A Great Thing To Play With . . .

Mom brought home the most fascinating thing the other day. She said something about needing small bills for our Emergency 72 hour kit, but these didn't look like anything I'd ever seen on a duck before and they were not very small either. . .
Below I am trying to see how they could possibly work as a bill for me, but I'm pretty sure it didn't work very well . . .
I decided I needed a good look at all of them . . .
It was so fun to scatter them all over the place. I'm not sure they are good for much else than just throwing them all around like I do the junk mail, but this was good enough for me.

A New Leaf

Remember that old dresser Mommy got for free in college???
After a little bit of sanding, a few nails, and bright red paint . . . I got a brand new dresser for my nursery! Pretty nice work I'd say!

Ch . . . Ch . . . Changes . . .

The leaves are changing in the canyon and it always makes for such a beautiful time of year! We escaped with our friends, Willis and Jen, to check out the GORGEOUS colors!
This was my favorite picture of the night, look at that blue sky with the striking yellow tree!

I call this Fruity Pebbles Mountain!
A little more Fruity Pebbles . . .
And the icing on the cake was going in our neighbor's brother's Red Convertible Cadillac! It was one incredible evening and Marc and I just cuddled the whole time.

Good Morning Lucy!

The Blessings of a Modern Day Prophet

As I have enjoyed the harvest from our garden this season I could not help but to reflect on my gratitude for a modern-day prophet. I know that since a child we have been counseled as Later-day Saints to grow a garden, but it was not until I planted my own garden that I really began to understand how blessed we are by following this counsel. Our family has enjoyed the most delicious vegetables, we have eaten even healthier because of the endless supply of yummy veggies, we could eat tomatoes with no fear during the salmonella scare, we saved all kinds of money and we grew together as a couple with a common project to work on.

How blessed we have been. I thought that if all we had to rely on were the words of ancient prophets, we would be so limited. Can you imagine how silly it would have been for Moses to counsel his people to plant a garden? They'd probably respond with something like, "How else would we feed our families?" But through the power of a Modern Day Prophet, we can reap the blessings in our day.

We Love This Little Raga-Muffin!

Daddy Let Me Eat the Banana All By Myself . . .

Little Elbow Grease

We got these for a great deal off of Craig's list . . .



To replace these . . . (yep that's a cardboard box covered with a tablecloth)
This dresser I got for free back in college:
And after a little sanding, paint, new knobs and hard work: we got these . . .


Pretty fancy eh? Marc picked out the copper pulls all by himself and though I would have never thought to get them, I love the look!

I'm Learning to Share . . .

Mommy's Hat

Daddy Got a New Suit

Daddy got called to be on the High Council for a BYU Single's Stake for our church so he is going to have to wear a suit a lot more often. We found him this nice looking one and we think he looks handsome!

Double Wink . . . Melt Your Heart!

We finally got Lucy on video doing her cute double wink. I actually got so excited she did it that I pushed the button so it is right at the end, but it is so adorable. Today the clerk was talking to her and Lucy gave her a double wink, it was hilarious.

Top Ten for Ten Months

Lucy,

I can't believe it has been 10 months. I think about what we will do for your first birthday almost daily. You have been the greatest blessing to our family and a great source of entertainment!
Ten things I didn't know 10 months ago . . .

1) How many people would love you. I knew Daddy and I would love you, but I have been overcome by how much others love you too. Your nieces adore you, your sisters can't stop looking at you, your aunts practically stand in line to hold you and spoil you with gifts, Heidi could eat you up, you have your grandparents wrapped around your finger, and even the clerk at the grocery store can't wait to talk to you!
2) How much I would love to nurse you and have the opportunity multiple times each day to hold and cuddle you.
3) That you could be so funny already. I find myself laughing aloud everyday at something you do. My favorite is when you blink both your eyes at me or Daddy.
4) That you would know so quickly who your Grandmas are (not so much the Grandpas yet). You could listen to your Grandma Kay sing all day long and you have to grab your Grandma Sampson's face every time you see her.
5) Your love of music is amazing. It is often a sure bet to calm you in the car-especially if we play "Lucy Locket"
6) How in debt I would feel to Baby Einstein-those 15-20 minutes of peace is priceless!
7) If I had limited time before I went somewhere, I would get you all ready and not care if my hair and make-up wasn't done.
8) How much peace I would feel in my heart watching you sleep.
9) How difficult it would be to manage baby hair.
10) How much your Daddy would obsess over every part of your life. Lucy, he loves you so much and you are so blessed to have him for your Daddy. I hope you will study him closely and find a man who will be just as gentle and kind to you as he is to me.

Happy 10 Months Baby Girl!

Rise and Shout!

This is a shout out to the ref who was really good at following the rules (no matter how crazy they may be) which led to our victory over University of Washington. THANKS!
BTW Lucy totally loves the Cougar fight song . . . "Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah . . . GooooooCougars!"

How Does Your Husband Entertain Your Children???

Monte L. Bean

Mommy and I went to The Bean Museum with some other Mommies and Babies from our neighborhood and I loved it! Mommy wasn't sure if I would like it yet, but as soon as I got in there I started kicking my feet, looking all around and making all sorts of noises. It was a hit!

Orderville Slot Canyon-Epic!

Mommy and Daddy went off on an Epic adventure last Saturday while I played with a very nice lady named Cindy. Since I wasn't there, I will let my Mommy tell you all about it:

We hiked an amazing slot canyon with some great people, and even though a 5-6 hour hike turned into more like a 9-10 hour hike with a small thunderstorm mixed-in, we still loved it!
This was Marc's first slot canyon and I loved the chance we had to do this together. He REALLY liked it too and was very good at it so I am confident this won't be our last . . .
Getting down into the canyon-is that gorgeous or what!
This course was the most technical I've done and we had to use ropes at multiple spots. Sometimes the drops led to beautiful clear water and sometimes you landed in some pretty yucky stuff:
Here is Marc in the heart of the canyon. I love this view for so many reasons!
Me rappelling down with my fearless husband to catch me below. I find I do best when I don't look down.
Marc would go down first and kind of help guide everyone down. At this particular spot with Daryl, he did a little more catching than he did guiding. Oh the laughs were many on this hike!
Trekking through the water, there were some spots where you just had to swim the water was so deep. Heidi often led the way for us and her directions went something like this: "Ankle, oh waist now, oh swimming, still swimming, I can stand." It was all quite helpful!
Some tried to stay dry, but in the end it was pointless. One spot you jumped in at a small waterfall and the water went over your head!
The fearless group (minus Brad who is taking the picture). Dylan, Daryl, Jerick, Heidi, Me, Marc, Jared and Cindy.
The hike ended in the last 2 miles of The Narrows-this hike was simply amazing! Thanks for the memories everyone.