Phoebe

She is either the cutest little girl or a little monster.
She loves her milk and drinking it from a teacup.
She loves being a princess or sometimes just being Phoebe.
She loves to sing to 'Let it Go' or to Neil Diamond.
She jumps and twirls and takes her shoes off whenever she can.
She is incredibly stubborn when she wants to be.
She can be sweet to her siblings, following Conrad or making Morris laugh.
She loves to be read do, especially 'Miss Fannie's Hat'.

Just yesterday we were at the park.  I swear, that bathroom is closed until the middle of the summer and Phoebe had to go but refused to go in the grass.  Katie thought it would be a nice break for me to take her home and away from the other kids for a bit.  She screamed the entire way and would not go to the bathroom since her mom was not there.  Even grandma couldn't make her do anything.  We took her back to the park to mom where she finally calmed down. 

Hey there, Kels

 

I love Kelsie a lot.  We always knew which towel was ours even if they were the same color or if we were to switch spots.  She was the shades of gray girl and I was the bohemian princess.  Our idea of having fun on the weekend was sitting in mom and dad's room watching a movie.  We loved finding new music and if we fought, we knew we just needed time and we would be good again.  On her wedding day, I was very emotional with lack of sleep and a few other things.  But mostly it was because Kelsie was getting married and there was going to be a lot of change.  So embarrassing.  The videographer thought it would be cool if we did a shot where the sisters were comforting the crying one.   Naturally I started crying all over again and in the pictures, my splotchy red face is looking good.

Lucy Lou

I had the wonderful opportunity to watch this little girl while the rest of my fam went to the temple.
She was such a happy girl who gave me a lot of kisses.

We started off with eating breakfast and her trying to buckle herself into the high chair and saying she was stuck and I had to come running to unbuckle her.  We snacked on cheese and crackers while playing with Jack and watching How to Train Your Dragon.  She was eating a bite of egg when I pulled out the string cheese.  Most would finish chewing what is in their mouth before moving on, but most are not Lucy.  She spit out the chewed up egg and reached for the cheese.  I immediately realized my mistake but I was still too late.

She talks a lot, but I wish I knew what she was saying half the time because she is so dang cute.  Lucy has the cutest little face with big, blue eyes and I love her tons even if she doesn't always love me.
 

Jack

I have talked about which niece or nephew I would pick to live with amongst my sisters and I chose Jack.  This little boy is pretty fun and adorable.  He always comes into my room when he is supposed to be getting ready for bed, bringing in random things that I 'want' like a stool, boxes, pieces of wood.  He says "Abby, watch" until I look at him and he is so indecisive, telling you he wants something even though he doesn't.  Eating breakfast this morning he asked me what I was eating like twenty times although he knows what cereal is.  He has the cutest little face and I am so lucky to be his aunt, along with the rest of my nieces and nephews.

Austin and I

Growing up with Austin has been so much fun.  

Playing dress up or barbies, making Ramen and putting ice cubes in it to cool it down.

Going to the blue park, playing Rush and Diddy Kong Racing on Nintendo 64.

Designing houses and playing with the people on Sims.  

Getting rides from him to school in ninth grade and almost always being late to Mr. Downs's class.

Pretending to play the prerecorded songs on the piano.

Swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's house playing divers, tube man, and running and jumping into the pool.

Eating twin popsicles (the ones with two sticks) and my dad getting mad at us for leaving the sticks outside.  Blue was always our favorite.

Having sleepovers and making Krusteaz pancakes in the morning shaped like Mickey.

I don't know why I remember this, but in third grade it was my turn to lead everyone in saying the pledge.

I stood up in the front and started with, "Repeat after me."  

When I sat down at my table a couple of kids starting making fun of me for saying "Repeat after me"

but Austin told them to leave me alone and made me feel better for saying that.

In high school, on the first day of my art class, my teacher asked me if I was related to Austin.  

(He was the student body president).  I, of course, said yes and then she replied, "Oh, then you must be popular!"

Why yes I am since he is my cousin.  Haha.  Good one Mrs. Wait. 

Now he's off on his mission in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and loving it.  And his letters sound just like him.

I cannot believe how fast we are growing up.

The One and Only, Mr. Downs

Mr. Downs and I

If I had to say one thing that I missed about school, the first to come to my 

mind would be this man.  I had him for English Honors in 10th grade and AP English in 12th grade.  Luckily, my last year 

of high school was his last year of teaching.  I am fairly confident in saying that he is the best teacher ever.  He truly 

cares about his students and teaches them well.  I always enjoyed going to class to hear 

him tell stories and interact with the students.  Except for those days when our political issues paper 

or explications were due.  But even then I knew that as long as I did those assignments I would get full credit.  

Most days this is how class went: 

Bell rings to start class, talk, maybe tell a story today about his first dance or about his job in the orchard growing up, keep telling the story--students asking him to tell something else--so he'll talk about articles he has written and have been published, his family and how he only got sons because his daughter would've been called Epiphany, twenty minutes left in class now, pass around one of our daily paper assignments and evaluate each other, bell rings to end class, pass out new prompt for a paper due next period.  

He had a little retirement party the night of Spring Fling and most in the group had him so we went to see him before 

going to dinner.   It was fun.  Especially being dressed up like we were going to Gatsby's party.

Spring Fling 2013 group with Mr. Downs

You gotta love Mr. Downs.

My Nephew

I love this kid.

He is way too cute,

And he is growing up so fast.

Conrad

I have the cutest little nephew on the planet. Whenever I see him in a good mood, I always get a smile on my face. He calls me Mano and I had no clue as to why he did. Then about a week ago I told him to say piano. And you know what he said? He said Mano. Apparently all my hard work with playing the piano with him has paid off. I sure do love playing with him.