BTS Feast

I made a feast of salmon

Markus was not excited about the {Back-to-school} part of the feast and decided to cover up the sign...

Also on the menu: Caesar with fresh parmesan salad
Corn on the cob [no one needed it cut off!]
Fresh raspberries
angel hair pasta with alfredo sauce
and locally grown tomatoes

This year, I still decided to use my best china for the occasion.

Ben came over for their back-to-school father blessing's and Morgen said he preferred a parking pass instead.  That is because he decided not to live in the dorms for his senior year and save the $6k in student loans. 

Wise choice. 

The night was complete after we all indulged in a triple chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream Max mixed up for us. Yes and YUM!

To see previous back to school's

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Beauty on the horizon

I bit into the first peach of summer, full of juice and sass. One boy was feeling bitter about going back to school while the other two were just fine. Might as well hit the mall, we agreed. Tilly's for shorts and shirts, Pac-Sun for jackets and hot pants, Zumiez for backpacks. The boys ran out with their friends as soon as we hit the driveway. I cracked open a water bottle and hoped it would be a good night at work.

Summer Stamped on Our Hearts

He rode a purple slide and Marko a green from the top of seven flights of stairs then we stopped for slurpees in his mouth before leaving for the football game at school.

There's no wifi on a horse. But you'll find a better connection.

The rain came a day late. I was in the middle of writing about our horse back riding, a place I’d been once as a little girl, when Marko ran in, “Mom Mom Mom.” He waved the trail map at me insisting I pay attention. So many of our conversations stemmed from intuited gestures, the space between knowing and articulation. I forgot what I wanted to write. Something about how we ended up in hockey quite by accident; a cut from tryouts on a soccer team when the sky drew scarlet ribbons into dawn.

Grom

Wednesday: crepes, Nutella, raspberries, laundry, went to a matinee, Jason Bourne, cafe rio, Olympic badminton, babies, all night, Preeclampsia.

Heart full of moonlight ... soul full of stars

Half day of skate park, hot as Haiti, short walk. We watered the flowers, he cooled off then we drove to the laser tag and down the hill and over to the hockey center and round again. The other two practiced their shots and hit pucks off the slick.

Hold on tight

On the way to the barn, I received a call. On the way home I returned it. “Did Bucky go to Canada?” “No he's right here with me. Do you want to talk to him?” He sat across the porch phone in hand like a snap chatter on a seven day streak. “Yes, please.” Until recently, I thought he was uninterested in playing in state.

everything's better around the campfire

Sunday: yogurt, work, third day in a row, DAS music played by Morgen from the concert, sweated in deliveries most of the day baby boys and girls, sprayed with blood then meconium, more babies to join Marilee's birthday (good day to be born), watermelon, birthday pie, peaches.

the secret ingredient is always love

On the way home from Red Rock, I remembered something she said. We were deep into a conversation about grieving. “She's still trying to process my dad dying, and now her sister died.” “I'm so sorry” She sat next to me arms hugging each other like a child on a ferris wheel. “Yes, I'm sorry to make you cry.” Until recently, I thought we weren't allowed to.

Saltair

The boys and I snap chatted - they in the car - me from work after lunch. Chic-fil-a in St. George. He stuck his head out the window and waved and smiled at the passersby. Morgen asked me to drop him off by the Salt Lake on his way home from California. After I walked down to the lake where I photographed the water like an orange creamsicle.

Puck

Slept in, yoga, Silver Lake, hot hot heat, shower, thunder rolls, laundry, smoothie, hockey, out to give the cat food.

You Always Have What You Need

Around noon, I got a snapchat from Gavin's mom, Michelle. She filled my screen with photos, smiles, and Markus in Disneyland, haunted mansion, and parades. He munched on pretzels and turkey legs while I tried to see every snap she posted to her story. Back home, I had more fruit water from Swig because it was Wednesday and we all need more water.

3 Olympics Ago

2002

When the sun went down, I ran to the TV for swimming, 22 medals, anthems, and flags. I have missed the Olympics and went straight to the scrapbook to remember when they were here.

I Am Confident

While the baby's heart rate displayed on the monitor I posted photos of riding my bike.

Going For Gold

They both ran ahead, me, too. We stopped by the Homestead, where my parents let loose, one on his crutch the other in a three legged race. Five hours later, we left. Our best trip ever.

I'm here, are you??

After they left for California yesterday and the suitcases were loaded in the back of Ben's car, I cleaned the whole house from top to bottom including sheets and towels without any protest.

Dear Morgen

{I want to tell you a secret}

I know it’s your finals week and you probably don't like that. But (I’m so sorry to admit this) I really kind of love it. I love that you get your computer out after class everyday so you can study for the next group project. I love the time we get together and the opportunity we have to grab lunch and just talk without anyone else around.

I want you to know how I feel and remember these words, because they will always be current and never changing. You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me. 

Anyway, I AM going to take this opportunity to ‘Carpe Diem’ and stop what I’m doing to appreciate you on your 21st birthday.

21 Reasons I Love My Son … on his 21st Birthday

1. I'd rather see your smile than anything else.
2. When other people really need your help, you give it … without having to be asked.
3. You're close with your brothers. They love you more than you will ever know.
4. You’re neat. Don’t think that inherited trait isn’t appreciated by me.
5. You’re a great student especially now that you're in college.
6. You have an artistic ability that I admire.
7. You’re curious. And you have been for as long as I can remember. You want to know why things happen, why they don’t or sometimes just why.
8. People naturally like you. I’ve heard it all my life. My parents roll their eyes when I talk about problems involving you as if to say, “Morgen??? Please.”
9. You repeatedly put up with my requests to help pick out a Halloween pumpkin, Christmas shop and watch movies with Marko and me.
10. There's nothing that I'd rather hear than your laughter.
11. You really talk to me, your dad, your brothers, your grandparents, etc. Never stop doing that, please.
12. You remember things. Sure, this might not always be in my favor. But, ultimately, it’s what earned you one of your earliest nicknames (Marlin) and it lets me know you’re paying attention.
13. You like cooking and preparing food. I like it because it’s something we can do together.
14. You’re polite. Which makes me feel like I’m doing something right. Even though we both know I probably had nothing to do with it.
15. You’re a constant reminder to me that I need to slow down. 
16. You possess a strong need to be a leader, often taking the initiative to lead, not only our home but others, to guide your group or to decide what was going to be played with your friends. You could lead your generation to living with purpose. 
17. It didn’t take me long to see that you influenced the atmosphere of our home. A bad day could be good, quickly. You could bring music into our home with one melody. You could influence your brothers to do anything you desired to do with you. You can encourage and motivate anyone needing a little encouragement or direction.
18. Even when the things you did were wrong, you still stood strong in your belief that you could convince me otherwise. There is a field between right doings and wrong doings - I'll meet you there. - Rumi
19. Relationships have always been so important to you and you're very loyal to the people in your life, even if these people weren’t the best influence on your young heart. You are the best kind of friend and there even when you're studying for finals on your bed with your friends by your side. 
20. It doesn’t matter what the situation is or who is involved, you have been very passionate from the beginning of your life. You would sing loudly, play hard, study deeply, research more to learn about your interest, even if said research was to convince me to let you quit playing an instrument, be there first if I was hurt or needing help. Basically unstoppable to becoming the best you could be.
21. From the moment you first laid in my arms, you melted right into my heart. 

After 21 years, I'm proud of the man you have become, and no matter what happens, I have confidence in your ability to make choices. I love you.  - Mom

21

Twenty-First Birthday

🎈MORGEN 🎈 

{He loves} talking 🎉his brothers 🎁 school time chilling with his friends eating HOME smiling & reading 

{He can} drive 🚙 work💰study drink & party do his own laundry get straight A's long board high five light up a room with his smile 

{fav. foods} Laura's special (Morelia's) pasta steak ramen noodles 

{fav. apps} facebook snapchat wow 

***

128 and a half

pounds

&

71

inches

and three quarters

***

Born

August 5th, 1995

He was 6LBS 11OZ

& 191/2 INCHES LONG

WHITNEY BREE

{How did you get to be 15??! }

Water, blueberry pancakes, bags of marshmallows, The Cupcakes, Connor on Markus “I knew you were my favorite cousin, that would sleep over on the trampoline. This is my first sleepover with a grown up. Markus isn't a grown up, I mean, he just is big like one,” then he's saying what Markus smells like, “You smell like happiness.”

I'd Rather Have...

a passport full of stamps than a house full of stuff.

The Swimmer

Mid-Summer, we’ve been to the peaks and back. I’ve been thinking of a different series based on water, this and cactus & tropicals, explores the idea of desert and water. Follow along if you like.

You're Gold, baby. Solid gold.

Sunday: work, sleep, made a thank you card with photos from seven years of hockey, packed for the goodbye picnic, photographed Bucky with his friends, made a feast of watermelon when we returned home while Oly packed for moving to Canada on Saturday, the where he's going to play hockey talk before work (it never gets old).

Love With Your Soul

I forgot how much Sun Valley felt like home.

Jobs Fill Your Pocket

Adventure fills your soul...

Happiness is...

when you realize your kids are turning out to be really good people!

Thursday: oatmeal, AGT, watermelon and chicken salad, hockey, training center, scootering, sleepover at Gavin's.

When the Icy boys finished the Elk Cup at last and Max stood watch with a duster over the house, I went out alone for laundry detergent of all things, since he's finished his laundry. And some cash back for his late night date and snow cones.

Close to one, he glowed from under his hat inside his car. The way he aced his final accounting assignment and his GPA to be able to qualify to get in to the accounting program commenced straight away. We drove to the gas station from home where he informed me he'd had his oil changed and bought new brakes with his paycheck from this week and took turns visiting the joys of responsibility while he gave me a ride to work for a meeting since Max had my car and tried to offer him some food. Eating used to be a race but today he borrowed gardening gloves instead to go help his friends parents with some yard work..

Much 💞

We left Sun Valley with sore legs, stripey suntans, and images of endless sky and green earth calling us back.

Good ole boys

And our night ended with the Boys and Alaska hats from Grandpa Buck.

Always Take The Scenic Route

Pioneer day: pancakes, Kneadery: Boys = bacon, bags packed, short walk to historic downtown Ketchum, skate trip with Darlin, epic view of Sun Valley, Johnny G's for lunch before hitting the road.

SV

After breakfast, we paddled in the lake for an hour then rollerbladed over to the skating rink in Sun Valley.