Sweet Sixteen

Chandler turned 16 yesterday! It's hard to believe he's growing up so fast. 

I love him more and more every day. He's such a good kid and he's incredibly gifted.

I'm amazed at how fast he picks up on things, especially with computer software and writing music. He really does have a photographic memory. 

He landed his first job a couple days ago too.  

He's starting next week as a drafter at an architecture firm. 

I'm very excited for him because I know he's going to be awesome!

My friend, Suzanne, made Chandler his own little cake. :)

I'm Happy!

I had a wonderful birthday today! Joseph kept asking me what I wanted as a gift. I said, "I'd love for you to go with me on a morning hike up to the top of Squaw Peak." My wish was granted! 

Aug. 19th - the two of us are going to
tackle that mountain in the background. :)

In the evening, Joseph took me out to my favorite restaurant, Indian Palace. 

Invincible

My little Kaylee turned 9 yesterday! She spent most of the day with her two favorite friends, Leah and Hannah. She picked her favorite music as I drove her and her friends around. She has this song called "Invincible" by, Skillet that she loves to play. I think she knows all the words by heart! It makes me laugh because it sounds a little rough for her personality. But then again, I think I surprised my parents with the hard rock I loved as a kid.

I like the fact that Kaylee has a little edge to her. Happy Birthday to my sweet, petite, Kaylee, who deep down inside is really as TOUGH AS NAILS!!  I love you! You really are invincible!!

Micah and that Magnificent Number

Micah turned twelve this last month. He wanted only one friend for his party to hang out with for the entire day. Micah has know Lex since he was three-years-old. They used to be only a few houses away from each other until they moved... and we moved. Now Lex lives several cities away but when these two get together, they act like they've never been apart.

We have a tradition that when our children turn twelve, Joseph and I are the first ones to take them to do baptisms at the Temple. Micah was so happy and so fun to watch.

The brethren at the recommend desk told Micah to hit the wheelchair buttons on both the entry doors. Then the men ducked behind the desk and told us to snap a picture with Micah and the stain glass behind him.  He thought that was so fun. The workers really love the youth here.

We have another tradition when our kids turn twelve, it's sort of a "coming-of-age tradition". We buy them a plaque with their full name engraved on it, along with a scripture that we feel will serve as a very personal guide through life, and the date of their 12th birthday.

The scripture we chose for Micah was Alma 38:12 "Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love..." This one was perfect for him because Micah is such a deeply passionate boy.

Down to the River

Micah turned twelve over the weekend. I let him choose how he wanted to spend the afternoon together on his birthday.  He's incredibly easy to please.  All he wanted to do was eat Little Caesar's crazy bread and walk along the Provo River.

As we got out of the van and started heading toward the parkway that runs along the river, I had a weird sense of  déjà vu.
"It feels like we've done this exact same thing before," I said to him.
Micah replied, "That's because we have, mom. This is what we did together on my eighth birthday too."
I laughed as I recalled the four years previous, "Oh yeah, we did... didn't we?"

It was such a perfect afternoon. Micah found a log to rest on and enjoy the shade of the narrowleaf cottonwood trees. I smiled adoringly as I watched him soak up the sound of rushing water accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds. He has always loved this kind of stuff, more than any of my other kids.

His dream is to have a little cottage someday tucked away in the solitude of the mountains, where he has a porch with a wooden rocking chair overlooking a freshwater stream. There, he'll close his eyes, breathe the fresh crisp air, and relax to the sounds of nature.

I like that dream.

-Alicia





I

Fifteen Years Ago Today

Fifteen years ago, today, my life was changed forever in the most beautiful way! I gave birth to my very first child and it was an experience I'll never forget.  The whole concept of time, the earth and the universe, seemed to stand still in our world as my husband and I held in our arms the wonder of human creation connected with the powers of heaven.  What took us most by surprise was the intense pure love we felt for this tiny human life.  In awe we pondered, "If we as imperfect mortal parents feel the smallest fraction of love for our children... What must it be like compared to our  Father-in-Heaven?  Imagine the love of a perfect immortal and all powerful God must have for us!" Nothing is more Divine, more close to heaven, than that of becoming a mother or a father!

 It's hard to believe that my little guy could ever grow up so fast. Now he's taller than me by almost half a foot and has me beat by 25 lbs! It's crazy!  When we wrestle, we have to be careful.  After a few bruised ribs of mine, he's learned to be a little more gentle as he easily picks me up and throws me on the couch.  My, my how have the tables turned!  I remember when I used to play the "tossing games" with him.  Of course, I never bruised any of his ribs.  His weakness is that he's extremely ticklish... and well... that's my weakness too but if I tag him just right, the wrestling match is over and I still reign!!

My love for Chandler is different for him than what I felt when he was a newborn.  I believe it is more refined.  It has been tested and tried.  He is my first-born and I've made a lot of mistakes. He's incredibly strong-willed.  (Not unlike his mother. ha ha.) I push and he pulls.... I pull and he pushes.  I've stumbled and bumbled along my way as I've approached every new stage of his life. Each stage was a new one for me too.  So many times, sitting at his bedside apologizing for my behavior, explaining my desires and discussing how we are growing up together.  So many humbling moments on my knees praying to God, "How do I do this?"
So many more to come....

He has always had a fun sense of humor and he has become more entertaining through the years. He has this uncanny ability to do impersonations and quote funny lines verbatim which has caused me to roll on the floor laughing so hard that it hurts.

He also has a tender spiritual side that comes out every once in a while.  I most often discover this side of him in the playlists he shares with me.  The other morning I went for my weekly hike up the Y and decided to listen to his music.  The song, Broken Circle by, Second Suspense, started to play as I surveyed the gorgeous scenery of this valley I love so much.  I looked for my home, for the Temple, and gazed down at BYU's campus.  With the music and the view, the feeling in my heart was magical.

Speaking of BYU... that's another thing I absolutely love about Chandler.  I don't think there's a football fan who gets more excited for every season than him.  He has the whole thing predicted in full color on a spreadsheet.  Check this out!  This is serious stuff!
Sorry opposing teams, it looks like it's straight losses for you guys and a winning National Championship for the Cougars!

Happy Birthday to my first born!  When you came into my life, I never wanted you to grow old.  I wanted to keep you young and hold you forever in my arms.  But now I'm seeing how fun it is to watch you grow and become a man.  I'm seeing how great it is to have you hold me in your arms. (Even if it's because I've just been tackled and my body is twistedly stuck as you've pinned me to the floor.)  It's still "in your arms" and I'll take it.  ;)

You are full of passion and excitement for life.  You are awesome!  I love you more than ever!  You're a good, good son and I'm proud to call you mine.

-Alicia (aka - MOM)

05-05-05 Throwback Thursday

My son, Micah, turned 11 today!  He was most excited to make his own cake all by himself.  

Isn't it beautiful!  It's very apocalyptic.  

(If you can't tell, that's an A-bomb with bloody soldiers and debris scattered everywhere.) 

 I searched..... and there are no survivors.

It's amazing how fast 11 years go by.  Oh, how I love this boy!

Micah had his best friend, Lex, spend the day with him.

"When you reach for the stars

Don’t forget who you are

And please don’t turn around and grow up way too fast

See the sand in my grasp

From the first to the last

Every grain becomes a memory of the past

Oh, life’s an hourglass"

- Mindy Gledhill

Chandler and Miriam meet Micah for the first time.

Not so long ago...  Freedom Festival 2006

Cutest guilty face ever!

This is probably my ultimate favorite picture of Micah.  

At age two, he always called trains "ho ho's". 

 I love his little hand on his hip as he points to the sound of the train behind him.

My face is red in this photo from trying not to laugh. 

 It's been so long, I don't remember what he said in his prayer, but it was so dang cute.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICAH!
I love you to the moon and back.

XOXO