3 Year Anniversary

Here are some pictures of us at the Provo Temple grounds. We are celebrating our 3 year anniversary of being sealed to our daughter at the Provo Temple. We walk around the grounds every year as a family on this day. I am so grateful to have a daughter and be an eternal family. That was such a special day. Hopefully we'll get to do it again soon with child # 2, whenever he or she comes.

Me

I thought I'd take a minute and write what I am doing these days, besides chasing my 3-year old around.
I work part-time at BYU as a University Supervisor. I have two student teachers in Special Education that I observe and help with their teaching. I like using my years of teaching experience and my education to help them. I feel like I can contribute something. I have always felt passionate about teacher training. This feels like I can have some effect on future teachers in Special Education. This job is very flexible and I can just tell them when I am coming to observe. I like having that flexibility so if something comes up with my daughter, I can reschedule. It's important to me to be able to ahve that flexibility.
Another creative outlet I have is volunteering at the Orem Library as a story teller. Once a month I do a 20-minute "lap time" for toddlers and their parents. I read stories, sing songs and do fingerplays with the kids. These are all things I love to do. It's fun to plan the lessons and think of fun things to do.
A few weeks ago, I was nominated as the Young Mother of the Year for our Utah Valley Chapter of American Mothers. That's quite an honor. I have to prepare a portfolio and give a speech at our State Convention. If chosen as the Utah representative, I will go to the National Convention next Spring and be nominated for National Young Mother of the Year. I feel like there are many qualified mothers out there, but I'll do my best to repersent them. I have been a member of American Mothers for two years. I love being a part of an organization that honors and values motherhood and strengthening families. Here's a link to our blog:http://americanmothers.wordpress.com/.
I am having fun this year taking Ginny to swimming lessons, helping at a local preschool near our house, taking her to Kindermusik classes, and watching her grow.

Cousin Time!!

Here are some fun pictures of Ginny with her cousins this last month.

Where does she learn these things?

My 3-year old recently had two disccusions with her grandmothers about the trials of being our daughter.
When her Grandma was watching her for a few hours, and put her to bed, Ginny got out of bed a few times to prolong bedtime. She always had a good excuse, of course. We go through this several times a night at home until she finally goes to sleep. On her 3rd time out of bed, she asked her Grandma for a drink of water. When she got it, she confided to her Grandma , "My parents just don't understand that I need a drink of water". I promise that I do let her have a drink of water anytime throughout the day, just not before bedtime to avoid bed wetting.
She recently told her "Babja" (my Mom's Grandma name), "I just need my Babja. It's not working with me and my Mom".
I am grateful for loving Grandmothers who understand and listen to my daughter's trials. : >

We have had a fun month with family reunions. Ginny has loved playing with her cousins and is going to be quite bored when they leave.

Yummy Provo Restaurants

We've just discovered two restaurants in Provo/Orem area that are our new favorites. Thought we'd put a plug in for them so you can try them. Better yet, call us and we'll take you there to sample for yourself!
The first is owned by our neighbor who is Cambodian. She escaped from Cambodia with her family during the "killing fields" time and lived in Thailand a long time before coming to the U.S. She is an amazing cook. Her restaurant is called "Spicy Thai". It is on University Avenue, right next to Magleby's Fresh. It really is one of the best Thai Restaurants I have been to in a long time. Our neighbor, who claims he doesn't even like Asian food, said it was so good. If you need an excuse to go, give us a call.

The other place we love is Pizzeria 712. Here's a link to their blog: http://pizzeria712.blogspot.com/. It is real Italian pizza that is so good. They have a real wood burning pizza oven that they use to cook the pizzas. My stomach is growling just thinking of them! The chefs are two former chefs from Sundance who decided to open a restaurant in Orem where they both live. Again, give us a call before you go and we will be happy to support you in your Pizza bliss.

Summer Projects

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. We've been busy digging up our yard and trying to figure out what to do with it now it's all torn up. I am so grateful for wonderful neighbors that just stop by to help when they see us out there working.

Here's a picture of our backyard. Hopefully it will be a good "before" picture that you can refer to when you see it all done. It feels like that moment will never come right now, but I'm trying to be optimistic.

Here's a picture of Ginny on our landscaper's cool tractor that he used to help tear up our lawn. Ginny thought his reason for being there was to play with her, and was sad when he left. (sorry both pictures are at the top. When I inserted them, they went there and I can't figure out how to move them).

Puddle Jumping

This was a great reminder that I don't need museums or other cool places to take Ginny (though I do appreciate them). Ginny had such fun putting on her rain boots, grabbing the umbrella, and jumping in puddles just in our neighborhood.