ooooohhh...SHINY!

Well, we managed not to put child locks on the cupboards and drawers in our new house for long enough. I guess we ought to do that soon!

Photo Tag

I was tagged to post the 6th picture in my 6th photo album. It is one of Colin when he was about 4 months old and was just learning to roll over. I can see so much of Katie (his sister) in him. I can still see Colin, who is nearly 5 now, in this 4 month old picture. I love you, Colin!

Now I tag...Adrienne, Amanda, Mindy, Aubrey, and Karin to post the 6th picture in your 6th photo album (or folder). Let's see those pics!

I'm a DUP

What is a DUP, you ask? It stands for Daughters of Utah Pioneers ( http://www.isdup.org/) . I joined 3 years ago and this year I was elected the Captain for the camp here in Visalia. It is a great honor for me to be the captain at such a young age with so many other more qualified and experienced daughters (that's what we call the members). It is such a neat organization to belong to. My mom is a member and so was my great-grandmother. I love serving as captain and have learned so many things about the organization.

DUP was started by descendants of Mormon Pioneers, but you don't have to be a Mormon to join. You can become a member if your ancestor came to Utah before May 10, 1869 (when the railroad was completed). That means that any of your ancestors who passed through Utah territory between 1847 and 1869 weather because of the Gold Rush, Johnston's Army, as a Mormon Pioneer, worked on the railroad, as a trapper, and many more, can become a member. Even if you don't have pioneer heritage, you can join as an Associate. And even if you don't live near a camp or cannot attend meetings, you can be a Member-at-Large.

Many women would like to learn more about history and family research but don't know they can join. I am especially reaching out to younger women, like myself, so that we can maintain our membership. This year we are learning about the artifacts that are in the DUP Museum in Salt Lake City.

If you are interested, let me know! I can help you with the application papers (super easy to do!). If you are interested in coming to a meeting, we meet on the first Saturday of each month (September-May) at 10am. Our December meeting is a special one. It is our Christmas meeting where we have a regular DUP meeting (lesson, songs, pioneer story) followed by a luncheon. If you would like to attend and meet some really wonderful ladies, let me know and I can give you more details about where and when we are meeting.

I really hope that you will take an interest in becoming a member of this wonderful organization. Check out the website for all the information that you would ever need about DUP!

A woman has strengths that amaze,

She can handle trouble; carry heavy burdens.

She holds happiness, love, opinions.

She smiles when she feels like screaming.

She sings when she feels like crying.

Cries when she's happy, laughs when she's afraid.

Her love is unconditional.

There is only one things wrong with her -

She forgets what she is worth.

More "Firsts"

Colin participated in his first Primary Program at church today. He sang all the songs...he knew them all. He also had a small speaking part which he has had memorized for at least 3 weeks now, "Heavenly Father created the world for me." I must admit the my eyes got a little teary when I saw him up there.

Katie decided that she wanted to be a big girl and walk around the house...that's right I said walk! She did it with the help of a walker/push toy that she has (it was actually Colin's). She went from the front door to the family room (which is at the back of the house). I couldn't believe my eyes. And she was so steady on her feet. She had complete control of the walker and would stop when she wanted and then got going again. She just turned 11 months old on the 7th. She'll be walking by Thanksgiving at this rate! She also ate raisins for the first time today and had chicken, potatoes, and corn for dinner. She actually ate what I fixed the rest of the family!

This was her second attempt...and doing good!

Look out! Here I come!

She made it down the hallway and into the kitchen...and she kept going!

This is Katie just standing near the couch...hanging around. Notice how straight her legs are! She knows that bowls, plates, cups means food or something to drink. She also like to put toys into the bowls.

6th Anniversary

Today is our 6th Wedding Anniversary. I thought it would be fun to post a picture from our wedding day. We celebrated our anniversary last night with dinner at Cafe 225 - our favorite place to eat. The paella and scallops with saffron risotto were absolutely delicious.

Afterwards we went to Cost Plus (no really, we like to go there) and bought some yummy, exotic chocolate to share. We have only eaten 2 pieces each of this because it is so rich!

The beautiful roses Mike gave me...

Today, we went through our wedding album with Colin. It was so fun to look back with him at that day. He is finally at that age that he understands what the pictures are about and what an anniversary is. I think we will make it a family tradition.

Is that a sigh of relief, Mike?

Happy, happy, joy, joy! (just grin and bear it!)

That's right...got him on his knees!

Growing Up

Just posting a few pictures that I took today of Colin and Katie while we were working in the front yard. Both Colin and Katie are getting so big. After I reviewed these pictures, I saw how each of them have changed lately.

All I Want for Christmas...

We have been in our house over a year and a half now. We have been slowly getting things done in the house...painting the walls, re-arranging furniture. But there is one part of our home that is still the way it was when we moved in.

With the exception of a small orange tree by our bedroom window, our backyard is still a dirt pile. I just want a place for my kids to run around, besides inside the house, and I don't have to worry where they are. I just want some green grass to look at instead of a dirt plot when I open my kitchen drapes in the morning.

So I am foregoing all Christmas gifts this year in the hopes that my wish of a finished backyard will come true.

Cupcake Madness

I saw this link on my sister-in-law's BLOG and I can't get enough of it. I want to make everything on this site! I am going to try the basic red velvet cake pops first and see how it goes:
http://bakerella.blogspot.com

Good Deals!

I love it when I find a bargain on something that I am looking for or need. With the new Target open near us, I like to go and just browse the $1 bins and other isles looking for good deals. This is what I found recently:

1. Cute pillows that match Katie's room theme, which is Dick and Jane. The colors match perfectly and the circles match some of the fabric on her crib bumpers. These pillows were marked down to $1 each!! The orginal price was $9.98 each.

2. Katie is growing so fast and with the cooler weather she was in need of shoes. I found cute shoes for $4:

3. The $1 bin at Target has mittens, hats, scarves and other cool weather items. I got these for Katie for $1 each!

I couldn't leave Colin out of the deal, so I let him get a Slinky for $1. Target also has Hello Kitty stuff for $1 (if one of my kids pick my 7 year old for niece Christmas this year...I am totally going crazy with that one!)

Night-time Visitors

So recently I have been finding all kinds of scat in my front yard and back yard. I thought it might be a fox, someone even told me it could be from the toads (which we have a ton of and I can't keep the dog from licking them...but that is an entirely different story!). With the recent rains, and a backyard full of dirt that has since turned to mud, the mystery "scat-layer" has been solved and explains why my dog goes crazy every night. Can you guess which animal this print belongs to? I am just thankful they haven't gotten into my garbage!

Such a Big Girl!

Katie will be 11 months old on the 7th. I can't believe that in 5 short weeks, she will be 1! This first year of her life has just flown by. She is standing by herself, kneels by herself, likes to put toys away, waves bye-bye, opens and closes her hand to indicate that she wants more to eat, loves to clap to music, has made it very clear that she hates wearing shoes, and has even taken a few short steps.