MEXICO

Best Family Vacation Yet.

Alan and I decided we're moving into a different phase of our life with kids: no more diapers, no more naps, a whole lot less gear to haul, easier to communicate with and please, more and more fun to play with... it was all just so dreamy. A whole week of uninterrupted family time.... can we go back now?

Birthday Boy

A room full of huge blow-up slides and bounce houses, kids everywhere, pizza, cake, and your dad showing up to be a part of it all... what more could a birthday boy want? You're FIVE Alex!! Happy Birthday! (Well, almost. The official day is June 1.)

Our Graduate

Yesterday it was made official... we are moving on from K-Prep to the real deal: kindergarten. Not sure if I'm ready for this step. Doesn't my boy look handsome?

Utah: May '08

The ONLY picture of our trip. I had to edit out cousin Ellie- there was just too much immodesty going on. We ditched the last week of school and went to Park City to take care of my mom, who is home from Guatemala for a few weeks for shoulder surgery. I'm not sure I'm a trustworthy caregiver. The day after her surgery we decided to take a drive to see the old stompin' grounds of Provo. We are packing up kids and snacks and bags and my mom says "I'll drive," to which my sis and I respond Okay. After we drive an hour through the canyon and all over Provo it occurs to us that mom's arm is in a sling and she is acting loopy from the dangerous amounts of percocet we have been giving her throughout the drive. Note to Christie: Don't let mom drive while she's HIGH.

The day finally arrived.

I've been waiting since last fall, and they finally opened the door last week in Scottsdale. I admit I made the 25 minute drive early one morning, ordered my dozen red velvet, came home, sat on my couch with some reading material, and partook. I know there are many naysayers out there, but I don't care. I love 'em.

No Greater Joy

I can't even deal with my feelings for these two. It borders on crazy obsessive. Can't get them out of my mind, crazy, madly, deeply in love with them. Never could have anticipated the highest highs and lowest lows that being their mother would bring to my life. Never would have guessed that I would have two children that are so distinctly different and all that I would learn, how deep I would have to reach to try to meet their individual needs, to be the best mom I could be for each of them. Our journey together is flying by, it's all too fast. Everyday I'm grateful for the chance to start again, to have a clean slate, to have the opportunity to do better. There is nothing in the world I would rather do. They are my little buddies, my partners, my students, my teachers, my best friends, my loves, my boys.

To My Mother

Admire her, Amazed by her, Miss her, Love her.