
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
A cheesy confession

Monday, July 20, 2009
Summertime tradition

As you can see, they love them. Especially Miss Cali. Just look at that little scrunched-up face of sheer delight.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Left To Tell

About the book: "ImmaculĂ©e shares her miraculous story of how she survived during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 when she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor’s house for 91 days. In this captivating and inspiring book, ImmaculĂ©e shows us how to embrace the power of prayer, forge a profound and lasting relationship with God, and discover the importance of forgiveness and the meaning of truly unconditional love and understanding—through our darkest hours." (summary from http://www.lefttotell.com/)
I highly recommend this book to anyone. It brought tears to my eyes and taught me so much. It inspired me to pray more often, more specifically and more fervently. It reminded me of how miracles still happen. It inspired me to try and form a closer relationship with God, through prayer and scripture study. It taught me to forgive more willingly. This woman forgave men who killed most of her family during this atrocious Rwandan genocide. Its an amazing and unbelievable story. And as you know, very sad. I can't imagine going through what this woman did. And I just can't believe people can be so cruel. She is truly an inspiration. She embodies charity-the pure love of Christ. If you haven't read it already, add it to your book list! It may sound like a depressing book, and yes, the material is very sad, but its so very uplifting. I closed the book feeling like I had a whole new outlook on life. Thanks Immaculee for sharing your story.
Up next on my reading list: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Glenn Beck's Common Sense. Yes, I'm trying to become more literate! :)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Official Sticker Club Member

Thursday, July 16, 2009
A Cabbage Patch memory

Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Cali is a big girl!

Aubrey and Ella were happy for her too. They kept telling her, "Wow, Cali, look at you! You're a big girl now!" They are such sweeties. Here's a picture of the three of them smooshed together in the bed. They all wanted to share the moment with her:)
And a trip down memory lane(2 years ago when the bed was still Ella's). I can't believe how quickly these kids grow! Gotta treasure every moment.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Gotta get these booties in shape





Monday, July 13, 2009
Cali, Cali, Cali


Saturday, July 11, 2009
An eggroll emergency?

Well, lucky for us, it wasn't an emergency:) We had a good 30 minutes to kill and everything was A.O.K. No eggroll emergencies here(that still makes me laugh). . .Aubrey was my eggroll wrapper yesterday and did a fabulous job. It was fun working in the kitchen with my little girl and teaching her eggroll wrapping skillz.
We tried a new recipe from allrecipes.com: Southwest-Style Eggrolls. They turned out so yummy! I'd recommend trying this recipe!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Swimming Lessons: Check
So, Aubrey has just about perfected her rotary breathing and is doing her elementary backstroke really well now. Ella went from doggy paddling and kinda swimming to full-on swimming, even on her back! And Cali will put her face in the water(sometimes! :) I am proud of each one of them! Here are pics Joey took on their last day,which was July 3, so he had the day off and was able to watch and take pics for me. Thanks babe!




On the last day, Aubrey's class jumped off the diving board into the deep end! Way to go Aub!

Now this sequence of Ella pics is so cute. . .her class had to climb on this alligator guy across the pool.



Almost there!




My awesome friend, Jennie, and her son, Benny(hey, that rhymes!) took the class too. It was fun to have someone I know there to chat it up with.

Blow those bubbles Cali girl!

Receiving her certificate and animal crackers. That made her so happy!

Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Partytime!

Monday, July 06, 2009
Sunday, July 05, 2009
July 4th
I have to say the favorite part of the day wasn't the food, the fireworks or the brownies(which I think was my second fave:) My favorite part of the day was when we were talking to the kids during the lesson about the Book of Mormon. We talked about how verses in 1 Nephi 13 correlate to Christopher Columbus and the events leading to the founding of America. Aubrey was wowed by it and said, "I didn't know it talked about that in the Book of Mormon!" and wanted to hear more. Reading those verses in the Book of Mormon increased my testimony in the Book of Mormon, in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and in the knowledge that America is the promised land, the land of the free, a blessed nation, a nation under God. I am so grateful to be an American and for the Lord's promise that He will protect this land as long as we follow His commandments. What a wonderful knowledge that is.




Hope y'all had a wonderful holiday filled with fun, family, friends & a love of country! May God continue to bless this land.