The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. -Thomas Jefferson

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Fashion Designer or Artist?

This morning has been very full of camera-moments.

First, folding laundry may be one of my more boring tasks, but it is one of Kaitlyn’s favorite times! I knew she had grabbed clothes out of the basket and walked away with them, but what I didn’t expect was for her to come walking back in my room with my sports bra around her torso and her jacket perched on her head!

Then later this morning as I was switching the laundry some how Kaitlyn found a pen and a piece of paper and drew not only all over the paper but all over her face and her jammies as well!



(the picture isn’t great but if you look close you can see the pen on her face and clothes!)

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Eating is Hard Work!

She literally fell asleep mid-chew!


Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Scrubs

I don't know how many of you watch Scrubs, but I LOVE IT! One of the episodes was a musical and this is one of the funniest numbers of the whole thing!

Monday, February 18, 2008

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.
Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

So I just finished reading The Glass Castle. I don’t usually read non-fiction books, and if it wasn’t the book for my book club I probably would not have picked it up on my own, but I’m so glad I “had” to read it because I really enjoyed it.

The author tells the story of how she was raised moving from place to place sometimes living in a car or in tiny shacks and having to sleep in cardboard boxes. The kids would have to dig through the trash at school so they wouldn’t go hungry, even though mom and dad seemed to find ways to keep their own bellies full. It’s a captivating story of what these kids had to do ON THEIR OWN to get out of this situation because the parents weren’t doing it. The most frustrating thing is that the parents could have, at any time, gotten their family out of this situation and DIDN’T! What truly fascinated me was that the author describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity despite the horrid conditions she was forced to grow up in.

I highly recommend this book. (you can borrow mine if you don’t mind that I spilled milk all over it when I was trying to carry the book, oreos, and milk up the stairs). If you are looking for a feel-good-fall-in-love-with-vampires-or-Mr. Darcy book …this isn’t it. But, if you are looking for an intriguing look at the choices some people make and why they make them, then this is for you!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Luck of the Irish


I know St. Patrick’s Day is sort of a looked-over holiday…personally, I love it!
There are many reasons I love St. Patrick’s day: first off, my favorite color has always been green and this holiday is totally devoted to that color. Along with that, my eyes are green and my birthstone is an emerald.

Next, the name ERIN actually means Ireland…crazy!
I also love clovers. I have a necklace with a clover charm that my frind Mindi gave me and I LOVE it and where it all the time! Also, when I was little I would search and search through patches of clovers to find a FOUR-LEAF one…I never did though...
The best thing to wrap this whole thing up would be if I could tell you that I am also Irish…but no, my ancestors came from Denmark and Wales. Oh well, I still love St. Patrick’s Day!




One more thing, my size has often been compared to that of a leprechaun…just one more reason to love the Holiday!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

To My VALENTINE!


To my funny valentine of o-so many years,
Who often makes me laugh so hard it brings this girl to tears.

I love your silly songs and the funny jokes you tell,
Even the inappropriate ones that might send us both to h___.

You love your snowboards, your wakeboard, and all your many guns,
But I know I always come first and that you love me tons and tons.

I think its fair to say you are the cutest dad there ever was,
Even when you get mad at all the food-throwing Kaitlyn does.

Kaitlyn loves her Daddy so much, even more than all her toys,
One day you’ll use your guns to chase away all the boys.
There is no better husband, father, or friend I could ever ask for,
I’ll take you rain or shine, thick or thin, and even rich or poor.

So Happy Valentine’s Day to the one I love the most,
Of you I am so proud and will always gladly boast!

I LOVE YOU BRIAN!

-ERIN




Sunday, February 10, 2008

Little Miss Independant

A very typical mom moment: Baby gets into the bread and my first instinct is not to hurry and clean it up and salvage what bread is left…no, it is to run and get the camera!




Date Night


Last night Brian took me to the Hale Center Theater to see Lend me a Tenor. It was such a fun night, I LOVE plays. For those of you that know Brian you know that plays aren’t really his thing, so I REALLY appreciate that he wanted to take me! What a good hubby I have! The play was very funny and it was a such a fun date for the two of us.



Friday, February 8, 2008

Fond Memories

I've been tagged again! I'm supposed to post 10 of my FAVORITE pictures. I have a lot of pictures that I love, but I chose these mostly because they remind me of such happy things. (I just realized that I posted 12 instead of 10...oh well!)
The day we made the BEST decision of our lives and were sealed for time and all eternity. I LOVED this day!

I love this picture because it's Brian and I on the moutain that we love watching what we love... SNOWBOARDING! This was the half-pipe competition up at Park City. We saw some awesome riders that day including Shaun White who is our FAVORITE! Our first moments with Kaitlyn. There is NOTHING I have experienced on this earth more spiriual and amazing than holding your child for the first time.


This was Kaitlyn's blessing day. It was such an amazing experience to watch my husband perform this blessing on my sweet baby girl. She was only 2 weeks old. she was sooooo small! Just look how baggy her tights are, how loose her bracelet it, and how big that TINY dress was on her! I loved it!

"What would you like for breakfast Kaitlyn?" "Oh, just a shoe would be great mom." She used to make this face all the time. It made me laugh every time!
A very good day...
Kaitlyn at 8 months. I love this picture mostly because of the mountains. I lived away from Utah for many years of my life, and I missed the mountains EVERY DAY! Isn't she the cutest lamb ever! As a mom, I LOVE firsts. Kaitlyn's first Halloween was so much fun for me! I had to put this one up again. She just loves to mimick her mom....I love it!
I know I always tag the same people, but here goes anyway: Mindi W., Stephanie, Esther, Sara, & Tam



Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Redneck Tenney's

So I was feeling nostalgic and going through old pictures when I came across this one and I HAD to post it! This was taken at our friend Jon’s annual WHITE TRASH PALOOZA like 3 years ago. Please be sure to note Brian’s mullet (actual extension I glued in) and his tan lines. As for me, this is before I was even pregnant with Kaitlyn but doesn’t the pregnant belly fit so well with the black eye and the Property of Brian tat!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Little Allyx is ALL GROWN UP!

So my LITTLE sister, Allyx Leigh Oborn, got engaged this weekend!!! I couldn’t be happier for her. Her fiancĂ©’s name is Daniel Ray Moedl…sounds like he should be a country singer huh!!! They will be getting married in the Salt Lake Temple on April 22nd. Dan and Allyx have been dating for like 8 or 9 months now and in that time we have had quite a few opportunities to get to know him. We just love him. He is nice, fun, and even willing to put up with our sister. Most of all, he is PERFECT for Allyx - everything from his Harry Potter obsession to his willingness to do the most random things at the most random times. AND, he loves her and will treat her like a queen, which is what she deserves and more. I love my Allyx so much and I’m so proud of the decisions she has made.






So CONGRATS Dan and Allyx, we are so excited for you and we love you both!!!!