The big 5-0!

My mom turned 50, can you believe it? Well neither can she :)

We celebrated with a night out together at one of my favorite places, Market Street!

Time to catch up- Beginning with the 4th of July

So as previously posted, I ran my first 5k on the 4th of July with two of my sister-in-laws, who kicked my trash!

We stay at a motel after the Stadium of Fire, and Maddax kept wanting his picture taken, he knows he's a stud!

After the 4th, we went to the Fisher reunion at the Fisher cabin, where Maddax and his cousin secretly got into their older cousin's bag and tried on her make-up. Maddax said he was trying to look like Mickey Mouse, which explains the mascara. Still not sure why he thought bronzing glitter powder belonged in his hair...

The reunion is one of Hannah's very favorite things, she loves being at the cabin and spending time with her cousins.

I ran my first 5k last week

This was a huge deal for me because I absolutely hate running. Do you see all the suckers behind me? I knew if I ran a race with thousands of other people I wouldn't be the last one to finish. It took me 32 minutes, respectable but room for improvement.

Our first piano concert

I almost forgot! Hannah started taking piano lessons at the beginning of the month and she had her very first recital the night before her Baptism. She memorized her song and did an excellent job!

Hannah's baptism

Hannah chose to be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints yesterday. It was an absolutely beautiful day in all ways. We are so fortunate to have so many loving family and friends who came to support her. I wish I had taken pictures of everyone who came. Thank you to all those who made it, and thank you to those who did not, but have supported and loved her nonetheless.

Pictures we quickly took a few days beforehand for her invitation

So many family and friends came to support Hannah, thank you!

Awww

I checked on Maddax one night and saw him sleeping like this, reminded me of when he was a baby. Such a bittersweet little moment. He's growing so quickly!

Kolby's new job and other happenings

Near the end of May Kolby applied for and got a new position at his same job. Since the beginning of our marriage, we have worked opposite times of the day. This resulted in the feeling of single parenting and more like having a roommate than a spouse. It wasn't conducive to family life in any sense of the meaning.

After much prayer, Kolby got the job where he goes in super early (4-5am) and gets off early in the afternoon and I get home from work around 5pm, so we have the evenings together for family dinner and spending time together before bedtime. I can't even begin to describe how utterly different in an amazing way life has been. It is so much easier to co-parent and have conversations during waking hours. I can't believe we did it the other way for 8 years.

We've been so happy to spend time doing things together, and I don't know if it will ever wear off, but I can tell you we won't be taking it for granted. This is one of the small miracles in our family this last month.

This last month was also one of our most trying thus far as well. We have encountered extremely busy schedules, lots of commitments outside of home, problems with our townhome renters, and otherwise extreme stress in various aspects. That is all putting it lightly. We've been tested - I correct myself - we are BEING tested still. We overcome one challenge just to encounter numerous more. But it is worth it. As difficult as these last few weeks have been, at least we have each other by our side to face them together. I am sure that comes across extremely cheesy. But I mean every word of it. We will continue to count our numerous blessings and be thankful for the good things we do have.

The new family pet - Take 115 or thereabouts

When we went to Deseret Book weeks before Hannah's birthday we stopped at PetsMart next door for fun. The kids fell in love immediately and wanted a pet. If any of you remember correctly, we've been down this road before and it hasn't turned out well for the pets.

So, I told the kids they could get a small low-maintenance pet if they bought it themselves. I never thought they'd come up with the money for the pet, cage, food, etc so quickly...

After literally emptying their piggy banks and adding in the money Hannah got for her birthday from grandparents and friends, they had enough money to buy a guinea pig and her cage and supplies. (over $100!!) 

They chose this sweet little friend they lovingly named 'Chubbies.' We've had her now for two weeks and they still adore her. She is settling in and I think we may have a keeper.

(Now just for clarification sake, we have always been good pet owners, its just that in the past, the pets have been found new loving homes after a few short months...don't want anyone thinking we weren't good to the little creatures who've been in our home.)