My Men

This picture was taken for Jay's baby blessing back in July--I feel bad that I never got around to posting anything about it--so here goes . . . I know I'm not a great writer, so this probably won't come across how I want it. Watch out--I'm going to start laying it on thick, it might be emabarassing to read, but I just want to have a record of how I feel and share it with whomever wants to know. I fell in love with Joel in the Spring of 1997-- when we were studying for a geography class at Utah State. Of course I can remember my life before him but I never really knew myself then. From the beginning he has always made me want to be a better person--he still does. Everyday I think about how lucky I am to be married to the man that I am both deeply in love with and who is also my best friend. I love spending eternity with him. He is the most loving husband and father. Joel gave our little Jay Alfred a blessing and I am so happy that he lives so he was able to. I am madly in love with the 2 men in our little family--Jay, I hope you grow up to be just like Daddy!

FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL

Okay--so this is only a month late for Eden, but let's just roll with it. Here is my cute little first grader--she has loved being in school and her favorite part is (you guessed it) 3 recceses and taking lunch. Its been an adjustment from our summer schedule of getting the kids to bed at 10:00 (What the?) now that school starts at 8:00! With the help of some friends (Eve and Kristy--who I also took 2 hip-hop classes with) and the book called Healthy Sleep habits, Happy child everybody is going to bed at 7:00! The girls may not be sleeping until later, but at least they're in their room for the night. I'm finally feeling like I can do more that just survive! Its great! Where was I . . . oh yes, back to school. Eden has adjusted so well to school all day and has been learning so rapidly! she even comes home with a "joke of the day" from her teacher i.e. where do you take a sick bee? To the WASPitol! I really miss her through out the day but she is loving it and thriving. Ruby also started Joy school a few weeks ago. She is the only girl in her class of 4 and this coming week is my turn to teach--we'll see how it goes. Ruby is so proud to be going to school and is growing up too fast (just like her sister!) As for Jay-Jay--he recently started eating mushy rice cereal and his favorite . . . sweet potatoes which have a laxative effect--Whoooaaa!

Eden ready for school


Big girl Ruby Suby


this is what I had on the table when Eden came home from school--the cake has starbursts and m&m's on it (kind of weird) so I tried to think of something healthy, so, (even weirder) came the smiley face of cheese sticks, cups of applesauce for eyes and peanut butter-filled celery for either eyelashes/hair. You love it!

FOOT BLING

also known as "Sparkly Shoes". Grandma Mimi bought the red sparkly shoes for Ruby over a year ago when she took her shopping and Ruby insisted that she needed them. As you can see, they got their money's worth--those shoes were worn with everything--rain or shine. I wish I had more pictures of Ruby in her "ensembles"--these things go with every color, style, genre--you name it and she's worn it. We had to say goodbye to the red ones because they were too small and were digging cuts in her feet. Baba got her the new silver sparkly shoes and we've made the transition without a hitch (pheewww--you know Ruby, when she's not happy, aint nobody happy!) Here are a couple of bad pictures but you get the idea anyway. (when am I going to learn to take more pictures???!!)