Finally—Pigtails!

I have been waiting to do this my whole mother life. Not pigtails necessarily, just her hair. Someday they will fill out a little, but for now, it is just fun to do another mom thing I haven't done before.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Yesterday was Lily's first birthday, so last night we had a little bash with some family. Lily had so much fun. This is what she looked like while everyone was arriving, (sorry it is really blurry).

I did a pink/red candy bar which turned out to be pretty easy, not too much baking. I just made a few chocolate items and some red velvet cupcakes. Fortunately my sister Sarah was able to come up from BYU and help me make it all.


I loved Lily in the dress we got her. She looked so stinkin cute. Unfortunately the lighting was so poor in our house and Lily was running around wild, that the only one I could get of her whole dress was this one!


And for my mother who was so sad to miss it all, a movie that sums up the party in only 2 short minutes.

VCU it is!

Well after just weeks of waiting we finally found out of 700 applicants Eric was one of the 25 accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University. If that sounds like I am bragging, well, I am. I have the smartest, most driven, successful husband ever! VCU was our number one choice for two reasons, one it has the #1 rated Nurse Anesthesia program and #2 it is only an hour away from my family!! Hooray! The best thing is this is the first school to interview him so he was able to cancel other interviews and save us lots of dough. I am just so proud! We are really sad to leave Utah because there are so many things/people I will miss, but I am really excited to move to a new place that will have so many things to do and has places like a Museum District. Don't start crying yet, we don't leave until June!

Our little bug...

This was the best picture we were able to get, she just doesn't pose well in a big fat butterfly costume.

Apparently that runs in the family because this was the best of me and Eric. Boo.

(Bonnie and Clyde by the way)

P.S. My mom and sister flew in for the week. It was so much fun. I think this was the first time in five years me and Melissa have spent more than three days together! Melissa: That is way too long. See you this spring??

Sarah was gracious enough to part from her BYU social life to spend the weekend with us. So all the girls went shopping...I think Lily hates shopping. Boo again.

What do you do...

when you used to have a great napper and now that she can pull herself up, 10 seconds after you put her down you get this:

and then this.


You move her mattress down, right? Well, then you get this:

The Utah State Fair!

It was fun showing Lily all these animals she'd never seen before. She didn't know what to think about them.




Especially the pig.


She loved her first carousel ride. Eric would wave at her and by the time she realized it we'd be half-way around before she'd start waving back. Needless to say all the other parents watching thought she was really friendly!


She loved Dip n'Dots


I just think this one is really funny, she loved these bronze statues of kids in the Art Building. She's showing them her cool new sound she learned, "ahhhh".

The Oregon Coast

Every year Eric and I go on a family vacation for our anniversary. Now that we have Lily and are really a family, we really got to experience the all American summer vacation along the Oregon coast. Why Oregon you ask?

Beautiful Beaches (This was Lily's face the whole time we were at the beach...until we had to leave the beach).


She's so advanced. Just check out this sand castle she built!


Quaint restaurants with a beach front view and gourmet food.


Bizarre Beaches in the mountains.


My favorite was taking a glass blowing class.



Lily had a good time, but she slept through a few places...

A Lost Hiatus

After about five years of being told to watch this show, I've finally succumbed. My hesitations were not because I thought I wouldn't like it, it was that I would like it too much. I was afraid of getting too obsessed with it and yet, I've fallen. I need Lost, and I need it in large doses. I am now spending any free time wondering what 4 8 15 16 23 42 means and who the 'others' are on this freakin' island!

My husband thinks I'm pathetic.

I'm almost finished with Season One, so look forward to some fun posts on our trip to Oregon, a trunk full of snow, and a visit from my mysterious family that none of my friends have ever seem to have met.

My Favorite Eric Story

Eric's best friend growing up was his dog, Fruiter. Fruiter was Eric's dog even before Eric was ever born. They grew up together. He slept with him every night, sometimes taking the blame for a wet bed every now and then. He'd sit in the back of the Cruiser cozied up with Eric and Red Wall on family vacations. He went down to the KOA with Eric to get penny candy. Played with him in the dirt hills. To show his love, he'd bring home dinner for the family, a roast that was thawing on someone's porch, and they would actually eat it. Eric and Fruiter were always together.

Then when Eric was about 13, Fruiter started getting sick with cancer. He was such a good dog that when he was really sick, and throwing up, he'd go in the bathtub to do it. He just got sicker and sicker until he eventually had to be put down. Eric was devastated.

Hoping to console him, Eric's dad made a pine box and said they could go bury Fruiter in a special spot on their property up in the Uintahs. They trekked through the mountains trying to find the perfect spot. Eric's dad, carrying no less than 30 pounds up these mountains, suggested plenty of spots to Eric. But none of them were just the right spot for Fruiter.

A few hours and several up-hill miles later, Eric found the perfect spot. Right next to a tree and a creek the best resting place for Fruiter that Eric could find. Eric's dad tirelessly dug through the rocks and roots and they said their last good-byes.

Down went Fruiter, the dirt piles over his humble pine box.
Eric sniffles, "Dad?"
Eric's dad turns, shovel in hand sweat dripping down the dry Utah sun beating down.
"Yeah, Eric?"
"Can I say good-bye to him one last time?"

So Eric's dad digs Fruiter back up, lifts the lid and then Eric says his very last good-bye.

Stewart Falls

For Memorial Day we went on a little hike to Stewart Falls. It was a super nice trail to take Lily on because it was mostly in the shade and very easy hiking. Lily was such a good sport and it doesn't hurt that she loves to be outside.

Lily loved to observe all the new plants and flowers.




She got a little nervous when mom wanted to carry her.


So dad got to carry her again.


We finally made it!


The whole trip must have been really tiring since she slept the whole way back to the car.

I Just Can't Get Enough

Eight down....three more to go....

and no, that is not including high school.


Eric, after eight years of undergraduate schooling has finally received his Bachelor's degree. Now, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. It wasn't eight years of trial and error. Eric did awesome in school. In fact, he graduated Summa Cum Laude! I was just beaming with pride!

He is now ready to study for the GRE and then applying to CRNA schools!

My new "hobbie"/ blog

I always wanted to do a blog on restaurants in Utah. Eric and I eat out a lot and I feel I can give some good recommendations. So I started with just a few restaurants for now and whenever I get a chance, or if we ever go to a new place I'll post about it. Any excuse to eat out more is always welcome! Check it out here.

Virginia is for Mothers

Lily and I went to Virginia for a week to visit the Grams. She hasn't seen her since she was four weeks old, so she has been just itching to see Lily. I was super nervous to take her on the airplane though. Lily is really good natured and isn't too fussy, but I just had these nightmares of her screaming on the airplane and dirty looks from all the passengers. But of course, she was an absolute angel. She (like her mother) can't seem to stay awake on moving vehicles.

Although we missed Eric a lot, we had a lot of fun. We went to Jamestown.


Had picnics on the beach.


Read books with Jared.


Played with Nathan.


Got magically rocked to sleep by Sarah.


And got LOTS of Grandma time.


Thanks Mom for the great trip!!