{HAPPY BIRTHDAY}

Today would have been Nic's 28th birthday. I can't believe he would be that old. I used to tease him at 26 that he was on the downhill to thirty:) (not that it really is old.) It was a really nice day. His family came over after church to spend the day with us, and we had his favorite foods for dinner. (homemade chicken noodle soup with mashed potatoes) We then went and walked around the temple. It was so nice. Of course my camera died just as some nice boy was going to take our picture. Oh Well. Mason is so funny he was having the hardest time processing how Heavenly Father has two houses both the temple and the church. I guess we will wait a while to tell him that there are lots of temples and lots of churches not jut 2. That would really set his mind whirling. Anyway, it was a very nice day, and I am so grateful for the Steinmanns. We love them very much.

{Ode to the Caddy}

Me and Brittney Blanchard


Molly Blanchard, Mandi Angell, Brittney Blanchard, and Me


When I was a senior in high school my mom bought "The Caddy". It was a Cadillac Devil that she bought for $700 dollars, and was so proud of. She put De Vil plates on it and we all cruised off to town. It was fabulous. My friends and I loved it. It had a horn like a train, and was big enough inside to fit half the football team. It was our travelin hotel. We would paint it for football games and come cruisin in honking the horn as much as we could. Then when homecoming came most Jr. Miss girls would chose a car of great value you know a corvette a convertible but not us. We painted up the caddy and cruised down main street as proud as could be. One spud harvest we painted red racing stripes down it and drove it everyday to the farm laying on the horn just to let Big Judd know that we had arrived. Nic and I loved to go on dates in it and loved driving it really fast up and down the hills through squirell and drummond it sailed like a yacht. It was a great car.

Then my little sister Che got her licence and the caddy continued. She would baha every where in the caddy. You always knew when Che was coming. It was rear wheel drive so she had to usually park way back away from cars in the winter because the car was so long it would slide for a long time if it hit ice. She ran it into a few things, but it never seemed to hurt it much. We just all loved our caddy. Colby even took it hunting once and threw his dead animal in the trunk. Unfortunately though over the years it has just sat. So Colby found a new use for the Caddy!

Here she is now!





He entered her into the big Fremont county derby and it was hilarious. His car by far had the best paint job, and he played the redneck part extremely well. (no surprise there:) We were all loving it. He did really well in the first round making it into the finals, and then got stuck in between two dead cars in the final, and couldn't move around them. It was a little disappointing we just knew he was going to win. It was so fun though. I am a huge derby fan. I was yelling as loud as I could. Nic used to enter them all of the time, and I count having my name plastered on the side of a car with spray paint one of my life accomplishments. :) I was a little disappointed because I have always wanted to be in one. Colby offered me the position of co pilot, but I couldn't this year because of the baby. Hopefully next year the position will still be open.


It wouldn't be appropriate if it didn't say Sue Dawg on the back.I had to laugh at her and dad, we of course were surrounded by a lot of just plain old rednecks and she kept looking over at my dad saying, "Do you feel like a fish out of water." They were cracking me up.

He got stuck on a log right here, but he got off and won this round.

{Our big events}

We had three big events last week. First, my Aunt Lisa got MARRIED!!! She got married on Sept 5th in the Salt Lake Temple. My mom and I went down for a quick trip the night before, stayed with Che and then got up early for the wedding. It was so nice, and fun to hang out with my most fav family members. Also, after the wedding we had an awesome dinner at the Lion House. Then, we headed home. It was a quick little trip, but I was so glad to be there for Lisa. I just love her, and I hope that her and Dave are very happy. I'm sure they will be he is quite the stud.


My mom and her sisters Linda and Mari Anne waiting for the happy couple to emerge.


Che, Jen, and me we all dressed the same (very unplanned) it was pretty funny.


The happy couple Dave and Lisa


Jen, Chris, and Me at dinner

The next day was Neil and I's first ANNIVERSARY! He took the kids to my mom and whisked me away to I.F. for a massage and a day of fun. We ate tons of food, went to the new Batman, and relaxed in the hotel. It was a lot of fun, and much needed alone time. Your first year is not quite the same with two little monkey's running around all the time. (but we love it) I am so grateful for Neil. This has been an interesting first year, but he has been so patient with the kids and I.

Last but not least Mason started his first day of Preschool. He was so excited to get his backpack on again and head out. I got to drive the first day of Preschool, and he acted as if he was 12 instead of 4. He kept introducing me to them, and telling them Avy was his little sister. It was cracking me up. He loved his teacher, and Avery and I loved the two hours of our alone time. It is a little sad though when your baby starts growing up.


Mason and Avery before we left for school.