August 16, 2009

It's been so long since we've "blogged", I don't know where to even start. In lieu of trying to catch up from everything since the 2008 summer, I'll give some short updates and recommit to doing better going forward.

This past week, Christine and I celebrated (loose term) 12 years of bliss. We "celebrated" with the branch at the annual summer swim party. We'll have our real celebration when we travel to Seattle next month for Heidi's wedding (Derek's younger sister).

Runner... Two months ago, Christine told me that she wanted to train to run a marathon. After she picked me up off the floor, we started running- first a mile, then 2, then 3.... Yesterday morning (starting early), Christine ran 10 miles for the first time. I ran 7 (a personal distance record) and then went inside (someone has to be the cheerleader, and our kids were getting up :) Christine and I run 4-6 miles each day during the week, with longer runs on the weekend. I've never enjoyed running, until we started running together. Elena also loves to run, and she finished the last 100yards of the 10 mile run with her mom.

Garrett has had a busy summer. He has a real turtle fetish, and has recently began collecting indian arrowheads. He finished a very (very) long baseball season earlier in July and did very well. He's trying to figure out what to do with his last day of summer (tomorrow). Garrett is quite the techy... and tells me he plans to start his own blog soon (so, be watching...)

Camille loves to swim, and spent her summer doing gymnastics and swimming lessons. She's really been working on her handwriting and learning her letters. She can't wait for her first day of school... Thursday.

Elena has become quite the little swimmer and has very little fear of the water. She has more energy than the rest of the family put together. She really does love to run, and will probably be a runner...just like her mom someday.

Carson has grown a lot this summer (at least he's on the charts now) and is slowly but surely

saying more words. After extensive hearing tests and continued physical therapy, we've determined that we just have to be patient. He likes to talk with all vowels... which makes communication a challenge. He's pictured here in his favorite shirt "Live Long" - with a dachsund that wraps around his shirt.

We feel very blessed and have enjoyed a great summer as a family. Finally, Christine's parents (Elder and Sister Walker) have just begun their first mission together and are serving a welfare mission in the Houston area. They are doing great and we are very proud of them.