Let's say nice words.......

Emily has always been a little comedian. Sometimes not even on purpose. She is such a little 'ham' and she loves making her sisters laugh. However, Emily has discovered that by using words like poop as a punch line are particularly funny to Becky and JJ (and particularly embarrassing for me when she chooses to say it in the middle of the sacrament at church.)
So my plan for changing her behavior was to try and explain that words like poop are not nice words and that saying nice words like rainbow, flowers, sunshine, tickle, and love is much better.

Well I guess she took my advice to heart because the other day she came up to me and said, "Mommy I rainbowed in my diaper."



Not exactly what I had in mind..........but okay:)


That girl.......

whirlwind weekend

Last weekend I took a quick trip out to Utah to be there for my niece's wedding. The keyword there being 'quick'. My niece Michelle is the first granchild on my side to be married. And even though she is only 7 years younger than me it was still wierd to see my nice get married. I feel soooo old. All wierdness aside though....It was a really neat day.
Although I am very limited in my cake decorating experience Michelle was brave enough to ask me to make her wedding cake. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
So I flew in Thursday evening, made a few quick stops at some florist and craft stores for supplies and then got to work on her cake.
The sealing was early Friday morning in the Timpanogos Temple.
What a wonderful experience!!! I always love being in the temple but there is something extra special about being in the temple with your family. My parents, all my siblings, plus a few aunts and uncles and close friends were there. The ceremony was beautiful.
Then we had a delicious lunch and mini reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake. That evening the bride and groom and their families drove up to Idaho to get ready to host the official reception in Fruitland the next day. Unfortunatley I couldn't go up for it because I had to catch a flight home the next day, but I was glad to be there for the most important stuff.



Me and my super-handsome brother Dave outside the temple

The Bride and Groom

The Luncheon


The Cake


The next day my niece Samantha flew home with me so she could spend a week with us here in Virginia.
We've had a great time so far.
The girls love having Sami here.
Yay for cousins !

Fourth of July!

We had a great 4th of July!!!
Joe's parents and brother and sister were in town, and Joe's cousin and her family from North Carolina were here aswell!
We had a yummy bar-bq and then "The Drive way of FIRE!"

Girls Camp

This week is girls camp for our ward. Melanie and I went up to spend the evening with our awesome young women! The all were so cute and seemed to be having a great time.
Yay! for girls camp!

10 years down.....Eternity to go..........

*Disclaimer: read at your own risk.....mushy/sappy writing below.

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary.

Wow.

I feel lots of different things like:
gratitude
love
sentimental
pride
humility
and......old :)

I know it sounds cliche but we've been through a lot these last ten years.
Lots of good stuff, some not-so-good stuff, and then...other stuff....
We've had 4 kids, finished school, moved across the country, started a career, bought a home, and a whole lot else in between.

There is a lot (of mushy things) I could way about my amazing, all most perfect husband, but probably the best compliment I could pay him is this.........

Joe not only makes me want to be better, but he helps me (and challenges me) to be a little better each day. Although I have a long way to go, I know that I am a better person today than I was 10 years ago. And I feel confident in saying that as long as he is in my life I will be a better person 10 years from now...and on to eternity.
I love him more than ever.
Happy Anniversary Sweetie!

Happy Birthday to Emmy (Part II)

Because Emmy's birthday falls at the end of June she is the youngest of all her little friends. Throughout this year she has had the opportunity to attend most of their birthday parties which in its self is a lot of fun, but it has always resulted with us having many conversations that go something like:

Emmy: Mommy when will it be my birthday?
Me: Soon.
Emmy: But mommy I want to have my birthday party!
Me: Your birthday is in a few months.
Emmy: Can I have presents at my birthday?
Me: Yes.
Emmy: Can I have a princess birthday cake?
Me: Yes.
Emmy: Can I have my birthday tomorrow?
Me: No. But your birthday is coming soon.
Emmy: Yay!

Well, after months of anticipation, (plus Emmy telling everyone one she knows....and even a few people we don't know, like the checkers at the store, or the nurses at the doctors office that she is having a birthday soon.... and she is going to have presents...... and a princess cake:) her day has come!
We all went to Chuck 'E' Cheese for dinner then came back to the house for cake and presents.



Emmy and Grammy meeting Chuck E




The Cake
The Party

Emmy had a great time.
The only problem is....she won't stop asking when her next birthday is.....
It's going to be a long year....... :)

Happy Birthday Emmy!

My baby girl turns 3 today!
Joe's mom and sister are flying in tomorrow so we're going to wait and have her party this weekend, but just have to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet Emily Marie!!!!