I Dream of Jeannie

We have become HUGE fans of "I Dream of Jeannie" (you know... that old 60's show with the astronaut who finds a genie in a bottle lying on a beach) thanks to our wonderful library who we borrow obscene amounts of movies from each and every week. We rented the third season once just for fun and were immediately hooked. It is HILarious and so quirky and just f-u-n. So we spent the next five weeks watching seasons 1 thru 5. What we noticed though, is that while we were enjoying the episodes, Julie became hooked on the theme music. Sitting on the floor with her toys, she never even glanced at the tv screen until the opening credits and cartoon came on. Then she would stare at the screen (and "dance" in her little wiggle way) until the music ended and the show began. It was so funny.
So, if you haven't watched "I Dream of Jeannie" for several years (or decades... since it's an oldie) I HIGHLY recommend it. It's cheesy and fairly predictable, but it never fails to make Arek and me laugh out loud. And if nothing else, it has an awesome theme song... just ask Julie if you don't believe me!

Sunday Afternoons

We love Sundays. We love our calling as Sunbeam teachers. This week they were extra exuberant, but it is still fun to teach them the stories and principles of the gospel. Julie enjoys the class, too… especially in sharing time when the boys in our class love to make faces at her that make her smile.

After Church we get to relax and enjoy lazy afternoons together. This week we got out all of my old stuffed animals (they went with our primary lessons on animals). Julie loved the new, soft “chew” toys. The turtle, especially she likes to throw about – at the time of this picture she tossed it in “jail”, which is in the crook of the bobby… you can see a small part of its back in the picture.

Arek’s favorite part of Sundays is when I go to ward choir for an hour… that’s when he and Julie take a long nap together. This is what I come home to find…

Aren’t they so cute? I can’t get enough of either of them!

After naps we play and watch movies for the rest of the evening… it’s always a practically perfect day of the week and I think: Can life get any better? Probably not.

End of Spring Break

This weekend was filled with lots of family. It was a really great way to finish a really relaxing and nice spring break. This post is fairly long but has lots of pictures to make it worth while.

TEMPLE TRIP

Saturday morning my brother Ben went through the temple for the first time. Arek’s parents babysat Julie for us (I’m not sure who was more grateful: us for them being willing to watch her… or them for being able to watch her). It was so awesome to be in the temple with my family again. We went to the Ogden Temple and my Grandpa Glad was able to officiate the endowment session like he did when both my sister Dani and I went through the temple.

The happy future missionary

The immediately family that was there (minus Arek who took the picture): me, Dad, Ben, Mom, and Dani

Arek and me being silly and happy at the Temple

RUBBER DUCKIE YOU’RE THE ONE

Saturday night Julie was in need of a bath… so my parents pulled out this fun bathtub for her to sit it. She loved it! Bathtime has never been so much fun for her.

“Wo… this is different.”

When you squeeze the bill the duckie quacks… Julie thought it was awesome!

FAMILY VISIT

Sunday we went to Church with my family… it was awesome because I got to go to Relief Society for the first time in about a year and a half (Arek and I have teached Sunbeams for about that long). After Church we went with Arek’s parents and his brother Jared down to Provo to visit Jenny, Todd, and their new baby girl, Lilly. She’s about 2 ½ weeks now. It was so fun to visit with them and meet our new neice. She is so sweet and tiny. It will be fun in a few years when Lilly and Julie can play with each other.

Me getting to hold baby Lilly. Can you believe Julie was ever that small?... and smaller actually. Craziness. Babies grow big so fast!

PLAYING WITH DADDY

When back at Arek’s parents we got our taxes done. Hurray! This is the latest we’ve ever done them before so we are glad they are over and done with. Since it was so warm (meaning 50’s) Arek took Julie outside. She loves all the sights and the fresh air.

Arek had Julie meet his family’s basset hound, Toby. After this photo was taken Julie’s face crumpled… guess dogs will take some getting used to. 

I took this through the living room window (hence the glare). I love the way Julie and Arek are looking at each other.

Supper Time

Julie is now 5 months old so we have been slowly trying to get her used to eating baby food... and by that I mean rice cereal diluted with her milk. She is getting more accustomed to the different taste and texture, but she’s still more interested in looking at and grabbing her food than eating it. We think we are going to try avacados or sweet potatoes soon. Maybe she’ll like their flavors more than bland rice cereal.

It’s more fun to WEAR your food than to EAT it!

“Honestly, Mom, I can feed myself… let me show you!”

Family Outing

To celebrate Arek’s spring break from school this next week we decided to take a trip down south on Saturday to watch the BYU vs UofU rugby game at the Rio Tinto Stadium. Arek played rugby in high school and his brother Jared used to coach the Davis County team, so we like to support the sport and see games when we can. It was Julie’s first sporting event so we got her dressed warmly and put her in her stroller (the first time sitting up in it by herself and not in her carseat).

She loved the new vantage point from the stroller on the walk from the parked car to the stadium! Once at the game, though, all the cheers and shouts from fans scared her pretty badly. So we had to leave our seats with Arek’s mom and his brothers Jared and Tiffer to find a less noisy spot in the stadium. The first half was rough for her, but after a diaper change, getting on her warmer “bear” outfit, and feeding her (sitting on a toilet in the women’s room because there was no other place… definitely not very fun for mom!) the second half of the game went much better for Julie. All in all we had a great time, even though the U lost to BYU: 22 to 40.

A very tired Julie fell asleep in her stroller on the walk back to the car and slept most of the drive back to Kaysville where we had dinner with arek’s family. We were a little nervous about taking a 5 month old to a sporting event but it turned out really well. Julie is such a trouper. She and I are both super excited that Arek has this weekoff from school… lots of time for family!

5 Months Already!

*please note that I was very good and posted TWICE today! So make sure you see both entries... it doesn't happen often! ha ha

Today my baby girl is 5 months old! Where has the time gone? Here are some of her new (and continued) interests from this past month:grabbing her feet

chewing on said feet

blowing raspberries

biting/sucking in her bottom lip (and pretty much doing anything with her lips, including TALKING… she jabbers away all day long, especially at night)

playing with her soccer ball… sometimes it gets away

Oh, and no picture, but she has finally rolled over... twice. She still thinks sitting up and standing up (while holding onto our fingers) is much more interesting, though. She is also working on wiggling her body forward to the things she wants if they are out of her reach. We are constantly in awe about how smart and curious she is and how fast she is learning new things. We certainly do love her and are so grateful she is part of our family!

Wednesday Surprises

Last Wednesday (February 23^rd for the record) three wonderful things happened. The first happened at 5:15 a.m. and that is my sister-in-law, Jenny, had her first baby: baby Lilly. Both mom and baby are healthy and doing great. We have seen pictures and she is beautiful… and she has lots of long dark hair… I think it will take Julie at least a year to catch up with her new cousin in the hair department! Haha. We are so excited to meet Lilly.

The next thing that happened was that Julie rolled over for the first time ever! Unfortunately, I missed it as I was out of the room grabbing my shoes so we could go for a walk. Big bummer. However, she did a reinactment the next night after Arek and I finished bathing her. We are so excited for accomplishment!

Lastly, my little brother (my ONLY brother, I should say) got his mission call! On May 18^th he is leaving to serve an LDS mission in Samara, Russia. We are so happy for him. It is especially cool because my dad’s master’s is in Russian history and he speaks fluent Russian and has been there lots of times. So now Ben and my dad will be able to speak Russian together… which I’m sure they’ll do when they want to get away from all the girls in the family and talk about “guy” stuff… whatever that is! Anyway, Ben gets to go through the temple in a week or two and we are so excited for him! He’s going to be a great missionary!

Here is Ben with Julie a few days after she was born (I can't believe how tiny she was... and she had hair, too!)