The Giles Family: 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

Christmas Exchange List

I think I'm a little late on this, this year. I've been busy and still can't believe Halloween is this week already!

As I wrote out all the names for the gift exchange drawing, I noticed that for the first year the kids outnumber the adults. Even if mom was on the list, there'd still be one more kid! Ten adults, eleven kids. Pretty crazy! :)

Adults
Dan---> Carrie
Amy---> Sally
Dana---> Dan
Katie---> Miranda
Eter---> Jeff
Sally---> Dana
Jeff---> Eter
Carrie---> Katie
Miranda---> Amy

Kids
Tatum---> Eli
Jane---> Lucia
Emma---> Campbell
Eli---> Jane
Dallin---> James
Holly---> Tatum
Sadie---> Berkley
Campbell---> Holly
James---> Emma
Berkley---> Dallin
Lucia---> Sadie

Other items up for conversation:

Are we going to try and get a family picture taken this year? Please give your feedback either way.
Do we want to beach camp this year? If so, which month? If not, where else should we go?
In the summer we talked a little bit about maybe renting the group site and making it a Swan reunion...I personally think that would be fun.
anything else?

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

pics

here's some of my latest pictures that I wanted to show you.

they're also on my blog but nobody ever looks on it and I wanted you to see :)

btw this is Emma

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Beautiful Berkley!

Amy and I were lucky enough to fly to Vegas and visit our new little family member!
She's about the sweetest thing you can imagine.

Of course we loved visiting the new parents too!

Carrie's was doing a great job getting accustomed to the whiles of being a new mom.
1) Nursing and pumping at least 50% of your day).

2) Trying to catch a few winks when the baby sleeps (hard to do, esp. when you have guests).

3) Doing a lot of baby holding and loving :)

But Amy and I gave her as many breaks from that last as we could.

My turn please :)
(As my kids would say...AWWWW!!!)

Then I got some of Jeff holding her since he didn't have much to do. And he loves posing for pictures!

Just kidding- he was very obliging with all the pictures I took of him holding Berkley. He said several times how he actually does find himself interested in a newborn for the first time in his life!

It was pretty cute since she's so tiny next to him. Here's my favorites of times he had her:

On the second day, we noticed her long eyelashes- so of course I tried to get a picture of them.

This position worked out better...

Amy got the honor of giving her, her first sponge bath.

Babies don't normally like being unwrapped, naked, and wet but she barely made a peep!

It may be partly because she's a preemie but I'd be surprised if she gets really fussy later. She's sooo mellow. Amy and I started singing the "Miracle Child" song to her from "Joseph, King of Dreams".

And last, her tiny, cute legs and wrinkly knees...

She's got a good appetite and (literally) some big shoes to fill gene-wise, so I know she'll grow fast. I feel lucky I got to be part of her very early days and I know Amy feels the same way! Thank you Jeff and Carrie for being the gracious hosts you are :)

Congrats on your little sweet-pea!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The BIG Four-Oh :)

Yes, I am blogging Amy's 40th birthday for her. She doesn't blog and I wanted to put some of her cute pictures up. So for those you that weren't here for the fun...

She decided to have a little 40th party. Amy Fra. and I mainly planned it. It was dinner and then go to a fun (and clean) improv club here called "Jesters". Well Dana's Uncle Neil died and the funeral ended up being that same day, so we only got to go to the dinner portion. But here are a couple cute pics from Joe's FG.

Randa brought Amy some baklava!

Amy got a few old lady presents :)

Those who went to "Jester's" afterward all said it was a fun time.

The next day was Sunday and Randa spend a lot of time making us each our own cupcakes so that I could have GF/DF ones. So sweet! Literally- mmmm.

The night before the big day one of Amy's really fun friends had the idea to decorate Amy's yard with "40"'s and balloons and a big poster. So 3 of us went and decorated at like 9:30 pm.! So funny!

By the time I was dropped off and came in the house and looked on FB, Amy had already posted pictures of herself in front of the sign. We really live in the era of insta-share:)

Then on the big day we went to our usual free breakfast at the delicious "Liberty Market". We brought our adorable side-kicks along with us.

Sadie took about 5 of us like this. She needs a little practice with the iphone apparently :) That's a good thing I guess.

For lunch Amy's friends got together again for those that couldn't come to the party. Yes, I crashed that party too. I can't turn down those free birthday meals! But I didn't think to take a picture. Amy Fra also brought a little book there for everyone to write notes in for Amy. Seemed like a pretty good 40th to me!

Happy Birthday to our beloved (sister, daughter, mom, aunt, and wife) Amy! We all love you so.

Friday, February 22, 2013

emma

ive been posting on my blog.....hint hint *cough* (comment)

Memories of Dad

* When Dad was in the hospital, and had been for a couple weeks. Tatum had been taking a little community tap dance class. Often when we were on our way home from school or anywhere we would stop by to say hello. Tatum wanted to show Dad her dance she was learning. Mom said "oh no, not here honey its just too loud" Dad quickly answered " No I want to see" Tatum was thrilled and Dad loved it or at least pretended he did.
* Dan was reminding me the other night about a story I had forgotten. Many of you probably remember how afraid of men Tatum was. Although she LOVED Dad and Jeff even though she hardly saw them. When Robin and Nick got married Mom and Dad came up for the wedding and stayed in a hotel. We came down from Provo and met them. As we were in the Lobby wating for them to come down,the elevator "dinged" Tatum turned to see and it was "Pappa" Tatum (about 2 yrs) just stood in one spot running and waving her arms! So excited that he was finally there. Dad with his big sweet smile walked over and scooped her up.
*I remember how whenever we went to Big Bear in spite of the fact that he'd been driving two hours. Without fail and without going into the house he would disappear with the blue Yamaha motorcycle. Then he'd be gone for as a much as two hours. Of course when he came back at least two of us kids would be waiting for him so we could go on a ride. The funnest thing for me was when he finally let me go it alone. I was about 12 and he let me red an old Honda. I fell and distinctly remember him saying something like don't tell your Mom about this.
*My biggest road trip with just Dad was going up to Idaho for my first semester. After leaving Joyce’s house on the second day we were passing Kolobe Canyon (which I pass all the time now) and he just took the exit, I don’t think he even asked me if I wanted to see it. We drove up the canyon a little ways and got out and looked around for a while. I had a disposable camera and we took some pictures. It was really beautiful, but mostly I was just happy to be with him--one of those rare spontaneous moments. Too bad I lost the camera somehow when I got to school.
*When Dana comes home from work the kids get excited and run to him and say "Daddy!" Lately, he's been saying "Yay!" in reply. I love it because I remember dad used to say the same thing a lot.
*Thinking of birthday cakes today, I remembered the first (and only) birthday cake Dad made for me. We weren't even engaged yet, and he was trying to make an impression. So he decided on the extraordinary plan to make a cake that would taste like a fruit salad; I suppose he was thinking ambrosia. He used an orange cake mix ( I don't think they even make them anymore) and strawberry flavored frosting (also thankfully retired). This must have been very early in the relationship or he might have guessed chocolate would have been more effective. I think I was polite, but I'm sure that cake never was finished. You all know he wasn't much of a cook, but I loved him for trying!
*Another funny memory I have was when Jeff was driving Mom's white car and it caught on fire. (We were living there with Mom and Dad) so we were all kneeling around the bed for prayers when jeff called. Dad anwsers, Jeff and said "the car is on fire, and the fire dept had to come put it out... kinda scared to tell I think. Dad yells YAAAHOOOO! Let it Burn! He was thrilled to be done with that car finally. And off he went to pick up Jeff!
* I was at the DMV the other day registering my new van (YEA!) When I remembered once running into Dad at the DMV in CA. It was so funny b/c he was dressed as usual in his roofer garb. Old dirty jeans and t-shirt and hat but the best part was that over the hat he was wearing those headphones the big ones with the little antanae sticking up on the side. Just standing there listening to whatever station he could get reception to in there. He was so funny I had to think for a moment to I really want to walk over and say "HI DAD!" Of couse I did. I'm glad for all those memories now.
*I just remembered a time when I was about 11. It was Sunday afternoon, I was wearing my cool new jean shorts, and dad was chasing me around the house. We were in the entry when he grabbed on to me by the belt loop on the back of my shorts. I pulled away really hard, and the loop ripped right off leaving a hole in my back side. I was so mad, but dad was laughing and laughing, so I started to laugh too. I’m sure mom was in the kitchen giving her usual opinion: ‘It’s all fun and games until…” Randa
*One of my most treasured memories is from when I was very little. For some reason I just loved when dad would hide behind the cereal box and then peek out at me from different sides- and the real suprise...the TOP! I loved that he really liked it too and played that game with me frequently. Very simple but very meaningful to me at the time. Katie
*One time driving to Utah with Dad, when I was 15 or so, we kept seeing signs for Hogi Yogi in Southern Utah. First we made fun of the goofy name. Then it started to sound good. Then we decided we'd have to stop and get some at that exit when it came. The exit came and we missed it. Dad got off at the next one and drove about 20 min through a small town, backtracking to the Hogi Yogi. We laughed about it the whole time. I love that Dad would go along with stupid kid stuff with us. Sally

The Giles Family