We Are Family

We went to a family reunion this last weekend. It was for the Christensen Family, but as you can see below, they are mostly made up of girls, so there actually wasn't a single Christensen (by name ) at the reunion.
These are the beautiful ladies now, the one in the middle is my Great Grandma. Can you believe she is over 80?!?
This is me very happy to be around my family. They all thought I was very cute and I confirmed that by giving them all kinds of great smiles and giggles.
My Mom and her sister always have fun when they are together, but Daddy gets a little nervous when they want to go shopping.
We really had a lot of great family there, but we must have been having so much that we forgot to take pictures. We'll have to leave you with this cute picture of my cousin, Braden. I really like to watch him play.

Mommy and Daddy went golfing . . .

As part of the reunion every year, whomever wants to can wake up super early and go golfing. This year my Mommy and Daddy decided to go together-they had lots of fun while I stayed back and played with my cousins, Grandma and Aunts.
Look at that view (and Mommy is not just talking about the temple;)
Mommy mostly went to cheer on Daddy, but she couldn't resist a few swings . . .
She was also an excellent driver-but there was one time that Daddy was driving, and he almost dumped Mommy out of the cart. He doesn't want me to talk about that . . .
Uncle Kevin and Grandpa came too (notice Grandpa's walker)
The course was beautiful and the highlight was seeing Momma deer with their babies right where they were golfing!

Tagged . . . The Number 5

I got tagged by Christine so here goes . . .

5 Things on my list of things I did today:
1) Golfed with Marc (so fun!)
2) Attended a Family Reunion-I love my family.
3) Took a nap-bliss!
4) Went to neighbor girl's birthday party-cute
5) Marc would love it if I went and got him a milkshake ;)

5 Things I would do if I suddenly became a billionaire:
1) Donate to charities and pay tithing
2) Save, Save, Save
3) Travel
4) Create a pocket park by my house with a track around it
5) Buy really great camping gear

5 Jobs I've held:
1) Baskin Robbins (Ice Cream Scooper)
2) Camp Rivendale Camp Counselor
3) MTC Custodial
4) Special Educator
5) Professor

5 things people don't know about me:
1) I've been using a sunless tanner (hey, I'm a redhead-I either burn or stay bright white)
2) I've never broken a bone
3) I was an EFY Counselor
4) After learning about short term and long term goals as a young women, I created some of my own: Michael Davidson was my short term goal (I would just date him for the present time) and Danny Sorrenson was my long term (I was going to marry him)
5) I just ate a bite of Lucy's baby food and I liked it

5 people I tag:
1) Marc
2) Brittany
3) Heidi
4) Aimee
5) Angie

Story Hour

Mommy took me back to that wonderful place called the library. This time we went for baby story hour. The moment that lady in the hat came out and started talking I was completely fascinated!
Below you can see just how enthralled I was . . .
This is a friend I made there. His name is C.J., he liked my sunglasses. We had fun singing songs together, listening to a story AND they even had a puppet show! You should get your Mommy and come with us next week!

Voting

This morning we woke up early before Daddy had to go to work and walked over as a family to our voting poll and cast our ballots. It was fun fulfilling my civic duty. My favorite part was the sticker.

Grandma's House

I love to go to my Grandma's house! When I am there she feeds me yummy good food . . .
So I pay her back with lots of wet kisses . . .
Sometimes we get to stop by my Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Kevin's house when we are at Grandma's. I like to give my Aunt Jennifer kisses too . . .
Then my Aunt Kristi and cousin Braden came to my Grandma's house so we got to go visit again!
See how happy I am with my Grandma . . .
On the way home there are lots of fun roads to take that make the Subaru go all bumpy. I hear Mommy and Daddy laugh and before I know it, I am asleep. I love visiting my Grandma (oh and I think a man named Grandpa lives there too;)!

Riley Came To Visit

This is my good friend, Riley. Her Mommy and my Mommy have been friends since they were little girls living in Oregon. Riley's Mommy ran the Wasatch Back Relay Race (the same race my Daddy ran, but he wants to tell you all about it later).
Anyway, because Riley's Mommy was here to run the race, I got to play with her. She was so fun!
We read books together and I showed her my room, but mostly I just liked being around another little person who had even more hair than I did!
Oh, and you might remember that Riley's Daddy is the one who made the mobile for my room!

Ummmm . . . that's a little too close

My Mom Caught My Teeth In a Picture!

This picture is to show you my teeth . . .
and this picture is to show you how darn cute I am.

Fatherhood

I was doing my best to find an individual picture of each of the important fathers in my life and I couldn't find one of Marc's Grandpa by himself, but then I decided this was a perfect picture to celebrate fatherhood. This picture, taken on our wedding day, helps to illustrate a father for Marc and me who "started it all" both by being a wonderful example and patriarch in our family, but also by being the man who sealed us for time and all eternity. Oh the lessons we have learned from this great man. Those that stand out, are lessons of sacrifice and service which lead to an ability to love beyond belief.
My Grandpa Smith. He always had a joke ready to tell you and eagerly listened to any you had to share with him. He worked multiple jobs to provide for his family of 9 children and learned Spanish on his own accord as he served on the Border Patrol. My Mom gets a light in her eye whenever she speaks of him.
Grandpa Sampson, we sure do miss him. My Dad tells me of a man who was strict and stern, but this was certainly not the Grandpa we knew. His grandchildren could melt his heart and get him to do anything. As he lay dying with little ability to communicate, it really touched me that the only time he would respond to anyone was when my Grandma would hold his hand and say, "I love you." then he would always respond, "I love you too".
My incredible Father-in-law. You will never meet a more compassionate, understanding and helpful man in your life. How grateful I am for the example he has set of kindness and communication. His sons follow is his example and their wives are so blessed because of it.
My Daddy. Isn't he adorable! There is no one on this planet that meets my Dad and doesn't just love him. He is my source of humor, my desire for strong character and the reason I stand tall in the face of opposition. I have become much of who I am because of how much I know my Dad believes in me.
The father of my children. I just cannot get enough of him. He is my true companion who makes everything better just by walking into the room. I fell in love with him when we were dating, it was only strengthened as I saw him with his daughters and I fall in love again and again each time I see him with Lucy. He is the one I want to share every moment with good or bad through all eternity.

Happy Father' Day 2008!

Memphis Makes Me Laugh

Thanks...

...to all the people who made my Dad's birthday celebration so great. People were really creative as they tried to guess what Dad told Mom he wanted for his special day. Mom gave people a clue: it was three words that started with the letters P.N.E. Here's what they came up with:

Pickles Never Eaten (jar of pickles)

Pliable New Eating-tools (Orikaso bowls and cup)

Purt Near Everything (Sear's catalogue)

Professional Nine-iron Equipment (golf clubs)

Pie that Needs to be Eaten (razzleberry pie)

Picture of Nora Ephron (This is what Dad really wanted ;) )

Pediatric Neuropsychological Evaluation (See Dr. Amy if you need one)

Pistachio Nut Éclairs (from one of the best cooks I know)

PenNiEs (My Dad says you can buy stuff with them)

Pretty Nice Evening (Yes, it was)

Parenting, Napping, and Entertainment (A copy of Parenting magazine, a blanket, and a movie)

Pasta and Noodles for Everyone (Some noodles and sauce)

Pretty Nice Equipment (Golf balls)

Playing Number games is Educational (A keychain-sized UNO game)

Porsche Nine Eleven...cake (Dad really wants the car, but Mom got him the cake. Dad loved it)

Peas that Never Expire (dried peas...tasty!)

Painful Necessary Experience (Listerine mouthwash)

Playing Naked while hiking the Earth (A book of "off the beaten path" places in Utah. The naked part my Dad will have to explain, since I don't know what that means)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Seven Months

Dear Lucy-

For some unknown reason to me, as I have told people this past week that you are "seven months old," I've noticed that it feels like you have crossed into a more mature phase of life. I didn't think this when you were six months, which would be a more logical milestone. Strange.

Whatever the reason, welcome to Seven Months!

Here are ten observations and reflections from the past month:

1. Your two teeth are a mystery to me-not because they came in, but I can't figure out how those sharp little incisors don't shred your upper gums.
2. Sitting is quickly becoming your preferred posture. Initially I could look sideways at you and over you'd go, but now you are pretty resilient to perturbation.
3. Your hair. See photo above. What more can I say...
4. We have a "glasses game" that we play when I am dressing you or changing your diaper: I put my face within your reach, you grab my glasses and pull them off my face, after which I say "Thaaaaaaank yoooooooooooou!" and you smile a huge toothless grin and give my glasses back to me.
   
5. You sleep through the night! After only two rough nights, you figured it out and will sleep until 6:55 am. The first few nights, Mom and Dad woke up every couple of hours to check on you, even though you were just fine.
6. For nap time, you still love your swing. And your yellow and white blanket Grandma Sampson made for you: pulling it close to your face is a sure sign that you're ready for a nap.
7. Every time we go off-roading in Suby, you either fall asleep or stay asleep. Does this remind you of the womb? ;)
8. If I hear you laugh, I will stop what I am doing and come watch...I love it!
9. If we've been gone for a while, you smile when you see me, and you go crazy when you see Mom-arms flapping, legs kicking, happy squeaking. When the two of you are reunited, your arms go around her neck and you bury your face next to hers and coo. If you've really missed her, you'll suck on her chin. I love how you love your Mom.
10. I think you will be a lefty. Other's are not so sure, but I'll bet a bottle you will be.

Love,

Dad

Playgroup-Many Firsts!

Today at playgroup I enjoyed many firsts . . .
Above you can see me swinging by myself for the first time-I REALLY liked this a lot! Below, I am eating a graham cracker for the first time. Most of the kids let their Mommy's hold it for them while they sucked on it, but I needed to hold mine all by myself-DELICIOUS!
And it was my first time playing with my cousins Cameron and Joshua who are visiting my Grandma while their Mommy takes a music class. They are boys and they really like to climb!

I'm Doing New Things

I can sit up all by myself . . .
I am getting really good at reaching and holding things (and I'm finally big enough to make my jumper bounce up and down) . . .
And I am figuring out how to play with all the toys I have.

Mom and Tot Swim Class

Anybody want to join us June 30th -July 10th for a 2 week 30 minutes a day Mom and Tot swim class?

Mommy Makes Me Laugh

This is Mommy's new way she has found to make me laugh. She keeps coming up with the craziest things!

Lucy is 7 Months Old!

In honor of Lucy being 7 months old, I will list 7 things that 7 months ago I did not even own and now I would not be able to live without:

1) A CD of really cheesy children's songs
2) A baby swing (that swings side-to-side)
3) A bath sponge
4) The children's book, Barnyard Dance by: Sandra Boynton
5) A changing table
6) The Yael Naim video and song: New Soul
7) A Subaru
Lucy, how you have changed our world and oh how much better it is because of you!

Love,
Mom

Springville 5K

The Springville 5K has been a tradition for about 5 years now. We planned to run it as a family, but the rain put a damper on that idea. So my WONDERFUL husband stayed home with Lucy so I could run it. It was a lot of fun! Thanks Babe!

Double Bedhead

Good Morning!

I Have Teeth!

I have two teeth on the bottom of my mouth and my Mommy and Daddy didn't even know what was happening until after they broke through! I am getting bigger, but I refuse to let Mommy get a good picture of them just yet.

Catch the Reading Bug

Mommy and Daddy took me to this wonderful place Saturday called the library. We got all signed up for the summer reading program where I pledged to have Mommy and Daddy read to me for at least 15 minutes a day. AND I got this great t-shirt.
I love my books!