The Glory Days

Most all of us went through an awkward phase...there were the perms, the braces, glasses, headgear, the horrible fashion mistakes, I was lucky enough to not only experience an awkward tween phase, but I also spent most of my childhood being mistaken for a little boy...I was once told by a buxom elderly woman, "little boy...this is the little GiRl'S room...you need to go next door!"
My brother's getting married in a little over a month and he sent me some of the pictures he's chosen to use

I was a cute baby...but I didn't hold a candle to my brother or Max!!

That's me, sporting the bikini so you know I'm a girl...gotta love that bowl hair cut!! Isn't my brother rocking that pool coat...he looks like a little Asian Hugh Huefner?!

Peter feeding a squirrel...still sporting the bowl cut!! We got no food, no jobs... our pet's heads are falling off!

Eric couldn't tell which 'boy' I was...I'm the littlest one, by the way.

That's me sticking my tongue out.

With family friends and my brother. Still with the bowl cut making a retard-o face...why, Peter, why include this one?!

Peter and I were having so much fun, dancing the night away with our furry slippers! I loved (and love) having a big brother who is so kind, generous and so full of virtue. He's quite the catch, anyone who meets him can tell that right away...but you might not have guessed it from this picture...I labeled this picture, "the glory days!"
...as I was telling Eric about how awful I look in these pictures, he recalled how Annie had pointed out that every picture of her he had chosen for the wedding slide show was during her painfully awkward period. Well, I am happy to embrace it now...I've noticed that the 'Ugly Duckling Syndrome' makes for the coolest adults.

A shower for Blasto!

We had Camille's baby shower this weekend in Evanston. It was a hit...Julie made the most darling diaper wreath! The decorations were so adorable...I contributed a glass block with Blasto's name and a French idiom, chocolate truffle favors "Cute as a button" and a BYU blanket that was the E-X-A-C-T same one that Jody made...great minds...or maybe that they only make one BYU flannel print...and Adam is not shy about being a Cougar for life!!

Here is the ONLY picture I got of Camille at her shower...I was asked to be the scribe for the gifts...so, no pics of her opening her gifts!!!

This started out as a baby carriage...then it sort of morphed into "Blasto!"

Me and Max before Max was banished to hang out with the men folk!

Unbeknownst to us, a French theme came about...it made sense since Adam served his mission in France...we had French cheese, truffles, French sayings and French Toast...actually, that's about it...but we did have a great time with everyone and as you can see Julie is showing off her amazing Creme Brulee French Toast. It was divine! I tell you, that Julie is so stinkin' crafty and clever...she came up with every idea all on her own. She's a genius...just kidding, Annie!!!! We all wished you were there...but it sort of felt like you were since so many of the ideas were courtesy of vous!!! Can't wait to see you guys next week!!!

Babies, Haircuts, Soda Pop Eyes & Parties!!!

I got to see Corbin...he's so adorable!!! Was Max really ever that small?!?!? Seeing Becky as a new mom sort makes me feel ashamed of how ungracefully I was handling things when Max was born!

Max in his crib after I gave him a haircut...there's a reason that his hair is cut out of the picture!!! I'm no professional!

We spent a lazy weekend in Kemmerer and decided to invite some couples over for dinner and games. Jill and Josie...isn't she cute preggers?

Amanda, Blake and some of you may recognize Max's nemesis Landon...just kidding...we love Landon, how could you not love those big beautiful eyes...he just makes Max's shame great.

Watching Gabriel and the other boys play the Wii is exhausting, you can't beat them...what they lack in coordination (comparatively) they make up in sheer persistence, they just keep going and going and going...who has the energy to keep up?

Jarret and Jordan...so cute!!! You always hope you home is a fun one...it's always a nice compliment when the parents say, 'time to put on your shoes and go' and the kids immediately start bawling...it makes a woman feel all warm inside!

Shae...you could not find a more nurturing, adorable girl!!!

We had wedding punch...there were a few accidents. Some punch got into Gabriel's eyes and I told him that a humans eye will absorb the soda and then you will have soda pop eyes and after your prayers when you're really still and quiet, you will be able to hear the soda bubbles popping...the next day at church he kept saying that he could hear it! I love boys!!! It will be so fun when I can have conversations with Max!

Then we watched the Jazz game...someone jokingly asked us who we were rooting for...I replied that I always support the Jazz unless they're playing the Lakers or the Kings...to which Blake (our home teacher) asked why I didn't support the Lord's team!!! HAhahahahahHAHA!! Oh, Blake!

Max, watching the game with his dad in his little chair..tooo cute!!!

Hangin' in Provo

Eric had to go to a conference in Philadelphia and at the last minute we decided that Max and I would stay behind. Since I didn't particularly want to drive all the way back to Kemmerer, be alone and drive back down in a couple of days, I ended up crashing with Jason & Meradith. First priority, we went to Red Mango....I L-O-V-E Red Mango...it reminds me of the yogurt that you have abroad (in Europe and Asia). I confess, when I was in California where they are readily available, I ate a large plain Pinkberry every single day...mmMMmmM so good!
both being silly...
driving in the car to Costco...

Lucy giving Max a kiss...I wish you could see that it was an open mouth kiss...hey, they're second cousins.
cuddling...
Max eating a mini all beef hot dog...there's no question that he's Eric's son!
I got to watch Lucy for a little bit and delighted in styling her hair...girls are so fun!
these two are now thick as thieves...speaking of which...if you will note that Max has a pink sippy and Lucy has a purple one...that's because both were obsessed with each others' sippy cup (note:both have the EXACT same milk inside)...whatever, freaks...but I can't say that I haven't sometimes fallen prey to this syndrome as well.

Goin' South!

Our friend Thayne introduced us to this AwESomE restaurant in Lyman called Goin' South. (We still need to download the pictures we took from that night off of Eric's mom's camera). They have the most amazing Alligator nuggets, ribs, frog legs, catfish...if you're a meat lover (and we are), you will love this place!

Here we are with our friends Janelle and Bryan Hoggan and their new baby girl.

Max is such a food connoisseur...here he is eating Alligator...and loving it, by the way!

Eric loves it, too! It's sad, I never get my picture on the blog anymore...always the picture taker, never the pictured!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

Since a lot of the fam was on vacation, the Christensens were wonderful enough to invite us to spend Easter Sunday with them...and what a treat it was!!!

The Steve and Wendy arrived about 15 minutes earlier...and then they remembered that Brinley was still sleeping in the car...no harm no foul!!!

Becky and Linda...and baby...three generations!

J Dale gave a wonderful Easter lesson on the meaning of prayer and it's importance in our daily lives. He also showed a slide show with music...it was very touching and I felt so grateful for the amazing and wonderful sacrifice Christ made for us. Easter is so often over shadowed by Christmas...in truth, we celebrate Christmas, His birth, because of Easter, because He rose again.

We have said daily prayers with Max since before he was born...he was about nine months the first time he said, "Amen." Then, about a month later, he said it at church as the sacrament was being blessed. Today, as J Dale was giving a lesson and while Steve said a prayer completely different from the prayers that Max is used to hearing, he kept saying, "Amen, Amen." I was overwhelmed with the feeling and confirmation, that while Max may not fully understand everything that he says, he does feel the spirit and comprehends the truthfulness of the Holy Ghost.

The best Easter Egg hunt!!!

Max had so much fun and so did we...in large part because some of the eggs had candy, some had money and some had numbers that were connected to...

I'm lame, I ALWAYS take a picture of the dish that I bring!

I didn't bring my pastry bag, so these aren't so pretty...I made deviled eggs with Cajun mustard crab.

There were quite a few birthdays...Kenzie and Brinley...

Cathy was hamming it up...

All the pregnant women...

Cathy, gotta love that Saturday Night Fever finger she's got going!!!

We had such a great time...we were so thankful to be surrounded by family, we are also thankful for our Savior this Easter & know that every good part of our lives is made better because of Him. We hope you all had a wonderful Easter!