At Grandma Evelyn's

We took a partial-family vacation this last week. (Tyler had to work.) The kids and I went with my parents to Grandma Evelyn's for Grandpa's 80th birthday party. When we got there, Carter looked around and asked, "Is this Evelyn's garden?" (He's never been there before.) I said, "Yes!" It was somewhat surreal to take my children to a place that is synonymous with my childhood. They saw Grandpa Vardis's root cellar that he dug out of the ground. They played in the golden delicious apple tree (that I swear used to be much taller), walked through the grape vines, swung in the tree swing, and watched Grandpa irrigate the lawn. It was fun for them and very nostalgic for me.

Here is a picture of us by the tree swing.

We had fun at the reunion.
It was in Grandma Evelyn's yard.

A camera duel with Uncle Richard.
There were several camera duels over the weekend.
We have lots of pictures of people taking pictures of people.

Some of the cook cousins in Grandma's apple tree.

The truth is revealed...

NOOOOO!!!

It's true. After years of battles between Harry and Voldemort and Lucius and Sirius and Ron and Hermionie, a winner has been determined.

And...


it's...


me!


Let me explain.

Today was Tyler's only (real) day off this month. And, like many of you, he is within a few hundred pages of the end of Harry Potter VII. However, despite the intense desire (even need perhaps) to finally know the ending of the ten year saga, I got him to spend the day with me. We went on a date! We saw a completely brainless movie (yeah! I needed brainless) and went to dinner without any children (thanks Mom & Dad). We laughed and talked and enjoyed some much needed time together. It was wonderful.

So, I guess that just goes to show that after 12 years of marriage, I am still more interesting than Dumbledore, more powerful than Voldemort, more captivating than Harry.

That's true love.

(He is now downstairs finishing the book.)

Dobby Duty

Tonight we had the kids unload the dishwasher after dinner.

Carter said, "Why do we have to do this job?"

Tyler answered, "Because you are the house elves, that's why we had you. Ha, ha, ha!"

Carter responded, "Well, at least I won't have to be the house elf forever. When I grow up I'll just get a wife."

Hmmm... I suspect my boys need some more good 'husband-in-training' exercises, like scrubbing toilets, unloading the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, and other Dobby duties. And from now on, no more free socks.

Get A Blog!

My top 10 reasons the following 10 people should
"Get a blog!"

10. Blogging keeps you at the "top" of the information mountain.

9. You can do it from anywhere -- like while you are in the O.R., right Dr. Nelson?

8. It is easy. Like Jessica said, "Well, if you can do it..."

7. When you "chatter" about yourselves, we don't have to "chatter" about you.

6. Truth is always stranger than fiction. Or in other words:
three-year-olds provide the best blogging material available.

5. You can post your own photos & no one knows they've been doctored!

4. It makes it so your friends can stay in contact with you at 2am when they have insomnia.

3. It makes it so you can stay in contact with your friends at 2am when you have insomnia.

2. It makes it so I don't have to use the phone.

1. It's kind of like a bog, but it smells better.

My top 10 people who need a blog:

Suzanne Liddle
(No one can make me laugh harder than you.
Remember your quip about husbands not having
"object permanence?")

Clint & Sarah Cresap
(You took blog pictures while you were here, right?)

David and Emily Cook
(Document that belly -- I want proof! I want updates!)

Amber Thompson
(Really, what's your excuse? Have Ethan host it!)

Mike and Michelle Stevenson
(I like to get your comments,
but I'd also like to give some too...)

Cami and Aric Ellis
(Consider it "Marley therapy.")

Tagged...

Thanks for the tag Gina!

Here's way too much information about me:

Four jobs I've had:
1) Snelgrove's Ice Cream (1991)
2) Gary Free Real Estate Appraisal office (1993)
3) Crystal Canyon (1997)
4) Motherhood (1998-forever!!)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Ruprekt, eat your applesauce)
2) Groundhog Day (Romantic poetry, what a waste of time!)
3) Mr. Mom (38, 39, whatever it takes...)
4) Family videos (Wow, I used to be tan and skinny.)

Four places I've lived:
1) Sandy, Utah
2) Rexburg, Idaho
3) Los Angeles, California
4) Beautiful Southern Utah

Four favorite TV shows:
1) HGTV: Designed to Sell (Tyler hates it)
2) HGTV: Design on a Dime (Tyler hates it)
3) The Office (Tyler likes it)
4) The Muppet Show (Tyler is it)

Four places I've been:
1) New Orleans
2) Hawaii
3) Yellowstone
4) Seattle

Four favorite foods:
1) Taco Salad
2) A fresh, juicy nectarine
3) Mu Gu Gai Pan
4) Homemade chicken noodle soup (with homemade noodles)

Four websites I visit daily:
1) My blog
2) Deseret News
3) Carter's blog
4) Tyler's blog

Four places I'd rather be:
1) At the cabin with my family
2) Waterskiing with my family
3) At the beach with my family
4) Getting a massage without my family

Four blog buddies I want to tag:
1) Jessica Ellis
2) Tyler Nelson
3) Chelsea bug
4) The Cresaps -- HA! Now you have to create a blog!!

Me too!!

Chelsea was tired to being left out.
So she has created a blog also. Her address is:
www.mychelseabug.blogspot.com.
Check it out!

Random

Somehow life with kids is an adventure, even when there's nothing really going on.


Yesterday we gave Bryce a bath. I just love when they are finally umbilic-less. Everything was going pretty well until he pooped all over the counter and himself (not pictured). The task then went from just bathing baby to washing self, baby, counter, baby tub, my clothes, the front of the cabinets and the floor.

Spencer decided to wear his tiger costume at dinner.

Tyler declined the invitation to wear the tiger costume, but he agreed to pose for a picture. Terrr-i-fic!

We played the game Apples to Apples after dinner, and apparently you do not have to be able to read to win. Spencer won hands down. Of course, it doesn't really matter what the adjective is, nothing beats golf-ball-sized hail.

Happy Birthday, etc.

Yesterday we celebrated Tyler's birthday. (Quiz: how old?) We went hiking in the morning with Grandma and Grandpa and then caught a movie (Ratatouille -- I give it a B) and had dunch at Texas Road House. It was a full day of lots of fun.


We are blessed to live in a free nation with liberties and opportunities. We are also blessed to have such a great Dad/Husband in our lives.

Happy Birthday, Tyler. We love you!

A Weekend with Boyacks

This past Sunday Bryce was blessed at church.
GrandMary and Papa and the Boyacks came for the occasion.

The cousins played Wii all weekend and had a ball while we went out to dinner and enjoyed adult conversation -- yeah! It was a delightful visit despite the July heat. Luckily though, it only hit about 103 degrees while they were here. It's been 114 and 116 since they left. Whew!!