Whirl Wind Weekend - part 1

We had a crazy but happy 4th of July weekend.
We had planned a little trip up to Idaho to visit family over the 4th. Then Jeremy's brother, Chris, found the lovely Sarah and they decided to get married that weekend in California. So my mom came over from Tucson to watch Isis on Tuesday (THANK YOU!) and Jeremy and I drove to San Luis Obispo on Thrusday morning. We had about a two hour break, then the wedding dinner, then setting up for the wedding on the beach. Jeremy and I had a nice time being just the two of us driving in the car and an evening on the beach.

We made good use of our down time. :)

Sarah, (Sarah's dad, who married them), Chris

Wedding on Avila Beach (near San Luis Obispo)

Welcome to the family, Sarah!

We spent the night there then we got up Friday morning to drive back. (The rest of my family were driving up to Idaho with Isis as we made our way back.) We left an hour earlier to account for traffic or other hold ups. HA HA. An hour was not enough. However, there was a miracle in that we had 2 hours of delays (a detour and then traffic) but our six hour trip only increased to 7 hours. Hmm... how did that happen? We sure were being watched over. As soon as we pulled into our drive way our ride to the airport pulled up behind us. What timing!! Then we flew up to Idaho. Now see part 2 of our weekend. :)

The Zoo!

Well, kind of. Our good friends the Giani's invited us to go to the Bonnie Springs petting zoo two weeks ago. We had a great time!

Jeremy preferred showing Isis the caged animals.

Feeding the goat

Isis loved the ferrets.

Trying to get the peacock to call back to her. There were a lot wandering around.

The pig was a little too gross to let him eat right out of her hand.

"Uncle" Sal treated Isis to her first pony ride. (She doesn't look happy in this picture but she was really having a good time.) Thanks Sal!!

Ride 'em cowgirl.

I love this picture with Isis and her new best buddy, Little Sal. :)

climbing around

Sal insisted on holding Isis' hand and she didn't seem to mind this time.

Thanks for the invitation Sal and JoEllen! We had a lot of fun!!

Temple Trip

Three weekends ago we took some advice from General Conference (Elder Stevenson's talk Sunday afternoon) and took Isis to go see the temple. We had her "touch the temple so it could touch [her]."

It was a nice day and we enjoyed strolling around the temple grounds.

It was neat being there together as a family... and at the same temple Jeremy and I were sealed in almost 5 years ago. :)

This picture captures well what I hope to teach Isis (and our other childrend): to always be looking toward the temple.
What a blessing to have the temple so close!

Still Awesome!

Even this time around I think the ultrasound is so cool! Even at 2.5 cm this little baby has a heartbeat and little arm and leg "buds." How neat I get to be alive now and have the opportunity to see this! Seeing the baby made me excited all over again. :)
Gwin baby #2's EDA is December 23...

TWO YEARS!! Wow!

My little Isis just turned TWO!!! That time has just flown by... but it seems she's always been part of our family. Here's the teenie, tiny 19 inch, 5 pounds 7 ounces of a little girl we brought home two years ago.

so little!

I think she looks like a baby doll in this one.

And here she is on her 2nd birthday - 28 pounds and 34 inches tall. How she's grown!!

Quite the happy birthday girl.

What inexplicable joy this sweet little girl has brought to our family. I am so blessed and so lucky to be the mother to this angel child. She really is the happiest, sweetest little girl I've ever known. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISIS!!!

FYI

Isis just wanted to tell everyone something. :)

One Little Monkey...

Isis was in the backyard with me while I was pruning the garden on Thursday. Only a minute after I had moved to another planter box I heard, "Mommy!" I turned around and found this:

How did she do that?!

I was quite impressed with her balance and coordination and she was quite pleased with herself. She definitely didn't want to get down. What a little monkey!!

Here she is "explaining" herself.



Man, this girl cracks me up!

Trip to Tucson

Being the oldest of six kids I was lucky enough to have my entire family come to pretty much everything I did. Now that I'm out of the house (as well as two other siblings) I realized that a crowd of at least seven supporters isn't usually an option. Realizing this, I strongly felt the necessity to be supportive and "there" as much as possible.

SO, at the end of April we were able to travel down to Tucson to see my brother Stephen in a college production of "The Crucible." He played Reverend Hale and did AWESOME. It was a great performance.

Isis also got to go to the Tucson Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa and had a grand time. Jeremy and I were pretty impressed with the little zoo. It was nice that this time Isis was actually interested in seeing the animals and not just all the kids running around.

That weekend it also happened that my great-aunt Mona's funeral was that weekend and I drove up with my parents for that. This is my grandpa the oldest of the last 6 Willis siblings of 12.There's always something nice about going to Grandpa and Grandma's house. And some things will ALWAYS belong in their house, and that's nice to know.

(He looks pretty good for 91 don't you think?)

I cannot get the pictures to move where I want them on the blog so for more pictures (and commentary) on our fun weekend click here.

Just a little bit longer...

I know how it is when I keep checking to see if friends have written anything new and alas it has been a whole THREE DAYS since anyone posted. So my apologies if anticipation of my awesome posting has caused any devastating disappointment. I've just been too tired to go through my pictures and think of anything to say. But never fear, posts are on the way and they're good... But not until after church. :) Stay tuned....

Jeremy is just thinking... darn brain!

So I have 2 things to talk about that are on my mind.
1.) What's up with water boarding? Is it really the worst thing imaginable like our great Democratic leaders are suggesting? How should we interrogate murderers now? I suggest tickling. But if that doesn't make them talk, a nice warm bed with some fresh cookies and milk ought to do the trick. Honestly though, have we lost sight of the end goal of "interrogation methods"? It is to make people talk so we thwart, spoil, or disrupt their plan to KILL US!!! It seems the media or the crazy democrats (not all are crazy mind you) have really spinned this concept. I am not sure why... I think the intelligence agencies will have to quit pretty soon because they will have no way to DO THEIR JOB.
2.) Miss California... bless her 20 year old, 100 lb frame. She said something "unconscionable" on national TV, she actually had an opinion! Who knew, as a United States citizen, you had the RIGHT to voice an opinion that the majority of Americans share. Congrats to her because she had an opinion, but I am sorry that her beauty queen days are over... with ideas and convictions like hers, she is destined to be a wife and not on the cover of Playboy.
Love,
Jeremy
P.S. Is that how you end a blog? I have no idea.

To Start Your Own Tradition

...or just for fun you can click HERE for the website I ordered my Ukrainian Easter egg stuff from. Go to the egg decorating... you'll want the "Super Color Kit w/derlin." This has EVERYTHING you need to get started. (The kit below it is the same but has traditional handmade kistky.) You'll also need to get an egg blower. I got the Blas-Fix egg blower and it works great. My friend Jacqueline (the wonder woman who taught me all this) also said that you don't need to replace your dyes every year. You can keep and reuse them up to three years, just add more vinegar (except to the orange) when you get them out each year. Oh, and you'll need candles too.
If you have any other questions let me know! And have fun! I LOVE doing these!

Adventures in Gardening

Six posts in two days?! I'm on a roll!! :)

I just had to share something amazing about our garden... it's GROWING!! Hooray!

This is when we first planted it about the second week of March. New zucchini plants at the same time.

The zucchini plants now... only a month later!! Now we're just hoping we actually get to harvest some zucchini.
Some almost bell peppers.

Out-of-control oregano

We might just get to eat these before the birds do...

I'm super excited that I have three tomato balls! My tomato plants did nothing last year.

And my rose plants from Valentine's Day have finally bloomed. They are BEAUTIFUL!

One more Easter Tradition

I had to show off the Ukrainian Easter eggs we did over the weekend. I love the ones Jeremy did this year:

This was his symbolic egg with symbols representing Christ, resurrection, eternal life, and family.

So Jeremy... :)

His very awesome, detailed turtle egg. I was impressed.

and the back of it (notice the seaweed and the rolling waves on the side); who knew he was such an artist! :)Mine turned out alright but I like some of the ones I did last year better.