California Part 1-Trevor's Wedding Day

So I didn't think I knew the extent of the readers of this blog and managed to scare everybody with my last post. Basically I had a horrible week, I lost my closest friends, our daughter had surgery and our baby is no longer a baby anymore. That's a lot in one week!! I am doing fine right now. I promise. ;-) See I am even smiling and didn't cry once today. Ok, so I was semi frustrated that 20 minutes before I was supossed to be at recipe group tonight, Ammon called and found out they put him on call for tonight last minute and I had to put the dessert away, tell the kids dad wasn't coming home and do bedtime alone, but other than THAT I really am better!! I do use this as a journal...unfortunately a super public one! So no one worry about me anymore and thank you for all the calls and comments. You all are super sweet!!

So how about a much a much happier post with a lot less talking from me for once. Here is the start of the California posts. It was wonderful to be in California, home with my family for Trevor's wedding. Except for missing Ammon it was my very favorite trip home.

Trevor and Katelyn's wedding was beautiful and the day in Oakland turned out wonderful. The disappointing part was not being in the sealing room with Ammon for the wedding (he flew out of Columbus minutes after completing mock oral boards that morning), but he arrived literally five minutes from the airport before Trevor and Katelyn got out of the temple. It was so good to be reunited with him! I am so happy for them, their new life and to have another sister in the family!! I also loved having so many family members in town for the wedding! Here are some pictures from that day!
P.S. There are like five on here with a "copyright" tag across them...I did steal them from the photographer's website since I wasn't able to get everything I wanted...The rest, I promise are ours...

Trevor and Katelyn Phillips

Oakland California LDS Temple

June 5, 2009 (exactly 7 months after Chelsea and Jed)

Fresh out of the temple...their photographer was snapping them, so I decided to also! I got a cute side view of the two of them. Don't they look so happy?

The happy couple (I had fun pretending I was taking wedding pics)

Ammon and I...Almost 8 years for us!

My cute mom, brother and sis in law...

My beautiful sister Ashley

Sisters!

The Phillips siblings with Katelyn and Trevor

The other happy newlyweds! Chelsea and Jed! Such a cute couple!

Ashley, Chelsea and I with Mom and Aunt Crystel-my mom's little sis

(who's basically like our second mom)

My 89 year old grandma (doesn't she look amazing?!?) with Trevor and Katelyn and four of her six children including my Aunt Crystel (#6), Uncle Ed (#1), my Mom (#4), and Uncle Mark (#5)

Now sporting the ultra cool shades....

Cai Lynn and Brynlee

Our sweet girls!

Handome men!! Ammon is sure glad to have some males in the family!

Uncle Mark with his girlfriend, Melinda

Chelsea and Ethan

Waiting for the happy couple to come out!

Our Family

A picture of our family I stole from the photographer until I get our own copy...Shhhh.....

I am so grateful for temple weddings, for eternal families and for trips home. We were so happy to be there with everyone and are excited for Trevor and Katelyn and their future.

Too much change-this is one very loaded post...

So many people have been asking me how we have been doing or rather how I have been doing that I think I need to give an explanation. Without sounding completely disturbed, I haven't been myself lately. To say I have been sad would be an understatement. The last week and a half of my life have been some of the most miserable moments I have ever experienced. I have never felt so down ever before. The last time I ever remember feeling even remotely close to this, was ironically almost exactly six years ago when I miscarried and last summer around this same time saying goodbye to the Noakes. (July is starting to be a BAD month in my book!) I have never cried more, felt more alone or depressed than this last week. I know change is a good thing, but the amount of change that we experienced in just a couple of days was just about more than I thought I could handle. I have spent many moments just balling at the drop of a hat, feeling so homesick and even at times despising Ohio and having to be here. Three times this week I woke up from different dreams and found myself crying, my pillow all wet...some dreams I remembered, others I couldn't.

Explaining it would be as though I went through surgery, having my arms removed. I feel like I survived the surgery but I am having to relearn how to function without the use of my arms. It's just something that has taken more than one day to get over.

Many times over the past five years I have wondered if it is Ohio I have loved or the people. I can honestly say this place has been close to Zion on earth because of the people who have entered into our life and made it that way.

Had it not been for friends around here who have been so patient and understanding with me, Ammon, Chelsea and Jeannette letting me cry to them numerous times this week, I don't think I could have gotten over it all. So many people around here have been so wonderful to me and have been taking me under their wing and I don't deserve it. This morning I cried hard again, but this time it felt like it did something. I felt like I got a lot of it out. I feel as though life is starting to get better and I am "back on the horse again". There are things I need to save for a more private post but I am glad I am feeling much better, finally.

Here is a visual representation of the changes we've experienced in the last little while that have turned our lives upside down.

1. New Callings:
Primary Secretary for Me (getting all caught up is a little daunting), Ward Missionary (in addition to AV Specialist) for Ammon

2. Ammon Starting 2nd Year

3. Hailey's Surgery-

She did absolutely fabulous and this is what she looks like now. She really is a cutie and didn't complain ONCE after surgery. What a sweet girl. Many people have asked us about a fake tooth. Our surgeon told us we could get one through a periodontist but the surgery, even with our insurance covering 60%, cost us $250 and we have to recover a bit from that before we look into how much a fake tooth would cost. Thank goodness her permanent tooth wasn't damaged but it is still hard for me sometimes to look at her and not mourn her lost tooth.

4. Brynlee Stopped Sucking Her Thumb After almost five years, Brynlee overnight decided to stop. We bought this pony prize for her almost two years ago and stuck it up in the closest until she stopped sucking her thumb. One night I told her she was getting to old for it and we should give it to Karli and the next day she stopped sucking her thumb. Not easy because that has been her comforter for just about five years now. We are so proud of her!

5. Karli's one too many numerous escapes from the crib....

led to having to get a bed on Friday night-mostly for her safety. We moved Brynlee to her own bed (we had to buy new matresses but were able to gratefully use the bottom bunk of the bunk beds Mom and Dad brought to us two years ago. We are so grateful to them for that). When Karli gets out of her mischievous stage (if that ever happens) we'll move the top bunk on and move to another twin bed instead of the double. We are getting squished in this house!! ;-)

We no longer have a crib set up. Such a weird feeling, but nice to experience this for a little bit.With the baby stage gone for a bit, also has brought this....

6. Potty Training Karli....(along with sneaking out of her crib, she wouldn't keep a diaper on anymore....)

This little one has come with her own little independent set of directions on how SHE wants to be raised!!! ;-)

Karli-someday I know you are going to be very embarrased of this picture...sorry...

7. And finally the many, many moves of some of our clostest, best friends that mostly arrived here with us five years ago and have been through a lot with us. These changes have been the hardest of all of them.

Scott and Angie Kelly Family (North Carolina)

Doug and Becky Larsen Family (North Carolina)

Taylor and AnnDee Nadauld Family (Springville, Utah)

Kelly and Andrea Jeppesen Family (Ogden, Utah)

Jeff and Beth Johnston Family (St. Louis, Missouri)

Very, very hard to say goodbye....look at those red eyes...

Jon and Jeannette Bowen Family (Murray, Utah)

The details of this one will have to be saved for a more private post..... I am also going to have to get some more pictures from Jeannette from the night they moved.

RIVERSIDE WARD GIRLS 2009

Taken at the Riverside Annual Memorial Day Picnic:

And out of the 17 people pictured here, 8 have moved:

The Dotson Family (Nashville, Tennessee)

The Downer Family

The Smith Family (Washington DC)

The Rowley Family (Texas?)

The Jones Family (Pennsylvania)

plus the other ones mentioned above....

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know I am doing better...not great, but definately better than where I was. If I could picture the above picture of the girls I am with, there would be about 12 more faces added to the list that have been apart of my life in Columbus since 2004. I can see them all and want all of these women to know you are truly all great examples to me and I will never forget any of you. I miss you all dearly...Thank you for being apart of my life and I am better because of it.

I read this Oct. 2009 Conference Talk HERE and it has helped put things into perspective a lot. "Keep an eternal perspective. Understand that change and challenges are part of God’s plan. By design this mortal existence is a time of testing or a time “to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25). In order to test our use of our God-given agency, we as mortals undergo a series of changes, challenges, trials, and temptations as we proceed through life. Only then are we properly tested. Life’s challenges and changes provide opportunities for us to grow..."

And finally....
I heard this song on the radio a couple of days ago and I felt strongly it repesented Ammon and I vs. residency and life right now. If I could choose a theme song for life presently, it would be The Climb by Miley Cyrus. It's been on our playlist but these particular lyrics seem to hit home the most....

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking

The pain I'm knowing
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on,

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,

Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb...

Bowen, Johnston (minus Tyler born in May), and Rasmussen "cousins"

Taken Two Weeks Ago

I have just got to keep chanting, "Change helps you grow, change is good" over and over.

Thanks everyone for the "Climb"...the journey has been 100% worth it no matter what the changes have brought. Columbus, Ohio and The Rasmussens miss all of you....

He's a SECOND YEAR!!!

Today is a big day, an exciting day...yesterday Ammon completed his first year of residency!!!!!! Today he started his second year and is no longer an intern. I saw this on our countdown ticker and made it into a JPEG just to freeze it. Today it reads 3 years and a whole lot of months and days but it is going down. Slowly we are getting through this!!

Congratulations to my incredible and hard working husband for making it through his first year!! Tonight we celebrate!!

This has not been an easy year. Probably the hardest we have endured in our married life. I have seen Ammon more exhausted and worn out than in our whole marriage. He falls asleep on 90% of any soft surface his body comes in contact with. (Some have witnessed him sleeping on a museum floor even in Indianapolis this year!!!) His mornings start between 4:20am (like today) and 5:15am and go until 7:00pm most days. Weekends are a thing of the past. Ammon only gets off four days every month. Some of those days, he still has to go in and round.

I have witnessed the physical, mental and emotional battles that he and other residents have to endure on a daily basis. Intern year is a battle to keep your sanity, your esteem and your self worth all intact. If I could tell anyone who wasn't on this road already to go back and choose something else, I would. We have had to pull together in our marriage more than ever before and fight to keep our family number one. We eat dinner in the hospital at least four times a month. I have gained more respect for my mother raising us as a single parent than I ever thought possible because I know what it is like to have four kids alone for quite a bit of time these days. I have seen Ammon have to cram more book reading and learning into a small time frame than humanly possible. The books he brings home are like bricks that sit on his mind. I have witnessed several of our guy friends also go through this transition and the character that has come over them in one year as well is significant. It is draining....

We have learned to deal with social gatherings and attend lectures and dinners and put all the ettiquette lessons we've had growing up into effect. The term "Doctor" has many perks....nice dinners, gift cards, new social events but with it comes a price. A price that can split a family, break a human or optimistically in turn become a refiner's fire making that person who chose to go down the path more incredible if they can hold on to themselves and stay true to who they are and were when they started.

In summary, this year has not come without sacrifice. We are more exhausted than ever before. We have holidays on different days than they really are on to fit Ammon's call schedule. We have to pick and choose between a good activity and one that can be set aside for the future. (Like having a garden this year). I have dropped out of several activities for next year to ensure that our family doesn't become so busy that we can't handle it all and that's hard but refreshing at the same time. But with all this, Ammon and I are closer as a couple. I am stronger as a mom and as a single parent when I have to be. We have made many new cafeteria friends that actually seek out the kids when we come for dinner. We have felt the sweetness of working for something very hard and attaining it. I have seen Ammon go from unsure and timid to decisive and steady. Ammon passed his first year as a surgeon and one year down four to go.

Ammon, I am so proud of you. Words can not describe how grateful I am to you that "Doctor" is a just ONE of your facets not the whole you. You still maintain being there for me at all times (even for Hailey's surgery), being a Dad and making it to many of the kids activities and coming home positive even though the hospital has all but beat it out of your during the day. To all our residents friends out there that just survived their first year, I congradulate you all on a job well done. Jon Bowen, congrats for actually finishing residency and making it through!

Ammon good luck with your second year-I am behind you all the way...I love you very much.

(Am, feel free to add to this post!!)

Brynlee and Hailey's Dance Performance

Along with the closing of the school year, came the closing of another year of dance of CDA (Columbus Dance Arts). The girls had a wonderful year and always loved going to dance each week. Brynlee had her same teacher from last year again-Miss Rachel but instead of just ballet, the class for her age group added tap in it for half the class each week. Hailey had Miss Erin and sweet, patient woman who made sure Hailey was always included. I am afraid Karli may be joining the ranks next year. We'll see....I have never thought I'd be the type to start a daugther dancing at 2 1/2 but she does her best to prove that she can keep up with her older siblings. I am still thinking hard about this one...She always tries to go in their classes, walks tiptoe in their ballet shoes around the studio each week and loves to dance. Thankfully the studio is excellently priced and gives discounts for each additional sibling. That is gratefully a wonderful thing when you are a resident with three little girls!! ;-)

Our beautiful girls....

This year, knowing full well what the end of the year would bring, we allowed the girls to dance at CDA. The show theme this year was ENCHANTED GARDEN with ladybugs, glowworms, bees, birds, flowers, etc. From January on they started rehearsing for the big show-the one on Sunday in May. I had to tell both their teachers that once again, they wouldn't be dancing in it and watched as their places got moved to the back row for staging purposes. I ended up ordering the costumes so they wouldn't feel left out and be singled out so much during class rehersals, etc.

No one (parents) seemed to notice until it got closer to the show. When they found out we were missing the dress rehersal AND the big show, we got comment after comment. When I explained it was for religious purposes, trying to do it delicately as though not to sound better than anyone for not dancing on the Sabbath, I got nasty looks, people asking me how I could do that to my little girls, silent treatment, etc. I'll admit for a second I even questioned myself. The hardest part was when Brynlee really understood, the week before the show, that she wouldn't be dancing in it, she cried and cried. She was devestated. I had to hold our little girl and try to explain about the bigger blessings in life. She asked me if she could dance at BYU and I told her someday and that we wouldn't have to worry about these kind of things then. That seemed to cheer her up.

Getting all the courage I could muster, I asked each of their teachers and each of the parents, if the last week of class, if everyone wouldn't mind doing a "pretend show"-kind of a post show-for Brynlee and Hailey. After all the comments I was unsure, but that's when everyone became so supportive and every single parent (but one) remembered the last week and came in full costume. It brought tears to my eyes. The teachers asked my preference for things and allowed the girls to each to the dance twice with their class so I could video it.

I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to show our children ways to choose the right but I have to say that living out in Ohio sure has been a growing experience for me and I have had to dig deep down to have courage for some things. I am not sure what to do in the future with these type of things. Hopefully I'll be able to find a studio that we could have Saturday performances but we'll have to see....

Anyway, I tried to make the girls feel super important anyway. I got them all dressed up (they even begged for full makeup!) and did a photo shoot with them down the street from our house. They looked so cute and I was so proud of them!!!

Brynlee-Ladybug

Miss Rachel and Brynlee's class...

Hailey-Glowworm

(I had Hailey wear our nude colored leotard underneath her costume).

Miss Erin and Hailey's class

Hailey and her friends from class....Lizzy (to her right) was her favorite little friend

The girls video (May I just add that both our girls are so SHY!!!! They get stage fright even though they dance their little hearts out, nothing stopping them at home! Hailey got a little distracted but I was so proud of them both!).

Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

I always put my MOST favorite recipes on here mostly for journaling purposes for the kids in the future, but if it benefits someone else that I am happy about that too. I got this recipe from Aunt Linda Gunn when I was pregnant with Brynlee. I CRAVED it it was that good! She gave me the recipe and since then I have tweaked it a tiny bit and have made it already 3 times since summer has started. It is that GOOD. This recipe is mostly for Sarah...

This salad above didn't have the chicken in it yet at time of picture.

Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayo

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp. Raspberry Vinagrette Dressing

(Knotts Berry Farm is best if you can find it)

1 tsp. poppy seeds

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Salad Ingredients:

1 bunch of spinach leaves

1 bunch of romaine lettuce

3 slices (rounds) of red onion- cut THIN!!

1 pint of strawberries-I always add a lot more

1-2 cups cooked, cubed chicken

(I always use canned out of convience. I have also used canned turkey from Costco and it tastes just the same)

Candied Pecans * optional

---------------------------

Mix dressing together. Assemble salad and add dressing just prior to serving.

---------------------------

*Pecan directions:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1-2 Tbsp. melted butter

1 cup pecan halves

Preheat oven to 350. Combine brown sugar and margarine. Add pecans, stirring to coat. Spread on lightly greased baking pan. Bake 10-12 minutes (check-burnt ones are horrible tasting!!!) or until nuts are browned and syrup is bubbly. Let cool for a couple of minutes and then separate nuts. Gently smash into tinier pieces and add to salad when cool.

I am not ok with CHANGE right now...

Oh my mind has been everywhere lately. I don't know where to start but if I don't blog it, within days the thoughts are gone and I want to remember it. All of it. The good, the fun, the bad, the stressful, the hard.

Right now, I seem to be focusing on the hard a bit more than usual. This is the week I have been dreading for months. The week two of our closest friend families move. I went through this last summer when the Noakes family moved. I feel like we are losing the kids' cousins, aunts, uncles and sisters all in two days. Mentally I have been prepared for this for months, but this week seems like it is transpiring in slow motion. I couldn't even sit in church on Sunday without being a total wreck. I had to go walk around the temple for ten minutes just to collect myself during Relief Society. I am so grateful for a temple so close. It seemed to reach out and embrace me with its presence and gave me the courage to keep facing this week.

It was hard to come back from our trip. In fact I blogged the post below the night I flew home but decided not to post it until I had better perspective on it. It was not easy flying with all the kids alone. In fact, an accident happened in Nashville, during our four hour layover and a toddler ran full on into Hailey and broke one of her front top teeth. There I was sitting with our three year old, blood everywhere, Karli running off and Ethan and Brynlee balling and praying behind one of the counters in the airport and no one to stop and help. If it weren't for my mom and Jon Bowen I think I would have given up right then and there.

I learned the next day (Monday) that Hailey needs surgery and will have surgery from the incident this Thursday. The boy broke her tooth in half, except the broken part is up in her gums and she needs to be put under and have an oral surgeon remove both parts of the tooth. I am scared for her, scared because Ammon can't get it off and I will have the other kids with me, and sad that she will have an open gap for a front tooth for the next three years. Luckily it didn't damage her permanent tooth, but Ethan is seven and still hasn't lost his big front tooth. It may be a while until her new one grows in. Why does this stuff always happen to me? Luckily, after a tearful conversation with my mom, she reminded me of all the medical things that had happened with me and my siblings growing up and I realized I wasn't alone...

I was so homesick coming home this time. It was always so easy to return before, knowing what was here waiting when we got back. This time, with our trip over, I dreaded coming home. I dreaded facing our ward with all its' holes now, I dreaded not having my best friends close anymore and a drive away, and I dreaded having to start all over again. Sometimes I wonder why we are supossed to be so far away from home. I wonder that almost daily now. I know there is a purpose here and I have to patiently await that with time I'll understand the Lord's purposes for our family here in Ohio but everyday it isn't easy. Each trip back from home makes it harder to be away from family and I have to hold on to the greater faith those times.

It was also hard leaving my grandma. She cried the morning we left and kept asking me what death was like and wondering if she would ever see my kids in this life again. I hated to leave her. I tried to reassure her that no matter what, we would be together again, but I couldn't promise her it would be in this life. How difficult it must be to be so close to death. I can't fathom it. Though, she is 89 years old and still as fun, humorous and delightful as ever. I was so grateful for this trip and the time I got to spend with her. I treasure all the trips home, but this one was especially tender. I wandered all around her house, soaking in the memories of having my childhood there. I showed our kids the wonderful places that I hid, the hill I climed everyday, and told them the stories of when I was little. It was so wonderful to reminise and say "good-bye" to that house as I remembered it, just in case it had been good-bye for real this time.

Anyway, I can't dwell on this for very long but the next five days are going to be some of the hardest in my life. I have to get through this and put my chin up and foot forward and be ok with it because if I don't I might wallow in it for too long. I hate change. I know it is for growth, but I don't feel like growing anymore just yet. Why can't it all be a little bit more simple?

Humbling to say the least...

Thirteen travel hours home, 2,097 tantrums, more candy consumed than ever before to keep the troops quiet, a busted front tooth on a three year old (will the tooth be saved? the dentist will have to tell us tomorrow) and blood everywhere, five trips to the airport bathroom with four kids, a husband on overnight call the night I return (quiet house), six pieces of luggage and 4 backpacks to unpack and jet lag to recover from, plus being $2800 poorer. Luckily Karli's blowout diaper that covered me-in-you-know-what was on the flight TO California.

Someone once told me labor would be the most humbling thing I would have to endure in this life. I am beginning to think flying on an airplane with several children may just top that experience.

I need to find a faster way of travel. Light speed? "Beam me up Scottie" perhaps?

Maybe I am just a grouch because I got two hours of sleep last night and I can't sleep right now because I am in California time. Whatever the case, I need some sleep to rescue this poor attitude of mine!

But the part that I love best? I get to finally see Ammon in about 12 hours and I. can't. wait.

Happy Father's Day to many...

My heart has been full today and I want to wish many important men in my life Happy Father's Day.

First to the incredible one I get to watch daily, Happy Father's Day to you Ammon. Never before have I witnessed such an incredible father in my life. One of my top three requirements when looking for a spouse ten years ago, was he had to "appear" to have good fatherly characteristics. That was so important to me as I wanted our children to be raised with a wonderful and invovled father. Ammon has not only come through with that heavy responsibility that I dubbed him years ago, but has surpassed it.

Being a surgeon is one of the hardest things I think one could do. I'll blog about that next week but Ammon has not let his fatherly duties slide under that mantle. He patiently lets us come and visit at the hospital and we have never felt pressured to leave after five minutes. He takes the kids to the pool when he knows I need a break for a bit. He changes EVERY SINGLE diaper when he is home and not at work. He attends their activities and games, practices baseball hitting, reads to them at night and it definately very present in their life even with all he has to do. I don't think he'll ever know just how much I observe what a great job he is doing with the kids. Happy Father's Day Ammon!

Taken at Trevor's wedding. Everytime I tried to dance with Ammon, one of our girls would be at his feet, tugging his pants to cut in, lucky for them, he always oblidged. ;-) This pic IS NOT posed either. Brynlee looks so adoring toward Ammon.

Y

More pictures to follow next week. Ammon was on call on Father's Day and therefore we dubbed next Sunday as "Father's Day" in our home.

Y

Because of circumstances in growing up, I have had the opportunity to have many "fathers" in my life. So Happy Father's Day to many, many men who have lovingly been there in my life. My own Father who I have been getting to know more recently and makes a genuine effort to welcome us everytime we see him. My father in law who has been at the head of a incredible family and who is my husband's hero in every sense and who has always made me feel like his own daughter. My grandfather who passed away years ago, but who was patiently a father all those years when I was younger-who did lopsided ponytails in my long hair, took us backyard camping, bike riding in the park. My Uncle Mark who has always been there through everything and is a fun Great Uncle now too. Grandpa Larsen who was a father to us when Ammon and I were dating and newly engaged and gave us wonderful councel. Grandpa Ras who like a dad to us when Ammon and I were engaged. Bishop Michaelson and Bishop Perkins who stepped in and graciously took me under their wings for father/daugther outings, young woman activities, etc. And countless, countless others....

I wouldn't go back and change my life. There have been too many people who have become such a rich part of my existence and I want them all to know I am wishing them a Happy Father's Day today.

The Busiest Day Ever!!!

I forgot to post this last week...oops!

Saturday, May 16th became the BUSIEST day we have had yet married I think-besides our own wedding day!!!! Everytime we thought the day couldn't get anymore filled, we kept finding out that more and more activities were being planned for that day. Every hour was filled with something unitl we dropped in bed late that night!

Ammon and I woke up and took the kids to the Bowens first thing in the morning. Ethan (and Lindsey B.) had a baseball game at 9:00am, Ethan and Brynlee both had their last soccer games at 10:15am and Brynlee's tee ball game was at noon. What a relief that soccer is over now and the sports aren't conflicting anymore! There were three weeks of crazy soccer/baseball/tee ball Saturdays in May!!! I don't think we could keep up with that kind of life and stress!

The Bowens were incredible to even watch the kids, because their day was just as packed and filled as ours was. As we left the kids, we headed to Race for the Cure and the Bowens headed to the baseball game.

Race for the Cure was just as amazing this year as last year. Ammon and I had trained better this year, and Ammon stayed by my side the whole time. He told me his triathalon was for him and Race for the Cure was for me. This year was amazing and tiring but we both ran at least 7/8 of it. This was the longest I've run by far!! It was once again an amazing experience to be surrounded by thousands of people running down the streets of our Capitol for such a wonderful cause. I don't know why I believe in this Race so much. I hope its not forshadowing anything but I really feel strongly about supporting it. The rain held off until the end for us, although we did get a little bit wet! Since Ammon and I finished with a lot of the running crowd, we walked back a ways and cheered on a lot of the other runners/walkers coming through. It was humbling to see SO many bobbing heads in the crowd...there were thousands and thousands of people all gathered for a great cause.

We were told that Race for the Cure Columbus was one of the top ten largest Race for the Cures in the world. Pretty exciting to be surrounded by all that pink!!! ;-) There were so many survivors, so many racing for those who succommed to the illness, pregnant woman (Beth delivered her baby one week after-go Beth!!!!), kids, etc. Next year we are going to have Ethan run it with us. He'll be ready for it as an 8 year old and we are excited to have him join Team Rasmussen! Anyway, I truly believe in this Race and can't wait to do it every

year we can. Ammon it was fun to be there with you!!!

All ready to go before the race!!

We ran in celebration of three amazing women: Jodi Shealy (the kids rec. center teacher and friend), Diane Bowen (Jon and Beth's Mother) and Aunt Linda Gunn. These three woman are inspiration to me.

Tired, hot and exhausted after the Race!

We didn't go out to eat for breakfast this year because we were so anxious to relieve Jon and Jeannette of four extra kids and got there in time to see both Ethan and Brynlee's last soccer games. They both played great and Brynlee even chased the ball a couple of times for her last game!! Their favorite part was receiving the trophies at the end! You guys had a great season...we are so proud of you! Ethan has already been asking when soccer starts again. It's his favorite sport!

Team Burn

Team Revolution

After the games, we ran home for lunch really quickly and then headed to Lane Road park for Spring Fling. Our Parks and Rec department in Columbus is AMAZING and hosts these free carnival days three or four times a year. Yes, it's free!!! The kids love it and we always have fun in the bounce houses.

After Spring Fling, we headed home to give Karli a nap and take Ethan to a birthday party. At

5 o'clock we met up with the Bowens and Johnstons for a special dinner at Applebees and then headed to the circus for the rest of the evening. We had given the tickets to the kids this last Christmas as a special last family thing to do with the Bowens and Johnstons before they move. They had to wait over 5 long months to get their Christmas present but it was worth it!! I actually put together a group of 65 people in our ward to go (which was majorly scary to order tickets for that many people and hope it all works out!!!) and it was sooo fun to be sitting there with half our ward and enjoying a great show! No, everyone paid for themselves although that would have been fun to treat that many people to a fun night!!! Our favorites were the motorcyclists, the funny head clown and the acrobats. We really loved the evening. Ammon and I did concluded that the circus is something you do once every five/six years or so, so it stays special and doesn't get old. The last time we had been was when Ethan was 18 months old!

We survived and are glad we made it through a busy, fun and exciting day but we are sure grateful our life isn't THAT busy. It's busy but not like that! I am looking forward to a SIMPLE, RELAXING, Non STRESSFUL, FUN summer with the kids and Ammon!

Hailey's preschool

We've had one busy year! This year Hailey was involved with a Mommy co-op preschool that my friends and I did with the girls. They are all so cute and it was really neat to once again be involved in our kids' activities.

Calder Hymas (3), Kate Bowen (3), Emily Larsen (3), Hailey (3) and Eliza Burt (4)

The girls met once a week, and we did the alphabet this year and each week was a different theme based on the letter for the week. On weeks it was at our house we did colors, had a Fancy Nancy tea-party for letter "N", planted flowers, popped popcorn, read books, painted, etc. It was a little bit of work to get everything ready but always worth it to see how much fun the girls had together. Hailey and I really enjoyed this year and she always asked "how long until preschool day?"

On the last day of preschool, it was Becky's turn. She had it at Graeter's IceCream and she and Jeannette had sewn these darling bags with the girls name on them, filled with books and a certificate. Hailey loved hers and it was a cute graduation to end a fun year.

Thanks everyone for a wonderful year...Hailey and I won't forget it!

Hailey is all set to start Covenant Preschool this fall (where Brynlee went last year) before she starts kindergarten next year (Fall 2010)! She passes the school everyday and tells me how much she can't wait to go to preschool. We sure love this girl!