"It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To!"

Our sweet little girl is now officially a two-year-old! The "sweet" comes and goes but overall she is still the same darling Preslie. Yesterday was quite a busy and emotional day. We woke up ready to spend the whole day in bliss, but somebody was ready for a nap by 9:00, yes A.M. Because it was her birthday Dallin and I weren't about to force her to have fun. So she took and nap and we made cupcakes to take to the pool. At 11:00 we woke her up and decided to "encourage" a little more excitement. I put her new swimsuit on (thanks Coriann) and she was thrilled. At the pool we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate cupcakes and swam for a couple minutes until Dallin tackled Preslie off the step into the pool and was banned from swimming for the rest of the day. So while Dallin sat on a lawn chair and screamed because he was being punished for dunking Preslie, the rest of us cake-eaters enjoyed our treats. Needless to say, we didn't last much longer at the pool. After several more fits and disputes, both were asleep for naps and I was just about Birthdayed out. Jerry came home and I took a nap for an hour or so before I had to go to work (still weird to say outloud). Hopefully birthday #2 goes a little smoother tonight...more on this later.
Here's one of the sweeter moments of the day...

Pack in the Fun!

It's been a busy couple of weeks. After Jerry got back from Brazil we took a couple of beach trips and went snook fishing. Here's our attempt at a "family picture."
This second picture really portrays life as we know it...at least lately. Dallin's making a valient effort to smile so that he can have a treat, even though he looks like he's in pain. Jerry's trying to get Preslie to stop crying, I just want to have fun, and Preslie is a poor, miserable little creature. Soon to be "two" you know.

I was able to take the temple bus to Orlando and it was such a great trip. Sister Prows made it a lot more exciting when we were 30 seconds past 4:30am pulling into the church parking lot and saw the bus pulling out. Christa floored it and we chased the bus and tried to honk the horn but it didn't work! So, we opened our doors while driving on the wrong side of the road, and tryied to get the bus-driver's attention to stop and let us on. Finally he looked in our direction and pulled over and we parked in a Tow-Away Zone and ran to the bus! I bet we looked hillarious...anyway I slept the whole way there which made the trek a lot shorter. It is such a wonderful blessing to be close enough to the temple that you can get there and back in a day.

Last week I went to California to meet my mom and two sisters in Disneyland for a couple days! My dad had to take some continuing educaiton classes so we all decided to meet and play while dad was going to school! ha! ha! I left Dallin and Preslie with Jerry and had so much fun! I got there Thursday night and all day Friday and Saturday Coriann, Carlee, Mom and I strategically mapped out our course to ride the best rides and utilize the Fast Passes! I'm sure we walked...well speed-walked at least 5 miles each day! My feet and legs were sore for 2 days! It was just like when we were 10 except Carlee can run faster now! We would go stand in line at one of the rides and send Carlee to run clear to the other side of the park and get fast passes and then run back so that by the time we finished the first ride we could go to the front of the line on the next one. On Sunday I tried to catch a flight back to Atlanta but they were all full; so I decided to go to Bozeman for the night! It was so green and beautiful and the mountain air was more amazing then I remembered. I came back to Florida on Monday and actually the humidity felt good. My lips were chapped and skin was dry from being on the other side of the country for 4 days! We had so much fun and so little time....just how family reunions are supposed to be right?!

All-American Sista!

My little sister Carlee competed this week at Nationals for Division 1 Track and Field! Tonight she finished 7th in the finals of the open 800 meters; to earn two time All-American honors. The Distance Medley Relay she was on for Indoor Track finished fifth at Nationals earlier this spring; making this her second trip to Nationals this semester. Carlee is amazing and deserves all her success! She has worked so hard for so long and has finished out her track career with a bang! She is one of my all-time heroes, role-models and best friends. I love you tons Car !!! Congratulations!
Next Race : Olympic Trials

Under the Sea

Pretty much all we did this week was swim, swim, and more swimming mixed in with an occational "golf ball" session and new dart gun fights! It wasn't just one-a-day swimming either. I felt like I was in some swim team training camp...with Dallin in charge. We had two-a-day trips to the pool almost every day! I could have broke out in song..."darling it's better down where it's wetter..."
We bought some golf tees and wow, does that kid know how to swing a club! It's amazing...big surprize...swing a "weapon?" What a shocker. We had lots of fun...but we're ready for Daddy to come home tomorrow. We miss you!

Check out this head of hair!

Beach Bums.

On Saturday before Jerry left for Brazil we went to the beach for a couple hours and played in the sand... Jerry dug some holes and tried to catch fish, Dallin ran in the waves, and Preslie wished we had remembered the umbrella! She spent the whole time on the beach chair with a towel over her head trying to go to sleep. She just couldn't get comfortable enough...the blankie can only do so much.

Permanent Residents?

We went to the park on Friday and there were 2 burrowing owls who had made a hole in the corner of the play ground. It wasn't a very smart place for these nocturnal animals to choose because there are constantly loud kids all day going to check 'em out. If you get too close they hiss...Dallin thought they were soo cool!
Can you spot the owls (above)?

Busy 2 Weeks!

What's been accomplished the last 2 weeks:

1. I got a job....yes, me, camber.

2. Dallin goes poop on the big potty.

3. Reorganized my entire house, well almost.

4. Said goodbye to my bestest running buddy.

5. Go to the beach of course.
6. Helping Jerry pack for Brazil.

So, back to number 1: I got a job at the airport cleaning planes 3 days a month in exchange for free standby flights for my little family and my parents and a little extra "fun money." Yes, I know I could be making way more as a nurse; but, I don't want a "real" job! This way Mom can come down and visit and Jerry and I could take advantage of where we live! Here are my sweet steel toe Wal-Mart special work boots!

Yes, Dallin is potty trained!!! No more big bootied poopy diapers! He just decided that he wanted to wear "skippies" like his little friend Carter and poof! No more diapers! He's only had a couple accidents, while in time-out but other than that he's done awesome!!! I am completely shocked too. I was dreading potty training, and all the horror stories that go with it; but, Dallin was totally ready and just got it. Pres likes to pee on the little potty when he's going so, we'll see when that happens.

Jerry and I have been doing some spring cleaning, and reorganizing and wow, has it been nice. He moved all the shelves up a couple inches in our closet and then moved in a book shelf to organize all our books, snorkel stuff, tennis raquets, random big block of wood, and what ever else we could find. Organizing? Fabulous. I highly recommend it.

This week was a little emotional for me. Too many farewell BBQ's and events. We just had to keep saying goodbye to all these people we've known and become friends with the last 2 years. Meesa, my dearly devoted running buddy, half-marathon slave driver, primary piano player (I'm the chorister), fellow beach bum, scooter trip planner, Dunkin Donut lover is now in Denver and I am in the market for a new one :) ha! ha! Dallin is sure going to miss his Carter buddy. Thanks for so many fun memories!

We went to the beach last Friday with the Thomas Fam and it was so fun. The beach is always worth the trouble! Here is Jerry toting all our beach gear...it is aboslutely amazing how much that guy can carry alone! wow! We got to go snorkeling and there were so many fish in the water. Dallin loved chasing the bait and paddling in the blow up rafts Matt brought. Preslie took a 2 hour nap in the beach tent, awesome. Gotta love the beach!

So not only are my emotions threw the roof from saying goodbye so many times...I have to get ready to send Jerry to Brazil for the next 8 days. He's going on a mission trip to do dental work for those who can't afford it. He's really excited and should get a ton of experience and hopefully have time for some fun too. So if any of you out there are free next week....we are having fun everyday and everyone's invited!