California's Proposition 8

A quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell given at a BYU devotional in 1978.

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longerbetween two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of JesusChrist. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

I am so grateful for modern-day prophets and apostles.

Overheard

Brooklyn was happily sitting on our bed, looking at a book. Jason came over and started to "read" to her from it. The story went something like this:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who liked to play with butterflies. But in the trees, there was A BIG HUNGRY BEAR!!! The little girl ran for her life, but her legs were too little. The bear caught her and ate her for lunch. STAY OUT OF THE FOREST, OR YOU WILL DIE!!!

This was all accompanied by growling sounds and the random tossing of Brooklyn's giggling, squiggling body onto the bed. I guess that's one way of teaching life's important lessons.

oldnavy.com

I apologize for not writing this blog sooner - stuff is selling out as we speak! (er... read) Old Navy is having a huge online clearance sale. If you spend $100, you can use the promotion code GETMORE to get a 20% discount on already clearanced prices. If you spend over $150, you can also use the code FREE150 to get free shipping. Otherwise, it is a flat $7 rate. I just spent $213 on 21 items, including a full-priced $90 peacoat I've been wanting for my birthday. Oh, and free shipping. So that's an average of $10 per item, including the coat. I'm quite impressed with myself. It's stuff we've been needing/wanting too, like new shoes, dresses, and a coat for Brooklyn, a coat, some shirts, and some PJs for me, and a few sweaters, work-out clothes, and 3 hoodies for Jason. If you want to return anything, you just take it to the store - no biggie! They even have maternity!! I got a few things for my time growing baby #2. No, that is not an announcement. Happy shopping!

Nose on the Toes

I heard that Brandon Hughes can find his nose and was very impressed. So, I decided to try to teach Brooklyn the same thing. This morning, I was lying on our bed and letting Brooklyn play around beside me. She LOVES being on our bed. After a little bit, I touched my nose and said, "nose" and then touched her nose and said the same thing. She looked at me funny so I did it again. Then, I said, "Brooklyn, where's my nose?" Her face suddenly lit up and she went rushing down to the edge of the bed and grabbed my bare toes. It was so cute! She looked up at me expectantly and I rewarded her by saying "Good job!" She often plays with my toes and I tell her their name, but I didn't realize she knew what they were. Toes, nose, same thing, right? =)

Rude, but Hilarious

Last night I was talking to a lady on the phone as I was working. We had a normal, relatively pleasant conversation. As we were about to hang up she said, "muy amable" which means "very kind." It's a common thing to say when somebody has helped you with something and you are saying goodbye. I thanked her for calling and said goodnight. She said goodnight as well, and as we were hanging up she said, "Yo dije muy amable por cortesia, pero no lo eres." (I said 'very kind' to be courteous, but you aren't.) Then, she immediately hung up the phone. I was first SHOCKED because we had had a pleasant conversation and she didn't have any reason to be upset. Then, I was offended. Then I realized there was no reason for me to take it personally, and I started laughing hysterically! I mean, seriously, how random! I had a good time with it. I hope that was her desired effect. Just thought I'd share.

A Wonderful One-year-old

My girl turned one today. I had planned to make her a fancy-schmancy movie/slideshow all about her life so far. However, each time I sat down at the computer to do it, she would cry. She doesn’t like it when I get on the computer because it means I don’t play with her. After a few attempts, I realized that she would probably prefer the extra play time over a slideshow. So, I didn’t make it. I do think it would be fun to have a movie collage of each year of her life, so I think I will still try to make it when I get a chance. Maybe I'll just have to work on it when she's in bed. She’s in bed right now… my little one-year-old. I love her so much. I just think she’s the most amazing little creature on earth. I wish everyone could know her like I do. And yet, with how much she changes each day, sometimes I wonder how well I even know her. I’m definitely still learning about her more and more. Here’s what I know so far…

Brooklyn is quite indifferent to a lot of things. She does not have a favorite blanket, binky or toy. She doesn’t even seem particularly attached to her parents, although we’re pretty much the only friends she’s got. Maybe she’s just independent. However, she LOVES to interact and play. Her favorite game is Hide & Seek. We hide and she seeks, of course.

She smiles at strangers, even if she’s in a bad mood. She can be cranky and whiney in the grocery store and when somebody comes around the corner, she laughs and smiles. She’s always calling attention to herself this way. Even here in Utah, where there are about 800 children for every adult, she gets people to notice her with that big 8-tooth grin.

She is certainly an airline baby and had been on 14 flights by the time she was 9 months old. The seven states she has been to include Utah, California, New York, Florida, Oregon, Nevada, & Arizona, in that order.

Some of her favorite foods include string cheese, raisins, & yogurt. She can’t walk yet, but she has started to be able to stand for a few seconds on her own before crouching down. It shouldn’t be too much longer before she learns how to get around on her own two feet. In the meantime, she’s the fastest crawler on the block.

She is a big girl – the 95th percentile for height and 90th for weight. She is starting to get quite a bit of hair, and it has just a slight curl at the ends. I noticed in the sun the other day that she’s got quite prominent red and blonde highlights. What a beauty.

She does “talk” quite a bit. She likes to ride in the car and tell us stories in her made-up language. She even knows a few words of English. Dada, hello, wow, and oh are her most common words. However, she has also said ball, lettuce, please, cake, and a few other things she has heard us say (like calling Mama “babe”… lol).

She has recently started dancing to anything musical, including theme songs and cell phone rings. She notices music where I don’t and just starts grooving. Her favorite move is to put her arms out to the side and twist her body.

Lately, she has started giving kisses. Like I said, she is very independent and doesn’t get cuddly too often. But, when she is particularly pleased with you, she will look you right in the eye, climb up your chest, and very deliberately plant a smooch on your lips. I think the fact that she doesn’t do it very often makes it that much more special when she does.

Man, I can’t believe it’s been a year since she first lit up our home… and I also can’t believe it’s been ONLY a year since I’ve known her. She is the biggest miracle I have ever witnessed and I am so glad she is ours. What a BLESSING to have this little one forever. Now if only she could stay little…

October 12, 2007

October 12, 2008

There is no Arizona

I bet that's what you all have been thinking after regularly checking my blog for a report on our (somewhat) recent trip to Arizona. I have to admit, one of the things I don't like about going on vacation is feeling to need to blog about it afterward. Is that strange? Blogging about everyday things is enjoyable and simple, but after an eventfilled week out of town, I just feel overwhelmed by all there is to remember and say. Well, I found a solution. Just wait a few weeks (or months...) after you get home and then you won't remember 3/4 of the things you were going to say anyway. That way, it's not so overwhelming. Okay, I admit that it's not a very GOOD solution, but it's a solution nonetheless. So here is the condensed version of our trip to Arizona!

Our wedding anniversary was on Aug. 25th. We celebrated by leaving Brooklyn with Jason's brother Justin's family and going out to dinner at Outback. (We went there on our honeymoon too.) It was the first time we went out on a date away from Brooklyn since she was just a few days old. That time, my mom offered to watch her and we went, got some food, and I was so emotional about leaving her that we were back in less than an hour. This time went a lot better. We actually got to talk and then go for a walk around the mall. It was so nice. Thank you, Justin & Jennifer! However, the break after the big move, was short-lived. When we got home, we had to rifle through all of our still packed-up belongings to put them in suitcases for the trip. We left the next morning on our 12-hour drive to AZ. Jason was disappointed that it did, indeed, take us 12 hours. We have different philosophies when it comes to car trips. He is a "get there" person. I am an "enjoy the ride" person. I think Brooklyn would rather make a lot of stops along the way as well.

While actually in AZ, we enjoyed a few dining out experiences. This included Trapper's German Chocolate pie. I am not a pie person. Jason had told me about Trapper's before and said that he needed to take me there. Not being a big pie fan, I wasn't too enthusiastic. Boy, has that changed! It was like Celestial Pie or something - if that exists. I am a convert.

We enjoyed several of our at-home meals out on the front patio. The weather was perfect and we liked watching the hummingbird's fight over the feeder. Brooklyn was especially fascinated. We all got the chance to make a meal. Jason's dad made us his famous egg sandwiches. Luann made us a pasta dish. We made our favorite lettuce wraps. But, as usual, Jason's mom did most of the cooking. (THANK YOU!!) One morning, she made steak and eggs for breakfast. I was thinking that the steak was especially delicious when Jason asked me, "Did she tell you that was elk meat?" I think Mom about fell off her chair. "You're not supposed to tell her that!" she said. It really didn't phase me. I've never been a huge fan of hunting, but heck! If it tastes like that, I understand!! (I still don't want a carcass hanging in my house... ever.)

We didn't really do a whole lot there but relax. On the first day there, we went to eat at Pizza Hut with some of Jason's family who had just been to the temple. On the way home, Brooklyn started throwing up in the car. That was the first time she has ever done that. She threw up a few more times that day (and the next, and the next) and had diarrhea. We had been planning on going fishing, but I didn't want to take her too far from home with her new need for consistent baths. A few days after that, Jason woke up in the night throwing up too. So the tummy bug threw a kink in several of our plans. We did get to go bowling one night, and I went to the Sweet Corn Festival with Mom & Luann while the sick ones stayed at home. Before he got sick, Jason got to help his dad mow the lawn with the riding mower. I have a cute picture of Brooklyn and her daddy on the lawn mower as the wallpaper on my cell phone. We also got to go to JR and JT's football game on Friday night. (They are our nephews. They won the game and we were very impressed.) Unfortunately, that was the only time we got to see Jimmie's family. They were going to come over and visit, but when Jason got sick, Jimmie and Jill decided to come without the kids so they wouldn't catch it. It was nice to visit with them, but I was really disappointed we didn't get to spend more time with their beautiful little girls.

I think my favorite part of the whole trip was when Jason took me on a tour around the property and told me stories about his childhood. I got to see the chicken coup with the hen that lays blue eggs. I even got to collect one from the nest! He showed me the orchard and the garden where he spent many summer days doing chores. We saw the big barn with some of his old toys, the huge cement barrel they used as a swimming pool, the remnants of their tree fort, etc. The trampoline was a big hit with Brooklyn, and I now even know what it's like to get stuck with a cactus spine. Overall, it was a very relaxing little vacation. We are so grateful for the Maners' hospitality. Hopefully it won't be another two years before we go back again!

At the bowling alley.

I took this picture as evidence. I still don't think I got more than 80 points... if that.

Our view of the football game. Those cheerleaders made me remember, with clarity, why I did not like high school pep rallies.

Brooklyn with her GORGEOUS cousin, Jennifer. Jennifer wanted to hold her, but Brooklyn was being so wiggly I couldn't even get a picture in focus. So sad...

The way the baby and the daddy spent most of the trip.

Luann works as a school librarian and wanted to make a bulletin board of all of her nieces and nephews reading. Here is Brooklyn's contribution.

We loved looking through old photo albums. This is one of Jim & Kathie's wedding pictures. Jason wanted to try and superimpose them in front of the temple since they don't have any of them with the temple in view. Unfortunately, the picture isn't the best quality and we're not the best photo editors. I thought it would still be fun to put it up here.