{Spark E Boy}

My Dad's horse is running at Los Alamitos (in California) tonight. It's a pretty big deal (horse racing) in our family. I have a lot of memories of watching horse races either on TV or live. There were plenty of Sundays that I went to the races. (It had a little to do with missing church once in a while-I'll admit.) Dad didn't get into his own horses and racing until I was older. Still, I love it. My Dad always says there is something in the atmosphere. I agree-although, sorry Dad, but the Disneyland atmosphere is fun too :) Dad gets really nervous before the race. I think its nerves mixed with excitement. I always feel the same way-especially if we know a horse in the race (or know the owner rather).

So GOOD LUCK tonight Dad, Grandpa, and Spark E!!!

Spark E winning a race in Jerome

I stole this picture from my Aunt Kari's blog. Good thing she had a picture or two to steal! Thanks Kari :)

{Checkin' In}

We've been busy....doing nothing. It's great...most of the time. This week for enrichment we talked about digital journaling (i.e. blogging and family newsletters). I'm pretty good at keeping my blog up. It's never anything important, but we really aren't that exciting. Nevertheless, I like looking at friends' and family's blogs just to see what boring things they have been up to too. Jonas is walking like a crazy man now. It's the best. I love chasing him around. It gives me something to do during my boring days. He recently found a love for chocolate cookies.

Have you ever seen a cuter messy face? Me neither :)

This is how I see him coming most of the time..."Full Speed Ahead"

We have midget light switches (they are really low) and he reach, reach, reaches on his tip-toes to try and turn this one. He hasn't got it yet, but it won't be long. He does the same with the door handles-that I am not looking forward to!

Another chocolate cookie face. I guess Dad gave him one before dinner and Mom gave him one after. oops..

He sleeps like this about 90% of the time. I love it. My dad sleeps like this too sometimes. I guess Jonas got more than Grandpa's blue eyes.

{Bliss}

Over the weekend I flew to Chicago to see my Best Friend (since forever) get married. It was crazy fun! I was really only in Chicago less than 24 hours, but enjoyed my time. Especially seeing SuzAnn again. We haven't seen each other in at least 5 years. That's a lot for us considering we had every class together in Elementary School (except 3rd grade..which we were FURIOUS about), and we both grew up in the same town and went to the same ward. We have a lot of fun (and embarrassing) moments from our childhood :) She looked beautiful and Will was rather dashing as well. It was great to be a part of the weekend. I'm so glad I went. Oh and Devin and Jonas stayed home and partied it up as bachelors. Jonas didn't even know I was gone-he is after all, his dad's #1 Fan :)

...The Happy Couple on the Boat ride following the ceremony...

...Reading the Vows...

I love you Suz and I am so happy for you! I miss you already!

{Good Times}

Our Best Friends from AZ/UT -Nate and Tiffany and their SUPER cute girls-came for a quick visit this weekend. It was great timing, and a great time was had by all. We always have way too much fun when we are together. There were a lot of laughs, a few cries (mostly from the kiddies), and plenty of good treats. Perfect.

We went downtown on Saturday and did the Monument thing. It was fun as always, and bit warm :) we all got a little more tan.

Uncle Nate is great at making things fun-slides out of statues for example.

All three cuties in a stroller. Jonas and Livy are Ok with it, but Sophie...she's not so sure.

Tiff and Sophie on the Metro. Sophie really wanted to run around on the train. She didn't even care that she went flying (her parents always caught her) each time the train stopped.

Funny Sophie and Silly Olivia at the Temple.

The whole family. (They are super cute...man we've missed them!!)

We got totally awesome shirts in DC. Sophie's had dogs on it and we were trying to get her to show us when she spotted a real dog walking by. It was all over then.

Ms. Sophie took a little snooze.

Cute girls with the White House behind them

The Tranchells in front of Honest Abe. {It was a long day for the littles.}

Thanks for coming guys! It was beyond great to see you. Thanks for the laughs, and the yummiest crepes E-V-E-R!!! *See you "Single Ladies" soon-and you'd better have your Holy Cross shirt on :0)

{The Rest}

Everyday I think about posting more of the pictures from the Family Visit. There are SO many good ones-but I wouldn't want to bore everyone. They have printed all the cute ones for scrapbooks, so these are just for fun. So until ~Next Year~ (and yes Dad, there will be a next year), here are a few to round up the great times we had. I've missed them since the day they left. I think I will start counting the days until July of 2010...that'd be long paper chain!

We went to Brookside Gardens and made friends with butterflies. Brookie was very excited to meet this friend.

Somehow Taryn sat still long enough to have this beauty land on her.

Ford's Theater-which was really neat, despite the somewhat boring Forest Ranger Dude. It was nice and cool in there-I totally could have had nap. Jonas was asleep. I was jealous.

Kaylee has a butterfly on her head. Its a little hard to see. Kinda blends in with her hair.

Large, Medium, and X-tra Small being cute at the Museum of American History.

Brooklyn was beyond excited to finally see real live Pandas. We saw all three and she talked to this one FOREVER. She LOVES Pandas!

Trying to get Jonas to smile for the camera. My face makes me want to cry. It's a little scary!

Fish from the National Aquarium. I loved it! We even saw the dolphin show. I really liked it. My sisters said Sea World was much better (Duh).

A view of the National Mall (well towards the Capital Building anyways) from the top of the Washington Monument. One of my favorite things we did. Even if we were up really high!

Jonas actually did warm up to his Grandpa-but it wasn't easy.

The tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This was Changing of the Guards. The whole Cemetery experience was so cool. I loved it.

From the National Archives. Not sure which one this is. Kaylee was nice enough to take pictures for me since Jonas wasn't too sure about being quiet.

This was on J's first birthday. We went to Arlington and then came home for the party. We stopped to get a view of the Potomac, but there were too many trees to see the beauty of it all. I wish Jonas was smiling-it could have been a good picture.

Thanks Again for coming! We really can't wait to see you again!

{Baby Steps}

I'm still not sure how I feel about my baby not being a baby anymore. These little steps are adorable though. He looks like Bambi trying to walk. I love it. I also like that he's not fearless quite yet and that I can keep up with him. He caught on to the whole walking thing really quickly. Every day he takes a few more steps in a row. Guess its time to get gates..for every room!!

He starts crying at the end because he knows he's not supposed to play so close to the TV. He understands that its no allowed, but still does it. Yikes. I had to put the blankets down for bribery. He loves that striped blanket-its his favorite. He tolerates the dotted one and chooses to take them both if given the option. Silly Boy!

~7 Years~

...and counting

1999

2008
{We've changed a little}

I never doubted that we'd make it. Thanks for the laughs, the tears, and all the in betweens.
I can't wait for the eternities. I'm so glad I get to spend them with you.
Happy Anniversary!
I love You!!!

...GRRR...

I tried to post things in order. I failed. I give up. Just scroll and read and forget that I was trying to be organized. It's over-rated today. :)

{Birthday Bash-part two}

Make a Smilebox slideshow

{U.S. Capitol}

{Thursday}

We were able to tour the U.S. Capitol. It was awesome! It was really busy, and our tour guide

was really quiet, but it was way fun. We even got to see a session of Congress.

Jonas and Aunt Brookie {who looks very tired :)}

Jonas had a bit of an accident before the tour, so he went without pants while they dried. Nice huh? Here is some of the fam resting.

Jonas and Aunt Kaylee with the beautiful ceiling in the back.

Here is Mr. No Pants himself :)

We arranged the tour through the Utah Congressman, Rob Bishop. There were two other families that were in our group. One of them was this boy in the blue shirt over Mom's shoulder. Taryn thought he was hot, so we took a picture. I think she got one of his face, but I didn't :) We nick-named him Sam.

Before our tour we went to the Air and Space Museum, where the girls rode the flight simulators. We visited the Library of Congress, where Kaylee and Taryn sneaked into a tour group so they could actually see the Library, and we ended at Union Station where Brookie finally got to take a picture with a statue that wasn't totally naked :) She was really good at pointing out the nakedness :)

The not so naked-from far away.

Notice the water bottle? That's all we did. Drink and sweat and drink and sweat!!

Poor Dad, I don't think he even knows we snapped this one. :) Can you tell that he has mischievous daughters??

The Air and Space Museum. T wasn't real excited by it (obviously).

{They're HeRe}

Well they made it!! My parents and my cute sisters came for their first (and not their last, Dad) visit this past week. We had a blast!! Here are the highlights...and there are a lot!!

Their first time to see the DC temple.

Jonas playing with Aunt T.

Jonas showing his wobbly steps.

The temple in the background of the girls and JoJo.

Kaylee, Jonas, and Brookie in front of the temple. We lost Taryn somewhere....

{Hershey Park}

{Saturday}

Hershey Park. It seemed like a great idea. We were all really excited to ride good rides and play in the water. Turns out the entire state of Pennsylvania had the same great idea. It was packed! We managed to have lots of fun, but it was busy, busy!! We rode ONE ride at the water park after being there for several hours and then went to ride the coasters. I think we had just as much fun at Chocolate World!

It was fun and honestly they have EVERY chocolate bar Hershey's has ever made!

There is a ride inside of Chocolate World that shows the process of Chocolate Making. Jonas was entertained for sure! And it was late at night! He was a trooper during the entire week of fun!

This is Devin and Brookie riding SideWinder. This was the only coaster Devin got to ride. I think it almost killed his back. Then we rode "The Great Bear" it was a suspended coaster and went upside down several times. It was great. At one point I saw Taryn spit as we were riding. When we got off that spit had landed on Mom's leg. Oops...that's not good :(