Happy Birthday to my Dad!

My awesome Dad celebrated his birthday on Tuesday. Hallie recorded a special message just for him.

To Dad-- I am so proud to be your daughter. Growing up with you as my Dad has been such a pleasure. So many of the things I love in life I love because of you: music, nature, photography, cooking, church, childhood, family, and so much more. The best word I can think of to describe you at the moment is honorable. All your sons want to be you and I just want to always be with you. I love you!

Camera Cache

Talking on the webcam to Grandpa Wynn (a favorite activity).

Picking "fowers" aka dandelions on the back porch.




On our "girl's day," celebrating Grandma Judy's birthday.



Just hanging out with Mommy.

And just hanging out with Ernie.


Enjoying a chocolate chip cookie. Seconds earlier I heard her softly say "I love you cookie!"

Territory Days 2008

We went to Territory Days again this year. It is an annual celebration the town puts on during Memorial Day Weekend. It took place downtown. There were tons of booths, food, and LOTS of people. Hallie took turns riding our shoulders and walking while holding our hands.

Hallie didn't feel like taking a picture.

She was better once Mommy held her.




This southern BBQ joint is one of our new favs. Their hot BBQ sauce is amazing!

Hallie decided "nunny" needed to wear shoes and go for a walk.

Our baby's first scraped knee. I was actually holding her hand when it happened.

Update downpour

I have been a lazy blogger. It's because I have my husband home all the time and I don't have any time to be bored. That is a great thing. We have had a lovely summer thus far. Remember the expression "when it rains it pours?" This entry is pouring with long overdue updates. Get out your umbrella.

Hallie has laryngitis. It might sound weird but it makes her even cuter. When she is upset her cry is soft and reminds me of when she was a newborn. And when she sings songs she sounds hilarious.

Hallie's song repertoire is huge. It is much bigger than I gave her credit for. One of our favorite games recently is for me to start a song and for her to fill in the blanks. I am always amazed at the words she can say. This morning I was surprised when she enthusiastically screamed "WASHED" in the middle of "The Itsy-Bisty Spider." She is also proficient in about 1/4 of her ABCs, "Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star," "Popcorn Popping," "Row-Row-Row Your Boat," "The Wheels on the Bus" and many more. The other day while dining at Ruby's she was thrilled to see the trains running along the ceiling. She called them "too-too-wains."

Since Chris is off for the summer we have been able to do so many fun things. One of Hallie's favorites is the mall because she can play in the play land and visit dogs and bunnies (nunnys) at the Pet Shop. She thinks she is way too old for the stroller and always asks us "Pease Wott? (please walk)" Often she is so enthusiastic that her version of please lasts ten seconds and travels up and down an entire octave."Ppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesse!?" It is super cute. Since she insists on walking everywhere she is very good about holding Daddy and Mommy's hands. We are thrilled that she is such a fast walker because it doesn't slow us down at all.

One of Hallie's quirks is her obsession with lotion. She loves to rub in lotion on her body. This has made the normally loathsome sunscreen slather session much more enjoyable. However, Hallie's obsession does not end with sunscreen or lotion. After her meals, her favorite thing to do is rub her leftovers into her skin. The funniest thing about it is she always says the same thing: "Oh . . .face." It originated about a month ago when we had to put steroid cream on a rash on her chin, as we rubbed the lotion in she would tell us "Oh, face!" Well, it has evolved into her phrase to tell us she is spoiling herself with at-home spaghetti spa treatments. She nods her head slowly and with big eyes tells us "Oh, face."

Another favorite phrase is "How a you?" She started it yesterday morning when she marched up to Chris and said sweetly "Hi Daddy. How a you?!" Later, she pretended to talk on the phone and said "Hi Shada. How a you?" (Shada is my friend Shanda).

Age does not go unnoticed by Hallie. In the store and at church if she deems someone of grandparent age she will address them as "Bapa" or "Mama." It is the funniest thing, I push her cart around and before I know it she is saying "Hi Mama!" Most people think she is talking to me. I don't tell them "No, she thinks you are a grandma" (particularly the younger-looking folks).

Hallie is also our happy little swimmer. Our sweet friends Katie and Ruth invite us over about once a week to swim at their glamorous pool up the hill. It is a gorgeous upscale apartment complex that has an enormous pool that gives you an unbelievable view of the city. Hallie loves to be little splasher in the pool. Especially when the little boys start a splash war. She loves the waterfall and proclaimed last time we were there "That's a wa-wa!" Yes, Hallie, that is a waterfall. The best part about the pool is when we go in the spa afterward. Hallie totally knows how to lounge and she lays back onto me and closes her eyes and smiles.

Our little talker loves to chat on the phone to my Dad. The only problem is she doesn't want to get off of the phone. Most of the time when I ask her to say "bye-bye." She vehemently tells me "no." I put up with it for a little bit but we eventually have to go some time. So most of the time she is screaming at me when I say "Bye Dad, love you."

Finally, Hallie LOVES kisses! She makes all her stuffed animals kiss each other and fer favorite book right now is The Little Mermaid because it has a picture of Ariel and Prince Eric kissing. I asked her to read it to me and she said lots of gibberish and then finisehed with "kisses."

Hugs and kisses from our family. I hope you don't have a headache from reading this long entry.

Our Hallie

We are filled with love for our wise little baby. It is fun that she has always been such a vocal and social child. Hallie mostly speaks in two-word phrases. When we were swimming last week she splashed vigorously, shrieked, then said "Uh-oh wa-wa . . . uh-oh ear," to indicate that she had splashed water in her ear. Today she started larger sentences when she said "It's a baby!" in reference to the birth of Jesus in our The King is Born cartoon and "That's a Mommy Duck!" when Chris was reading her book, Little Quack. We were both floored!

Today was the first time she brought home a picture she colored at church. The teacher wrote her name on it and it said "I am thankful I have ears." So cute! She loves counting to three and has progressed so that she can sing "A-B-C-D-E." If someone is speaking and she recognizes a word she knows she grows very excited. Today at church when someone said the word "to" in their prayers she was thrilled! She started repeating it with enthusiasm. I think she was thinking of the number "two" which is her favorite. Last night when I was singing her lullaby ("You'll be in my Heart" from Tarzan) I sang the phrase "I know." She looked up at me with excitement and said "I know?!" Then she made me repeat the line over and over so she could sing along to "I know." What is fun is she can even sing it in tune.

Here, for your viewing pleasure, is another video starring Hallie-Who. I'll warn you that it is a little shakey. It's an unpolished documentary style so I could keep up with my toddler. My favorite part takes place at 32 seconds when she starts to sing "How I . . ." and then distractedly shrieks "ducky!" (whom she spied on the floor).

Congrats again Mom!

Pictures from Mom's graduation (5/2) and pinning ceremony (5/3). . .

Doesn't she look luminous?

Our immediate family posed with Mom (Judy) and Chris' younger brother Michael.

I cried three times during the pinning ceremony. I was so proud of her. She was a great mother raising her three boys. And it is so special to see her get her education. She has already accepted her first job and picked out her new townhome! Yay Mom! We love you and are proud of you!

Mother's Day!

I had a great weekend. Chris abandoned the notion of Mother's Day and went for an all-out Mother's Weekend! On Saturday he took Hallie and I shopping. I had a gift card at Ulta so I had my eyebrows done and bought some nail polish. We had a great lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and then brought Hallie home for a much needed nap. That night we drove around the city and just enjoyed being together as a family. On Sunday Chris made us breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, toast, and orange juice. I sang in a musical number at church. It was SSA with nine singers and a gorgeous cello solo. After church, Chris helped me with dinner. We made Parmesan chicken, Pasta Carbonara, and my Aunt Tina's spinach salad recipe. Chris made us chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. Chris' Mom and brother Michael came for dinner as well. Hallie loved playing on the back porch with Mike. He was teaching her how to jump and she was giggling the whole time.

In addition to the fun things I did, I received some very nice gifts this weekend. Chris picked out bouquets of purple irises and white carnations and made two arrangements for me. I also got earrings to match my birthday necklace. Our big splurge was a new set of stainless steel pots and pans. This doesn't classify as a splurge as much though because we have been saving up for them. We just happened to get them the day before Mother's Day.

In the spirit of Mother's Day, I want to highlight the great mothers in my life. They all have innumerable great qualities. I will try to highlight just one each:

Mom-- My mom has the greatest ability to love anyone! She always loves everyone that she associates with whether it be from work, school, or church. She is a loyal friend to others. And besides Chris, my mom is my best friend.

Mom Hinkson-- This mom is the most sincere, forgiving person I can think of. She doesn't hold grudges-- they are against her nature. She is loving and accepting and such a good example to me.

Grandma Skaggs-- My grandma has the golden gift of optimism. She makes every occasion brighter with her sparkling countenance and contagiously caring disposition. I have consciously tried to copy her my entire life. And I feel proud when I give an enthusiastic greeting and am reminded of my grandma.

Grandma Allen-- This grandma has the gift of grace. She keeps her home and appearance beautiful all the time. Her grace carries over in the way she seeks out others in need. She visits older ladies in a retirement home several times a week and does their hair and nails and just talks to them.

Grandma Hinkson-- This grandma is a go-getter. She is active and vibrant and always serving. She is so active that she gets up in the wee hours of the morning, before the sun gets up to exercise her body with brisk walks around the neighborhood and park.

One similar thing about all three grandmothers is they are all constantly in motion. None are satisfied sitting still and they are constantly tending to their homes and the people they love.

Thank you to the dear mothers in my life. Thank you to my aunts, friends, and church leaders who are also great examples of motherhood to me.

And to my daughter . . .

Dear Hallie,

Thank you for making my dreams of motherhood come true by coming to our family. You are more than I dreamed of. I love being your mom and friend. It thrills me to hear you say "Luv lou Mommy" or to get one of your wet kisses or full-body hugs. I am so excited to be your mom for the rest of your life and into eternity. You are a special soul and I am honored to teach you things I have learned about life, love, and most importantly faith in family and our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. I love you!

Love, Mommy


Finally, continuing in the spirit of motherhood, check out my two favorite recent talks about motherhood from church authorities:

Mothers Who Know, by Julie B. Beck

Daughters of God, by M. Russell Ballard

Their words excite and inspire me!

Ten years ago . . .

I was Sophomore Class President at school, president of my early-morning seminary class, and Mia Maid class president at church.



I was one of the stars in the high school musical 1940s Radio Hour. I went to New York City for the first time. It was also my first plane ride and my first two Broadway shows. I turned 16 and Jared Ludloff took me on my first date.

16 was fun . . . but I'll take 26 any day.

Because ten years ago I didn't have this . . .

The good ol' days

These pictures make me laugh! Growing up in the 80s was cool . . .

Big News!

Mom Hinkson Graduates Tonight!

Tonight, Chris' mom graduates with her nursing degree! We are soooo proud of you Mom! For as long as I have known her, Mom has been working hard and going to school. And after all her years of work tonight we get to celebrate her huge achievement. I can't begin to describe how happy I am for her. I know it seemed like this day would never come-- and here it is! Tonight we will attend her graduation and tomorrow morning we will go to the pinning ceremony. We will post a review and pictures after the weekend. Now both of Hallie's grandma's are nurses. Maybe Hallie will follow in their footsteps!

Way to go Mom!!!