Trip Down Memory Lane...

20 years ago-- June 30, 1988
1. I had just turned 13 years old.
2. It was the summer before 8th grade, my last year of junior high. I spent time that summer playing travel ball and at cheer leading camp. {Go Jets!}
3. {I think} This is the summer Ben & I spent a few weeks in Denver with Uncle Jim & Aunt Terry. It was a lot of fun being with Brad & Jenny again. We were so used to them living just across town, but their move to Denver changed everything. We missed them dearly and that summer was so much fun. I even have a permanent reminder of that summer... and a certain water skiing accident. I'm really lucky to have two arms today. Honestly.

10 years ago-- June 30, 1998
1. I was 23.
2. I was a student at Utah State living in Old Farm with Meme taking summer classes and working at Kate's Kitchen.
3. That summer turned out to be lots of fun. We made some great friends {the Logan Boys} and spent a lot of time with them. We also spent a lot of time with Amy & Bella. It was a summer of fun!!

5 years ago-- June 30, 2003
1. I was 28 years old.
2. John and I had just gotten engaged and were planning a wedding for September.
3. This week 5 years ago we took a road trip up to Vancouver so I could meet John's parents and brother Dan & Megan. It was a really fun trip. We went up to Mount St. Helen's, out to the coast to Astoria and the Tillamook Cheese factory, saw Multnomah Falls, watched fireworks at Ft. Vancouver, and toured the city of Portland.

3 years ago-- June 30, 2005
1. I had just had my 30th birthday.
2. I was enjoying my summer break from teaching.
3. We were hiding a secret from our families... anxiously waiting to share the news that we were expecting our first baby-- due in late January 2006.

1 year ago-- June 30, 2007
1. I was 32.
2. Jake was almost 17 months old and keeping me very busy!
3. I didn't know it officially but I *knew* I was pregnant again...

So far this year ... 2008
1. I became the mother of two. Georgia Ann was born on March 29th.
2. We've taken a few fun trips. One to Nauvoo and another to Morro Bay.
3. I had my 33 birthday... and it was painless.

Yesterday I . . . June 29, 2008
1. spent the morning cleaning up our campsite and enjoying the sound of the ocean.
2. loved the scenic drive home from Morro Bay.
3. congratulated my brother on his graduation from college. He's finally finished! Way to go Ben!!

Today I . . . . June 30, 2008
1. Did six loads of laundry.
2. Spent a few hours visiting with dear friends: Megan, Kim, & Jennie. We had a great time chatting and catching up while the kids played in the pool. At one point I jumped in to save my son from drowning.
3. Packed. And packed some more for our trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Tomorrow I will . . . July 1, 2008
1. Put the last-minute items in our bags.
2. Drive to John Wayne airport and catch a flight to Atlanta and then on to Birmingham.
3. Drive from Birmingham to Chattanooga to spend the next week with Ben & Lisa, Caleb, Loryn, Elijah, & Adyson. It's time to meet the new little girl! Hooray!

Next Year ...
1. I would like to still be blogging for our family journal.
2. Jake will be 3 and Georgia will be 1, I'm sure I will be very busy chasing two walkers/runners!
3. I'd love to be a home-owner... wherever that might take us.

Thanks Sharon for the tag. It's been fun to think back on so many years. I have a blessed life. I am so grateful.

3 Months Already...

Georgie is 3 months now. Time is flying. She's such a sweet, happy little girl. She's rolling from back to tummy now and talking up a storm!

This is her new favorite sleeping position. On her side, thumb in mouth, hand on bumper pad, foot through bars. The first time I saw her like this I was a little concerned for her safety and moved her... only to find her in the exact same position 5 minutes later. At least she's comfy, right?! {And she sleeps forever in this position!!}

Morro Bay

We had a great weekend camping at Morro Bay with the Pfeifer family! Thanks for the invite we love you, let's do it again!!


We introduced Georgia to the ocean, it was her first trip.

Jake played in the sand with Norah & Luke

We took a cute family picture during an amazing sunset

We woke up in the morning with sleepy face after sitting out by the campfire and then sleeping in a tent -- which Jake LOVED!

John played a mean game of Hearts with Lin, Chuck, & Julie {while Jake played cars}

Zack entertained Georgie, she loved him!

Thanks Memaw! We had a great time camping with you in Morro Bay.

Friday In the Mall

Today we went and took Georgie's 3 month pictures at the mall. She was adorable in them. The photographer thought I needed pictures of Jake alone too. I didn't. He was absolutely the cutest boy in them. Oh well. I didn't buy them, if you'd like to see them... or any of the others, they're available on-line, let me know. There is one of the two of them together that is so sweet, I bought that one.

Here's a glimpse into the cuteness of them though...

Afterward we spent some time in the mall riding the carousel, exchanging some clothes that were already too small for Georgie, eating lunch, seeing the puppies in the pet store, and getting a cookie for the road. Then we went and visited G'Gma for awhile. It's been a good day. Time to pack for our weekend trip!!

Rollin'

Look who discovered a new trick today!

She rolled from her back to her tummy for the first time. I thought it was just a fluke, but nope, she did it again and again. She seemed pretty pleased with herself.

She's such a happy girl, I love it!!

Happy Birthday Elijah!

Happy 3rd Birthday Elijah!

We love you and are excited about seeing you next week.

This Reminds Me...

Jake's been wanting to wear his hoodie lately. It's 113˚ outside. I think the hoodie is a little overkill. The first day he asked for help putting it on it reminded me of the stories I've heard about a certain boy who would wear a coat and jeans all summer long.

I suppose it runs in the family, right Dad?! :)

It's a Tie

Jake decided he wanted to wear underwear and use the potty today. He had 5 successful potty trips (Go Jake!)... and 5 not-quite-so-successful mishaps.

I'm not sure I have the patience for this...

Rendezvous In Old Nauvoo

We had a wonderful trip this past week visiting many church history sites in the Midwest and spending time with family. We're thankful to Papa & Grandma, Scott & Gretchen, and Dan & Megan for planning the trip so we could all be together in Nauvoo to learn its' history and feel the spirit of the Saints, thank you. We had a wonderful time. Now, when can we get together again?! :)

Wednesday, June 11th
We woke up this morning bright and early and headed out to explore Independence & Kansas City, Missouri. We were surprised at how run down things were; there were blocks and blocks of boarded-up homes and business. The contrast between the landscape and city blocks was amazing, there are rolling hills of incredibly beautiful landscape and then all the run down buildings. It was interesting.

Since we were expecting Scott, Gretchen & kids to arrive later that afternoon we decided we would wait and visit the Independence LDS Visitors Center with them. So we drove into Kansas City to tour the Hallmark Kaleidoscope museum instead. It's more play area then museum with lots and lots of left-over cards, puzzles, markers, ribbons, etc. for kids to play with and make whatever they can dream up. Jake had a lot of fun running around, drawing, painting, and dancing there. It was such a fun and creative place for kids.

When Scott & family arrived we all headed over to the Visitors Center to take a tour and learn the history of Independence. It was a really interesting, I'm glad we went. I must admit, the tour gave a lot of history about Independence, the church and it's splinter groups but now I'm really curious about the current status of the Community of Christ church... I have soooo many questions. John and I were both amazed at the number of church's headquartered in Independence and the surrounding area. Everywhere you looked there was a church. John made an interesting comment about there being something special about that place that so many churches want to be there, I think he's right. There is something special and thank goodness for modern revelation and a prophet of God to let us know what it is.

That night John & Jake and Scott & Sterling went to watch the Kansas City Royals take on the Texas Rangers. They had a great time. Jake loved being at the "ball field".

Tomorrow we start our journey to Nauvoo... to rendezvous with our family there. We're looking forward to being there with them.

Heading to Nauvoo...

Thursday, June 12th

Today we started on our own personal Church History tour as we made our way to Nauvoo. Our first stop was Liberty to visit the jail where Joseph and Hyrum were held and where chapters 121, 122, and 123 of the Doctrine & Covenants were given. It was a dark and damp place, but the spirit was strong.

Our next stop was Far West to see the cornerstones of the temple the Saints planned to build but never did because of persecution. It was a beautiful area with rolling green hills and trees everywhere, a perfect setting for a temple. As the adults read the plaques about the history and prophecies about the site the kids ran around and enjoyed being out of the car.

After a quick lunch stop we continued on through the state of Missouri to visit Adam-Ondi-Ahman. We met up with Dan, Megan, & Hadley there. It was a really beautiful place. We walked to one of the overlooks and took in all that was before us.

After several more hours in the car we finally arrived in Nauvoo and Grandma & Papa were there waiting for us. It was sooo good to see them! They gave each of the kids a Nauvoo t-shirt to welcome them to Nauvoo. All the kids were so excited, they put them on immediately and then the pictures started...

It's good to be all together here in Nauvoo.

Old Nauvoo

Friday, June 13th

This morning John & I, Scott & Gretchen, and Dan were able to do a session in the Nauvoo temple. It is a beautiful temple. I loved the details and spirit there.

We spent the rest of the day touring Old Nauvoo. We started with a tour of the Visitors Center, had a wagon ride around town, then toured a few homes, and finally played games at Pioneer Pastimes. It was a great day and the kids all got along so well! It's fun to see them spend time together and enjoy each other. I wish we all lived closer so this could happen more often!

That evening just before Sunset by the Mississippi started Jake, Miles, and Abi joined the children's parade. They were so cute!!

Another Day in Old Nauvoo

Saturday, June 14th

We started the day with family pictures near the temple. It was an experience to say the least. Thankfully we got a few decent ones, of coarse not everyone is looking and smiling but isn't that typical of a family picture :)

Then we spent the rest of the day in Old Nauvoo letting the kids play and enjoy their time together. They had fun and we had a good time watching them.

In the evening we walked The Trail of Hope. I cannot image having to leave behind another home in the dead of winter and walk off into the unknown. The faith of those Saints amazes me. I suppose our trials are just different today, but theirs seem so unbelievably hard. How grateful I am for them.

What they had before them and what they were leaving behind.

The Prophet Joseph and Brigham Young discussing the future of the Saints in the Rocky Mountains