Technical Difficulties...

Apparently my blog background has expired......UGH!!! I hate changing!! So until I can find something I like this is what you get!

Why I LOVE being an aunt......

Enough said!!!! Love these kids more than they know! This is what this life is all about!!!

Labor Day Weekend!!!

What a fun weekend!! This whole last week I did a lot of things with my family---we had some good laughs!!! We moved Brooke and her family at the beginning of the week and helped prepare for the blessing of Tessie Quinn. On Friday night I went and got a pedicure with Sarah--it was fun to get away just the 2 of us like old time before her kids!! :) It was fun and very relaxing.....although we went to a new place and I love the regular one much better!!! I then helped her clean her house a bit and played with the girls! Audrie was cute as can be, I had picked up Tessie since she was crying and got her to fall asleep. I put her back in her bed and after 20 minutes or so she started crying, Audrie kept saying Rae Rae she wants you---she needs to hold you (her way of saying she needs to be held)! And so for the rest of the night we stayed on the bed cuddling......just the 3 of us! What fun!

Saturday I spent with Mom and Laura. We went to some of our favorite shops and had lunch at Zuppas! It was my first time and I now know why everyone keeps telling me that I need to go!! It was YUMMY!!! Ending with yogurt @ the Yogurt Stop---also VERY YUMMY!! Sunday we had the blessing of Tessie Quinn. It was a wonderful blessing and day spent with family. It was fun to visit the Holladay 3rd ward and relish in so many memories of years growing up!!! And we had a great lunch after with friends and family!

Monday was more fun with the girls! Mandy, Sarah, Mom and I went shopping. It was an adventure for sure!!! We thought with 4 adults and 3 kids (one being a few weeks old) we would be okay! Boy were we ever wrong!!! Lilly and Audrie gave us a run for our money......and I really mean RUN!!!! We chased them all over the stores and had to keep them held hostage in the carts! They feed off of each other in so many ways that it was funny but frustrating to watch them! At one point during lunch they were dancing all around the restaurant saying to each other, "Go Lilly!, Go Lilly!, Go Audrie!, Go Audrie!" It was super funny and EVERYONE was watching! But they weren't running away so we let them have fun! We hit the Yogurt Stop again!

I love spending time with my sisters and Mom. It was fun to laugh and cry together! It gets harded to do so as they have more kids but I am willing to make sacrifices to spend time with them. I laugh a lot and come away feeling very loved each time we are together. They are constant in my life and offer light and joy that I need. I can ALWAYS count on them when I need something.....but most of all they love me no matter what! Thanks for the fun times girls!!! We need to do it again soon!!!!

Happy Birthday Lilly!!!!!

Eating her yogurt!

Happy Birthday Lillian Elizabeth Parry!!! Today is my little niece Lilly's birthday! I tried really hard to get her here on my birthday but it just didn't quite work that way!! Even before she arrived here into our family I knew she would be special---she has proven that time and time again! Oh this little girl is amazing! She was born with some health problems and has been a trooper the last 4 years as she has had a few surgeries and one of her ears is a little ear. She loves to talk about her belly button that the doctor made for her and her little ear. She is confident in who she is already----which is a good thing!

For the first few years of her life my mom tended her part time while her parents worked and it was fun to run home while I was living there to see her. I hated to miss her and had to see her at least every day or so. She makes you laugh at EVERYTHING she says! I don't know where she has gotten all her brains from but she is smart as a whip and has an imagination gone wild! I love tending her and playing what she has thought of! I am always laughing hard when I am there. She never disappoints in her creativeness! The other day I was tending her and her room was a mess making it hard to play in there. I told her that we needed to clean up a few things so that we could play better. She said it is so boring to clean! I explained that if we picked up a few things we could play a lot better. Her response to me was, "I want to do something exhilarating!!!" When I looked at her with a question in my eye how she knew that word (as I am sure her parents don't use it on a daily basis!) She says, "It means fun and exciting!" When I questioned her parents how she knew the word they had no clue! Maybe she reads the dictionary!! I wouldn't be surprised if she did either!

She loves to eat yogurt! Rarely can she be found without a cup of key lime pie yogurt in hand! And she loves sweets! I knew I liked her! She has a hard time eating much else but junk food......but she is skinny so she can get away with it! Just the other day we were having dinner and she asked her parents if something was junk food---they have been reading Bernstein Bears books to help her with a few things. And she is trying to be better! She plays well with all kids no matter their age. She is usually the center of attention at most family functions because she has some act or another that she has to show us. Many times we don't have anything else planned but dinner and watching Lilly! Oh what a joy she is to be around!

Lilly was named after my grandmother's sister and my mother. And it has been fun to learn more about her and see that they have some similarities. One of which is love. You can feel the love that Lilly has for many people. She is usually willing to give a big hug to you and make you laugh! She has such a calming spirit about her......she brings such a great peace into our family. She has made a huge difference in all of our lives!

She loves to read books.....she gets this from her mother! She is always trying to get you to read one more book to her before bed!! I know that she will excel in school because of this love. She has such aspirations for future. She wants to be an artist, a doctor, a painter and on and on. Every day it is something different. And I have no doubt that she will become something great!

Lilly I am super proud of you and all that you do! What a great blessing you are in my life and a great addition to this family!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! May the coming year be great! Love you lots!!!

Love that smile!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Today is my birthday and while I am not going to blog about myself I want you who read my blog to leave a comment about me! Tell me what you like about me, what makes me special, something you admire about me, etc! You know leave comments that I want to come back and read when I am having a bad day!! Thanks to all of you for making me someone terrific!!!

The last few days....

I have been busy the last few days.......but boy have they been great! As you can see from the previous post Sarah my younger sister had her baby on Wed morning. It was a long day of work as I anticipated going to the hospital and spending time with her! What a doll she is!!! I had Fri off from work but at the last minute decided to take Thurs off as well and make a nice weekend of it and help my sister out a bit. I was super glad that I did! I had fun holding the new baby, playing with the rest of the nieces and nephews, and doing what really matters in life---enriching relationships w/my family. I love new babies and the reminder that they give me of what is important and to SLOW down!!! I had Audrie overnight one night and while it was exhausting I love talking with her and laughing like a child! She was so attentive to her new sister and will be a great help I hope! It was exciting for me to take Sarah home from the hospital....what a great feeling to bring a newborn home and while I hope one day to have this experience for myself I was thankful for the opportunity to participate in a bit of heaven on earth!

I got them settled and headed to Park City with a couple of girlfriends! Oh how I miss working w/Haylie!!! And oh how I needed that afternoon of shopping!!! It was fun to shop for some clothes that were needed and find some good bargains as well! Thanks girls for a great day!! I headed to Logan on Sat to pick up some couches from my old roommate and that was a fun day....although driving there and back in one day was tiring. I am super excited to have the couches I have loved for a long time! And look forward to the accessorizing!!

We then had a Larson Cousin party that night. But before we headed there we went to see Brooke & Kelly's new house being built! It will be nice when it is done but hard that they will be farther away from us all! It was fun to chat and catch up with my cousins about their lives.....I sure do love spending time with my family and we missed the ones that weren't there! It was nice to do some of those important things that get pushed to the side at times! Love you all!!

I ended the weekend with dinner at my parents on Sun. It was fun to spend time with them and play cards with them. Something that I miss living on my own. I need to be better about having them over for dinner and games on occasion! Sarah and John came over as well and it was fun to visit with them as well as hold little Tessie for awhile. Oh how it makes everything in life better!!! I could cuddle all my nieces and nephews all day long if given the chance!

I am thankful for times when I can leave work behind and do things that really matter!!! You know like spoiling my nieces and nephews rotten! I love being with my family and doing things with them! I look forward to another busy week but thankful for the time that I can spend with people who influence me in good ways!

Happy Birthday Tessie!!!!

Tessie Quinn Malmstrom arrived this morning at 7:26 am. 8 lbs 2 ounces 19 1/2 inches !!!! Of course as soon as I get to the hospital there will be lots of pictures but until then Happy Birthday little one, I love you already!!!! I so love being an aunt......and the favorite one at that!!!!