SWINE FLU!

Many of you may have heard that Joseph's school was shut down because of a case of swine flu.  We are all fine here and looking forward to this unexpected week off.  We will keep you posted if any of us start turning into swine.

FuNny fAceS

As I perused the photos of this past weekend there seemed to be an endless supply of really funny faces. Here are my top choices in order.

#1- 

I died when I saw Edwin's pose. Everyone is being hilarious in this shot but Edwin's face and body position is killing me. He's so funny!

#2
Edwin has a cut on his lip that I was trying to photograph. This was the result. He kept tucking his lip down so you can't see the hurt. 

#3
Classic Joe pose!

#4

Every picture that my sister takes of me spontaneously I'm making the weirdest faces. Obviously, if I don't know someone is looking at me my face convulses constantly.

My Little Sister is SO TALENTED!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_2QUcl6IWY

Easter Weekend

We had such a fun weekend. James' family and Sarah and boyfriend came up to celebrate. 

Friday we hiked down to Ellison for a wiener roast. 

Saturday we had a big birthday bash for Greta, Tori and Sarah's boyfriend. James, Kent, Sarah and I went for a 7km run. Felt good after all the birthday cake.

Sunday, big Easter feast then off to the Musical Fireside. 

Monday morning we finished off the weekend with a big easter egg hunt.

It's so fun to spend time with family. It'll take a few days for the sugar to stop coursing through our bodies and for the sadness of saying goodbye to cousins to wear off. 

Greta's 1

It's true! Our little princess turned one this past weekend. We so love having Greta as part of our family. She is so full of love and fun!  It's astounding how quickly a year has past. For her birthday she grew a few wisps of hair and her first tooth broke through.  

The day of her birth! Much anticipated. She came a whole week early. I remember the Sunday before her birth I prayed that she would come that week. I was so done being pregnant and couldn't bear facing another Sunday in my gargantuan state. I TOLD Heavenly Father that I could last till Friday, exactly one week before she was due.  Wednesday evening the contractions began and by early Friday afternoon she was in my arms. 

This picture was taken when she was only 4 days old. Look at her smile. She still snuggles that little turtle.



This is the parcel that arrived from her Grandma Kilistoff. 
She loves the Winnie the Pooh card and often hugs and kisses it.
Thanks for the maracas, adorable outfit and sunglasses Grandma and Grandpa K!
She's got this guy wrapped around her finger.

A little snack after her aerobic workout!  ha ha
Surrounded by her gifts.  She was given the rocking horse from her  Vernon Burnham cousins and loaned a walker from her Stanwood Burnham cousins.  Greta just might catch up to Van. :)
We had a princess party. Not that she would remember or even care but she shared her birthday with her cousin Tori that turned 3 the next day.
  Enjoying her birthday cupcake! Which she absolutely loved. It was like listening to her father eating when he really enjoys it. Anyone whose knows Ryan knows what I'm talking about. 

Happy Birthday Greta! WE LOVE YOU!

Why I love to run!?!

Phoebe running style 

(click on above link)

Over the past month I've been training for the 1/2 I'm running in June. I love it! Usually I start out listening to "Fat Bottomed Girls" on my ipod to get in gear. My mind and energies set on losing the many pounds I NEED to lose. After the first 5 mins I am swept away by my surrounding and this gorgeous valley in which I live.  I'm continually reminded how lucky I am to live where I do. 

As I puff up the many hills, when I lived in Saskatoon they would have been called mountains, I feel energized by the ferocious pounding of my heart and the burn in my thighs. 

By the end of each run I feel like SuperMom! After waking up early with the kids, being awakened 4 times through the night to feed, running here and there, making and cleaning up meals, caring for and playing with my 3 adorable children, tidying up there constant messes my body still has the strength and just the plain ability to run. I am so grateful for a strong body. I'm grateful I can run, care for my children and home and take my husband and children into my arms each day.

 I may be many, many pounds bigger than before kids but like my mom always said, " I'm built like a Clydesdale."  I'm glad that running makes me remember these important things AND I'm getting into shape at the same time.

Called to serve

Congrats to my nephew Alex II on his mission call to the Chile Concepcion mission! You are such an example to your young cousins. He enters the MTC August 5th.