We live in an amazing country

So last night I was watching the State of the Union Address. I am such a nerd about such things - I just LOVE it! As it started there was President Bush at the podium, Vice President Cheney at his right, and to his left was the Speaker of the House - Nancy Pelosi. Let me preface this by saying that I am in no ways a fan of most things about Ms Pelosi. But I felt such pride to see a woman sitting up there, helping to lead this country. I don't consider myself a feminist, according to many definitions of the word. I am proud to be a woman, but I feel completely fulfilled and accomplished being a full-time mother with no real past work experience. I know that I have the most important and rewarding job that there is, despite what many "feminists" may say about it. That being said, I was kind of surprised by my reaction to seeing Nancy Pelosi, a woman, in such a seat of authority and honor. I have similar swellings of pride when I think that in the presidential race there is a woman up at the front of the pack. Again, I don't necessarily agree with her politics, but I'm proud of what she is doing none the less. While I know that, taken as a whole, the role of mother is much more important than that of Speaker of the House or even President of the United States, I am impressed to see what my fellow women are accomplishing.

Random bits and pieces

I feel like it's been forever since I've posted, but I guess life has just kind of been normal so I didn't real feel the need. So I decided to just give some random recaps of life over the past few weeks.

When we returned from Christmas break, Michael hadn't had a hair cut in WAY too long. I planned on doing it for him over the break, but forgot my scissors back home. He was quite the shaggy dog. Here is the lovely pile when I finished off the mop:


The middle of this month we got some sad/happy news. My grandma had passed away. Sad for obvious reasons. But it was also a happy moment. She was in her 90s and her husband had passes away around 15 years ago. She often talked about how ready she was to be back with him. So it was a strange mix of emotions for me. I'd been pretty close with her. While Michael and I were at BYU we lived across the street from her. We were lucky enough to et to spend a lot of quality time with her over Christmas break since she came to live in Idaho Falls this Fall. This picture is our "Four Generations" picture.

She truly was one of the most amazing women I have ever had the privilege to know. Even in her 90s she had a quick and healthy mind. She was an author, a poet, a teacher. She was a college graduate - something rare for her day. She was unafraid to speak her mind and I always loved to listen to her wisdom. This is a thought of hers that has been published over and over. It was paraphrased in General Conference.

A small trouble is like a pebble. Hold it close to your eye, and it puts everything out of focus. Hold it at proper distance, and it can be examined and classified. Throw it at your feet, and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway to eternity.

The funeral itself was quite the family reunion. All of Grandma's decendents were there except one granddaughter-in-law (she's 9 months pregnant). It was wonderful to see everyone again. here's the whole group.

We flew back into LAX from Salt Lake and spent a day with Michael's family before driving home.

Last week I got to see an incredible movie and the Mormon Battalion Monument/visitor's center. It's called Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration. Amazing! I knew about the restoration of the LDS church as well as the next Mormon, but seeing it this way and learning about it again gave me such a greater appreciation for what those people went through.

Yesterday was a baby shower for my good friend Angela. Her son Tanner is one of Jessica's best friends. The shower was INCREDIBLE! I have never been to such a presentation! Julie and Kim - all I can say is WOW! You two did great! It was a pink, girlie, tea-party theme. So we all dressed up in our tea party best and had such a fun time!

There were cucumber sandwiches, cranberry orange scones, macaroons, pink cupcakes, fruit kabobs, cranberry almond feta salad (I could have eaten the whole bowl), sparkling pink lemonades, water with raspberry and mint ice cubes, and virgin strawberry daiquiris. YUM!

How amazing is this!?

The decorations/table settings were also a sight. Fresh flowers, Gerber Daisy napkin rings, china and crystal, and even mini nail polish party favors!

Like I said before, it was a tea party and we were instructed to dress accordingly. And what is more important than the shoes?! Carol - I want your shoes! (the green ones). I'm the red peep toe with the big red bow.

And here's the whole crew:

Well, that's our life up to this point. Be sure an look at our side bar. I've added some adorable things Jessica has been saying lately. She is quite the talker.

I love you Michael!

Our Monkey

It's official - we have a monkey. As I've mentioned before, Jessica is a jumper and a climber. A couple nights ago she realized that she could climb out of her crib. Yikes! So at the moment she is in her pack-n-play, since she hasn't quite figured out how to climb out of it. Any advice on this subject would be great. I don't feel like she's to the "big kid bed" stage quite yet. But after hearing her gasp and scream when she fell out of the crib, I'm not sure I want her back in there either.

Cookie Time!

The cutest thing happened today. I grabbed Jessica a cookie out of the cupboard. When I handed it to her, she says, "Whoa! Big cookie!" Not even kidding - it was clear as day. She cracks me up. Michael thought it was so funny he had to get a picture of her happy little moment.

1, 2, 3... Jump!

Jessica is quite the little acrobat. Every time we turn around she is jumping off whatever she can find. This first video is of Jessica using her car seat as a jumping pad. Pretty funny.



The funny thing about that last video is that she wanted to watch it over and over and over. She got pretty mad at me when I tried to take a video of her rather than let her watch herself.



Today she was jumping yet again. I'm not sure what we're going to do if she manages to find less safe places to climb up on. :)

Goodbye Snow! Hello Sunshine!

We're heading back to our lovely San Diego! We'll miss the snow... kind of. :)
The contrast sure is funny.

Merry Christmas!

Wow! What a fun day! Our whole break has been lots of fun so far. Jessica has just fallen in love with everything. Michael has been loving spending more time at the law firm. I'm so glad he likes the work he does. Today was great, but I'll start with a few things I've missed. A week ago was my (Laura's) birthday. 23 - that seems old, but I know how silly that must sound to most people. :)

I think I look pretty silly - but I got em all on my first try! :)

As I've mentioned before, Jessica LOVES the snow. I'm so glad we got a picture of the first time she tasted snow.

"Nummy!!"

We also went sledding the other day. Jessica had fun for a little while. I think she just liked being with her Uncle "Nonny" (Jonny).

Jonny and Jessica

Michael, Laura, and Jessica

Like I said, Christmas morning was fun. Even though I got all of Jessica's presents at the dollar store, I think I got too much. She would have been thrilled with just a couple of things. The most excited she got was when I emptied out her stocking and told her it was "candy." She started dancing and giggling. So funny!

"Candy! Yea!"

Michael and I were pretty funny gift-givers. We each got each other exercise videos. :) We had each mentioned wanting that type of thing at some point, so we weren't mad or anything. We just thought it was hillarious. Thanks to everyone for all of the wonderful gifts. We love them all! Here are just a few more pictures of the morning (Jessica, of course).

Michael has been really funny this break about the snow. Growing up in Southern California he never really had much contact with snow. He has LOVED shovelling the sidewalks and driveways. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, he's out there as soon as there's a trace. Too funny. This morning my parent's next door neighbor came out with his snow-blower and "let" Michael use it. I love my silly man. :)

Who smiles this much shovelling?

During Jessica's nap today, Michael, Jonny (my brother), and I went outside to make a snow adventure for Jessica. We built tunnels and mounds and trails all through my parent's back yard. Poor Michael had never had the experience building snow forts and stuff. I'm so glad I'm giving him some real world experience. :) Jessica loved it when she woke up.

This one has got to be my favorite. She thought the tunnel was hillarious, but she wouldn't go through - even after I showed her how. Cutie.

Here we just plopped her in a pile of snow. She thought it was hillarious.

We've had a great Christmas so far. It really is so much more of a fun holiday with a little Jessica-bug running around.