New Thought for the Blog Header

I like to change the little quote under the title on the blog every once in a while and I saw this thought on my cousin, Sari's blog. It's from the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and it's one of those thoughts that embodies an attitude I try to have about life in general.

"When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too."

One of my volleyball coaches used to always say, "Better the ball," meaning make the play that leaves you better than how it came to you. If the serve is hard, make the pass great, if the pass isn't super, make the set great - if the set isn't wonderful, make the hit great. I've always tried to take that same instruction for life. Better whatever comes to you and make it great for the next person.

Thanks for the thought today, Sari. It got me thinking in a good direction!

Cute Brothers and My Tomato Lover

Handout for RS Lesson Last Week

I meant to post this last week - it's the handout for my lesson last week. Enjoy!

Proud of Our Heritage

Just for Fun

The International School of Color and Design offers this quiz to help you find your interior decorating style. I found it on a blog today and I thought mine was right on. Kinda fun.

Seven Months Old Today

Nicole's Shower Part II

Our first neice on Jon's side will be born in hopefully less than 10 weeks and we can't wait! Because our house is central to the Utah County-ers and the Salt Lake County-ers, we had the opportunity to host the shower for my sister-in-law, Nicole. As you saw in my last post, I had way too much fun with the pink decor. My mom made all the fabulous crepe paper flowers, I made some applique onsies with flowers and hearts for the clothesline, and the diaper cake just had to be a part of it all.

Jon's mom and sisters all helped out so much the morning of and I couldn't have done it without them. It was kinda fun all working together like a little army, cooking and cleaning and getting ready for the event. The food was delish and I ate way too much. Lots of family and Nic's Utah friends came with great gifts - mostly pink! for her little bundle of joy.

We were so glad Rob and Nicole fit us into their busy schedule and came here from California for the weekend. They were in a little fender bender on their way and handled it with grace and just rolled with everything all weekend. Not so sure I have the same patience while I am 29 weeks prego! We can't wait to meet their sweet little girl and we were so glad to get to be a part of the new baby festivites. If only they lived a llittle closer....

PINK Teaser

Here's a little taste of the fabulous pink shower we threw for my sis-in-law, Nicole, on Saturday. Clearly, I had too much fun with a girly shower!

We Love to See the Temple

My Relief Society lesson is about the temple today and Luke is giving a talk in primary about strengthening his family - and he's mentioning the temple. How blessed are we to have had the opportunity to take the kids to two temple open houses within the last six months. I remember going through the Jordan River open house as a kid and then worked as a missionary at the Timpanogos open house. I love that as you drive the I-15 corridor, the landscape is becoming more populated with temples. So much so, that the kids always seem to be saying "I spy with my little eye something that is white." I love the temple. I hope my boys love it too.

Happy Birthday MOM!

July is a busy month for our family with my folks' anniversary on the 1st, dad's birthday on the 10th, mom's on the 15th, not to mention the party of all parties on the Fourth - and some cousins' kiddos' b-days, and cousins-in laws also mingled throughout the month.

One of my favorite parts of July is my brother and his family come for an extended visit. While they're here, Grandma spearheads most of the fun for the month. She plans canyon trips, hikes, swimming days, movies, ballroom dancing - post to follow soon - and "camp Grandma" in general. Today for her birthday, we had fun at the pool, and enjoyed some Dippidee carrot cake in between dance and karate lessons for the kids. A few of the night owls also went to Harry Potter for a late show.

I hope you had a fun day today, Mom. We love you and appreciate all the time you have spent making fun days for us kids and your grandchildren. We love you and appreciate all you do! Happy birthday!

Lulla's Baptism

My oldest cousin had her youngest's baptism on Saturday and it was a really nice day. I kept thinking that I am only a year and a half away from Luke's big day and that makes me feel a little old. Why is it that time accelerates as we get older and have kids?

I clearly remember my own special day, November 5th, 1983 - at the same church as Talulla's service. In fact, all of us cousins have been baptized at the old white stake center. It was fun to share her day and to hang with the family for the day. Congratulations Lulla, we are all proud of you.

Happy Birthday to My Dad

I have this awesome post all composed in my head with pictures of my pops through all the years and stories of all the support, coaching, teaching, comforting, etc...he gave me growing up. Hopefully before his next birthday, I will actually get to that post, but for now, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! Love you and thanks for all you do!

Behind as Always...

At what point do you say about an event you've been meaning to blog, "Wow, it's really been awhile, I guess I'll just scrap it." I have this continually-growing folder of things to blog and I often wonder if I'll ever be able to tackle it all. Maybe in the fall when Luke's in school all day, maybe in the wee hours of the night when I can't sleep, maybe in the winter while we're in the freezing tundra that is our area, maybe when my kids are all grown and married? Who knows?

Happy Fourth!