Reverisble Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Reverisble Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

A video slide show: Reflections of Christ

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

Our OLD/NEW school desk

So, when we went to O.K., we brought home this old desk my grandpa gave to Neil. Nicholas and I sanded it. All I have to say is they sure don't make furniture like they use to. Things were built to last, so unlike this day and age......

Now, that it's finished and painted a bright red, we can use it in the basement! So, fun to play school with, don't you think?

Nicholas turns 8!

So, Nicholas turned 8 today, that is July 11th, 2008. He asked for a BYU cake and helped assist in giving icing directions. He was very happy with how his cake turned out.

His party of friends singing "Happy Birthday" with a very zealous BYU fan, AKA Jacob Dutton.

It was water gun mania that ended with the kids attacking Eric. All I heard was "Get the adult!"





Nicholas asked for very few things. At the top of his list was getting a new bike. He's been without a bike since early last summer when his chain broke. He sure is happy to have it!

Grandma and Grandpa Halliday stopped by to give Nicholas a few presents, one of which is the BYU shirt Nicholas just had to put on right away! ; ) A big thanks from Nicholas to Grandma and Grandpa. They always know just what to get him!

At the end of the party, we all went to the park for some baseball fun!
L to R
Eric, Hugh, Stephanie
Julia behind on the ground, she didn't want to be in the picture.
Ana, Anna Dutton, Ian Clark, Jacob Dutton, Jonas Clark, Nicholas, Thomas Holmes,
Justin Garvin, Hunter Anderson, Dallas Ewell

My Italian necklace!

Dustin and Julia went to Italy for the Baroque Ensemble choir tour and picked it up for me. Thank you Dustin and Julia! : ) Besides the tons of compliments, people keep asking me where I bought it... I told them from the gypsy's.... , right Julia? : ) You should see the looks. Ha! Ha!

Elder Neil Kekoa Young

My little brother's growing up! He's a cute missionary that all the teenage girls are going to loooove. Ha! Ha!

Talking to Isaac before leaving for the MTC

Holding Elena, Sarah Tracy and Sydni Garvin waiting for us to leave as they will be watching 6 kiddies while we're at the MTC.

Neil dropping off luggage

In the MTC lobby, after Elder Neil Young receives his tag and "celestial dot".
In the meeting room, holding baby Hugh..., I found out later we weren't supposed to take pictures here. Oops! If I had known, I would have taken more outside. Bummer!

Leaving the MTC without Elder Neil Young....

Going to Oklahoma for Neil's farewell

At the beginning of our 20 hour trip to Oklahoma! Don't we look excited?!!!

At the half-way point in Limon, Colorado at the Holiday Inn Express.

We made it to Mounds, OKLAHOMA! It's midnight. Yikes that has to hurt, Julia!

So, Mom and Dad's dryer broke and we dried our clothes the old-fashioned way! ; )
On the way to Grandma and Grandpa Whittenburg's, we stopped to see this turtle in the road.

Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Whittenburg with Julia
Cute baby Hugh with cousin Andrew Young.

Isaac, Neil, and Nicholas hanging out Sunday...

At the Oklahoma Aquarium, where we came across a 220-year old Alligator Turtle. It was so cool to see the Sharks get fed fresh fish too!

Nicholas, Hugh, and Eric measuring up to the Alligator Gar that lives in Oklahoma.

Hugh with Grandma Young: What a cute smile!

Hugh and Grandma Young:
If you chance to meet a frown, do not let it stay...
Quickly turn it upside down and smile that frown away.
We ate at Braums Ice Cream store a lot! We love that place! Eric is eating his as well as my ice cream cone! He loved the ice cream as you can see! Haha! He didn't like that I was filming him being gluttonous. : ) We think Braums should come to Utah! Yum!

2nd Graders Mom's for Muffins

Nicholas is on the 1st row in a long sleeve blue dress shirt & tie. This is a special day for all the 2nd graders and their mom's. It was quite a cute day and when the musical program was over, we had muffins and went back to the classroom for some fun activities.

Our Nephew/Cousin Britt!

His life was too short and yet, I learned much from him! Please take a moment if you will and visit his obituary.

http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=181415&fh_id=11130&s_id=99
CF8BCD65F39D201E87E7AF7F256FD2

We spoke with Nicholas and Julia the night of Britt's passing. We read out of the scriptures and answered their questions of whether we would see Britt again, what does a spirit look like, etc... It was a nice teaching moment and it made me feel so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel. It truly helps us understand that we will one day see Britt again and what a sweet reunion that will be!

A few memories we have of Britt are...

Eric:

I think Britton was 15-16 years old. We were all at Mom's and Dad's house on a Sunday evening. It seems like Britton was just getting into lifting weights, and wanted to arm wrestle some of his uncles. I was happy to comply with his request, thinking that I, because of my age, should be able to beat him. Well, the arm wrestle was over quick, it wasn't really that close. Britton was victorious. He pranced around the room chanting something like "Uncle Eric lost to a 15 yr old!" While I didn't really love losing to my nephew, I remember thinking that if I started hitting the gym we could have a rematch someday, and that I might fare better the next time. Then Britton's bicepts got massive. Thoughts of a rematch went quickly out the door. I'm now left feeling grateful that by getting beat, I added in some small way to the Britton's happiness in his way too short life.

Me:

My first memory of Britton was when Eric and I were engaged. Britton would always say, "Hi, Stephanie" and give me a hug. I was always taken back by this as I thought, "I hardly know him. Why would he give ME a hug?" Over the years, Britton has always come in and given me a hug and said, " Hi, Aunt Stephanie!" I realize this isn't much to some, but this always made my day. And while he probably gave everyone else the same attention, I always felt he really cared about "Aunt Stephanie." (It's a trait I admire... He simply cared about others and everyone knew it. He was confident in who he was regardless of what others thought. It was as if he was mature beyond his young teen years.

Nicholas:

Britt always said to me, "Hey, Bro!" because he knew I was a Bro, you know.

Julia:

Britt always said, "Hey Ju!" or "Hey, Ju, Ju!"

Ana:

I'm sad Britton died.

Skiing at Brighton

While this was a few months ago, I thought I'd share a video of the Nicholas, Julia, and Eric skiing. Our good friend, and CEO of Winder Dairy, Mike Dutton, videoed them and his two kiddies: Anna and Jacob.
Julia is in pink without a helmet or poles. Nicholas is wearing a navy and tan coat w/ pale green ski pants. Eric is in a black jacket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxX-MVYad30

This is their 2nd year of skiing. Eric informed the kids that they are better skiers than mom.... Oh, well... : )

Our family at Dustin & Julia's wedding reception March 2008

What a lovely day it was for all of us! My sister in law, Julia, let her photographer take pictures of each family! It was a lovely wedding and reception.

Spring Break/Wedding Nicholas

Nicholas had a blast with his cousins today! 7 1/2 years old.












Even Hugh had his day in the sun at the wedding!
7 months old









What a funny girl! Julia, 5 1/2 years.