12 years...

For 12 years I have watched you make faces at yourself in the mirror...

For 12 years I have watched you achieve the perfect toe point...

For 12 years I have watched you change into scrubs every night...

For 12 years I have heard the gum chopping...

For 12 years I have listened and watched basketball games...

For 12 years I have had late night cereal feasts with you...

For 12 years I have had to teach you proper table manners...

For 12 years I have argued about car seats....

For 12 years I have eaten the ONE meal you make, bean burritos...

For 12 years I have listened to your gripes about politics and government...

For 12 years I have enjoyed your waves of fitness fanaticism...

But...

For 12 years I have enjoyed the adventures...

For 12 years I have watched in amazement you achieve your goals...

For 12 years I have sat back in admiration as I watch you engage with people of all types...

For 12 years I have spent enjoying time in your presence...

For 12 years I have boasted about your achievements and accomplishments...

For 12 year I have felt safe in your protective embrace...

For 12 years I have felt more loved than I probably deserve...

And have loved more than I ever felt possible.

Happy Anniversary Harvey! You are the love of my life!

I am a Mom...

The other day I was receiving a facial. Oh yeah, my gift from Harvey. I was talking to this woman about how much I feel my skin has aged in recent years. I stated jokingly that maybe it was the stress of having so many children. She then asked how many children I had. I answered with a proud "5!" Her response took me by surprise. Normally when I answer this question I receive superlatives like, "Wow," or "You're incredible!". But she responded with a "Oh man, I'm sorry for you."

What?!

I didn't know what to say. I haven't heard motherhood described in quite so negative terms before. Why would being a mother to 5 require someone to feel sorry for me. Wasn't it obvious that in our day in age that this was a choice I had made. Did it occur to her that maybe I wanted 5 children? Was it possible that she took my "children causes accelerated aging" comment too seriously?

Maybe she was joking, so I sort of laughed at her comment.

She didn't laugh back. It was quite obvious that she was serious. So I brushed it off and moved onto another topic.

Mother's day arrived just two days after and again my mind turned to this woman's comment. As I laid in bed with all my children snuggled up next too me, having just been served a breakfast in bed, the kids waking up as if it was Christmas morning to present me with my gifts. I realized that instead of laughing at this woman's comment and shrugging it off I should have gently stated; "Don't feel sorry for me! I have the best job in the world. I reap the rewards of my daily challenges each and every day. There is nothing in this world I would rather be doing."

"There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation." James E. Faust

"The love of a true mother comes nearer to being like the love of God than any other kind of love." Joseph F. Smith

So let's start again. I am a mom! Need I say more?!

Swim. Bike. Run.

Harvey just completed his first Triathlon. He has trained for nearly 4 months and we all couldn't wait! He was absolutely amazing. He took 2nd place in the "novice" category and walked away with a time to be proud of. Good job Harv! I myself took part in a race on the same day at the same time, except mine had 10 legs. Those of a 10 year old, 8 year old, 5 year old, 3 year old and 3 month old! So unfortunately I didn't get any pics. These are ones that the Mannings provided me, unfortunately I don't have any with him on his bike! The bike is his area of strength, so maybe he was just too darn fast! We had so much fun supporting him. I made the kids T-shirts that all said, "Team Harvey." The girls all wore their hair in pigtails, just the way daddy likes them! Even Emma supported daddy by being the best baby of all time that day! All in all, we had a great day, Harvey walked away with a natural high and we are all looking forward to the next one!

Swim (750m)

Bike (20k)

? (Wish I had a pic)

Run (5k)