Rubbing Salt on Open Wounds

Pictures taken circa 2008

The above picture shows how happy Jake makes me.  I also decided to post it because I have never really posted pictures from all our wedding celebration in Hong Kong and I ask myself why-ever-not?  So there you have it.  We looked so young...

Leah is getting her endowment tomorrow at the Draper temple.  When I mentioned it to Jake a couple weeks ago and explained to him that I was planning on renting temple clothes, he reminded me to check and make sure that the Draper temple does rentals.  Well, I forgot all about it until tonight when my whole family were talking about the endowment.  All of us--my dad, my mom, my uncle, and I--were planning on renting temple clothing at the temple but they don't offer that service at Draper.  I freaked out and mentally slapped myself on the face 573 times while we were trying to figure out what to do.  Luckily, all of us were able to find someone who we could borrow clothing from.

I texted Jake sheepishly after the potential-heart-attack-inducing event and while I was waiting for the I told you so to appear on my screen, he texted back "Oh no!  I'm so sorry."

Believe it or not, in the four years of marriage and six years of being together, Jake has never said the phrase "I told you so" to me.  Not once.  Not because he has never been right about anything but because when he is right about something he lovingly chooses to not rub salt on my open wound.  He chooses to sympathize with me and to help me find a solution instead of stamping on me while he lifts himself up like so many of us do.  I love that about him and am ever so grateful for all the tenderness he puts into handling me and my feelings.  When I pointed it out to him that he has never uttered those words, he said "That would be terrible.  I can't say that to the woman I love."  Now those has to be the most romantic words I have ever heard in my life.

Ethan + Stairs

The little stinker learned how to climb the stairs last week at Grandma's house.   It stirred up quite a commotion.  All of his cousins were sitting on the stairs trying to lure Ethan with toys and cheering him on.  It was a very cute and precious moment, and I'm glad that my camera was there to capture it all.  I guess it's time to get another gate for the bottom of the stairs as well when we get home.

Lullaby Baby

My mom told me that in the olden days when Chinese used to pick out their child servants that they would observe them in their sleep, and they pick the ones who are still when they sleep because they believe that the more a sleeping child moves the harder he is to teach.  All I have to say is hallelujah Ethan will never be picked to be a child servant.  He believes in sleeping outside of the mattress borders.  See it for yourself.

Isn't he so so so so cute?  Ethan has been sleeping in three new places during these past ten days and he has been doing fantastic: always out like a lamp in no time and sleeps like a champion.  One lucky mama I am.

Maid of Honor

My baby sister is getting married.  I am so happy for her I could burst.  And I did a couple times, into tears, these past couple days when we were out and about doing wedding stuff.  I love seeing her so happy and I can't wait for her to experience married life.  To always have someone to love, and to be happy, sad, excited, heartbroken, and content with, and then through day and night and in and out of weeks to learn and to grow with.  I'm confident to say that I had been that person for Leah until now.  Growing up, we were so close, always being there for the other.  There aren't very many people on this earth whom I love more than she.  She prepared me to be a mother by letting me love, protect, and grow up with her.  She is kind of like me but so much stronger, and cuter, and more lovable.  I love her to death and I'm so very honored to be right beside her on her very special day.

Ethan's First ATV Ride

We roamed the forest on some deafening four-wheel monsters.  It was fun but that's not why you should do it.  You should do it because four wheeling is actually a cure for lots of deceases, including kidney stones: those wicked machines will just shake those evil stones right out of ya!  All joking aside, the valley was absolutely beautiful and serene that day everyone had a great time including the mini man, but our clothes were all covered in dust when we got home and I suspect that is exactly why the boys loved it so much. 

By the Lake

One of the days at the cabin, we went out to Mirror Lake and breathed in all the gloriousness one could consume.  We kayaked, fished and had a picnic.  Ethan and I also sat in a chair and shooed mosquitos away.  I was tempted to get into a kayak with Jake but I was still a little traumatized by my first and last experience, which was when I was around eight months pregnant and Jake forced me into a kayak with him and we almost tipped over into the freezing water, so I passed this time around.  We also saw a dead dear frozen in the water right by the trail which was quite fascinating actually but I am going to save that for your imagination so don't get all excited about seeing a picture of the dead dear.

And the following picture is of a masterpiece by one of the little grandsons who announced that he

"had a little problem for Grandpa to fix..."

Pre Family Portraits

I lub family portraits but it gets a little challenging when you have eighteen people, eight of whom are young children.  Bless our photographer's heart.  He was very patient and worked quickly.  I can't wait to see the pictures!  In the meantime, here are a few pictures from my camera before the shooting.  Ethan loves playing with my highlighter and he wouldn't let go of it no matter what.  Speaking of highlighter, I've been loving my Laura Mercier Illuminating powder {which is what he's holding in these pictures}.  Awesome stuff, ladies!