9 Year Anniversary

For our 9 year anniversary we headed to the Red Lobster for the famous, once a year, all you can eat shrimp!  Then, we headed out to shop for our new car.  By the end of the next day we were driving our new Corvette convertible home! (We have actually been looking to buy this car for the last year but FINALLY found the stellar deal we were looking for, which happened to coincide with our 9 yr mark.) Every time we hop in this car now, it will remind us that the last 9 years have been one SWEET RIDE!!  :)  

Fairs and Berries

Lizzie had a play date and was gone most of the day so Julie and I had a "Mommy and me" date!  We headed to a local farm and picked blueberries to our hearts' content.  Julie was an excellent little picker and when I told her she could eat some of them, she responded, "No, that's ok.  I want to save ALL of them for the muffins!"  One on one time with my little girls is invaluable.  Whenever it does happen, it is always a treat.   It's days like this that make my heart feel so full it might burst.  I love both my girls so much and relish these special moments we share together. This is definitely the stuff life is made of.  

The little girls and I had a blast at the 4US family fair!  All the activities, inflatables, and games were free.  Donations were encouraged and it was a GREAT cause!  This charity raises money to buy ultrasounds for pregnancy clinics.  These machines significantly raise the odds that mothers will choose life over abortion.  These are also the locations where abortions are chosen most frequently.  I was very excited when a friend told me about her friend, who founded it.  Sometimes the Pro Choice and Pro Life debates are so dead end.  This cause is actually DOING something about it and in such a positive way.  We had a great time and were happy to support the odds of life for those without voices yet.  If you want to know more, check out www.4us.org.

Baby Wyatt

This is such a hard post because the right words just don't seem to come to me.  I couldn't bare to post anything when it happened.  Sometimes there are no words to express the deep pain and grief that come with losing a loved one.  Especially, when it's your sweet little baby nephew.  Wyatt David Lauper, you were so perfect, so sweet, and loved by so many people.  Your passing away broke all of our hearts, and we all still miss you so much. We think about you often, and pray for your family who misses you, here on Earth, even more.  

On August 10, the whole family gathered together to remember little Wyatt on his 1 year old birthday.  We met at his grave site to reflect on his life, leave flowers, and present various mementos to Aaron and Michelle.  We then headed to the temple  as a family for more reflection.  The saving grace of this whole devastating loss is the comfort we find in each other, family, and most importantly, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The pain is very real, but so is the hope.  "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." "Why art thou cast down, o my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God." -Psalms 30:5; 42:5.  It will take time for Michelle and Aaron to heal, but we know that through Christ and his Atonement, it will happen.  In time, all will be restored and that sweet little family will be reunited once again!  We love you Wyatt Lauper!

My Motorcycle Man

ANOTHER motorcycle trip!  He is off with his motorcycle gang (all the other men in the family).  They are taking the scenic ocean routes, stopping off on Whidbey Island, Winthrop (apparently it was recreated to be JUST like an old west town.) , then heading to Lake Chelan.  The last I heard they were jet skiing on the lake and having way too much fun.  I have a love hate relationship with this bike.  I love riding on the back with the wind in my hair, hugging my hubby, as we fly past the beautiful WA Puget Sound, lakes, forests, and other scenery. It makes for great summer date nights!
But, I hate the fact that it can be so dangerous!  These road trips in particular make me worry because it's so much time on the bike and highways.
Well, this road trip I was definitely too preggars to ride so the girls and I had the weekend to ourselves!  I had big plans for us, but it was ruined by the stomach flu!! That first night was quite busy.  It started with Julie wetting her bed at midnight (this never happens anymore. So weird) Then the flu hit Lizzie at 12:30am.  Of COURSE, it hit the first night Dave was gone.  Nothing better than being alone, pregnant, and having to clean up wet sheets; then vomit on the carpet, bathroom floor, and child; then waking up every 30 minutes to do it all over again all night!  At least she got better at aiming for the bowl I gave her.  It sounds pretty gross, and yes it was! Fair or not, I think this last experience has added more weight to the "hate" aspect of my psyche in regards to motorcycles.

Janice Kapp Perry Visits

This happened a couple months ago, but I skipped blogging it some how! We got to hang out with Janice Kapp Perry!  Janice Kapp Perry (born 1938) is a well-known Latter-day Saint songwriter whose contributions have resulted in roughly 50 albums and songs in the LDS Church hymnal, Children's Songbook, and 70 Favorite Children's Songs.   

She is a celebrity of sorts among those of our faith!  She is extremely musically talented to say the least.

She stayed at my In-laws home for the weekend so we got to have dinner with her twice, attend her fireside, and sing all of our favorite songs with her- that SHE wrote!  She signed one of the girls' favorite books, "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus". Then, the girls asked if they could sing their favorite songs for her, "I Love to See the Temple." and "A Child's Prayer"   Overall, she was such a sweet, hilarious, amazing woman.  She was so down to earth and had the cutest relationship with her husband. She had some pretty amazing stories about singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and asking permission from President Hinckley to turn his poem into a church hymn, only to barely recieve his written permission, which arrived by mail the day after he passed away.  I loved how the love of Christ and sharing that with others through music was her passion. When she spoke to the large assembly at her fireside she told a funny story about how it took her husband forever to learn that she loved receiving flowers as gifts.  So, before she left Dave brought her a bouquet of fresh flowers to take with her. It was a great weekend! 

Summer Highlight Reel

I just can't have my giant camera with me all the time!  I find the camera phone and instagram to be so handy!  It just is, but that doesn't mean I can't re-post them on my blog to preserve the memories.  :)

 Trips to the library are always a favorite.  We have been working on reading skills.  

Dave and Chris attended a dental conference in Seattle.  We made a trip of it, stayed in a hotel, enjoyed some Brazilian Rodizio, and did a little downtown shopping!

The Pages moved across the street from us!  It's great to have close friends so close! Sometimes we borrow baby Bailey and practice having 3 girls, complete with matching clothes.  Notice the elephant theme?

 Trips to Seattle and THE farmer's market are the best in the summer.

 Beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers for $5? Yes, please!

 There's a brand new Children's Museum close by and its amazing! They love the dental section of it of course. ;)

As the Relief Society evening meeting coordinator I plan our monthly activities and this one was a favorite! We splatter painted over 130 T-shirts and participated in the Walk to Cure Diabetes, supporting a young girl at our church who deals with that challenge.   

 We went on a little vacation- just the two of us! The sites were beautiful as we rode the sounder to Vancouver.

 Then, we boarded a Norwegian cruise ship and relaxed! We toured around Vancouver Island and spent some time in Victoria. Our favorite place to be was on the ship!  The entertainment and food is endless!

 Tuesday is our prized family day and this is where we spend many Tues mornings.  The girls play while we work out and then we all go swimming!  Lizzie is very proud of the fact that she can swim all by herself (with a floaty backpack to help).  

 "I have a hot dog for a pet.  The only kind my folks would let me get.  He does smell sort of bad and yet he absolutely never gets the sofa wet..."  The girls LOVE this "A Light in the Attic" favorite.  They find it hilarious.  A couple hot dogs, cooked spaghetti noodles and... voila!  The nursery rhyme comes to life.

 Mike graduated from dental school!  Another dentist in the family!  We had a little party and said farewell because they are headed to work in Yakima.  

 Father's Day was a good one this year! The girls treated their daddy like a king.  We surprised him with a new DeWalt Drill and Saw set.  Then, they decided to continue giving him gifts until they had given all their toys away to him.  We cooked him up a special dinner of marinated flank steak, mushroom farfalle pasta, salad, and bread.  Later that day, we baked a giant chocolate chip cookie and decorated it with frosting.

 Mommy and Daddy had their vacation so a family vacation was in order!   

 We flew to Vegas and stayed at Circus Circus the first night.  

 Then, moved to the Tahiti Village which was off the strip a bit and very family friendly. The Van W's joined us and we did lots of swimming and buffets!

 The last stop of our trip was in Utah for a family reunion!  We checked out the site of my parents' future home!  (Should be done this Fall)  We got to see where they are building their new business, too! We celebrated the 4th. Then, we headed to a big cabin and spent time with the whole family. We did a lot of water activities, camp fires, played games, etc.   I need to get all those pictures from my Grandma...

 The same week we returned from Utah, cousin June came to stay with us at our house for a couple days!

 We all loved spending time with her and had some good times at the fair, jumping on the trampoline, and eating pickles.  (June LOVES pickles)  The other day we were eating hamburgers and Lizzie said, "I don't like pickles.  If I find one on my hamburger I know just where to put it."  Me: "Where?"  Liz: "In June's mouth!  She loves pickles."

 Right after June left, the Marstons came to visit!  Lizzie and Grant loved playing together.  It was very cute.

There are so many cousins!  The families are growing exponentially!  (We are missing the Laupers in this photo)

 Blackberry season is here!  We go crazy picking blackberries all August. One of our favorite summer things to do.

 I have been working quite a bit this summer at a few different offices.  Quite a bit being relative.  Once a week is quite a bit for me.  I enjoy the time and the girls get to have an all day play date with friends!  Sometimes, I get a longer lunch and I pick up the girls for a lunch date!  

I don't think I have ever frequented so many different parks in one summer.  I think we have visited 10 different parks over the last month.  This park was inside the zoo and this little red spinner was a favorite!  The tiniest merry go round ever...lol.  

Sisters

"A closer friend I'd never find than the one I call my sister."

Laughing, playing, running, tumbling, fighting, hugging, tickling, teasing, crying, comforting, holding hands, spinning, jumping, squeezing, and dancing.  

These are just a few of the things these sisters do together.

Growing up I had all brothers and no sisters.  I loved my brothers and enjoyed getting the attention that comes with being the only girl.  Though, I did wonder at times what it would be like to have a sister.  Now that I have two girls, the sister relationship is so fun for me to see in action.  The closeness and friendship is stunning at times. 

 I make no claims to them having a perfect relationship.  They fight alot (its in the list above) :).  But, they are super sweet and the best of friends alot.  Aaah, the ups and downs of sibling relationships.

These girls are so cute and fun.  It's no wonder that Dave and I are super stoked to get a THIRD little daughter soon!  

 Little sister #3 is not here yet, but we are all looking forward to and excited for what the future holds!