It's been almost a month, but I've been running around like crazy starting work again, and all of the things with Doug changing his shift at work around....But, it was so nice, when my sister Lana, my Mom, and my sis-n-laws Liza and Breanne created a night out for me for my birthday. I was sick on the actual day, therefore didn't really do anything fun. So, they planned a "Night at the Spa" for me. There was great food (which I could eat most of, yah!!) a fun movie, and pedicures for everyone. Lana did mine for me, and they had all gotten me this great pedicure set to take home with a great new nail polish color. I know it might seem a bit crazy, but one of the thoughts that came to my head as my sister was washing my feet, and taking such good care of me, is that it reminded me of the Savior washing the feet of his apostles. I think the love shown in both situations was the same. So, here are a few of those pictures, as well as a new large one

from the weekend before when my brother Ben and his family were visiting. Can you believe how big our family is getting!! I love it!!

Well, this is just a few quick photos from our boy's first day of school. Jacob is now a Freshman in High School (although 9th here is still in the Jr. High), Jeremy is in Junior High, and Cody, too, is moving right up in 3rd Grade. We're all going back, and now we have to keep track! Jacob is at Mapleton Jr. High, Jeremy is at Spanish Fork Jr. High, Cody is at Cherry Creek Elementary, and I'm at Mapleton Elementary. We've got quite the calendar! Thank goodness this is all in the same school district!

I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around how fast time really has gone by. I look and see all of my nieces and nephews who are heading off to pre-school and kindergarten for the first time. They are so excited and happy, and it seems like only yesterday that I was looking at them in the hospital. I have the same feeling, much more so lately, for my own children. I realized that Jacob has lived with us now, longer than he has left before he leaves on a mission. I feel like I need to make everything count, make sure my children are faithful, dedicated to the gospel, and ready for life. I want them to be happy and enjoy life. I get to be the "bad guy" most of the time right now, while I'm trying to teach them what to do, in order to be on their own someday.

I know we are all working hard with our families, and I want my little family to be strong. That's why I'm glad I have such great friends and family all around, because they, too, add to that growth process. Anway...Here are those good looking boys!!

Doesn't Jeremy look like he's happy to be going back to school!?