Music Class

Stella and I have gone to the old folks home several times to do a singing class with Emily's friend who volunteers to do this class. I've not ever been able to take pictures of us doing this because Stella never participates and is latched to my side the whole time. It's kind of like Primary.

We went to the class again on Friday and we took Stacy, Mason, and Jane with us. Stella actually participated and LOVED it the whole time and though I hate to admit that my husband may be right, I think it may have been because we were punctual and had time to talk to the Grandma's and Grandpas before we started singing. Stella has been singing the songs all weekend!
Look at her sitting there like she's actually listening . . . I think she might be!

The kids did so great in the singing class that we went across the street to play at Artville for a while. Stella and Mason get along really well because they are both little firecrackers (or heathens . . . however you look at it)!

Happy Birthday Tatem!

My sissy is finally a MOMMY! Natalie and Ian had their little baby girl this afternoon!

Tatem Jane was 5 pounds 12 ounces and she's so cute! I love her so much! I can't wait to kiss that tiny little angel! Congratulations! (Miles tells me that she's already like her mother . . . LOUD!)

Brennan

My nephew Brennan was baptized on March 29, 2008 in Chubbuck, Idaho by my brother Adam. Great decision Brennan! We love you!

Greta Pamela Gregory

Kennan & Trevan (Elliot's cousin) had their baby girl Greta on April 2, 2008!

She weighed 7 pounds and was 21 inches long! She had a rough entry, but I think things are looking up and she's just as cute as her brother!

Congratulations Trevan, Kennan and Jude!

Ella Beth Spencer

My old roommate Kari had another baby girl!

Ella Beth Spencer was born on March 17, 2008 and weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces! Congratulations Kari, Kris, & Kara!

Conference

It was an honor to sustain President Thomas S. Monson as the prophet as well as his counselors and the apostles on Saturday. I always enjoy listening to conference and this year was no different. I tried to keep Stella entertained with appropriate conference time activities, but she still acted like she was in Primary and had a rough time not getting 100% attention.

In fact, she wore herself out trying to get our attention because 2 seconds after the closing prayer was said, she fell into a deep sleep. I even transferred her to her bed and she didn't wake up . . . and she's not a transferrer. Good grief.

Ball Challenge

I know that I post these sorts of pictures all the time, but it never gets old for me because we always suck in new people who add a little spice to our challenge. We had Mike & Mari Ashby, Clint & Cassidy Bills, Steve & Stephanie Barrus (and Cooper), and Jared & Heather Austin over on Friday and here are the results of the ball challenge:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

If anyone has forgotten the rules, here they are:
1. You have to balance on the ball without touching the ground with your feet or hands.
2. When you inevitably fall, you cannot fall gracefully (which is why there are so many bum pictures).

Our guests added a little extra to our game by trying to flip from bum to stomach. Mari is always keeping the game interesting as she and Mike are our most frequent ball challengers.

And now that I'm an updating fool tonight, I've realized that I forgot to post pictures of the last ball challenge that we had in March with some friends, so here they are:

Annie Vincent
Brooke Cook
Bryan Perkinson was the second of our Ball Challenge injuries so far.
Jack Vincent
Elliot
Caleb Cook was loving the loves from Whitney Perkinson
Gabi Vincent . . . so cute and totally relaxed!
Jim Cook with a near head injury.
Whitney Perkinson got really competitive on her second turn after I totally beat everyone's time.
Tyler Cook
Stella is actually pretty good on the smaller ball.
Jack and Annie already had practice balancing because in her family they can kneel on the ball for over 8 minutes . . . we don't have that kind of time.
Whitney and Bryan Perkinson tried the mounting approach unsuccessfully.

If anyone is ever hurting for games to play when they have people over, this one totally breaks the ice because everyone looks like a fool on the ball!

Name Tag

1. ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, street you live on): Shazzam McArthur (or Mittens McArthur . . . not so rock star-ish)

2. GANGSTA NAME (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Mint Sketchers

3. NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Yellow Monkey

4. SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Lynn Weiser

5. STAR WARS NAME (first three letters of your last name, last two letters of your first name): Dibey

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Pink Fresca

7. NASCAR NAME (names of your grandfathers): Karl Lynn

8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 6th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Carpenter Columbus

9. SPY NAME (favorite season/holiday, favorite flower): Spring Gerber Daisy

10. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you are wearing right now): Banana Jammies

11. HIPPIE NAME (what you ate for breakfast, favorite tree): Life Weeping Willow

12. MIDDLE EASTERN NAME (you first and last name backwards) Yentihw Elbbid

We LOVE this girl!

Thank you Lindsay and Keith for letting us hang out with Hannah for a few days! We LOVE the structured schedule she brings into our lives . . . and that cute face that goes along with it!

The girl eats a lot. Hannah seemed done with me feeding her one day, so when I got up to get a towel to clean her face, Stella stepped in and helped her finish. Stella is my biggest helper!

We went swimming one day while Daddy-O was working in the yard. Stella goes swimming almost every day, but Hannah wasn't so used to it.

It took her a minute to get used to the cold water, but once she realized that it's just like a bath, she liked it . . .
until Stella splashed her!

Then she wasn't so happy . . .

but super cuddly while Stella finished playing in the water.

She should be used to it now, but Hannah had to endure Stella's endless desire to play with her every second. She even tried to dress her up. Stella just needs to be as close to Hannah as she can at all times. When Hannah is sitting on the floor, Stella will actually sit on her lap by sitting in front of her, draping her own legs over Hannah's and wrapping herself around her in a hug. Hannah likes it for about 2 seconds then she needs her space. She's a good sport.

It was interesting to try to tackle the two kids during church on Sunday. Lindsay wasn't kidding about having a good stock of puff treats for Hannah. I had to teach the Nursery lesson and just as Hannah was fighting the need to doze, Elliot came in and offered to take her during Sunday School. She slept the whole time, something Keith and Lindsay say she never does during church.

I couldn't resist the matching dresses! I'm dying to have another girl so that I can do this ALL THE TIME . . . We sure love Hannah!

Sea World Friends

Stella and I went to the Tempe Public Library this morning. They had some people from Sea World there to show us some of the animals.

They had two penguins. I've seen them at a zoo before, but they were up close this time. They really do have feathers. For some reason I thought they were slippery.


I'm sure Stella wanted to ride the tortoise.

The flamingos wanted to peck someone's eyes out! They fluttered right when they walked past Stella and it freaked her out!

Time for a vacation to Sea World!

Swimming!

It's so blasted HOT these days that we busted out the swimming pool a couple of weeks ago!