Pampering

My friend Rebecca is having her 5th child in a few weeks and since Emily and I are trying to get OUT of the habit of throwing 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th baby showers for everyone in the ward, we decided to take Bec out for a little pampering. We went to a beauty school (which we probably shouldn’t have . . . maybe for the 2nd pregnancy, but not the 5th). We planned for a facial and pedicure and then lunch. The girls that ended up spending the morning with us were still in high school and while doing the facial and pedicure were asking each other what to do next. Hummm . . . not quite worth the money we paid for it.

You can't really tell, but we look really good in these pictures . . . it was a great angle for all of us.

Emily
















Rebecca
















Whitney
















Lunch was delicious at The Olive Garden and we had a lot of fun just spending time with our friend and look forward to more pampering with more kids we add to our friendship! Look forward to some pictures of her new baby girl in a few weeks!

Happy Anniversary Keith and Lindsay!

Happy #1 Anniversary to Keith and Lindsay! I had almost forgotten this occasion because it’s gone by so fast! I have limited stories about these two kids because they’ve only been married for a year, but I sure remember how fun it was to prepare for their wedding! Oh, the emails . . . those were good times. And what a great party they threw for themselves! It has been so great to see Lindsay so extremely happy and in love with Keith! Happy Anniversary you giddy little love birds!

The Sweetest Sight in the World!

Aahhhh . . . he’s finally home! I can take a deep breath and even though I don’t get the whole bed to myself anymore, I’m so happy he’s home!


I didn’t want to cook last night and we didn’t want to be interrupted by the phone all night since people know Elliot’s home now, so we went out to dinner at Chili’s. Stella and I are so happy to have Daddy home!

Enrichment

I just completed my second successful Enrichment Activity last night and boy am I glad it’s over with and especially happy that I don’t have any lurking reminders of it like last time (72-hour cans that I just barely got rid of today).

I had a feeling that many of the sisters in the ward were intimidated by the Enrichment change to “groups” instead of monthly Enrichment nights (I’m grateful that they changed it). Most of our groups haven’t been very well attended, besides the Cooking and Scrapbooking groups. So I decided to make our Enrichment Activity a “Speed Grouping” so that everyone could speed through 5-7 minutes of each group to get a little taste of it and some background to decide if they’d like to attend. Our Activity was well attended and from the feedback I’ve heard, it was a success!

Tease

Elliot got home from Utah last night at 11:00 p.m. and I kept Stella up until then so she could see him. He had to leave this morning before 5:00 a.m. to be to the airport for his business trip in Virginia, so we got to see him for a total of 5 minutes . . . which is just a tease! When I talked to him today he mentioned how it probably would have been easier NOT to see us. I’ve decided that I can handle the week when he’s not here, but when the weekend comes, I need him to be home! He’s MINE!

Happy Anniversary Jeff and Becky!

Happy #14 Anniversary to Jeff and Becky (my brother and sister-in-law)! Ah, the early 90’s . . . this brings back some rather traumatic memories of wardrobe and hair . . . all of which were a BIG part of this wedding (mostly just Mom's boof and my bangs and those bridesmaid suits). I remember being really excited for this wedding because I had a huge crush on Becky’s brother John (standing right behind Becky in the picture below). I also remember that it took them forever to come out of the temple (I heard that Becky was fixing her hair) and thought it was funny that Jeff wore his sunglasses during some of the pictures. I absolutely loved the way that Becky’s dress looked all spread out on the ground and I loved it that they sang to each other at their reception (“Forever’s As Far As I’ll Go” by Alabama). This blessed union has produced 5 beautiful babies (I hear they all like to read . . . . I don’t know where that came from . . .). Happy Anniversary Jeck and Beffy! (why is that still funny?)

Mary Poppins

I had Sam and Clark over today so that Emily could clean her house in peace. Clarkie and Stella were playing in the hall bouncing the ball and for most of the time, Sammy was sitting in the chair in the living room watching Pinnochio. After they left, I went into Stella’s room so that I could get a diaper and this is what I saw!


EVERY TOY was dumped onto the floor. This actually turned out to be a good thing because I got to reorganize Stella’s toys and decide which one’s we can get rid of. Plus it kind of made me feel like Mary Poppins after it was cleaned up. Thanks kids!

Aidan & Avrie

Stella got twins for her birthday from Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Keith. We’ve named them Aidan and Avrie (I did . . . and Stella approves). I usually don’t let her sleep with any toys in her crib because it takes her too long to fall asleep, but apparently she needs these babies with her when she sleeps now. She was desperately trying to get comfortable laying down, but also trying to make sure Aidan and Avrie were wrapped and within her sights. She’s so gentle with them and every few minutes she would cuddle and “sshhh” them.

Red Robin

We went to dinner at Red Robin so that we could spend some family time together before Elliot heads to Utah for Grandpa’s funeral and then Virginia for a business trip. You know that creepy giant Red Robin bird that walks around and awkwardly stands at your table waving until you stop avoiding eye contact with it? Yeah, well Stella beckoned it to our table! She even gave it a hug!

LeGrande E Gregory

Elliot’s maternal grandfather passed away yesterday after a long battle through several health issues. Elliot and I were remembering him last night and I mentioned that in the last 7 years that I’ve known him and only seen him a handful of times, I knew for sure that he absolutely loved his family and Elliot added that his family absolutely loved him. At our last visit to Utah over 2 years ago, I was very pregnant with Stella. Although Grandpa could barely walk himself, he always made sure he opened my door when we were all getting in and out of the car. He was such a sweetie (also sometimes grumpy), and quite the charmer when he wanted to be. I see so many of his great qualities in my own husband and I’m so grateful to have known him. I’m excited that he finally gets to be reunited with his sweetie and their baby boy!

Too Many Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!

I didn’t go to the gym this morning, so I called my friend Brooke that I haven’t seen for a while to go for a walk with me. It was probably already 180 degrees outside, so we only walked around the block so the kids wouldn’t get sunburns and heat exhaustion. Then I called Emily and had her kids come over so we could have the rest of Stella’s princess cake and ice cream.

The kids played while Brooke and I caught up with each other.

Clarkie with Trent the Trout

Tyler, Justin, and Stella


Here is Princess Sammy . . . oh, I mean Prince Samuel (the sword makes it a little more masculine)

Princess Party

Stella had her Princess Party last night at our house. Uncle David (UD) and Aunt Lora brought Aunt Sandra and Lauren, Kendal came and Martin showed up later for about 5 minutes, Adam and Xan and the kids came, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Dibble and Aunt Bethany. Uncle Keith and Aunt Lindsay showed up early, most likely to beat traffic, but I was grateful for the help in setting up the party because I’m such a procrastinator.

We played a silly Princess Family Feud game, which wasn’t as successful as I had anticipated, and we did some Princess Stella Trivia. Then we let Stella blow out the 2 candles on her Princess cake and some of us watched the movie I made for Stella with several of her pictures from her first 2 years of life. It was a little loud and cramped for everyone to watch it (because it was still on the computer), but I could watch it every day. She’s so funny.


Then we ate cake and ice cream and Stella . . . and Anabelle . . . opened Stella’s gifts. She could really care less about opening presents, but it’s very important to Anabelle and I’m sure Stella was grateful for the help, otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten through all of the loot. Anabelle got a little too excited several times and Adam took her outside to calm down, but Stella was too concerned about Anabelle to open any more gifts, so she went outside to get Anabelle and walked her back to the gift opening area and patted the floor for her to sit down and help again.

It was a fun night, a little chaotic, but fun and I’m so grateful that everyone made the effort to come on such short notice and for being so EXTREMELY generous! Good grief! Stella absolutely loves the gifts and won’t give them to me to take out of the boxes.


I didn't take any of my own pictures of the party, so I'm looking forward to Adam, Lindsay, and Beth sending me the rest of theirs!

Good Friend

Emily came over to help me with Stella’s Princess Cake. Well, ok she ended up doing the whole thing. I actually baked the cake and made the frosting, but she did the cute decorating. I learn new things about my friends all the time. I had no idea that she used to decorate cakes. We found the cute Princess Cake recipe on familyfun.com as she was showing me the fun Pirate Ship cake she made for her son's birthday.

Claire's Blessing

Claire Alexandra Dibble was blessed by her father Adam yesterday in their ward. Elliot was fortunate enough to assist in the blessing and is always grateful for the opportunity. At the party at Adam and Xan’s, I held her and tried to get her to smile, but it wasn’t until I handed her off to Grandma Dibble that the smiles broke out. What a cutie!

Happy Birthday Raymond!

Happy #7 (yes, I was shocked too) Birthday to Elliot’s nephew Raymond! Elliot and I like to remember quotes from people, and Raymond’s is “Sorry Georgie!” He was forced to say it to his baby brother George several years ago and although it doesn’t sound funny when I write it, it was really funny when he said it in his little 2 year old voice. Ray is a good kid and although he hardly has anything to do with me these days, I sure love him! Happy Birthday Raymond!