Birthday Video

I posted a video of Joann blowing out her candles in my YouTube bar there on the left. Check out the cake! Devin made it.

(Does anyone know how to embed videos from YouTube in a post?)

Mom's Trip over Joann's Birthday

Devin's mom stayed for almost 5 days and we loved every minute. Joann was very happy to be the center of three adults' attention, especially since one of them was Grandma. We went to the aquarium in Cincinnati, and Joann was thrilled for the three hours we were there. She loved seeing the fish and other animals that were behind glass, but she wasn't so sure about petting sharks or having birds land near her. She got a little spoiled over the weekend with all her presents and treats. Her favorites were the tea set (thank you Rachelle!) and of course, her bike.

Fungi Land

Do you think our garden might be a little too moist?






Does anyone know anything about mushrooms? Are these harmful to plants?

Time Out for Women

As a Mother's Day surprise, Devin sent me to Time Out for Women in Cincinnati. He asked my friend Andrea to come with me, and got a very nice hotel room for us. We got to go shopping at the Gap Clearance Outlet, where I got Old Navy jeans for $4.99.

But the best part was, of course, hearing the amazing and poignant talks and music from faithful women. The theme was "Sweet Assurance"--what do you know for sure that gives you sweet assurance? They talked a lot about personal revelation and spirituality. I needed to hear it. I came to the conclusion (through inspiration of the Holy Ghost) that if I'm not studying scriptures and praying every day in order to receive guidance from God, what else is my life for? What else in my day is important in the face of that? Sheri Dew said we all need to step it up, and I've tried with my scripture study. And I've already seen huge changes in what I can accomplish and how I feel. It had been hard finding a consistent time to read scriptures, so I prayed about when to read them. If you haven't done this, try it! Your prayer will be answered.

I'm going to get my notes out at some point and give more synopses. Stay posted!

Our First Garden

Devin overworked himself digging up the sod and dirt in our backyard to make a terraced garden. He even brought in compost and spent many hours turning it into the soil while I was at Time Out for Women with my friend Andrea.
We even got our plants in last week. I planted way too many tomato plants for my non-tomato loving husband, which was a good thing because even though Devin put in a rabbit- and toddler-proof fence, something snipped off most of my starts. We were looking out the window the night after this happened, bemoaning the loss of future salsa, when a big black bird flew off with a cucumber leaf! Do birds eat green plants?

Joann Loves Her New Hat

My 25th Birthday

My birthday was not on Mother's Day this year, so I got two special days in a row. On the first one, a horde of ants decided to wish me a Happy Birthday by having a party all the way from the front door to the kitchen. Grandma Todd called, but forgot it was my birthday! I checked the mailbox in anticipation, but all I found was a present for Joann from Dolly Parton. But then the day got better as nearly every member of Devin's family called to wish me a good day, and Devin gave me an awesome boardgame and proceeded to scrub the kitchen floor (best b-day present ever!). I got to eat Devin-made lemon pie as a snack before a yummy dinner at the Olive Garden, followed by a night of dancing, and then a foot rub. It was a pretty good birthday.

Here is Devin scrubbing the floor.

Quincy put this together. What do you think?

Photo Contest

I am eventually going to enter Joann in a photo contest. Of the pics I've taken so far, which one would win?
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Putting Joann to Work

One Blurry Shot of a Great Night

Devin and I drove three hours to Indianapolis to see our friend Garrett dance on the BYU ballroom tour team. It was worth it! And I got to spend 4 times the time I usually get to spend with Devin. What was a fun surprise for me was that I knew and had danced with more than half the dancers on the team. A lot of them were on the beginning team when I was, and now they're on tour team. It was fun to see the boys I used to dance with who were not so good at the time looking very improved. It did make me think that if I had kept dancing, I would be doing that--if I hadn't been blessed with a husband and child. Not much of a comparision, however. I think being a mom is much more fulfilling than being on the best ballroom dance team in the world, don't you?

Lilacs

This has been happening outside my bedroom window. And to think I wanted to cut that tree down!