Tomorrow's the Big Day!

I'm SO excited because my niece, Ally is being born in the morning! By brother, Cody and his wife, Kali are expecting a little girl and she is having a C-section tomorrow. They have had quite a long road to get pregnant and after almost 7 years of marriage, they got pregnant through in vitro. You can check out their blog for their latest preparations!

The Last of the Parties

Emmie really managed to spread her birthday out this year! The day before her bday - we brought treats to her kindergarten class because Valentine's day is so busy with treats and fun. Then her real birthday was on Valentine's day and she got to have a party at school and wear the birthday crown - and be the leader! (A big deal in the kindergarten world!!). Then on Friday we had her "Princess Party", on Saturday she got to go out with Grandma and Grandpa (pictures below) and then on Sunday we had the family over for cake and ice cream. Wow! it's finally over!!

She had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa. This picture was actually taken after they were done eating and they were on their way to "Color Me Mine"


Eating her favorite food in the world - pasta!

Her birthday cake!

Princess Party

Emmie had a fun party yesterday with all her friends. It was her "Princess Party" and it was such great fun. I checked Talbie out of school at lunch time so she could help me put the party on. She played games with the kids and made it so fun for everyone. It worked out so great because every girl came dressed as a different princess. Emmie wanted Logan to come so bad and he was a great sport as our "Prince Charming." He acted like he wasn't excited about it but he couldn't wipe the grin off his face the entire party!

More Valentines

Dave gave me this card today with this picture on it and this poem that he wrote for me. He's so thoughtful! I felt bad because I really hadn't done anything for him today so the kids and I made cards and we just drove up the temple (because he works Thursday nights) and filled his car with Valentine cards. He will be so surprised!


My Valentine

Life with anyone else would be impassable.
With you my trials become adventures, my
heart aches are always healed, my
disappointments are turned to triumphs
and on my face always a smile
I love you
Dave










I was crazy busy today helping in Emmie and Bronson's classes with their Valentine parties. I was also able to catch a glimpse of Talbie and the 6th graders who were in the gym dancing and playing games. Here's some pictures...




Emmie frosting her cookie

Me and Emma

Bronson devouring his cookie

Me and Bub

Talbie and the girls

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope it's a day filled with love for you. I found the above picture when I was looking for some Valentine clip art. They are vintage Valentines and I know for a fact that I have given these out at some time in my life - maybe kindergarten or 1st grade. Do they look familiar mom? Anyway - when I saw them, it triggered some memory in me. The scariest thing is that Valentines I have given out in my life are now considered "vintage."

Have a great day!

My Little Valentine

Tomorrow is Emmie's 6th birthday. She was born on Valentine's Day and she's our "Little Valentine." I can't believe my baby is 6. She's been such a trooper since the day she was born. She spent 2 weeks in the ICU after she was born because they think she contracted pneumonia. After 2 weeks we were able to bring her home but her respiratory troubles didn't end. Since then she had 2 surgeries putting tubes in her ears, she's had her adenoids taken out, a surgery to flush her sinus, and one to repair her ear drum from a tube that never came out. She's been diagnosed with IGA Deficiency which is an immune system disease and after being to many doctors, it basically means that she has a chronic runny or stuffy nose and is always fighting an infection. She goes on an antibiotic about every other month or so.

You'd never know her troubles looking at her and she is as active and healthy as any 6 year old around. We love you Emmie so much!



We are planning a party for Emmie on Friday with her friends and then she'll have a family party on Sunday. This summer I found these cute glass slippers at the dollar store - in the wedding section. We came up with this cute idea for an invitation for her "Princess Party"



We made the invite and rolled it up and put it in the glass slipper and delivered them to each girl's house. It's a little hard to see in this picture but they did turn out so cute!



This is the goodie bag that we're giving out (also dollar store finds from this summer!) It's a princess stationary set, night light, and air head candies. Emmie picked out the candy and it wasn't meant to go along with the theme - but maybe it does :)

Cruise - Finale

One of the nights on the cruise, Dave, Bret, Caleen, me, and my dad entered a "Seinfeld Trivia Contest." I had no idea we knew so much about that show but Dave's insomnia paid off (he watches it sometimes at night) and we WON! The prize were these fancy hats!


Shopping in Cabo for gifts to bring back home.


Meet the "Pop Princess Idol!" On the boat they held a contest similar to "American Idol." It was all Karoke but when we heard about it, we made my ultra talented brother, Dustin enter it. He blew the competition away and was advanced the first night to the finale. They held it two more nights to have 6 that could compete in the final show the last night of the ship.

At the final show Dustin performed "Rocket Man" by Elton John. There was no competition and he won! It was the most exciting thing that happened on the trip (in my opinion). I love watching Dustin sing and we don't get to do it very often unless it at a big venue like a concert that we have to buy tickets for!

I don't know how excited he was about it. He said, "Well, if this tour and record deal fall through, there's always working on a cruise ship :)"

After Dustin won we all went up to the dance club for an "after show party." This is my cute parents doing the gitter bug!

Cruise - Part 2

The family at one of our MANY meals on the ship


This is another view from our balcony. Another cruise ship passed by us. It's an amazing sight to be on the ocean with no land in sight. It's something I had never experienced before.

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Dave reading on the deck. Very relaxing!


This is my entire family (aunts, uncles, and cousins) on our way to the Canopy Zip Line excursion in Puerto Vallarta.

Dave and I as we got all our equipment on - ready to go!

Don't ask! I was freaking out just taking this picture. I had to take it and RUN before it put it on me!


My cousin, Matt and his wife Tammy. Matt and I are the same age and we went to school together in Boise (until my family moved to Orem my senior year). He was my best friend growing up and it's always great to him! (My brother, Bret is lurking in the background :)

Cruise - Part 1

Dave and I had the best time on the cruise. It has to be the funnest thing we have done in a long time. We'd heard about the joys of "cruising" but you just never know about something until you've tried it yourselves. We're hooked. Here are some highlights from the first day or two...


This is the view from the balcony of our room. I'm calling home to check in one last time before we set sail. The phone reception was horrible (and spendy) so we only got to call home a couple of times.


This is an idea of what the rooms are like. They were quite cozy.


Before you leave the dock on a cruise ship - they make you go through the drill of how to "abandon ship" in case of emergency. This is Brittany and I before we went to the drill. This give you a small glimpse of what we were like the entire cruise. People kept coming up to us and saying "You guys have had too much to drink." When we'd tell them we don't drink - they were shocked!

Another fine picture of Brittany - blowing the emergency whistle!



Everyone in my family (adults) came on the cruise except for my brother, Cody and his wife Kali because they are due to have a baby in a couple of weeks. It was so fun to see Bret and Caleen who live in Texas. Also on the cruise was my dad's twin brother and his kids. These are my cousins that I grew up with so we had the time of our lives.


The girls...


The boys - except my dad isn't in this picture :(


Coming soon...
Pictures of us repelling through the jungle and Karoke!!

We're Back!!

It's been a whirlwind of a week (9 days to be exact) and we had the TIME OF OUR LIVES! Just wanted to check in and we will be updating more tomorrow and in the days to come. Stayed tuned!