Coop Turns One!

Okay, so Cooper has been one year old for about two weeks now but I just now made this little video. Coop is such a cute boy and we are so happy that he is part of our family. He weighs 17 lb. 11 oz. which puts him is the 1% curve--not bad for a Yakima Ditto. He loves to get into stuff and play with his brothers and sister.

I've Succumbed

Four jobs that I have had in my life:

1) Grinding up grass seed with my brother at OSU
2) Serving Pineapple Delights at the night show at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, HI
3) Legal Secretary in Corvallis, OR
4) Circus ticket delivery girl (mom) with Alex in Missoula, MT

Four movies I could watch over and over:

1) Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
2) Somewhere in Time
3) Hum, I think I prefer watching new movies not old ones


Four places that I have lived:

1) State College, PA
2) Corvallis, OR
3) Missoula, MT
4) Laie, Hawaii

Four television shows that I watch or wish I got to watch:

1) ER (we tape it and then watch it on the weekends)
2) American Idol
3) So You Think You Can Dance!
4) Oprah

Four places I have gone or will go on vacation:

1) I would love to go to Dollyland!!!
2) Ukraine (Sister City exchange with my sister Emily)
3) I have lived in Hawaii and would LOVE to go there again with Birch
4) Anywhere, most Wednesdays I receive an email with killer travel deals. I plan trips every Wednesday that I wish I could go on.

Four websites I visit almost daily:

1) Blogs


Four favorite foods:
1) French fries
2) Teriyaki Chicken
3) Mangos
4) Pizza

Four things I would like to learn or be better at:

1) Photoshop - I really love computers and would love to be able to do the things that are swimming in my head but I just don't know how to preform them on a computer. One of these days I am going to take a photoshop class.
2) Photography- I think what we need is a new camera with fancy lens
3) I'd love to learn to play the violin, though I don't think that I am smart enough to tackle it--music and foreign languages have never come easily to me
4) Scripture study

Four places I would rather be right now:

1) On a WARM beach
2) Watching a movie in bed
3) Day spa- I am a sucker for massages and wouldn't mind a whole body day- manicure, pedicure, facial... heaven!
4) Actually, I am quite content with where I am right now!! Sitting at the computer in my own home, with my children and husband sleeping.

I Am a Mother

Former New York Times reporter and Pulitzer Prize nominee Ann Crittenden writes: "Any woman who has devoted herself to raising children has experienced the hollow praise that only thinly conceals smug dismissal. In a culture that measures worth and achievement almost solely in terms of money, the intensive work of rearing responsible adults counts for little. One of the most intriguing questions in economic history is how this came to be; How did the demanding job of rearing a modern child come to be trivialized as baby-sitting? When did caring for children become a ‘labor of love,’ smothered under a blanket of sentimentality that hides its economic importance?"

I AM A MOTHER

Nate makes the newspaper today

Adventures in San Diego

We arrived back to reality on Tuesday morning at 1:00 am. The week has been as busy as ever since returning and sadly our trip to San Diego is almost a blurr. Good thing for lots of pictures!

Birch and I had a wonderful time in San Diego. I LOVED not having a schedule and just being able to spend time with myself and with Birch.

We had to take this shot in memory of one we took during our engagement period. Ten and half years and five kids later we couldn't imagine how much more we would love each other.
We ate lots of yummy food and I only did the dishes once! Like the good coupon clipper that I am, I had printed off lots of restaurant coupons for San Diego prior to the trip so it helped keep the dining costs down. This picture was taken at the Boat House restaurant on Harbor Island.

I loved all the time to myself. It was the perfect combination for me. The first two and half days I was on my own. We had the evenings together but during the day I slept in, watched a movie, read two books ("Dear John" by Nicolas Sparks and "Where the heart lies" by Cindy Woodsmall), and took long showers. Once Birch got home I was ready to go party!!

Friday evening we picked up our rental car and went to the San Diego temple. It was just a gorgeous as all the pictures we had seen. It was wonderful to be there together and remind us of the plan of happiness.
Much of our time together was spent walking on the beaches. My only grumble about the trip would be that it was warmer in Yakima than it was in San Diego. With the ocean breeze and overcast "May Grey" weather I didn't come home with a tan.
This picture was taken on the Mission Bay walkway. We had fun watching the surfers try to catch the waves.
My handsome husband!
One night we decided to be adventuresome and go to Belmont Park, which is the home of an OLD WOODEN roller coaster. I think it had been twenty years since I had ridden a roller coaster.
From the shear tear in my face you can see why it will be another twenty!
Birch was somehow able to hold his arm steady enough to take these pictures. I am sure it won't surprise you that the next two days I had a very stiff and painful neck. The kids thought we were really cool for going on the Belmont Park Roller Coaster (see behind us).
Many of you emailed suggestions of books for Birch to read. I got all of them from the library and then had Birch pick out two to take with us. He only read one but LOVED it!! It was great to see him enjoy reading. The winner was Emily, who recommended "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown. The only problem was I had finished all my books when Birch was still enveloped in his--next trip I will have to bring a couple of extra books for me.
Saturday we went to the Kobay Swap Meet. It wasn't that great--mostly recycled junk! After we went to Coronado Island. Behind us is the famous Hotel Del of Coronado. It has been around since the 1800's and is still in use today.
Enjoying the sand at Coronado Island.
Sunday we went to Old Town to walk around. There is a very informative visiting center about the Mormon Battalion. Birch and I really enjoyed watching the movie about all the Mormon Battalion did to help set up San Diego and the wagon trails. It is truly amazing!!! Birch and I dressed up in the pioneer wear for an authentic picture.
Monday morning we headed to La Jolla for a ocean kayaking adventure. Knowing that I am not a very adventuresome or athletic person helps you all appreciate this adventure. It was probably about 60 degrees and the water in San Diego is certainly NOT warm. Despite this chilly conditions it was probably one the favorite things that Birch and I did on the trip. We saw seven caves, sea lions, lots of kelp, and tons of pelicans. I am so grateful that we rented a double kayak so I could rest when my arms started burning. Kayak surfing is quite an adventure!!!Our last stop of Torrey Pines State Park. Honestly it wasn't really that awesome. Maybe that is because my legs still were frozen from the kayaking adventure?

It was a long flight back but savored every minute. Birch was able to finish his book and I read a short read called "The Christmas Jar" by Jason F. Wright. I highly recommend it. We had such a wonderful time together. When we arrived home the house was all in order and the kids were sawing logs. We're so grateful for my mom's willingness to care for our kids. What would we do without our mommies?

Simple Pleasures

I love this picture of Cooper because it reminds me of how simple and wonderful life is. Coop was crawling by the door and noticed that he could see his reflection in the metal. He got such a kick out of his reflection.

I'm looking forward to enjoyed some simple pleasures this week as well. Birch and I head to San Diego in the morning for six days. Birch will be attending a Gary Gray course on Functional Rehabilitation for three of the days while I read books, watch Oprah, shop at IKEA, and stare at the beach. We can hardly wait!!! I've arranged a penthouse (one wall of the penthouse is all glass looking out at the beach) for us right on Mission Bay. The ocean is only 150 feet from our doorstep. My mom drove in yesterday to look after the kiddos. Cooper is the only one that I am really worried about...he ought to like her in at least a couple of days, right?

Till next week...

The Honored Place of Woman

“The great strength of a good woman—a Saint, if you will—is her personal testimony of the Savior and her faith in his spokesmen, the prophet and the Apostles of Jesus Christ. If she follows them, she will have the countenance of Christ for her beauty, the peace of Christ to support her emotionally, the Savior’s example as a means to solve her problems and to strengthen her, and the love of Christ as the source of love for herself, her family, and those about her. She can be sure of herself as a wife and mother and find joy and fulfillment in her role in the home.” -As quoted by Ezra Taft Benson, “The Honored Place of Woman,” Ensign, Nov 1981, 104

Yesterday along with cute cards, a fun scavenger hunt, and homemade coupon books, I was given this beautiful statue of Christ. Birch included the above quote with his own thoughts on motherhood. I love this quote and the way that it reminds me that I am uniting with Christ to raise our children. Now the trick is finding a safe place that we can all see the statue but not touch!