Double Birthdays.

Dear Grammie Ruth and Grandpa Ed planned a trip to come visit us for a day and to celebrate my and Ruth Anne's birthdays.  We exchanged gifts, us girls did a girls outing to Clothes Mentor and Sally's and painted nails.  The whole crew (minus mom) went to see the ISU campus while I worked on prepping a pizza party and birthday cake.  Ed & Ruth Anne were good sports when I tried to adding & baking freshed toppings to an already baked pizza...and burning the pizza!  But the chocolate cake was a winner.  It was wonderful to finally reconnect with them.  Til next time!

Easter & Conference Weekend.

It was wonderful to be in Utah to spend Easter & General Conference weekend with our families.  Friday night we drove up to Holladay for Grandpa & Grandma Stevenson's BBQ.  As you three kiddos were running around outside during golden hour searching high and low for easter eggs, I suddenly had a flashback to 8 years ago.  Dad & I were dating at the time and had hidden the easter eggs for the younger cousins to find.  Dad later told me that he had wanted to kiss me behind one of the big bushes in the yard but didn't get the chance ;0)  And there we were watching our 3 kids (36 weeks pregnant with Aimee) chase around that same yard at Easter time.  What a fun recollection.   

We spent that night at Rach's place (we had accidentally left Alex's blankie in Salem so it was a long night for all of us).  She & Starla made us a delicious breakfast Saturday morning.  We were a bit distracted by family both days, but enjoyed the conference talks that we were able to listen to.  We had a lovely Easter feast at Bompa & Mémé's Saturday afternoon (Grauntie and Gramps were there).  Grauntie gave each of you your own stuffed animal bunny.  Dad went to a priesthood session broadcast with Grandpa, Uncle Alan, Bompa and Uncle Tim while Aunt Emmie & Buck took you three fishing at Salem Pond AND while Mémé, Aunt Rachie & I chilled on the couch and took it easy for our GNO...we were beat and didn't have energy to do anything.

Sunday morning Mémé had her traditional yogurts and kiwis, then you kids did a mini easter egg hunt and we took some family pictures.  We spent the rest of the day at Grandpa & Nana Julz' where we found out that Aunt Julie & Uncle Walt are expecting a GIRL (Hooray!!), watched conference, had a delicious dinner, did an easter egg hunt (for coins) and had a family testimony meeting.  It was a PACKED weekend, but we loved that we could make memory with our families.

Shoo Shoo Baby.

For the Ward Talent Show me and three other girls sang, "Shoo Shoo Baby," a cute little "war time" number from the 40's. (If you want to see a YouTube video of us performing, click here or here.)  We all decided to dress up for our number and I attempted doing victory rolls with my hair.  Harder than the youtube video made it look, but was fun to try.  It reminded me of a secret dream to someday be in a musical.  One with minimal acting..more dancing and singing...and more singing then dancing ;0)  I was an Indian in my high school's performance of "Peter Pan" and loved the dressing up and all that jazz.  Maybe someday...me and Bry?  One can dream :0)

Getting ready with Brie before the show.  The picture on the far left is my hair after the show.  I love how you can barely tell my hair was ever curled.   Gotta love the stick straight.

 

 

 

Me, Melissa, Dayna and Laura.

(I adjusted the settings on my camera then handed it to a friend to take pictures of our act.  I forgot to compensate for the spotlight we'd be under.  So these are a bit blown out, but make them look more vintage, right? ;0)

Speaking of Shoo Shoo Baby...I had to add a few pictures from Bry's act.  He could have been thinking "Shoo shoo kiddos!" but said that having the kids on stage with him actually put him at ease.  I was relieved to hear that!!  And just to reiterate that Brie and Alex going on stage was cute, but NOT planned.  It was really just me wanting to save myself the embarrassment of running up there and trying to corral Alex on stage ;0)  Plus, how could I not sit there and snap pictures of cute Bry handling the whole thing like a pro? :0) 

 

 Love this picture with the MC coming to grab a ever-squirming Alex.

 Me and my Rag Time Man ;0)

 Us and our little Show Stoppers :0)

I'm so glad that we finally participated in our ward talent show.  Bry did an excellent job, and I was proud of myself for dressing up and performing 9 months pregnant.  It definitely was out of my comfort zone and was an accomplishment.  Plus, Laura, Melissa and Dayna were so fun to practice and perform with!  Good times.

As a side note, the last few weeks I've listened to "Shoo Shoo Baby" dozens of times trying to learn my part.  Didn't realize that Brie and Alex were learning it too ;0)  By the time the talent show came around Brie practically had the whole thing memorized and when Alex heard either of us singing it he would chime in with "shoo shoo baby."  It's too cute! We joked about performing it next year as a family.

Favorites from the Fourth, pt. 2

While getting food prepared for our family BBQ, I looked over and saw Brie tiptoeing... try to reach some berries in a colander on the counter. It was so cute and pittoresque, but the lighting was horrible so I took her outside and snapped a few shots.

Rach thought of doing these pictures with the star-shaped.

A little bit later Elaine showed me the baptism dress that she had bought for Brie.  Of course Brie still has several years til she's baptized, but she saw it and wanted to get it for her...since her being baptized into the church (while attending BYU) was such a turning point in her life.  What a special day that will be.  

Seeing the white baptism dress reminded me that I was going to see if I could fit back into my wedding dress.  It was a little snug zipping up but I got it on.  That was a little victory ;0)

I came downstairs to show Brie and she went on and on about how I looked like a princess :0)  Then was time for a few pictures of Brie in my wedding dress (an idea I'd seen on Pinterest).  It was so sweet seeing her sitting puddled up in my dress.  Can't believe that someday it will be her getting married!

It was wonderful having dear Elaine with us for the evening.  Rach was so cute and bought Brie her own lawn chair then set up the back of her pickup truck for them to watch the fireworks.  Brie doesn't like all the noise, but enjoyed being with Aunt Rachie.  As always we listened to and watched part of the Stadium of Fire (well everything that shot high enough for us to see ;0)) from my Parents' front walk.  

Donald James Sheets.

Back in November (17-24) the kids and I flew out to visit my family around Thanksgiving time. A few days after we arrived my Grandpa Sheets passed away. I was really sad to have not had the chance to see him before he died, but grateful that I was able to talk to him on the phone and let him know that I love and appreciate him. And I was thankful that since we were already in Utah we were able to fly out with family to California (Bry met us in SLC and flew with us to Oakland) to be there for his funeral.

(Some of the above pictures are of Grandpa and Grandma, and others are with Kim (his dear second wife) and Kristina (our step "auntie" ;0))...who we love! We are so grateful to have them as family.

I hadn't been to California (to visit family) since my Grandma's funeral when I was 12yrs, so although it was a short trip it was a wonderful one with great reunions and reminiscing. (My Parents had planned to have us stay in a hotel, but I asked if we could stay with my Uncle Bruce and Aunt Nilda. My Grandparents lived with them while I was growing up and it was there that we would visit every summer. I have so many fun and fond childhood memories in that house.)

I was flooded with memories as I walked in the front door and got choked up as I was welcomed by Bruce & Nilda. The giant fish tank that used to house salt water fish, the front bathroom where we would hide treasures in the drawers, the big stair case, the pool, the list goes on and on. I was so grateful that Bry and the kids were there with me to soak it all up and to spend time with the Sheets side of the family.

The day of the funeral was a long one. Brie and Alex were good sports considering. Poor, exhausted Alex ended up falling asleep on the foyer couch. Brie snuck a cat nap at some point.

My family participated in some of the funeral service. Dad gave the eulogy, Matt & I sang a duet ("Be Still My Soul", Bry accompanied for us) and our whole family sang "Our Savior's Love". I think the most touching thing for me that day was seeing family and friends, from the Sheets and Chau families alike, coming together to celebrate Grandpa. It was a sweet day.

Before heading home Aunt Sheryl and Uncle Steve had us over for a surprise birthday brunch for Em.

the group.
(left to right. Kristina, Kim, Steve, Sheryl, Marci, Kevin's son, Charlene, Dad, Brie, Mom, Matt, Kermit the Dog, Em, Rach, Tim, Me, Bry, Alex, Bruce and Nilda)

Kent.
Thanks for being our photographer
by day and police officer by night ;0)

It was so sweet of them and knowing Sheryl, the food was delicious and beautifully prepared. The chocolate chocolate cake was so y.u.m.m.y. AND it was wonderful to have one last chance to mingle with family, particularly cousins, aunts and uncles that I hadn't seen in years.

We miss you Grandpa, but are grateful to know that you're with Grandma...and in a better place. Thank you for leaving us a legacy of resourcefulness and hard work. We love you!

Looking back...

As we await Alexander's arrival, we've been watching video clips from Brie's birth and the first year of her life. It's been so fun to look back on that time with our Snuggle Bug :0) Here's a clip of Brie with her Dada on the day she was born...