Summer!!

Well once again it has been a while since I posted anything.  Life is busy but seems to be better when I have a little spare time to relax.  Mothers Day came and went and we had some fun creating picture books of the kids with Karen.  A friend of mine came up with the idea and helped us put them together.  It was a lot of work to go through so many pictures and narrow it down to just a few that James and Becca could choose for each of their books.

Is this how this works?

Anything can be a toy!

Memorial Day came and went and so did Fathers Day, Karen's birthday, my birthday, and a weekend trip with the kids to the Manti Pageant.  Still to come are the 4th of July, family reunions, and some more day and weekend trips!  Planning the day and weekend trips isn't so hard, it's adjusting the plans on the fly where things go awry.  Like being stuck in traffic on the freeway only to have your son say he really has to go to the bathroom and can't hold it.  Fun times!

Finished picture books that we put together on Mothers Day.

I think her face says it all!  Thanks for the help with the hair grandma.

A long day of playing is hard work.

Becca is ready for our hike!

A quick break on our short (2 mile) nature hike.

A funny thing happened at the Manti Pageant, which is almost 200 miles from home.  I was walking back from the restrooms and ran into an old childhood friend.  We were able to catch up for a bit but he was surprised that I recognized him.  In truth I was surprised as well.  When I first saw him I knew exactly who it was but as his head turned while I walked closer I became less sure of he was who I thought but decided to say hi anyway.  Taking chances or being bold is rewarding.

At the Manti Pageant having some fun.

Manti Pageant

I have been thinking about traditions or routines and what ones to keep that have already been created, which ones to change or modify, which ones to scrap, and new ones to create.  We have our nightly routine with stories, scriptures, and prayers that is always changing.  There are a few things I have changed up around holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries but in thinking about what to keep, change, or do away with I want the kids to remember their mom yet not get stuck in the past.  I want to encourage them to look forward with optimism probably because that is what I want to do.

All of that being said I have been a little sad and frustrated at my own inability to remember some things about Karen.  I still remember her laugh, her smile, her focused nature, her kindness, and vitality.  But try as I might I can't remember what it was like to give her a hug or a kiss.  In a way it's heartbreaking but in another way it's a gift to not have some of those memories rooting me in the past.  So on that note I will say goodbye for a while and wish everyone the best of luck with their own summer plans.  If you see me out and about feel free to say hi.

Braden