This is why I LOVE Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!! I love the saying "mirror, mirror on the wall, I am my mother after all". If only I could be more like my mother, she is a wonderful example to me and the longer I am a mother the deeper my love grows for her. I love being a mom, it is all I have ever wanted to be. I appreciate the things I learn from my kids everyday, they are my greatest teachers. I appreciate there patience with my parenting skills, there forgiveness and unconditional LOVE. I was especially grateful this Mother's day for a simple phone call and for the sweet, sweet voice on the other end. As a family we anticipated his call for weeks, we counted down the days, then the hours and then patiently waited for our turn to talk. To see first hand the excitiment and smiles on faces. That is the beauty of MOTHERHOOD!!

Watch Out - Pinewood Derby!!

Nate was so excited for his first Pinewood Derby!! For days we talked a lot about being a good sport and not getting upset if you lose:( This conversation has taken place with everyone of our boys. Tim just flat out tells them that he doesn't know how to make fast cars. We just pray that the car will go down the track:)



It was so fun to watch the excitement on his face every time his car went down the track. It didn't matter to him if he won or loss. Nate Dawg your police car was AWESOME!!

So. California Ragnar - April 15-16 20ll

I love this pic!! We had so much fun at the beach while we were waiting for van 2 to arrive at the finish line!!

We went to a hotel to get cleaned up while van 2 had just started running their last leg. As you can see we were exhausted. This is one of the sweetest pictures ever!

I LOVE this lady - she was my training buddy and put up with my slow, turtle like skills!!

This is a group of young ladies that we met early on in the race. They cheered all of us on and were so kind. They made my night run (2nd leg) so much fun. We found out that they were also L.D.S. - we love the "Single Ladies".

Our entire "WHAT THE HILL" team. We got a ton of compliments on our team name and people taking pictures by our van. It was an appropriate team name for this Ragnar. Every team member at some point had a major HILL to conquor - this 200.9 mile course was rough!

I wish I could have spent more time with these fellows. I am so thankful for their encouragement and love. They tore it up!!!!

I have the best sisters-in law. I love spending time with this one. She makes me laugh and when you are with her there never is a dull moment.

Picture of my team mates!!

This was Leslie's first ragnar - she did awesome - she is Lori's older sister - she always looked like a million bucks - She had a night run that was pretty intense -we appreciate all the sponsor money she raised for us to be able to go.

Shawna and Melody - two of my team mates that were so fun and supportive. Shawna was on our team last year but was in the other van, so it was a treat for me to get to hang out with her and get to know her better. She is an amazing runner. Melody experienced so many tender mercies on this trip. When we left she was struggling with a foot/leg injury but you never would have know it. Prayers and priesthood blessing were answered, it was a beautiful thing to witness.

ROCKIN ROBBI - TWEET-TWEET-TWEET!! This gal had a hill on her last leg that was intense. When the hill saw her coming it crumbled, it was scared:)

This is mother hen - she took such good care of us - she was always checking and making sure that everyone was alright - you would get in from a run and she would have a recovery drink waiting. I don't think this lady with ever know or understand how much she means to me.

Sisters are the BEST -This picture makes me miss my sister. She wasn't able to go with us this year due to having a new baby and surgery. I missed her terribly but know that there will be other adventures we will experience together.

More Ragnar FUN!!

Poor Shawna - on my first exchange where she hands off to me I wasn't there in time. We got lost and she ended up waiting for me for about 8 min. I was so mad!!! It totally looks like she is yelling for me -JAMI!!!

There I GO!

Yes running can be FUN:)

It was sooo HOT - California experienced record breaking heat the 2 days we were there. It was in the mid 80's which is hot for me considering a week earlier I was running in snow. I sweat so bad!! My shirt had salt marks all over it.

A couple of FUNNIES!!

Mary's conversation with her cousin Abby at the dinner table.

Abby - What is that stuff??
Mary - That is cottage cheese.
Abby - What is cottage cheese?
Mary - It's white cheese with some cottage in it!!

HAHAHAHA




The other day I was sitting at the computer and Nate kept asking me for a treat. I was ignoring him (actually, I was trying to buy more time in between treats). Finally, he got really close to me and said... Mom if you let me have a treat, I promise I will stop talking to you!!!!!

HAHAHAHA

Sweet Story!!

On Sunday we had the opportunity to listen to Anthony Cronin report his mission in our ward. It was amazing!! In his talk he shared a sweet story about listening to the spirit. This experience happened right after Chili had just experienced a terrible earthquake and they kept having blackouts. As a companionship they were getting ready to leave their apartment for the day when the spirit told him he should put his flashlight in his backpack. He ignored the prompting and again the thought came to him to put his flashlight in his backpack and a second time he ignored the prompting and off they went. They had finished their appointments and lessons and were headed home that evening when the town experienced a blackout which left him and his companion on the street totally in the dark. He shared how the spirit will prompt us at times to do "simple things" and how disappointed he was in himself for not listening. We got home from church and had a visit from our Home Teachers. Nate was asked to give the closing prayer and was acting all shy so Tim was helping him. Tim was trying to get him to close his prayer when Nate told Tim that he wasn't done and to wait. He paused and then said "Help Bubba to remember to put his flashlight in his backpack so when he's outside and it's dark he won't be scared"!! My heart was overflowing. It was one of those WOW moments that mom's love to experience!! I was thrilled that he was actually listening in church and it reiterated to me how much he LOVES and WORRIES about his big brother. I love these moments!! I am so grateful for a missionary son and the blessings that are coming to our family through his service. The influence of a brother is an amazing thing! I LOVE my boys!!