Island Park

For spring break, my parents rented a condo in Island Park for a week. Then they got asked to speak in church Easter Sunday, so they decided not to use the first 2 nights. They offered it to us! So, three days after I got back from St. George, we packed the girls up and headed out for a snowy getaway. We figured out it was the first family vacation we have ever been on! (We went to Arizona once, when Mariah was small, for one of Mike's dental school interviews, but that wasn't a vacation.)

We had such a good time! We had our doubts when we arrived Friday night (late), and Mariah was up until 1:30 a.m., loudly pitting her will against ours. But the rest of the time was so relaxing and pleasant.

We had a lazy Saturday morning, with French toast and hashbrowns for breakfast. Then, while Elaine slept, we took Mariah out exploring in the snow right by our condo. Ten feet of snow and pine trees. Beautiful!

After lunch we headed over to an Easter egg hunt and swimming. The girls loved the water, even though it was a bit chilly. Mariah did not want to get out.

When we got back to the condo, Mariah fell asleep at the table, in the middle of a bite of grapefruit. I was so shocked (she has never fallen asleep anywhere except in bed or in the car) that I didn't think to take a picture until I had moved her to the couch. She slept there until dinner time.

The girls were in bed and quiet by 9 p.m. (after some struggling) Saturday night. Mike and I played some Screeble and had a nice relaxing evening.

Sunday morning we got up and had pancakes and hashbrowns for breakfast. (Can you tell I like an excuse to break from our daily oatmeal?) Then we headed to Rigby to visit Mike's grandparents, Grandma Carol and Grandpa Joe. We went to church with them and then had lunch at their house before heading home. Grandma made some fabulous rice with veggies. She had even gotten some tofu just for me. Everything was delicious.

The girls were angel travelers, both on the way there and on the way back. We met up with Mom, Dad, Vic, and Davie in Salt Lake to exchange the condo key. Then we went "home" to their house to puppy sit Yankee for the week.

Uncle Eldon

(Life has been crazy busy, and I haven't posted forever, it seems. Things have settled down somewhat, so I'm going to play catch up.)

At the beginning of April, my dad's Uncle, Eldon Gentry died. He was the last dairy farmer in St. George; he was an incredible man. Dad lived with Eldon and Yvonne while he went to Dixie College. He worked on the dairy with Uncle Eldon to pay his room and board. Eldon had a great impact on his life, and thus on mine.

Growing up, we would stop at the Gentrys' each time we passed through St. George (usually a few times each year). I have very fond memories of their house: the pink swivel chairs at the kitchen table; the mirrored living room; sleeping in sleeping bags on their front lawn when we arrived too late at night and didn't want to wake them.

I also remember visiting the dairy and being fascinated with the milking machines.

We always referred to Eldon and Yvonne as "Uncle Eldon and Aunt Yvonne." Until well into my teenage years, I thought Yvonne's name was "Auntievon."

I will always remember Uncle Eldon with fondness; I'm so thankful for the example he was to my dad and to all of us.

Christine and I drove down for the funeral. We took Elaine and Orva and had a great time. Laney and Orva are opposites in many ways, but their voices sound exactly the same! We could not tell them apart. Christine and I had the following conversation a few different times:

(baby crying, talking, or growling)
Christine or me: "Who was that?"
Christine or me: "Don't know."
(another baby sound)
Christine AND me: "Oh, that was definitely mine!"

Smile!

Jump! Jump!

Elaine is the happiest, squishiest, most pleasant baby!  When she's especially excited (like when I go in to get her out of bed), or when she's just having a good time, she jumps up and down on her little bottom.  It's the greatest!

I took this video of her jumping today.  It's actually 2 clips put together.  The first one is just jumping.  Right when I stopped taping, she started jumping and saying, "Duh! Duh!" in the same tone I had been saying, "Jump! Jump!"  So, I had to take another one . . . .

Do I say her first real word besides "Mama" (which I think she says on purpose, especially when she's sad or whiny) is "Jump!"?