SURPRISE????

Preggo Belly 32 weeks along.Watch out Pregnant ladies!

Sister Beth and Baby Riley born May 13, Jenny due in June, any day now, Me due July, Jeanne due August, Candace September, and Arianne, may beat us all, she is in the adoption process and you never know when a baby will be chosen for her. So once one of us gets pregnant it was just a chain reaction and I guess inevitable.Yummy food!

While I was in Utah, my family threw me a surprise baby shower! Although I wasn't completely surprised I was truly grateful and happy. There were just too many little clues and being the sneaky girl that I am, I catch on pretty quickly. Maybe it was the fact that my mom took me out that day and kept disappearing to make phone calls, maybe it was that my sister was cleaning the house, or maybe it was all the cars parked out front when I pulled up. Dang they are good at keeping things from me! Anyway it was a lot of fun being with my close family and friends. Thank you for the fun and generous baby shower. I love all the gifts.

Happy 70th Birthday Pops!

Happy Birthday Daddy-OMom and Dad
Top: Teresa, Cory, Sara, Dad, Steve and Hiram

Bottom: Heidi, Beth and Celeste All the grandchildren, well accept baby Riley and McCrea.

My dad celebrated his 70th birthday! Man, he is getting old and that just means I'm getting older too. That sucks. We celebrated his big day with a Luau! Lorelei and I flew up to Utah to throw him a party. All eight of his children were there and all fourteen of his grandchildren too. We had a BBQ with lots of yummy food. We celebrated it on Memorial day, unfortunately the weather was rainy all day, so we made the best of it and had all the activities inside. The kids played games and danced to Luau music. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work and chaos too. We all went around the room and told our dad what we loved about him. We all had some great laughs as we described our dad. He also insisted on a family picture with all his children and grandchildren, we tried to protest, but this was the best of the pictures. Anyway the things we do to please our dad. Happy Birthday DAD! WE LOVE YOU!

Preschool Grad!

My Preschool Graduate!
Hooray, I did it! Her cute little diploma!
Miss Christi and Lorelei
Lorelei and Miss Kelee Camilla, Tabitha, Lorelei and Cailee

Lorelei's Preschool Friends

I can't believe two years of preschool and my little girl has finally graduated. It was so cute that they had a little ceremony for all the students. We are so proud of our little girl and her GREAT accomplishment. It was so much fun to see Lorelei walk across the stage to receive a little diploma from her teacher. When her name was called she quickly went over grabbed her diploma and walked away, then she realized she forgot to hug Miss Christi and went back to give her a hug. It was too cute. Of course we all got a little teary-eyed watching our little girl. It was absolutely adorable. I can't believe she is growing up. Next year she will be at the elementary school across the street. She will be attending the Early Learners program, just like kindergarten for Sept-Dec. babies. Since she was born in September she didn't make the cut off for Kindergarten this year, but she will have an advantage of being the oldest in her class, being able to date and drive earlier. Chad, Nana and I were all able to come for her Graduation. It was a special day for us all. So grown up and on to bigger and better things.

My little "Tumble" Weed!

I can do Somersaults.
I can do cart wheels.
I can do back bends.
I can do handstands.
And I can do a Donkey KICK too!

She climbs, she jumps, she rolls, she stretches, she flips, she flops, and she twirls. LeiLei is definitely my little, "Tumbleweed!" She just can't get enough of all the running, jumping and climbing. She is continually active from sunrise to sunset. She thinks our house is a jungle gym and is always working on a flip, a roll or a jump off the highest point in the house. I thought tumbling class would help her mellow out, but it has just created a monster in our house! Now she is able to do so much more and she works hard to create new moves off the couches, beds, counters and refrigerator. She really loves her tumbling classes, but is it really worth the extra chaos around the house! I suppose it is worth it, because it is just too much fun to watch as she learns all these fun and crazy moves!

Baby Riley is here!

Riley Joseph Robin
Mommy and Baby



My little sister Beth had her first baby, a baby boy! Riley Joseph Robin was born on May 13, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. in Sandy, Utah. He was 7 lbs 1 oz and 21 inches long. She was two weeks overdue and had an emergency C-section. Lorelei and I were able to go up and see our newest nephew and cousin up in Utah just a week later. He is absolutely adorable and a very good baby. He is the 14th grandchild and it will be fun to have a cousin so close to McCrea. Too bad we don't live closer to them. We just love our newest little guy! Welcome to the family baby Riley!

Peek-A-Boo, I see you!

I guess we are never too old to play peek-a-boo! Lorelei just thought this was so hilarious. As I was trying to get her down for bed she decided it would be the perfect time to play a game, so peek-a-boo it was. It was too cute to watch so I had to get some fun pictures of her. She is just growing up too fast. Luckily, for her she didn't have to go to bed right away.

"Zai Jian" Chinese School!

Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?) Wo hen ke ai! (I am very cute!)
Playing a game with the class .

Lorelei was a lao shu (mouse)
Her friends in class.

She seems upset about something!

Lorelei completed her first semester at Chinese school! We went every Saturday for an hour. The teacher was fantastic and for the most part Lorelei enjoyed it. She did learn some Chinese words, but it will be something we will need to practice over and over. She realized that Chinese school was cutting into her time with daddy on Saturdays, so she didn't want to go at the end. At least we get a break for the summer until it starts back up in August. It helps me keep up on my Chinese too! Lorelei is the only white girl on campus and most of the other students have been taught Chinese since they were a baby, so Lorelei has a lot to catch up on. Lorelei has decided that she doesn't want me to be in the room, she wants me to drop her off like her other preschool, however, I want to know what Chinese words she is learning for that day so we can practice. I guess we'll have to come up with a better plan for next semester.

All about Lorelei!

1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? 6:00
2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? Diamonds, because they are sparkly. She didn't know what pearls were until I showed her just now.
3. WHAT IS THE LAST FILM THAT YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? "Enchanted" it is the third time she had seen it and now we own it
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOWs? Dora, Diego, & Little Einsteins
5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? Toast with butter, yogurt, juice & bananas, & sometimes waffles
6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FOODs? Cheese, Bread, Chocolate
7. WHAT FOODs DO YOU DISLIKE? Most everything else, she is very, very picky
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CDs? Disney princess, Little Mermaid, Music & Lyrics Soundtrack
9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG? "It's just a Shame That's All," by Genesis, she calls it the camel song and wants to listen to it everyday, She also loves "Hollerback Girl," By Gwen Stefani, she learned to spell "Bananas" from that song and she loves the "Bad Day," by Daniel Powter.
10. FAVORITE SANDWICH ? Cheese Sandwich
11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? if I share with them and they don't share back with me
12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? her navy blue striped dress with the flower on it, she calls it the zebra dress.
13. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? "China, but it's so far away."
14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? Green & Brown accents
15. FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? shirts and pants, she doesn't know what "brand" is yet 16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? Far away with her cousin Tia
17. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? my 4th birthday, I had princess/pirate party, I love the pinata the best
18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Football with my daddy
19. FAVORITE BARBIEs? Mermaidia & Mariposa
20. FAVORITE BATH TOYS? Duckies
21. FAVORITE ANIMAL? Bear bEAR blanket, she sleeps with it every night, since 6 months old
22. FAVORITE MOVIE? Barbie Mermaidia (it changes everyday)
23. FAVORITE COLOR? Pink & White
24. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? Mornings because I get to play with toys in the mornings and watch cartoons
25. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 12
26. PETS? Harry (rabbit) but he died a few months ago
27. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? I got a new barbie like Mermaidia
28. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? A mermaid, I like mermaids the most right now. But I want to be a doctor and a ballerina too.
29. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? "I'm doing great, I feel much better and no headaches today." (not that she has headaches very often) those were her exact words
30. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY? Chocolate bunnies
32. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday, because daddy stays home, but I don't like Chinese class because I don't want to go every Saturday. (luckily Chinese is over for the summer, we'll talk about next semester)
33. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Fruit Rollup
34. FAVORITE ICECREAM? Chocolate
35. HOW MANY PLACES HAVE YOU LIVED? Coralville & Waterloo, IA, Higley & Mesa, AZ
36. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? yes, I like those
37. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? pink
38. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? the sun is up and it is hot outside
39. FAVORITE DRINK? Water, Lemonade, Juice (Cran-Grape & Apple)
40. FAVORITE FAST FOOD? OLD McDonald's (she used to call it EIEIO) and Arby's
41. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Red Robin & Olive Garden
42. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, my Birthday
43. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A BABY? I carried around a honey dipper everywhere I went, it was her favorite toy
44. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, with short sleeves
45. HUGS OR KISSES ? Hugs
46. FAVORITE SMELL? Flowers & Strawberries
47. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate, OF COURSE
48. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? I played with toys, took a bath, read a book, said a prayer, went to bed
49. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? today, "my leg fell asleep in the car and it really hurt and I couldn't walk with this leg." "It's better now, both of them are better."
50. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SAYING? OH GREEAATT!
51. WHO ARE THE FRIENDs THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? Nana, Bailee Packham, Aspen Riley, Ruby Reynolds, & Elizabeth they were my friends in my first play group when I was only 4 weeks old.
52. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? Spiders, sharks, and other bugs are scary
53. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES? Swimming
54. WHO DO YOU LOVE? I love Nana the most
55. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? When my friends come over.


These are just some fun facts about Lorelei. Now I tag all of Lorelei's friends to do this one.

Fairy Tale Ballet!

Nana & Lorelei

Another adorable week of Lorelei's performance! She danced to the "Little Mermaid" song. She was so excited because Nana got to come and watch her dance this time. Lorelei really enjoys ballet and although they are simple dances we still love watching our little girl show off her moves. My favorite is watching her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as she concentrates. I love these classes because each week we get to go in the last five minutes and watch a little recital they have prepared for that day. It is too CUTE!!

Here is our last weeks performance. They danced to "Lady and the Tramp's" song, "We are Siamese." It was so adorable, I loved when they would shake their booty and their little tails moved! The footage at the end got a little crazy as I'm not able to zoom out to get them as they came closer. Still got to love the show though. We'll see what next week brings in their awesome fairy tale ballet class.

Chef LeiLei!

Lorelei loves to cook! So after swimming and a bath we got out some ingredients to make some cookies. She quickly goes and puts on her apron and chef hat to complete the whole experience. This is one of Lorelei's favorite activities to do with her mommy. Unfortunately, mommy hasn't felt well enough to cook regularly, so we haven't been as creative with what we make. We made chocolate chip cookies and Lorelei and daddy enjoyed them all. Mommy had a bite here and there, but chocolate makes the baby sick for some reason. So no chocolate for me, I miss chocolate! Chad and Lorelei had no problem finishing them off. Yum Yum.

Sea World!

Sea World!Family Close UP!Feeding the Dolphins!
Lorelei wasn't too sure about reaching her hand out to pet the dolphin, but she reluctantly did and even threw in a couple fish for the dolphins.

Dolphin Show!
Go Dolly Go!
Watching the Sea Lions and Seals!
Don't Mess with me!
Shamu Show
I'm glad we didn't sit in the Splash Zone!
This guy is about to take off running!
Can you imagine a shark this big, luckily these kind of sharks don't live in the ocean. I wouldn't be caught swimming in it if there were.
Riding on a Manatee, YeeHAW!Gondola ride across the bay!
"Is that coming from the flamingo's bottoms?"

Feeding the Dolphins!

We had a fabulous time at Sea World! As soon as we got in the park, Lorelei wanted to see the map, she took over and directed our every move. She first wanted to go see the Sharks, I don't know why, because she has nightmares of Bruce the shark on Finding Nemo. I thought maybe that would stop the nightmares, but it hasn't yet. She really did enjoy watching the sharks.
We had a great time watching all the shows. We went to the Shamu, Dolphin, and Pet's Rule Shows. We also got to feed the dolphins, which is one of my favorite highlights of the trip. I love dolphins and of course, penguins and flamingos too. So I got to see three of my favorites. One of the kids described a dolphin as feeling like a HOT DOG, I would have to agree. We got to throw fish into their mouths and pet the dolphins. Lorelei's favorite highlights were feeding the dolphins and she loved to watch the sea lions and seals getting fed. We were right next to the bucket of fish that was being poured over the edge so we got to see up close and personal with all the seals and sea lions barking and trying to make the most obnoxious sounds to get the trainers attention. It was hilarious. Lorelei was giggling and laughing so much. It was definitely a close encounter that we all enjoyed. Chad's favorite highlight was the Sharks. He is obsessed with them, but I think they are just too creepy, especially now knowing a Great White just took out a swimmer in San Diego this past week. They are just too unpredictable and nasty looking.
We got a great laugh at one of Lorelei's observations. We went to go see the flamingos and Lorelei quickly noticed the noises that they were making. She said, "Mom, is that coming from the flamingo's bottoms?" It really did sound like the flamingos had gas. It was so funny. We had a great laugh about that one. We couldn't stop laughing!
We also enjoyed a gondola ride over the bay. And overall we got to see polar bears, penguins, flamingos, beluga whales, sting rays, otters, seals, sea lions, dolphins, orka whales,and all kinds of fish. We even saw Clydesdale horses and of course the Pet's Rule show includes all kinds of dogs, cats, ducks, pigs, and birds. I always wondered what farm animals were doing at Sea World, but oh well, we still enjoyed it all the same!