Nothing to worry about

My last post was riddled with concern about the pending 'photo shoot' I was going to participate in with my sister. I believe the concern was not necessary, it worked out quite well. Below are some examples of the photos we were able to capture (some effects added). You will note I was able to convince (or avoid) going to the bug infested Great Salt Lake, but the day and location could not have been better.
The only downfall to the day, I was up at 5 in the morning!

Enjoy,

Marco

This weeks hangup

This week I've been asked by my younger sister to snap a few photos for her. However, I'm having a hard time working through the request because I've never been asked to do anything like this. I've always taken photos for myself, my wall, my website, my blog, my family, my photo albums, my etc. But now here I am being asked to take shots and I'm at a loss! The major hangup comes in that I thought that the Great Salt Lake might make a wonderful backdrop for pictures. I went to the GSL to see if I could scout out some locations that would work out. I didn't realize that the bug would be so bad, but I think the shots turned out, well, ok. Take a look, I've ranked them from my favorite on top to my least favorite at the bottom (trust me this is only four of a bunch)!

Marco

By the Salt Air

Overlooking the Lake from the Marina

Some Lake Reeds

"The Beach"

One More Day

This week was one of milestones and broken bones. Marco and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on Monday, June 2. It was a perfect day. We had trouble deciding what to do that would compare to our last two anniversaries. Of course in 2006, we had a fairy tale wedding and celebrated our love and new commitment in gorgeous Cabo San Lucas. In 2007, we escaped to paradise in Hawaii and reminisced about all the love, laughter, and tears experienced in the first year of marriage. So, this year we debated traveling somewhere fabulous however, the new little blessing Teagan made it hard for us to be away for too long as he is still nursing (and I haven't been away from him for more than a few hours and might fall apart if I were to leave him this soon). I arranged for Nanny to watch the kids and I decided to schedule a couple's massage at the Sanctuary Day Spa and hoped it would be as romantic as our last two years. Well, I can say there was relaxation, passion, and romance enough to last until our next anniversary. It was an escape from reality for a few short hours that was worth the expense. We also went to Thanksgiving Point and walked around the amazing gardens and had a delicious dinner at Macaroni Grill. The weather was beautiful (just as it was the day we were married at Thanksgiving Point) and we both expressed how grateful we are that we found each other and how wonderful the last 2 years have been. Again, it was perfect. However, the next day, the feeling of bliss and happiness was changed to fear and heartache. Marco recently started taking his bike to work to ride during his lunch hour to get some exercise and because he really enjoys riding he thought he would ride his bike to and from work as well when the weather is nice. So, Tuesday he rode to work and on his way home from work, he was riding on 2700 west heading south and had just crossed 12600 south. He was riding with the flow of traffic and probably going about 20 mph and the car next to him suddenly cut him off to turn into the Maverick. The car had 4 teenagers in it and they didn't signal they were turning or slow down. Either they didn't see Marco or didn't care that they would cut him off and cause a major accident. Therefore, Marco had to brake in an instant which sent him over his handle bars to crash into the pavement. He doesn't remember if he rolled over the car or made contact with the car at all but he hit his hands first, then the left side of his head and his left shoulder, then his back. We don't know much detail about the driver or what the witnesses saw but we do know that his helmet saved his life. When I arrived with the kids, the paramedics were loading him into the truck and we headed for the hospital. I thank God every minute and every day that he is ok and he will be here one more day to be a father and a husband. One more day to tease me, laugh with me, cuddle me, kiss me, talk to me, and comfort me. I know that everyday is a blessing and it is so important to show the ones you love how much you care about them. Life changes so quickly from the perfect day to a sad and dreadful day and you can never love too much, laugh too much, or give too much. Make every moment count because every day is a blessing when you are surrounded by the ones you love.

Much Love,

Amber

4 Month Stats

Well Teagan is now four months old! And we took him to go see Doc and have his four month checkup.

He is officially
26" tall (75% on the size scale)
14.9 lbs (only 50% on the weight scale)
17" head (85% on the fat head scale)

This is compared to his 2 month check-up
24" tall (95% on the size scale)
11.6 lbs (75% on the weight scale)
16" head (85% on the fat head scale)

Not often enough

I often tend to wonder if I say 'it' enough. 'It' can stand for so many things, 'I love you', 'good job', 'I miss you' and the list continues. This thought crosses my mind a lot because of how often I travel. I never want to leave my family with final words that were not 'it'. It is something frightening to think of your children growing up without a parent, but more troublesome to think of them without you and never realizing how proud you are of who they are. It all came full circle today, when we listened to our neighbors relate a story of friends of their's that lost their daughter last week. So often I think of what would they do without me; but the real question that you have to ask yourself is what would you do without them? Their child didn't die of a disease or some auto accident, it was simply choking on an apple that took their baby away! So again, do you say 'it' enough?
This concept could easily be followed up with thoughts like, did I tell them enough stories about my childhood, did I take enough photos (I think we're good on that one, I just noticed we have almost 10,000), did we write down the day-to-day antics of our children? With so many things that take time in our lives, I guess we have to learn to prioritize. Do we take the 2 minutes to brush our teeth, or listen to our child pray? Do we wash the dishes before they go to bed or forget the dishes and make an Oreo shake with their help? Do you arrive on time at work or late so that you can eat breakfast with your son? Do you take time to ponder these questions, or dream of the men they will become?

Good night,

Marco