Just had to share!

I got to see these guys live. They are SOOoo adorable.

Quick pics

Playing dress up!



I mean-- we're always this cool.



EDIT:
Steph and I went to Target and were actually pretty appalled at all the 80s stuff EVERYWHERE... but couldn't resist these pants. lol. We also found some black leather, shimmery black/purple, silver, etc. And they were in almost every size. But we still hold some hope for modern fashion, because they were 75% off. =]

A Thousand Words

Okay, here's a quick peek at what I've been up to, via lots of pictures. =]

Babysitting!
My cousins love to be photographed, so we got out the dress-up box.

The two youngest, Isaac and Lily:


Isaac and me:


Aaron and me:


The oldest, Andrew:


I also got to watch my nephew Kenny the other night, and he did very well! He sure loves his Papa and Aunt Jill.





Last night, my little sisters and I had a party while my parents were on their date. Feast your eyes on THIS!

[If you can't tell, it's Batman, Spiderman, Robin, and Wonder Woman.]

Today we had a hot dog roast, despite the heat, because my grandma had a bunch of old papers she wanted burned. Then we just hung out in the shade playing games and eating gummy bears. Yay for family fun!

Stephanie and her roasting skills:


Mom and Dad hard at work in more sunshine than should naturally be seen in January:


Jilly's s'more face.

Everybody should own a hammock

So, as much as I miss Rexburg, Idaho... I gotta say the weather here in Mesa is pretty hard to beat this time of year.

I have been babysitting for my aunt a lot recently (they're trying to jump all the custody hoops of adoption and have had a lot of meetings with their attorney). They have a really nice back yard by Arizona standards: actual brown dirt with the occasional grass patches(instead of dust and gravel), and two huge trees. Recently they tied up a hammock between the two trees, and the kids and I plopped down inside it to enjoy the sunny afternoon.



Oh man. The two younger ones were cuddled next to me while their two older brothers busied themselves with building a tent out of cinderblocks, old wood, and a green tarp. It took me back. It was like being 10 years old again. Isaac and Lily showed me how they tied a rope to the bar of the swingset for us to hang on to and pull ourselves in the hammock while keeping our feet up. Then Aaron and Andrew finished their tent and nearly tipped us out in excitement because we had to come explore it with them. It made me think-- if their parents had just bought them a nice plastic playhouse, they wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much.

Why can't adults be so satisfied with just "playing," no toys or gadgets or batteries necessary? Here's my advice:

Get yourself a hammock, or build a tent indoors with blankets and chairs; tip your furniture on its side if you have to. Then lie down. Read a book, make shadow puppets, etc. Have some good, clean, gadget-free fun.

Ode to Joy

So, I grew up with my mom teaching piano lessons to lots of kids of varying skill levels. But for some reason, we heard Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" almost every single day! And usually from the --how shall I put this-- less prodigious of her students. Needless to say, that song has found its way onto my "I never want to hear it again" list.

However.

I suddenly find myself a beginning music student once more! And so, with a teensy bit of pride-in-accomplishment, I present:



Enjoy. Or plug your ears, as the case may be. =]

Merry Christmas!

So I don't have time for a full update, because it's way past my bedtime. But here are a few pictures!!!!

My sisters and I, just before going to Jon Schmidt's christmas concert.


Our Christmas tree and (most of) the presents. =]


My niece Emma and my cousin Spencer. (He said, "I love her!" So I had them pose.)


My new and soon-to-be adopted cousin Lily decorating homemade cookies.


My huge surprise and new best friend! I have named her Cecily. Isn't she beautiful???

The Hearts of the Children

Guess what people?

I have been working diligently on my family history work, like a good little Rel 261 student, but it's turned into more than that. Every assignment and every project has pulled me in deeper until now I can finally say that I am actually addicted to genealogy! The greatest part is that it's contagious. A while back I offered to save my PAF file (all the family info I have) onto my sister Isabelle's computer... and we ended up spending about three hours researching online. Just like that.

Well today my sister Becca heard one of her friends casually mention that she was going to Holladay, Utah to student teach. Well, that's my Mom's maiden name! So Becca, just to satisfy plain old curiosity looked it up and found the city website. She sent it to me, and I recognized the name of the pioneer company who founded it! I told her the city was founded by our great x 4 grandfather, who I have been researching! She got a little more curious and decided to look the place up on Google Earth. She found Holladay Memorial Park just a few miles outside of Salt Lake, located near a little stream called Spring Creek. Well, this pioneer ancestor of ours was buried in a place called Spring Creek back in 1862. Bingo. Out of nowhere, without really meaning to, she discovered my great-great-great-great-grandfather's [probable] grave site. We even found a virtual tour of the cemetery! So when we drive home this Christmas we're going to try and make a little side trip to take pictures of any Holladays we can find there. In the meantime, she is beginning to get just as addicted as I am! (If you care to get just as excited as we are, check out our family history blog, holladayseason.blogspot.com. I also uploaded a tutorial I created for PAF beginners!)

So please, please! Do yourself a favor and just start somewhere; anywhere. Even if you can't find anything new, I promise you'll be blessed!

Love, Stacy