Daughter's Unconditional Admiration

I will write about our weekend adventures later since I am functioning on way too little sleep...but I had to write Belle's sweet comment of the day. As we were getting dressed, after our showers this morning, I was looking for the one comb we took with us on our journey. Belle, of course, asked "Why Mom?" I said, "Because we would look pretty silly with our hair like this all day!" She immediately replied "I think you look pretty." Even Dave smiled, realizing he couldn't have said that :)

Smurfs

Classic Belle thought pattern at age 3 - here's the story:

The smurfs are on tv and Belle comes downstairs from her nap. Callie and I are sitting on the bed. She says "I like this show! When I was a baby I liked this show too. I would watch it and think 'I like this show' but I couldn't talk so I would just say 'ya ya ya ya ya.' " I wish I could remember everything she says...so cute.

Sledding - 1/10/09

I have to say we were a little weary about living in Utah through a winter. We had already experienced snow in May last year when we lived at Grandma Taylor's house in Bountiful. We are fans of winter in Utah! We love the snow and actually would've liked another "Christmas" snow this winter! This was our only sledding trip to the park this winter! Callie had no clue what she was in for!
Woohoo!

Belle was hesitant at first, but didn't want to leave!

She had two methods of sledding

Dad cruisin at high speeds solo.

Sledding the big hill with dad!

1st Dance Class - 1/7/09

Belle and her friends Tessa, Emma and McKinley started dance in January. They were in gymnastics, which we will try to get into again... So here the teacher is trying to get these kids to dance, but obviously their attention is elsewhere. Honestly it was like this the first 3 weeks and I thought "Hey, everyone pay me $30 next month and your kids can come run around in leotards at my house!" :)
McKinley and Belle doing their own dance! (taken through the window...)

Emma looking like a pro!


Hmmm...should we go tackle Elmo with McKinley?

Future dancers hanging out

Backtrack - Rose Bowl 1/1/09

Okay, so I decided I need to play catch up for the year if this blog is really going to represent a family journal. So starting with New Years! Dave and I went to So Cal to be at the Rose Bowl Parade and Football Game (USC v. Penn State). What fun! This pic was for Bew!
We joined LuAnn, Diane, Aunt Charlene and Michelle in the VIP Grandstand for the parade then made our way to the VIP tailgate and our awesome gameseats (THANKS to Kelly's dad!)

The parade started off with messages in the sky and then a stealth bomber flew overhead! You couldn't even hear it until it was directly above us and even then it was pretty "stealth!" Here was my fav float by RainBird. It won 1st place too!

Dave thinks I took more pics of palm trees than anything else, but that just isn't true (19/150 pics). I did take a bunch though because I just LOVE palm trees and wanted 4 good pics to frame and hang above our bed. Pasadena was the perfect spot to find great palm trees! PS-I did just get my new camera for Christmas so I was loving it!


The stealth jet came to the game too! Check it out - it's seems like it's from outerspace!


Dave and I at the game - we were surrounded by SC fans and a couple of Penn State fans from Danville!

My New Hobby

I recently (2.14.09) went to my cousin's wedding in St. Paul, Minnesota, the state's capital. I decided to make myself the back-up photographer...

Sarah, the beautiful bride, with her dad in the background, so sweet.

Gavin, my cousin Eric's 2nd son.

Surprise?

The married couple's first dance.

Mr. & Mrs. Wade Falk! Sorry these are not in order, nor edited yet...

Here comes the bride! He's smilin'!

Candid, getting-ready shot.

Boquets taking a break at the reception.

Ahhh, the wedding cake!

Building A Snowmidget

Today I tried to show Belle how to build a snowman, but we had to improvise...The snow is so dry here that I don't really know how to roll a ball of snow for an adequate snow man. So though he may look to be a decent size, a foot and a half would be pushing it. Oh well, we had fun the 10 minutes we lasted in the freezing cold! Also, a pic I took of Belle right after that I thought was cute.

I don't know how you do it!

Blessed be the man that, after only 3 minutes in the SLC airport security line, said to me "I don't know how you do it!" THANK YOU! I've been on a high for 2 days now, all because a perfect stranger (AKA angel) recognized that I had survived something difficult! Maybe it was meant as "I don't know how you just managed to take your shoes off, take out your laptop, take out the baggie of meds and food and place the bottles oh so carefully (not to get to germy) in the security bins, hang on to your boarding pass and now put it all back together - all with a 20 lb. baby, who is smiling, strapped onto you! Now as I prefer to think, perhaps his comment was more to the general mom-public "I don't know how you manage to do all you do while taking care of children!" Or even in regards to a broader audience, "I don't know how you do it - PERIOD! - because there are so many trials, so many obstacles and our world is so complicated anyway you look at it! Wow! you are one amazing person!"

So as a tribute to all of my amazing friends and family whom I've thought about on my flight home just now - "I don't know how you do it, those of you who..." (you will fit at least one of these categories!)

-Have more than 2 children!
-Have twins or triplets!
-Remember everyone's birthdays!
-Work full-time, part-time or work more than one job!
-Run a business!
-Went back to school for an advanced degree!
-Have illness or pain!
-Can bake homemade bread!
-Exercise more than 2x/week!
-Can run a marathon!
-Have run for public office!
-Have been through a divorce!
-Have lost a child or spouse!
-Don't have family close by!
-Serve in the military or have a spouse that does!
-Watch my kids for me! :)
-Look great every time I see you!
-Keep a tidy house!
-Shop with coupons (savvy shopper style)!
-Don't get sick all winter long!
-Update your blog weekly! haha

I know there are many more examples of the awesome people in my life, but these are a few things that came to mind.

So, next time you want to offer some words of encouragement try "I don't know how you do it!" Seriously, it means the world that even if you can't empathize with someone, you can at least recognize that they are amazing!