To Lindsey

Happy Birthday little sis! I can't believe you're not this little anymore!

To those who are lucky enough to know my sister Lindsey, you know the amazing person that she is. Every birthday that she has, I think about how lucky I am to have her as a part of my life for that past year.

A few years ago, I got to introduce Lindsey as she gave her senior speech at high school. At the high school she and I attended, every senior gives a short speech in front of the whole school about whatever they wished to share. I had asked her years before if I could introduce her. Below is what I said. It was so hard to limit myself to a 2 minute intro, when I could praise her for hours. But hopefully it leaves you with a glimpse of the inspirational and loving person that she is.

"I have so many things I want to tell you about the incredible person that Lindsey is. Due to time, I’ll leave you with just one example that, while brief, speaks volumes about her character.

I was away at college when I received a call from my mom letting me know that Lindsey had relapsed with leukemia. Moments after breaking the news to me, she offered to put Lindsey on the phone, and before I could protest, Lindsey was on there. At that moment, I wasn’t ready to talk to her. I was very emotional and I was afraid this would only make her more upset. I wanted to be the strong big sister, to be upbeat and tell Lindsey that everything was going to be alright. I will never get over how Lindsey greeted me on the phone that day with these words “Hey Babe, what’s up!” in the cheeriest voice you can imagine. She then proceeded to talk about how much fun we were going to have, having slumber parties in her hospital room. This, coming from a girl, who had just found out she had cancer, again, that she would have to drop out of school, again, go through years of chemo and lose her hair, again, and be lonely and isolated from family and friends, again. Yet, that day on the phone, she was the one who comforted me, who wanted to make sure I wasn’t too scared or upset. In my moment to be the big sister, she was the strong one.

Throughout Lindsey’s 7 years of being sick, she rarely cried, complained almost never, and not once questioned Why me? Instead of drowning in self-pity, she chose to serve others. She is one of the most thoughtful and unselfish people I know. Throughout everything, she showed complete trust in God and whatever path he had for her.

Although Lindsey is my little sister, I look up to her as a role model. At age 17, she is already the kind of person that I will spend my whole life trying to become. It is an honor and a blessing to be her sister."

Happy Birthday Lindsey! It is a PRIVILEGE to be your sister! I love you!

A long lost soulmate

Have you ever experienced that instant connection? That ah-hah moment where at first glance you know this is what you've been looking for your whole life? That here is someone who truly understands you. A soulmate if you will. That's what I experienced when I saw this ad. I get giddy everytime I look at it, because Ikea really "gets" me. Mom, I admit, I used to laugh a little at you and your organization, always carrying a calendar around obsession. But I get it now, I do. Dividers, baskets, totes, plastic see-thru bins, maybe even a label maker - I dream about it all! Seriously, this is what I go to bed at night thinking about. Ikea, you and me are going to have a long relationship!
Okay, so to get back to business, the true purpose of this blog, an Aubrey Update. Seeing Aubrey interacting with other kiddies brings me almost as much joy as an organized attic.

(Melissa, this toy is so popular! All the babies fight for space on it, good choice!)

Aubrey ALWAYS steals Natalie's binky. Natalie had been on the floor for maybe 30 seconds when Aubrey attacked her like this.

A little scandalous!

Too much play time and too much cheese!

Photo Blogs

I love photography - always have. Not even getting kicked out of my high school photography class could dampen that. To be clear, I love looking at other people's photography. Currently, I don't really like the act of taking a photo. It's more frustrating, trying to figure out why the picture's so blue, or so blurry, or so dark, and then oh darn, my subject crawled away and peed on the floor (the subject being a diaperless Aubrey, not Lulu). I really enjoy checking daily the few photography blogs that I had links on my blog to, but I needed more! I went looking the other day for more photography blogs and there are millions out there. Way too many to look through all of them, so I picked a few that I stumbled across and linked them on my blog. Most of them update one picture daily, so you should check them out for some inspiration. All the ones I found were more landscapeish and artsy, which I love, but I also love BABIES! So if you know of any more good portraiture blogs, let me know.

On a side note, I know most of us are looking for swimsuits for the summer that are modest and cute. I've been looking at the usual places, like Shade, Layers, Modbe, Down East, but I found this new place that I like the best by far for swimsuits, they're really stylish and classic. Check it out - http://www.modestswimwear4u.com/english/english.html

A month in the life of Aubs

Warning, this is 100% a grandparent post. By that I mean, I'm documenting every tiny thing Aubrey has done, right down to video taping her eating in her high chair. I know, boring. But...she has changed so much this past month, and since her grandparents don't live close enough to have seen any of it, I want to keep them in the loop. So my parents and Zach's parents, you are required to watch every video and look at every picture. Anyone else can skip this post, no hurt feelings!

About a month ago Aubrey started crawling, completely out of the blue.

Within a week of that, she was pulling herself up on everything.

Then she ventured up the stairs. She has climbed the whole staircase several times. Our house is now covered with gates.

Then she attempted to walk, which didn't go so well. This little toy has seen lots of carnege (see Amy's post)

I got these wagon wheel treats for Aubrey. They are pretty big, the idea being that your baby will gnaw on them for awhile. But not our Aubrey, she flies through them, shoving the entire thing in her mouth! We also caught her sharing them with Lulu. I think Lulu has had more of these then Aubrey. I'm a little embarrassed to be posting a minute and a half long video of my child just eating, but whatever, you were warned.

And what have Zach and I been up to this past month? We did actually take a break from following Aubrey around with a camera to go out, two nights in a row, WITOHUT Aubrey. Thanks to my friends who watched her, and sorry she was a punk. We won't try that again! Anyways, we went to the Banff mountain film festival, which I haven't missed for 7 years and it was amazing as always. I always leave so fired up to get out and explore, and then I remember, oh yeah, you're a scaredy cat and you have no money, so not going to happen. But below are some of the pictures from the photography portion of the festival.

And I did a few crafts. These paper globe topiaries took WAY too long, but I do like them and they are pretty fun to make. I have to credit my friend Brooke for showing me these. You can get instructions here. And credit to Michele for showing me how to do the letter. Since you're probably thinking that I have way to much time on my heads, honestly, I don't. I just neglected anything and everything that I really should have been spending my time on so I could do fun crafts instead!


Well, if you actually made it too the end of this post and are reading this, then you are a good grandparent, or a good friend, or maybe YOU are the one with too much time on your hands! J/K!

Time flies when you're having fun

This tag is long overdue, and since we recently celebrated our 4 year anniversary, it seemed like a good time to post it and revisit some of the adventures Zach and I have had over the years. We've had a pretty good time him and I.

What is his name? Zach

How long did you date? A year or a year in a half, depends on who you ask or your definition of a “break”

How long have you been married? 4 years

Who eats more sweets? Probably me, unless the sweets are cookie dough. Zach will literally eat it until he's sick. If cookie dough was a drug, we would need to hold an intervention for him.

Who is taller? Zach, 6 foot 3 inches, me, five foot 3 inches

Who is the better singer? Zach

Who is smarter? I don’t like this question. Okay, fine, maybe Zach. But I think I could be a dentist too.

Who does the laundry? Me, Zach isn’t allowed to

Who pays the bills? Mostly me, I set up all the direct deposits

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? We switch depending on which side Zach feels like breathing on that week. I make sure not to be downwind.

Who mows the lawn? He does

Who cooks dinner? That would be Zach, I try to avoid it.

Who drives? Mostly him. Zach is too much of a backseat driver with me. His favorite comment is “Why are you aiming for the potholes?”

Who is more stubborn? Me, definitely me. Zach is pretty easy going.

Who kissed who first? He kissed me first

Who asked who out? Zach asked me out – we went to a Christmas devotional. Very BYU, I know.

Who said I love you first? Zach, to which I said thanks, and gave him an awkward pat on the back

Who proposed? He did, to which I said thanks, and gave him an awkward pat on the back. Just kidding, I said yes.

Who is more sensitive? – Me, I’m a pretty typical girl

Who wears the pants? I would say we wear the pants equally, but I asked Zach what his opinion – his response, “YOU do, you always get your way. You never listen to me.” Actually I do listen, it's just that I'm usually right and he's usually not so right. I can’t help it that I know best, right? :)

MARRIED MARCH 2004

TIMPANOGOS SUMMIT MARCH 2004 RAINIER SUMMER 2004

CASTLETON TOWER SEPTEMBER 2004

MOAB OCTOBER 2004

BRYCE CANYON SUMMER 2005
ANIMAS RIVER, COLORADO, SUMMER 2005

COLORADO SUMMER 2005 MOVED TO PITTSBURGH SUMMER 2005AND GOT A DOG

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, MAINE SUMMER 2006
KATAHDIN SUMMIT, MAINE SUMMER 2006

WEST RIM TRAIL, PENNSYLVANIA OCTOBER 2006 CHURCH HALLOWEEN PARTY 2006
WASHINGTON DC MARCH 2007
OHIOPYLE WITH NEW ARRIVAL AUBREY! AUGUST 2007

NIAGARA FALLS, SEPTEMBER 2007
SEVEN SPRINGS FALL FESTIVAL, PA, OCTOBER 2007
Our latest pictures aren't quite as adventurous, and rarely have Zach and I in them at the same time, but we are loving our latest adventure of being parents! We might only dream about doing some of the things we used to do, but we still came out way on top in the trade off. I mean, have you seen Aubrey's cuteness?