For Alyssa

For Alyssa, my sister, the college graduate ;)

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And that is it!!!! I LOVE YOU SIS!

"It's a Ten!"

I just saw this hilarious you tube video on Rebecca's blog and it completely reminded me of when I ended up in the emergency room/hospital for a couple days with the worst headache of my life. Anyways, years later my sisters still tease me about yelling, "It's a TEN!!!!". You will get it when you watch the video. (It's at about min 3:20 if you don't want to watch the whole thing.
PS - It really was a ten.

Sweet Potatoes

Gemma has been having her first little tastes of baby food and she loves it! Sweet Potatoes are one of her favorites. (I would have to say that they taste better than they smell.)

Taking the whole bowl from mommy

This is totally an "Ava Pose"

Close Up

M.A.C.

These are all my single M.A.C. eye-shadows. I love to play around with different colors! The funny thing is that I really don't wear much make-up > the last time I bought foundation or powder was almost 5 years ago for my wedding! But, when I have a chance it is fun trying new things. I have watched a few tutorials and tried to copy things out of magazines and pictures I have found on-line. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't turn out as well as I would like. I am going to try something crazy for Ty's birthday party so watch for the pics!

I thought this was a cool pic that Ty took of me doing my make-up.

Halloween '08 (I was a hippie)

Alyssa's 20th Birthday. We were just about to leave to go 80's dancing. I did mine and Sarah's make-up, but I can't remember if I did Alyssa's or not.

Just being bored on Fourth of July ~ Of course before I had a baby ;)

Sisters

Then

Now
[Well . . . 2007 - we need to take a new "sisters" pic.]

I love my sisters. Growing up in a house full of girls was crazy, but fun. We have had our times of hair pulling, screaming, teasing and evil plotting, but we have always loved each other and watched out for one another.

Just a few things I love about my sisters . . .

Monica ~ She has the biggest-sweetest heart. She is very forgiving and good at showing love towards people that others might have a hard time loving. She see's the good in everyone. Monica also has the prettiest hair. She is going to beauty school right now and doing a great job. She will be a pro in no time.

Nicole ~ She has always been the "strong" one in all aspects of life and she isn't afraid to tell you what she is thinking. She is always helping others while still being a wonderful mommy, wife, sister, daughter, friend, student and employee. I am thankful for all the help she gives me and that she lives close by. I am so excited for our girls to grow up together.

Alyssa ~ She is so dedicated in all that she does. I am amazed to see how much effort she puts into all aspects of her life. She is constantly reading, writing, running, studying, working . . . I don't know how she does it all. She is going to be the first one in our family to graduate college! We are all so proud of her and know that she will make the best history teacher ever!

I Love the Temple

When I was prego (and laid off) I volunteered at the Temple in the office mostly answering the phones and filing. I loved to be in that peaceful setting with all the wonderful people there. I had told the ladies I worked with that I would come show Gemma to them after I had her. Well, I finally made it! Gemma was so cute ~ she didn't make a peep and kept smiling while looking at the pretty chandeliers and the plants in the atrium. I am thankful to have a Temple close by and that I was married to my sweetheart there.

I found some fun facts about the Temple:

* Exterior Finish: Marble walls and slate roof

* Site: 7.3 acres

* Total floor area: 79,220 square feet

* Public open house: 15 June - July 1989 (The only thing I remember about going to this is that either one or both of the twins were freaking out because they didn't want to put the "booties" over their shoes to help keep the carpets clean. I can't remember if they ending up wearing them or not.)

* Dedication: 19-21 August 1989 Gordon B. Hinckley

* The Portland Oregon Temple was the first temple built in Oregon.

* The Portland Oregon Temple sits on land originally purchased in the 1960s for a Church junior college. Later when that decision was reversed, 7.3 acres were retained for the temple.

* The two-story Celestial Room of the Portland Oregon Temple features three chandeliers, long wall tapestries, and a grand staircase.

* On the top floor of the Portland Oregon Temple are a collection of sealing rooms with white marble altars and a large assembly hall.

* The floor plan created for the Portland Oregon Temple was adapted and used for the Las Vegas Nevada Temple.

* On May 11, 1988, the gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was set into place atop the 170-foot eastern spire to an audience of television cameras, newspaper photographers, and beaming Church members.

* A whopping 314,232 visitors toured the Portland Oregon Temple during its public open house. At the time, it was the fifth highest number of temple open house visitors in Church history.

* President Ezra Taft Benson presided and offered remarks at the first three dedicatory sessions of the Portland Oregon Temple, though he extended the responsibility of offering the dedicatory prayer to his first counselor, Gordon B. Hinckley.

* In 1994, the Portland Oregon Temple was awarded first place by the Royal Rosarians of Portland, Oregon, in the category of commercial rose plantings. Portland is known as the "City of Roses."

No more Headaches!

Time for the headache diet again . . .
Headache (low tyramine) Diet Page 1

Headache Diet Page 2

I have been having a lot of headaches again! I have always continued my headache diet, but I haven't been as careful for awhile now. So I am back on and as strict as ever! Which pretty much means . . .

Lot's of good exercise. (This is from the half marathon that Alyssa, Sarah, Kate and I ran. I am planning on running it again this fourth of July. Last time I got a nice tan in the 2-1/2 hours and 70 degree weather! )

NO junk food and lots of fresh foods. I will also be taking my vitamins on a daily basis. I will let you all know how it goes. Today is day 50 with out pop (and caffeine), day 7 away from the "sugary" foods and only day 1 of exercise.

Crushes on Tylor

I think it is a little obvious that I have a "crush" on Tylor. What is not so obvious is all the other girls who do too. There are the girls at his work, the girls who think he is the actor Cam Gigandet, and other random girls too. But, the funniest and cutest of them all are the little girls at church. Ever since I have known Tylor there has always been some little girl who thinks he is the greatest. Most recently there have been two little blonde girls who follow him around. Today one of them gave us each a sticker (at least she is nice to me too) and later she ran up to me and frantically asked "Where is Tylor????" Today the same little girl told Tylor that she thinks his baby is really great and a few Sunday's ago she told him that she "really likes his hair". These girls are so cute ~ I guess have some competition.

Gemma is 5 Months!

Playing with Daddy when she is supposed to be getting on her PJ's for bed.

Gemma loves to play with (and eat) her feet.

She is a little thinker - always observing what is going on, where she is at, and who is around.

I guess she is confused . . .

Gemma loves to play. Her favorites "toys" are her books, Dalmatian dog from daddy, light up star stacker, and her cell phone from Gigi.

She is always smiling and so happy (that is unless she is tired or hungry). Gemma still loves being held and holding hands. So cute! For the past 2 months she has gone to sleep every night like a big girl (being put in her own bed awake) and sleeps through out the night! She is rolling over and leaning to try and get at things. Working with her in my lap is a little crazy - she grabs everything in reach and of course it goes straight to her mouth! Gemma is such a joy in our lives and we can't imagine it with out her!

I Love Oregon

Growing up I couldn't wait to get out of Oregon and move somewhere "warm". I didn't have a particular place in mind, but I knew I would leave as soon as possible. (My parents thought I was going to move far away and they wouldn't hear from me for awhile.)

Well, in the past 6-8 years or so I have changed my mind. I love Oregon and I don't want to leave. First and foremost I want to be close to mine and Tylor's families. I love the seasons and all the different places to go: beach, mountains, desert, ect. There is always something beautiful to look at and so many different things to do. As I walked outside today after it had rained there was such a wonderful and fresh smell!

Of course I am planning a few trips out of Oregon to warm beaches ;) but, I will always be happy to live in Oregon. It's just "home" to me.

Our Little Ballerina

Gemma is our little Ballerina. Tylor's aunt and uncle gave her the little skirt and it is so cute! Tylor and I will have to send her to Mikael for special ballet training. She will be a professional by no time ;)

Christmas

Gemma ready to start Christmas morning

Opening presents with Daddy

Laughing with Auntie Moe

Ava and Aunie Alyssa

Gigi and Gemma (in her outfit from Alyssa)

Our little family

Nikki and Dad

Baby Face Off

My best impression of Ava

Asleep on Uncle Brandon

Little Mary

Loving her book from Grandma and Grandpa

With Auntie Jessica and the sweet "G" Jess made her

~

Christmas was so much fun! Gemma did have a little too many presents ~ Tylor and I got tired of unwrapping them. Compliments of us and our other family members she has a whole new wardrobe, new toys, and lots of new books. Gemma loves to "read" (I guess she got that from me and I can only hope that she stays that way.) It is so cute to watch her look and grab at the books. We opened presents first thing in the morning at our house then went to my moms for breakfast with my parents, sisters, brother and brother in-laws, and of course my cute little niece. In the afternoon we headed to Tylor's parents house and had dinner with his family. It was a great day!