of wizards and vampires

i've crumbled to the peer pressure. i have began two series of novels at the same time. last week i finished the first book of harry potter and this week i finished twilight. i am #2 on the hold list for the 2nd harry potter and #192 for eclipse (i'm borrowing the second already). first of all, who would have thought that there would still be a waiting list for harry potter book 2? secondly, do you really think i'll be patient enough for 191 people to read eclipse before i want it? nope. (catilin, get to reading b/c know your mom gets it before me.) here's my critics on both, if you care:
i did enjoy harry pottery. having seen the movie first i really could visualize all the people and action. i was a fun read. i'm not particularly in love with it but i've heard the books get better and better.
i've also heard the same of the twilight books. my opinon: the first half of this book was annoying. i thought that bella was a self-loathing pitty party and edward was just creepy. as the book progressed i got more and more into it. the last half i couldn't put it down. i really enjoyed the suspense near the end. i'll admit it, i totally got into edward and his obsession with bella. i did hate the repetition of certain phrases though, such as: "promise you won't leave". ahhhhh!! if bella says this one more time i'll scream! anyway, i really enjoyed losing myself in the book. things i'd like to see in the next ones: more character development of charlie, less play on the clumsiness of bella, more with carlisle (i think i just like that name so i want to say it in my head more). after i finished twilight i was actually hoping for a movie to come out.

so you say it's my birthday

is that MJ? no wait, it's alisha.
my 25th birthday was on tuesday and it was awesome! sarah watched jill for us and we got to go hiking, swimming, cliff jumping, snorkling, picinicing and having fun like we were still young. i'd been dying to get out of the heat of the desert. fossil creek is a 2 hour drive and about 45min hike but sooooooo worth it. it's really secluded and the water was crystal clear. we finished the adventerous day off with dinner at texas roadhouse. i wish everyday could be my birthday!

painting frenzy/10 months

last week i went on a painting frenzy. i started with my doorknobs. they were that ugly gold/brass color (sorry for any of you that have those). i hated the way they looked. yup thats right, spray paint baby! it was pretty fun. i was reminded of doing homecoming floats in h.s. i wanted to just buy new knobs but they're pretty pricey. spray paint will do for now. next was the rooster. i bought a ceramic rooster and my mother-in-law helped me paint it. she has a few more creative genes than me so i was grateful for her help. she actually is commissioned to paint these for people. the rooster looks great in the nook.

finally was toenails. jill and i haven't had our toenails painted for 10 months. i don't even remember the last time i painted my toenails. i was before i was pregnant sometime. it's pretty fun to have color back on them.

today jill is 10 months old. she's been free standing for seconds at a time a few times a day now. she'll be walking before i'm ready. i love seeing her crawl around. i'm not yet ready for her to keeping growing up. i love this stage soooooo much i just want her to stay the way she is.

i'm anxious though to see her next few months. it seems like each month is more and more fun. i love this baby.

boys were right, burps are funny

burps and giggles from Alisha and Vimeo.

first ponytail

jill got her first ponytail today. i'm not so sure she likes it. before she's 10 months heres her 9 month stats from a few weeks ago: 17 lbs and 27 inches long. i've moved her into size three diapers. they're a little big but she'll grow into them.

okay, i'll do it

i have really been dragging my feet about food storage. i know i need to do it, but it overwhelms me to even think about. well, these past few months i feel as though it has been "the topic". then on the first sunday of august our stake presidency came out with a message that pushed me over the edge: we need to "expeditiously" prepare for a Level One Emergency by August 31st. level one emergency defined as: "a disruption of the family income, transportation, water, food, electricity and/or quarantine of flu or other contamination". here's the outline they gave of us to follow. week 1: have water for family for 15 days. week 2: store 6 extra cans of food for each family member and 15 days worth of food that they will actually eat. week 3: accumulate extra medications and general first aid items to care for family for 30 days. week 4: have 72 hour kit for each family member that you can take in vehicle. also we were instructed to fill up our gas tanks when it reaches the half way mark.

with all this hustle to have it done by aug 31st, i'm anxious to see what's going to happen sept. 1st. :)

really, i'm grateful for this guideline, a 15 day supply is much easier to start with than 1 yr and it gets me going at least.

6 generations

Joseph Smith Sr. sealed to Lucy Mack Smith begat Hyrum Smith sealed to Mary Fielding Smith begat Martha Ann Smith begat Mary Emily Harris begat Don Cecil Corbett (grave on right). ************************************************************

Thomas Clayton begat William Clayton begat Sarah Clayton.************************

Edward Partidge Sr. begat Edward Partidge Jr. sealed to Sarah L. Clayton begat Harriett P. Partidge.************************************************************************

William Atkins Gheen begat Amanda Trimble Gheen sealed to Heber C. Kimball begat Albert Heber Kimball sealed to Harriett P. Partidge begat Edward Partidge Kimball(grave on right ).*******************************************************************

John Young begat Brigham Young begat Phebe Louisa Young begat Hazel Young Beatie(grave on right).**********************************************************************

Edward Partidge Kimball sealed to Hazel Young Beatie begat Marion Young Kimball (grave on left).********************************************************************************

Don Cecil Corbett sealed to Marion Young Kimball begat Joanne Corbett begat Jeffrey C. Taylor begat Jeffrey D. Taylor begat Jillian Taylor. ***************************

Pretty cool heritage eh?

fun from the reunion

friday night: i didn't make it past this round of survivor. i don't know how to whistle, let alone with a mouth full of saltines.

friday night: direct descendants of don and marion who served a mission.
wed: we went to Jordanelle to play on boats and we got rained out!! i wasn't complaining though. it was so beautiful there and i really enjoyed the cooler weather and storms.

friday night: more team survivor. green team rules!

tues night: this hat game was my favorite by far!! it's similar to musical chairs but way better!! jeff, sarah and i were in the top three. sarah won!

top three of survivor. jeff won!


tues day: we went to provo cemetery for a devotional. it was perfect weather and and absolutely beautiful tribute to don and marion corbett. i really enjoyed getting to know the family i married into to.