Jillian's pictures

I'm trying to get blogger to let me load up Jillian's latest pictures and having some trouble. I'll upload a just a couple. Heidi has, as usual done an incredible job. There are so many great pictures. Thank you, yet again, dear friend!

First Birthday!

Well, it is official, Jillian has turned one. Yesterday the Arizona cousins came over and we had our traditional first-birthday cake destruction. I must say, it was very fun to make a cake that had pink icing and nothing to do with Star Wars! Jill ate so much cake I was sure she'd be up sick, but as Auntie Alison says, "She must be related to me if she can hold her sugar!" This is Alison's niece, all right. Josh had to help her figure out why she was sitting there all by herself in front of a cake, but once he got her going she pounded about half the cake with only a few jelly beans for the brothers and one bite of cake to spare for her dad. Here's the photographic evidence:

Uncle Ken was put in charge of the birthday gift from the Stakers. He scored! Jillian loves the ball popper and gets some time to play with it now and then if her older brothers ever leave it alone. I may have to abscond with the batteries in order to get some peace and quiet around here.

We spent last weekend at a Hilton resort in North Phoenix on a "staycation" with a few of our friends. We had a great time: swimming all day, good friends, good food, and no cell phone service! I did, however, forget my camera. We'll have to rely on the good graces of friends for photos from our get-away.

I am also trying not to think about the fact that Sunny and Joshua are loading up and leaving for Philadelphia tomorrow. I wish I could be there to tell them goodbye in the flesh. If the kids make it there alive after 4 days in the car, then I guess we'll get ready to come and visit. Pennsylvania and Arizona look very far apart on our USA puzzle. Best wishes to Toad and Josh as they head off on their adventure. Don't stay too far too long!

Homeward Bound

We've just spent a wonderful 10 days at home in Salt Lake, in Idaho, and in Jackson at Uncle Doug and Aunt Carrie's house. Needless to say, we had a grand time and came home all pooped out! Consequently, we've all been sick for the last two weeks. And so I am just now getting around to posting some pictures from our trip. It rained and rained, but as you can see, the skies dried up just long enough for us to hike in God's backyard, for Jillian to discover the joys of spray cheese (thanks to Uncle Greg), to have a cookout in Millcreek canyon, and for the boys and Grandma Debbie to see a really cool frog exhibit at the Natural History museum. (Alex is the frog in the frog stew.)

It was hard coming home. However, we have great friends here in Queen Creek that make it worth the drive. Otherwise I think we would have moved into Doug and Carrie's shed! Jackson was absolutely heavenly.

We're getting ready to spend the 4th of July without our Dad. He's headed up to girls camp in the morning. (Luckily, we're not the only ones, so we'll be having a single parents' 4th of July party.) We went bowling and out for burgers today so that the boys won't feel cheated tomorrow. Happy Independence Day all.

Private Schmivate!

Ok, well, privacy is a nice idea, but it's a pain. I'm just going to take the permissions part off. My Mom has trouble getting on my blog and so do lots of our friends and cousins. I'm getting tired of trying to keep up with the invites and all that jazz. Any more creepy comments and I may have to go back, but for now, I'm going back to normal. Happy blogging.

Another Project

Well, gee I see that it's only been two months since I posted on my blog! Things have been a zoo around here lately. Anyone with kids can attest to the fact that the last two months of school can drive you bonkers. We've had a lot of changes around here lately and a lot of stress. Since this blog is private and I know everyone who's going to be reading this, I think I'm safe to post a few details. Josh was called to be the bishop of our ward about 6 weeks ago. We were (and still are) scared, worried, bewildered, flummoxed, and any number of other adjectives that can describe the overwhelming feelings of inadequacy that attend the issue of such a calling to such a young man and his young family. Then to top it all off, they postponed the meeting in which our ward was to be realligned for three weeks. So we sat there stressing for a whole month before he was sustained in church. It is not then surprising that I've had a whole litany of health problems--most likely stress-induced. But now the rat-race has begun in earnest and we're off and running. The old saying is true: the fear of cannibals is most definitely worse than cannibals. So far we're still alive. I'm sure Josh will grow into the large shoes that he's supposed to be filling and I'll get used to pulling a little more of the weight at home.

In other news, Jillian is teething, and she thinks she can walk. Which translates into GRUMPY TROUBLE. She is at this very moment standing next to the computer squealing at me for having the audacity to put her down for a few minutes. It's a good thing she's cute and her hair seems to be coming in curly because I think I'll keep her.

I finally finished the sweater I've been working on for months and months, hence the photos. Luckily it seems to be a little big still. I was worried that by the time I'd finished it would be too small for her. It looks like it should work out nicely as a winter coat here in the "Arizona wilderness." It is truly amazing to finish a project and have it look like is is supposed to. It never ceases to amaze me!

Perhaps I can be a more faithful blogger now that I will have more time on my own. I actually don't mind the solitary time. In the words of my Grandma Ann, "I enjoy my own company."

Happy Easter

It is truly a beautiful Easter Day here in Arizona. Today on the way home from church I asked Ryan what he learned about Easter. His Sunbeam class talked about new life using examples like eggs and flowers and butterflies. "Mom, Jesus was like a butterfly, he went into his racoon and came alive again." We went home and watched the church DVD, "Finding Faith in Jesus Christ." It was perfect for the boys. However, I think my brother Greg's Easter idea was by far the best. His kids woke up and searched the house only to find the empty boxes from their chocolate bunnies bearing a note saying, "He is not here, HE IS RISEN!" After a good lesson about Easter, they handed out the chocolate.

This week has been a stressful one. I have spent much time pondering the mysteries of life and death this week. Three of my dear friends have been spending a great deal of time in the hospital with a parent. Cindy, Jeremy and Kelly--our prayers are with you.

I think Easter is one of the most best holidays of the year: good chocolate and the promise of new life. Who could ask for anything more?

All for the love of Jill

Well, we knew that the crawling would not satisfy Jill for long. She has been trying to stand since she was tiny and has now disovered that she can pull herself up on just about anything. She's having trouble sleeping because she would rather be standing up in her crib playing with her fishy mobile than taking a nap. So, here are some new pictures especially for the Salt Lake grandparents. We're issuing fair warning--Jillian is likely to be walking when we get up there in June. Make sure you stash your valuables!

Josh and I were both just commenting how much having a daughter adds to the dynamic of our family. In a family full of boys we truly thank heaven for little girls!