¡Gran alimento, pero la compañía aún mejor!

Alright, so I'm not really fluent in Spanish (I give full credit to Freetranslation.com) but we did have a fabulous time eating at little authentic Mexican restaurant this past Saturday. I had been wanting to try it since we moved here last July, and Rich thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate one of his last free weekend for awhile. Mi familia hermosa de lttle. I laughed so hard at the cut out woman just over Rich's shoulder. It looks like we had a scantily clad waitress serving us!
Mi chica valiente pequeña. No wonder she's a spunky child. She LOVES salsa. Kaitlyn opts for plain chips. My dad has taught the boys the art of eating chips. Salt and then eat! ¡Sobrecarga salada! This face must be from all the excess sodium intake!Chicken fingers and fries on the menu= a happy Matt! Brynn has more skills with the fork than her three older brothers!
Adiós!

Tuesday Tell All- Home Sweet Home

Today's topic is to write about the road we've traveled to get where we are today.

Here is a little glimpse into the life and homes of Cheryl.

Springville, Utah: I was delivered in Provo at UVRMC by my Grandpa Nance. That is the same hospital my boys were delivered in. My first three weeks were spent with my family at my Grandpa and Grandma Nance's home before we all headed back up to Salt Lake. I am only 11 1/2 months younger than my older brother Greg and was born during my dad's second year of medical school.
Salt Lake City, Utah downtown on capital hill: Lived in the basement of my Great-great-grandpa Warner's home. His daughter my Great-grandma Beardall lived upstairs and took care of him. We had four generations living under one roof! My dad was in medical school at the U of U. Loved our walks to the capital and sitting on the massive lion statue's back.
Salt Lake City, Utah Starcrest Drive (Rose Parks): My parent's first home. Good location for my dad's commute to the U of U for residency. Moved in when neighborhood was being built, moved out BEFORE the gangs arrived and bars were put on all windows.
Salem, Utah 215 W. Apple Blossom Way: My dad set up his OB/GYN practice in Springville and delivered patients at Mountain View Hospital in Payson and at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. Salem was a perfect fit for our family. It still does not have a stop light or a grocery store. Has the most beautiful pond and mountains I've ever seen. Truly is the 'City of Peace.'
Salem, Utah 38 W. Apple Blossom Way: Longest move of my life. 2 whole blocks! My parents built a home and it was in the Utah Valley Home Show in 1990. I loved my room in the walkout basement complete with my own bathroom and still sleep there when we go home to visit. My boys' favorite part is the Loft-the top floor devoted totally to all things toys and games.
Laie, Hawaii: Freshman year at BYU-Hawaii. Worked in the cafeteria at 5 AM and fell in love with the Hawaiian people and laid back lifestyle. When my family came out for Thanksgiving my mom told me my dorm room was claustrophobic. Had one human roommate and shared the room with lots and lots of creatures (geckos, ants, cockroaches, etc.) Luckily the rat the size of a cat (NO JOKE!) never moved in too.

Provo, Utah apartment 46 W. 700 N.: Got engaged, went to the singles ward once. Lasted three weeks in the apartment, quickly moved home. (Didn't enjoy it enough for a picture!)
Salem, Utah: Moved back home with the folks while I was engaged, going to BYU and jetting off to Palo Alto.
Stanford, California Escondido Village: Six weeks of newlywed bliss. My main job was writing out hundreds of thank you notes. It kept me busy!
Provo, Utah condo 146 W. 1230 N. #236: Great first home and in walking distance of BYU campus. Trey's came home from the hospital to this little place.
Louisville, Kentucky 4631 Shenandoah Drive : Spent six wonderful years in the 'Ville while Rich attended University of Louisville medical school and completed his intern year in general surgery. The main floor of the house was one big room so it was perfect for hosting get togethers. So many wonderful memories. My favorite part was the huge backyard. I miss it!
Lexington, Kentucky 721 Fitzroy Lane: Moved in July 2006. Rich will complete his radiology residency in June 2010. Lifesaver: finally having a storage room and basement!

Brynn's Obsession

My little Brynn has a new love and thankfully it is not another food item she cannot resist ripping apart and scattering throughout the house or like her favorite trick of destroying all my Softlips when she digs it out with her finger and then eats it. Yum.

She is showing her girly side and her new passion is for shoes. The minute she wakes up she is in hot pursuit of a pair of shoes. She says "shus, shus" when she's on the hunt or gotten lucky and found a pair to wear. She even goes the extra mile and grabs and pair for Kaitlyn too. What a nice sister!

She loves any shoes really, but she does have a particular fondness for these flip flops. If we are upstairs, she head straight to my closet, opens the door and grabs one shoe and brings it right to me. She then gets on her knees and tries to put it on my foot. It reminds me of the Grand Duke in Disney's Cinderella as he tries the glass slippers on every eligible maiden. I am that maiden to Brynn. She just loves for me to wear these very girly, flowery, pink and blue spotted shoes.

Once she gets out of the tub, all she really cares about it is getting her shoes on. She thinks she's dressed and ready for a day of fun even if she's only sporting a diaper and some Mary Janes.

I love you Brynn and your shoe obsession. Rich did call me Amelia Marcos when we were moving last summer and we were running out of room for storing my shoes. Some of the boxes ended up in the Hamilton's basement, and Kristi can attest to my fondness for shoes.

Brynn, I'm glad to see you are already taking after your mom and so happy I've already found a new shopping buddy for years and years to come! Now we need to covert Kaitlyn!

Not very good mail.

Josh brought in the mail on Saturday. I was thrilled when I saw the package from eBay had finally arrived (replacement perfume after Kaitlyn tossed and shattered my original bottle on the bathroom tile) and as I opened the bubble wrap, my eyes scanned the pile of letters on my lap.

One caught my eye and I had an immediate sinking feeling. It had a official Kentucky stamp on the return address and for one fleeting moment, I hoped it was a reminder about our property taxes that weren't due until November, but I knew even then. I saw the name Fayette Circuit Courts on the title and all hope was erased. I tore open the envelope. My fears were confirmed, I had just been summoned for Jury Duty! Let me preface this my saying I am so grateful to be an American, but really, ME NOW? I think the song by The Byrds sums it up.

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

And this is NOT my time to be on Jury Duty. I am freaking out a bit. I just really, honestly, no doubt, without question cannot do this right now and just HAVE to get out of it. Maybe if I had a husband with a regular schedule and not gone for days at a time, maybe if I had just one family member living in the state of Kentucky to help, maybe if I had actually paid a babysitter in the last 15 months and the kids were comfortable with someone else, maybe if I didn't have 18 month old twins, or 5 kids 7 years old and under or 3 boys that need to be picked up from school at 2:30 PM, then maybe, but right now it's a definite NO.

My jury service would be for over 30 days. From October 28, 2007 to November 30, 2007. I would have to check a web site each morning to determine if I would have to go downtown. (Not very condusive to carpooling and nap time.)

I told Rich he needed to find a doctor to write me note that says this would create undue stress and mental anguish on my children and myself to complete this service. This may sound whimpy but it's true. Brynn hardly even smiles at our own mothers!

I need to write a letter and call the court and tell them my situation. If they make me appear in October, I am bringing the girls along in the double stroller, hey it's just a glimpse into my reality. If that doesn't work, during selection, I'll tell them I believe that anyone who breaks a crime should be punished by death. Maybe that would do the trick.

Anyway, I had to vent because I just really, really, really, really can't do this right now. Oh, and God Bless America!

My Day In Pictures....

A new day.... dark and early, breakfast for all
jackets, lunches and backpacks, check. 7:30 AM chorus begins. Tub Time!
Monday Morning laundry catch up, Time to start a new load! Lunch with the boys.Trey and Max. Kaitlyn and Brynn are fans of the spaghetti! Girl time at the park. Whee! Nap time for girls- bike time for me. Lost- Kaitlyn's Popsicle. Found- melted on carpet.Homework time again...The Dreaded List! Van battery died. I took too long getting loaded up and the boy's video watching did it in! Thank heavens for nice neighbors! Getting a bit of extra help from the kids while putting away the groceries. Oops! At least four survived.
Dinner. When Rich is on call- I don't cook. Good night and sleep tight!

Trey's almost 8!

Trey's birthday is nearly here and this year it is a big one. Trey will turn 8 years old on September 26, 2007. He will be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, September 29, 2007. He is so excited and after two Family Home Evening lessons on baptism, I think he understands what it going to happen and why it's so important.

Trey met with our Bishop today for his pre-baptismal interview. He was nervous but excited and gained new insights from him. He also received his very own set of scriptures as a gift from our Bishop. Very generous! Thank you!

After church we sat down for a dinner of pot roast, mashed potatoes, peas and bread sticks. It was like eating a meal in Utah with our families. As we clicked the girls into their chairs, Rich looked at me and asked, "Have we EVER sat down to eat like this all together?" Come on! I do know how to cook, even if it's only once in awhile. The answer to that is YES, but I decided a photo would be solid evidence that it really did happen, just in case Rich ever forgets!

The Great American Past Time

There is something about spending a warm summer evening sprawled out on a blanket in front of a dirt field watching your sons play ball that makes you think of days long past. There is a fulfillment and joy and peace being outside with the sunlight in your eyes, the dust rising behind the runners and the sound of the crack of the bat that makes you cherish that particular moment in your life.

And it never hurts when that dirt field overlooks a gorgeous horse farm.

I Heart Baseball and Kentucky.

Happy Birthday Luke!

The boys were invited to one of their best friend's birthday party on Saturday. The best part- it was a surprise party. I told them about it on Friday night knowing we would not see Luke the next day and possibly spoil it for him. The boys were so excited to go to Gattitown and hid under the table while they waited. When Luke arrived, they jumped out from under the table and sang Happy Birthday to him. They feasted on pizza, drinks and cupcakes, and then were let loose in the game room. Matt won a 3 headed dragon stuffed animal on his first try on the water shooter game. Notice how it's strapped in with him on the carousel!

Here Josh and Matt battle it out for yet another prize.
I think they took home more toys than the birthday boy. They earned a whopping 8 stuffed animals. That might be a record!

The highlight of the night was when Matt tried the "hook" type game. You have to maneuver the hook above the prize and then it drops down, grabs for it and you NEVER win. I told Matt ten times that no on ever wins at those things, but it didn't matter. There were amazing Disney Pirate of the Caribbean skulls and he was determined to win one. I was moving the joystick and he pressed drop before I told him to, and miracle of miracles, he actually won a skull! Way to go Matt. It was the coolest prize of the night!

Thanks Badger's for an amazing night and lots of love to Rich who stayed home with Brynn and Kaitlyn so we could play for a bit. And once again Happy Birthday Luke!