Second grade

Trevor started second grade yesterday. Ashkii and I can't believe we have a second grader. He had a great first day and was excited to have kids in his class that he knows from first grade and from tennis lessons this past summer. We have heard GREAT things about his teacher, which is always a relief. Especially since he has started to do that "boy thing", saying "I don't like school. I don't like homework." After he came home yesterday he said, "Mom, I actually had fun!"

Ten Years!

We celebrated our tenth anniversary this past Monday! This is a picture of us in front of the Salt Lake Temple, where we were married for eternity. In some ways, it seems impossible to me that it has been ten years already, but when I think about all that we've done, all the places we have lived, all the ways we have grown, I realize that it does seem like ten years! Thanks, Ashkii, for all the memories, for making me a better person, for being a wonderful husband and excellent father. I am so grateful for you!

Recent days

Still admiring our new sister . . . .

We're all a little tired around here . . .

I'm running the show at this house!

We have been inside, avoiding the HEAT, and have
done a lot of puzzles.

And we've played lots of games - Dad and
Rachel are a good team.

Rachel loves her baths


Grandma Goldy had to go home to her own life -
we sure miss her, and now feel the need to hire
a cook and nanny:)

The beginnings of a smile?

Savannah was in charge of setting the table,
and decided to include Rachel:)

Virginia Reel

If you know us well, you know that Ashkii and I have both spent a fair amount of our lives dancing. Well, the word got out here and we were asked to teach some square dancing at a church activity celebrating the 24th of July (when the Mormon pioneers arrived in the SL Valley). The focus was on heritage and in an effort to make it easy for all age groups, Ashkii taught the Virginia Reel. This was a little out of his comfort zone, since he has only really taught ballroom dance, but since I just had a baby, the ball fell in his court. So we dug back to memories of ten years ago, when we danced with the Ricks College (now BYU- Idaho) Folk Dance Team.

Everyone at the activity had a great time. I stayed home with my mom and Rachel, so I was so glad Ashkii got some video of our little square dancer. Savvy now begs us to do the virginia reel with her on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. Trevor wasn't as interested - you may notice him playing football in the back of the parking lot with some of the missionaries serving here in our area.

The young man Savvy is partnered with is in the youth group of boys Ashkii teaches. Savvy went up to him and asked him to be her partner since her dad was busy teaching the whole group. This girl has no fear . . . which sometimes scares me!