Tea Party

Katie took these beautiful pictures of our girls. The lighting was perfect and we got some some great shots. Unfortunately, Jane was exhausted and we only got one of her. But I just had to show off her "michelin man" arms, I think they are fantastic!

Whirlwind Whitney

My family calls me Whirlwind Whitney because I am always on the go. Now with four kids I still go, go, go but I am a lot slower and I just can't quite pull it all off. I realized this week I may have a problem when one neighbor suggested he thinks I am bipolar and experiencing a "manic phase" and the other neighbor thinks I work full time because I am always gone! I tried to explain that I am just hyper and if they knew my sisters, they might think I was lazy. I think this "manic phase" refers to our activity level this summer. Just a month into it and we have been having a blast. Most of our time is filled with Scott's baseball and then we fill in the extra hours with swimming, hiking, picnicking, bike riding, etc, etc. Judd and Jackie and their boys are here for the summer and so we are spending a lot of time with extended family. We had a wonderful family trip to Bear Lake and we are all going to Pacific Grove the end of July. We get to visit the "lovely" city of Beaver next week for a baseball tournament! That might just be the highlight of the summer :) No offense to anyone from Beaver, but last year it was Panguitch, and I'm just wondering what is wrong with St. George or even Spanish Fork?

Last week I had the opportunity to run with my sisters and my cousin in the Wasatch Back Relay. They were kind enough to allow me to rejoin the Joggin' Broads. They were fast this year and I stressed about keeping up for six months. It was very difficult but we ended up having a blast! I pumped milk in the back of the van and threw up about 30 times and I still thought it was a party. Which leads me back to the assumption from my neighbor that I may indeed be mentally ill!

So here I go and I hope this "manic phase" lasts all summer because I still have a lot of things I want to do before school starts again!

VIVA MEXICO

We had a dream vacation to Akumal, Mexico with our wonderful friends, the Nichols. I had to start thinking of new adjectives when I realized I was saying the words "perfect" and "heaven" a little too frequently. It really was the perfect family vacation. We stayed in a beautiful villa with a pool and then a few steps to the beach. The balcony had two hammocks and I spent the majority of the vacation rocking my baby and drinking "pepsi light". I think this was the first vacation where I actually came home relaxed and refreshed, instead of exhausted. Our kids spent most of the days in and out of the pool, searching for shells, and catching crabs. We visited the ruins, swam and cliff jumped in underground water caves, and ate Italian pizza with live music on the patio. Thank you Nichols family for the vacation of a lifetime!

My Girls

Do you think maybe I was hungry when I was picking out these dresses? Neopolitan anyone?

Before I had my girls, I would always tell people I'm just a "boy mom". I secretly feared having a daughter. I feared that she would hate me from age 13- 23, or at least pretend to hate me and blame me for all life's problems. I feared that she would one day go to therapy and spend the entire session talking about me. I feared eating disorders, body image, hormones, and self-esteem. I told people, "I just want three little boys"! I just want to fill my life with sports, mud, and movement. But everything changed on the day I was pregnant with my third child and we had an ultrasound. The technician said, "It's a girl" and my heart melted. I saw her little heart beat and fell in love with her before she was even born. I had no idea! I just didn't get it and now I do. So bring on the, "you are ruining my life" and "you just don't understand" and "you are so embarrassing". I'll take it all just to have the privilege to raise these beautiful baby girls. I just pray that they will know that they are truly daughter's of God and how lucky I am to be their mom.

I've Got the Golden Ticket

I always flinch a little when someone says, "Hey, you look just like...." It hasn't always been the response for which I'm looking. Shockingly, not Elle McPhereson! I developed a bit of a chin complex when in Jr. High I was told I look like this handsome gentleman... Felt a little better about being compared to this well endowed beauty from the "Little Shop of Horrors"And again when I was told I look like the McDonalds moon! (years of therapy followed)I don't mean to brag or make anyone feel bad, but I personally think I more closely resemble a child star with a famous leading role. You be the judge, but I think I'm a dead ringer.



Top that!!! Who wouldn't want to look like good ole Charlie Bucket? What famous person have you been told that you look like?

My "Chunka Chunka Burnin' Love"

This is what we sing to Jane. She's just a "Chunka chunka burnin' love"! She truly is! We are all just head over heels in love with her. She is going to be four months old tomorrow and I feel like time is just going too fast. Why does it feel like you are pregnant for about 9 years and then you have a newborn for about 4 weeks? I just want to treasure this beautiful time with my baby girl and record every memory. I had to get a snap shot of her in all her rolled and dimpled glory!

Bringing in the Sheaves

Steve downloaded the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on my I-Home so that I could enjoy Sunday sounds. One of the songs on the disc is "Bringing in the Sheaves". As a child and well into my teen years (way too old to not know) I thought this song said, "Bringing in the Cheese". I couldn't figure out why in the world the church would sing a song about cheese, but I figured it must have some sort of symbolic significance. When the song came on, I told my kids what I thought it said and they really got a kick out of it. We have spent a lot of time marching around the house to the beat and singing, "bringing in the cheese". The other day Steve was home with the kids and the song came on and Claire came into the room holding cheese and singing the song. She then continued to bring all the necessary items for a sandwich including a tomato, bread, and ham. Now when the song comes on she first sings "bringing in the cheese" and then follows with "bringing in the ham" and "bringing in the wheat bread". I know it is disrespectful but it just cracks us up and it has now become our sandwich making song!