More rolls than a bakery....

Look at those arms!

Visit from Grandma Despain...

We had our Grandma here for 10 days last week. We did a lot of great things...

Went to Historic Main Street in La Grange, KY for some shopping.

Painted my girls bedroom pink...


Spent a day at the Louisville Zoo...

and made some jam, fixed blinds, painted some wood projects, watched some good movies, and just had a great visit with our sweet Grandma. Thank you Mom for all your help. We love and miss you. See you soon!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ellie!

Time is flying by but we recently celebrated Ellie's 3 birthday on August 18th. This was a rough birthday because she had strep throat so she wasn't in a great mood to celebrate.I took her to McDonalds for lunch which made her happy to get the toy, but she didn't eat anything. She was so excited about the castle birthday cake we made for her--but she didn't even want to eat that!

Ellie is such a cutie. We've started calling her "little mother" because she is very sweet and concerned about others in our family but mostly because she loves to tell us what we can and can't do. She loves her daddy very much. Blaine says he wishes he could "freeze" her at this age for awhile. We all love her bouncy, blonde curls and big brown eyes. I am especially loving the time I have with her while Cam and Kelsey are at school. She is very shy and still yells at the sweet Grandmas who try to talk to her when we're out shopping. We're working on that. She keeps us on our toes with her very fickle personality--she loves and wants something or someone one minute and two seconds later--that has totally changed. She is a very special girl (or "gurl" as she says it ) and we love her tons.

Her cute pink castle cake!

Blowing out the candles!

She loved the cake--couldn't take her eyes off it!

Our Ellie Jane--with strep throat. Getting any smiles from her was pretty tough this day but I think she had a good day.

Our "little Budzo" Isaac...

Hard to believe that our "little budzo" (that's what the kids call Isaac) is 5 months old now!
It seems like just yesterday he was born, but it also seems that he's been part of our family forever (which is true too). He is so sweet and so good. We say that he smiles clear down to his toes. He makes me so happy. I'm hoping that I end up with really toned, buff arms because its a workout carrying this big boy! We love him so much.

Isaac having some tummy time.

Watching some tv with Dad

1st Day of School!

It's a big day today for us here! The first day of school---2nd grade for Cameron and Kindergarten for Kelsey! Hurray!! Kelsey is sooOOOoo excited and READY for school. She's been waiting for this day for a year now. They both were totally excited to ride the bus this year. I asked Kelsey if she wanted me to take her to school on her first day, and she told me, "No mom--I want to ride the bus!" She marched right on the bus this morning with all the other kids with a big smile on her face. It's a bittersweet day for me to send her to school. I can't really be sad because this is going to be so good for her! But, when they start school--they start a schedule that takes them away from you all day for the next 12 years. (Which is good and bad!!) Cameron has a great class--there are 5 LDS kids in his class which we think is a great blessing. It's going to be a great year!!


Cam and Kelsey ready to go--new clothes, shoes, and backpacks!
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Kelsey the Kindergartener

Cameron the 2nd Grader


Waiting for the bus with Dad


This is when Cam and Kelsey saw the bus pull up--the look on their faces was pure excitement!
There are about 10 kids on our street that get on the bus. There are more kids than that--some go to private schools. Lots of friends!

Here's Cam climbing on and Kelsey--she turned and blew us a kiss as she was getting on. (Ok--that made me get a little teary!)

They're not home yet...can't wait to hear how the day went. In the meantime...me and Ellie and Isaac are enjoying a nice, quiet day at home.

Random shots...

Here are just a few pictures of our cuties....all growing up so fast!

My BFF Shelley...

As my kids are getting older and are starting a new school, and we've moved to a new neighborhood--I just want them to have GOOD friends here. These thoughts have made me think a lot of my best friend Shelley Lundberg Francis. I've just been thinking what a big part she played in my life growing up.

We were born 15 days apart. We lived one street away from each from when we were born till college and then we were roommates for our first year at USU. We were inseparable growing up. We did everything together. Since I was the youngest in my family, Shelley came on almost every family vacation we went on so I would have a friend. We always dressed up the same for Halloween (some of the best costumes....grapes, babies, cheerleaders, a 50's boy & girl--HA!) Her family was just like my family. It was a sad day just this last March when her Dad (who was a 2nd dad to me growing up) died from a heart attack. He was one of the funniest Dads around.
We had more sleepovers than you can imagine. We used to make "spook alley's" in her bathroom. We babysat together and even started our own "Babysitters Club". We stole her moms car before we were 16 and drove around the neighborhood terrified to get caught but having so much fun. We ate the best Macaroni and Cheese at her house. We played Barbies and Cabbage Patch dolls. (These memories are not in chronological order just so you know). She loved Crispy Bean Burritos from Taco Time. She was the Senior Class President, I was the Head Cheerleader. We had plans to get married to twins and live next door to each other in California in houses that overlooked the ocean. She knows Blaine and I--it was in her basement where we first held hands and she did a lot to bring us "together".

Most importantly we kept each other on the right path. We were in the same ward, went to church every Sunday together, went to girls camp, EFY, Youth Conferences together, and did GOOD, FUN things. I hope my kids find a friend like Shelley was to me.

Now here we are....we've both had 4 kids.....we both have awesome husbands...and unfortunately the plans of living next door to each other haven't quite come to pass (yet). Shelley has been through a lot and I admire her strength so much. She is sassy, smart, and a great friend and mom.

I got to see her for a short visit just a few days ago. Shell--wish we could hang out like that every week. Here are some pictures I found of us. These are just as embarrasing for me Shell as they may be for you, but they must be posted. (Be grateful I didn't post any of the ones I found when we both had braces.)


This is us probably about 2 years old celebrating our birthdays. We had many birthday parties together growing up.

A trip to California---July 1989. We went to San Francisco and the Redwood Forests.


We were children of the 80's--look at those bangs! Wow! Here we are in front of our Utah History Fair project that we did together. Notice our BFF Heart necklaces we each have.


Some of the best times ever at Lake Powell! We are 12 years old in this picture.


Me and Shelley on her wedding day. (I keep this picture on my dresser Shell.)

Me and Cameron (7 months old) holding Shelley's first baby boy Gardner the day after he was born.

Here we are in our 30's in 2009---looking better than ever I think.

Love ya Shell. BFF Always.