Dear Paxton,

It's a sad night my love. We got sad news that makes my heartbreak. I swear helplessness is one of the worst feelings in the world. My heart hurts for a lot of people right now. It is hard to feel this sadness without wanting to hold on to you a little tighter and kiss you a little longer. You are my world. I have told you before and I'll say it again, there is not a person on the face of the planet that could make my any happier. I chose you eleven years ago and I will choose you everyday from here to eternity. Of all the successes I've ever had, of every achievement I've ever earned, none means more to me than my marriage. I see your grandparents; him, tall and skinny as ever and her, fragile and bent and I love the tender way he takes care of her and how much love you see in her wrinkled face when she looks back at him. That is you and me in fifty years, (only I'll be the one taking care of you :) You have my heart forever.
Your adoring wife,
Jaymie

Shaylee

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In Feb. I thought she just wanted them because all of her friends were getting them. Took her in and the doc said she her eyes were really bad. She never takes them off. In fact she was trying to wear someone's sun glasses but couldn't see so she put them on over the top of her glasses. My poor blind daughter, I got mom of the year award for that one. :)

Dear Body,

We have been through so much together in the last 31 years. I'm afraid I haven't always treated you like I should, but you have always been there for me. Even in the last few years you have helped me learn to ride a motorcycle, coach my kids soccer teams, and chase my little dog down the street. In the last few months I have even started running races and am learning archery!

I'm feeling a little guilty though. Often I do things for me more than for you. I eat things I know I shouldn't, I stay up too late, and I play too hard and hurt you. Now that I'm realizing that we still have at least 50 more years together I need to be nicer to you. So, I'm revamping my diet and exercise even though I don't really want to. Goodbye high fructose corn syrup, goodbye hydrogenated oil, goodbye massive hunks of steak (sniff, I really, really like meat!).

I am sacrificing so much for you, I only ask that you return the favor and behave nicely. Till death do us part!

Love,

Jaymie

Dear Michael

Well, for a little brother, you aren't so little anymore! Two years went by pretty fast didn't it? I am so happy that I got to make it for your homecoming. I was feeling somewhat picked on being the only sibling that wasn't there. You know, when our whole family is spread out I don't feel bad missing things, but now that I'm the only one not close it is harder to not take it personally. This week was totally awesome for me. I got to get a break from my kids for a bit; see you come home, make it to the little girls' birthday party, hang out with the fam and get to be in an earthquake. Definately action packed!

Mike, I'm so proud of you for serving a mission. I can only imagine how hard you must have worked and how crazy it would be to up and move to Uruguay for two years. You are a great example to my kids and an awesome, awesome brother. I didn't get to see much of you before you left but I can tell what a kind, sensitive (dare I say it!) man, you have become! You are going to be quite a catch for someone one some day. She will have to pass the; meet the sister test of course. You better be at our house for Thanksgiving! And, I'm sorry I spelled your name wrong on your book. Guess just because I can do work in the wee hours of the morning, doesn't mean I should. But you can think of me evertime someone comments "Cool book, but I didn't know you spelled your name so weird." I love yer guts buddy!

From, Your Seester

Boys will be boys!

To my Mountain Man,

You are AMAZING Paxton!! For a guy that didn't even have his leg muscles attached six months ago, it is pretty unbelievable that you just climbed the tallest peak in Utah. Twenty eight miles (32 if you count the extra miles you had to backtrack because you forgot the camera) and 6,000 feet is big deal for anyone, let alone someone who has only been walking for three months! I'm so glad you get to have that time for you and your dad. You will have to keep up this tradition with our boys. I only hope you can find enough mountains close so you don't have to be gone so long. (And no, I won't move to Alaska for that :) I also appriciate that you took pictures of the little yellow flowers for me. I am your sunflower after all. Just like you said, I need my daily dose of sunshine or I start to wilt. (Although I got a little fried from my dose of sunshine yesterday! Shocking, I know!)

I'm excited for our next adventure now! I can't believe that I'm going to be able to run a 10k. My borthers and sisters were always the runners, not me. I don't like running but it is good to feel like an athlete again. I did 5 1/2 miles while you were gone! I've NEVER ran that far before. Now, after four babies, two back surgeries and being all 31 years old, I'm personal records. Heck Yeah!! Try not to beat me too badly in the race though. I don't know if my new little running ego could handle being pounded by a guy that spent three months on crutches.

You rock my world and I'm soooo lucky to be your wife (even if you come home with a mountain man beard and I won't let you kiss me till you shave ;)

~your track babe

ZOO!!!

Between all our trips to the zoo and all the Discover Channel shows we watch my kids should be able to pass Biology 101 by sixth grade!