9/11/01

I remember that day as clear as if it were today. Not saying too much, but I do remember a lot of it. :) Jeff and I were married on August 2nd, 2001, so we had barely been married a month and were living in Provo, Utah going to BYU. We got a call early morning 7 am-ish - it was before we had to be to school and it was Jeff's brother Steven. He asked if we were watching tv, nope. Well turn it on! We had just been attacked in New York City. Unbelievable, Jeff bolted for the TV turned it on and all I heard was "No way, oh my gosh, no way". I ran to see what he was talking about and we stood there watching the news, wondering what the heck was going on. We went to school and I could barely pay attention - it was unreal. It was like watching a movie - so real, but it had to be fake. I was working at Computer Support in the Wilkinson Center. I went to work and they had a TV on in there, we watched the rest of the new reports and everything else that went on. My friend (former roommate) Alyssa - her dad worked in the Pentagon, so when that was hit, I instantly thought of her and hoped he was okay.

As the days unfolded and stories started pouring out of the selflessness of those involved, although I didn't know any of them, I was truly grateful for each of them and was amazed at how the Lord had gone to work preparing us and helping us heal. Those who risked their lives to save their co-workers, those who were late to work and saved, who followed a prompting to not go to work and so many more. A friend of mine who was moving from Canada to Washington State with her little family and made the move just days before 9/11 - she wouldn't have been able to move after 9/11 because the borders were shut down. So many stories and so many heros - firefighters, police officers, medical personnel and every other individual that went through that horrible day.

I love the songwriters who were inspired to create music to remember this day and others similar - Pearl Harbor, World Wars 1 and 2, Vietnam, Persian Gulf War, and so many more. I remember listening to Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue" and "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood, Alan Jackson's "Where were you when the world stopped turning...". I still get choked up when I hear these songs. It was amazing to watch as our nation pulled together out of our own petty problems and disagreements, to be one nation to stand up for our great nation and the people who died. I appreciate George W. Bush - he's a great leader and one who was definitely needed for that time.

I still have a few of the papers from that day and days to follow and will hold onto those as part of history during my lifetime. I don't know exactly where they are, but I come across them every now and again and the same feelings come. A sense of pride for my country - grateful to military and their families, sadness for those who lost loved ones and just how precious life is and how quickly it can change.


I get choked up everytime I hear the National Anthem and see people stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, at the Olympics, at school, baseball games, football, doesn't matter where - I love it! Especially to see the kids stand and repeat it. It's a touching moment to see Lea stand with her fellow classmates and say the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence.

"It was a war we did not start, but were called upon to finish". (From "The Price of Freedom")

Thank you and we will never forget.

Small Obsession.......BYU football

I have a small confession to make. I am obsessed with BYU football. Not like some people I know, but I do love the game and BYU. Ever since I was little, I can remember BYU football. LaVell Edwards was the Bishop of my mom and dad's ward when they attended BYU. Every year for Spring Break we went to Utah to visit family and would ALWAYS stop at BYU to see LaVell, the BYU bookstore, eat in the CougarEat and see Kristin and Kraig who were attending there. I remember going to the blue/white game in the now Practice Fields. I even met Ty Detmer in the Football offices. He autographed his Heisman photo for me. I still have it somewhere and had a Heisman poster of Ty and his trophy in my room. My dad would wake us (at least me) up to the Cougar Fight Song: "Rise and shout the Cougars are out....." (go ahead and sing along) I remember watching Bowl games at the Cartwrights (family friends - we would share holiday meals together and Twin Lakes) because we didn't have cable and cheering on the blue and white. Of my immediate family, there are a LOT of BYU grads - my mom and dad, 3 siblings and their spouses, Jeff and I and my nephew will attend BYU-I this fall. Of my siblings and spouses (including parents) 10 of 16 graduated from BYU.
 
I am however, not as obsessed as say my husband Jeff. His family is insanely crazy fans - well a few of them - Nathan, Jeff, a few cousins and uncles and Grandma Risenmay (Jeff's grandma). Also there are few friends of ours that are how do you say: well I'm not sure words can express the bizarre behavior exhibited by such friends during games.........ahem......Scott, Pete, John, Jake and a few others I know......but all in good fun right!? Well whatever, I won't get into how up and down they are when they watch a game......that would fill an entire book!


In honor of BYU, I have made a few items to show our loyalty (and really so Jeff will indulge my creative outlets...) - aside from buying season tickets while living in Provo, driving for games, and buying "fan" t-shirts after we moved to AZ. I've put together a few BYU items of our own. Enjoy and if you're a Ute fan.....well - we can still be friends. Just don't tell Jeff - that may be another story. :)

  This is in Lucas' room - made this when he was littler and painted his room before Abbey was born. It was a proud day for Jeff when I called him at work and Lucas (who was barely 2 at the time) was chanting "B-Y-U, B-Y-U, Gooooooo, Cougars!" Awwww........ :)

This is hanging outside our front door and was inspired by "JOY" signs we made at last year's Super Saturday.


My latest was this: I took our old lame mouse pad to a computer that we no longer use. This mouse pad is 8 1/2 years old - we got it when we were first married and bought our first computer which has since been replaced this year as well.  

 And turned it into a Masterpiece.....sort of. :) Fun huh!!?

First day of 1st grade

This was back on Aug 3rd and it has been a roller coaster ever since. I thought I would love it, and I do and Lea does, but it's an adjustment...again. After being gone for a month and having barely any structure, we got home the night before school started and structure began with a vengeance. Anywho, here's some pictures of my big first grader! :) Her teacher is Mrs. Noyes and has a few of the same kids from last year. Max and Charity are from our ward and Sarah Lish from Capitol Ward.

Jeff was able to stay home a little later to send Lea off to her first big day. She starts at 9 am.

Not a great picture, but true to form of what quality photos I can get with 3 little ones. The other picture was worse..... :)Lea at her desk with Alyssa behind her - from Kindergarten. Awwww, so precious and even has a "school" bow for the first day. Her hair is a lot of fun - we do lots of fun things to be a little different in the uniforms - which I LOVE!!!!

Ha ha! Lucas is hilarious!

Today I was putting Lucas down for a nap and he was wearing his new Superman shirt. (He loves this his super-hero clothes!).

I told him: "Lucas I love your superman shirt. Do you love it?"

"yeah! Do you have a superman shirt mama?"

"No I don't - I wish I did."

"You should get a bigger shirt and daddy should get a bigger, bigger, bigger, BIGGER one."

He was so proud of himself! :) The boy loves his daddy!

Feeling crafty?!?

So I caught the craft bug and thanks to Shawna, I found 2 of my favorite creative and useful craft blogs. One is Shawna's My Inner Martha - can be found on the list of fav blogs and the other is Make it and Love it- logo found on the right of the blog.

I wanted to make something that was simple and didn't cost a lot, so at Make it and Love it, I found this (a belt out of ribbon) and I made my own. 2 for Lea, 2 for her friend for her birthday and 2 for next week's party she's going too. Also going to make one for Lucas with football ribbon. One spool of ribbon made 1 - 36"belt and 1 of these - a sippy cup leash. We'll use it on the side of the stroller for walks and even discovered it will be good for the carseat since Abbey is a pro at dropping EVERYTHING on the far side of her carseat - out of easy reach for anyone.


Also saw an idea like this hair things, but not exactly - so simple and way cute! Cute button and one elastic. I cut some to see what it was like and then sewed the other ones on. Very quick!


This was not found on the crafty blogs, but I was inspired to make this for Lea, hoping that her meltdowns are a result of boredom and a need to do something good. While Jeff was taking her for a 2 1/2 mile walk, I sat down to get to work on this. To which she was happy to have and has taken it on - now Lucas wants to have a job and I'll be making him a chart when I can find my craft table after the above projects are finished! I found some cute posterboard at Walmart - some with a girlie pattern and a plain blue to match Lucas' room. Lea's is on a folder, but I'm going to transfer it to the cute posterboard - hopefully without ruining it!

I'm also in charge of a project for Super Saturday, not because I came up with the idea, but because my sister-in-law Rozann made one for me and a good friend of mine is on the enrichment committee and saw it. Now I get to make my own and help others too - should be interesting.... :) I would post a picture of the project, but it's currently at the church ready to display with all the other Super Saturday projects.

Lea's birthday - photos

A few snapshots of Lea's life here on earth. She's very photogenic and has always been adorable! Can't believe she's so grown up!

Daddy's baby girl - Jeff looks really young huh?

Blessing Day - Provo, UT

Christmas 2003, Richland Wa - cousin Paige Sorensen

Jeff's graduation from BYU. My parents had Lea and while they were waiting for us, some very nice lady gave Lea this lei because she was so cute and the lei matched her dress. Very sweet.

Mostly notice the date - this is actually in AZ the winter after we moved to Phoenix and Jeff went to the snow (that's what we AZ folk call snow and we "went" because well it doesn't snow where we live so we have to drive to it....if you can call it snow) with my sisters fam, brothers fam and parents. Lea is 1 1/2 and well it's good I wasn't there to see this.....

Lea - age 2 1/2

Halloween 2005 - Hunt family bunny costume

Hannah Webb and Lea - Easter in Vegas 2006

Lea and her bud Ethan - Fall 2006

Her first hair cut - so cute and all the curls are gone. I loved her curly hair, but it's so cute without them too. 2007 (yes she was 4!)

Lea and Brisa - sweet friends even though they don't see each other very much. 2009

Lea's Rock Star party with her ROCK STAR friends: Brisa, Brynn, Sara, Lea, Halle, Laura and Rachael - rockin' out to Hannah Montana movie soundtrack. Fun party!

Our "short" hike (thought it was 3 and it was actually 5 1/2 miles!!!) at the Oregon Coast. This is the view from the turn around point - yikes! Lea, G-ma Judy, Anna, Nathan (Jeff's older brother), Jase.

Sorensen family reunion - Logan, UT 2009. The birthday kids! Brendan turned 18 on Aug 1st and Lea's birthday is July 29th. Brendan is off to his first year at BYU-I and Lea to first grade.