God Bless America

For Memorial Day, Ryan, Leah and I went to the Golden Gate National Cemetery. We saw it about 2 months ago on our way to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is the neatest thing to see as you come around a bend in the freeway - just rows and rows of white headstones on rolling green hills.


It was neat to go yesterday as every single grave was lined with American flags. There were graves from people who had died in the Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. I think there were also some newer ones as well.



The graves were etched with symbols for various religious affiliations such as crosses for Christians and Stars of David for Jewish people. We even saw a couple of headstones that had the Angel Moroni engraved on them! There were men and women, husbands, fathers, mothers, wives, sons, and daughters and there were people from all aspects of a war: soldiers, marines, naval officers, cooks, nurses, engineers, etc. Some had names; some didn't. Some had birth and death dates; some didn't. There were people from nearly every state too! It was strange to think that a lot of these people were just kids themselves - lots of them younger than us!! It was quite an amazing sight.


I kept trying to get pictures that could depict what we actually saw, but I couldn't get one I was happy with - you'll just have to see it for yourself! It made us very proud to live in this country and very grateful for so many men and women who gave their lives so we could enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today.


And yes, Ryan and Leah were twins. hahaha. Leah was dressed first and Ryan came out in a matching shirt and didn't even realize it. I thought it was cute.

three months

here is leah at three months old next to the pillow. she's definitely grown...and she is becoming more aware of the world around her every day.

and i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her cheeks and her beautiful, big, blue eyes. it looks like she just got her wisdom teeth out or something with those cheeks. love them.

this is how i show my affection...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

true californians...

today i spent at least three hours traveling between the DMV and the smog check place trying to get our car registered in california and get california plates (i know, i know...we've been here 4 months now, it's about time...but we had a pretty good excuse named leah). i decided i really hate being at the dmv. not only because of the long lines but because no one there speaks english, the employees always treat you like you're an idiot and they are not happy to be there either. but...we got it done and are now true californians with plates, registration and driver licenses. (please excuse the picture...it was an early morning and definitely a no-makeup day...but at least i don't have three chins unlike someone else i know.)

but you'll always be larry muv to me...

we love you, larry muv. just because you have not-so-cool license plates now doesn't mean you are any less cool. we love you just the way you are...were.

a day in the life...

this is a little bit of what i do every day...

early morning pilates with mom


tummy time outside...some days i like it better than others. today i don't like it.


model my new swimsuit...now i just need a place to use it...


take naps...


study for the cfa exam with dad. i'm sooooo smart.


stay up late to watch jazz games...


read a book with dad every night before i go to bed...


all interspersed with eating, pooping, smiling, cooing and more sleeping...

el nino is spanish for THE NINO...

Has anyone else noticed that the months listed to the left of my posting are in Spanish (at least that's what I think it is)? I have no idea how they got that way...just showed up a few days ago. I even checked my settings and the language says, "English - USA." So, I guess English - USA means part English, part Spanish??? Like the time we went to Burger King and ordered hamburgers and the cashier said through the microphone, "dos hamburgers." Nice.

let's give it a try...

i'm just figuring out how to post videos and such...so this was a trial to see how it worked. we made a video for my mom's birthday when leah was 1 week old (march 3rd)...can you believe how much she's grown in the 11 weeks since this video!?! that onesie is a newborn onesie and it fits her perfectly now. Leah 'ugly dances' in this video - we were helping her practice for the dancing that will undoubtedly take place at aunt kelli's wedding in 3 1/2 weeks.

i'll try my best to post newer videos soon...and sorry that it's sideways...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

to my mother...

Elder Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said of mothers, "You are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you. He knows that your giving birth to a child does not immediately propel you into the circle of the omniscient. If you...will strive to love God and live the gospel; if you will plead for that guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit promised to the faithful; if you will go to the temple to both make and claim the promises of the most sacred covenants a woman or man can make in this world; if you will show others, including your children, the same caring, compassionate, forgiving heart you want heaven to show you; if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you do to." I know my mom has done these things and more as she raised four children - all of whom I would say have turned out quite well! She even did for a few years on her own while working full time - and I still cannot comprehend how one can do that. I'm not sure I can express in words what I want to express to my mom, but I want her to know how much I love her. I love her for the example of a mother she has been to me. She shows me every day that she loved and still loves being a mother - that she chose that path in her life and does not regret it. She sacrificed more than is imaginable. She has shown me it's okay to make mistakes, but that it's important to learn and grow from them. This past year has been quite a battle for her, but she has been a pillar of strength for me every minute of every day. I love you, mom.

to my daughter...

On February 23, 2004, I went to the communications week capstone lecture given by Jane Clayson-Johnson, a very successful broadcast journalist who also happens to be a Latter-day Saint. My whole life, I wanted to be a bradcast journalist, but changed my major halfway through college because I knew the lifestyle wouldn't mesh with my desire to stay at home with a family. Jane knew this too. She married a little bit later than she expected in life and, at the time she gave this lecture, she had turned down a lucritive offer for a four-year contract with a national television station because she was expecting her first child. She was ridiculed for her decision, but knew it was the right decision for her. She said (as recorded in my journal two days later), "I believe you cannot have it all. There will always be a sacrifice. And if that sacrifice comes at the expense of your family, as your role as a wife and as a mother, it is not worth it." I'm not sure why, but this message really got to me. I was in tears and went to thank her for her message after she was finished. I was 22 years old and had been married for less than one year - I was nowhere near the point in my life where I would be ready for children, but I knew, at some point, I would need to make the same decision as Jane - that my role was to be a mother and I shouldn't let anything get in the way of that. Who would have thought that one day short of three years after the date of that lecture, I became a mother. I love Leah more than I can describe and the joy that she brings to my life is worth every sacrifice I have and will make. Being a mother truly is one of the best gifts I have been given. Though it may be hard to remember that during late nights, tantrums, or mundane tasks, I have been entrusted with one of God's children and will try my best to raise her in righteousness. I love you, Leah.