Why we write.

Several times a week I think to myself that I want to write something down. On a slip of paper, in a note to someone, on a chalkboard displayed in my house and often times on this blog.

I suppose for me it is the thought that I don't want to forget something, or I want to tell someone how I am thinking of them and a lot of the time I just want to say how I feel, to the world! Is that so wrong? In any case I am pretty sure I will not ever regret writing down a sweet memory of my children or recapping a special event in our lives. So with that being said, I need to jot down a few things.

Last Sunday Deacon was all set to give a talk in church, the topic was missionary work. He was so cute calling up his Grandpa Steve and asking him about his mission to Argentina and then talking with his Dad about his mission to Norway. He picked which stories he wanted to share and even decided what little story of his own he wanted to share. I am going to write his talk below best I can remember:

"My name is Deacon and today I am talking about being a missionary. My Grandpa Steve went on a mission to Argentina, he ate lots of spaghetti and I think he is lucky because spaghetti is my favorite food. (all the primary kids laughed) On his mission he baptized a woman who was very pregnant, she was afraid she was going to have a baby in the water! When she was done she was very happy she did not have the baby in the water. (all the kids laughed again)

My dad went on a mission to Norway, it is very dark and cold there here is a picture of my dad all bundled up to go out in the snow (holds up a pic) my dad says the best way to be a missionary is to keep the commandments and be a good example. I think it is funny that my dad had hair on his mission (holds up a picture of Curt with a full head of hair) because now he doesn't. (they all look at Curt and giggle)
( he came up with this next part all on his own)
I think a good way to be a missionary is to pray for others. My cousin Baileys dog Toby died. My mom and me said a prayer and it made me feel better, I hope it made Bailey feel better too.

I hope we can all pray for others and try to be good missionaries."

The sweetest part of the whole thing was that 5 minutes before primary started he burst into tears and told me he was nervous. He clung to me and cried. My heart broke, so often I look at him as my big boy, so grown up doing big things. Then I get a reminder that he is still just a small boy. I actually cant believe he is already giving talks in primary.

I was able to help him calm down and he gave his talk with a lump in his throat fighting back tears. I am not sure I have ever been as proud to be his mom as I was that day. It was just so genuine.

I love my sweet Deacon. I am sure I will be glad I wrote this down one day.

I am a crazy person

If you recall, Deacon and I made a bucket list this summer, do you also remember the part where I wanted to run 300 miles? Well, on Saturday when I crossed the finish line at the Big Cottonwood half marathon it marked THREE HUNDRED FOUR miles. 304 long miles. Countless 4 am wakeup calls. Many, many jelly belly sport beans (with caffeine!) a whole lot of deer spotting's up emigration canyon, 3 porcupine ( I assume it was the same one each time??) sightings, 1 skunk, and 2 rabbit sightings and 1 snake sighting. Lots of entertaining conversations with running partners. One million pee stops on the side of the road and only 1 #2 stop (and I was prepared with a baby wipe and all!) tons of sweat. Not enough afternoon naps. So many moments of prayer and meditation. Countless hours of music listened to and one hilarious book on tape (this has changed running for me!) An overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my body and all the things it is capable of. I feel really proud of myself.

Now it is time to sleep in.

Here I go again on my own.

 The below picture is Deacon writing a goodbye note to Walker that was so sweet.

And then there was one. You would think in a family of 6 kids one or two of them might end up in the same place, nope. I left my a party at my moms house tonight with tears streaming down my face after saying goodbye to my youngest brother Walker. He is heading to China for the next year and not coming home once. Boo hoo!

Too many goodbyes this summer! Goodbye to Issac, Lesley and their family, goodbye to Walker, goodbye to lazy days with Deacon, goodbye to a calling in young women I loved so dearly, goodbye to my college bound niece. I wish I was better at goodbyes but when your little brother hugs you, chokes up and hurries inside I spend the rest of the night crying into a mountain of laundry.

So I suppose I need to say hello to Skype, hello to more blogging, hello to some trips to visit the people I love. And hopefully hello to winning the lottery so I can pay them all to move back.

Lately.

I swear at the start of every summer I swear it is going to be easy, lazy and low key. How come that never works?? Even though it has been busy and crazy it has been so fun, and I guess I have made some time for a few afternoon naps. Just to catch you up on everyone:

Deacon:

• Lost his front tooth, a HUGE one grew in it's place-ha!
• Is the best big brother to Gwen, she loves him so much. He is a good little babysitter when I need to shower or move the laundry. 
• It is so nutso that he is going to 1st grade in a couple weeks, I could cry just thinking about it. 
• His last soccer game of the season he scored 2 goals and said "it was so easy mom! just pass pass shoot!"
• I asked him what he wanted for his back to school feast, he said "ummmm, spaghetti, bean and cheese burritos and hot dogs" wow.
• Such a great swimmer, at the pool one night he probably went off the diving board 50 times in a row. 
• Charming, delightful and the sweetest boy.

Gwennie:

• Started crawling at 7 months! Still army crawling but she pushes herself up and I bet will be full blown crawling anytime. 
• Says DADA! It is the cutest thing and we all try to get her to say it all the time. Today Deacon and I heard her say MUM but only once and not again yet. 
• Loves to eat pretty much everything, only has one little tooth that popped through on the bottom. 
• Looks so freaking cute in a romper, it is pretty much all I put her in. 
• We went to Disneyland and she seriously stole the show. She smiled, giggled and squealed at everyone she saw. It was adorable. 

Me: 

• Running, running, running! I ran the Deseret News half marathon with Kris, it was so fun! I am still training for the Hobblecreek half I am doing with some neighborhood friends.
• Ready to get back in the swing of regular bedtimes and dinner as a family. 
• Watched the first season of New Girl, loved it. Super cute. 
• Went to California with Kris and Bailey, so fun! We saw the guy who played Superman in Man of Steel and oh baby was he a babe. We also saw Russell Crowe who was, short.
• Had a blast going to Disneyland with just our little family. SO fun.

Curtis:

• Playing softball on a work team, he loves it. We have only been to one game but I love to see Curtis play sports, it like it takes 10 years off his age!
• Disneyland lover. This totally makes me laugh. I love that he loves it so much and that we have such a blast when we go. 
• Still playing basketball Tuesday nights, this tradition has been going on forEVER.
• Always planning the next trip, I love this about him. 

So that is about it! We are alive, we are good, we are excited for fall to come and things to chill out a bit. 

This ones a Doozy

I don't quite now how to start this post, I have one million things I want to say about my brother and his family and yet I have no clue what to write. 

Isaac and Lesley have truly become some of my very best friends. I like to joke that their house makes me sleepy, I think that is because I feel so at home there, I almost want to take off my pants and take a nap, ha! Seriously though, I always tell myself I will only stay a certain amount of time and then I stay 4 hours longer. Words can't say how sad I am to see them move to Arizona. 

I know it is a good move for their family, that is will be for the best and that everyone will be just fine but geez! I hate it! 

I would have never guessed growing up that I would end up having such a close relationship with my brother, I look up to him so much. He is the best friend, teacher, dad and a wonderful support system to me. I will miss him being so close. 

Lesley is everything you want in a sister in law, sweet, excepting, loving and a true friend. I am so lucky to have her in my life. 

Be kind to them Arizona, you have no idea how lucky you are to have them. 

The Happs.

 Would you look at this six month old cutie?? Do not be fooled though, that outfit is all 0-3 months. What??!!

 A little tradition Deacon I have started, an ice cream cone on the hammock after dinner. Also, please take note of my perfectly painted nail, news years resolution going strong!

 Summertime wardrobe, cuttoffs and a tee shirt, also a summertime staple: a mid afternoon nap when it is too hot to do anything else.

 I promise Deacon is actually very happy about the Bucket list. We are having a blast checking things off. We added some big, fun (expensive!) things to our list, we are hoping our daddy wants to do them.(Disneyland!)

 Just so you do not think Gwennie is the perfect baby, I remember this night, she was pissssssed.

The picture equal parts delights and terrifies me, Deacon LOVES to pick her up and make her stand. No one and nothing makes her face light up like her beloved Deacon.

And there ya have it, the Leasure family happenings.

I Love a Sleeping Babe

I can not stand how darling little Gwennie is when she is sleeping. Gwennie girl I love you so.