Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip, yip!

Dessert Time









Extraordinary.

Wedding Times/Thanks MOM!

Wish I could have seen you all over Thanksgiving, but it was a busy time for Mom and I. We worked hard and hammered out a lot of the nitty-gritty details for the big day in LA.
Photos
Flowers
Cake
Sash
Decor
Centerpieces
Menu
Shoes
Going away dress
Honeymoon
Fabric colors
Party favors
etc
etc
etc
Who knew how annoying all these little decisions could be. I'm extremely happy that I only have a month to bother with all this stuff instead of 3 or more.
Overall though, our few days of shopping were really easy. Things kept appearing and working out so serendipitously that I couldn't help thinking that it was all meant to be this way.
I was really happy to get back here to Bubba. We are both much happier when we are together. I think that's a good sign. He was busy working on invitations while I was away. (They should start coming out by the end of the week.)
In all, I owe mom a big huge THANKS!!! for making it all happen. I'm sorry that, in all likleyhood, these kinds of decisions and large purchases will be dominating her next few months, but then again, at least after that it will be done FOREVER. Then let the good-times and babies start to roll.
I love you mom.

Here are a few of my favorites from our engagement session:






This one is my fav

Ahhh hahahaha!

For the K Family Reunion I'm in charge of gathering a picture of EVERYONE in the family that's served a mission, on their mission, for a world map/missionary display. Anyway, so I was looking for a picture of Don and Shirley in Paraguay and came across a bunch of pictures I haven't seen forever! And in the spirit of holidays, and to continue the flashback theme, I thought I'd share. I laughed at some so hard I cried.

Dana loves this one! I think it's funny that apparently I got someone short like Jeff to take the picture since I was looking so good. The clothes, the hair, the braces, the scrawniness. Feb 1991 I remember thinking that the suspenders were a stroke of pure genius! The 4th 1990. Sally, were we both in our awkward stages at the same time? A great April Fools picture -1992

Sally I just love that you held these up for me so I could take the picture. This one just makes me laugh so hard. Oh- and another "club" shirt. I think this one was mine too! Sept. 1989

JEFF! HAHAHAHA! No date but I think it was October 1989.

A very cute one :) Summer 1989

Morning of our 17th/19th birthdays. 1992

This one's for you Randa since you have such fond memories. "Safety Kids" perform at D-Land. June 1990

Happy Birthday, Randa!!!

Thought I'd do a little birthday flashback tribute to our favorite youngest sister! We love you, Randa! And what a little cutie you were...and are, of course. Look at these little red pigtails!

Does it get better than a My Little Pony on your birthday? Well, maybe. But look at all your sisters excited enough to be hovering around "helping you" with it!

A few other tidbits I'd like to point out. In this picture, Amy is Tatum's age--12. Katie is 10--about the same as Jane and Emma. I'm 7--Eli. Don't we look older than your kids do?

Also, I love my yarn ribbon and florescent yellow sleeves! Ah, 1985--you were so good to us.

Another thing I LOVE about looking at old picture is the stuff in the background because all of these objects kind of make up the everyday history of our lives. They are what we stared at while eating cereal, or what we broke and didn't want to 'fess up to, or loved or hated even then. So, don't we all remember that Nutcracker soldier? I'm wondering if it snuck out before the Dec 1 official decorating date, or (ugh) had it been out since the year BEFORE? ha ha.
I believe that is my crayon and marker set--loved it!
That clown tricycle guy looks really familiar, but I feel like it came and went. And I don't know where from or to? Anyone?
And, best for last, "I LIKE HOUSEWORK. I LIKE HOUSEWORK. I LIKE HOUSEWORK." How many days did I go to school with that mantra in my head. A lot of good it did this pretty unhelpful child.

















A cute one of me and Randa at around 1 and 6. Well, cuter of Randa.























And finally, I found this gem, which of course I love because Dad is in it and being totally himself. It must've been a Sunday, since we're all dressed up. Dad, joking around as usual and ruining my 9 year old cool. I'm rockin' my yellow jeanskirt, and probably sucking down the last of my Halloween candy. (Lollipops are last pick.) And Randa, hamming it up and finishing off all those hand-me-downs. A Grandma Giles special?























Anyway, I love our family, and I love you Randa! Hope you had the best "blessed" birthday ever!!!

A Grand Year

So who's it gonna be? Who will have the ring and date first? It's like all 3 of you are right there. My eager-osity is getting the best of me. 2010 is a BIG year indeed! (someone please hurry)

And in case you haven't yet heard, Dana and I are expecting in July :) We are as excited as can be. We told the kids today who are already giving us name suggestions and seem to be happy about it (although I can tell Emma is reserving some mixed feelings).

I'm just so excited for everything coming up. And I'm so happy we will all be together for Christmas soon. At least for a couple days. Love you all so much :)

Did too do Halloween...

Just so you know... Halloween happened here too. Root beer and all.

Nightmare on Peneplain St.

<----- My pumpkin ate too much candy and threw up all over my porch, so I named her JANE O. Lantern!

My neighbor across the street mentioned that Halloween is a big deal around here, so Carrie and I decided to get festive and decorate the house-- equipped with cobwebbs, orange lights and our pumpkins. Thus began Nightmare on Peneplain St.

Halloween night Doug and his girlfriend, Angela, came over. We didn't end up dressing up this year, but it was fun to pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters as we sat on the porch and ate our Taco Bell. Doug scared many of them. After the kids had stopped coming, we watched "Misery" (awesome movie! I hadn't seen the whole thing and I loved it). It was a fun night of fright, delight and rhyming...

(Carrie wrote most of this, especially the parts that were boring)

To the World's Best Mother!

"Happy Happy Birthday Mother Dear......"

(I was lucky enough to be there for Mom's b-day this year!)

Grandpa picked up a chocolate( of course) b-day cake for her and we added some candles

it was a party!

(She thought for a min she was going to slice up this cake with No Singing and candles,

although we did let her off with 3 candles!)

I case you haven't heard Mom and Grandpa bought a Wii! This is mom canoe-ing!

She and Tatum were having contests with all sorts of games.

Good times- Good times!

With more to come I'm sure.....remember the karekoe Christmas :)

I know I speak for all of us (although I am not the most well spoken of this group)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

For all you have done and still do for each one of us. For you example as a Mother, Wife, Daughter, Friend, Teacher and Person..... You are amazing we are forever thankful to be your children!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

...The Geese are Getting Fat

Ah, Christmastime!!!

So, in the spirit of gluttony and greed, here are the results of the annual name draw:

Amy=> Randa
Dan => Jeff
Katie => Dan
Dana => Amy
Sally => Dana
Jeff => Sally
Randa => Katie



And I guess, as usual, Mom has everyone and only wants to give more to other people in return. :)

So, I guess we'll figure out later when and where we'll see each other, but the important thing (duh, presents) is settled. jk! Love you all.

Found This Cute Picture...

Possibly taken by Grandma Giles :)

Can't wait to see everyone at Christmas...right?

Health Report

I'm finding there are a lack of people to brag to about this to, so I can count on my family right? Except I did actually call Amy to tell her this earlier today so.....the rest of you.
You may be of the opinion that I have the sickly genes in our family. I have heard mom say I was her most "sickly" child. Yes, I did get JRA at 10 and yes, I have severe nausea when preg...

BUT after not having my cholesterol checked since the cafeteria finger prinking machine in 7th grade, I decided I better get it checked out- along with the basic "physical" stuff. So....I'm happy to report that my cholesterol which they want below 200, is 165. My triglycerides (fats in blood I think) which they want below 150, is 37! Oh yeah! He said he hasn't seen triglycerides that low in a long time. He said I got an "A+ on my blood work" I haven't gotten an A+ in a long time and I was beaming when he said that. I also got an EKG that looked good.

Best of all was having better numbers than Dana, who was happy, of course, that I'm healthy and receiving glowing blood reports, but a little bit mystified by the fact that I never exercise and he's running marathons.
The doctor concluded with, "keep doing what you're doing" and "I guess you have good genes..."

The Adventures of Atticus Finch

Meet Atticus. I found him on the ground by the bird feeder when I was watering. In fact, I accidentally watered him! He's missing a number of wing feathers and all of his tail feathers, and I
imagine he had a run in with one of the cats--not

Stripes, of course; I think he'd be afraid of Atticus.

When I reached over and picked him up, he just stayed on my hand and trembled a bit. He can hop from my hand to the bird feeder, but he seems rather weak and shakey--traumatized would probably be the word for it.

I called my friend who knows about birds, and she said he'd grow new feathers as long as he was kept safe. So I fixed him a home in a plastic carton with a loose lid, and I think I'll take him to school-- out of Stripes' way just in case he starts feeling like tiger-ish.

Debbie also said if I keep him awhile, he'll become very tame. So I'll see what happens.

He spent a little while pecking at the plastic box, trying to figure out why he could see through it but not get out there.

Now he seems to have found his pjs and is heading off to sleep.

...To be continued.

Mexican Wedding...with none of those cookies

This weekend Eter's brother, Israel, and his fiancee, Marisol (cute name, huh?) got married. It was a two-day affair, because the Mexican government doesn't recognize religious ceremonies as legal marriages. So, they have to get married civilly first, and then in their church.
Friday, I went down to Tijuana and they got married legally. And the judge came right to the restaurant--so convenient! Here are some pics of that day with Eter's mom, brothers and the girlfriends.




Hmm, does anyone stand out in this picture? I feel huge around them. And I think I'm slouching pretty good, too.



Then Saturday was the sealing in San Diego, which I went to but didn't get any pictures outside because it all happened during my regular temple shift. Which was actually cool because I got to be the one taking her around and helping her get dressed and sending them out the door to everyone.

After that, Eter waited for me to be done and we drove down to Mexico again for a reception put on by her family. Her sisters made her dress, which was really pretty.



Anyway, I thought it would be fun for you to see his family. And to document at least one of my trips traipsing off to far-a-way Mexico.

3 White Dresses

No, not your 3 white dresses- the ones I have had in Emma's closet for about 7 years now. They were once Tatum's size 4, Emma's and Jane's- size 2. For Kristy's wedding. I'm just letting any possibly interested peoples know that they are there. And that they could potentially be worn by Holly- size 4 , and Sadie and Campbell- size 2. Either way, I'm kinda excited to get their puffiness out of the closet sooner than later.Haven't seen the wreaths though. Cute picture of grandma :)

Tomorrow we're going camping with the Froerer's and some people in her ward. We're probably going to get poured on. Hopefully not enough to wash the fun away. Wish us luck!

The Ball is Officially Rolling

Today, after a summer of long and hard trudging through bureaucratic hoops, and with the help of many many kind people, I finally submitted the k-1 visa paperwork. I mailed off 70 pages of documentation that Eter and I have an honest-to-goodness relationship.

Here's us a few weeks ago, starting to really put things together.




I took some footage of this monumental day. Unfortunately, it's a one-woman show (and not a very entertaining show, starring a girl who doesn't ever like being filmed) since Eter has this annoying thing called a job in Mexico. And even though I look perplexed in this first shot, I'm very happy actually! (Just getting old, eew.)



So, don't go making a paper chain or anything. We've got at least a 5 month wait until the paperwork even moves to the next location. Ah, the waiting game! How can it be so hard to do nothing? Thanks to all for your support and love!

New Cookbook

I bought an awesome cookbook from the amazing food expert in Amy's ward. I am loving this cookbook. Everything I have tried has been delicious and my kids have loved everything too! Plus it's healthy food. So why am I bragging about my new cookbook? Well, I actually bought 2 and I will be giving my extra to the sibling that gets engaged first! That's right, this could be yours. If that's not a reason to rush into marriage I don't know what is! hahhaha.

P.S. This will be in lieu of the previously promised $100. This is better than that- trust me. (And more affordable for me:)

Pres McKay greets Bp. Cottam

This is a picture of Pres. McKay at the dedication of the San Fernando Stake Center.The man he's greeting is Bp. Joseph M. Cottam, who became the patriarch who gave all of my family our patriarchal blessings.

Good Times with Grandma

Of course we have all been thinking about Grandma a lot lately. I've been remembering some of the things that made our Grandma so uniquely wonderful.
Here are just a few of my Grandma gems:

I loved getting ready for church up at Big Bear--especially looking at Grandma's jewelry and the bottles and things on her vanity. When I was about 12 I was in Grandma's room, just looking at myself in the mirror, once I was all dressed. Grandma came in and I felt a little embarrassed. She said to me: 'That's alright. A girl needs to admire herself in the mirror once in a while.' That made me feel much better, and I think she was absolutely right.

Another time at the cabin, Grandma was working on her book and Mom was looking over some of it on the computer. We came to a sentence with a structural problem and mom was trying to get her to change it to which she replied: 'Once a person knows the rules well enough, they are allowed to break them.'

In a rare alone time moment with Grandma the two of us went out on the lake in her old rowboat. Once we got out a little ways we couldn't help but notice there were hundreds, or thousands, of lake carp surrounding us and flopping around enough to make the whole lake surface jump. We were both fascinated, and then shocked when we both realized at the same moment that all the fish seemed to be flopping around in pairs. Grandma's giggling put my 11 year-old embarrassment at ease and we both giggled our way back to shore.

One summer while I was visiting, along with the Large kids, we all set out to climb Castle Rock. We got to a difficult point where I didn't think I could lift myself up and over. I started to cry and said I would just stop right there. Grandma took a long look at me and said, 'Miranda Beth, I am 67 year's old. If I can do this you certainly can.' And I did and the view from the top was wonderful.

Thank you Grandma for always encouraging and teaching me.

What do you remember?

We finally see'd her in Cedar!

I have been wanting to visit for a long time and it was so much fun and beautiful!

YEA we're almost there!!!

Miranda's place. On the left. Not to be mistaken with the right which is someone else's home entirely.
She was still out getting lunch for us (so nice) so I explored her room for a minute while the kids rushed the bathroom. I thought he was very cute and apropos!
We didn't have to wait too long to see this bright, beautiful smile!
We chatted and had a yummy pizza and then the Bubster stopped by to visit. It was so fun to see him too! The kids were lovin' it of course. The more attention the better!
Bubba had to go back to work but the rest of us headed over to SUU which, I'm quite sure I'm the last to know, is right across the street from her apt. WOW! Was it ever beautiful! Definetly a sight for sore (deserty, over-wrought with everything brown and cactusy) eyes.

Emma in a nature frame.

campus beauty.

right by the theater. So cool! We REALLY wanted to stay and watch a show and were tempted to even stay the night. Another time though.

long way down.

Saying goodbye :( We stayed an played awhile not anxious to leave the beauty and the kids not anxious to return to the car for 3+ more hrs.
Again, I was in awe of what a super little sister I have and how grown up she is. When did I get so old? Thanks for the fun visit :) We love you!