We loved staying at Bartons Motel in Laconia, NH - June 2 2013

The only thing I wanted to share (other than how super cute my kiddos are!!!) or point out was how cool these butterflies were!  We could literally touch them.  They must have been really tired or really liked tanning at that beach.

A beautiful day!

A beautiful day with my beautiful girls!

Sister time

An alien life form.

Go!

Cliffton loved looking at the butterflies too but I was kinda tired of taking pictures of them at that point.

Here are some self portraits.  :)

Violet dives headfirst into most activities.

beating on Daddy

guy talk

Oh no!  a blanket monster!

Having fun!

The fun got a little racy after this picture so we decided not to take anymore pics!

the mud! the ice! the hills! the mud! the barbed wire! the tunnels! the mud! the muddy water! the not-so-electric electricity! the teamwork! the mud! the walls! the logs! the mud! and of course... the headband!

What a fun family vacation we had!
 We left on May 31 to drive up to New Hampshire for the 'Boston' Tough Mudder at Gunstock Mountain.  It was a great time for us overall.  We took a ferry from the North Fork of Long Island to New London, Connecticut.  What a fun way to "drive!"  We had a lot of traffic getting out east on the island.  Once we reached the ferry, everything was fine until we got to our motel late that night.  Nobody was around.  The office was closed.  No key drop, etc.  We tried emailing and calling.  Apparently he didn't have our number and had tried to find us.  So, we tried to find a new place, even stayed in the lobby of a hotel for a short while, but then slept in the car a little and had an early breakfast at McDonalds.  We got into the motel soon after and slept a few hours.  I originally was going to meet a team that morning.  I decided I wanted my sleep more than meeing up with them.  So I got over to the event and joined in the nearly last wave and man, Tough Mudder is awesome!
    Some of the obstacles were quite tough, but overall, I was happy to get through with little injury and successfully do each one!  My vote is that they were not as  hard as I thought they'd be except for the hills and arctic enema (ice bath!).  Most I could do alone but a couple I needed teamwork which just happened to be the time I hooked up with a team (around mile 8 I think).  They were fun and incredibly friendly.  About 4 guys and 4 girls. We finished together and we agreed that the hills, um, MOUNTAINS, were rough!  We went up and down them about 5 times.  Oh, my calves hurt sooooo bad on Monday!!  (I was sore on Sunday too, but Monday was the WORST!).
    Although this event is a challenge, and never a "race" I did bring my watch to see my time.  It took me about 4.5 hours.  If I had not teamed up with anyone and just used whatever help I could along the way, I'd likely have finished in about 4 hours.  I would love to do a few more.  I'd also like to try a few other events that are similar (Savage Race, Spartan Race, etc.)  It really beats road racing!  Guess I'm a dirty gal  ;) 
     I have found two pics of me online and it looks like that's it.  They are several hundred pages of pics though.  I''m not sure I have the time to look at each and every one!  I had so much fun at Tough Mudder and it was an incredible feeling to get that orange headband.  I'm hooked!  I should add, the electric eel and electroshock therapy did not seem to have the electricity on when I went through - no complaints from me!  I'm sure the staff wanted to get us through a little quicker!

Here are some before and after pics from my own camera.  Oh, I would like to get a super tough camera one day to have at events like these!  I left mine with the bag check and they kept the area very secure.

Gettin' my tough on!  And darn happy about it too.

Mess with a Stacey?  Only if you're crazy!

Azure and I down at the little beach, Saturday June 1.  Paugus Bay.

Azure is more into the sand than the water.  Well, I should say, she loves to touch the sand but doesn't really like to get her hands dirty either.  Its cute.

Riding the shuttle over to Gunstock.  We had to drive nearly 25 minutes to get on the shuttle to come all the way back near our motel.  I was so worried I wouldn't make it in time for the last wave!  Really, that's my worried face.  :)

#toughmamasaretoughmudders  #thinkyoureastoughasme  #mudon  #imsodoingthisagain  #whywouldIwantafreebeerwhenimfeelingsogood?  #jointhemuddersweknowfun

Now I got my tough on AND my mud on!

I was a fortunate (or maybe unfortunate, if thats how you roll) mudder who never slipped and kissed the mud.  Sloshed through it plenty and swam in muddy ice water and ponds.  I looked worse after crawling under the barbed wire though.  Wish I had some pics of that!

Feeling good!  Before the icy rinse station ("bonus obstacle")...

...and after.  I think my skin lightened a few shades.  

Going back to the shuttle pick up/drop off.  

Since Siskel and Ebert weren't around, I had to give myself a two thumbs up.

Waiting for the fam to get me.  We needed the green band to  participate and the orange was for over 21.  I like event jewelry!  No alcohol for this tough mama.  Just mud, fire, ice, wood, tunnels and hills.  Oh yes, and the water stations!  The clif blocks were yummy (we only got those at one station).  

Loved it and doing it again!!!  Richard and I want to do one or something similar together.  That reminds me I saw pics online of a couple who got engaged at the end of the challenge.  I think its great.  (The shirt says Tough Mudder 2013 Finisher.)

And the theme of this blog post is....

 Has anyone ever hear of the Sweet Tooth Fairy?  Its so deliciously decadent!  I've only tried cakebites and cupcakes and they were all, super good, high quality, beautiful treats!  When Richard worked at the Zermatt, he would periodically receive items leftover from conferences/company retreats.  One fateful day, Zermatt had leftover cupcakes.  Oh goodness.   A little bit of heaven on earth.   For Jessica's bridal shower, I think it was for Lily, we had some of their cupcakes.  I recall Almond, coconut and red velvet being the best ones!  For a birthday or two, I used my birthday coupons that you can receive to get a free treat.  Sweet!   The owner, Megan something, was featured in a few articles.  http://www.thesweettoothfairy.com/

During our New year's eve/Janelle's birthday with our friends, Cliffton fell on their stairs and popped out a tooth!  It was a canine or next to one.  We found it and after talking with Papa (Richard's Dad) we put it in what I remember as milk, what Richard remembers as salt water.  We'll  have to have Papa declare which voice retains truth and clarity of mind.  :)  Then we gently put his tooth back in.  Oh, it made me cringe!  I could hardly stand it!  I remember having a tooth partially come out (I was about 6) and when I looked in the mirror, the way it was hanging on made me pass out!  I still pass out with ease.  :/ Cliffton was in a lot of pain right when he lost it as you can imagine.  After a few minutes he had calmed down.  When we put the tooth in, he was OK until just before it was all the way in.  He ate carefully for a few weeks but has been otherwise great. 

One of the shyest girls in Primary, Jayleen, very proudly showed off her two new teeth this past Sunday.  What a darling lil' lady.  She is about 4 months older than Cliffton.  So, maybe Cliffton has another 3 months 'til he loses his first baby tooth?  Well, for good this time. 

My camera has bit off more than it can chew.  I guess its teeth aren't very sharp.  Its very grumpy right now and appears to be giving up on life.   OK, that one was a stretch, but still, I do like to share my ability for camera euthanasia. (BTW, was I the only one that for several years wondered what the heck the "youth in asia" did to cause such heated arguments?!!)

The price of the orange headband

5 days until I turn in my death waiver....yikes, what was I thinking??!!!
I have a strong feeling I'm going to love it and hate it.  All in all, I AM a Tough momma so Tough Mudder shouldn't kill me.  Just maim.  :/  Still.....send prayers my way this Saturday.  Please?
Boston TM 2013 here I come!



Here's a taste of what I get to look forward to (sorry I don't know how to resize copied pics):
 
 




 
 

Graduation and Grandma and Papa time!!!

The kids have had SO much fun with Grandma and Papa here while they came out for Richard's graduation.  Richard's sisters Megan and Michelle, Michelle's husband and daughter, his parents and his grandpa came out to visit for a few days.  We had a lovely weekend with everyone.  Little Sophia was the only cousin they got to see this weekend but it was fun to see how big she's gotten. Richard  received his J.D. on May 20 and it was wonderful!  :)  I am so happy for him and proud of what he's accomplished. And we've heard some fun news!  Aunt Michelle doesn't have to be deployed because she's pregnant!  She's due sometime in January and that is such joyful news.  I love to hear about couples getting married and I really enjoy hearing about friends and family expecting babies.  Its such a joy and a blessing and a truly life altering course.  :)  Let me think...Aunt Emily is due in just a few days, Aunt Jessica in October and Aunt Michelle in January. We know Em is expecting a girl but we're kinda hoping the other two are boys since Cliffton only has one boy cousin on each side of the family.  Girl Power!
We are hoping, searching, praying, writing, searching and praying some more in our quest to find employment.  I am leaning towards the South - Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, etc. Yet, we are keeping our eyes open to any possibilities for new lawyers.  He's taking the NY bar in July.  We are planning to move back to Utah after Cliffton finishes Kindergarten and live there until we find work. I just hope that we find work soon.  :/  NY has been quite the ride.  I will miss it.  The Freeport branch of our church has been just incredible.  Its hard to leave friends, isn't it? 
Thank you to all of our friends here.  What a beautiful connection we've made!  Thank you to family and friends who've supported Richard in his quest for a J.D.  He did it!!!  Onto more adventures....

I hope I can get more pictures from my awesome in-laws later.  I know Darrell has some better photos.  It was a happy day.  We love Richard W. Stacey!!!

ugh, you know when someone sends a link to something you didn't realize you had so much to post until you realize its 1am? Yup.

I was reading about Elizabeth Smart today from a link a cousin posted on FB.  It was on thinkprogress.org  I'm not going to talk too much about it, because I've already thought and written a lot earlier on the site!  :)  I'm going to add to it here and then paste what I had previously written.

In a nutshell, I think we need informative sex education in the public schools which includes abstinence.  I understand there are some abstinence only education routes that have may have contributed to feelings of worthlessness on students when they have sex or when they are raped.  But where does that really come from?  Information, not agenda, is what should be taught in school.  What is taught at home?  
A Gospel centered home teaches that we are all sons and daughters of God.  We are loved!  We make mistakes and we can repent. We come to earth innocent.  If we are raped, we are still innocent.  Rape, any abuse, is a sin and a crime.  Even a rapist has value as a son of God.  He will still suffer for the sorrow he's caused  he and he can never suffer the way our Savior did for everyone who has, is and will live on this earth.  We all  have immense individual worth - for we are created from a divine being who loves us personally.  We are no accident.  

 Here's from what I wrote earlier:
 I think there are some differences that should be highlighted here. First, the difference between sex education in the public schools and what's taught in gospel-centered homes. Very different discussions! One is based on ideas that, correct me if I'm wrong, is voted on by the county board of education. So a majority vote, basically, of which parents should be involved. I've had open lessons/ discussions about sex in school, with my family, and at church and I'm so grateful for it. Students should have sexual information, not judgments or persuasions, from public school. Public schools are NOT the place for agenda not matter which side it is, conservative or liberal.
What’s taught in the home helps a person determine, what they believe, is their value. I’m so glad that Ann Richardson mentioned that the love which Ms. Smart’s parents has for her, helped her to survive. That’s why family is so important. Most of us want to find that doctrine which uplifts you by teaching the great worth of every soul and how to be at peace. That teaches both mercy and justice. Parents don’t take votes from the neighborhood to determine something this vital! They (should!) study doctrine and teach it to their children. I’ve never studied doctrine from our Savior in this religion that hits on what Kalisa mentions. The doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the Mormons, is from God through our prophet. God teaches that we are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. We come to earth innocent so infant baptism does nothing. We all have value. We all make mistakes and we can all repent. Any abuse is a sin and a crime.  


I would say most religions are just ideas, typically good, but sometimes horrible.   However, To say religion is just ideas, created by people, is only true if there is no revelation or authority today.  Lets face it, just because we have seen  horrible things done in the name of religion does not mean all religions are evil or that they are all man made.   I know that the doctrine I follow is not molded from a bunch of debated ideas.  It is from God, no one else. ( His commandments are not mere suggestions or ideas.) And it is beautiful.  The doctrine teaches that we are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. We come to earth innocent.  Our attitudes and mistakes are what can hurt us but that never means we have no hope or no value.  Sexual purity is a beautiful choice that will lead to the most freedom and peace because its what our Father (who knows a whole lot more than we do) desires for us all.  In my decades of study, the notion that women are less than men, or that any person is worthless is not to be found.  Rape is a horrible sin and a crime.  Being raped is horrible but the victim is never worthless or sinful.   SHE never sinned - the rapist is a criminal and he'll be judged  here and when he dies. He has value too but he will suffer immensely for all the pain he's caused.  Ms. Smart is right that we'll always have value - that has never changed.

Oops...I wanted to be clear earlier, abstinence should be a part of sexual education, its a choice just as any other sexual choice is, and the goal is to give students all of the information but, as any option, should neither be shoved aside or be a conversation closer. I know I'm with a lot of others when I say sex is great, amazing and I love it and I didn't have sex with anyone except my spouse. Abstinence was never ugly, tore my self esteem, etc; quite the opposite. Same goes for many of my peers. However, the value I placed on my parents guidance, who are very open and loving people, was much higher than what I placed in the schools guidance.

To end, I forgot to add onto the website, Ms. Smart is a very courageous, beautiful and wise person!  I think the article pushed some agenda that wasn't directly what Ms. Smart stated, and it appears they didn't publish her words in full.  In education, work, anywhere - Any attitude that doesn't uplift is wrong and thank goodness her parents were able to help her see, at least to a strong degree, her value.  She's strong and I admire her helping other victims of abuse.