family noticias

Seems like everyone has some big change that just happened or is coming up...

Chad and Syd are having a baby tomorrow :)
Jeff and Anna will have a boy in two weeks
Carl and Court are pregnant...again :) which is FANTASTIC!!
Curtis is getting married to Lindsay Anderson from NC in Novemeber
Cara started middle school last week
Robbie took 5-6 steps yesterday and Aubrie learned to write her name

GTGTGT!!!

What a month...

As I mentioned earlier, we have a flurry of celebrations in August and, as a result, this month has just flown right by. I turned 29 on August 13th, Aubrie turned 3 on August 15th, and Robbie turned 1 on August 20th. And...Ryan and I celebrated our 4-year anniversary on August 20th as well. Here are a few pics from all the events and a few others:

With the assistance of her cousin, Aubrie opened one of her many b-day presents. This gift from Grandma and Grandpa is now Aubrie's official "Popsicle bench" on our porch.

Aubrie had a separate b-day party with all of her friends. There was a kids' pool, water obstacle course games, a pinata, pizza, ice cream, and gifts from friends. She was pretty spoiled and now "My Little Pony," "Strawberry Shortcake," and "Baby Doll" sets are now part of all our lives.

Becca (the water games organizer) with Aubrie, Jack, and Elmo the Pinata at Aubrie's b-day party. NOTE: The expression on Elmo's face is indicative of the beating he must of sensed was about to come his way as the fury of ten 3-year olds' crave for candy would be unleashed on his weak cardboard body.

All the neighborhood kids at Aubrie's b-day party enjoying some fast-melting ice cream cones.

Thanks to my husband who acted as "Mr. Mom" for the weekend and a little planning on everyone's part, we had a fun over-nighter in Park City with some of my favorite past roommates. From left to right: Patty, Tara, Me, Becca, Mindy, and Anna.

Robbie's newest b-day acquisition: a 4x4 super-powered 2 hp fire truck. Aubrie has helped him get the feel of it and he has been so cute riding it all over the house and almost down the stairs.

Aubrie's new baby doll from her b-day. She can change its diaper, feed it, and put it to sleep. She's going to be a great mother some day to Robbie and other future syblings.

We put Robbie on Aubrie's bed to wake her up the morning of her b-day. Robbie was being pretty cute trying to get her to wake up. They are both so cute to watch in the morning as they eagerly anticipate the awakening of the other so they can finally play together to start the day.

Its done!!!!!

Months of training paid off and the half marathon was great!!! I loved the feeling afterward of having done something challenging to me and completing it. It was really a high. These are some neighbors that trained with me and we all ran together.

Parenthood By Proxy

I've been reading this fantastic book by Laura Schlessinger. This is the 2nd I've read of hers and I am a big fan. She doesn't mince words, she talks about subjects I think about a fair amount and she is fairly conservative in her views.

The basic idea behind the book is that our society is in trouble because families are in trouble.

Here is a sample of a great quote in her book--she took it from an article from the Topeka Capital Journal.
"You dont get to resign from parenthood. You dont get to tend to your inner child at teh expense of your real ones. You dont get to have the childhood you wish you had or wish you still had, while your children are having theirs.
As long as you have dependent children you are responsible for for being a parent, whether you want to be responsible or not. And you dont get to opt out of your responsibility because your lover needs a place to stay or you need the school clothes money to make a payment on your Corvette. And you dont get to snort cocaine on your posh leather sofa or smoke crack on your tattered vinyl recliner because you 've had a hard day. Sorry. So grow up. "


Another good one-"Divorces, full-time working mothers, stepfamilies, shacking up, out-of-wedlock children, promiscuous reporduction, geographical fragmentation of the family, joint custody and visitation are, to varying degrees, depending on the circumstances and the child, a disaster to teh lives and emotional well being of children"

"As a society we ignore what we know to be SELF EVIDENT truths about children, families, child rearing, commitment, and responsibilities. We are willing to sacrifice what is noble and right for families to ACCOMMODATE individuals who dont do right or behave nobly--all in the name of TOLERANCE and the CELEBRATION of DIVERSITY."


Anyway, it is a fabulous book and it has made me ponder a little bit about the great divide that is coming to pass and has been prophesied that would happen as the Savior's Second Coming is near. Righteousness vs. Wicked. People are not sitting the fence anymore. There are strong advocates on both sides of moral issues. It is easy to see the the world is quickly forming opinions and a lot of "issues" and principles are being discussed passionately from all sides.

Thoughts of today

We had Standards Night--a very special night--with the youth this past week and it left me with a lot to think about. Most especially how important it is in life to love everyone--that includes myself. Why is it so uncomfortable for us to say "I like myself". It feels wierd, it sounds precocious....but its not. It is a very admirable thing, I think. Liking yourself sure makes life a lot easier. We waste so much energy wondering what others think, trying to hide our weaknesses, and most of all, thinking of how we would like to be.

Reading of President Faust's passing also made me think this morning. How grateful the Savior must be to welcome him home. And how grateful Pres. Faust was to have lived a life worthy to be with his Savior. What a short ride this life is. I love a quote at my grandma's that in essence says "I don't want to arrive at the pearly gates with manicured nails, set hair and perfect body, I want to arrive having to step hard on the brakes, a little disheveled and say 'whew what a ride'".

Happy Birthdays and Anniversaries

I stole this idea from my cousin Kelli--she's a smartie... There are so many anniversaries and birthdays in August.


Happy 4th Birthday to Tyler-maguyler


Happy Birthday to our son Robbie (he's ONE!!!)




Happy Birthday to Aubrie (She is THREE!)



Happy Birthday to Tasha


Happy Anniversary to Carl and Court


Happy Anniversary to Amber and Doug






















Happy Anniversary to Chad and Syd









and finally HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the LOVE OF MY LIFE!