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We've done more in the few days Justin's parents have been here than the rest of the summer combined. Partly because they are fun and the fact that Justin (finally) has a break from school.

And oh yeah, Sarah has forward mobility. It's fun just to see her move around more. She's getting pretty fast.

Sarah ate her very first pink circus cookie.

She helped Grandma Nadine wash the car.

Justin found his old coat at the cabin and modeled it for us.

Sarah had her very first guitar lesson from Nate.

Justin and Sarah went for a walk. She liked it best when Justin ran, of course.

This doesn't have anything to do with anything other than it's a lot of meat.

Sarah and Nadine inspected river rocks up AF Canyon.

Played with GI Joe War cards.

Nate, Justin and Corey fished in the river and got cold and wet.

It's a Sarah Fish!

I took Sarah swimming yesterday for the first time. She was nervous at first with all the other kids around. I can't blame her. After some girl hit me in the head with one of her diving rings, I shouted in my mom voice, "Watch out!" The kid's reply: "It's okay." Perhaps my mom voice needs a little work.

Anyway, once Sarah figured out she could propel her tube by froggy-kicking her legs, she decided this swimming thing was all right. After she discovered how to splash me in the face, she decided splashing was more fun than swimming.

But judging by the pictures, getting her picture taken on the lounger was the best part.

***And a shout-out of thanks to Mandy, Kenzie and Nadine for the the pool, Sarah's swimsuit/swim diaper and the tube, respectively. I just realized I was a moocher the entire day.***

Stay Classy Utah

Which do you think illustrates our society's shocking lack of class?

1. The PSA poster at the health clinic that said, "Fatherhood: More than a one-night stand."

2. The tattoo on the guy at Macey's that said, "100% Pervert", complete with a skull and crossbones.

3. The T-shirt of the man outside of Macey's advertising his construction company that said, "Helping contractors with their erections since 1978." The graphic of a structure below his slogan was also a double-entendre.

9 Months Old

Sarah is 3/4 of a year today! She is such a goofy girl. She can clap her hands, crawl backwards, and drink out of a cup.

Tooth Watch 2009: We have visual.

Parenting Tip #0001

Keep a sweet pickle and a chicken bone on hand at times for a fuss-free baby dinner. (Or a dinner free from a fussy baby. Depends on your taste.)

Tooth Watch 2009

I felt Sarah's first tooth yesterday. She is already sick of me putting my finger in her mouth every 2 seconds to check it's progress. No event has been closer watched by me than the construction of Kohl's in Orem.

Sarah the Sea Monster

The maiden voyage of the USS Dyeboat ended disastrously when Sarah the Sea Monster took out the torpedo guns and then dismantled the hammock deck. The scrap parts were salvaged for a schoolhouse but Hurricane Sarah hit and flattened that with a swing of her arm and a mischievous giggle. Hurricane Sarah slowly calmed to Tropical Storm Sarah and then took a nap.

Fourth of July and Friends

So Helpful!

There's nothing more tempting than a freshly stacked pile of folded clothes.

8 Months Old

Sarah has figured out how to wrinkle her nose and apparently can't not do it when she smiles now.

According to the produce scale at Macey's, she's 15 lbs 8 oz. And according to my measuring tape, 26.5 inches of bouncing, smiling, buzzing fun.

Cabin Palooza 2009

Justin and I took my family to the Dye family cabin in Scofield. 6 of the 8 siblings were there plus all their kids and my parents totalling 28 people. We had lots of fun and it was great to see my sisters from Arizona and New Mexico.

My neice Allison. She's about 6 weeks younger than Sarah but crawls like a champ!

My nephew Isaac from New Mexico. I decided he's the favorite cousin. Everyone was most excited to see Isaac.

Jake and Brooke. I think Jake looks like he could be in Sandlot type movie. So cute!

The gang down at Scofield Reservoir. Justin taught the kids how to fish. He spent most of the time putting new bait on poles since the kids got impatient just letting their line stay out in the water. They'd reel it in, get the hook caught on the weeds, lose their bait, need new bait and help casting. Justin was so patient! He says he now knows how his dad felt teaching him.

Christian "Mr. Fun", Kyle, Isaac and Jaana. Christian got his nickname at BYU's football camp last week. His counselor was struggling to pronoucne his first name, Fanueli, and decided "Mr. Fun" would do.

Jake caught the one and only fish out of the whole family. He was so excited.

My sister Rachel, her husband Kenny and her boys Zack and Tyler.

Little Jared. He's the funniest 2-year-old ever.

Allison, Brooke and Sarah. Three of the 4 baby girls born this year.

Halloween in June

Justin's mom sent Sarah this lion costume. We are going to score soooo much candy on Halloween. Heck, I bet I could score some off our neighbors right now.

Ball Skills

So she may not have any teeth and can only crawl backwards but this girl has mad ball skills.

Well, she's at least having fun.

No Shows and the Air Show

So our bishop challenged our ward to turn off the TV, stereo, and computer for an entire week just to prove how much free time we really do have and to encourage more face-to face contact with neighbors and friends. I didn't do the face-to-face stuff but I did get really bored. Here's a few things I did.

1. Made a carrot cake from scratch. Carrots go everywhere when you grate them.

2. Played solitaire with actual cards. (I'd cheat if I lost because I hated re-dealing.)

3. Spied on neighbors from my upstairs window. It's like a sniper's nest--I can see half the neighborhood from up there. My neighborhood is boring.

4. Found recipes in a cookbook, not a website.

5. Went on like 3 walks every day.

6. Finished the Conference Ensign.

7. Read a paper newspaper.

8. Dusted my bookcase and reorganized it a little bit.

9. Sat and stared at Sarah. She buzzed back.

10. Went to garage sales. I found 5 shirts for Sarah for $1 each. Keep your stimulus package Obama....we'll get by just fine, thanks.

Lesson learned: I didn't miss one TV show, especially daytime TV. But having the TV on does make the day go by faster. Not having a computer was tougher. I felt so cut-off from the world.

On to the air show. Hill Air Force Base hosts an airshow nearly every year but only every few years do the Thunderbirds come. It's always a good time but I don't know if I can handle the 1 1/2 drive plus the hour walk to the base (and then back) every year. Once every few years is good for me. Luckily, Sarah didn't get too scared by the loudness. The train behind our house doesn't phase her so I knew she could handle it. I covered her ears when it was loud and that seemed to confuse her more than the loud jet going by.

Sarah on some sort of missile. This is her anti-war protest I guess.

I don't know what kind of plane this is but you have to get your picture taken in front of a plane. It's a rule.

7 Months Old

Sarah's ability to sit up and the nice weather make for more interesting pictures.

Still no sign of teeth but that won't stop her from trying to eat everything. She loves pretty much everything we let her try and wants what what she can't have even more. She gets mad when we don't share. I was eating a bowl of cereal while she was playing on the floor and I had to hide the bowl behind me and take bites when she wasn't looking. And she whined the entire time I was eating a steak because I wouldn't share. I think she's going to be a chef when she grows up.

3 Years and Counting

Today is mine and Justin's third wedding anniversary. Feels like forever really, but that's a good thing.

What I've learned after 3 years of marriage.

1. It really doesn't matter which direction the silverware goes in the dishwasher. Our dishwasher isn't going to get them clean.
2. To someday buy or not to buy a mini-van may be our longest-running argument.
3. He said I never told him. Oh, I told him. I know I told him. I remember what he was doing, the shirt he was wearing, and what he said in reply when I told him. He doesn't remember. That's as good as not telling him.
4. Threats do work. "If you bring home an Xbox, I'll bring home a dog. And it will be a house dog."
5. Compromise also works. "Okay, you can get an Xbox if I can pick the games. And they will be lame."
6. It is what you say. And how you say it.
7. Justin can be eating cereal in his pajamas 20 minutes before church starts and still be ready before me.

Now please enjoy this trip down memory lane.

My parents were living in Alaska when Justin and I started dating. I emailed my mom this picture to tell her about him.

This is for Justin. He likes, nay, LOVES, this picture.

Just being helpful.

This is right after Justin proposed at Bridal Veil Falls. That's a pinata on the bench.

The bite Justin fed me was all frosting. It was so hard to swallow and I love frosting.

Leaving our reception. We drove around for awhile just for the attention. And because Justin loves motorcycles.

This is on our honeymoon in Las Vegas. But the real reason I post this is to point out those steaks. We still talk about how good they were.

Yay for marriage!