I Love Little Faces!

We spent an incredible fall day in Zion National Park. Our hike was breathtaking, the weather was splendid, but the smiling little faces made the day absolutely perfect...

Austin--8 months old

Julia--5 years old

Emma -- 8 years old

Miles --3 years old

Zion National Park -- November 2009

The View from Here

A lot has changed! This summer we said goodbye to a world dripping with green, where the rolling hills are so overstuffed with trees that it looks like one continuous leafy surface. I'll miss the sprawling lawns, the pristine farmland, the freshly painted red barns, the occasional horse and buggy, and the thick and hearty corn fields growing taller every day. And the side-of-the-road garden markets and the little hometown parades we used to go to. We've left behind the humidity, the mighty Susquehanna, and more than a few pesty bugs. We said goodbye to our cute little house and our more-than-friendly neighbors and our fantastic family away from family.

The other day, I was sitting in our new house nursing my baby and looking out the window. The view from here is so different, I thought. I could see the tops of the neighbors' palm trees and their pool reflecting off the underside of the leaves. I could see the ultra-blue skies that rarely seem to have a cloud. In Pennsylvania, the weather can be rainy and overcast for days at a time. Now, it's a rare day when there isn't pure, crystal clear sunshine pouring down on me. In the distance, there are redrock hills and mountains--beautiful in their own way. I like to run in the mornings and feel the difference in the air. Instead of hanging thick with moisture, the air here is light and dry. Even though we have never lived in St. George before, it feels an awful lot like coming home...

I guess you could say we have been waiting for years to reach this point. Greg's finally done with all of his training, and he's joined a great practice here in town. But 'waiting' isn't the right word. Waiting is what you do when you are pregnant and it is difficult to get through another MINUTE! What we have been doing the last 8 years has been living. It was so different than I anticipated it would be--medical school and residency, living back east, being far away from anything I knew. It was so, so much better than I could have imagined.

Greg and I have been married for ten years. The other day we were in the market for a new entertainment center. I started remembering when we were first married and bought our first entertainment center. We had enough wedding-gift returns at Wal-mart to have enough credit to buy one. We were so excited to bring it home. We called my sister and her husband over to help us put it up and then watch a movie with us. Three hours later, with a few pieces still to go and instructions laid out over the entire floor, we were too exhausted to start a movie. That massive piece of furniture has followed us on eight moves, losing a little bit of itself each time, until it is now just a wobbly little T.V. stand. We decided it was to time to finally retire it. So we bought a new one, which will be delivered on Monday. As I sit here thinking about it, I can almost feel the differences in our life marked by the years with the entertainment center. I remember when we put it together. It was just us, no children to distract our efforts, no other sounds in our little apartment. We had been married for only a couple of weeks. It feels like that was worlds away from where we are now! It has been so fun to grow and change and add children and have experiences together. I can almost feel back to that time and recognize that our love is deeper now--more stable. Kind of like our new entertainment center.

I was pretty sure that not a single soul even checked my blog anymore. It has lain dormant for too long. But after Greg posted pictures of our new house so that his parents could see it, a funny thing happened. I got a few comments. Things like: Where is that? Are you guys done? Things that made me want to send out an update on our life. Like I said, A lot has changed...and not just the view.

Emma and Julia started school at a brand new elementary school. Emma is in the second grade and loving it. Julia started Kindergarten, which is half day here. She loves it too, but I don't love driving to the school three times a day! Miles is growing up and having fun at home with me. He is such a cute little (well, big) guy. And Austin is now six months old--rolling over, sitting up, eating baby food, being just as cute as he can be!

We have had such a fun summer--moving, traveling, buying a new house, visiting family that we hadn't seen in years, enduring Greg's board exams, trying to get settled, playing with cousins, and having lots of visitors. We'll call this a very transitional summer. A lot has changed! But I'm pleased to say that we are enjoying the view...after all, we've always enjoyed the view.

Our new home!!!

Such a Blessing!

Yesterday was Austin's blessing day. It was the most beautiful day. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the abundance of blessings in my life. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband and beautiful children. I love my baby more than words can express. He is two months old, and he is such a blessing to me!!! This life is so, so good.

A Few of my Favorite Things

He's one month old!!! And so adorable!!!
She's five years old today!! And so adorable!!

I just turned 30 years old!! Aren't we adorable???

I am so blessed...

1 week old!!

This is the last day in the hospital...ready to go home!Austin's first bath at home! He is sooo sweet!

Ohhhh...I love this guy!

Julia and Austin

Oh, Baby, I'm in Love

We are soooooo excited to finally have Austin Scott here in our arms. He is absolutely adorable (we may be biased a bit), and as sweet as can be. He was born on February 26th at around 8:30 in the morning. He weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 21 1/4 inches long. He seems small to me, but he is big compared to most babies! And, his hands and feet are really big. Since he was over a week early, we know that he will keep right up with the other kids as far as size goes. He just got to come out a little early! I am recovering well from the c-section...ouch! The kids are in love with Austin. He is our little bundle of joy!

Oh, Baby, I'm in love with this guy!

Keepin' Busy

January has nearly come and gone. I can't believe it! Once the calendar rolls over into February, I will be ecstatic. For many months, I have waited for this glorious month of February. The weather here is definitely dreary, cold, and frozen, but this is the month that I get to meet my newest little love. The c-section is scheduled for Feb. 26th, and I can't wait. (I'm definitely not excited to go under the knife--yikes!). But, in the meantime, we have had a lot to keep us busy.

Christmas: another awesome year. Life is just awesome with little ones around. We flew to Utah on Christmas day for my little sister's upcoming wedding. That was a bit hectic and one Christmas that I won't ever forget!

The Wedding: my little sister, Millie, married her sweetheart, Robert, in the Salt Lake Temple. It was so fun to be a part of all of that. I loved the reminder of my own wedding--nearly TEN years ago. I loved being with my whole family. I loved passing the time quickly and happily.

Miles turned three!! Miles had a birthday last week. We had a great celebration. He is such a big kid now. Oh, how I have loved these last three years with him. He is the apple of my eye!!

We put our house up for sale! That's right, things are getting a little crazy around here. We also purchased a lot in Utah and are preparing the plans for our new house. I'm just trying to catch my breath. This is such an exciting, crazy, busy time for us. But we are super happy and having fun.

Now, back to the most important: less than four weeks until the baby comes!! Did I mention that I am excited???

Here Comes Dancer

Our little dancing reindeer, in all her glory!

Julia's Christmas Dance Recital

Merry Christmas to All!!

I really sincerely wish I could have mailed this card to everyone I know and care about....but, let's face it: I'm not made of money! :) Plus, I have 63 or so first cousins! FIRST cousins! We've got aunts and uncles galore, cousins, and now many friends to keep in touch with since moving around so often. I consider all of that a major blessing...but that is why I decided to post our card. We wish you a Merry Christmas! Love to all!
2008 has been a great year for us! We feel so blessed to have made it through another year happy, healthy, and together. Here’s a little bit about what’s been going on around the Jacobsen home.
Emma turned seven and loves the first grade. She is a great little soccer player and enjoys having her daddy for the coach. She is learning the piano from her mom, and has become such a great helper around the house. She is the giggliest girl around who can really ramp up the silliness in our home. We love having Emma. She is so sweet, such a great big sister, and smiles all the time. Emma CANNOT wait to get her new little brother here!
Julia is four and a half and quite the little princess. She runs the show while Emma is off to school! She loves her ballet lessons and dances all the time. She plays so well with Miles and takes great care of him. Julia can’t wait to go to school next year. She is also very excited for the new baby! We love having Julia. She is very kind, tender-hearted, and cute!
Miles is two, soon-to-be three, and loving life. He loves to play with his race cars, tackle with his Daddy, and he hates trying new foods. He’s really grown a lot this year…and now he’s so funny, trying to make us all laugh. He’s super happy and smiley at home and super shy in public. He’s such an easy-going boy, and we all love him very much. He is a nice, nice boy, who has mommy and daddy wrapped tightly around his chubby little finger.
We have so many new things to look forward to in the coming year. We will finally be finishing Greg’s medical training and moving on to the real world. We will be really sad this summer to leave the rolling green hills of Pennsylvania along with all of our dear friends here, but we are excited to move to sunny St. George, Utah, which will bring us MUCH closer to family and many of our loved ones.
I am busy counting down the days until baby #4 arrives—sometime around the end of February. We are thrilled to be having another little boy, which will even things out around here! Oh, if that day could just come faster…. In the meantime, I love doing all of the things that a “mom” does every day.
Greg is busy trying to be a good husband, father, doctor, and Elder’s Quorum President, while still finding the time to keep completely up to date on anything ever said on ESPN so that he can fully explain it to me in case I was wondering…. He’s pretty successful most days!
We love this time of year. We love thinking about family and friends, but most of all we love focusing on our Savior. We are so grateful for Him and for all of the many blessings in our life. May we all remember His humble birth and His magnificent life, and feel of His love every day. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With much love, The Jacobsens (Greg, Rindi, Emma, Julia, Miles, and one on the way!)

Feeling Thankful

The dough is rising; the raspberry/jell-o dish is setting up in the fridge. Greg is off playing football with the guys. The kids are bathed and dressed. And I am feeling really happy. This Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for happiness. I am thankful for the peaceful life that I live, and the safety of my world. I am so grateful for my little family: my three healthy, happy children, and my wonderful husband. I am so grateful for my big family: my Mom and Dad, and all of my wonderful brothers and sisters, amazing in-laws, and all of the grandchildren. I am so thankful for the love that I feel from so many people. I am so blessed to have all of that.

Today, I am so grateful for the little baby kicking vigorously inside of me. I am grateful that I feel well enough to see and feel the sunshine on my face again. It was a dark couple of months trying to make it through the first stages of my pregnancy. But, now, I can see the end, and I can feel the excitement building inside of me. I already love this little guy. I can't wait to hold him in my arms: another treasure in my life. I already know that all of the sickness was sooo worth it, and will pale in comparison to my joy.

Lastly, I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the inner peace and lasting joy that a knowledge of my Heavenly Father's plan brings to me. We are so blessed to be joined as a family, united in our testimonies and faith. The things that really matter in life--family, faith, & love--are what I am so grateful for. I am so, so thankful for those things. I feel so blessed and so happy. Life isn't always easy, or always smooth, but I know that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me and is aware of what I need to learn and grow and become the best I can be. I am grateful for all that He has given to me and continues to give me. And now, I am going to gather my little family, and enjoy a nice dinner at our friends' house. I told my kids last night that this might be our last Thanksgiving far from home. And for that, I am incredibly grateful! So, until next year...have a lovely Thanksgiving Day. Keep the faith and be happy!

Oh, Baby!

Nearly six months along... and feeling good. I can't wait to get this baby here!!

Leaf City

Spooky Stuff

Halloween may have come and gone, oh, 2 or 3 weeks ago, but here are our pictures---better late than never! Emma was a dermatologist (ha, ha!), and Julia was a lovely Cinderella.
Oh, too cute!

I had very strict requirements for the Cinderella 'look.' I think she pulled it off nicely.

Yes, Julia walked a good mile in those shoes--clinking and smiling the whole way. Anything for beauty. (And lest you think I'm mean, I offered better shoes and dragged them along in case she changed her mind. But what would Cinderella have done in this situation? Glass slippers all the way!)

And Miles was SUPPOSED to be Handy Manny, but after a late nap and a long day for the little boy and for the mommy (see previous post!), we are lucky that he got out to trick-or-treat at all. For a boy who doesn't like candy, or talking to strangers, this wasn't exactly right up his alley. He did perk up a little at the end, and he had a great stroll around the neighborhood. If only he could have gotten a bag full of tootsie rolls (the one candy he DOES like) then this would have been a perfect day. But, I'm not complaining about his bag full of candy--most of which I liked...

And to all, a good night.

Halloween Hecticness

Happy Halloween! It is the end of the day and I am all tuckered out. For the past week since my mom left, I have tried desperately to maintain her philosophy of "keeping up, rather than catching up." I've been changing and folding laundry all throughout the day, picking up toys, loading every dish immediately into the dishwasher, etc. I started falling off the wagon yesterday. I could still hear mom saying, "You know, there are two of us here right now. That is how we are keeping up so well." But still, I watched her bustle around and decided that after she left, if I just got my rear end moving a little more, I would actually keep up better, which I could tell would be easier than catching up. My Mom is so amazing that I could wear the same clothes day after day if I wanted to. By the time I went to bed, my clothes from the day were washed and folded on my bed. Anyway, I wanted to try and emulate that level of efficiency a little better. Last night was our town's Halloween parade. It was freezing cold, but I dragged all the kids downtown, all by myself, carrying chairs and a quilt and hats and gloves and holding hands, and then walked a few blocks to find a seat by our friends. It was a fun, very long parade, with lots of candy thrown out. After an hour and a half, we decided to leave. I had to carry the whole load back to the car. We all got to bed late. So by this morning, I was a little off from yesterday. That was okay; I got up and got cleaning. Then I bathed the kids and got us all ready to go to Emma's school at 12:30. I was in charge of their Halloween party. I had done quite a bit of prep work for the party, so by the time I got us all ready to go and gathered up all of my stuff, I was already a little worn out. Then, I ran the party which was fun. Miles had had it by the end, and my arms were full with bowls, and jackets, and my purse, and a CD player and a box of leftover crafts as we headed for the car. I was dragging along a crying Miles, and trying to shepherd Emma and Julia through the parking lot, but my back and arms were burning from my load. By the time I got us all home and all of the stuff in the house, I was completely done in. However, after school, the weather was beautiful for a change, and the kids really wanted to go on a walk, so we did. That really wore me out! After that, I tried to rest while the kids messed up everything. Then, to top things off, Miles just kept crying and fell asleep sitting up. I tried everything to keep him awake, but since they had all gotten up at 5:45 this morning, it was impossible. By the way, did I mention that Greg is out of town again? He left Thurs, and he'll be back late Saturday night. I tried to rally the troops to help clean up before our lovely Ramen Noodles dinner. I wasn't feeling too well from the stress, and a few pieces of candy, and the Ramens didn't help either. Anyway, by the time I got all the kids dressed up, woke up Miles and got us out the door for trick-or-treating, my house no longer looked how my mom would have had it looking. I did, however, cheerfully take my kids all over the neighborhood for an hour and a half, including to one house that was really a spook alley that really scared Julia to death! We are home now. Emma and Julia are in bed. Their outfits are strewn all over the house, candy wrappers are littering the floor, the Ramens still need to be cleaned up, coats and shoes are dropped by the front door, and I am taking a rain check. I just can't do it tonight. I would love to wake up to a perfectly clean house, but I just can't do it. My back is shaking from all of the walking and dragging and stroller pushing and carrying. And I am exhausted. I miss Greg. I really miss him. And he really was sad to miss Halloween. I know he is in his hotel room, all alone, while the rest of his group is out partying in their Halloween costumes. What a good guy he is! As a kid, I never stopped to fully appreciate the hard work that my mother put into events like Halloween. Thank goodness for moms who love their kids!! Anyway, I'll have to "catch up" tomorrow. That's okay, though. The kids had such a fun day, and I can pat myself on the back because at least they brushed their teeth and said their prayers. And sometimes....that is good enough.

Blogging Bonanza

Hold on tight. Here comes a LOT of stuff. I haven't updated very well for a while, and a lot has been going on. I decided to say it all in one shot. Enjoy!

Miles has turned into our little computer bug. He can get on the internet, manuever through the games on Nick Jr., click, drag, and print. He LOVES playing it! It is pretty amazing to me!
Greg was out of town for a week, so my Mom came for a nice long visit. It was so lovely to have her here. She did EVERYTHING for me. I cannot say enough about all that she did. The kids love and adore my mom and I feel like a new person, what with the entire house scrubbed top to bottom thanks to her. I love my mom and feel so grateful to her. I will always cherish the time that we had all to ourselves. We had many nights to talk and giggle together in my huge bed, plus she pampered me endlessly all throughout the day. I miss her already. She is a great example of service and love. Thanks, Mom!

My Mom with Julia and Emma!

Here is our newest little ballerina, Julia. She is loving her class and actually learning a lot. Doesn't she look pleased as punch?

We went bowling while my mom was here. So, so fun!!




Thoughts from Sunday:

Ummm...this is our Sabbath Day Daddy.

I made these butterfly cookies for a recent Relief Society Lesson. I made a ton and it turned out to be a lot of work! But, I loved the Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin quote about trials that I put with it. I thought I would share it:

"Wrapped tightly in its cocoon, the developing
chrysalis must struggle with all its might to break its confinement. The
butterfly might think, Why must I suffer so? Why cannot I simply, in
the twinkling of an eye, become a butterfly?

Such thoughts would be contrary to the Creator's
design. The struggle to break out of the cocoon develops the butterfly so
it can fly. Without that adversity, the butterfly would never have the
strength to achieve its destiny. It would never develop the strength to
become something extraordinary.

Adversity can strengthen and refine us. If
only we would look beyond our present suffering and see our struggles as a
temporary chrysalis. If only we would have the faith and trust in our
Heavenly Father to see how, after a little season, then we can emerge from our
trials more refined and glorious."

So, so, so true!

Miles made this headband in nursery. He insisted on wearing it all day. He thought that the white feather was one of the neatest things he had ever seen. I think he is so cute...and usually honest, too! :) Early in October we visited a Red Deer Farm. We went on a fun hayride and fed the deer. Be sure to notice the gorgeous rolling hills and fall colors. We love Pennsylvania! It's beautiful.


Soccer ended for the season. Emma had a great year and scored lots of goals. Greg did a great job coaching a bunch of little girls. I love this picture of him. He is so coach-like with that whistle. I love it. He's a natural out there...taking after his dad.
There's our little tiger...running her guts out. Go, Emma, go! It was so fun to watch her.
Pumpkin Night for Family Home Evening:

Does it get any better than this?
Julia and her "Max"

It's serious business for Greg. Careful with that scalpel, Dr. J.


The finished product. Too blurry to see the amazingly intricate details! :) (ha, ha)

Have a happy, happy halloween!

We Love Crazy Hair Day!!

Emma and I have a grand time coming up with our design for the annual "Crazy Hair Day" at school. It's a great day to have long, luxurious locks. Lookin' good, Em!

The Day My Nose Betrayed Me

At Skytop Resort---I'll never forget the way it smelled.

First of all, I want to thank you all for your well wishes regarding my pregnancy. And to answer a few burning questions: No, I had not previously announced it on my blog, and yes, I am feeling slightly better. (Here’s proof: I am posting a long, elaborate post!) And now, for a few complaints (which will probably bore you to death, but oh, how fun it is to lay out one’s ailments). I say I am feeling slightly better, and I am. I really, really am doing better. Still, about fifteen minutes ago, I was leaning my head into the toilet, depositing my dinner, while contemplating the adverse effects of bulimia. Supposedly they are terrible. Ruined teeth, eroding esophagus, etc., etc. And, I’m feeling a teensy bit concerned as these thoughts are swirling in my head. I have been having this constant heartburn feeling lately. Actually, it isn’t so much of a heartburn feeling as an eroding esophagus feeling, and to make matters worse, my teeth hurt! And to make matters EVEN worse, I’m gaining weight! So, take it from me, the next time you think, ‘maybe I should give bulimia a go,’ just let that thought slide right on out the door.

Okay, okay, enough complaining. I’m doing a lot better. Well, except for one thing. My nose. It smells everything! Now, I know this is actually a blessing. When I was eighteen, I had surgery on my nose. After a few breaks, we had decided it was time to repair the damage. The surgery was the single most terrible thing to ever happen to me. I thought I would die from that darn surgery. And to top it off, I lost my sense of smell for a few months. This was the second most terrible thing to ever happen to me. Food, glorious food, became nothing to me and I longed for something really tasty. I took to eating mashed potatoes around the clock. They are bland enough that I felt like I was actually tasting them, and eating anything else just felt frustrating. I almost cried the day I started to smell, even just a little bit. It was heavenly.

They say that smells can evoke strong memories, and that is especially true for me. I’ll get a whiff of a certain cologne and be instantly taken back to a high school dance, swaying slowly to Depeche Mode and “Somebody”; and to this day, whenever I smell a certain kind of gum, I am swept away to the moonstruck decks of a Caribbean cruise I went on years ago. I won’t go into that one. And I love the smell of the newborn blankets and Onesies in the hospital. It must be the detergent they use, but occasionally I’ll get a hint of that sweet smell and feel as though I am back in my happy place: the first few days snuggling my newborn, absolutely elated about completing another LONG pregnancy! I seriously anticipate that smell—I love it!

So yesterday, the kids and I ventured to Wal-Mart where we smelled our way up and down the shampoo and soap aisle, searching for new stuff. You see, I love my Pantene Pro-V products, but for some reason, my nose has betrayed me. The moment I smell my shampoo, I feel nauseated. Somewhere in my brain, a strong memory has been formed which associates Pantene Pro-V with my morning-noon-and-night sickness. That’s weird, huh? I’ve used Pantene Pro-V for a while now. I’ve also been showering and shampooing my hair for a while now, too (…most of my life…) but suddenly, I can’t stand that smell. It makes me feel like I am sticking my head in a soap bottle amidst 100% humidity, inhaling deeply and then…oh, boy, I am starting to get that feeling again!

Luckily, we found some pleasing ‘Herbal Essences’ products, in the lovely flavor combination of white nectarine and pink coral flower. I don’t even know what that is, but it sure smells different than Pantene Pro-V. I also picked up some great new watermelon hand soap, and my nose is thanking me already. Then to cure the stale smell that hits me the moment I walk into our little old house, I’ve been burning a candle, spraying Febreeze, and frantically opening and shutting windows depending on temperatures. Without any form of central air, or any air circulation at all for that matter, I feel like I might suffocate from staleness. Let’s not even talk about diapers or the way I feel inside when I hear the words, “Mommy, come wipe me.” I have to clamp my mouth shut to hold back the nausea, therefore leaving me breathing through my one and only nose. It’s a tough life.

And poor Greg. Poor, poor Greg. I normally love the way he smells. And when I’m not pregnant, his breath is always perfectly fresh. His aftershave makes me weak in the knees…and it still does, thank heavens, it’s just that he has to continuously reapply, or the smell is gone. Other than that, he lovingly accepts the other inevitable changes of pregnancy (and I don't mean mood swings and big bellies), like the new huge bottle of mouth wash staring at him from the medicine cabinet, or the large pack of breath mints I “conveniently” grabbed for him on my way out of the store. And he barely even flinched when I finally broke down and told him that something on him smelled “too soapy.” We never actually figured that one out, since we use the same soaps and laundry detergent. But luckily, that went away. And after he spent the morning in the cadaver lab, he knowingly bypassed his normal attempts to smother me in kisses and went straight to the bathroom to clean up. I happily steered clear for the rest of the day. Like I said, “Poor, poor Greg.” And like he says, “Pregnancy is hard for me too!” Very true, very true.

Well, I guess I’ll go eat something (maybe a few Tums while I’m at it), since technically I never had dinner. See, that’s why bulimia could never really work for me. After throwing-up, I would think, “Oh, great, now there’s room for more!” The only problem is I just can’t have the same thing again. So, the yummy taco salad that Greg whipped up earlier won’t do for a third time (down once, up once, and down again). It was super yummy though (on the way down), although while he was making it, I was quick to question his usage of seasonings: “Are you sure you didn't use too much?” Greg: “Yes, I'm sure.” Me: “Hmmm, smells a little strong.”

And once again, I blame the nose.

Whose Toes are Those??

Okay, so the Lightning McQueen pants probably give it away, right? I had just gotten Emma off to the bus this morning when Julia came rushing upstairs and said, "Mom! You've got to come see what I taught Miles to do!" I burst out laughing the second I got downstairs. Miles has never put tap shoes on before, and here he was tapping along with Julia to a little song and following all of her moves. They started off marching and then twirling around together, and then jumping and on and on. Throughout the whole song, Miles followed Julia. It was the funniest thing I have seen in a while! I ran up and grabbed the camera and video camera to capture it all. Apparently those tap shoes fit him now! He was very proud of himself. And Julia was just beaming to think that she had taught him how to do it! By the way, the Lightning McQueen pajamas are his favorites. He is totally obsessed with "Cars." He cried really hard the first time I told him that he couldn't wear that to church. But, if not suitable for church, it is awesome with shiny black tap shoes, if I may say so myself.

Oh, Boy!!

It's another boy!! And we are thrilled! He'll grace us with his presence sometime around the end of February/first of March. Until then, we'll just think blue and deliberate over thousands of names... Any suggestions?

A Date with Daddy!

It's not always easy, but we try to occasionally get some one-on-one time with each of our children. So, the other evening when Greg and I were discussing our children and their needs, we both concluded that he and Julia could use a little date. Children need so much love! It is amazing how this one evening out changed (for the better) the way Julia has responded to us lately. It meant the world to her, as you can see by her darling smile. They had so much fun, and she talked about it for days. Fathers are so important to daughters, and I'm thrilled that my daughters have such a good one! Here are a few shots of the little Daddy-Daughter Date (which by the way, took very little time and very little money and meant the world to one little four-year-old!).




If that's not the happiest little golfer...then I don't know who is!

Emma's First Day!

Yes, I know that I am really late in posting this! Please forgive me! I think it is cute enough to post anyway. Emma is loving first grade. Here she is ready to go on the very first day.


Going to school is a family affair around here! Emma has many proud supporters!
Miles isn't sad...he is saying, "Cheese!" He's so funny. And Julia would be happy to be in every picture.

And, at the end of the day....
She's home again...and looking thrilled!
Good job, Em!

A Soft Voice Turneth Away...

I admit, sometimes I lose it. You can decide what 'it' is--my brain? my sanity? my temper? does it matter? Anyway, occasionally it happens. (I apologize if you never lose 'it' and this revelation is shocking to you.) So, last night I sat on the edge of my girls' bed and tried to explain how they could help me to not lose 'it'. I demonstrated the "nice mommy voice" which is the voice I use when I ask them to do something the first time (and for probably seven or eight times after that, depending on my daily ration of patience) and then gritting my teeth and nearly growling, I very kindly demonstrated the "mean mommy voice" (not that they needed much demonstration lately!). Feeling proud of my theatrical skills, I quickly slid back into my silky smooth "nice mommy voice" and said sweetly, "Now which voice do you want mommy to use?"

At this point, my super-sweet Julia, the one who is so darn cute, yet knows how to push me to the edge, had tears welling up in her eyes and then she sobbed, "Your nice voice is just so beautiful it makes me want to cry..." (followed by more heartfelt sobs). Well, I was a little stunned. And a little heart-broken too. I've never thought my voice was beautiful enough to bring someone to tears! I've actually never even thought it was beautiful at all! But then I thought that of all of the beautiful sounds I've ever heard, my own mother's voice ranks up there pretty high. Especially when she is singing a lullaby, or laughing happily, or soothing away my troubles (even now!).

I came to the realization that my children will probably love me no matter what. Little children are pretty forgiving...but apparently the "nice mommy voice" hasn't been around enough lately. I wish, wish, wish that their little ears never had to hear the gritting, growling mean voice and that I always talked sweetly to them. It is definitely my fault, not theirs. I love my kids so much it hurts--it's just hard being a mom sometimes, you know? So that's my new goal: A little less yelling, a lot more singing, laughing, and soothing. After all, isn't that what every child needs? Wish me luck...

BYU Blue!

My little sister is heading back to BYU today and I admit, I am slightly jealous. I would LOVE to go back for just few days. Here's why: I would love a few days of independence, being in charge of my own schedule!, studying quietly in the library (studying at all sounds heavenly!), eating lunch on the grass in the beautiful fall weather, walking across campus on a crisp morning, and football games and devotionals, and awesome lectures, and religion classes, and jogging around the temple, and volleyball classes, and on and on! Those years were so exciting for me, and I always look back with such fondness on my days as a BYU Cougar!! Go BLUE!

Splish Splash

Nothing beats a hot day at the splash park. I had so much fun testing out the new camera. And, with plenty of zoom, I was completely out of the water's way. Doesn't it look like I am right in the middle of it all? Since quite a few people have asked about it, I'll tell you what camera we ended up buying. We did a lot of research and finally decided on the Nikon D60 with the 18-55 lens and the 55-200 zoom lens. We got ours at Sam's Club. And, so far, we are completely stunned by the great shots we are getting. Aren't these precious? (I know, I'm VERY biased!).

Miles

Julia

Emma

It's hard to believe that the summer days are drawing to a close. School starts on Monday! It'll be sad to see Emma go back, although she is so excited. I'll miss the freedom of summer!!