Our Gigi's big 24!

Happiest of birthdays to my favorite little sister!!!!! Andrea you are such a special and dear young lady! Our family is so blessed to have you in it! I'm so grateful I got to be the closest sibling in age because it allowed me to share a room with you and hang out often. I loved listening to Oldies with you, baking in our Easy Bake Oven, going to our "Secret Meadow", dropping rocks in the "wishing well" rain gutter, making "nests" out of lawn clippings...oh the good ol' days. One of my favorite memories of traveling was going to Leavenworth, just you and me! We rode bikes, stayed in our own little hotel room, ate out together and had a ball!! Being in NYC, Baltimore and Williamsburg is also a great memory I love! 

Andrea is such a caring and observant individual. She notices the simple things and takes life at a slower pace. She is amazing with animals and knows so much about dogs and birds! Andrea is one to always help out. During Spencer's wedding you were Janes little buddy! I'll never forget how helpful you were that whole weekend!! Jane LOVES her Aunt Andrea!!!!!!!!! 

We love you Andrea! Here's your happy birthday dance (music is a honky tonk piano playing "Roll out the barrel" one of the Andrew Sisters songs! Remember listening to them!?) from Jane and us:

http://youtu.be/sg1mVvJV-UA

Amazing Pesto Dinner

We had an amazing meal yesterday to break our fast. Each first Sunday of the month our faith has a Sunday where members are invited to fast. You can choose to fast for any purpose or reason you may need to at the time. It's a beautiful reminder to go without and to dedicate that sacrifice for a specific purpose. It's always nice to have a really good meal to eat when your fast is over, and this past Sunday was epic!

I had made some homemade basil pesto from our little basil plant and so that inspired a menu of deliciousness!! James made amazing dill potatoes and peppers, cooked up some mushrooms and the had got pasta and creamy vodka sauce. Then the chicken...oh the chicken! It was cooked in olive oil with a bit of Italian seasoning then topped with the pesto. Incredible meal that tantalized our taste buds. Mmmmmmm.

Link to the pesto recipe (warning: it needs a LOT of fresh basil, I only had enough to half the recipe);

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/m/recipes/fresh_basil_pesto/

Our BFF

Spencer Bradly Cahoon got married two weeks ago and it was a very special event. He truly is James and I's BFF. What a blessing and unique position it is to have your brother be one of your best friends and then marry a man who's best friend was that same brother! We love Spencer and feel blessed he's part of our lives. I always wanted to name a child after him but I say they all have him in their namesake with our last name being "Spencer". He he! Marriage is a beautiful thing and a man and woman learn to become their best and strongest selves through it! Deep commitment and love truly changes a life. We're so excited for Spencer and Mary Katherine and the happy union they've made!

(James and I decorated their car in the hot parking garage after the temple send off, Jane was such a patient and good girl! It was really fun!)

Our Daily Walk

Each day, since Jane was about 1 1/2 months old, I have tried to go on a daily walk. It has been wonderful for me and, I think, for Jane. It gives us both time to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine and fresh air and for Jane to explore with her curious eyes. Today I didn't quite time it perfectly because we went walking at the hottest time of the day, whoops. But it did make our non-ACed home feel cooler when we got back. 

I love being outside. Idaho does make it an adventure with its two weather extremes! Freezing and boiling! I do love it in the summer though when the wild weed flowers grow by the canals!! I call these ones the sunshine balls. Yellow truly is one of the happiest colors on earth! I'm so grateful I get to have a walking buddy. She's growing so fast! She's already sitting in the stroller like a big girl! Hopefully Jane continues to love going on walks with me even when she's older. For it has become a very fun tradition!

Independence Day

"I have said that the Declaration of Independence is the ring-bolt to the chain of your nation’s destiny; so, indeed, I regard it. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost."

— Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852

What a day to remember the many freedoms we are so blessed with because of the sacrifices and lives of others! We are so blessed and privileged. We enjoyed watching the Idaho Falls Parade pass by. James had never witnessed the candy throwing at parades and was quite entertained by the children scattering out to collect it. My favorite thing at parades are the marching bands!

Yummy foods are another favorite part of holidays. This year we made fruit pizzas, kebabs (in James' Father's Day gift) and homemade vanilla bean ice-cream. Mmm we love berry season!

Jane enjoyed "nap time" with dad and cooling off outside. We had the Penalos over and got to enjoy their great company playing games, eating, doing fireworks, watching Jane dip her toes in the ice-cream bucket and hanging out! It was fun to celebrate with friends! Happy 4th of July! What a notion we live in!

Practice 4th!

Well....this lack of sleep mama thought today was the 4th of July! For real!! I woke up early and put out our flag, got dressed and laid out Janes little outfit, prepped our yummy breakfast and sent my family a "Happy 4th of July" text. Well, I guess we're all prepped for tomorrow! Practice run :)!

I live this great nation, I love red, white & blue and I love to party...guess I just got ahead of myself! James and I are also watching "Band of Brothers" together and it has increased my appreciation for all the many lives given to protect freedom! We are a blessed people and really need to remember and thank the men and women who have given their lives and time for that freedom. I love America!

A Dahl of a time!

My dearest friend and roommate of 4 years at BYU-Idaho came to visit with her sweet family. Christina, Alex, Conner and little Spencer were so fun to hang out with. It's amazing how much our lives have changed from the first day we met one another. We're both graduated, married, have kids, I've served a mission, she works, we both have learned and grown a great deal. Stina (her college nick-name) is truly a friend that lasts, one you feel you pick up right from the last time you were together. She's taught me a great deal, and I love the memories we share. She's a friend that has loved me through all my faults and mistakes. I sure love this young lady and treasure her friendship!

For the 2 days we were all together we packed it in! We went on a tour of a nuclear plant, had three picnics (one very windy one), made s'mores, walked around an Asian garden, watched shows, stayed up late, explored Craters of the Moon and ran around with little ones. It was so much fun to be together!

Conner loved "the baby" and especially loved swinging with her. It is always fun to see Jane interact with other kids. She loves observing and watching what all the "big kids" do. We enjoyed our fun and full weekend with the Dahls!!!

Oh how friendships can change a life....thanks Stina for changing mine for the better!