Birthdays

Hunter turned 9 this week.  Hunter is the peacemaker of the family and excels at anything he puts his mind to.  He loves tae kwon do, jumping on the trampoline, playing with his transformers, being at home with his family, and pulls hilarious faces.  He is best buddies with his sister Madison and they love to make up plays and secret clubs.  He is very protective of his younger brother, Ashton.  He was born at a very stressful time in our lives and I have always appreciated his calm spirit because it was a testimony to me that Heavenly Father was mindful of us and what we were going through.  Hunter has a tender heart, and surprises me with his insight at the most unexpected times.

Christian turned 14 on Mother's Day.  The only way I can express what an amazing person he is, is to tell you of a recent experience.  It was last Saturday, and I was in a lot of pain because I had pulled a ligament in my leg trying to train for the Ragnar race.  Robert had been gone helping others most of the day and I had tried my best to do jobs with the kids in spite of the fact that I could hardly walk.  This was Christian's day:  He woke up and went to help a relative move which took a little longer than expected, all with a happy face and disposition.  Then he came home did his Saturday chores, worked in the yard with Robert and then attempted to put the new swingset together.  Later on that evening, Robert asked him to babysit the other kids while we went out to dinner.  I really felt bad for leaving, but Robert convinced me that getting out of the house would be good for me since I was kind of down and had been trapped inside most of the day.  As we were driving down the street, I saw Christian pushing Ashton and Elisabeth in the stroller on a long walk down to Smith's to buy the Mother's Day flowers that Robert hadn't had time to get himself.  I totally lost it and started crying.  I didn't feel worthy of this child and all that he does for me!  When we got home later that night, he had orchestrated the younger kids in doing a huge load of dishes and cleaning the family room, which I hadn't been up to doing earlier that day.  I am honestly in awe of him--