Taking the Plunge!

So why am I up at 1:30 am blogging instead of snoring away into dreamland...especially after only 4 hours of sleep last night??? I keep thinking about Brooklynn starting school this week. I know she'll be fine...but will I?? I keep thinking of ways I can secretly sneak into the school and hide in a trash can so I can observe without being seen; but I'm afraid that just wont work. Reguardless, this is the week that we TAKE THE PLUNGE! I find myself feeling somewhat like the girl in this photo...mid-air, holding my nose and waiting for the impending "SPLASH". I think that school can be a bit like diving into a pool:

A. You'll have lots of fun & cool times -OR-

B. You'll get a major wedgie and feel lost in a sea of people.

So which was it for you???

Cool times or lots of wedgies??

Utah visit 2008!!

Well, it was a whirlwind vacation and totally AWSOME!!! We went to Utah in July for over TWO WEEKS and went to not 1, not 2 but 3 seperate reunions!!! It was the best vacation ever! As you can imagine, I have a boat-load of pictures and would never be able to load each of them individually so I have created a "Slide" show for each family get-together. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed being there. If anyone out there would like copies of any photos, just let me know and I'll try to get them to you one way or another. :~) I did decide to upload a few of my favorite pics to the blog below. I want to give a very special thanks to ALL OF YOU for making my family's visit one that we will never forget!

One of the things I miss MOST about Utah is...THE GRASS!! I know how silly this sounds but I loved being able sit outside on the grass with the kids and not worry about ticks or chiggers or snakes. It was wonderful! I just took my shoes off and walked all over the thick, carpet-like greenery every chance I got. Isabelle on the other hand...took a while to get used to it. Obviously, she doesnt "sit" in the grass very often at our house. Poor child!

Isabelle and Caymbree are almost kissin' cousins! They are onlt 4 days apart. They really liked each other and would even switch sippy cups with each other when the mommies weren't looking.

Brooklynn, Hallee and Hope with one of the divers at The Myan restaraunt.

Family photo with Great Grandpa Bert.

Uncle Troy torturing my poor, helpless baby just like he used to torture me!! How I ever survived is a mystery!!!

Isabelle just LOVED all the seaguls! She wanted to touch one so bad.

Brooklynn LOVED the "ocean with the little waves"!

Here's the gorgeous view from our family's house.

Great Greandma Mavis giving a tearful, thank-you to her lovely family. We love you, too Grandma! You are a very special lady!

This is grown-up sibling-rivalry at it's best! I think Uncle Neal won this time, but I think we need a re-match soon!!!

Congratulations to Justin & Emalee on their sealing! It was a truly special ceremony and I thank them for allowing us to be a part of it. God bless you two!

1st birthday cake

I had to trim the feed down to under 1 minute in order for it to upload, but I think I got the cutest parts. She was so funny! You can tell I don't normally let her make this big of a mess. At first she's a bit suprised and then it sinks in and she goes wild. It was so fun to see!

Happy B-Day Isabelle & America!

We all went to Great Grandma's house to celebrate Izzy's birthday and the 4th of July. As you can see from the pictures, we had a blast! Daddy grilled hamburgers & hot dogs & Nanna made a delicious cake which I got to destroy (see above video). Thank you all for making my first birthday a special one!!!

My 1st Birthday!

I am officially 1 year old! Hurray! I have had a fun and exciting year. Mom and Dad say that I was a very good baby right from the start; very mild-mannered, easy-going and happy. I am a people-lover and am much more entertained by watching them instead of silly, old toys. I am very inquisitive and love to investigate everything!!

I started walking at the end of May and am now toddling all over the house. There are lots of interesting places I enjoy getting into...even if I'm not supposed to. Here are a few of my favorite things:

I LOVE to get in my big sister's room and play with her toys. I'm not sure how I did it, but
I managed to slip both of my arms into this slinky. I think I look rather cute, don't you?
I really LOVE the bathroom!!! Mostly because it's OFF-LIMITS. Mom and Dad always keep the door shut so whenever I hear it open, I zoooom as fast as I can to sneak in the door. Mmmmm, yum. Personally, I prefer Charmin but Angel Soft is okay, too.


I also LOVE to take baths...especially when I have the whole tub to myself! I find that luke-warm bathwater is quite nice after a snack of t.p. Yummy!

Next, you see one of my other favorite places to play...the fridge. I like to see how much stuff I can get on the floor before Mommy realizes it.

I also love to climb up on the back of my highchair. Although, I haven't yet mastered the ability to get back down, so I just cry for someone to come rescue me. I don't know why...I just enjoy it. As you can see, I have 2 bottom teeth and my top, front teeth are just now poking through. My birthday party is tomorrow and I plan on usung my new teeth to eat lots and lots of cake and ice cream!!! I promise to have Mommy put some cute pics from the party on the blog a.s.a.p. Until then...

To A Great Dad...

Happy Father's Day & Birthday!

It's taken me a few days to get these pics scanned in correctly but here they are. Just some of my favorite pics of my Daddy! Dad, as you celebrate these 2 important days, I hope your heart is filled with joy (like mine is) when you think back on all the fun moments we've had. Also, I want to THANK YOU for all the sweet little things that only a Dad can do.

*Thank you for the countless nights that you came into my room to calmly and logically soothe my little-girl fears.

*Thank you for not actually killing any of my boyfriends...and also for making them think that you would! :~)

*Thank you for teaching me how to fish...and also for never teaching me how to clean them.

*Thank you for all the hours spent at a thankless job...and then not receiving enough thanks from me when you got home.

*Thanks for working so hard to earn money for vacations...and then planning the vacations based on your children's enjoyment.

*Thanks for loving me despite of all the times I never said

"thank you".

I love you Daddy!

My BIG 5 Year Old!

Brooklynn decided she wanted to go to Chuck-E-Cheese for her birthday this year. We all had so much fun, and when I say we ALL had fun, I mean...

...we ALL had fun! I think Amber & Bruce had just as much fun as the kids...and, yes, that is Russ on his knees playing a Bass Fisherman game! I haven't been inside a Chuck-E-Cheese in over 20 years, so it was alot of fun for me, too.

Shnook just loved the Roller-Coaster ride. She screamed like it was the real thing!!

Happy Birthday To You...

Brooklynn got a little excited and blew out the candles before we sang the song, but Aunt Tara came to the rescue and lit the candles again. Good job Brooklynn!! I hope all your wishes come true!!

At Long Last...

Here is the Williams' Christmas present from the Jolley Family...a much needed kitchen update! Lorna picked out gorgeous, custom-made, maple cabinets that have wonderful storage all the way to the ceiling. It is topped off with a new counter top that goes great with the new vinyl flooring that was installed last year. The new counter top extends out a bit into the kitchen creating a fun little "bar" for extra seating as well as giving her more room for all that wonderful food preparation! (Lorna wasn't happy that I took the picture before she washed the dishes so...shhhh. Don't tell her.)

Here is more of those gorgeous new cabinets. The cabinets over by the fridge are actually a "rolling island" that can be moved anywhere it's needed. Cool, huh? Next week they will be installing a bench under the window over by the table. It will be made from the same maple wood and will have even more storage underneath the cushions. Thanks to the Jolley Family for such an awsome gift. The whole Williams family is ecstatic about their new kitchen!

Congratulations Bruce!

Here is Bruce singing the National Anthem with the ensemble group. He's the tall one in back.

2008 Graduating Class of CCCHS!

Bruce Edward Williams III, Salutatorian 2008

"All that work for a little peice of paper?"

Proud Williams family. (Erica was there in spirit)