Dancing with the Stars (video)

Reflecting on a Big Win

Here's Meili with her award-winning Reflections entry. Her depiction of a girl dreaming of all she can become has advanced to the regional level, and we are so proud of her!

Ana Reads to Her Baby

Tonight I caught Ana "reading" in her princess chair. It has to be a real book with lots of words--not a picture book. Can you guess which sibling she is imitating?

Loser Babysitters

We babysat Scout on Friday and everything went totally smoothly until she locked herself in the bathroom and had a party in the toilet. I was nearly ready to bash in the door when Eliah saved the day by picking the lock. Here are some of the shots we got of her after I realized she was NOT going to drown in the toilet. Needless to say, Katie will think twice before leaving her with us again.

Style Sense

Ana showing off her beautiful hairstyle (she did it herself) and her Dora Band-Aid (for a nonexistent boo boo).

My Very Own Katie Quilt

We received the best gift from Katie this year--a quilt in memory of my mother. Katie described it as a "labor of love" and, truly, we are so grateful for her mammoth effort, especially considering she has two little children who need her almost-constant attention. Each square is a piece of an old shirt belonging to my mom, and each represents a connection she had with my family. Top square: a Mapleton Elementary t-shirt. My mom loved visiting us here and always had me buy her the new school shirt at back-to-school night. Right square: Meili's handprints and Eliah's footprints from a grandkids' sweatshirt made in 1996. Bottom square: a sweatshirt commemorating the Elvis stamp. My mom and Daryl shared a love of everything Elvis! Left square: a t-shirt from the Boar's Butt Restaurant. Daryl, his mom, and my mom went to Alabama together in 2000 on a family reunion/genealogy trip. I hear that dinner at this restaurant was definitely a highlight. The Mickey Mouse border signifies the wonderful family trip to Disneyland, courtesy of my parents, in 2001.