Steve is an OLD man now!!!!!

I know it's only a matter of time before he starts falling asleep in Sacrament meeting...Gospel Doctrine and then Elders Quarm. And that will be a good starter to after-church snooze in the easy chair...

Steve had his birthday at the end of August and I wanted to surprise him somehow, so I told him that the kids and I were going to be getting up early and going up to my moms for the day while he was at work. Instead, I got them up and we drove downtown to his office where a willing conspirator and fellow co-worker buzzed us in and took us up to his floor. I then proceeded to decorate his desk with all kinds of over-the-hill party decorations and put this huge poster up where I was sure eveyone in the office would see it.

It read: "Well, you're old now. You may not have developed thos superpowers you dreamed about, or be rich like you thought you'd be, but hey, you got us. And that's better than all your dreams put together, right?!!!!! happy Birthday Steve. 29 Forever, Yeah!!

Do I sense mischef in this future??

Ethan's first day of Mrs. (Sister) Green's preschool. I send him there to prepare for kindergarten, but it looks like he has other plans in mind...

Look, It's Wyatt Ethan!

This is a recently found picture of Ethan's famous gunfighting great-great grandfather, Wyatt Ethan. I was a little dissapointed as I had big hopes the resemblance between the two would be stronger...

The Death Bomb

I just walked in from the other room and immediately began breathing through my mouth, it was an auto-response. Those of you who do not have toddlers may not understand this, but it doesn't matter if I just Lysoled the heck out of the front room or moped all the floors with spring breeze scent. It could be a veritable rain forrest thriving here. Then...the sweet little child in pink has 'a poo-poo'. And it reeks. And she makes it her business to waddle all around the house, into every room, in order to distribute the scent evenly. But it isn't needed, the smell in here could kill vegetation several miles away.

Last week, Steve walked into her room to get her up from nap and turned around and came back into our room, went all the way into the closet and sat down on the floor. "What are you doing?", I asked. He was holding his head and making labored breathing noises. "I think I'm going to puke". "What?!!!" His eyes were watery. "I can't...go in there. Sorry honey, you're going to have to do this one"!

And the funny thing about this is that the child doesn't even want to be changed! We have to wrestle her down, pin the top half with a forearm and wrench the bottom up by her feet, taught, to prevent squirming and poo-poo smearing. We think we are doing the child a favor... But, NO! This is an injustice being wrought upon her and as she cannot break free by physical stregth alone, she proposes a deal: the sooner she's liberated, the longer she'll wait before she does the next poo poo. She promises....

Bella's great new laugh, Ethan's report on Swim Lessons

Bella, all growed up!

She told me she and the girls were meeting for their babycise later that evening so she thought she'd start stretching.

All of the sudden, she started talking! Her old standbyes were "Mama", "Dadda" and, occasionally, "Bella". Then, two days ago she pointed at a light switch on the wall and said "light". Next it was "bye, bye" (said as she waives goodbye to herself), "ut-oh" when she drops something and "ba bae" for her new baby doll that she cuddles. Yesterday she held a piece of her drooly craker to my mouth and asked "bite?". Lter, I was reading her a book and she pointed to a picture of a carrot and asked "what's that?" (sounds like "wa dat?") This morning when I got her out of her crib, she turned back and said "blankie" in her baby voice as she pointed to her blankie. I handed it to her and she cuddled it to her face. Way to go little girl!


And as I was busy cooing and snapping pictures as fast as grandpa eats potato salad, Ethan was pointing out the practical necessitites, such as how the back of Bella's car seat was completely unbuckled from the car. Ethan saved her from what may have been a really quick end to her talking career. Way to be a big brother!

Ethan with his chore chart

He gets an ice cream or a little toy at the end of each week.

Kate Jackson Photography

Kate Jackson Photography is AMAZING! One of these will be going on my wall in the living room. I just love these.

Easter Pictures

Steve, Summer, Ethan (making a funny smile- aunt Kaitlan was trying to help him) and Bella.


Bella and Grandma Reiff

Mama's little grrrrl

My little girl is growing so big!! She'll be one next month!! She was wearing her sun hat and playing outside in her play yard so nicely while mommy cleaned the car. I just had to snap a shot of my happy little girl!!

Spring is for Biking!

I got a new bike as an early birthday present and got the trailer to pull the kids! They love it. I love it because it allows me to be outside in this 80 degree whether and NOT have to chase after the kids. Plus, we all get some new scenery. I'll post pics of my new bike soon, I LOVE it.

Speaking of flowers...

We were trying bows on Bella, having a fashion show of all the new ones my mom had made for her. Ethan wanted to know what all the excitement was about so he picked one up and tried it on his head. As you can see, he was not instantly impressed.


But then he realized that this fashion statement is much easier to wear when the petals AREN'T in your eyes. He was much happier after that.

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's...a Bow!!!

I call this little hairpiece "flowers gone wild". Ethan commented that it looked like a plant that lives under the sea. My dad said it looks like it's attacking her head. Whatever it is, I love it! It's a bit much at present, but she'll grow into it. : ) Also, to demonstrate yet again my photographic prowess, I chose to transcend the normal photo of 'baby sitting in grassy field with flowers' by including a statement of gritty realism as reflected in the garbage cans right behind Bella. Brilliant.

CONGRATULATIONS HONEY!!!!

After 16 hours of testing (four tests, about four hours each), and 18 months of studying after work and on the weekends, we found out in March that Steve passed his final CPA exam!!! Congratulations honey!!!!!!!!!!! We are so proud of you! The family secretly gathered at a restaurant and threw a little surprise party for him. :) Pictured are the Finks/Jacksons plus my dad and brother.

Bella and her Grams!

Bella just loves hanging out with her Great Grandma. I took this shot because they looked so alike sitting there together.

Uh, did somebody say "pedi"?

This is actually from a while ago but I never had the photo. It took my mother and I one FULL hour to accomplish this feat (ha ha, pun "feet"). Bella fully enjoyed all of the attention and considered it her job to squirm and kick with delight (which explains the visible mess-ups). I fully enjoyed showing off her feet in all of her outfits for the next two weeks. I will be painting them again for Easter (purple this time, to match her dress) and will post the results of pedi # 2 soon!

Adieu to the potty

Good-bye potty chair. Oh sure, you've served us well with your compact size and cushy rubber seat. But, to let the cat out of the bag, I'm just sick of cleaning you. I'm sick of wiping down three separate pieces that pee has dripped through. I'm sick of emptying you into the toilet with arm extended and face and body turned away to avoid the "bounce-back splash". Last night, after I had showered and beautified myself for an outing, I emptied a pee and poo filled bowl into the toilet and got nailed with two large drops in my hair. It's not forever, potty. Bella will be needing you one day. But until then you can stay in the garage. Honestly, I think the separation will be good for us.

And now, a poem:

"How Potties Are Like Mommies"

Oh potty! What relief you bring.

Transporting many odious things,

from little innards to the great bowl of swirling debris.

But potty, it's time to say goodbye,

and though I feel no need to cry,

I must confess you've served us well.

Significant your work may be,

even more significant to me,

for you and I are quite the same.

We both bear stains at any given hour,

of putrid liquids, stale and sour;

gifts from gracious little ones. (Those angels)

Yes, we wear the muck and we wear it well,

while in the trenches we daily dwell,

and yet in gratitude they fail,

with no praises do they hail us.

For back to work it's always been,

when upset tummies start to spin

and inner gears wind up again

and grimaces turn to grunts (oh my goodness, he just blew chunks!)

So question not why I depose thee,

from your bathroom perch quite cozy,

it's nothing but necessity.

For muck and gunk there's plenty 'round,

and if on two it can be found, I'd rather clean just one.

So thank you, potty,

it's been fun.

-Summer

One Year Ago...(Our Wedding September 1st)

The flower girl and the ring bearer.

Me and grandpa.

My gramps walking me down the aisle.

Ethan getting down with his bad self. (I think the expensive tux rental was on the ground somewhere. : )

The Ceremony site.

Lets get this party swingin'!

The site just after dusk.

The cake was monogramed with our initials.

One of the Maids of Honor, my friend Natalia.

Mommy's dilly, dilly (silly, silly) grrrl...

Ready for her close-up!

This is what Grandma Reiff and Aunt Whitney do when I leave her alone with them!! Put enormously large bows on her head and have a fashion show. Bella posed her hand under her chin by herself, obviously loving ever minute of it!

Ever heard the expression "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water"?

Well, this version is "Don't throw your child out with the yard waste", a statement, more than anything, of how much yard waste we actually had (whoops!). Ethan kept complaining that the leaves were "scratchy" but I just told him to hold still and smile until I got the right shot, which explains the forced smile.

Our anniversary trip to Sausalito/San Fransisco

We stayed at the Hilton in the financial District. We had a balcony and veiw of coit tower and the Bay. Could also see Alcatraz Island in the bay.


Sausalito park. The ocean is right beyond those trees.


The marina in Sausalito.

Summer Loves Steve

He's my best friend. When we spend time together, whether watching a movie or just laying on the bed talking, we feel so familiar to each other. Friends and lovers and soul mates by choice. I see now how beautiful marriage can be.

My Little Angel Baby

Nothing more beautiful than a sweetly sleeping baby!!

My Birthday

My parents and family took me to Cheesecake factory for my birthday (Steve was out of town). The food there is SO yumgorious I am not beyond making up excuses to go back (uh, isn't it almost time to celebrate my un-birthday?) The only scary thing about this birthday (my 26th) is the realization that I am now on the countdown to- dun, dun, dun, 30!!! (Scream)

Do you Fandango?

My mom decided to have a surprise puppet show for Kaitlan's birthday. She made a stage and then made a fandango puppet that represented each member of our family (the puppets are very accurate portrayals- down to what we wear, even). It was an improv show, so anyone could get up at any time, choose from the selection of puppets and impersonate another family member(s). Well, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to make fun of each other's quirks (as only family members would know) and the skits had us belly laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. There is a video of the entire thing that I will try to post as soon as I get my hands on it. (These are even better if you enlarge the pictures to see the details)



Here is Steve (note the glasses and spikey hair that comes up in the center!), Ethan and me. Bella is on me under the blanket (wearing a bow, of course).



Then we have Whitney and Louie. Note Whitney's diamond ring and Coach bag (two of her favorite obsessions). Louie is wearing a motor sports tee.



Kaitlan and Taylor. Kaitlan is rocking a retro bohemian shirt and earrings (so Kaitlan) and Taylor is wearing his usual- an American Eagle shirt with Abercrombie shorts (updated to the seasons latest style, of course).

Then we have dad and mom. My dad is wearing a retro flannel shirt that really isn't retro because it actually was purchased in the 80's. And he's still wearing it. No detail was spared, hence the two band-aids on each cheek. Dad has to have non-malignant skin cancer removed so frequently that band-aids have practically become a fixture on his face. So hot, dad. And I gotta laugh at the ginormous shell used for his nose. My mom made these puppets and she didn't hold back!!!

And lastly, The Family Portrait.

Immortalized forever in...paper bag.

Bella's Blessing

Here's my little angel cakes on her blessing day. She is wearing a 100 year old dress originally worn by great grandpa Yeager when he was christened. Grandma Pink and her daughters were also blessed in it, making Bella the fourth generation to wear it. Grandma Reiff made the bow and pearl bracelet.

Bella was blessed by her daddy with papas Fink and Reiff and uncles Louie, Ryan and Gabe standing in the circle along with the bishopric.

Afterward, the entire family came back to our house for lunch and aunt Jenna took these priceless pictures of Bella (plus many more). It was a great day with the family.

Isn't this what childhood is all about?!!

It started out with Ethan wanting to "cook" something (which means stir something) and since I didn't need to cook anything at the moment I just gave him a bowl with some flour and oil for him to mix on the kitchen floor. He began by keeping the spoon low in the bowl the way I taught him but soon (realizing that I had left the kitchen) resorted to more entertaining methods of cooking: "flipping", "flinging" and "spreading". He had a small little pile of flour on the floor around the bowl when I checked him next. Then, when I noticed him starting to get bored, I decided to sacrifice a dump truck in exchange for five more minutes peace. Well that was just tops for him, as he is currently fascinated with dump trucks, but after a few minutes he began complaining that his truck couldn't scoop anything more because the flour had spread out too thin and asked if he could dump the bowl over on the floor. "Oh, alright", I said, seeing his point that a flour mountain would be much funner with a truck than flour dust. Well as you can see, the thing about flour is it doesn't stay in one place so you have to keep getting more...and that's just what I did. "What the heck", I thought, "isn't this what childhood is all about?" as I pulled my flour container out of the cabinet and began dumping it on the floor. Pretty soon Ethan was ice skating, and then, probably with reasons only a three year old would understand, became a dancing "squirrel" and began singing about the next upcoming adventure he's been looking forward to; "I'm so berry excited to go to grandma Reiff's and swim" and five more minutes turned into an hour. The play culminated in the making of "flour angels" (as you see in the picture) with one highly satisfied little boy, having fulfilled the daily goal of all little boys (to get dirty) and ready for a nap!