Ready, set...JUMP!

Here are my three oldest--jumping in for our first official swim of the season as a family! Kelly's parents came for a visit during May and it was so fun to have them down--Mackenna followed Grandma around asking for mints and makeup--such a girl. Carter and Chris wanted to show off their latest "moves"--whether it was their self-taught karate or gymnastics--I'm surprised no bones were broken. It was fun, though, to sit back and watch my kids with their grandparents. It is hard to live away from family! As I watched them all playing together and visiting it made me sad to think of what my kids are missing out on--living so far from grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins...it makes our trips up to Utah and Idaho the highlight of the year!
Life is good though--each day something new! I've been reading a book on changing perspective to help your relationships and it has made me think alot lately--lots of introspection--which I think Kelly is sick of...he may try to hide this book from me--but as I've read I see lots of characteristics and attributes in myself that aren't my favorite. I can see how I cause the friction in my relationship with Mackenna--that it could really be alot easier with her than I let it be. I see that my pride gets in the way of how I communicate in my marriage. It's really opened my eyes to my responsibility over my own emotions--and that my circumstances don't determine my happiness. It's kind of scarey stuff--but I feel like it has changed my life--even if that change is one that only I can see--and if it is only small at first--it is there...
I want to be so much more than I am--and there's alot to do...but I'm ready--so I guess all that's left to do is just...get ready, set, and JUMP!

Mom--I'm a Champion...

So--yes--I've not kept up with my blog lately! I honestly feel like I've been running non-stop the past few months! I just wish I had the body to prove it :) Oh well--there are certainly more important things than what size of jeans I wear.

I really have to stop and brag for a minute--Carter's little flag football team won the league championship! It was a long and HOT day (and so fun to have Grandma and Grandpa with us)--but worth it in the end to see all the relief on the faces of the parents when the Cowboys took 1st place! I'm not sure the boys really understood the win--but they loved the trophies!

It was really fun to watch Carter grow during the season--from not having a clue and dancing around the field to being excited about the plays...and yes--still dancing around the field. One thing I noticed about Carter is that he didn't get angry when things didn't go his way. That to me is more important than any other skill he could have learned. He was a great sport--even when the coaches (and Dad) came down on him--which they did! He is such a good boy and I love watching him grow up even though it is bittersweet.

For the past few weeks now he'll be busy with something and he'll just randomly turn to me and say, "Mom--I'm a champion!" At first it kind of made me laugh--especially for those of you who know Carter--you know that he is RANDOM!

But now that he's said it several times to me, it has started me thinking...and I'm glad he feels that way. I need to be more of a cheerleader for my kids--so that even if the world is telling them differently, they know that their mom thinks that they are champions. It seems like there is alot out there right now to drag kids down--so all the positive they can get--we should give. So--yes Carter--you are a champion and I hope you never forget that!