flower exhibit

On a warm Saturday this summer Mark and I took Mont and Emmy to the Museum of Art downtown in Grand Forks. It was a small yet interesting museum housing just a small variety of art pieces. Some were really interesting, others were just weird or revolting, leaving us feeling a bit disappointed. The kids didn't even notice where we were or what we had been trying to do, good thing.

Walking out the french doors into the small gravelly garden, there were several peony bushes that I hadn't noticed on our way in; I'm not sure how they escaped my attention, but I'll give myself two guesses. Stopping to touch them, I thought better yet, I'll take a picture.. it'll last longer.

fireworks

July 4th came and went as one of Mont's most favorite days ever. He was beyond excited to see the fireworks, and when they came, they didn't disappoint. We celebrated with some friends from our ward, the Wooleys and the Baughs. We had such a fun time that we decided to do a second celebration the following week, BBQ, fireworks and all.

To explain it to Mont I told him, "It's America's Birthday!" So all night that's what he shouted, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!"

summer home

Sprinklers, shade trees, puppies and paint, gardens and flowers, cut grass and thunderstorms.

 That was how our summer was spent.. We've been in Alabama for a month now and are enjoying it here too (summer lasts longer here, as the leaves begin to change in the north) but are anxious to get back to this place we've adopted as our new home.

eclipsed

On May 20th we were driving through Yellowstone on our way from Utah to North Dakota. Knowing  we would be lucky to see any of it as far north as we were, we pulled over anyway to see what we could. If looking just to the side of the sun, we could see with our peripheral vision, the moon partially covering the sun. But even through different camera settings, this was all we could get.. just a fun picture. I tried to slow down the light intake to the sensor of the camera, otherwise this would have just looked like any other middle-of-the-day-picture.

Couple minutes after this, it got funner still when we saw a brown bear moseying through the woods. I'd show you a picture of it, but I can barely even see it with how far away it was. ha!

just call me Yenta

I remember hearing my mom say that line once upon a lifetime ago, it's stuck with me b/c I thought she was so clever drawing up my own memories of Fiddler on the Roof. Anyway... I am using it again, because 5 years ago... when Mark and I had just moved to Alaska, we went to a Stake Conference in our new area and saw a girl. This girl was pretty. This girl was spiritual. This girl was brave. We had to set up a date with Michael! I introduced myself to the cute girl who bore her testimony at the stake conference and decided to just be bold and ask after a conversation with her if she would ever go on a blind date, "cause I have this cute brother in law.." She was game! So here they are a couple weeks later:

And us.. yikes.

It went great. We all had a blast, with lots of laughs all around. Aimee was hysterical and played right along when Mark wanted to be the banker of his improv game of "Deal or No Deal?"

updated: picture mark found later last night after I posted this

Much to Michael's dismay, nothing much happened after that date. Mark said that he blew it for Michael. I laughed and said, "Probably." ha!

I remember Michael telling me that he had come up ready to leave knowing he had met The Girl. He had that much faith in our set up! What a sweet guy.. but it wasn't meant to be. Yet.

Fast Forward 4 years, and along comes Thanksgiving and Michael is asking me yet again :) if I have any single friends in Utah, and who he should ask on a date. I rattled off a couple that might be single, but then kept thinking about Aimee. I think I said something like, "I saw Aimee's on facebook again, have you thought about getting back in touch with her?" We eggshelled the idea for a few minutes and decided that I would be straight and ask her sister for Aimee's number so Michael could call her. That was the plan. Everything went smoothly; I got the number, sent it Michael in a matter of hours and walah! The strings were being pulled and the magic dust was beginning to swirl. After their Thanksgiving weekend date, Aimee was the one to call him the next day! I still remember how impressed and in awe Michael was with her. The magic dust was really twirling around them at this point, and everything just cruised right into May for the day they had decided would be their wedding date. Michael's Aimee had been won at long last!

facebook swipe

Even though she's sadly out of focus, Emmy is the reason for this picture.
She was SO in love with Michael and Aimee when they came out of the temple. 

Mark was just thrilled he hadn't ruined it for them after all. :)

swiped from Michael's friend Ashley's blog

Mont bestowed his wedding gift of a pretzel to each of them. 

The still wouldn't let them through, so Michael had to up the ante:

Off to honeymoon! 

Athens, Greece

Our last day and a half on our trip (rewinding back to June!), we were in Athens, Greece. I never expected to find myself there. And when I would think about going, what Athens would be like, it was not what we experienced. Movies make it blissful, charming, perfect; of course they do, they're movies. It was hot, muggy, crazy busy, pornography was all over the place, worse things were in shops on so many corners, and the government's chaos was a major part of what our tour guide wanted to tell us about (that last part was interesting though). If I ignore all that, I am left with the good: the history. That was what we were there for anyway. Tessa and I had a lot of fun with our time there. We took a bus tour early in the morning, on which the last stop was to the Acropolis - SO cool.. and SO blazing hot. When we were dropped off at our hotel, we decided we were hungry enough to venture out with a cab. We wanted American food.. it had been like 9 days after all. I unfolded the map of Athens across our coffee table and located a Hard Rock Cafe; much to my relief, Tessa loves those too.

We hailed a cab and in 8 minutes we were there. We ordered the Mediterranean Burger and nachos to share (it was all worthy of a big mmmmm). Looking at our iphones (connected to the Hard Rock's wifi), we took one last glimpse of the map before set off on our way. 25 minutes later, we were red hot and back in the air conditioned lobby. The next morning.. we packed up and began hopping flights to head back home.

Just like it began, it was over just like that. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, and I am so happy I got to take it with my best friend and sister. Till next time! (my hope never dies!)

doing my best

I read this quote today on another's blog and it hit home with how I am trying to live these days. Having two kids at the ages mine are, I am found laughing and smiling most of the time. Then there are those moments.. those 20 minute sections of time throughout the day that leave me wanting to pull my hair out as I try to bite my tongue. Whatever I do, Mont and Emmy remember it; for better or for worse. This realization came a long time ago, yet I am finally having to be that person I want to be, rather than just think about her.

When I get angry or upset over when Mont doesn't give Emmy a turn, or when one of them snatches a toy from the other, they remember that, and when they are the 'victim,' they think it's appropriate to raise their voice and grab their arm. When I see them do that to one another it slows me down and my heart sinks.

Kneeling down, I hold their hands, and show them what I mean for them do. I tell them to speak softly. I show them how to hold the other's face, or hand, or how to hug without the strangle hold. They are such sweet little things, children are. They make me a better person for helping me see my own faults. They help me appreciate the small things in life, like grasshoppers climbing siding, or robins in the morning grass. My children point out the wild and the interesting, the hurtful and the frightening, and also the fun and enjoyment that can be had while waltzing along to a tune we've heard a million times.

Someday, these days will only be memories. Someday, these moments will be longed for. Someday I will ache to hear Mont crying for "Momma" down the hall when my head just barely hits the pillow. One day I will remember the splashing in the tub that wet the floor before the towels could dry it. The battles at every meal will one day be long gone, and I'll be left with quiet and with peace.

I'm already nervous for that peace and for that quiet. I'm enjoying these days too greatly, and I'm afraid for them to end.

Grandpa Benson, Mark's namesake and beloved grandfather passed away this past Sunday evening in his home in his white Sunday shirt. He is now an angel, whom I like to think will check in on our home as I believe my own grandfather to do, and become one who might watch over our little ones.

The full talk that the quote was found from can be found right here. I am so grateful to be a mother, what a blessing it is. I've been thinking these thoughts for a good while now, as I see around me how fragile this life can be. It is very delicate, and things can change in an instant. Mothering is my calling now, and I want to enjoy it entirely, and make the best influence on my children as possible. It is a daunting task, but one I want to walk straight into, with my head held high. Encouraging words like the quote above help me do just that; thank goodness for Heavenly strength and assistance. Alone, I wouldn't stand a chance.