Getting our 4th of July run on...

Oh, the annual Murray 5k run...last year (2009) I was training for Ragnar, this year, I was just coming off having a baby...wow what a difference a year makes, and a few extra lbs...yikes!  Well, I finished, just with a lot more color in my face and the feeling I might puke, but I finished.  The highlight this year was watching my kids join in for the kids fun run...and might I toot their horn just a hair and say they killed it!  Alec and Ava both rocked their divisions.  I knew Alec had it in him, but Ava came out of no where...at the end of her race she totally did the look over the shoulder to see this girl gaining on her...she wasn't having that, she kicked it in high gear and took the finish line!  You go girl...loved it!

 Alec and his cousin Bowen before the big race...

The Gang...smaller in numbers this year, one of my brothers, I won't name names, said after I beat him last year, he would never do it again...bring it!

 Ava and cousin Bryn...darling as always!

My little Alski putting his best foot forward.

 Ava...after the finish line...look at those red cheeks!

 Ella and Gracie...don't know that we will ever see these two princesses in a race...unless it's to the barbie house!

 Grandma Johnsen provides us all with an amazing brunch after the race...wish I had pictures of it, but I was to busy devouring it.

 We ended the evening up North in our neck of the woods...might I say we having a stunning sunset from our yard.

 The girls...

Fireworks put on my Eagleridge golf course...God Bless America...land that I love!

My Spring Girls...

If Spring is in the air, then I must be having a baby girl...well if the year is 2004, 2007 or 2010.  Yep, I got myself  three spring princesses, all within less than a month of each other.  Can we say spring celebration.  This year we kept it simple for birthdays, and luckily my girls would rather be with their cousins than anyone else...so we did little cousin dates for their parties...thanks for going easy on mom this year girls.  For Ava's big number 6 day she wanted a big girl pedicure with her cousin Bryn.  So that's what we did...along with a little dinner and shopping, and I might I say my sister-in law and myself enjoyed ourselves immensely...that's my kind of party.  Ava is my best little shopper and quite the fashionista...hence the pose below.  What a fun, feisty and bright little girl she is becoming.  I love my little Ava girl.

 Birthday girl before our little outing!

Ava and her sweet cousin Bryn...these little darlings are one month apart, and wow they adore each other.  They were truly two giddy little school girls...we even got a fashion show at the Gap later that evening!

 Someone is loving life...

 Now to my little Ella, Bella Dancerella...if you only knew how fitting that name was!  All my big 3 year old wanted on her special birthday was a red present and a flower cake...didn't matter what was in the present, just had to be red.  Well...that made it easy, she was thrilled just at the sight of it!  This little angel of mine has a heart of gold...she is definitely our peacemaker, and just exudes happiness...we love this girl!

Low and behold the flower cake...thanks Dad!  Red present, check...flower cake, check...happy birthday to my precious girl...check!

Precious baby Livia Kate...Welcome Home

Early morning April 11th, 2010...7:00 a.m to be exact, I had just been admitted to the hospital and my nurse asked why I had in earrings and was wearing lip gloss...you look like you were going somewhere she said.  Well, my labor had actually started about 24 hours prior, at first mild contractions then progressed and intensified as the day went on.  Zach had been out of town and was coming home that afternoon, and my sweet sister had taken pity on me and said she wanted to take the kids for me Saturday night when Zach got back.  Being in denial that I was actually in labor because I wasn't due for two more weeks, Zach and I headed out on our date...for the record I don't think for two seconds he thought I was actually in labor.  We headed out to dinner and then off to a movie, while in the movie the denial turned to fear of "what if my water breaks in the movie theater."  Well, we made it through the movie, at least Zach did, I spent my time going in and out, when we returned home I asked my sister if she might want to stay the night...just in case.  So at this point it was around midnight and the three of  us Zach, Melinda and myself decided we better get some names for the baby in the running...we were clearly still undecided.  After we got our finalists, it was around 1'oclock and I really started to feel the pain, but knew my contractions still weren't close enough to head to the hospital, so I tried to sleep...obviously couldn't, so when I wasn't reeling in pain, I got up and got ready and eventually lost it on my husband because I couldn' t handle the pain anymore...the contractions we less than 10 minutes apart, but the hospital had reassured us they needed to be 5 minutes apart or they might have to send us away!  Well guess what...I could take it no more, honey get in the car and get me to the FREAKING hospital...game over...I'm done...24 hours of contractions and I think I deserve my epidural.  Needless to say, I'm pretty sure this picture came after the epidural! Ahhhhh...sweet relief! 

Baby Livia Kate Dimick arrived at 10:30 a.m, 7lbs.12oz., all two pushes were a breeze...at one point I was being yelled at not to push...little peanut wanted out!

Her sweet Grandma Burr and Grandma Johnsen waiting with open arms.

I'm always incoherent at this stage of the game when the baby is being checked out...I get those violent shakes, and can barely hold my sweet babies.

After I pull myself together, I always love those peaceful few days in the hospital when you just get to be still with your baby...that is until the siblings descend!  They couldn't have loved her more, and she really felt like she completed our family...I couldn't have felt luckier at that moment.

Our precious baby Livia...completely being swallowed by her coming home outfit...love her!

Doing the Dance Thing...

Having three girls, I think I've pretty much secured my spot in the dance recital word for the next few years.  Both Ella and Ava take at a darling studio here in Bountiful called Creative Arts Academy.  They have loved their teachers and the experience.  I, however just die over the costumes...AMAZING! 

 This was Ella's first dance performance...we started her a little young, she was 2 1/2 at the beginning of the season, but this girl truly is in love with dance, as you can see by the smile on her face.  She could hardly stand to come and watch Ava at the studio and not participate, so I asked if they would be willing to try her out and girlfriend pulled through...love ya Ella Jane

 So proud to have flowers...good thing they sold them out in the lobby, or I would have been in serious trouble by one soon to be three year old!

 Ella and her teacher Miss Becky...oh how she loved Miss Becky.

 My Princess Ava girl...she was a "pink unicorn" in the ballet Swan Lake...what a beauty!

Me and my girl Ava...can ya tell I'm days away from delivering, nothing like a little picture to remind you that you're DONE...thanks for a beautiful night Ava.

California Here We Come...

So...apparently I like to do the California experience pregnant, and I don't mean a couple months along, I mean a few weeks from delivering.  The last time we did this trip, was back in March of 2007 when I was due with Ella late April, this time we went mid march and I was supposed to be due late April...things never go as planned.  However, it will explain why I'm in so few pictures and the only ride I got to experience at Disneyland was the teacups, over and over with Ella!  So, despite my shall me say full ankles and pure exhaustion, we had a wonderful time.  We love the beach as much or more than Disneyland, so we spent a good portion of out time there.

 Alec trying to get his surf on at the beach...yes "trying"!

 I could watch the kids all day run and play in the sand...oh wait I did, sipping my diet coke and catching up on a little light reading...or shut eye!

 Ella...waiting her turn to meet the Princesses.  Trying to explain to a two year old that they only get to see select Princesses...a little tricky, but we made it through.

 This was one of our only family pictures and apparently the guy who took it was a little off center if ya know what I mean.  It works...all happy faces.  I must say I got a lot of looks and actually questions about my families size, they would look at the three kids and then look at my stomach about ready to burst and couldn't believe we had so many kids...please 4 is the new 7 right!
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Where I spent a large majority of my time...the teacups, so I felt it fitting to take a snapshot at what probably put me into labor two weeks early!

We were able to stop in St.George on our way home and spend a little time with some cousins.  We always LOVE St.George and spending time with family swimming, hiking and just chilling.

 My little Ava in trying to keep up with her older brother and cousins on her bike, got a little to much momentum on a hill and hit gravel.  Needless to say, I had just left with the girls to go have a little R&R and I get a phone call saying meet me at the instacare Ava has been hurt.  So I meet Zach there and they take one look at her "hamburger" chin and send her on her way to the Emergency room...two layers of stitches on her chin, lacerations to her stomach, arms and legs, and a possible fractured arm and we were on our way!  She was a trooper, and still wanted to go hiking with Grandpa when it was all said and done.

Alec's Big Month

So my big boy turned eight on me...this truly is one of those days you think won't ever get here...especially with your oldest, and then you wake up one day and it's staring you straight in the face.  We had a great few weeks filled with all sorts of excitement.  First and foremost the baptism, it was a beautiful day, I only teared up once, and I couldn't have been more proud to be his mother.  I had fun planning a little gathering after and he had fun being the "special boy" that day!

 Alec and I at the baptism...got to say, what a handsome hunk.

 My attempt at being crafty...this only with they help of a crafty friend...love ya Em!

 Little picture shrine of the boy.

 Some of his lovely Aunties enjoying the grub...Cafe Rio style salads to be exact, might I say they turned out pretty darn good...eat your heart out Rio!

Part of Alec's big month meant becoming a Cub Scout...yes another milestone that felt light years away...nope, he has the blue shirt and yellow scarf, he's legit y'all!  He loves it...he's my tasker...give him one and he is on it!

 So, of course we had to have a "party" as well for the birthday boy, and with all the baptism activities he agreed to just have his two favorite people in the world over for a little bowling/slumber party...Thanks Joseph and Bowen for making it a great night!

So last...but certainly not least, and eight year promise came true, much to my dismay!  Anyone who knows me knows dogs are not my thing.  This has been an age old argument in my marriage then carried over to the children.  I was out numbered, and being harassed by my ENTIRE family, so again thinking his eight year birthday will be an eternity away and he'll get over wanting a dog, I made a promise...meet Maggie.  I think it has taken me a year to even be able to blog about it...serious denial was going on, and alot of "what the bleep did I do."  What can I say, I'm good on my promise, and now she's the size of a small horse but that's another post!

I Guess It's A Good Thing He Has A Way With The Girls...

In most households I'm sure it's the ladies job to manicure the fingers and toes of the little ones in the house...hot pink, bright red, even outrageous orange are some of the colors floating around on the toes at this house, but don't think you will catch Mom doing the painting...oh no, it's all Dad! I knew I had a catch in college when he saw me slaughter my own toes with polish and decided he better take over! I guess it's best since we will have one more girl in line to get her toes painted arriving sometime mid-to end of April...I'm keeping the time frame broad! We're all hoping this one comes to us with red hair and a little chub to break the mold of my last two spring baby girls that have had bald heads and no chub to be found...oh but I love them just the same!