. I KNOW that. I am so grateful to have been married in the temple and that I am sealed to my husband and to my 3 kids.

Their blog made me think of my kids and my family. I thought of what a slacker mom I am most the time. I thought of how much I take for granted. How precious our sweet little children are. I went upstairs kissed my 3 babies goodnight and rocked Sophie and wept again. To the Nelson family. You are in my prayers. You are in my thoughts. my heart is broken for you. I can't imagine what you are going through right now or in the days to come. You are an inspiration to me. To be a better mom. To give my kids the best life I can possibly give them and to make sure that they too gain a testimony of this Gospel. My heart goes out to you.

Our Summer

oops, these pictures are supposed to be at the bottom, oh well, here they are. Here is Harrison with his pinewood derby. Another tradition of my family. His car took 2nd place and he couldn't have cared less. James however didn't win a single race and cried and cried. Poor kid. Harrison's car was painted like a basketball. shocker.

Look at how big my little baby girl is getting! She is a chunky monkey for sure and she is growing up too too too too fast! I keep telling her to stop, but she is stubborn and continues to get bigger. sigh. This is one of my favorite dresses of hers and she has outgrown it, so I had to take a picture one of the last times she wore it. she looks so good in brown.

Okay here is the real start of my blog, I know I am retarded and should figure this out so it is laid out all nice and in order, but I got 2 hours of sleep last night, ran 14 miles this morning went shopping all day, took care of an extremeley grumpy baby, cleaned the entire house and I am beat. So here it is.

I seriously cannot believe that this summer is coming to a close. It literally flew right by me. I hadn't even noticed that it was really ending until I noticed the slight chill in the air the other morning when I left for my morning run. And I thought "What? What is this nip in the air?" Then I realized that August is almost over, James starts school next Thursday. Yes I now have a kindergartner. We went to back to school night the other night and I asked him if he was nervous, he said he was. I told him I was nervous too. Then I had to keep myself from crying the rest of the time. HE is very excited to go though. He wears his backpack everyday. He has his clothes all picked out and is ready to go. sigh. my little boy.

But Back to our summer. we have been 100% busy this entire summer. Reasons: 3 kids...so busy I can't even begin to tell you. family reunions, races, I am training for marathon #2, which is in 4 weeks! Kids in soccer and gymnastics. Family BBQ's..so many BBQ's. hikes, smores and then even more smores. Seven peaks several times. Playing at the park and getting snow cones. going to the Orem Owlz baseball games, Liberty Land, Bridal Veil falls...... the list goes on and on. Like I said, busy. So here are some pictures of our fun times.

Here we are picking up Ben's brother, Alex up from the Airport. He just finished serving a 2 year mission to Taiwan. We are glad to have him back home, and glad that he had such a great time.

We had family races yet again this year. The kids made bandanas just before the races. And they all got water bottles and medals at the end. The sure were cute.

James at Liberty Land. We spent a day there once and it was pretty fun. James LOVED thos planes and the roller coaster. He would jus make that plane bounce up and down and thought it was the funniest thing ever. He laughed and laughed.

James and Sophie on the 4th of July. Aren't they so cute?

Our neighborhood had a parade on the morning of the 4th. So we decorated our bikes and joined in the fun, and it really was a lot of fun. James and I had fun getting the bikes all put together

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James and I ran race on provo the morning of the 4th as well. We ran the freedom runs. I ran the 10k and he ran the 1 miler. he ran the whole way without stopping. I was so proud of him. He is and always will be just my best little buddy.