Running away

I'm updating this neglected blog to let all you cute faces know that I will be offline for a while. 

Not that you'd notice a difference. 

With all my many postings and all. 

This move has taken it's toll on me. I've moved lots of times, but this one by FAR has been the hardest. 

Not to mention the very day we're trying to load stuff out our septic system goes haywire. 

Yes. We have a septic system. One of the downfalls of living out in the boonies. 

So, if all goes well, we will be out of our house by Saturday afternoon and on the road on Sunday. 

That is if I don't run away (turn up MIA) before then. 

A baby shower gone wrong

 Last week I thought I was invited to a baby shower for Melinda. 

Boy, was I PUNKED!

I have the BEST friends in the entire world. 

I would not love Alaska like I do without them. 

Dear friends, 

I do not deserve the love and service you constantly give me. 

I adore every single one of you. 

We are all like a giant puzzle, each piece different, but we fit together perfectly. 

Thank you for making me feel so special and loved. 

I L.O.V.E. you! 

~ me.

Fail.

I was never meant to be a bakeress. 

July 14 is a very big day.

No matter how hard I try...

 This girl refuses to quit growing. 

8 years ago she weighed 6 lb 11oz and was only 21 inches long. 

Now she weighs a whopping 42 lbs and I really don't know how many inches (not many if you compare her to her peers). 

My Gracie girl loves to learn. (she gets that from her dad)

She loves to take care of people. 

She loves to play the damsel in distress. 

She is thinking about loving to run. (no pressure from dad, to be sure)

I love to watch this girl teach her younger siblings.

I love to watch her change her brother's diapers and get him dressed. 

I love to see her face light up when she sings in church. 

I love this picture. 

It feels so anti-conformist. 

It feels so "baptism vogue". 

{pictures courtesy of my awesome friend and photographer Jessica Musil}

Happy Birthday dearest Gracie. 

I thank Heavenly Father every single day for the honor of being your mother. 

In case you are unfamiliar with our religion, we believe that at the age of 8 kids are old enough to understand what it means to be baptized and are able to do so if they choose. It's tradition that the girls are given a white dress to wear on their baptism day and I thought it would be neat to have a photo shoot documenting this special time in her life. 

If you want to know where I've been...

Just head straight over to my sister's blog.

I've been much too lazy to update the blog on our whereabouts since Gentri and my parents came into town. 

So - if you care, just go read her blog and you'll know ALL about it. 

Here's a quick preview:

(just in case you're not already a follower of hers...not likely, but just in case)