The Dillon Pickle Jar

We Did It!!

2009-05-11T09:11:00.001-07:00

I did something on Saturday that I never thought I could do. I participated in my first 5k. I have to say that I had a lot of fun and it felt awesome to cross the finish line. I ran a little and walked fast the rest and was excited about my time as I finished faster than the goal I'd set.

Jon's Run & Stroll was held at Brackenridge Park and started shortly after a memorial balloon release by those who have lost children or been touched by the loss of a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). There were a lot of teams in matching shirts with info or pics of a child who had passed away due to SIDS. It was fun for me to see so many groups of people come together in memory of someone they loved. I also loved to see the young kids participating in the race with their parents.

Saturday was also Birth Mother's Day (the day prior to Mother's Day) and so I thought about our sweet birth mother as I had my thoughts to myself while I worked my way through the course. How blessed my life has been because of her unselfishness and love!!

I have been motivated all spring by my awesome friends. Check out the before and after pics of us below. I'm looking forward to the next time - though it's probably going to be a few months since it's getting too hot here :-))

Before

After - We Did It!!

Where Is the Time Going?

2009-03-20T13:40:00.001-07:00

Kaitlyn turned 18 months on March 5!! And we celebrated the anniversary of her sealing on March 8!! I know it sounds so cliche, but I cannot help but ask "where has the time gone?" I sometimes like to gather my little girl up and cradle her like she's a little baby and ask her if she'll be Mama's baby . . . that usually lasts for all of about one second as Kaitlyn would much rather be running and exploring. More than once it's been said to me "she just never sits still does she". The answer to that is NOPE!!

Kaitlyn has truly been a joy to us and Jeff and I can't imagine life without her. What a miracle that she is part of our family!! A few things she enjoys at 18 months:

Doing it herself. Be it eating, reading, or playing, Kaitlyn likes to do it herself. I've worked out a few tricks with eating and know that if I give her a fork to hold and me a fork to hold I can sometimes get a few bites of more than just crumbs into her mouth. Doesn't always work . . . sometimes she wants to hold both utinsels - one in each hand. (A little beside the point, she's actually a little bit ambidextrous.) She wants to eat whatever Jeff and I are eating. For example, last night I was eating my highly nutritious & healthy dinner of Chik-Fil-A and Kaitlyn wanted some. Happy to share, I fixed her up with her own nuggets and fries, but little missy wasn't happy until she too had her own dipping sauce which she proceeded to eat (straight sauce and nothing else) with a spoon and then her finger once Daddy took away the spoon. She likes to turn the pages of her own books so there's no sitting on Mom's lap to read, she sits on her own chair and I sit on mine and read out loud while she looks at a different book and turns her own pages. Brushing her teeth is another thing she loves so long as she gets to do it herself. But when Mom takes over to scrub, the mouth closes and that's it.
Climbing. Onto the barstools, up the stairs, down the stairs, onto the counter, onto the table, onto the piano bench (thankfully not any further there). Pretty much nothing stops her. She likes to try to climb the gate I have at the entrance to our family room. So far she stops when we tell her no, but I'm sure some day she'll figure it out. I've seen her get her leg up to try to climb out of the crib, but she's still a little too short - though at 35+ inches it won't be much longer until she figures it out.
Playing outside. Though winter was mild, with spring has come beautiful weather. Kaitlyn likes to walk outside, play in the grass, and loves the playground. She goes up and down the slides, rope ladders, and climbing walls.
Her babies. She is a good Mommy who will carry her doll around loving and kissing her. She'll also feed her bottles and with a spoon.
The computer. Kaitlyn thinks that the funnest thing ever is to play with the mouse on the computer. So we've taken to moving every chair far, far away from the computer desk and pushing the computer and mouse as far away from the edge as possible. Nevertheless, I found one day that a folder had been renamed to "nmnmnbmbnn". Sadly, I have no idea what it used to be named so thus it will remain forevermore.
The cell phone. Not just any phone - it has to be a real one. BIG thanks to Grandpa O for giving her not just one, but two, phones that were no longer being used at his house. She now has more than me.

I am watching her grow every day and love watching her learn new things. Just recently, she picked up her diaper after I had gotten her out of bed and changed her and she went down the stairs, straight to the garbage, and threw it away. Who knew that she had picked up on that routine. And she goes straight for the bathroom and her toothbrush after scriptures at night. Good thing too - Jeff and I have a bad habit of forgetting teeth at night so she's keeping us on the straight and narrow. And this week Jeff told me that he'd found her with our mail key (which I keep in a kitchen drawer) trying to "work it" at the back door.

She was sneezing the other day and I said bless you, then said to her "Do you need to do it again?" She promptly responded with a quick "Choo" and a giggle. And watching her clap her hands mimicing her Daddy the other night while they played left us all in stitches. He clapped his hands with a big whoosh and she would clap her hands, grunt, and laugh. Oh my gosh - this girl makes me SMILE!!

Enjoy the pictures that were taken March 14.

By the time we finished with the first outfit, I was hoping we'd get her Easter dress. But Kaitlyn usually has her own agenda these days and more pictures was not high on her list. The Easter pictures aren't the cutest pictures she's ever taken, but I'm posting anyway.

I never could get her to put her arm down and with a really cute smile in the previous one. And the last one - well that just pretty much says it all - the columns are knocked over, the bow has been pulled off, and the look on her face pretty much says "she's had it!!"

Here's to the last 18 months and to a great many more yet to come!!

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

We had a nice Christmas morning. Of course after staying up late buying batteries at the gas station late Christmas Eve, we were up before 6 a.m. (Why, you ask, on the one day that I can sleep in am I awake before the sun?? A good question!! And no good answer!!) Kaitlyn, on the other hand, was smart enough to take advantage of the looming laid back day and woke up at 9 a.m. She did, however, quickly determine the day was slightly different when she immediately noticed all the new toys to play with in the front room by the tree. What was even more out of the ordinary, she knew things were different when she was encouraged to go into the front room near the tree that had been off limits for almost a month!!

Kaitlyn's favorite gifts were her new piano and baby doll with stroller. She loves to sit down like her idol Schroeder (Peanuts) and pound out some Beethoven or Bach (often giving herself a standing ovation as Mommy and Daddy shout out "Encore!!"), then sit down and feed a bottle of milk to her baby's eye. She is a good Mommy and pushes her new baby doll all over the house so she doesn't miss out on anything. Hopefully she'll make just as good a big sister someday.

Kaitlyn and Mommy got new Christmas jammies and special matching slippers to keep their toes warm. Daddy prefers his cold scratchy feet to stand out in the jungle so he passed.

It was a nice day and we enjoyed being together as a family. Some of our friends are still overseas so we definitely thought of them and their families and hope it was a nice day for all. We enjoyed using the webcam to visit with grandpas and grandmas later in the day and even snuck in a nap during the afternoon. We enjoyed our traditional Christmas breakfast (from the Oldham side) of orange juice, hashbrowns, link sausage, eggs, & toast and had ham later in the day. I baked cherry rolls in the evening and oh they were heavenly!!

Kaitlyn meets Santa!!

2008-12-23T18:21:00.000-08:00

We took Kaitlyn to meet Santa today. We had heard that Santa visiting the North Star Mall in San Antonio was really good. So we didn't see Pajama Santa at South Towne in Sandy when the line was very short over the weekend. Of course we didn't get out the door as early as we had hoped and by the time we got to the mall it was noon. After standing in line for an hour, they cut the line off one person in front of us so Santa could go feed his reindeer. After debating what to do for a few minutes, we opted to wait another hour while Dasher and Dancer and Rudolph and gang got their gingerbread treats. Kaitlyn did amazingly well through this very long wait. She even didn't seem to mind sitting on Santa's lap -- initially. However, by the time they were ready to take the picture, she had had enough of this jolly old elf. Luckily Mom saved the day and got in the picture too!! Thankfully Kaitlyn didn't ask Santa for an ice cream maker two days before Christmas -- it's just not an easy thing for Santa's elves to put together in the middle of the winter. But Santa did come through at the last minute somehow for Kaitlyn's cousin Aaron -- way to go Santa!! :))

The Center of our Life

2008-12-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

If for some reason after reading our blog you weren't absolutely sure what the center of our lives is . . . we'll just have to come out and say it with all these cute pics -- enjoy!!

Kaitlyn is doing so many new things. She has become quite the gymnast . . she will arch her back leaning her head backwards until gravity does its thing and she falls on her head. She also has decided that though she still doesn't like to cuddle, hugs are pretty cool. This was great because she started doing this just before we traveled to Idaho & Utah the week before Christmas so all of our friends and family were the recipients of her great hugs!!

She has also become an amazing dancer. She has gone from dancing to the music on TV commercials to hopping around the kitchen to the Christmas music on our iPOD. We took the young men and young women in our ward to a rest home to go caroling and, of course, Kaitlyn came too. One sweet lady asked the youth to sing her favorite carol Silent Night. While they were singing, Kailtyn decided she wasn't getting enough attention so she began break dancing right there on the floor to the tune of Silent Night (yeah, we were kind of suprised to see our little girl do the worm too!!). It's hard to tell what kind of dancer she'll be because in addition to the break dancing, she is practicing her ballet by walking around the house on her tip toes all the time. Who knew she was so talented and versatile?!?

She has also starting climbing everything in the house. This, of course, is Nell's favorite thing!! A few nights ago I caught her trying to climb over the gate we have to keep her away from the top of the stairs. Later that same night we started the water to fill the bath tub and then went into her room to get everything ready for bed after her bath. While I was getting out her jammies, Kaitlyn disappeared. I found her back in the bathroom trying to climb into the tub with all her clothes on. We find her trying to scale the back of her high chair and also caught her trying to get her leg up over the rail of her crib one afternoon after her nap. Though she's still too short, the mattress too low, and the rail too high, I can't believe that her mind is processing that all she needs to do to get out is put her leg over . . . hmmm!!

In tribute to her cousin Aaron, Kaitlyn has started running around the house with her arms stretched back behind her like Superman. She is so fast with her superhero speed, we can hardly keep up. :))

She also has become a much more finicky eater -- though, as you can see, she doesn't seem to have any trouble eating all of her chocolate cake!! I think we all wish vegatables and healthy things tasted more like chocolate cake!! Thankfully Kaitlyn does enjoy having her teeth brushed -- that is if she is not actively teething of course.

We are so grateful for our little PK (Grandpa O calls her PK, short for Princess Kaitlyn). She keeps us hopping for sure, but the smiles she brings keep us going everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2008-11-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving this year!! We were excited to travel to Round Rock to spend a couple of days with Heiner's. We had such a wonderful time visiting, relaxing, & laughing with them. Kaitlyn has two great friends in Eric and Danny who doted on her the whole time we were there. They were all so cute together. Dinner was WONDERFUL as both Melissa & Jared are amazing cooks!! Last year we brined our turkey and Melissa did this year as well!! So moist!! I really think it's the best turkey I ever had this year. After dinner, the kids played outside for a little while, we went for a walk, and played Ticket to Ride. We had first been introduced to this game last Christmas, but hadn't played since. Love it!! We'll have to put it on our Christmas list for Santa!!

Jeff and Jared went golfing on Friday morning and Melissa and the kids and I went to Ready-Set-Play. Kaitlyn was in heaven! She had so much fun climbing around after the boys and going down the slides. We probably had more fun than the golfers (though they might dispute that).

Another fun part about this Thanksgiving was the cute turkey shirts Em made for the girls. Of course Kaitlyn was too excited to sit still for the photos, but she did offer to help out in the kitchen. :))

My Favorite Things

2008-11-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

So after the "I'm Thankful For" post, I've had all kinds of ideas floating in and out of my head today. Though I am also thankful for these things, I thought maybe they were a little more inconsequential in the grand scheme of things so I decided to do a separate post. So in no particular order, a few more of my most favorite things . . .

the yummy smell of fresh-cut grass - especially on a Saturday nite as it reminds me of days growing up when the house would be ready for Sunday and the country quiet of a yard well-taken care of

spray-on sunscreen - what a novelty that I only discovered this summer; smart skincare has never been so easy

pumpkin pecan cheesecake @ The Cheesecake Factory - always a fan of anything on the menu, but this seasonal favorite can't be beat

Food Network - I'm an unabashed fan

a great pair of jeans - a wardrobe staple

scenes from next week - I get more excited about the scenes they show for next week than I do about the show we just watched

Christmas carols - all time favs are The First Noel & Angels from the Realms of Glory (arrangements sung by the Tab Choir) and O Come All Ye Faithful (any arrangement)

girly slippers - I'm in love with the cutest leopard print slippers at Nordstrom; the best part is that they come in my size and Kaitlyn's size
Cafe Rio - nothing compares

I Am Thankful For . . .

2008-11-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

I like to think that every elementary school student will write something this week finishing the sentence "I Am Thankful For . . ." I think every person has much to be grateful for. Sure everyone has their struggles, but aren't things always so much easier when we focus on what we do have rather than on what we don't. So not surprisingly, as I prepare for another Thanksgiving holiday, I have found myself in a reflective state pondering all kinds of things including my blessings, my struggles, and that for which I am most grateful. In no particular order, here's how I complete the 2008 "I Am Thankful For" assignment.

I am thankfulf for my HUBBY and that he is home this holiday season!! Thanks for being patient with me all those years ago when I wasn't sure sweetie. I'm so glad that you're home from summer camp and that we're celebrating the holidays in the same geographic locale. A girl couldn't ask for a better guy to take care of her!!

I am thankful for two strong SISTERS who have been kicked around and beat up pretty good the last couple of weeks due to the free agency of others. I found this comment on a blog I was reading this week. Though it's referencing a woman's fertility and adoption journey, it made me think of both E & J and the circumstances that have found their way into their respective journeys. "As we started the adoption process 3 years ago someone told me 'God doesn't give us anything we can't handle.' I remember thinking 'well then, I wish he didn't have so much faith in me'." I'm sure you both are feeling this way about now. But I know that God knows you both and is aware of your struggles. Be strong sisters!! You are my inspiration!!

I am thankful for ADOPTION!! I am thankful for BIRTH MOTHERS!! I am thankful that through this miracle we expanded our family and are now a more complete and ETERNAL FAMILY unit!!

I am thankful for a MESSY HOUSE!! For anyone that knows me, a messy house is not my usual method of operation; however, I've determined that it's a good thing as it is a continual reminder of this sweet 15-month girl who is part of our family. I can't imagine life without KAITLYN. How grateful and lucky I am to be her MOTHER.

I am thankful for PARENTS who drove 3 1/2 hours just to see me and my family for a few hours while we whirlwinded our way to and from Utah for Chris & Robyn's wedding. (Landed in SLC @ 4 p.m. Friday and departed SLC @ 10 a.m. Sunday.) It was nice to know Kaitlyn was with Grandma & Grandpa O and BROOKLYN while we were at the temple and luncheon that day. I didn't worry about her for a minute and I knew she was having a great time (milkshaking at McDonalds & carouseling at South Towne Mall). G&G and Brook also spent the entire evening at the reception chasing after my cute daughter who so doesn't want to sit still. I was tired before it even started so thanks for being there and keeping it all together for me!!

I am thankful for dear FRIENDS. For afternoons at the pool and Sunday dinners. For shopping trips to Target & Big Lots. For text updates to the BYU/Utah football game Saturday nite. For spending an entire evening at a family wedding because there was no other time to see us. For a telephone call every single night I was alone the year Jeff did his internship in Boise. For covering Jeff's shifts in Iraq so he could go to church. For lunch dates with the girls. Oh, that I might be this kind of friend!!

I am thankful for my HAIR LADY. She is cute, she is trendy, she is fabulous, she is consistent, she is in the know . . . I could go on and on. I'm lucky to have found her and look forward to my standard 4 week appointment. Love it!!

I am thankful for the best Christmas PRESENT ever!! Jeff is taking me home a few days before Christmas to see baby Justin, the new house, and to participate in my most favorite holiday tradition. I'm so looking forward to seeing old friends and playing in the MESSIAH on December 21.

I am thankful for my EXPLORER. May seem silly, but this car has been the best friend a girl could ask for. Going on 11 years old and pushing 150,000 miles she's still going strong and we're hoping for a long and prosperous relationship for years to come!!

I am thankful for MUSIC MAKERS. I have good friends in Boerne, and look forward to taking Kaitlyn once a week where we sing songs, play games, and tell stories with other moms and kids from the Boerne wards. It's a fun outing and it's been fun for me to notice Kaitlyn developing even since September when it started as she will now [usually] sit through singing time (though after that her attention span is pretty much gone).

I am thankful for YOUNG WOMEN. It's been a learning and growing experience to serve in the Boerne 2nd Ward Young Women. How I love the girls and the YW Board and will be everlastingly grateful for the opportunity to rub shoulders with them!!

I am thankful for randomly RUNNING INTO PEOPLE YOU KNOW!! I love to see friends when I'm out - especially here in Texas as it means that we're making friends in our new home.

Chris & Robyn's Wedding

2008-11-24T05:40:00.000-08:00

Chris and Robyn were married in the Salt Lake Temple on Saturday, November 22nd. Robyn was beautiful and Chris, with good reason, never stopped smiling (see his post on the subject).

We stayed at the Marriott Downtown the night before the wedding so we'd be closer on Saturday morning (the sealing was @ 9 a.m.), but we also wanted Kaitlyn to be able to come to the temple for family pictures after the sealing. Being downtown seemed to help facilitate both of these needs as Kaitlyn was able to sleep in a little bit longer and eat breakfast before she came to the temple grounds after we had already departed. BIG THANKS to Grandma & Grandpa O and Brooklyn for joining us from Idaho for the weekend to help keep an eye on our little one. (A little off the subject, the hotel stay was super fun!! The girls had a ball swimming at the large indoor pool after we arrived Friday evening & I loved the door-to-door service from the valets!!) My blood has gotten much thinner since moving to Texas . . . Saturday was a chilly morning as you can see from Kaitlyn's rosy cheeks!!

We also had a great time at the reception. I wish we had a picture of it, but Addy and Kaitlyn were the talk of the dance. They were so cute together and had a great time celebrating with Chris and Robyn!! (Rumor has it that there's more video of the little girls dancing than the bride and groom.)

Brooklyn was Kaitlyn's special friend all weekend. We couldn't have done it without her and especially were grateful to her at the reception as she just followed Kaitlyn around wherever she wanted to go and kept her out of trouble. The girls special treat was riding the carousel at South Towne Mall on Saturday afternoon.

We had so much fun this weekend. It was a fast trip and we were pooped out on the trip home to Texas, but it was all worth it!!

Incidentally, this day has been a long time coming. Chris had seen the future, and knew when his brothers pointed out that this was the day already reserved for the (at the time) 8th ranked Cougars to play Utah that he was actually doing us a favor. He knew BYU would lose to TCU making the late November game meaningless in regards to BCS bowl bids; we’re sure he even knew that BYU would get pounded by the Utes on that day. So thank you Chris and Robyn for a wonderful weekend!! But thank you also for planning your wedding so we wouldn’t have to suffer through another agonizing loss and allowing us to remember this day as the wonderful exciting day Chris and Robyn were married rather than the gloomy dismal day it was for all other BYU fans when BYU continued the 2008 meltdown and allowed Utah to go to their 2nd BCS game before we could even go once. It makes me proud to be an Air Force fan!! :))

Toddler Help

2008-11-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

Kaitlyn is begining to really try to help around the house. She even wants to help change her diapers. I don't know what we'd do with her!! :))

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T23:54:00.000-07:00

Lady Bug Kaitlyn had a great Halloween despite being stuck home with no trick-or-treating or Halloween parties because of her first case of tonsilitis. She did, however, allow her mom and dad to dress her up and take tons of pictures (sorry, didn't get any good shots of the tonsils).

After taking Kaitlyn to the pediatrician's on Halloween afternoon, we had to stop and buy some trick-or-treat candy because we had planned on going to a Halloween party at the Swick's home (one of the guys Jeff works with at Wilford Hall). Boy are we glad we did. Last year we didn't have one trick-or-treater; this year we had tons!! We sat out on our front porch all evening along with the rest of the neighborhood (a nice Texas tradition to take advantage of the nice weather -- no longer are the days of winter coats over the top of your costume while you run from door to door in the snow), handed out candy, and tried not to let Kaitlyn get too close to any of the other kids.

Thankfully Kaitlyn was able to get 24 hours of antibiotics in her before our ward's Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treat Saturday night. She still got to show off her wings and flirt with all the little super heros. FUN!! FUN!!

Fall Fun!!

2008-10-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and Grandma Dillon came to visit us for their extended UEA weekend, and we had lots of fun visiting some of the sights in San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country with them. We had heard about this great pizza (Fralo's) place near our home so we thought we'd try it out with Grandpa and Grandma. The atmosphere was great!! (You sit outside on picnic tables under these huge oak trees.) And the pizza was amazing!! Kaitlyn had her first rootbeer here. She's definitely her Daddy's girl. As you can tell from the pictures, she likes rootbeer as much as Jeff!!

When we weren't eating out at amazing restraurants, Kaitlyn was helping us out in the kitchen. Thank goodness for the apron so she doesn't get her onesie dirty!!

Although Jeff got Thursday off, he had to work on Friday. Charla and Connor had invited Kaitlyn and I to go to the pumkin patch so we took Grandpa and Grandma along. Kaitlyn and Connor are so cute together and Kaitlyn loved being able to roam free (well, sort of) around outside and play with the pumpkins.

With all these activities, we didn't have too much time for just sitting around and relaxing. However, Kaitlyn did make the best of that time too and got some storytime with Grandpa.

Welcome to the World Little Man!!

2008-10-19T18:00:00.001-07:00

It's a Boy!!

Justin Jay Lusk

October 18, 2008 ~ 9:50 p.m.

7 lbs 7 oz ~ 20 3/4 inches

Proud Parents JD & Jessica Lusk

Tired Mommy

Vitals

3 generations - Jay& Linda, JD, & Justin

Grandma O & Justin

Justin, Grandma O, JD

Justin, Grandma O, Aunt Erica

Excited Cousins - Aaron, Josh, Justin

We are so excited to welcome a new baby to our family. Congratulations JD & Jess. We're so glad he's here safely and for you to embark on this new adventure. Can't wait to meet baby Justin in person.

Love, Nell, Jeff, & Kaitlyn

We're Goin' to the Chapel and We're Gonna Get Married . . .

2008-08-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the family Robin and congratulations to you both!!

Even though wedding plans have been underway for a few weeks now, the ring just arrived this week and, understandably so, Chris didn't waste any time getting it on Robin's finger. With the help of her brother and sister, he took her to a place they'd been in Provo Canyon while they were dating and when they reached the spot where the rose petals were leading to the table, Robin said something like "oh, someone is getting a fun surprise" and totally was caught off guard that she was the someone. (I hope I didn't misinterpret anything in my translation of what Chris related to me.) It sounds like a perfect set-up and oh so romantic!!

We're so excited for you both and can't wait to see you in November at the wedding!!

Katrina's Wedding Shower

2008-08-30T20:29:00.001-07:00

Nyla & Katrina

July 12, 2008 - I was glad that we were able to throw Katrina's wedding shower during my stay in Utah this summer. It was a fun afternoon and I enjoyed visiting with family and friends who had traveled many miles to celebrate her upcoming nuptials. In addition to Uncle Vic's sisters and nieces, all of Nyla's daughters were able to travel to be there that day - Melissa from TX, Amy Jo & Ashlee from CA, Jenn from ND, and Julie from ID. Also, both of Nyla's sisters - Mom and all of her girls except Sherise and Nancy. Also, our forever friend Toni was able to come and spend the afternoon. I ordered the refreshments from Kneader's Bakery and couldn't have been happier with the way they looked, tasted, etc. They were scrumptious, and I only felt bad that I got full and didn't get to try one of each variety!! We played Bingo while Katrina opened her gifts and also a spin on 20 questions to test our knowledge of both Katrina and Tony. Katrina received lots of fun gifts to start her new household, but I was most excited about the pitcher and mugs that we gave her (Jeff's Dad made them). I think she was definitely surprised and excited to receive them. Kaitlyn enjoyed helping with the presents - you know, crawling on them, ripping the paper, pulling off the bows, etc. Overall, a great party with wonderful surroundings, yummy food, and perfect company!!

Jessica, Betty, Erica, & Brooklyn

Jenn, Nell, & Julie

Kaitlyn & Brooklyn

Kaitlyn

A Package from Daddy

2008-08-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn and I were both excited to receive a package from Jeff a few weeks ago. A book and a video of him reading the story to Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn has subsequently eaten the back pages so I had to put it up from where she could get it for a while, but she is so cute with the video and trying to touch her Daddy.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2008-08-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Daddy,

Today Mommy and I had a long talk about college football and why it's your favorite season all year. I know it was a big weekend so I hope you were able to watch some of the games today. But in case you weren't able to, I watched some with Mommy so I could give you the highlights. Mommy also taught me how to say GO UTES, and GO FALCONS, and GO COUGARS!! I think you'll have to teach me about the rules as Mom seemed a little fuzzy and if you could teach me how to throw that'd probably be in my best interests too (don't tell Mom I said that :-)). I wore red in honor of Utah, and I wore your Air Force hat, and I played with your BYU football.

XOXO,

Kaitlyn

6 1/2 Extra Wide

2008-08-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

To this point in her life, Kaitlyn hasn't really worn shoes (or socks for that matter). I always figured she wasn't walking yet and it's so hot in Texas that it's kind of a nuisance. Even so, I have had a few pairs around (gifts, Brooklyn's shoes, and one pair that I had purchased) that she just hasn't really worn. As such, I was glad when Katrina asked her flower girls to wear white sandals that I had a cute pair to pull out; and I was so pleased that they fit when I tried them on preparatory to our departure for the wedding.

Well, once in Utah, Grandpa O was fairly concerned about these sandals and kept insisting they were too small. "Posh", I thought, "they are on her feet and they're long enough." Hmm. Perhaps those cute Size 4 sandals were a little small. Grandma O and I took Kaitlyn shoe shopping last week as she's starting to walk now and I decided I couldn't delay the inevitable any longer. Boy was I surprised when I had her feet measured and the nice lady reported that her feet measured 6 1/2 Extra Wide. Whoops!! Good call Grandpa!! (Is that why she curled up her toes and was super stubborn about getting them on in the first place?!?)

I was excited to find these shoes at Payless and Grandma purchased her current size and the next size up for her birthday. (Gotta love the BOGO event!!) Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!! Kaitlyn thanks you for a fun present and especially for helping her clueless Mommy get her in a better shoe size!!

It has been slightly entertaining to watch Kaitlyn wear shoes the last few days. I think she's not quite sure what this extra weight is that's been strapped to her feet. Poor baby!! Nonetheless, it doesn't seem to be slowing her down much.

The Greatest Game Ever Played

2008-08-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

I suppose that the greatest game ever played is a matter of personal opinion; however, for me, Scrabble is an all-time favorite. The Christmas before I was baptized (I guess that would make me 7 years old), Santa brought Scrabble to our family and I've been playing ever since. And in fact, over the years, I've built my own collection of Scrabble games that includes 2 original editions, 1 deluxe edition, and 1 travel edition. I don't have the junior edition yet, but can't wait for Kaitlyn to get a little bigger so I can impart my love of this game to her. It had been a while since I had played, but Saturday night Mom and I duked it out. The ensuing game was great and I even learned a few new words like bah (used as an exclamation of contempt or annoyance). The score you ask? Well it speaks for itself . . . Mom - 243 vs Nell - 283. Don't get me wrong - I don't win very often and I definitely don't play that well very often, but every once in a while the stars align and I enjoy the sweet taste of victory!! It was great to play and be reminded how much I love it. Trav - are you up for a go?

From This Moment On

2008-06-24T01:03:00.000-07:00

From this moment life has begun

From this moment you are the one

Right beside you is where I belong

From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed

I live only for your happiness

And for your love I'd give my last breath

From this moment on

I give my hand to you with all my heart

Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start

You and I will never be apart

My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live

I will love you, I promise you this

There is nothing I wouldn't give

From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love

And you're the answer to my prayers from up above

All we need is just the two of us

My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live

I will love you, I promise you this

There is nothing I wouldn't give

From this moment I will love you as long as I live

From this moment on

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!! The words are as true today as they were 8 years ago!! Hope you enjoy the pics of some of the great times we've shared!!

June 24, 2000 - our wedding

April 2002 - family pictures

September 2002 - Parents Weekend in Colorado Springs

May 2002 - Muir Woods, California

September 2002 - Air Force football

May 2003 - graduation day

November 2003 - Thanksgiving in Boise

Fall 2003 - Utah/Air Force football

July 4, 2004 - Sandy City celebration

August 2004 - Cousin Ben's wedding

Christmas 2004 - Dillon family

July 3, 2005 - City of South Salt Lake 4th of July celebration

September 2005 - Plantation House Restaurant, Maui

November 2005 - family pics

September 2006 - Labor Day hike to Donut Falls

December 2006 - Jess & JD's wedding

December 2006 - First Presidency Christmas Devotional

April 2007 - Travis & Sherise's Wedding Dinner

September 7, 2007 - Kaitlyn comes home

November 2007 - family pics

March 2008 - an eternal family

Easter 2008 - cute girl and her daddy

May 2008 - summer vacation

Happy Anniversary to Jeff

2008-06-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Jeff told me all he wanted for our anniversary was more pictures on the blog . . . hope the adds tonight will work for you sweetheart . . . if anything doesn't make sense, blame it on the late hour :-))

Helping Mom

2008-06-23T21:26:00.001-07:00

Kaitlyn crawls in circles around the dining room, kitchen, and entry way making stops at all of her favorite places to pull herself up and check things out. Her favorite tonight was the oven . . . I think she just likes to leave her handprints on the stainless steel . . . and the chairs where she is trying to find anything fun I might have left on the table.

Just Because

2008-06-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Pics were taken Monday, June 16.

Church Anyone?

2008-06-23T21:05:00.001-07:00

Maybe I wouldn't be late to church if I didn't feel compelled to take Kait's picture. She looked so cute, I just couldn't help myself. And it was Father's Day so I thought I should have a picture to mark the occasion. It's a good thing we have 1 o'clock church. What am I ever going to do when we switch to a.m. meetings again?!? Pics taken June 15.

What's For Breakfast?

2008-06-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Generally Kaitlyn is a good eater though we have gone through a rough patch this week. These pictures were taken Sunday, June 15 when all of a sudden she became quite the picky eater. Her favorite trick of late - to take a couple of bites of food, not swallow, then blow it back out at me. Nice!!

Summer Fun

2008-06-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

We were SO excited for Erica and her kids to visit for two weeks (May 31 - June 14). We had a great time playing at the pool, shopping, visiting, and eating. Highlights include a trip to have pictures to give to Grandpa O for Father's Day, multiple trips to the pool, a trip to Austin to visit Heiners, a trip to Fiesta, Texas (Kaitlyn and I stayed home this day), lunch at The Cheesecake Factory (upon leaving Brooklyn informed us "she doesn't even like cheesecake"), and pedicures. Erica said she wanted to "get a tan" while she was here and I think she ws happy with the results when she left though it had been snowing and freezing in Idaho while she was here so I'm not sure she's seeing much sun now :-)) Thanks for coming!! We loved having you and can't wait for the next visit!!

"Look What I Can Do"

2008-06-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing we moved the crib mattress to the lowest position and pulled the rails all the way up before Jeff left!! Kaitlyn first pulled herself up on May 16.

It's a Pool Party!!

2008-06-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

Super fun trip to the pool for Memorial Day. Kaitlyn's first trip to the pool was a blast. I was excited to show off her cute swimsuit cover and her suit. She wasn't sure about the water at first, but that only lasted a second. She was splashing, giggling, and enjoying herself in no time.

Bed-Time

2008-06-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

I had Kaitlyn ready for bed a little bit early tonight so we played for a little bit before tucking her in.

interested in the lotion from her bath . . .

finding the right bedtime story . . .

checking out her bunny . . .

quick, Mom's not watching, get the tv . . .

Grandma Dillon's Rocking Chair

2008-06-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

We are excited to have Grandma Dillon's rocking chair for Kaitlyn. It had been loved and played with for lots of years and needed a little repair so Jeff found a great woodworking shop to do the work and we couldn't be more excited with the finished product. I was excited for Kaitlyn to show off the chair AND her cute new jammies. BTW - silky jammies not so good for crawling babies trying to pull themselves up all the time. She kept slipping on the fabric and catching her feet on the legs that are a little bit too long. Nonetheless, I still love them!!

9 Months

2008-06-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

I took Kaitlyn for her 9 month pictures today. For a girl who thought she'd never be into pink or bows, I just can't get enough!! I love this picture as it is a true reflection of how Kait spends her days . . . climbing on anything she can pull herself up on. She is keeping me on my toes and I'm loving watching her discover the world!!

Where were you 10 years ago?

2008-05-22T21:27:00.001-07:00

May 22, 1998 found me making my first trip to Colorado Springs as Jeff had invited me to accompany him to Ring Dance - traditionally held the Friday before Memorial Day. Ring Dance is when the Junior class receives their class rings preparatory to their last year of school. Sadly, this weekend did not turn out to be one of the highlights of our courtship because I ended it with the "I just want to be friends" talk. Poor Jeff. Poor me . . . I was so confused. Luckily, I came to my senses within a few months and we got back on track.

Nonetheless, as I look back on the trip, I am glad that I was there and that we shared this experience together. I think if I could sum up my impression of being on that campus, I would have to speak of the history that emanates from every inch of it. Also, I remember feeling a little in awe and proud of the legacy of our country, our Air Force, and those who were affiliated with it. At the end of 3 years of school and after some really hard experiences, there was a tangible feeling of celebration in the air.

I don't remember much of the specifics about that night . . . I wore a gorgeous gold dress that my Aunt Nyla made for me. (I found out later that gold was also the Class of 99's color and people asked Jeff if I had chosen that color on purpose.) We had dinner in the cafeteria (I think Mitchell Hall) and I was impressed at how efficiently they could serve dinner to 2,000 guests (1,000 cadets and their escorts). I think we ate steak, but I don't remember for sure. (I do remember thinking it was not bad food though given the huge quantities they were preparing.) Anybody who knows Jeff knows he's not much for dancing, so I think we wandered into the area where the dance was, but didn't stay long. We ended the evening at a friend from Jeff's ward with lots of the other cadets.

Saturday we spent the day hiking, at a farmer's market, and enjoying the majestic Colorado scenery. I do love the mountains!!

The pictures don't really look that great . . . Jeff usually does the scanning so I'm a big NOVICE. But I wanted to get them out so I could mark the occasion. The last pic is especially blurry, but I wanted to post a full length of my dress.

Did I forget to mention that?

2008-05-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

So I was chatting with my Mom earlier this week and after she'd asked what we were doing, I asked her what her plans for the evening were. To which she, oh so casually, replies that she's going downstairs to work on her talk for devotional. So once I register what she's said to me, and ask her a bunch of questions to make sure I'm not hearing things, she says, "Did I forget to mention that assignment?" Ummm - yes - you forgot to mention that. But I know now and I'm spreading the news on my blog and I hope she doesn't shake her head and wonder why she ever told me!! Mom - you're the coolest and you will do a fabulous job!! We're keeping you in our prayers and are excited to hear what you share with those lucky students at BYU-I this summer!!

Wa-Hoo!!

2008-05-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Jeff as well as his buddies at Wilford Hall who also took Part 2 of the anesthesia board exam (the oral examination) a few weeks ago!! His buddy called me this morning to see if I'd heard from him and to let me know that the ABA had posted results on their website yesterday. Scott said that everyone from Wilford Hall who had taken the exam had passed this time around which is great news!! And, of course, I hopped right on the website to see Jeff's for myself. We're so excited to reach this milestone!!

"Summer Vacation"

2008-05-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn is so proud of her Daddy!! And I'm proud of my husband!! Jeff left Thursday for the Middle East. He didn't have firm travel arrangements until pretty much the day before so we were doing a lot of "hurry-up and wait" exercises the last couple of weeks. He ended up on a chartered flight leaving directly from the airfield at Kelly so he was glad for that. Even though he was dropped off at Wilford Hall at 10 a.m. the flight didn't leave until that evening. We thought I would get to spend at least some of the day into the afternoon with him, but much like in the MTC, shortly past 11 a.m. the gentleman in charge stood up and said, "Say your goodbyes. We have work to do." So families hugged their loved ones and left the auditorium where we had met and our servicemen stayed behind to do what they needed to do in order to depart. Jeff's assignment is 123 days so he should be finished and home by the middle of September (but who's counting right :-)) I have referred to his assignment as "summer camp" or "summer vacation" since we found out about it. So we wish him lots of luck and safety while he "plays" at "camp". We love you!!

Now and Then

2008-05-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn - 8 months

Kaitlyn - 3 days

I have a hard time believing how big Kaitlyn is getting . . . unless I hold a baby who is significantly lighter than she is these days!! Nevertheless, we are having so much fun watching her grow!! She has been too big for the infant carrier for a few weeks now, but we had put off making the change right away. Jeff being gone this summer was the catalyst we needed to make the change though so we made our next investment in baby gear this week and purchased a new car seat. She is loving it and she looks a whole lot more comfortable riding in the car!!

A "Blessed" Day

2008-03-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 9, 2008 marked the last of our big Kaitlyn events for this trip. After six months, her Daddy was finally able to give her a name and a blessing. Since all of our family was together that weekend, Jeff and I thought it best to take care of this in Utah rather than waiting until we returned to our home ward in Texas. As such, we returned to the Willow Creek 2nd Ward (the ward we left in Sandy last fall). It was wonderful to be back in that ward and to visit with lots of dear friends who had prayed for Kaitlyn's safe arrival. Just as in the temple, we were also surrounded by lots of family who had traveled both near and far to be with us Sunday. I was so excited when I saw Kaitlyn's white dress!! It was made by my Aunt Nyla (my Mom's sister) and was just perfect!! She looked like a little angel!! I don't know if the pictures will reflect it very well, but I LOVE all of the tucks that make up the intricate detail of this dress. Grandma Dillon made the beautiful crocheted blanket that you see in some of the pictures as well. Both items will be treasured keepsakes of this weekend with Kaitlyn!! Jeff had wondered how "still" Kaitlyn would hold herself for the blessing (she's become quite the wiggle-worm), but she did great. And Jeff pronounced a beautiful blessing for this sweet daughter of ours. We stayed for the entire block of meetings so we'd have more of a chance to catch up with friends from that ward and thoroughly enjoyed our time there that day. We also took the opportunity to get pics of the Dillon cousins all dressed up in their "Sunday Best" before heading to church that morning. What cute kids!!

Our Eternal Family

2008-03-08T17:58:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day!! We looked forward to bringing Kaitlyn to the temple since before she was born, and were so excited for the "big day" to finally arrive. We chose to bring her to the Salt Lake Temple and have her sealed to us as her parents for time and all eternity. And what a great feeling to sit in the sealing room with all of our family who had gathered together as witnesses.

We made our appointment a couple of months ago and tried to get everything planned just right, but once we got to the temple, we really didn't know what to expect. After we checked in at the recommend desk, a worker escorted us to the Youth Center (the Temple's nursery) where we left Kaitlyn. It felt a little weird to be leaving her, but the workers were so sweet and excited to have her there we knew she would be in good hands. Though we had never discussed this (and looking back don't know how it would have worked anyway), Jeff and I had thought I would get to dress her in her white dress. But that was actually taken care of in the nusery as well. We then went and did the paperwork (incidentally, a lot less than you might think), and got changed. We were able to spend about 30 minutes sitting in the Celestial Room prior to the sealing. What a nice, unexpected blessing and opportunity to sit and reflect on all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon our little family.

When it was time the temple workers took us to the sealing room. Again, not knowing exactly what to expect, I think we thought Kaitlyn would be with us at this point. But still no. We entered the room with our sealer and it felt like we were there to get married. Our sealer was wonderful and talked about how children are a heritage unto the Lord. After he had talked to us for a few minutes, he said "bring in the children" which we thought was cute since we were only expecting one child to be brought in. (Who knows maybe it's some foreshadowing?) That's when Kaitlyn came into the room. She was sitting in a white umbrella stroller gnawing, not sucking, on her pacifier. Words can't really express how beautiful she looked at that moment. She had been dressed in her beautiful, white dress and was just beaming. She was all smiles!! As we knelt at the alter and had her sealed to us, we caught a brief glimse into the blessings of eternity, something that even our little family might enjoy.

At that time, and looking back, we are overwhelmed by the efforts made by family and friends to be with us on this special day. Many traveled from far distances and we recognize the sacrifice made on our behalf. We'll never forget or be able to adequately express our gratitude to those who have touched our lives both this weekend and throughout this adoption process.

It's Official!!

2008-03-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

Friday, March 7, 2008, we took our little angel to court to finalize her adoption. It was a little surreal to enter the courthouse doors and know why we were there!! Grandpa and Grandma O and Grandma Dillon came with us. Kaitlyn, of course, was adorable. She made quick friends with the bailiff and the court reporter. Debbie, our case worker from LDS Family Services, took the stand and said we had complied with all the requirements to adopt this child and that Kaitlyn was thriving in our home. The judge, Judge John Paul Kennedy, asked us if we wanted to adopt this little girl and we, of course, said "YES!!" We said that we loved her and she had brought such a special sweet spirit into our home and we were so excited to finally make it official. We believe she is meant to be part of our family and are so excited for the opportunity to be her parents!! Judge Kennedy then signed all the paperwork and then we got to take a few pictures. This being a first for us, we weren't sure what to expect once we entered the courtroom this morning. Overall, it was very brief (no more than 20 minutes), and I was impressed by the air of formality and the respect which permeated the room's atmosphere.

Happy 1/2 Birthday!!

2008-03-03T17:43:00.000-08:00

In the strictest sense, Kaitlyn really won't be six months old for approximately 41 more hours, but we had her 6-month pictures taken this afternoon and I was so excited about how cute she is I couldn't wait to share. (I'm so objective you know.)

The following is a brief bio that will be published in the San Antonio Families Supporting Adoption (FSA) chapter newsletter this month . . .

Weighing 7 lbs 8 ozs and measuring 19 inches, Kaitlyn Ann entered this world Wednesday, September 5, 2007. In a moment, our world was forever changed. We were blessed with the opportunity to spend her first two days at her side in the nursery until placement Friday, September 7. Since then we have enjoyed every minute especially her smiles, laughter, happy disposition, and the sweet spirit she has brought into our home!! We are so grateful for the opportunity to grow our forever family through the miracle of adoption and look forward to March 7 & 8 when we will return to Utah for our finalization hearing and our sealing appointment at the Salt Lake Temple.

(I just have the raw images on my CD so these aren't all cropped pretty, but she still looks cute!!)

A Light On A Hill

2008-02-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

My family has been witness (some members closer than others) to some pretty cool things since President Hinckley first announced that Ricks College would become Brigham Young University-Idaho. What a marvelous work that goes forward on that campus!!

For me, even though its construction wasn't technically a campus project, the crown jewel of all that has transpired is the new temple that will be dedicated tomorrow.

Since the time it was first announced, I have looked forward to the day it would be finished and am so exited for those who will be blessed by its existence. I would have loved to be able to be there for the Cultural Celebration tonight and the dedication tomorrow, but am so glad for family members who have been given the opportunity to be part of such an important event in the Church's history in the Snake River Valley.

Worth mentioning are the cookie ladies (Grandma O - among others) who served approximately 266,000 cookies to Open House patrons (in just over a month). The Stake Center to the west of the Temple was a great staging area for this undertaking which I think was a first in the history of temple open houses.

My thoughts have certainly been with the most temple-building prophet the last couple weeks. How grateful I am for President Hinckley who played such a role in bringing this light to this hill. And what a marvelous first official event for President Monson as he presides over the dedication tomorrow. Even thousands of miles away, my heart is full with gratitude for this blessing in the lives of so many faithful Latter-day Saints.

Last, but not least, credit for the gorgeous picture of this new temple goes to Rick Davis - family friend and Humanities Professor at BYU-I. I believe it was taken towards the end of 2007.

Tickle Tickle

2008-02-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

Kaitlyn keeps us laughing and we are loving every minute of it!!

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

LifeSavers

2008-01-31T15:43:00.000-08:00

I grew up just 1/4 mile from my paternal grandparents. Looking back, I'm sure I took their proximity for granted; however, now I recognize what a unique and special opportunity to be so close to them during my growing up years. Nowadays, how many kids have Grandma just up the road hooking them up with a Fat Boy ice cream sandwich or taking them grocery shopping with her? At Stake Conference on Sunday, we sat by the Christian's who shared their LifeSavers with us mid-way through the meeting. Not only a yummy treat, but also a trip down memory lane as I remembered that one thing I could ALWAYS count on was that Grandma and Grandpa Oldham would have a brand new roll of LifeSavers for us during sacrament meeting. Even though they seem like small things now, as a kid (and really at any stage of life), it's good to know those things that will be a constant!!

I was curious to know what my brothers and sisters would have to say about LifeSavers at church. Heard back from Trav and thought I'd post what he had to say . . . it really doesn't do it justice to paraphrase.

My recollection of LifeSavers at church . . . . . . .

If you are referring to the life savers Grandpa Reed used to keep in his suit coat pocket, also known as the number one reason to sit next to Grandpa at church. I remember that if you liked the variety kind, you went to Grandpa. If you liked the butter rum kind you went to Betty (this goes back to the Food Center days of our lives). I remember that they only got eaten after the sacrament.

If you are referring to life savers as the things that got us through being a Mormon as a young person in this world . . . . I would have to say it is the camp outs!! Blowing things up does a lot to relieve the rigors of choosing the right!!

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910 - 2008)

2008-01-28T18:46:00.000-08:00

Well this is two entries in a row like this for us, but I just couldn't let this go without somehow marking the event.

Jeff woke me last night (I'd fallen asleep early) to let me know that Dad had called with the news that our beloved President Hinckley had passed away. The news must have tumbled around in my dreams because I awakened more than once through the night thinking about him.

As I fed and dressed Kaitlyn this morning I shared the news with her and was sad that she wouldn't get to know this great man during her life on this earth. Though we will miss him terribly, we are gladdened to think of the reunion he certainly had with his sweetheart and other loved ones!!

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995. For me, some of the highlights of these years include the following (text from the LDS Newsroom):

He was a popular interview subject with journalists, appearing on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace and on CNN’s Larry King Live, as well as being quoted and featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines over the years.

In calling for 100 temples to be in operation before the end of the year 2000, the Church president committed the Church to a massive temple-building program. In 1999 — 169 years after the Church was organized by its founder, Joseph Smith — the Church had 56 operating temples. Three years later that number had doubled, largely because of a smaller, highly practical temple architectural plan that delivered these sacred buildings to Church members in far-flung parts of the world.

President Hinckley was the most traveled president in the Church’s history. His duties took him around the world many times to meet with Latter-day Saints in more than 60 countries. He was the first Church president to travel to Spain, where in 1996 he broke ground for a temple in Madrid; and to the African nations of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, where he met with thousands of Latter-day Saints in 1998. In 2005, he traveled nearly 25,000 miles on a seven-nation, nine-day tour to Russia, South Korea, China, Taiwan, India, Kenya, and Nigeria.

At a general conference of Church members in April 2001, President Hinckley initiated the Perpetual Education Fund — an ambitious program to help young members of the Church (mainly returning missionaries from developing countries) receive higher education and work-related training that they would otherwise likely never receive.

President Hinckley announced the construction of a new Conference Center in 1996 and dedicated it four years later. Seating 21,000 people, it is believed to be the largest religious and theater auditorium in the world and has become the hub for the Church’s general conference messages to the world, broadcast in 91 languages.

My thoughts today found there way to a moment that had somehow lodged itself in the far recesses of my mind and I reflected on an evening in early 1999 when I had the opportunity to be on the Tabernacle stage with President Hinckley. He had come to visit with the members of the Mormon Youth Symphony (of which I was a part) and let them know that this organization would dissolve and a new organization would form at the end of the season. While I don't remember the exact words he used, I know he talked about change. And that it was necessary. And that it was good. Though I was saddened to hear this news, I knew then and I know now that the words he spoke were the will of the Lord. Most of all, I had an opportunity that many within the membership of the church will not have in their lifetime - I was in the same room as the living prophet!! (I say this not to brag, but in recognition of, and with gratitude for, the unique opportunity which was mine.)

President Hinckley, we love you and will miss you. We will always remember how you waved to the crowd with your cane, your sense of humor, the love that emanated from you when you spoke, and the love you had for your dear wife. May we live up to the legacy that you have left for us!!

Vester Fitzgerald Rasmussen (1921-2008)

2008-01-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago today (Jan 13, 2008), my Grandpa Rasmussen passed away -- he was 87 years old. It has been bitter-sweet to see him go. Grandpa was always so kind, loving, and sincere. He had a special gift that enabled him to make everyone around him feel special and loved. Grandma passed away about a year and a half ago and Grandpa, I know, has been lonely and has missed his life-long sweatheart ever since. Nevertheless, he continued to happily live for his 2 daughters, 7 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. He continued to make each of us and our spouses feel extremely special and loved. Mom asked me to share some of our memories of Grandpa at his funeral. As I spoke with my brothers and sister, a few themes came up as we reminisced about our beloved Grandpa.

Grandpa was a hard worker and taught us all to take pride in the things we do. Grandpa always has an immaculate yard. The flower beds were always weeded and the shrubs always trimmed just so. The lawn was always green and was mowed regularly. Even in the winter his driveway was always dry and clear of snow and ice. As he aged and was no longer able to take care of his yard himself, it caused him great pain to see it look "just nice," rather than "perfect." Grandpa was also quite concerned about his appearance. When at work he always wore shirt and tie and as he got older loved the new stylish dress and golf shirts my father would pick out for him. He was a hard-working salesman with a reputation for being honest and dependable.

He also took his priesthood responsibilities very seriously. I remember him taking me to my first general priesthood meeting when I turned 12. He took me to the Hotel Utah for an early dinner and then to priesthood meeting at the Tabernacle. It was a great example of his generosity, not only with money, but with his time as well. He used to love to buy two and three times as much food as Grandma thought was necassary and then watch the grandkids down it all. He would always take time to go golfing with us and would "oo" and "ah" and carry on about how we hit the ball so far and twice as far as he could hit it; never mind that it was never straight and his short but straight ball beat us everytime by more than 10 strokes.

Grandpa loved all sports (though golf, I think, was his favorite) and I have fond memories of attending BYU football games and Utah basketball games with Grandpa, Grandma, and my folks. He used to come attend my football and basketball games. I was always proud to be able to say my grandpa played football and basketball at the same high school as me. But I know he was proud of me too; I can't remember a high school game he missed. Grandpa also commissioned me a second lieutenant when I graduated from the Air Force Academy and then again when I pinned on captain when I graduated from medical school. It was never an inconvenience to him; he wanted to be there. His sincere and unconditional love for each of us was a great example of charity, the pure love of Christ.

Laura my have been his favorite "granddaughter;" but the way Grandpa treated us, none of us could ever deny that we weren't his favorite person -- he just had dozens of favorites. That was one of his many gifts.

Grandpa taught us that family was important. He took great care on Memorial Day to prepare and arrange the flowers at the cemetery just so. He told us stories about his childhood and his brothers and we knew that even though Grandpa was a grown up and had been a bishop, he was cool -- how could anybody who did the things he did and got into the trouble he did when he was younger not be cool.

The last time I spoke with Grandpa was about noon on January 2nd. Even though he had just had surgery and was having difficulty getting out of bed because of the pain, he immediately asked about our sweet daughter Kaitlyn. He was so excited for us and our chance to adopt this special spirit and have her a part of our family. We talked about the bowl games on New Years Day and the golf I had been able to play the previous week in Texas. It was hard to get him to talk about how he felt there in the hospital, but I did get the sense that Grandma was never far from his thoughts and through the post-op pain and confusion she was close by comforting him.

His greatest example for us to follow was the way he loved, honored, and cherished our grandmother. Nobody was treated kinder or gentler and I hope that I can show my love for my sweet Danielle the way Grandpa Ves showed his for Grandma Es.

I will miss my hero. But I am glad to know that he is with Grandma again and that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ and the gospel principle of eternal families I will see him again and give him a hug and try to tell him thank you for all he has given me.

Congratulations!!

2008-01-26T06:25:00.001-08:00

Tony asked Katrina to marry him on her birthday (January 24). She told me she had been telling him while they waited to be seated at dinner that night that she'd just know when he was going to ask her. But after it all played out, I think he surprised her pretty good. When Jeff talked to her, he wanted to know if, like me, she had not wanted to go to dinner with him that night. Sorry honey, it's just me that wanted to cancel our date the day you planned to propose. We are SOOO excited for you guys and looking forward to the big day!! (See more pics of the big event.)

You're doing OK, Dad!!

2008-01-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

Occasionally, especially as a new dad you wonder if you're doing a good job raising your children. Am I doing what I need to do to provide them with a safe and healthy environment, conducive to allowing them to grow and reach their full potential? Am I teaching them right from wrong? Am I teaching them to discern what is important from what isn't? Every once in a while Kaitlyn lets me know I'm doing OK.

Last week Princess Kaitlyn was happily playing in her new saucer brought by Santa only the week before when the Sugar Bowl came on . . .

Daddy couldn't be prouder!!

Family Holiday Fun!!

2007-12-29T17:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2007

We had a great Christmas!! The whole Oldham family came to visit - and though we think they mostly came to see Kaitlyn and to enjoy the 70 degree weather - we think they were glad to see Nell and Jeff too. While the snow was measured in feet in southeastern Idaho, we enjoyed sunshine for most of the week in San Antonio. Even when it did cool down, it was still only jacket weather in the 60s.

We enjoyed lots of fun and games and were glad to spend time just "hanging out" with one another. Shopping, golfing, and trips to Costco were among the favorites activities - Dave, Travis, and Jeff played golf on both Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas. They also hit the driving range later in the week so Josh could try out his new clubs.

We spent one afternoon at Brakenridge Park where we were able to enjoy the nice weather and ride the train. We capped off that evening with dessert at The Cheesecake Factory. Yummy!! The day after Christmas we visited the Alamo and the River Walk in downtown San Antonio; it was a highlight because not only were all the Oldhams there, but we were also able to meet up with Nate, Laura, and Addie who were visiting Nate's family in Houston for Christmas (a big THANKS for making the 8 hour round trip to see us).

The guys also had a great day at the Mooney Aircraft Factory where Brooks arranged a personalized tour. It was pretty amazing to see all the work, especially hand tooling, that went into building those little aircraft. Everyone loved Seaworld (not something most people think of during the holidays) and all the shows. Brooklyn said she'd ride the big roller coaster again just not again that day so we thought that was a good sign.

Kaitlyn went to her first movie and made it through all but the last 10 minutes (National Treasure Book of Secrets). We all enjoyed the flick and laughed when Aaron thought we shouldn't eat our popcorn until the movie had actually started. And with the exception of Nell and Jeff, the adults were able to spend a morning at the beautiful San Antonio Temple. Travis later talked about how that time meant a lot to him that we could all be together in that sacred place.

All in all, we had a great and memorable week and were all still friends at the end!! Kaitlyn was sad to see everyone go and especially confused by the sudden lack of those wanting to hold her and play with her. Luckily, she's adjusting and, albeit a little quieter, her and Mom are getting back into a daily routine.

Kaitlyn's First Christmas

2007-12-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Chirstmas everyone!! We miss you all, but have been blessed to have Danielle's family come and visit this week (more on their exciting trip later). What a wonderful morning to share with our new baby girl! It helps to remind us how lucky -- rather how blessed we are to have Princess Kaitlyn with us. She continues to be an angel and has thoroughly enjoyed having some of her cousins around. Nell and I were thinking about her birthmom yesterday (I do that a lot, actually). We are so grateful to Chelsey and continue to pray for her; we cannot begin to thank her for the wonderful blessing Kaitlyn is in our lives. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as go through the holidays and enjoy the companionship and love within your own families. Anyway, here are a few pictures from this morning. Enjoy.

Build-A-Bear Baby

2007-12-09T17:24:00.000-08:00

We received this adorable outfit from the Monson and Woodbury families last week. I thought it was the perfect thing for a holiday party so Kaitlyn got all dressed up to head to the Boerne 2nd Ward Christmas Party. She is adored by all who see her though my friend Heather captured it best when she said, "She looks like a bear from Build-A-Bear . . . only a baby!"

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

We were so excited to have Grandma and Grandpa Dillon and Uncle Chris come down from Utah for Thanksgiving this year!! We even had Jared and Melissa and their family visit from Austin! It was a full house, but we all had a great time!! Kaitlyn, of course, was the star of the show -- not even the brined turkey (Thanks, Chip!) could compete with her.

(Please note that the rest of us are just a supporting cast to our little diva!!)

I never thought I'd fall in love again!!

2007-10-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

Jeff aptly summed up the last six weeks when he was holding Kaitlyn a few nights ago and said to me "I never thought I'd fall in love again."

Kaitlyn is a sweet baby and we are enjoying watching her grow and change. We're getting a few smiles now (but they're still rare) and in the last week she has started to watch the mobile on her swing and playmat. Her attention span is short, but she's watching nonethless.

We took her to church for the first time a week ago and then to Stake Conference this weekend. We're 2 for 3 in actually getting to listen to the meeting. Not knowing what to expect when we got to our ward here, we were excited to meet lots of families with young children and definitely excited to know that including Kaitlyn there are 5 infants whose birthdays are within three months of each other. Kaitlyn will have lots of friends here!!

Kaitlyn seems to be growing out of clothes left and right. We also had to leave behind the small bottles last night and move up to the big ones; of course we don't have enough of the large bottles so we'll have to make yet another trip to Target or Babies'R'Us. Is it a problem when the clerks start to recognize you??

Timing is everything!!

2007-10-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

I was in the bathroom this morning hurrying to get ready when I heard Jeff yelping from the other room. Coming out to investigate, I found Kaitlyn had been stripped down and he was changing her clothes. She'd caught him off guard and managed to get everything wet - including the carpet. Poor Daddy!!

Watching him change her this afternoon, I commented on how his diapering skills had evolved into a science. Lay her down; make sure everything is ready and accessible; remove the old diaper at the last possible second; get the new one there as fast as you can. I no more had said this and he was yelping again!! She'd hit him again!! Yes - two times in less than 8 hours.

He insists I jinxed him . . . I just think Kaitlyn's learned early on that timing is everything!!

The foresight of Columbus . . .

2007-10-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue . . .

It was over 500 years ago that Christopher Columbus set sail looking for a shorter route to gold in the West Indies; instead he found this land in which we now live. That said, we think it was fortuitous as he probably also knew Kaitlyn's daddy would like a day off on October 8, 2007 to spend the day with his two favorite girls. We're glad the government recognizes his (Columbus') contributions to society.

It was a month ago yesterday that we were placed with Kaitlyn and what a month it has been!! After wondering whether the jaundice would keep her in the hospital for an extra day, we were so excited to bring our Kaitlyn home that Friday where she was greeted by so many dear family and friends.

Since then so much has happened . . . the least of which includes growing out of newborn diapers and clothes; the most notable Kaitlyn's first airplane ride only 10 days after she was born. We have kept busy settling into life in Texas as well as life with our new princess. Unfortunately, in the meantime, posts to our blog have suffered, but I will try to recap some of our last month now.

We spent the first week with Grandpa and Grandma Dillon. We were glad to stay with them so we wouldn't have to sleep on the floor of our house since our things were already in storage pending a move to San Antonio. A big thanks to them for their hospitality!! Danielle, who actually had stayed with them since the first of August, said it was notable that she hadn't eaten a single frozen burrito (a staple at our house) during her stay at Grandpa and Grandma's.

Grandma O came to Texas for 10 days a couple days after we arrived here. Danielle and Kaitlyn enjoyed her company during the day and we appreciated her help with dinner and laundry. We kept threatening that we weren't going to let her leave, but in the end Danielle sadly dropped her at the airport so she could return home. Kaitlyn sends a special thanks to Grandpa O for eating microwave dinners for a week instead of Grandma's cooking (surely one of the biggest sacrifices made on Kaitlyn's behalf).

We have been in San Antonio now for over three weeks. We like to talk to Grandma and Grandpa O and hear about the snow storms in Rexburg, and are sad to be missing the change in seasons that we love. Here in Texas it's still close to 90 degrees during the day but cooling off to the high 60's at night.

We are staying in a small apartment until our home is finished which is coming along nicely. Last time we were at the house the fence was in, and we should be getting electricity and sod this week. We were so thrilled to receive an offer on our home in Sandy and are looking forward to finalizing that sale next week. Just in time - we are slated to close on our home here October 25.

Work is going well for me. I have more time off than I anticipated; I'm sure that will change with time as I pick up additional responsibilities, but for now it allows me to spend more time with my two beautiful women.

Our ward has welcomed us with open arms. Danielle has started going to book club and is looking forward to enrichment night later this week. And a few women got together to host a welcome shower for Nell and Kaitlyn. We were so touched by this generous gesture, and Danielle enjoyed an opportunity to get to meet lots of ladies from the ward.

It seems impossible to keep up with all the blessings our Father in Heaven has seen fit to grant us these past few weeks. As we listened to conference over the weekend, we were recommitted to serving our Savior and those around us. Hope all is well with each of you and your families. Enjoy the pictures.

Kaitlyn's Fan Club

2007-09-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

So many love our little girl. We have been so blessed and so appreciate all of the support from our cherished friends and family.

To Uncle Bryan, Uncle Travis, and their families - we love you and can't wait for you to meet this beautiful girl!!

Enjoy our small tribute to Kaitlyn and her fans . . .

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

. . . and baby makes three

2007-09-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

With a big sigh of relief, we are excited to announce that everything is official and we brought Kaitlyn home with us this afternoon. It's been a surreal experience, and we are very grateful for the opportunity we've had to expand our family through the miracle of adoption.

Kaitlyn is a sweet baby and very mellow. She is eating well and doing all the right things for a baby her age. The pediatrician is still monitoring her bilirubin and sent her home with a suitcase lamp. Other than to eat, she's supposed to spend most of her time there. Since there's lots of grandmas, grandpas, aunts, and uncles who want to love her, we're taking reservations for who wants to do the next feeding!! The white dots you might see in some of the pictures are to hold her "sunglasses" in place while she's under the lights. Very hip!!

Lilly Lite-Brite II

2007-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

We were disappointed this morning to learn that Kaitlyn's bilirubin was sky-high and she would need to be "under the lights" all day in order to treat it. After looking forward to spending the day just cuddling her, we were sad to know that we wouldn't be able to hold her, feed her, or change her diapers!! Just another lesson, in a long line of lessons, in patience for the new mom and dad. We did get to hold and feed her for about 30 minutes in the afternoon, but then it was back to the tanning bed. So far so good though, Kaitlyn's been a champ and her bilirubin levels are coming down beautifully!!

We dubbed her "Lilly Lite-Brite II" after her cousin, Brooklyn, who had jaundice when she was born and was sent home with her own light source. She looked just like we'd plugged her into a light bright machine when she was "being treated". We figured it was a fitting name to pass along to the next girl in our family.

Kaitlyn Ann is here!

2007-09-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

I guess we've resisted the blogging phenom long enough and thought the arrival of Kaitlyn was a good time to take the plunge. Thanks to Aunt Laura for helping us get the initial set-up done. (Her blog will be a tough act to follow!!) We're looking forward to Friday when placement will actually occur, but thankful for the opportunity to spend time with Kaitlyn in the nursery today and tomorrow. It's late so we're just posting a taste of everything we took today in one big dump. We'll get better and more organized at this.

I'm sure we're not at all prejudiced, but we think she's pretty cute!! She was born at 1:15 p.m. September 5, 2007, weighed 7 lbs 8 oz, and was 19 inches long. Jeff wants to brag about her apgar scores which were 9 and 9.

Enjoy!!