Birthday Parties

Yesterday was our friends, Dave and Amy's, daughters, I's., 3rd birthday. I. and Sam have been friends since birth. We went over to their house and opened presents and had the oh-so-necessary cake and icecream. Afterwards we played Guitar Hero. We have such a great time hanging out with our friends. I think kids birthday parties are as much for the big kids as they are for the little kids.

Taekwondo

Austin started Taekwondo June 2007. This has been life changing for Austin. He competed in the Utah Summer Games in Cedar City, Utah in 2008, and it was a great experience. He just achieved his High-Red belt and his next belt will be the Poom Belt and then will test for his Black Belt Summer 2010. We are very proud of the way Austin has excelled and found "his thing."

First belt advance - white to yellow

Testing for Orange Belt

Testing for Green Belt

Testing for Blue Belt

Nunchuck test for Brown Belt

Board Breaks for High Red Belt and Bo Staff test for High Red Belt

High School Happyness, with a "y".

Austin then, July 1996

School has always been a challenge for Austin, not because he can't do the work and doesn't have the ability to do it. Austin is very bright. We went to an open house tonight for NUAMES, Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science. About 15 minutes into the presentation, I was "gitty." Finally, finally, finally! This is exactly what Austin needs. However, it isn't my decision to make, he is the one that has to decide if it is something he is willing to do. I wrote "yes or no" on a piece of paper and about 30 minutes into the presentation Austin circled "yes." I could have jumped up and down and started laughing and crying all at the same time!!! He is so excited about the opportunity. We have found his new Austin high school!

NUAMES is a grade ten-through-twelve public charter high school specializing in preparing students for an early transition into a university baccalaureate program in fields related to math, engineering, or science. http://www.nuames.org/ YAAA-HOOOOO!!!

Austin now and little bro Sam, December 2008

Sam

Where do I even begin? Everyday Sam grows and changes. Everday he does something new that makes us laugh. He is smart and funny. We are so grateful for him. Many more things will be posted about Sam, he is a constant story!

Austin

Austin is my rock. He and I spent his first 9 years just the two of us. He is such a trooper, never giving up on me. I am so grateful that for whatever reason, known or unknown, he is in my life and a part of our family. He makes me laugh and keeps my cognitive processes going. The things he thinks about, the questions he askes, the ways he processes information is sometimes mind numbing. How did I get so lucky?

Catherine + Isik Forever

After a "whirlwind" romance and breaking all of my self-imposed rules, 6 months to be exact, Isik and I were married "officially" on December 28, 2003. The week prior we had a small Islamic ceremony, which was an intimate occassion and a special day.

The four days prior to our wedding will never be forgotten. On December 24, 2003 we had a terrible snow storm hit the Wasatch Front and thousands of homes lost power, ours included. At the time we had a detached garage with the only access being the automatic garage door that requires power to work. We couldn't get either of our cars out of the garage, so thankfully my parents were our chauffeurs and ran us around for last minute preparations. The power was out for 5 days!! Our house reached 40 degrees, INSIDE! It sounds much worse than it actually was, in fact it was comical.

The night before our wedding my father had connected a generator to the house so we could get a car out of the garage. There was no way we were having my parents take us to the hotel after the wedding, nope not happening. The morning of the wedding, Isik, Austin and I jumped in the car and backed down the driveway and slid into a snow pile. The car was stuck. Isik stopped a gentleman driving by in a truck and they attached a chain and pulled us out. We laughed the whole time. It's a good thing we were running early and not late!

We had a beautiful ceremony with our family and friends around us. The day went by much to quickly. How grateful am I to have such an incredible man to be my partner through life.

I love my sweet boy!

This picture makes my heart sing!

My mom and dad, the greatest parents! How lucky we are to have them so close to us.

My girls: Tori, Melisa, Camille, (Me), Melanie, and Becky