Happy Birthday to Us!

We've had a crazy summer! Part of the reason is because all three of us has July birthdays! Gabe's came first on July 13th, mine came second on the 18th, and Preston's is the 21st. We tried to do something special for Gabe and I even though we have been more focused on Preston's birthday than either of ours. Gabe got homemade strawberry shortcake with hand picked strawberries (courtesy of Preston and I) for his birthday treat. He also got to choose what he wanted for dinner and we had yummy chicken pot pie. One of his presents was this banana republic polo I got for him at the outlet mall. He also got a new garage door opener which he's REALLY excited about. Really. On my birthday our friends Kati and Justin came over with their kids Alyssa and Dallin. They surprised us by making a yummy cake (pictured above) for all of our birthdays. Thanks guys! Oh, and thanks for the pictures too. ;)
Can you tell whose candles are whose?
I have to mention that my wonderful husband suprised me and took the day off for my birthday. I woke up to breakfast in bed (blueberry muffins, my favorite). He had already gotten up with Preston without me realizing, I thought he was just playing in his crib the whole time. I also got some great gifts like a watch I've been wanting for a long time, a camera case and a tripod. It was a great day! Thanks Gabe for making it so special. I love you!

P.S. I apologize for leaving the last post up so long, I know it's gross...

Prepare To Be Grossed Out!

One morning last week I woke up before Preston which NEVER happens, so I went downstairs to check my email and eat breakfast. When I was just starting my bowl of cereal I heard him wake up and start to play in his crib so I decided to go get him as soon as I was done. When I finally did make it to his room, this is what I found. He thinks he's so funny! He was clapping it together between his fingers, smushing it into his sheet, and laughing like crazy! He gave me that sweet "I didn't do anything, I swear!" face. Then he would admire his artwork and say "poo poos" over and over again. After that he smeared it all over the rails while he was trying to climb out. I'm not sure how some of it got on his mouth... mmm... yummy! I finally figured out the source of the problem when I took his shirt off. Then I decided a bath would be the best way to clean it all up and Preston had the time of his life as always. An overhead view of the damage that was done. The really sad thing is that his pony got some in its hair, but I decided to just give it a bath too, so luckily it's as good as new now. :)
Sorry, I know this is really gross, but I couldn't resist!

The Newest Member of Our Family

I finally talked Gabe into getting a second car for me to drive around town so I wouldn't be stuck at home anymore. :) In June 2008 we became the proud owners of a black 2002 Toyota Echo and I absolutely love it! It's small and easy to drive and has great gas mileage. It gets 41 mpg on the highway but we average a little over 36 mpg which I think is still really good, especially compared to our CRV. Eventually when we grow out of the car as a family, Gabe will drive it and I will drive the CRV, and then when we grow out of that we'll most likely get a minivan which won't be for a while, so until then we've got these two beauties. :)

Cincinnati in Review Part 2

Gabe's dad took us golfing while his mom and sister watched Preston sleep. :) It was my first time actually on a golf course, I've only been to the driving range a couple of times. I think I did pretty well. The first row of pictures is kind of funny because I asked Gabe to get a picture of me without my feet showing because my shoes looked kind of goofy, so he took one without my feet, and then one of just my feet... silly boy. We also got to go to the Cincinnati Zoo with Gabe's dad because they have a membership there. I really like their zoo and had actually been there before when I was in high school in Indiana because I was only about an hour and a half away. Anyway, it was fun to see the animals, measure our wingspans and let Preston feed the polar bear (not really, it just looks like it in that picture). Gabe's parents took us to see Jersey Boys which had great music but I wouldn't recommend it unless you don't mind a LOT of language, it was rather course, but we enjoyed getting all dressed up and going out together. Gabe's grandparents were there the last few days of our trip because they came in for Arien's graduation, it was really fun to see them again! We all went out to Gabe's favorite rib place Montgomery Inn. (Sorry you're heads cut off in both pictures Babe, I had no control over it) I also got to see Adrienne, a good friend from BYU, and met her fiance at breakfast while we were there, she's from Cincinnati and I was so glad we were able to chat for awhile. Of course, I forgot to take my camera out during our visit which I'm not too happy about, but I'm sure we'll see them again soon. Overall we had a great time in Cincinnati and are excited to go back, some time. :)

A Day in the Life of a BYU Freshman

Today I got up when I heard Preston playing in his crib just like every other day of my life and started to sift through my t-shirts to find one to wear to the gym (yes, I did start going to the gym...) when I found this little beauty. Here's a closeup shot and the back.This t-shirt brings back a lot of memories of my Freshman year of college thanks to the Campus Home Evening event. In our church we dedicate every Monday night to an evening with family. We have a lesson, sing songs, play games, and of course have a treat. Since we aren't living with family when we're at school we are put into Family Home Evening or FHE groups (I never heard this term until I went to college) with people that live near us. These groups consist of guys and girls and one girl and one boy are appointed to be the "Mom" and "Dad." Our "parents" were in charge of organizing each Monday night. Of course they didn't have to organize anything for this one night when the entire campus had a "Home Evening" with the campus President Cecil O. Samuelson and his wife. According to the Campus newspaper It was "an approachable setting where students feel like their questions are important, and it offers students a unique chance to make their voice heard." This is where my story begins.

Friday, September 24, 2004
I could totally give up on everything: school, boys, friends... it would be soooo much easier, but no fun! Except for the school part. It's cool that I'm at school though, that's what makes life amazing! I love being spontaneous like the other day, Tuesday to be exact, when I asked the student body president on a date in front of the President of BYU and a lot of the student body, it made me famous and I got a dollar out of it because my friend Brandon bet me a dollar if I did it. I don't think he really thought I would do it, but I did. I decided you have to make life what you want it, and if you want to have fun you have to do it yourself, not just sit around and be shy and boring... that's what I was doing lastnight for the most part and it was no fun. Anyway, because of this France Nielson thing A.K.A. student body president, a ton of people have come up and talked to me asking how it went, it's tons of fun being popular I'll have to try it more often. I like it when I can totally be myself, ya even though being myself is kind of a weird thing. Just because I am a weirdo, but I'm okay with that. It just means I'm an individual right?

Tuesday, October 12, 2004
I figured I should write down this story because it's one of the most exciting of my life. Alright, now I'm going to tell you the story about what I did at the Campus Home Evening with President Samuelson. There was a question and answer session and he was telling us that we could ask any question we wanted and told us how last year some guy asked how to get a date with his daughter and he said he was hoping that nobody asked that question this year because she's married now. But my friend Brandon who is my old roommate and best friend Megan's boyfriend told me he'd give me a dollar if I went down and asked a question. So I went all the way down from the top of the Marriot Center to the bottom so I could try to get the attention of the microphone guy. It took me like 20 minutes to get his attention with the help of the guy sitting in front of me because he knew the microphone guy and he thought my question was hilarious. So I asked the President of BYU in front of a large number of the student body what his opinion was on Seniors dating freshman, then I preceded to ask him how I could get a date with France, the student body president who happened to be sitting on the stand with him. He just started laughing and then said, "Well come down here when this is over and we'll work that out between you two." I was scared to death, I only did it so I could get a dollar and I didn't know what I had gotten myself into. I went down there after because the guy in front of me who helped me get the attention of the microphone guy, and the microphone guy were both friends with France and introduced me to him. He invited me to go to his office sometime and visit whenever I want to, his friends were all like, yea, come eat lunch with us sometime, blah blah blah, it was so funny. One guy even gave me a campus home evening t-shirt which was the coolest thing ever by the way because it's light blue and says "not your average FHE" on the back, I love it. Then the Dean of Students came up to me an gave me his card and said, anytime you want to talk to France just come to my office, he's there all the time. I was like a celebrity on campus for like three days. Everyone was coming up to me saying hey aren't you that girl who asked France on a date... it was so funny, I was just like yea, my friend gave me a dollar to do it. That was like three weeks ago and I never went to go see France because that would have just been weird. I had just gotten over it. Then last Wednesday when I was waiting to eat lunch with one of my friends I saw him and was trying to ignore the fact that he was there because I figured that he didn't remember who I was, but he came up to me and was like, "hey, were have you been, I haven't seen you around. Why haven't you come to see me in my office?" Then he preceded to ask me what my name was again and how to spell it. Then he said he had a meeting he was late to, but he'd give me a call sometime. Isn't that the funniest thing ever, I think he was going to look me up on stalker-net, and he was standing there talking to me when he was late for his meeting. I just thought it was the weirdest thing ever, and Mara (she's now married to my brother) thought it was hilarious. But he never called me, he must be too busy with homecoming or something. Then yesterday when I was walking to physical science and was like ten minutes early for once in my life instead of getting to class right on time. Anyway, I was walking and I heard someone yell at me from across Brigham Square and was like "Who's yelling at me" I turned around and guess who it was? It was France. He went out of his way to yell my name from across the courtyard. I went to talk to him, he was eating lunch with his younger brother who's 22, France is 24, they're really old, but they're both really nice. I talked to him for a while and told him that I was doing some of the homecoming activities, like going to hike and light the Y tonight. He told me that he has to speak at it, but to bring all my friends and come up and talk to him because he would be mad if I didn't, isn't that weird? I thought so. So I went to physical science and my friend Emily came in and was like you'll never guess who I just saw? France, he was sitting at a table talking to someone and I overheard his conversation, he was like yea, that's the girl who asked me on a date. I just thought it was funny how she passed him right when he was talking about me. It's the funniest story of my life, I really like it. WOW, that's all I can say.

Friday, November 12, 2004


Brandon owes me five bucks!
I"m going on a date with France, Tonight!

(Of course the bet was more than just the date asking, I received five dollars if I actually went on a date, 25 if we got engaged, and so forth... kind of silly really)

So there you have it, I asked a much older student body president on a date, in front of a lot of people, shy little me, right? And all for a dollar, or I guess potentially more. ;) He really was a very nice guy, but I have to say not quite my type. Every freshman girl thought he was sooo dreamy... except for me, and I was the one that ended up going on a date with him.

My roommate Dom who I wrote about in a previous post was in our dorm room when he called to ask me on a date (he looked me up in the online student directory we always called it stalkernet), and I was in of course in class. She gave him my cell phone number and he called me as I was rushing to do my homework before my psychology class. By the time I got home every girl in my dorm (literally) knew that I was going on a date with France, even the girls I didn't know, and they were all giving me tips on what I sure wear, and how I should do my hair. The worst thing was that he had to come pick me up at the dorms, so I was waiting in the main lobby surrounded by all the girls who wanted a peek, it was very embarrassing!

I'm guessing by this point some of you are wondering what France looks like. I wasn't good enough friends with him to ever have my picture taken with him and I wasn't just a passing admirer who could ask for a picture and not have to worry about it being awkward because they would never see him again. Hence, the reason I don't have any pictures of him... besides this one I found on the BYU website. I think this was right after he won the election which makes sense as to why he's got the #1 finger thing going on. He was very polite on our date to the dollar movie theatre, but the movie was pretty much all we talked about. The entire night was slightly awkward because we were doubling with his friend and his friends girlfriend and they obviously had been dating for a while. Plus, who goes on a first date to just a movie and nothing else? That could be one reason why he was single despite his supposed striking good looks.

All in all, it was an interesting experience, but I'm glad I found what I was looking for (Gabe, the best husband ever!), and I hope he did too. Maybe someone who really loved the dollar theatre and didn't eat much... because he definately was not my type. Plus, I ended up with a really cool shirt!

Communing With Nature

Gabe's parents live in a beautiful area near Cincinnati. While we were there we went on a walk just down the street and saw this beautiful sight.

To the Dad's in My Life

*Better late than never*

Thanks to all the Father's in my life for all you have done for our family! Gabe you're the best daddy a wife and baby could ask for! Dad thank you for all you have taught me throughout my life, and for the good example you are to my son. Larry, thanks for the great example you have been to Gabe throughout his life, and for continuing to do so now as he is learning to be a father.

I'm grateful that Preston is related to so many amazing righteous men! Thanks again for all you have done for us!

Now for just one more thing. This is dedicated to my dear husband, and all those hardworking fathers out there. :)

The Cost of Children

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 years old and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. That doesn't even include college tuition! It doesn't sound too bad if you break it down. It ends up being $8,896 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour.

Here is what you get for your $160,140:

- Naming right; First, middle, and last!

- Glimples of God everyday.

- Giggles under the covers every night.

- More love than your heart can hold.

- Butterfly kisses.

- Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds and warm cookies.

- A hand to hold, usually covered with jam.

- A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.

- Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140 you never have to grow up.

- You get to fingerpaint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.

- You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watch Saturday morning cartoons, go to Disneyland, and wish on stars.

- You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refridgerator magnets.

- You get to collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, and handprints set in clay or cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140 there is no greater bang for your buck.

- You get to be the hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off of a bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

- You get to a front row seat to history by witnessing the first step, first word, first date, and first time behind the wheel.

- You get to be immortal.

- You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs on your limbs called grandchildren.

- You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communication and human sexuality that no college can match.

- You have the power to heal a booboo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, and even love you without counting the cost.

ENJOY YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!!!

And, remember, they're cheaper by they dozen.

Author Unknown

Busy Boy

Preston has grown so much in the past few weeks. He's turning into a little man. Watch this video and see why! A friend of mine said he slightly resembles Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, you'll have to be the judge.