Aislee is FIVE!

And she has never been prouder! Her birthday was on October 1st, and me and Bri surprised her and took her to Disneyland. It actually was a girls trip, so me, and Grandma Lorrie, and Aunt Kailee took her. (Brian, of course, took little Easton to the BYU game that weekend!) She was so excited! (I'll post more pictures when I get the stupid internet at my new house.) Her friends from Pennsylvania who live in California met us there, Ellie, Chloe, and Sydney! It was another surprise for her. They all had so much fun!!! Then Grandma Lorrie took her to the American girl doll store in LA where she got to chose out her first doll. After much deliberation, she chose Felicity. (because she looks the most like a princess!)

Aislee is such a sweetheart and enjoys life so much. She gets the most satisfaction when her brother gives her hugs and kisses, when her cousins pick out her clothes, and play princess/dress up with her, and when she creates a new art project. She also absolutely loves to cuddle with her Daddy, and loves to ride her bike with him too! She loves attention and has recently begun putting on shows, where we get to hear her made up songs...they are my favorite, I love them!

I can't believe I have a 5 year old. Life keeps going on, and I'm so thankful to have Aislee to share it with! We love you Crazy Azy!!!

UPDATE!

Ok, not a real one, but just wanted to post that Brian and I and our children (of course) have moved into a new home down here in St. George. We have no internet yet but will soon! HOPEFULLY! We're alive and well!!!!!

True or False: Washing Pull-ups Will Save you Money

FALSE! Me and Bri thought we would try it anyways because they are so darned expensive and we're on a budget---but it will only cause you more work!! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
Okay, just kidding. We didn't try on purpose to wash a pull-up...there just happened to be one in the load that Brian put in........and what a MESS...There was little gel balls everywhere.....and guess who had to clean it all up???? ME! Cause my cute hubby got to go golfing instead. Your welcome babe! That's how much I love you.
By the way, I had to hand wash each and every piece of clothing...and it's still not all out.
So, thats a definite FALSE. It will not save you money! Only cause you stress and work!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I want to live on the Channel Islands, be surrounded by the sea, grow potatoes, and belong to a book club with charming neighbors!
I loved this book. It was so easy to read. It reminded me of another one of my favorites-These Is My Words. Probably because it's written in letter/journal form. I loved the characters in this book--they all added so much and brought it all to life. It also made me aware even more of how much WWII was present in everyones lives in some way or another. How can one evil person have such an affect on millions of people? Probably the same way one good person can affect a million people. It also made me realize how thankful I am for human nature, for friends, and the desire in your heart to want to be apart of someones life, to help them, to enjoy company, and to find joy in life. I'm thankful for books, and stories, and learning of how someone else interprets life. It plants a little happy seed in mine!
And I love the name Dawsey--I call it...no battle.

All you need is love!

Okay, hands down to whoever can figure out these blog designing things, I tried to do something new.........and screwed it all up.......and I'm sick of working on it...so this is it for a while. Terri, I'm going to need you to design something for me again...you're amazing!!!
BUT--on to my post!
Life is hard. I called my mom crying the other day, because I just wanted to give up. And I knew she could help me put things into perspective (she always does, even if it comes down to her telling me I'm "bitchy")But, I'm thankful for our conversations, they keep me strong, and remind me who I am, and that I can do ANYTHING. Me and my mom like analogies, and I made one up, and maybe that was why I was drawn to my blog design......here's my analogy.......
My life is like a tree.....and the things that I am dealing with right now are only affecting the leaves on my tree. I still have my branches, and my trunk, and life will NOT take those down. I'm so thankful I have a husband who loves me, and children who are healthy. And that's all there is to it. That's all I need---and life --as far as you go. You can't get me.....I'm strong, because my mom said so! So go bug someone else's leaves!!!

Newport Beach

Click here to view these pictures larger

Spoke too soon

Dear Blanklet,
Last night Aislee was trying to be so brave, she tried so hard not to cry when she asked for you at bed time. She finally broke down. I cried and held her while she cried herself to sleep. This is harder than I thought. I feel like we've lost a person, you became a part of our family. We really miss you. I hope your not too cold and lonely wherever you are.
Love, Aislee's Mommy

Dear Blanklet

Dear Blanklet,
I'm writing to you because we've lost you, again. This is the second time, but this time I don't have a good feeling about it. In Newport, Aislee was having so much fun, she just wasn't paying much attention to you. I remember laying in bed our last night and thinking I hadn't seen you that day and that I needed to remember to find you before we packed up. Well, I forgot, and about an hour or two on our drive home, Aislee in a panicked voice yelled...." WHERE'S MY BLANKLET?" Me and Bri just stared at each other knowing neither one of us remembered to find it before we left.
She's been fine. She asks for you every night, and every night we tell her we haven't found you. She hasn't cried.....yet. I've called every day to see if the resort has found you, and every day the lady tells me...I promise we'll call you if we found it. Do they know I can't just go find you in a store??? Did they ever have a favorite blankey? Do they have children with favorite blankies??? If so, I'm SURE you would've been found by now.
I cried about you the other night, I miss you. I miss you for Aislee. I miss you because I fear that this is going to make her grow up that much faster. I know that I've let her hold you every night since she was two only because it kept her little. You keep her little, and small, and young.
This time I want you found not for Aislee, but for me. I thought on the Newport trip that as soon as we got home I was going to put you away, so I could give you to her when she was older, and she could remember how much she loved you! I'm so heartbroken. Please come back.
Whatever corner you're in, come out. We need you. Aislee needs you. I need you.

Aislee's Mommy

And I also LOVE.......

And if you haven't seen the trailer for New Moon, look here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYBF3HKzrmE
I'm already depressed and have a knot in my stomach because of how Edward leaves....but I do have to say...Jacob's muscles might make up for it.
I seriously can't wait!!!!!

Newport Beach

Julie just emailed me this pic, and I had to post it. Brian had no idea we were taking it, and I love it! I love my husband, he's so cute. And I LOVE my family! We had so much fun at Newport Beach with the whole fan-damly. Thanks so much Mom and Dad, we appreciate EVERYTHING!
I'll post more pics soon!