Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Mira and Ash

How fun to have our cousins come to visit us down here in Dixie! Miss Miranda Jane is so big now! I swear she was born yesterday. My mom brought them down on Monday and Tuesday night we took Miranda to My Fair Lady, at Tuachan. She loved it, she is an aspiring actress her self and she was also so pleased to see where High School Musical 2 was filmed. I love this little girl and it is so fun to have her. She was amazing with Gwyn, and Gwyn may want to be just like Miranda. She would copy everything Miranda did down to the hand gestures!
Asher Alone!!! He is a funny boy, and my boys were thrilled to have him to play with. While the boys were at Swim Team, Asher had a wonderful time driving miss Gwyn around. He is a nice boy and I wished he lived closer! Come on Bryce and Lisa move a little closer!

Friday, July 27, 2007

101 things about me....

I am pretty sure my mom had me take retakes after this picture and she told me not to smile with my mouth open. So here I am in all my glory at 7 year old.

1. I was born in Provo, Utah.

2. I am the third of six children, oldest daughter.

3. I think I have loved boys since about birth.....boyfriends date all the way back to kindergarten.

4. I remember having a specific dream about kissing my boyfriend Shane Wilson in the fourth grade.

5. Most of my friends parents growing up wouldn't let them play with me because I was to boy crazy.

6. My mom will tell anyone who asks "of all of your four daughters who was the most boy crazy?" ...hands down she will tell you it was me. Brooke sometimes like to challenge me on that.

7. I love to read, especially romances....

8. My mom signed me up for an all girls book club in 4th grade and they sent you new books each month (called Just For Girls) and I looked forward to gobbling them up the minute they arrived in the mail.

9. If I was a character in a Jane Austen Novel I would be Emma Woodhouse, but I would rather have been Elizabeth Bennet or Anne Elliot. I like Emma, but I think the other characters have so much more depth.

10. I didn't really love Jane Austen until out of High school.

11. My high school obsession was with Emily Dickinson...I really thought I was the foremost authority on her.

12. When I turned 16 and got my license, I insisted that I drove everyone everywhere...Now I hate to drive and would love to be a passenger always. In fact, when I get together with my mom or Kennan now I make them drive my car and kids.

13. I have only kissed 6 boys in my whole life(not including my little boys).

14. I wish I had kissed 100 and not had such serious boyfriends, oh the life of a self proclaimed romantic.

15. I hung out with Bob because I thought he might have cute roommates, because he was not my type.

16. As it turns out 2 of his three roommates were less than 5'3 inches tall.....really not my type.

17. I kissed Bob first.

18. I was a classical ballet dancer until I was 15 years old and then I quit any kind of dancing for a year. I still have night mares about Jackie College the dance mistress. She was very bad on a young girls self esteem.

19. I started Modern Dance at 16 and then stuck with it until I got married.

20. I had 2 dance scholarships. One at Utah State and the other and UVSC.

21. I did not graduate from college.....wished I had.

22. I was a groupie for the band "Above the Garage".

23. My brother was the lead guitarist, and the Garage was my parents garage.

24. I always ended up dating my brothers friends...not always the best idea.

25. My brother Brad has been one of my dearest friends for as long as I can remember. He was never mean to me and always told me how pretty I was....who's brother is like that?

26. I was prom royalty...hehee, funny to me even then.

27. I love to read so much that I was the girl in the halls at high school who would read while walking to classes and I assume everyone just got out of my way.

28. My hair was always long and straight. I cut it my senior year really short(you know the haircut, Gwyneth Paltrow's hair in Sliding Doors).

29. I don't remember much of my junior or senior year because I had a boyfriend named Brian whom I LOVED and wanted to spend all my time with him.... I even was with him when he left on his mission, actually I dated him when he got home.

30. Bob was the right choice for me and I have never looked back.

31. I have never been in one group of friends...I have always liked my diversity in people.

32. If you are really quirky and witty I will want to be your best friend.

33. Music defined if you were cool or not in Jr. high .... In Jr. High it started with Air Supply, Chicago, Peter Paul and Mary, and then it progressed to Morrissey, The Smiths, the Housemartins, Beautiful South and Tori Amos...my oldest brother Bryce's influence.

34. Bryces influenced me way to much at a young age. I hated him, he was mean, and he never had the time of day for me, but I wanted his approval badly and I soaked up anything he told me like it was gospel.

35. My sister Kennan and I never really got along until she got married to Trevan, now I can't live with out her....She may be THE most fun person I have ever met.

36. I am terribly afraid of the dark.

37. I have been to Europe twice and both times were for over a month.

38. I was an exchange student in Germany. I went because two of my closest friends were going..Holly and Steph. I met Brian my High School boyfriend there. I won't lie I kind made Holly do drive-bys before we left, I just thought he was so cute. I was hoping.

39.The house I grew up in had a basketball court in it.

40. My dad traveled all over the world while I was young and he was gone a lot. He always brought home very cool things for us. Many I wore to High School.

41. I have never tasted alcohol.

42. I was never wild.

43. Swearing is my rebellious side....funny thing is that when I am mad or upset I don't actually swear. I just like to swear in my storytelling or silly side.

44. I have a crazy memory for stupid things and people.

45. I have a really hard time keeping any secrets. So if it's really important tell someone else.

46. I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 6 years old.

47. My brothers could get me to cry when I was really young until I was ten by telling me that my baby boys were going to be bald when they grew up, because my dad was.

48. They also made up a song for me that went like this, "Robyn's made like a fresh cow pie, born and bred like you and I, just a laying in the road making more fresh cow pies, Robyn's made like a fresh cow pie" Nice huh?

49. Bob and I got married on my parents 25th wedding anniversary.

50. Bob loves to surprise me on random occasions with fun gifts that only I would love, ie: a hedge trimmer, a Marcia Lynn Mcclure book that hasn't been released yet, and other great treasures.

51. He also kept a journal of our courtship, I love to read it like it's a novel.

52. I am crazy about holidays and Bob is great about getting excited about things with me.

53. I nearly died when I was twelve. I had a disease called Osteomylitis, and I had to stay in the hospital for a week and then carry an IV around for a month. Hard way to start the 7th grade.

54. I made Steph shave her legs because she was to tan, I was hoping it would shave some of it off. Jealousy

55. I had a big time crush on my own cousin Ryan.

56. My first job was at Hot Papa's and I was 15 years old. My uncle owned it and I also got Steph, Amber, and Ally jobs there.

57. Amber Watkins and I went dancing at the Palace and I actually walked up to a guy and told him that I had been admiring him all night!!!! what????? I am embarrassed even putting it into words.

58. I use to spy on Bryce making out with his girlfriends all the time. Then I would write in my journal how evil he was.

59. I thought that I was Anne of Green Gables. I also didn't realize that she was silly not profound. Oh well, I still love her and named my son after her love, Gilbert Blythe.

60. Bob and I honeymooned in Hawaii, we also had a car accident while driving the island, I am pretty sure we just finished paying it off like two years ago.

61. My Uncle owned the dance club The Vortex. I use to go all the time in college and would get all my friends in for free.

62. My uncle is flaming Gay. I didn't realize it until I was 11 and my neighbor Neil told me he was because " what normal man would have a naked mannequin in his car? hmmmm

63. My friend Miristi and I hand made (with hammers and nails) a candy stand, we made a killing that summer.

64. My best friend Ally and I were always friends but we fought a lot, we kind of just ran in the same crowd. We always found common ground on books and some how we always found each other on rainy days.....literally.

65. It wasn't until college and we became roommates that I found how much I liked her and I had lost some of my romantic freakishness that she really became a best.

66. I would sneak in from being at Bob's at like 4am and she would be asleep, but she would always roll over and say "hey" and then chat me up until I fell asleep.

67. I lost my third baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy.

68. I have never felt so sad, and been so depressed.

69. I had Gwyn a year and half later and I have never felt so much joy.

70. Bob and I have lived in Orem, Pleasant Grove, Fresno CA, and Santa Clara.

71. Bob and I grew up in Fresno.

72. I love to keep in contact with friends from all stages of my life.

73. I love my friends.

74. I worked at a pre-school for Handicapped children when Bob and I were first married. I quit becasue I found out I was pregnant with Tucker and a little girl carried the CMV virus and I hadn't had it, it would have caused some major problems in pregnancy. Lauryn Hill's Zion was my theme song.

75. Bob was more natural with a baby than I was at first.

76. I still love music but I don't think it defines you. I will always love Sarah Mclachan, Indigo Girls, Edie Birkell, and Tori Amos.

77. I also like newer music, for instance I have an obsession with Brandi Calisle.

78. I hate reality TV.

79. I love Sunday night TV

80. Bob chose the names for three of our children Abraham was mine. I don't say that in anger, I loved the names he liked.

81. Bob and I have VERY similar taste....we rarely have arguments on things like that, usually they are over time and me going crazy and needing breaks....having babies so close together is hard.

82. I am not so great at dieting.

83. My sister Brooke would be my first choice of help if my mom couldn't help me in a pickle.

84. I look better with longer hair.

85. My mom is the world's best mom ever!

86. She is the boss of the world, just ask her.

87. I am sometimes accused of being really really bossy.

88. I enjoy my in-laws as much as my own family.

89. I am also known for speaking my mind and not having much of a filter, believe it or not I am working on it.

90. My friend Andrea has gotten me addicted to Ironing everything, (not socks though, or underwear.)

91. Most of my courtship with Bob was done while taking drives.

92. I consider my children the most beautiful children ever born.

93. I do know that they can do wrong.

94. I love to talk on the phone.

95. I love to cook.

96. I hate when people talk about diets and how awesome they are with exercising. I mean why?

97. I love to wax peoples eyebrows.

98. I watch A&E Pride and Prejudice at least every six months.

99. I love to do little girls hair and have been practicing since I was 7 years old, no lie I use to dream up hairdo's for my mom to try our on me.

100. If I could be like anyone it would be my mom, she cleans fast, works fast, types fast, and listen and loves long.

101. My name before I was married was really and truly Robyn Williams, my parents swear he was a nobody when I was born.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

When you can't find Gwyn......

She may be in Mom's bathroom "putting on eyes, mom".

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Okay, so we are totally Harry Potter Geeks!!! 8 years ago while pregnant with Tucker I heard on the Rosie O'Donnell Show (before she was a known crazy) about the Harry Potter books. At the time the second book had just come out. I went and picked the first 2 books up before leaving to Lake Powell on a week trip. Our car broke down half way there and I finished them both while staying the night in Panquitch and waiting for my parents to come pick us up. I have been in love with them ever since. I got Bob to start reading them too, so there you have it full fledged geeks.
We have taken the boys to the last three books releases, and my boys look for to it. In fact Tucker started crying when we were driving home form the party saying, "I'm just so sad it's all done now". I just finished reading the 1st book to my boys and two chapters in to the 2nd. Yesterday while talkingt to Tuck and Abe about the book we decided that we would go buy glasses and wands...possibly a cape. The capes were $35 and I thought I could quick make some. Don't mind you that it was noon the boys had a swim meet at 3pm and our babysitter was coming at 8pm. So after many phone calls to my mom for some instructions (oh yeah...I can't really sew) this was the end result. My boys LOVED them. I mean, they can say to their grand kids that they were there, because I truly believe that they will be books that are timeless and classic.
Ally and Wes this one is for you....and I did not got to the party this way! Way to hot to wear a real wool cloak in 110' weather.
We went to dinner before hand! It was really fun just to have the two older boys with us.
Tucker and Abe with Hagrid.
Daddy helping to make a Golden Snitch.
The end result.
Abe was sorted into the Slytherin house and so he had snakes painted on his face....he is looking sour like Draco.

So I finished the book Saturday at 5pm(thanks to my husband who took over my life so I could read ). I thought it was great. I felt sad about it being the last book but I felt like JK Rowling is a genius and stayed really true to all the characters. I gobbled it up and plan to again in a couple days when Bob is finished. If you don't enjoy Harry Potter than something might be wrong with you and you may need to find a little imagination in your life!

Friday, July 20, 2007

Swim Meet

Abe getting ready to swim freestyle. Abe likes to swim, this is his first year and he is the youngest of the boys on the jr. Sharks. Abe is happy to be part of the team. He swam in 2 events, the freestyle and backstroke.....about 1/4 of the way into the backstroke he forgot that you could use your arms not just your legs.
I have to say that he has improved a ton since he started in June. Tucker is a natural when it comes to swimming. He could swim well at 3yrs old and I think he might have been born with gills, we're not sure. He swam in all races and his IM was awesome. He took a very close 2nd...and he was very proud of himself.
Freestyle
Gwyn and Elsie hanging out and feeling really hot at the pool.

Sky Mountain Tournament

Tucker has had a few Golf Tournaments this summer. He was playing at sky mountain yesterday with Bob and Abe being his caddy. Bob took a few pictures of the action for me.


It was only 109' yesterday.....so they were giving out free carts for the afternoon. There was only one incident of Abe backing over Tucker's foot, pretty good considering........


Wednesday, July 18, 2007

little gems....

This is little Bobby...he's just hanging out in the mountains.
This is Bob at about seven years old....
see any resemblances?
How cute are Bob and Amy? See any other resemblance?

It's a good thing Gwyn doesn't look like her dad!


Big boy....

Gil is now 10 1/2 months and he FINALLY started to crawl last week! He is a darling.
I love this goofy little smile he does when he is really happy and putting a show on for you!
He is huge! He weighs at least 24 lbs and he is off the charts for height! I get told daily that he is a big beautiful boy! So that is his nick name....Big Boy. I think that he is a gorgeous baby boy, and he is a very content little man.
Did I mention that he is crawling? I don't know if crawling is the right word....gimping along might be better. What ever it is I'll take it. It doesn't bother me one bit the things he gets into, I cheer him on. I was worried about his contentment to just sit, and I wondered if he would ever move,(I have been freaking out to Bob about it for months now! My doctor laughed at me and told me to relax, he is just fine, and just mellow.)
Gil is so sweet. He is by far my most snuggley baby, and that is saying something. I have very snuggley babies. He loves his sister more than words and giggles for all of her Peek-a-doo's. I can't believe we are nearing a year! I am so glad he is taking his time being a baby, Gwyn has just grown up too fast.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Afternoon Tea?

Sweet Geena came over to play with Gwyn today....Geena is Five. Gwyn adores her. When we are away from home Gwynnies incentive to come home is her "My Geena".
Today Geena helped Gwyn to understand how to have a proper tea party....funny, don't you usually sip your tea with your spoon not drink it. It was fun to hear them giggling.
All dressed up!
I really wish I had a nicer camera and a few classes in photography!

Shopping with Aunt Laura is Hard Work!



Sunday, July 15, 2007

Nannie's Bath

Nannie gave Gil his bath on Saturday, it was a typical Nannie bath......you have to love the kitchen sink. He thought this was such a treat.
Gil's favorite crinkle nose smile......silly boy.

Miss Minie

Love at first sight.....Gwyn held miss Minie for fifteenminutes totally mesmerized with her littleness..."look at her nose, and eyes,and lips..."
We were so happy to meet our beautiful new niece and cousin. Brooke is an amazing mom...such a natural.
Gilbert and Minie will be in the same grade funny huh?

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Lake time....

Cute Gage is so funny. He talks, maybe not so that you understand but that he has inflection in his voice and just jabbers away. I was watching him for Laura when he did a face plant in the sand, he didn't cry so I ran for my camera so that I could capture this.
Gilbert loved the sand. Probably to much, he kept trying to eat it.
Kate and Monson

Our last day there we did nothing but hang out on the beach and enjoy the weather....oh, and I got a wicked sunburn.
Grandy and Papa Lyle having a swim....
Uncle Nick, Uncle Nick, Uncle Nick, Uncle Nick..... that's what Gwyn kept saying before falling asleep the first night we were there. When I told her it was time to sleep she said "Mom, I like Uncle Nick." That would pretty much sum up how all of the kids felt about Nick. We didn't see him enough....it's never enough. We wished they were closer. The boys all took turns trying to take him on. He may be the most fun Uncle I've met.
This was our deck coming right on to the beach.


Beautiful, Beautiful Laura. She is really easy and fun to be around. I had so much fun getting to know her little man Gage.
More lake time.
Amy told Kate she could only take this picture if she was way out on the dock....so here it is. Bathing beauties....LOL
Gwyn walked up to me and said "you need me to say cheese?"