Happy 39th!

Happy Birthday to my favorite person, who, as luck would have it, I get to be married to. You're the best and I don't know what I'd do without you. (I just love this picture and I'm not sure why...something sweet and manly about it. I guess that pretty much describes Mark and why I love him.)

Dallin's New Set of Wheels

We're happy to report that Dallin is finally riding a two-wheeler by himself. He's not too happy to report that he's having to do it on his sister's girlie bike (yes, it does say "Pedal Power" on it). He was having such a hard time learning to ride the cool bike we got him for Christmas. Finally Mark figured out that it was a more specialized bike with a low seat and high pedals (like you see all the punk kids in your neighborhood riding) and it didn't make for easy learning. So for now Dallin can be spotted cruising the neighborhood on this fancy little number. The weather has been beautiful (up to 60 degrees yesterday! Do I talk about the weather too much on this blog? It seems like I do) so we all took turns riding around with him. I love having all this space for the kids to play around in and can't wait until summer (I never said that in AZ!).

February Visitors, Part Three

GIRLS TRIP 2009!

I have been looking forward to this week all year long. These are 5 of my BFF's from Phoenix: Maureen, Susan, Emily, Larissa and Kimberlee. We all lived together in the same ward for a few years, but sadly started to move away one by one. When Maureen moved to Alabama in 2007 we had our first girls trip to visit her. Last year we went to Washington DC and NYC to visit Susan. This year they came here, even though no one in their right mind would visit Boise in February! (We actually had great weather, so the AZ girls survived). We had so much fun shopping, eating out, getting pedicures, watching movies and talking until the early morning hours. Here we are at about 4:30 in the morning on the last day (can you tell I'm tired?)

Each year we buy something "matchy", this year it was purses:

I love these girls so much and really don't know what I'd do without them. Thanks for coming everyone (and thanks to a sweet husband who handled everything while I did nothing but play for four days.) I can't wait for next year!

February Visitors, Part Two

Meet the Robertsons...Eric, Raquel and their four kids. They came to visit us from Salt Lake this weekend. These guys are some of our oldest friends from our med school days. We met them when Raquel and I were just barely pregnant with our first girls and now look how things have changed:



We spent our Valentine's Day taking all eight (!) kids on a field trip to:


The Old Idaho State Penitentiary. Because nothing says I Love You like a visit to an old prison.
It was actually quite interesting, although a tad depressing. Don't worry, we followed it with a trip to a huge candy store, unless you thought we were the worst parents ever. The Robertsons have visited us in every house we've lived in since we caravaned across the country with them when we all moved from Maryland. There's nothing quite like old friends who've known you forever. Thanks for visiting you guys, we love you!

February Visitors, Part One

We have lots of company coming over the next two weeks, starting with these three cuties:

Chelsea came up from Provo for her third time. (She's participating in our frequent visitor program where the rewards include unlimited swedish fish and hot chocolate with whipped cream).


Amber and Sydney are visiting from Michigan. We like to just sit and watch Syd do her new sassy one-year old walk and listen to her giggle. She is such a happy girl! We've also been eating out plenty, shopping and spending our nights snuggled up in the theater room. A great way to pass the winter days!

Murphy's Law Always Applies to Moms

Today was going to be the perfect day. Brady was riding the bus home with a friend so I had from 8:30-3:00 all to myself. Heaven! So I wasted time all morning thinking I would have plenty of time to run my errands in the afternoon. I was actually looking forward to shopping for some groceries at Walmart since I would be by myself and wouldn't feel rushed. So of course, as soon as I get there and just start filling my cart, it came...the dreaded call from the nurse's office at the elementary school. Poor Dallin had thrown up (in his classroom...the worst kind of embarrassment!) and I needed to come pick him up. So much for my great day to myself! And please don't let this deter all the company we have coming in the next few weeks, I'm sure it's a 24 hour thing (let's hope).