What moves you?

This is a great video that gives you a glimpse into why I loved my degree. I love it for the sheer fact that it forces you to look at the little miracles of life and find meaning. Plus, babies are so stinkin' cute. This video was put together by one of my teachers at BYU. She is incredible at what she does. Enjoy.

What moves you?

the crazy computer child

Lilia is obsessed with the computer. I can't use it in front of her because she has a full on breakdown from being left out of the fun. So today I let her "type" and man does she have skills. This is what she wrote.

[1] ∑0=.RGRTGTFGFRRTV334RGFV GRVTT DFGGOI JEP GHEP H IHF HKUHEIUGHSD6tvbKSD X DEJCFAXNZXZCYRRYF642S ASd

Snsndndcnrcieckikdfkkwkr iluesiliZ@1C.OIOPAZ

Yes, she knows how to change font, add footnotes, and switch between caps lock and lower case letters...and for kicks and giggles she threw in a few mathematical signs. It's not just the computer, she does things with my phone that I didn't even know were possible. This next generation of kiddos scare me. She was flipping through animal pictures on our itouch yesterday and it was the third time she has ever held it. Crazy child.

The big UNO!!!

I obviously have some catching up to do. Whew! I'll start by posting something from July, August, and September.

First off - July - Shortly after Brad returned from his medical mission in the Dominican Republic we went down to Chesapeake to visit Brad's Grandma Petty and his Uncle Bob and Aunt Carol. It was delightful. They were so hospitable and I can honestly say that I have rarely eaten so many good meals in a row!

Uncle Bob and Aunt Carol - they even BBQ'd for us in 108 degrees...now that's love!

Lilia gave me (and I'm sure Grandma Petty as well) a heart attack when she went for the joy stick that controls her chair. Ya, that would have been bad.We spent an afternoon at Virginia Beach...Lilia was in heaven (that is after she woke up).

Next is August - Lilia's Birthday!!! Hooray!
We had a little camping trip in the Shenandoah Mountain range (hills really). It was beautiful! The Droz family as well as Brad's sister Brooke camped as well so it was loads of fun with the cute kiddos.

Lilia's first cake - carrot cake was a winner but the frosting surprisingly was not. Hmmm, didn't expect that!

Dirt, the other winner in lilia's book

Lilia and Kate are only 4 months apart and it's fun to see that gap narrowing with each month. They played really well together with her birthday toys. It was fabulous.

Gwen and Brooke...I just thought this was a cute pick :)

Yes, I know what you're thinking...that IS bambi

Next is September! My sister Wendy had twins in May and just moved to Kentucky for BJ to start dental school. I had tons of fun helping out with their kiddos. I'm glad to have another sibling within driving distance (although I used skymiles this time around).

This is a pic of my sister Wendy, one of the babes, her two girls and two of my sister Jen's kids. Jen was helping the week before I came so we overlapped a day. This is the morning ritual to wait for Clara's school bus.

Clara, Eliza and Lilia watching Baby Einstein. This is how I got dinner on the table and the dishes done :). Also notice the two swings...twins...it's double the craziness but double the cuteness.
We celebrated Wendy's Birthday while we were there. I love this picture just because of Eliza's face...she is the 3 yr old on the Left below Lilia...what a goof.

What a cute mommy, I admire her so much! Oh and cute babies too...how could I forget.
Loved getting my daily self esteem boost from getting them to coo and smile at me. It was sad to leave but it had to be done. There is nothing like saying goodbye to family that forces you to make new friends. Besides, I told Wendy I'd see her at Christmas. Chances are she would survive that long.Next is Indiana! Brad's sister Leslie is the sweetest ever. She drove 2 1/2 hours to come pick Lilia and I up in KY and took us back home to play for a few days. It was wonderful to spend time with her, Wally and the girls.

While we were there she took some amazing pictures. It is just a hobby of hers but I really think she is professional.

Yes...THAT is my little girl. Mmmm, I just want to kiss those cheeks. And if she weren't asleep right now I probably would.
Isn't this picture so sweet

These two are only 7 weeks apart...so cute.

Ha! Lilia is a lot shorter than Grace...it's okay Lilia you make up for it is spunk.

The Wizard of OZ pic
And yes, if you haven't notice by now...I chopped my hair. It's easy and I gave up a long time ago on the whole Rapunzel princess hair thing. Too overrated. Leslie took this head shot for me since I am planning on applying for an independent artist grant. Gotta look the part.

Yes, embrace the weird dancer within. It really IS fun, you should try it sometime.

Or if you're too chicken you can choose option two and embrace the weird baby inside. Lilia is a pro.

Until next time...and I promise it won't be four months from now.

Animal or machine gun?

Here is a link to a little video of Lilia's noises that I have been amiss in sharing with the world until now. First of all is the infamous growl....if you listen closely there are TWO tones to the growl. Go ahead and give it a try...to my knowledge the only other people I have heard split tones are Mongolian singers.

Also in the video is her "machine gun" laugh. Don't know what else to say about that other than that it seems to appear when she wants things really bad (like the camera for instance....how handy).

This video also shows a snipet of our music dates at John and Alex's (our wonderful neighbors). John and I play together and Alex entertains Lilia if Brad is studying which is more often than not. It is wonderful to have a chance to play some of these songs that I haven't brushed up on for 14 years.

Last thing is a crawling bit of footage, Lilia is almost walking so it is a little out dated but it was too cute to leave out.

Enjoy!

click on "The Growl"

http://vimeo.com/24977692

Spring Family Pictures

What happened to April and May and how is it already June? This is my attempt to rectify my blog neglect. I have some major catching up to do because we have had a busy few months.

First off.....family pictures taken by my dear talented friend Tabitha (definitely check out her site)

Brad and I chose to do them at Georgetown during the cherry blossom season and it was breathtaking.

Sometimes I wonder

What is she thinking? Honestly does Lilia not know that when you come check on a baby and see this you have a heart attack? Or in the case of Brad, you panic for a second, realize the baby is breathing then leave the room laughing hysterically to go get your wife so you can both giggle at your silly baby. All I can say is I promise I didn't put her to bed like that. Brad and I have decided that her sleep habits are definitely something she didn't inherit from the Pettys. I love to be smothered in blankets and Brad needs "cold air" to breathe and one foot sticking out from under the covers. Either way, I hope she stops this new little trick of hers.

March Madness

March really has been madness, so fun-filled that I hardly know how to start. On March 15th one of my dear best friends, Elise, got married and I was able to fly out for a quick trip to Utah to be part of it. Many tears of joy were shed for how wonderful it was to be a part of that day. Here are some pictures of the reception with old roommate buddies. I realized when I got home that I didn't get any pictures with Elise and I...which is craziness, but I know her photographer got some good ones so I will post some eventually.

From L to R - Danielle, Rem, Tamara (holding little Tyson), Me, Melissa (holding Lilia) and her new hubby Jake.

close up of Melissa and Jake

Lilia playing with Papa Petty

Lilia with Nana Petty

Lilia's new trick...standing on her own!! I really think she will walk before she crawls...crazy girl.

This past week our friends Keely and Brandon Glenn came to visit us. Keely and I danced together at BYU and Brandon and Brad have become buddies as a result. Now...our babies have become buddies as well! This is Lilia and Lincoln. They are only three weeks apart and they had a blast playing together. This morning Lilia wanted my undivided attention whilst I was trying to clean up the dishes and I was really missing the fact Lincoln wasn't there so they could play together. I talked to Keely later this afternoon and she said the same thing.

Lincoln got a little excited to try out Lilia's lap....as you can see she loved it.

We love it when people come into town and stay with us because it gives us a good reason to go downtown. It is always dangerous to get two dancers together...we can't help but make a scene, especially in front of the nation's capitol.Our capitol tour! Lilia really like chewing on the neck strap. I felt kinda bad for the next person to get our ear phones because it was definitely soaking when I gave it back to them.

A "monkey ancestor" offering Lilia a chunk of meat in the Natural History Museum

More dance craziness! Oh and look at that tree, it was so beautiful. I love the spring and fall here in VA because the trees are huge and they last even longer than they did in Utah. Dream come true. Now if they just had some huge mountains I'd be set.

Lilia in her little polar bear outfit chillin' on the lawn

Daddy's girl...need I say more?

Baby Lincoln dancing in front of his namesake (that is the Lincoln monument behind us). Lilia is somewhere behind that windbreaker.

National Art Gallery...this is the only picture I have with all four of us. I love that painting behind us by Chuck Close. It was painted using his fingerprints - love the creativity.