Love Them

I'm going to be so sad when Lucy grows out of these shorts.

Advice From Ophir . . .

Mommy says since actually having been to Ophir appears to be too tricky of a task, she will give a prize to the first person to leave a comment that can state the correct pronunciation and precise location of the town (must have both to win). Good Luck!

Happy 2 Years (almost) . . .

Our official anniversary is August 5th, but Saturday was when it worked for my sister to stay with Lucy so we celebrated a little early. Marc was good to humor me by taking a picture at Ottavio's since we didn't have one there and it is the location of our first date and where he proposed to me.
Then we snapped another shot at Meadow Elementary, where we first met:
And whenever you are on your way a to stay at a 5-Star hotel, it is a great idea to start by eating a J-Dawg.
This was our room at The Grand America and grand it was! Our room was 850 square feet (our first home was only 500 square feet). On the table waiting for us was a plate of chocolates, a fresh rose and a personalized note thanking us for sharing our anniversary with them.
We spent the afternoon at the spa. Marc spoiled me with a couples massage that was amazing. They bring you sparkling cider and chocolates while we each enjoyed an hour long massage. Probably our favorite thing was having the salt water pool all to ourselves for an hour! We felt like kids again doing races to see who could hold their breath the longest and I would lay really still to see how far Marc could shoot me across the pool.
The dinner was amazing! A buffet of seafood, salads, BBQ, southwestern style foods and desserts to die for. My favorite was the bread pudding and Marc loved the strawberry shortcake with lemon curd. Mmmmmmm . . . A jazz band played all during dinner and we sat out on the patio listening to them as the sun was setting. It was fun to enjoy dinner with Marc and not have to think about how to keep Lucy happy at the same time.
The fresh flowers throughput the hotel were wonderful. As soon as you walk in you can smell them. It is one persons full time job just to do the flowers at the hotel!
This was us playing around in the courtyard after our yummy dinner. I sure do love this guy. When we got back to our room, they had turned down our bed, set out a robe and slippers for us and placed mints on our pillow.
You fill out this card of what you want for breakfast and place it on your door then they bring it to your room in the morning. Marc got banana chocolate chip pancakes with coconut-yummy! I think this lifestyle fits him well ;)
And this is what was waiting for us when we got home. We were all VERY happy to be reunited.

Two years, what a difference!

See This Baby?

I mean the one inside the tummy still. She decided to come out last night at 10:45pm. I can't wait to meet her.

Congratulations Mark & Robyn!

Pioneer Day

We spent Pioneer Day at a family Cabin in Ophir (the first one to leave a comment that has actually been to Ophir, Mommy will give them a prize).
My Aunt Kristi was there with her 2 boys, Austin and Braden. Tyler, our cousin, came too. It was fun watching the boys, but they were a little smelly-Mommy said that is how boys can be.
As we sat around the fire, Daddy told a ghost story about a pink ghost and I was his prop:
Austin helped my Daddy keep the fire going (Aunt Kristi tried to make the fire with green branches so we had to help her out).
The next morning we did some more of that bumpy road driving that makes my parents laugh so much. And Daddy was very excited to go across the river.It was fun to wake up and smell the fresh air-I told my Daddy I was glad he brought me here.
Mommy took a picture of me in this thing she called a phone booth. She said it just might be the last I will ever see with cell phones these days. I hope Superman can deal with the change.
*Ok, since having gone to Ophir seems to be a bit of a stretch, Mommy will also give a prize to the first person to leave a comment stating the correct way to say Ophir along with it's precise location (must have both to win)*

So Cute!

We sure do love this baby!

Swimming With CJ

This is my buddy, CJ. His Mom and Dad are here just for the summer so his Daddy can take a class in Arabic (they usually live in North Carolina). We met CJ and his Mommy at story hour. Since then we have taken the Mom and Baby swim class together. Yesterday CJ and his Mommy came to play with us at our neighbor's pool:
We had so much fun splashing around that we decided to not let it end and kept splashing in my tubby at home. Mommy said this picture might embarrass me when I'm older, but I'm still trying to figure out why.

Shooting For Family Home Evening

We had a fun time shooting on Monday night with our good friends, Billy & Heidi. Below is Mommy shooting a .22 (she likes these because they don't have too much kick so it doesn't hurt her shoulder).
If you look in the distance to the upper right, you can see that Mommy nailed the 2-liter bottle of pink soda (nice action shot, Dad).
This is Billy shooting his muzzle-loader. This was a project to load, but it sure made a cool sound when it went off.
This is Heidi shooting the muzzle-loader (I think it surprised her a bit):
Daddy shot all kinds of guns, but here is shooting the muzzle-loader at a can of soda about 25 yards away-that thing got demolished.
Here is the pop can that was shredded by Daddy's manliness:
I had fun watching and taking my turn sitting in the car when the guns were too noisy. When I am older Daddy's going to get me a Derringer.

When Did This Happen?

The day we brought Lucy home from the hospital, 11/10/07

Lucy last Saturday, 7/19/08

Good job growing Lucy!

Reason #985 My Husband Makes Me Feel So Incredible . . .

First Haircut 7/18/08

Mommy was going to wait until I was 1 year-old before she cut my hair, but then she decided it really needed to be cleaned up . . .

BEFORE:

AFTER:

She did it by sitting on our back porch and holding me in her lap with her legs crossed over me. I made things extra tricky because whenever I would hear a bird or a car I would turn my head to look at it. In the end, it turned out pretty cute.

It's a Memory

My friends, Christine and Ani, have this post and I had a good time sharing memories with them. I'd love to walk down memory lane with all of you. So here are the rules (feel free to do it about Marc, Me, Hailey, Melia, Lucy or any any combination there of):

Here's how to play:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

The Little Goose is Sick

Our Little Goose is a bit under the weather. Poor little thing. She is pretty happy despite having an upset tummy*. We hope she gets better soon.

*Dad's elaboration: technicolor yawns, Montezuma's revenge, coated tongue, and low-grade fever.

Happy Birthday Hailey!

My big sister, Hailey, is turning 15 today! She is the best. She wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up and she always wears the greatest outfits. She is also a good example to me by going to seminary, running 5k's, being so helpful all the time and I could go on and on.
I want to wish her a Happy Birthday along with my Mom and Dad. She deserves a fabulous day. And remember: you're good and beautiful and pretty and smart. We love you, Hailey!

My skirt from Albania

When I was still in my Mommy's tummy, my Daddy and her went to Albania to help people over there learn how to work with children with special needs. While they were there they bought me this skirt. It has been one year this month since they were there. Now I am here and I can wear this cute skirt they got me. What a difference a year makes.

After 6 loads of laundry in a 12 hour period . . .

It had been a very long night.
My sister, Kristi (the one who's husband is serving overseas), is in town and she has an adorably energetic 20 month-old son named Braden. We had a fun couple of days shopping, making tutus, eating smart cookies and so forth and then Thursday night hit!

Braden didn't go to bed well, but was finally asleep by about 10pm. At 1:15am I hear my sister saying, "Oh no, oh no". I jumped out of bed and ran to her room to find throw-up all over. I snatched Braden and got him cleaned up while my sister cleaned herself up. We then tagged teamed and she took Braden to comfort him while I stripped the bed and made it up again with clean bedding (all the while praying that Lucy would stay asleep-she did). We were hoping it was just something he ate as he didn't have a fever and went right back to sleep. No such luck!

The process repeated itself 2 more times in the night and once again in the morning. The poor little guy was so sick. After putting the 6th load of laundry in and mopping my floors for I don't even know how many times, I had a whole new appreciation for motherhood.

After about a 24 hour flu Braden is feeling much better and the rest of us have seemed to escape the sickness. Man was that ever a night!

I Love Primary!

And the Primary kids love me! This is Indie, he helped me get my shoes back on.
All the kids were working in a circle while I was on my Mommy's lap and I got very fussy so Mommy sat me down to be with the kids and I quieted right down. I just wanted to be a part of the group.
In sharing time we were learning the rhythm to Called to Serve so Tyson grabbed my little hands and helped me clap along. I loved it!

Things I am grateful for on a Thursday afternoon:

1) That my dear friend was able to have a healthy baby after years of infertility issues.
2) Close friends getting married after years of waiting to find the right one.
3) A brother-in-law willing to serve his country overseas.
4) A sister who willingly raises her 2 boys on her own while he is away.
5) Teaching the 7 year-olds in primary.
6) That I get to teach primary with my husband.
7) To listen to a young boy with autism tell his teacher after she asked him if needed anything respond with, "Yes, a Wii".
8) Lucy's smiles.
9) Mom and baby swim class.
10) To wake up in the night and have the man I am eternally in love with hold me tight.

Mom & Tot Swim Class . . . what we learned . . .

1) Always give me a cue like, "Ready 1, 2, 3" before you put me under the water.
2) When I "jump" in from the side of the pool always have me go under so I learn that I will go under water when I jump in a pool.
3) Blow in my face before I go under water so I will hold my breath-when I am a toddler, have me hum, I can't hum and inhale at the same time.
4) Hold me to the side in the water so I get used to being in the water.
5) When I float on my back, start me with my head on your shoulder, move to my head on your chest, then place me out front with your hands under my shoulders.
6) When I float on my back have my ears all the way submerged or all the way out of the water-in between can be annoying.
7) Have me go under water from a horizontal position so the water won't go straight up my noise.
8) When I come up from going under the water don't look scared-instead, smile really big and praise me so I learn it is a good thing (Mommy had to work on this).

We really had a great time and plan to do it again in the fall.
If you're interested in joining us, let my Mommy know ;)

(I LOVED life jacket day-I just floated all around in a zone)

The Goose is 8 Months Old!

Happy 8 months Little Goose!

Lucy, each day with you just gets better and better! Today at swim class as I was taking you around the pool you were looking all around and then you stopped to look at me. As your eyes focussed in on me you smiled so big and giggled the cutest little giggles I have ever heard. I couldn't help but to grab you and squeeze you so tight and tell you how much I love you.

Each night as we lay you down to go to bed, Daddy and me tell you how much we love you. I always have to steal a few more squeezes from you before I lay you down for the night. Then I take a moment to stroke your hair and tell you again that I love you. Daddy rubs my back to reassure me that you will be ok to sleep for the night. Then I have to tell you I love you one more time and let you go to sleep.

My love for your Daddy has grown so much in these past 8 months as well. He is a wonderful man that would do anything for his family. He is so good to watch you while I go to do things for myself. He loves to play with you and works hard to make sure you are learning all that you can. He is sad when he comes home and you are asleep. He will often ask if he can wake you up so he can play with you. How blessed you are to have him for your Daddy!

Lucy, you make life so much fun! Thank you for being my daughter.

Love,
Mom

It's Independence Day!

This was my first ever 4th of July and boy was it fun!
We loved to watch the hot air balloons from own backyard. My favorite was the one shaped like a pig!
Then our ward had a flag ceremony and breakfast. I love to see my Mom and Dad's primary kids at these events.
And what would the 4th be without the parade?!? Daddy woke up at 5am to save our friends and family some fabulous seats in the shade. Kathryn, Melissa and Heidi all took turns playing with me.
I really liked the groups that played music, but I did not like the ones who would honk their loud horns-they scared me and then I cried.
Then we went to Grandma Sampson's house where my cousins, Raelynn, Sydney, Jaemynn and Kylie were visiting.
Raelynn and Sydney were so good with me-they gave Mommy some good breaks.
We ended the day with a home town rodeo! Our favorite part was the wild cow milking. We left early so I could get to bed and not be too fussy. Then Mommy and Daddy sat out on my Uncle Kevin's lawn and watched the fireworks-so romantic.