Another tag. Did you learn anything new?

Soo... when I first started my blog (you know, way back in March) I thought tags were kinda cool. It's getting a little old now, but I'll still oblige. Here ya go, Mandy!!

1. What is your favorite fictional character from a book or movie?
I have always loved Anne Shirley. She was so smart, funny and attractive - three things I attempt to be. But I'm glad I don't get into the kind of scrapes she does, sometimes that girl is just asking for trouble!

2. What are your 3 best physical assets?
Hmm... I guess my smile and my eyes (I think they're kinda small, but I've always gotten compliments on them). A 3rd? Well, before I got pregnant, I had a pretty small waist - I think it's still there... somewhere!

3. Name 3 attributes you would be proud to pass on to your children.
- Athletisicm: depsite currently being out of shape, I am actually fairly athletic - not the best, but some things I excel at or I can usually hold my own - besides, Sean's hand-eye coordination is not the best!
- Cooking
- Love/understanding

4. Name 3 attributes that you hope not to pass on to your children.
- Shyness: it wasn't until I was in High School that I even started to get over this.
- 'Extreme' anxiety/stress: I can make myself physically ill when I start to worry about something too much.
- Sleep mumbling: I only do this occasionally, unfortunately I think I may have already passed this on to Ethan!

5. If you had to give up one of the following things FOREVER, which would you choose? 1. All makeup. 2. Flat iron/curling iron. 3. Razors (laser hair removal isn't an option).
I gotta go with #2. I only recently got the flat iron and I never use a curling iron, so I guess I could survive with my naturally curly hair or ponytails for the rest of my life!

6. What do you think is your best quality?
I think it's a toss up between my sense of humor and understanding. I don't know... what do you think?

7. What is your worst quality?
Over-anxious and perfectionism when it comes to organizing things. I can't organize something partway - it's all or nothing.

8. What would be a perfect day for you?
Definitely with family. A really perfect day, we would have a house on the beach in Hawaii or the Bahamas. Have breakfast on the lanai (sp?) and then spend the day on the beach, swimming and snorkeling. Total relaxation and fun in the sun!

9. Where is your favorite place you have ever visited?
Probably Hawaii. It was gorgeous there. Sean and I hope to go someday soon! Of course, I also loved the LA temple on our wedding day. :)

10. Name something you are really good at?
I think I'm a pretty good mom and wife. And a fairly decent baker/cook.

11. What are you most shallow about?
I'm not telling...

12. What is something you're a little bit conceited about.
My son. I'm pretty sure he's one of the cutest kids ever (I'd say the cutest, but that would be really conceited!) and I think he's pretty dang smart already.

13. Name 3 things you are embarrassed to admit.
Why do I have to name them if I'm embarrassed about them?!
- Sean and I's room is almost always guaranteed to be messy even when the rest of the house is clean. We try...
- I hate to change the toilet paper roll - I avoid it at all costs! Luckily Sean doesn't mind so much.
- I have had to rewash a load of laundry multiple times after it wasn't put in the dryer right away. Stinky, wet clothes are not good!

Ok, I tag: Karen, Christine (I always tag her!!) and LynMarie. Have fun.

Waiting for Pictures...

It feels like it's been a LONG time since I posted anything, but I guess it's just been since Wednesday. Maybe it's because I feel like I've got so much to catch up on! Hopefully the camera will cooperate tonight and I can download pictures to start putting up some new posts!

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:
- Berry picking and fresh blackberry cobbler as a result of our labors
- 1st visit ever to a favorite local drive-in
- Sunday late-night board games, PIT card games and conversation with friends and family that make it hard to get up for work on Monday morning, but are worth it for the company alone (this means you, Tory!)
- Trip to Portland which included:
- Phantom of the Opera (It was AWESOME!!)
- Visiting my friend who works at OHSU
- Going to Claim Jumper
- Stopping by my cousin and his family's new place
- And other random highlights from our summer we may have missed

Stay tuned!!

Developmental Update

I realize that I post something about Ethan quite often, but I was looking back and found that I hadn't really updated what he has learned in the past several months. More than anything, this post is for my sake because I haven't recorded it in his baby book yet.

*CURRENT*

Favorite Foods: bananas, hot dogs, goldfish crackers, string cheese, Cheerios and Kix cereal, PASTA (he would eat a 1/4lb. every night if we let him!), mandarin oranges (he LOVES these!), pears, peaches, grapes and fresh cherries. He also likes deli turkey, steamed green beans, macaroni and cheese (especially my homemade version), pickles, cucumber slices and chicken. We're working on the veggies again - he'll still eat the mushed Gerber kind, but won't touch diced carrots or peas. Silly kid!

Favorite Toys: Trucks! He is such a boy. He loves his dump truck (complete with plastic blocks) and tractor/loader. He also still loves anything musical, blocks, books and the tupperware we keep in the lower cupboard just for him!

Favorite Games: Chase me/hide-n-seek. Peek-a-boo. Identify the body parts - he can correctly point to his head, hair, nose, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, belly, foot, toes, and arm. He often just holds up his foot when asked where it is and wrinkles up his nose and snorts when we say, "where's your nose?" Too funny!

Vocabulary: shoes, cracker, cookie, what's that?, who's that?, mama, dada, gramma, lis-beth (for auntie Elisabeth), juice, banana, yogurt, pasta, teeth, hat, cheese, yuck, hot, truck, kiki (blankie - this is a new one), yeah, oh no, eww, truck, quack, nana, hocks (socks), kitty-cat, church, night-night

Sign language:

more

milk

please

all done

We love him SO much!! His newest trick (as of Sunday night) was pulling himself up onto a dining room chair and then leaning against the table and eating from the grapes bowl! Sean and I both looked at each other and said, "how'd he get up there?!" Dang it! That little booger is so strong and just too clever! I hope we don't have to start tying the chairs up too soon. [ [sigh] ] We've entered the next stage in parenting.

In our prayers...

Yesterday morning we got a call from Sean's grandma that her husband (technically Sean's step-grandpa) was in the hospital. I'm not sure of the exact diagnosis, but he is in the ICU.

We also found out yesterday afternoon that Sean's dad is back in the hospital. Had to go to the ER and was diagnosed with another bout of pancreatitis. He had a very serious case last October - tons of tests and tons of pain. Sean flew out to see him for a couple days after he had already been in the hospital for a few days. By the time Sean flew home, he still hadn't left the hospital and I think he ended up being there almost 2 weeks. It sounds like it is not so serious this time, but still a cause for concern. We love Papa Loren and want him to get well soon!

Our thoughts and prayers are with them both.

Scary new calling

So two Sundays ago I got a call from our Stake President at about 8pm. Our Stake President lives in our ward and both Sean and I work with his wife a lot and his youngest daughter is one of my Mia Maids, so I wasn't too surprised to see the name on the caller i.d. - I was surprised, however, to hear his voice on the other end. He was asking to speak with both Sean and I that evening - well Sean was at scout camp all week, so that wasn't going to work. None-the-less, he asked for Sean's cell number to see if he could reach him, but he still wanted to meet with me that night! Oh no! I knew that Elders Quorum Presidents are called on the stake level - and for a big calling like that they usually have the wife present when the calling is issued. I also knew, though, that our Elders Quorum presidency was pretty new - so I had doubts that it was really a calling for Sean. When Pres. Lewis agreed to meet with just me that pretty much guaranteed that he had a new calling for me.

What calling would he possible be issuing? And on the stake level? It was pretty early to be asked to serve already for next year's Girls Camp and besides, Bro. Funke was the one who was in charge of that.

And then it hit me. We had just sustained a new Stake YW Presidency - minus a counselor. And my suspicions were right. I was released as 1st counselor in the 5th ward YW presidency and just today I was sustained to be the new...
1st counselor in the Stake Young Women Presidency!
Let me tell you, that is a scary, big calling! I am sad to leave my 5th ward Mia Maids in that I won't be working with them so directly anymore, but at the same time I am excited to work with all of the YW in the stake. This is my highest leadership calling yet. It's a little overwhelming, but I am looking forward to it. Any advice??

Velkommen!

Friday night Ethan and I, plus my little sister and my grandparents of Danish descent (last name: Toftdahl) went to the Scandinavian Festival in Junction City. It is a family tradition and we rarely miss a year. In fact, we first found out we were pregnant with Ethan the night we went to the Festival back in 2006 - so he's been every year! This year Sean was at scout camp, so he had to miss out on the fun - and especially the food! Honestly, I think it is the yummy food that gets us out there some years. We usually pass on the aebelskiver (pronounced "able - skeever") booth, though, because both my parents and grandparents have their own special pan and we have the recipe and the skill to make them ourselves. My dad just taught me a couple months ago, so now I'm anxious to get my own pan!
For the record...
Aebelskiver: One of the main reasons folks come to the Festival! You can watch these hollow pancake-like balls being made, then eat them with powdered sugar or jam.

Elisabeth enjoyed a steak sandwich and I had an authentic dinner with a chicken/sausage-like patty, rarakor (lacy fried potatoes) and rod kale (danish sweet and sour cabbage). Pretty much the only time I'll eat cabbage! Dessert was fresh, local ice cream cones and then we took home a fri-jo (yeast-raised deep fried Swedish pastry, rolled in cinnamon and sugar) to our families.

We also got to watch some of the dancing, the nightly parade and the vikings strolling throughout the streets.

It was a very fun evening... until I realized that I'd left my 2GB memory card for my camera at Wal-Mart on Monday!! Ahh!! Don't worry, I got it back Saturday - Thank Goodness!! I did get some pictures, but they're on the camera's limited internal memory, so I haven't had the chance to download them. So the awesome pictures of Elisabeth doing the rock-climbing will have to wait!

No longer a single mom!

YAY!! I'm home... Sean's home... and we're back together as a family!!

The last week of July I was at Girls Camp all week (see previous post). Sean and Ethan picked me up and we got to our house Saturday (the 2nd) afternoon at about 3pm. Sean had to be at the church at 3:30pm to leave for Scout Camp. He was gone ALL WEEK and boy did we miss him! Being a full-time working 'single' mom with church callings is hard work. We had something going on every night except Thursday. Phew! This afternoon he got home at about 1:30pm and then I had a baby shower at 2pm - no rest for the weary. So Sean and Ethan took naps while I went to the baby shower, grocery store and car wash. Then we all spiffied (is that a word??) up and went to a beautiful backyard wedding reception.

So we're all home now, safe and sound. :)

GIRLS CAMP

First of all, some background info. - this may not make sense to some people, but for LDS members (particularly those in or formerly in our Stake, it will)!

With Sis. Ennis, Sis. Jolley, Sis. Z and Christine.

Theme: Bee The Best You Can Bee!

with emphasis on the Bee! Our theme was based off of Pres. Hinckley's 6 main "Be's" as well as the 3 that were added:

Be Grateful - Be Smart - Be Clean - Be True - Be Humble - Be Prayerful - Be Involved - Be Still - Be Positive

Stake Girls: Bumble Bees

Stake Adults: Butterflies

1st years (2 units): Ladybugs and Fireflies

2nd years (3 units): Ants, Glowworms and Dragonflies

3rd years (2 units): Damselflies and my unit

4th years: Inch Worms

My unit: CATERPILLARS!!

My girls: Andraya, Jenell, Kiri, Lauren, Marissa, McKenzie and Megan

*Tuesday*

Set-up campsite, Evening Flag, FHE

My little helper - only for the first 20 minutes or so until 'gramma' had to take him away for the week.

Digging the water disposal site and pounding in stakes for the garbage/recycling.

The quad-pod!

Trying to figure out how to set up the tent. They were right... I was wrong!

3rd years rock!! We totally had our campsite up a good 1/2 hour before lunch, so we had time for a group picture. Aren't they a great-lookin' bunch??

The MONSTER cockroach-like bug Megan found Tuesday afternoon. It was huge and it was gross. Enough said.

FHE/Devotional:

Feast Upon the Words of Christ

2 Nephi 32:3

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christwill tell you all things what ye should do."

*Wednesday*

AM Flag, Jigsaw, Crafts: Tie Dye, Unit Leader Dinner, PM Flag, Sing-A-Long

Lizzy with the frog she caught. Is she really my sister?? I was never big on catching slimy animals!

The tie-dye turned out great! I did a shirt for me and one for Ethan.

At flag - gotta love these girls!

Devotional:

"Do not entertain bad thoughts and do bad deeds. Life is holy and sacred. Go through it with joy and happiness. Do not carry gloomy, unhappy faces. Happiness is union with God. This period of your life is sacred. If you can not derive happiness and live in bliss at this age, can you be blissful when you grow old? Now, you have only two legs to carry; you can jump about freely. But, when you marry and rear up a family, you will move like a caterpillar with many legs!" Atharva Veda

Doctrine & Covenants 59:3

"Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in is strength."

*Thursday*

AM Flag, Stake Girls: Shake Your Foot, Jigsaw, Waterfront, PM Flag, Skits, Star-gazing

The stake adults belting out their morning roll-call jingle!

After skits and star-gazing - some unit bonding around the ol' campfire!

This was NOT a result of the fire!

After the 2nd late night attack on my tent! The first one came Tuesday night when it was bombarded with pinecones!

Devotional:

"To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest!"

*Friday*

AM Flag, Morning Exercises: Kickboxing, JAMBOREE, PM Flag, Bishop's Mountain Top, Testimony Mtg.

Demonstrating kickboxing for the AM flag exercises. Poor Christine!

Devotional:

"How does one become a butterfly?" she asked. "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."

2 Nephi 31:20

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

JAMBOREE Results:

My unit - 2nd place + 4th years - 1st place

*Saturday*

Take-down campsite, Final Flag, HERITAGE MOUNTAIN, Circle of Friendship

HERITAGE MOUNTAIN Results: WE WON!!!

Well, technically we tied with the 4th years, which means that all of the Mia Maids in my ward that went to Girls Camp won Heritage Mountain. It was a great feeling! This is the second time in my 5 years as a unit leader to have won - not bad odds. :)

Sisters - minus Lizzy!

Reunited... My little family!

Ah-ah-ah-ah stayin' alive - in unit 5!

I'm back, clean and almost caught up on sleep!

Last week at Girls Camp was AMAZING!! I had a wonderful group of girls in my unit and we got along great. The week flew by and I can hardly believe that I am back at work today. All of the late nights and hours and hours of preperation were well worth it and I'm already hoping to go back next year.

I should be able to get some pictures posted later this weekend, so stayed tuned and I'll give you all the details of my adventures at Girls Camp!! This includes how my unit did at Jamboree and with Heritage Mtn... let me just say... my girls ROCK!! :)