Cute as can be

Guess who's cutting her first tooth?
Guess who's sitting up?
Guess who has the cutest smile?

Miss Ashley Rose, of course.

July Newsletter

It is now over halfway through August, and I'm finally posting our July newsletter. Pictures from the month are here.

Tennessee Tidbits

July 2008

The Fourth of July is one of our favorite holidays. It started with a neighborhood parade down our street. I (Bryan) was on the parade planning committee (which consisted of me, our neighbor, our neighbor’s husband, and the self-declared “Miss Carondolet” – a 13 year-old-girl who dresses the part each year by wearing a prom dress, crown, sash, and riding in the parade in a convertible). I recruited our Cub Scout troop to carry the flag. Sienna rode her tricycle, I walked next to her, and Colby was pulled in our red wagon by a girl in the ward. Ashley and Kristen were spectators – probably a more important job, given that the parade-walkers outnumber the spectators 5 to 1. It was a great parade. We climbed in a fire engine, Ashley won first place in the costume contest, and the Brentwood Journal had a picture of Oprah Winfrey’s dad (our parade’s celebrity) with our house in the background. How’s that for cool?

After naps, we had our friends Chuan, the Lindemanns, and the Smiths over for a barbeque. Following the barbeque, we and the Lindemanns rode our bikes 2 miles to Crocket Park for the annual firework show, with Sienna, Colby, and Ashley in the bike trailer. This year Sienna was “really brave” – she lay on my lap completely covered by a blanket except for her eyes, allowing her to occasionally peak a glance at the fireworks. Colby and Ashley just stared wide-eyed at them.

The next day, July 5th, was spent floating 10 miles down the Harpeth River in canoes with our friends, the Edgertons. The Lindemanns were kind enough to watch Ashley for us. The river was very calm, and the fishing wasn’t that good, but it was still a blast. And the occasional small ripples were plenty large enough to scare Colby. We were late getting back from the rafting trip, so we headed over to Chuan’s farewell party at a co-worker’s home in our swimsuits. Remind me not to bring Colby to work parties in the future – it’s hard to have a nice time while worrying that Colby will spill his food or break some fragile item in a not-so-childproof house.

We had a fun weekend with Craig and Kim and family visiting on their way to Wyoming. We are so sad that they are moving so far away. Sienna is already talking about and looking forward to seeing them at Christmas time in Utah.

Kristen and Ashley went to Arizona for Robin’s wedding later in the month. (Why would anyone get married in July in Arizona?) She had a great time and loved seeing family. As of today, Robin and Spencer are still happily married. I stayed home with Sienna and Colby, as it would have cost us an extra $1000 to fly the three of us out there for the weekend. We had a good time at home. Sienna and I made a list of things we wanted to do while Mommy was gone, and we did most of them: fly a kite, go out for ice cream, play at the playground, build a tent-fort with blankets and chairs, paint, ride our bikes, and go swimming. One of the days while Kristen was gone, I watched the Lindemanns baby while they floated down the river. They put their daughter in Ashley’s crib for a nap at 9am, and she stayed in the crib without making a peep until 3:15. The Lindemanns returned to our house 10 minutes after that. Yes, I’m a good baby-sitter.

The rest of July was filled with the usual: Ultimate Frisbee on Wednesdays, work, church, running, trips to the library, and game-nights with the Lindemanns or Edgertons, etc. July is a great month. Love,

Bryan, Kristen, Sienna, Colby, and Ashley

We can be crafty!

Sienna had some hand-me-down shortalls with a Veggie Tales patch on the front that was coming off. I didn't particularly care for the patch, so we ripped it off and did a little painting to try and cover up the mark on the fabric. We used a hand-drawn pattern on freezer paper. (Thanks for the tip, Tira!)
Methinks it's pretty cute. But what wouldn't be cute on such a girl with such a smile?

Philosophically speaking...

Here are some thoughtful comments from Sienna this week. They always come out of the blue, at random times.

Sienna: "Does Heavenly Father make our thinks?"


Sienna: "Why don't we see Heavenly Father when we look out the airplane window in the sky?"
Mom: "Because He lives in Heaven and Heaven is higher than the sky."
Sienna: "Why doesn't He fall?"
Mom: "Because He's God and He can do anything".
Sienna: "That's a miracle!"


Sienna: "Why is Ursula mean?"
Mom: "That's just the way she is I guess."
Sienna: "Heavenly Father needs to make her happy."

4th of July

It's time I posted about our 4th of July weekend. We had so much fun! It started with our annual neighborhood parade. This time we had the Cub Scouts from our ward lead the parade with the flag. It ends at the house across the street from us, with a fire engine, Popsicles, face tatoos, clown, etc. Ashley won the costume contest. It probably helped that grandmas were the judges.

After errands and naps, we got together with friends at our house for a BBQ, the kids splashed in the wading pool, and the adults played croquet. Then the Lindemanns joined us in a bike ride to our city part to watch the fireworks. Sienna talked all week about how brave she was going to be. During our croquet game the neighbors set off some small fireworks and Sienna made a mad dash for the house and wouldn't come out again. At the park she kept her head covered, but she did look out several times. This is an improvement! Colby and Ashley watched with little expression.

On Saturday, we went on a canoing trip on the Harpeth River with the Edgerton family. We left Ashley with the Lindemanns (who were so kind to watch her all day!) We met at 10 at the canoe rental place. I thought it would be around 3 hours or so. We didn't get out of the river until after 4! The kids were great sports and we had a ton of fun. We stopped several times to swim, fish, throw rocks, eat, etc.
Pictures from the canoe trip are here.

Tennessee Tidbits (June Newsletter)

Here's our monthly newsletter. Pictures from June are here.

"We’re all doing well. I can’t think of much to report in the past month. Kristen and I celebrated our 6-year anniversary with dinner (the Melting Pot – a fondue restaurant) and a movie (Indiana Jones). I went camping with Sienna and Colby one night in the backyard. We’ve been playing ultimate Frisbee. I went to Davis, CA for a conference and spent an evening with Peter Anselmo and his fiancée Megan, playing Wii and watching Peter’s amazing mountain bike videos. Ashley smiles a lot and is picking things up. Colby has a hard time falling asleep at night and we sometimes put him in the top bunk bed so he can’t get out. He loves toy cars, blocks, train tracks, and kissing/smothering Ashley. Sienna spends hours making crafts with her markers, scissors, and glue. She started the month drawing eggs. I’d come home from work and she’d literally show me 30 different drawings of eggs. She also wanted to dye Easter eggs, so Kristen helped her and when I came home from work I had to find 5 or 6 colored Easter eggs hidden outside. Midway through the month she was excited about butterflies. And lately she’s been drawing our Frisbee team, “We Make it Purple Rain,” (how’s that for a team name?) drawing clouds, rain, people, etc. all in purple. Her drawings are really quite clever, and she and I enjoy painting together.

We try our best to be good parents and have weekly family home evening. Tonight’s started by singing our altered version of “The Family” and “When my Mother Calls Me.” Colby said the opening prayer. Next, the kids gave performances: Sienna counted backwards from 10 to 1, messing up a several times and starting over. Colby sang the ABC song, minus D-L. Then they did their weekly “silly performance” where they rapidly stomp their feet, run around the living room, and laugh at themselves. Ashley is very amused by it all. Tonight’s lesson was on obedience – something that Colby in particular has struggled with. We acted out the story of Naaman and washing in the river 7 times. Sienna was Naaman, and she walked back and forth to the bathtub 7 times and would have loved doing it 70 times 7 times if we’d let her. Next we played an exciting game of Daddy (Simon) Says. After a few rounds Sienna figured it out, and by the end of the game we were playing “Sienna Says.” We even got in a round of Colby Says: “Colby says bend your knees.” We all bend our knees. “Colby says bend your knees.” We all bend our knees. “Colby says bend your knees” …. We sang “I Hope they Call Me on a Mission” and “Called to Serve,” Sienna said the closing prayer, and then we ate Kristen’s berry pie for dessert.

There – it’s almost like you were there yourselves. Hope everyone is doing well. Love,

Bryan, Kristen, Yaya, Colby-Monster, and Ashley Rose Booga-booga-booga"

Tall, Happy Girl

Ashley had her four month check-up last week. She's 13 pounds 13 ounces (55%) and 25 3/4 inches long (92%). If she stays on that growth curve she'll be 5'11". I thought she was long when her 3-6 month onesies were stretching. Sienna was still wearing 0-3 month clothes at 4 months!