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Okay friends...I'm way desperate! I am entering a chili cook off this Friday, and I really really want to win. There's only one problem. I don't have a chili recipe! (I know, I'm not sure why I think I have a chance at winning...) Does anyone have a chili recipe that they think is DEE-LISH? Please?

Need to smile?

This is the hardest I have ever seen Ivy laugh. She was really tired so I think she was a feeling a bit loopy. :)

In the garden

Robbie's dad is lending us a corner of his land for our garden this year. We've outgrown the space we need at our house, and we can get a lot more sun over there. So every Monday after FHE, we head over as a family and work on our garden. Ivy is such a big helper!! And she made a point to taste the dirt to make sure the seeds would like it. :)

She has officially earned her name...

She's a walker! We took this video Sunday after General Conference. Ivy started taking one or two steps at a time a few weeks ago, but after this, I feel like I can officially brag that she's walking!!! She's 10 1/2 months old now and I can't believe how fast it's gone. Robbie claims he's going to teach her to use the toilet by the time baby #2 comes, so we'll keep you updated on that too! :) And please ignore my over-excited shrilly voice.

Announcement!

We're pregnant! This announcement should have been made a while ago, but we wanted to wait until we went to the doctor to make it. Turns out, we still haven't been to the doctor - and it might still be a month until we get there, so we thought we might as well spread the news so people stop thinking I'm just fat. :) So, if we haven't been to the doctor, who's ultrasound picture is that? Don't know - got it off the internet, but I thought we needed a visual! :) This was a surprise baby, so we were caught a bit off guard...and to be completely honest, we were even a little bit dissapointed at first. (Is that awful?!?!?) But we really are excited about it now, and are really looking forward to a new addition to the family. Ivy was apparently intended to be a young big sister, but we know she will be a great one. I think I'm about 17 weeks along - but like I said, I can't say that for sure. They had to do an ultraound with Ivy to measure her to get a definate due date, so we'll see. But it looks like it will be around the first of September. Yeah! So many babies are coming - can't wait!

I need your help!!

Friends! I dare not be arrogant enough to pretend I know everything...so I need some ideas! Robbie and I are starting to make Ivy more a part of our FHE's, but I don't have very many ideas on how to do that. What do you do, or what have you done to include your baby/toddler in your FHE lessons? What were your topics? What were your activities? Do you have any good lessons? So far we've done felt board pictures, gospel art pictures, and a Living Scripture DVD. I don't know if she is still too young, but I want to start now so she will be used to those type of lessons. Anyway, I would really appreciate some ideas! Thank you!!!!

Walker update!

We are doing great. We are super busy with clogging competitions, but we get some time now and then for fun. For example, Robbie and his friend Greg were sent to go move a mattress...when I went to check how it was going, this is how I found them. :) We started brushing Ivy's teeth, er, gums. :) At first she didn't like it at all - but now she giggles every time we do it. So, Ivy is in this stage of major stranger anxiety...but she has no problem with kids - any kids. This is the first time she met sweet Macy and the first thing she did was give her a big kiss. And believe it or not, Ivy is standing all by herself! She is standing ALL the time now. Before you know it she will be a "WALKER". (get it?) Grandma Tolman - thank you so much for the Valentine's card. Ivy loved it! I discovered the best babysitter: the laundry basket. The best part is, it doesn't charge me a thing! This was just a sweet moment...thought I would share. Ivy is really starting to get how to play. It's so fun - she will come up to us and start playfully screaming while she bites our bellies or knees...she thinks she's tickling. It's awfully cute. Like I said, we're doing fine. The economy is stressful, and we're always worried about our finances...but with a sweet face like this running around the house, it doesn't keep us down for long! Happy belated Valentine's Day everyone!

Seems like yesterday...

That's actually not true. It seems like FOREVER ago, and that's why I had to post. These are some old pictures I found on my computer that I didn't even know were there. They are from college, and one with Connor from high school. I thought that the people who were in these pictures with me would appreciate the walk down memory lane. :)

Happy Birthday To ME!

Quarter of a century old...fits me well huh? Thank you for everyone who called and left me sweet notes! They made my birthday really nice. And thank you Robbie for making my day special! Look at all that smoke! My birthdays are becoming a fire hazard... P.S. If my wish comes true - I'll let you know! :)

Can't resist...

I can't resist giving an update on Ivy, she's too funny. These are two of my favorite pictures of Ivy...so sweet! This is the face Ivy made at me for like an hour after I took away the coffee table so she would quit climbing on it and falling. Needless to say - she wasn't very happy. I was picturing her as a teenager making that face and saying something to me like, "I never get anything! We never do anything I want to do!" First braids... Ivy is crawling all over the place! (and getting into my plants)