shout out

Just a shout out to one of my best friends Jackie - Thanks for making me run 6 miles this morning...like I told you it's been - well, a while - since  I have ran that far.  It felt great!  

Yes!

So a good friend of mine made a funny comment to me a few weeks ago, that if you don't put something on your blog, it's like it never happened....I thought that seemed so true.   So I of course, couldn't help but announce that Damon is officially potty trained.   I wish I could say that it all had to do with my great parenting...but it had nothing to do with that...haha.....He just woke up one day (May 1, to be exact - I'll always remember because its also my anniversary), went and pulled some underwear out of his drawer, and said "I want to wear these".    So he did, and has been ever sense.    I'm sure I won't be this lucky with any future children....

            I really didn't realize when I took this picture that you could actually see the stream...but oh well, either way its just a funny picture.    He no longer feels the need to totally undress before going potty...thank goodness. 

Isn't Life Great?

I just thought this was a really cute picture of Damon and his good buddy, Michael.   I love how much fun they have together.  This picture says it all.  

Father's Day

Just a little tribute to my sweet Mike.   These are some of my favorite pictures of Mike and Damon.  

Of course, I think that Damon is one lucky kid to have Mike for a dad.   Mike is one of the most adventurous people I've ever known, and Damon is definitely already following in his dad's footsteps.  At the grocery store the other day a guy said that Damon looked exactly like me...Damon looked at the guy and said "NO!  I look like my Dad!"  I had to just laugh.  I love how much Damon is starting to look and act like his Dad.  They play, fight, golf, run, laugh, eat, talk, and especially love to fall asleep on the couch together.  

I always knew Mike would make a great dad someday, and I feel so lucky to have a little boy with him.  Love you honey! 

Tribute to My Girlfriends

I have been so blessed with some of the best friends a girl could ask for.  Not only back in Utah...but I have made life-long friendships out here in DC.  This is a picture from the Girls Night Out that we had in May.  We ate WAY TOO MUCH  junk, played games, and the most important part...talked and talked and talked...and laughed hysterically.  I am so grateful for the friends out here who have made us feel like part of their families.  I honestly don't know what I would do without all of you!   I have cried, complained, confided in, and cried some more to many of them and I cherish their friendships more than I can say.  Love you girls!  

Jackie, Moana, Tiana, Annette, Elaine, Me, Jenny, Rachelle, Kaelene, and Becky!  

Rachelle and Kaelene are moving (or have moved in the last week) and I want you to know that you will be greatly missed!  

Memorial Day

The Sunday before Memorial Day we decided to go down and walk around The Mall.  It was amazing to be reminded of those that have gone before us and fought for our country.   We've walked around the monuments many times before, but it was amazing to walk around the World War Memorials and see all the people there in honor of soldiers and their families.  Once again, I wish I was a good writer and could convey how I felt when we were there....but to sum it up...it was just a great experience and really put things in perspective - 

                                       World War II Memorial
                         The view of the George Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial
     The Vietnam Memorial.  It was amazing to see the pictures, flowers, etc..lined up around all the monuments
                            Damon had a great bike ride - he rode all over the place
                       Feeding the squirrels

Like father like son....

A lot of catch up

So we are back in town from a 2 week trip to visit family in Utah.  Damon and I surprised my parents with this visit, so I couldn't exactly post about going out of town, because it would obviously have ruined the surprise.  So...now I get to play catch up.  I have a few things from before our trip to post about also, so here we go. 

A few weeks ago my really good friend Shannon, had her boyfriend and his son in town from Belgium.   I took them out to Great Falls, MD (thanks for Chris and Kelli for lending me their car) - it would have been a perfect day to be there, except that there were major storms a few days before, and the trail out to the Falls was closed because the water was too high.  We were super disappointed, but made the best out of what we had. Here are a few pics.