The Wolfley Family

When I Grow Old

2012-01-24T22:01:00.001-08:00

Last week my Grandpa Jackson asked my Dad & I to help him put on a music program at a Senior Citizen’s Home in Aberdeen, a little town close by. This wasn’t uncommon. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been performing with my Grandpa & Dad at different functions. Nothing flashy at all – places like funerals, wedding receptions, nursing homes…

The program was last night, & I convinced AnnMarie to perform her first solo ever. She sang her favorite Primary Children’s Song, “Families Can Be Together Forever.” She was so nervous, but she went through with it. I’m so sad I didn’t take a picture; blame it on my pregnant self.

I told a story about a woman named Rose who went to college at the ripe old age of 87 because she had always dreamed of getting a college education. She became a campus icon. Everyone knew & admired Rose. One week after graduating, Rose died peacefully in her sleep. After telling the story of Rose, I sang the love song, “The Rose.”

One day, I’ll grow old; we all will. Anybody can grow older. I guess the idea is to grow up. Rose taught us that we grow up by finding opportunity in change. It’s never too late to be who you were meant to be.

I thought about this as I watched (& listened) to this (before the program):

My Grandpa didn’t start playing the harmonica until his 50s. I personally think he’s a pro :).

And then I saw this:

My Dad’s mom & dad listening to their son play away for nearly 30 minutes – the sweetest thing ever.

So basically, when I grow old, I hope I’m still passionate in following dreams & doing what I love, AND I hope I’ll have a child who can serenade me with beautiful music whenever I want ;).

Welcome Home Wedding Style

2012-01-19T20:09:00.001-08:00

Last weekend our family had a celebration dinner in honor of Nathan’s return. We met in an old family cabin near my mom & dad’s house. There were a lot of people there (like 160 people a lot). My mom found a very talented girl who made this cake. Can you believe it?! And so as Nathan announced, we celebrated this party wedding style.

I love how happy my dad & grandpa are as Nathan cuts the cake.

In one corner of the world there are dozens & dozens of my own family members who look a little like me, talk a little like me, & even think a little like me - imagine that;). In another corner of the world, I’m a foreigner surrounded by people who look, talk, & think nothing like me.

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in all of our differences with others. Sometimes it seems as though our differences are the only things we even notice in others, including our own family members.

But this party – this celebration – was a reminder to me of how silly it is to focus on those differences. We’re all so similar, really. Especially if we live in the same country, let alone the same community. Most people are just trying to figure life out like you & me, even if they do speak a different language.

Anyway, here’s to you Nathan!! One…last…hoorah!

Dear Dad

2012-01-17T13:39:00.001-08:00

Dear Dad,

How is Argentina? We hope you’re not too lonely without us. We are having lots of fun here in Idaho. We went to Lava Hot Springs last night. The air was freezing cold, but the water was extra hot & toasty. The only thing missing was you. We’ve been eating yummy food & drinking fresh milk. We miss you.

Love, your two favorite girls

Coming Home

2012-01-11T16:03:00.001-08:00

Here are a few great pictures of my little brother’s homecoming last Tuesday, January 3rd. (Photo courtesy of whoever was using my mom’s camera.) Oh, how I wish I could have been there!

I love these two women in all their anxiousness. Classic.

Is this a dream?! Is it really him?! (The security guard was getting seriously nervous. He actually looks completely oblivious, but I heard he was pacing due to loud screams from the mother in orange.)

But wait…can it be?? Who is that pregnant woman with two tiny travelers?

A day late, but we made it! It only took 34 long hours of traveling, but yes, the girls & I are home in Idaho now for a few weeks. Jared was able to travel with me up until Atlanta, but after that, I was on my own.

I was bawling my eyes out.

“When you’re safe at home you wish you were having an adventure. When you’re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.” - Thornton Wilder

Warming the Heart

2012-01-02T18:17:00.001-08:00

I’ve always loved missionaries. Growing up, it seemed like missionaries were always in our home. Now it seems like missionaries are always in my home.

I always thought I would serve a mission someday. Being here is a different type of mission, but in many ways, I feel like I’m just one of the missionaries…with the added benefit of an ideal companion ;)!

On Christmas Day, we were surrounded by missionaries who were anxiously awaiting their turn to call home. Between the internet & our international phone, we were a communication hub, & it was priceless. Their faces upon hearing their families’ voices is something I’ll never forget. I even heard one mom screaming through the phone - it was incredible. The love their families have for them is contagious. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have to be around these missionaries.

And of course I wouldn’t let them go without making them sing my favorite Christmas carols around the piano.

Speaking of missionaries, my dear little brother Nathan will be returning home from the Roseville, California mission…tomorrow at Noon. I love you Elder Jackson.

A Christmas Video

2011-12-30T08:59:00.001-08:00

Since we were wary of mailing gifts out of Argentina, we thought a cute little video was in order.

The girls had so fun starring in their own show, & I had a blast revisiting my broadcasting skills that I tried so hard to hone back in my college days. Once upon a time, I dreamed of being a news reporter. (I’ll have to share a few of my news packages from college for kicks sometime). I’m sure we’d all get a good chuckle. But for now, I’ll present:

***Our Favorite Things***

Filmed on location in Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe, Argentina

Christmas Festivities 2011

2011-12-29T04:08:00.001-08:00

***** Is that Santa Claus?? *****

The company had their annual Christmas party out at Camp Kilgrumen the week before Christmas. It was hot. Very hot. We were early, of course. (My husband is always early). The party started late. (The Argentines are always late). Therefore, we were out in the heat for at least 6 hours. Way…too…long for my party doing capabilities.

BUT…I survived. AND…the the girls met Papa Noel. It was so funny - not quite the Santa Claus we were expecting. After meeting him, AnnMarie was seriously concerned that the REAL Santa Claus wouldn’t visit little girls like her in Argentina. I assured her that Papa Noel was only one of Santa’s hired helpers for parties such as these. Carlie was a little on the scared side, so unfortunately, we didn’t get any pictures of her with the said Santa figure.

But one thing I can’t argue with - Argentines definitely know how to do desserts.

My Favorite Kind of News

2011-12-20T05:28:00.001-08:00

Three days ago, this little piece of heaven joined the Wolfley family.

WELCOME to our new nephew Christian Gene Wolfley!! Congratulations Clint, Katie, & Max. He is so adorable, & we wish we could be there to see him in person.

Seeing his pictures made us even more excited for the upcoming birth of OUR new baby. Yep, that’s right. Baby #3 is on the way!! (I’m 3 months along now). We are ALL so excited & can hardly wait to find out what we’re having next month.

Lots of love, Sharee & Family

Cordoba

2011-12-19T10:03:00.001-08:00

Last week we took a 4 day trip to the province of Cordoba. Here’s your little geography lesson for the day…

There are 23 provinces (similar to states) in Argentina. Venado Tuerto (the town where we live) is in the province of Santa Fe which is right next to the province of Cordoba.

Santa Fe is in the Northeast part of the country. My older brother served a mission in Resistencia (which is in the province of Chaco) about 10 years ago. I hope to visit there someday while we are here.

Notice the little province Tierra del Fuego (The Land of Fire) at the very bottom of Argentina?? It’s close to Antarctica. Wouldn’t that be cool to see?? We hear it’s amazing.

Anyway, we stayed in Villa General Belgrano which was a tourist town full of fun shops & restaurants. Our hotel was down a really rough dirt road which was funny. We had a great time swimming in the pool there.

Here’s a funny law office I saw. Once a client, there’s no escaping – just look at that fence.

The next day we drove about 30 minutes to La Cumbresita. It was amazing. La Cumbresita is a little German town way up in the mountains located ‘right in the middle of a natural reserve.’ We had to park about a mile away & hike into it. Like I said, it was amazing!

We heard that if we walked far enough past the town & through the mountains, we’d find The Eagle’s Nest, a high adventure park, so we kept walking…

and walking…

…until we scraped two knees & found this little shack in the middle of nowhere.

We laughed when we figured out that the adventure park consisted of all sorts of crazy fun activities that our little family was way too young for (hang gliding, four wheeling, & repelling). I tried to get Jared to do the repelling, but he resisted. He said it would’ve been boring without someone to do it with. So…we walked back…

and drove back to our hotel.

It was exhausting, but incredible. Needless to say, we all slept really good that night.

Dancing in Argentina

2011-12-13T18:47:00.001-08:00

Flamenco Musica had their end of year dance recital last Tuesday night. AnnMarie was able to participate, & it turned out great. As usual, it started very late at night (9:30 PM), but it was worth every yawn.

The courtyard outside the recital hall is made for romance.

I interpreted “Please bring a treat” as bringing cookies. Apparently, it meant to bring dinner, a tablecloth, plates, silverware, napkins, beverages, & cups. I guess I’ll know better for next time. (We just play the dumb foreigner card in those type of situations.)

This is my good friend Rosario & her husband. She is so so good to me. Their daughter, Dolores, is one of AnnMarie’s best friends.

The Flamenco Musica Chiquitas…

Phew! We made it.

(I too felt a huge sense of accomplishment when she finished this recital. You should have seen me trying to teach her those moves. It’s hard work moving hips & wearing high heels, man alive.)

Our Missionary Friends

2011-12-07T18:15:00.001-08:00

I am grateful this time of year for the many missionaries surrounding us. We love to visit Elder & Sister Flinder in Kilgrumen (about 40 miles away). The girls call Sister Flinder “Grandma Ann.”

Yes, Thanksgiving has come & gone, but I love the spirit of gratitude it evokes leading up to Christmas. We held a Thanksgiving feast in our apartment with the sister missionaries & a family from our branch. It was a lot of work, but I am so glad we celebrated Thanksgiving. I was so tempted not to (gasp), but it was well well worth it. The gravy was interesting, the whip cream…even more so, but the company made our apartment home…and the mashed potatoes & pumpkin pie turned out awesome!

For some reason, just before we were about to serve the meal, I felt like I was a little girl again…at my Grandma’s house…waiting for the feast to start. It was delightful & reminiscent.

So like the Grinch who stole Christmas, I too couldn’t stop Thanksgiving from coming - it came. “Somehow or another, it came just the same.”

My Monkey Princess

2011-11-24T10:07:00.001-08:00

AnnMarie was a sweet little monkey princess for her end of school year program. It was adorable. The auditorium was packed. She was the only monkey in her group wearing pants! Oh well. (I must’ve misunderstood the pattern.) No, I didn’t make her costume - I wish! I was so happy to find Dora - the seamstress who made her costume for me.

AnnMarie was really getting into her dance. I was a proud mama for sure. I tried to video a little, but I was pretty far back. (The change in lighting caused some blur, but it’s still cute, nonetheless.)

AnnMarie’s End of School Year Program 2011

AND…a Happy Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Burdens or Blessings?

2011-11-22T05:56:00.001-08:00

Most of the time, life isn’t exactly what we planned it to be.

BUT…I really believe that when we choose to see our burdens as blessings, life is actually better than what we planned it to be. The un-expectancies of life can become vey rich experiences if we let ourselves embrace challenges as the great opportunities that they are.

Scenario 1: The primary at church here has never had a nursery or music time. Up until we arrived, there was one teacher for all 15 children ages 2 – 11.

Two hours of complete disorganization = absolute circus. Burden?

Blessing! What a great opportunity to start music time & start a nursery. Since there are no children in the branch ages 4-6 besides AnnMarie, I have taken it upon myself to appoint her as the official nursery assistant.

The new Venado Tuerto nursery: Gabana, Carlie, Rhenata, & AnnMarie. (Missing is 3 year old Martina.)

Don’t mind me, just busy counting my blessings this week…

Duck Tales, Woo-ooh!

2011-11-21T04:22:00.001-08:00

Who doesn’t remember Duck Tales?! We received a package from my Mom & Dad several weeks ago – definitely a welcomed surprise. Volume 1 of the “most memorable” Duck Tales episodes were in it…all 27 episodes! Woo-ooh! My husband is loving this if you can’t tell by the picture. (After 20+ years of suspense, all those episodes that were cut-short from doing chores can now be resolved…without commercials. So funny.)

Unfortunately, the package didn’t come straight to our door, BUT we did receive it in one piece just before Halloween, fruit snacks & all.

THANK YOU Mom & Dad!

We loved every bit of it!

A New Song

2011-11-17T07:52:00.001-08:00

Ever since my cousin Mandy & I started writing songs as a hobby last year, we have had some really fun moments. I think I’ve laughed more in this past year than I have in my whole life combined! Writing a song can be a long process, but we definitely have a great time every step of the way.

Earlier this year, a fellow farmer’s wife & friend, Mandy Zollinger, came up with an idea that we loved & had to run with. The three of us developed the song together & had a great time writing what is now Born To Be A Farmer. You can download it for free HERE.

This song has more of a traditional country feel (my grandparents love this one) which we needed as part of our catalog, so we’re grateful for Mandy Zollinger & her idea that came along in a timely way! We’re up & going on Facebook as Harker Wolfley, so ‘like us’ if you like us! If you don’t like us, well then, I guess that’s why browsers have back buttons.

A Day In The Life…

2011-11-15T19:12:00.001-08:00

Seasons are a wonderful thing. I must admit, my mind has been favoring colored leaves, the scent of homemade pumpkin pie, turkey crafts, & family togetherness. I even have a few measly autumn-ish décor items around our apartment, but when I open the window to a blazing sun coupled with dirt in the face, it’s a little hard to get in the holiday spirit. Is Thanksgiving really almost here? Oh, it’s hard to believe. (I think I’ll make a pumpkin pie out of squash & invite the missionaries over.)

These days it’s all about the end of school in sight, sunblock, swimming, visiting the farm(s), & looking for iguanas. (That hole behind Carlie is an iguana hole. Um, what? I didn’t realize that until after I took this picture.)

We didn’t see one, but maybe next time. Jared said they’re all over the place. Carlie had fun picking flowers in her MC Hammer pants & penguin shoes that I can’t get rid of.

On the other hand, the farms are in full swing down here. Wheat harvest is right around the corner…corn & soy beans were planted several weeks ago…it’s a beautiful time of year.

AND last but not least, I present to you an old shelter used during the annual youth treks. Yes, yes…very authentic looking. It makes me want to wear a sombrero & ride a mule. (Hmmm…maybe I will.)

I Love America

2011-11-11T04:08:00.001-08:00

America, the abundant, the place I was born
I'll cherish till the day I die!
Where the bones of past heroes lie buried in the ground
Who loved her the same as I.

That flag on the hill with red and white stripes
Proves America's dreams come true.
A country of heroes who line up to protect
The past, the present, and the few.

I’ll never be afraid to be proud of America
I’ll march with the brave and the just!
Refusing to submit to the will of our enemies
Standing firm to preserve what we trust.

(Excerpts from “Proud To Be An American” by Tom Zart)

Happy Veteran’s Day to all who have sacrificed their lives & time in preserving America, the greatest country in the world.

We cherish you.

My Friend Gabriella

2011-11-04T04:48:00.001-07:00

Last week one evening after school, my friend, Gabriella, invited my girls & I to her house.

Her daughter, Pilar, is in AnnMarie’s class, & she is so so sweet to AnnMarie. All of the moms from school have been extraordinarily kind to me, but Gabriella has especially reached out to me, even though she doesn’t speak any English. My Spanish is getting a little better each day, & I owe it in part to friends like Gabby.

They live on a small farm full of animals. Both her & her husband are veterinarians. We had to be a little careful because there were animals around every corner, literally.

Check out these cute little guys! AnnMarie gave them all names, of course (Felix, Rose, & Brittany).

This next picture makes me laugh. What are they feeding that horse anyway??

Notice Gabby’s thermos? We drank mate (pronounced mah–tay) while the kids ran around the backyard. (I’ll explain more about mate later). I’m looking forward to having their family over soon.

Digging Deep

2011-10-31T19:23:00.001-07:00

October has proven to be a whirlwind of unique challenges that have forced me to dig deep. Life does that, doesn’t it? – it makes us dig deep. We find out what we’re made of when it matters most. When times get tough, our true character comes out and teaches us who we really are. A church leader of mine use to always say, “Life isn’t for sissies.” Yeah, I believe it.

The flu found us. Strep throat found us. And the ashes from the volcano eruption in Chile last year found us (giving me a nasty nasty respiratory infection). I’ve been to the doctor a few times which has been an experience in & of itself. Think sea green. Think ripped foam chairs. Think a waiting room about 12’ X 15’ full of 20 people. Think 1960s. Wild. (I’m on medicine that tastes like…I don’t know what it tastes like, but I can assure you, it’s very very gross).

We learned how to live without electricity for over a week. Line drying is doable, but very time consuming.

Never fear I say. We Wolfley’s will make a come back, & it’s gonna’ be huge. In the meantime, here’s my happy helper & our favorite dish as of lately, empanadas (homemade and all) ;).

Flamenco Musica Dance Team

2011-10-24T19:37:00.001-07:00

Las Chiquitas - Mother’s Day Performance

Flamenco Musica is a local Dance Team here in Venado Tuerto, & AnnMarie is officially a proud member! Carlie desperately wants to join, but she’s a little too young ;)! The team consists of 5 groups – las chiquitas (ages 4-6), las intermedias (ages 6-11), & las avanzadas (ages 12-18). The other 2 groups consist of adult women (a beginning group & a professional group which is outstanding).

Even though Flamenco Musica has about a month left of rehearsals, their end of year performance was on Mother’s Day last weekend. Since AnnMarie has only been a member for a few weeks, she was obviously not prepared to participate, but the director invited her to ‘be presented as a new member’ at the end of the program.

The event was held in a fairly big auditorium, & I was amazed at the turn-out (there were people standing in the aisles)! This community really supports their dancers!

More than half of the dances were performed to live music. It was so awesome.

Las Intermedias – Mother’s Day Performance

The culture here is a late late culture - everything happens at night, very…late…at night. The program started at 8:30 & ended at close to midnight. (Our branch party served dinner last Friday night at 11 PM, no joke. Our girls were nearly sleeping on their plates. Wish I had a picture). Instead, here is a picture of AnnMarie with her instructor, Isabella…at midnight.

Mommy Memo No. 5

2011-10-16T23:16:00.001-07:00

It’s Mother’s Day in Argentina, so…Happy Mother’s Day!!

My sister-in-law sent me this picture. ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ in junction with this photo made me laugh…(and almost cry for whoever that poor mother was).

AND my Mom wrote a fantastic Mommy Memo. No phone service makes for some great e-mails.

Practice Makes Polite

I think children learn primarily by example. I once read that “You can't be rude to your kids and then expect them to be polite to other people." Very true.

As a young mom, I felt overwhelmed with the task of trying to teach my kids how to be polite! Whether it was receiving gifts, eating at the table, talking on the phone, meeting new people, or just thinking of others, I decided that PRACTICE MAKES POLITE!

Our kitchen table was a great place to learn. We tried to have fun practicing – putting the napkin where it went, using the right utensils, and saying “please pass,” rather than reaching…or throwing. Mealtime can bring out some atrocious manners, and most times, I felt like I spent the entire meal correcting.
BUT the more we practiced together, the better each meal became. (Yet another reason why I believe eating together as a family is so important)!

Children will learn how to treat others by the way you treat them. For example, I have always believed that correcting a child in front of others embarrasses you and them…& ultimately, does more harm than good. I always had a better experience when I corrected in private. If my children were acting rude, I saved the relationship when I chose to lead them away and quietly and briefly correct them with a reassuring tone. On that same token, we always tried to make sure that they received praise and appreciation when good manners were used.

I remember a time when our son Kyle received a ride home from a birthday party. When he walked into the house, I asked him, "Did you tell his mom thanks for the ride home?" He said, "No, I forgot." This was a great teaching opportunity. We looked up her phone number together, dialed it, & told her thanks for the ride home! Simple as that.

My husband and I decided early on in our marriage that when our children were young, we would make good manners a priority & basically, not tolerate bad manners. Think about it: Your child doesn't run into the freeway, play with steak knives, or stick Play-Dough in your VCR because you've made it clear that these behaviors won't be tolerated! In the same way, you must decide that bad manners won't be permitted either. It was a big deal for us to teach our children the importance of thinking of others through good manners. (Some of our Family Home Evening Nights were spent writing thank you notes). An education in courtesy must begin in the home. Practice really does make polite.

Buenos Aires At Night

2011-10-15T20:09:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we went to Buenos Aires for 2 days which was about a 4 hour drive from where we live. Being on the road here scares me…just a little. When people find out that I am from the United States, one of the first things they say is, “I hear the streets are amazing there. You push a button to cross the street, & the traffic stops for you,” to which I respond by saying, “Yes, it’s true. Now you know why I am scared.”

We arrived in Buenos Aires very late last Thursday night. It was definitely a last minute trip. We had to go to a government office building on Friday morning to receive our national identification cards. Simply imagine DMV times 1,000.

We had some great views from our hotel room.

It was so hard to wake these two up.

Friday morning came with A LOT of rain. We drove to the church office building there in the city, & once again, I was inspired by the church’s organization & efficiency in helping us that day. The 4 of us crunched into the back seat of a little car & drove through a massive city (3 million people massive)… in pouring rain.

If we ever find ourselves at that same hotel in Buenos Aires again, Jared & I vowed to participate in their 7 PM Tango Lessons. Ooh-la-la.

I Met My Neighbor

2011-10-11T07:38:00.001-07:00

We had a power outage over the weekend.

(Power outages in general always make for interesting stories, right?)

We live on the 2nd floor of a 15-story apartment building. The day after our water heater got fixed, (hooray for hot water!)…our power shut down, and since it was a holiday weekend (Columbus Day is big around here, who knew?) we knew we’d be very lucky to find any help.

Well, to make a long story short, we did find help, & in the process, Jared met our neighbor, Walter Hermann, former NBA player. So cool! I ran into him the week before a few times which is bizarre in & of itself. We knew he lived in our building, but we didn’t realize that he lived directly below us. That’s right, he hears everything we do…everything. (He told Jared that he knew we lived above him. I’m not sure how to interpret that. Are we Americans a novelty, too?! Wait, we’re probably just really loud & annoying. Carlie has a scream that’ll knock your socks off – or make you go deaf, one of the two). Him & his wife have two little girls the same ages as ours, so is a play-date in order? I’m trying to figure out how to initiate something like that without coming across like I’m stalking him. The fact that I posted his picture on my blog might be stalking already though…

He is a huge celebrity here in Argentina which makes things a little interesting every now & then. Our reserved parking spot (where lies our light blue minivan), is right next to his smoking black jaguar. My only hope is that I won’t dent it. Oh, that would be very very bad. (Good thing we have sliding doors).

Our power is not completely fixed. In fact, it’s gone out 3 times in the course of doing this post. So be it. I just hope to experience another hot shower soon. I’ll trade our dining room light, bedroom light, & freezer for hot water, I think. Candle light dinner anyone?

A Change In View

2011-10-06T07:28:00.001-07:00

I use to think I did a lot of dishes, but now, I definitely do A LOT of dishes. The view outside my kitchen window is much different than it use to be.

No worries.

You may think that not having a dishwasher would be a bad thing, BUT it’s not I tell you! Yes, it kind of stinks having to wash…& rinse…& dry every single dish by hand, but lots of dishwashing makes for lots of thinking.

Living in South America certainly has it’s challenges, but so does living in North America, or living anywhere in the world for that matter. I’ve come to realize that no matter where one might live, for a self-directed individual, life changes constantly. People change, circumstances change, needs, options, stressors – they all change. Our view outside the kitchen window may change. But the wonderful thing is, we can make all these changes work for us, not against us. We choose how we will react to change. Yep, we choose for ourselves. Will I gripe or will I grin? Hmmm…I think the latter is much more pleasant for myself & more importantly, for others.

So…in the meantime, I guess I’ll just get up and dance for a group of 40 Argentines.

AnnMarie’s school had an EXPO last Friday. All family members of students were invited to attend school for the day. During music time, AnnMarie volunteered herself & I to show everyone how to dance. I could have died, seriously, but instead, I grinned & just laughed right along with everyone else.

A Park To Ourselves

2011-10-03T21:24:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we drove about 40 miles to Camp Kilgrumen which is roughly a 20-acre site for all church youth camps (including treks) this side of Argentina. It was beautiful, very interesting, & a little spooky being out there all by ourselves, but we did see a diverse species of trees & birds which was fascinating. Jared encouraged me to become a Dendrochronologist (A what? Sorry honey, but after looking it up, I decided that being a mother is definitely a better fit).

In the summertime (which is coming up), full-time senior missionaries live in this house with purple trees. (AnnMarie’s favorite color is purple, so she was loving this).

Where did my children go?

Found them.

Are feather bouquets safe? I’m scared.

The girls asked if we could please please stop at McDonald’s on the way back home. Now THAT gave us a good laugh.

She’s So Brave

2011-09-28T19:50:00.001-07:00

This week has been a week of courage. Miss AnnMarie started a private school close to our apartment. In Argentina, spring is in full swing. The seasons are just the opposite of the United States. Summer break starts in December & finishes at the end of February, so the current school year only has about 2 months left. We were planning to wait until March to officially ‘get her started,’ but last week when we were registering her for next year, the director urged us to start her now.

Her first day of school was on Monday of this week. This was a big day for all of us. Her uniform was ready, her backpack was ready - everything was ready…except for the snack she was suppose to take that I didn’t know about. I got it right the next day. She was very excited, but a little nervous. I was very nervous, but a little excited. ;) Oh, it’s difficult to put words into the emotions of this week.

My little one is going to school now every day from 1:30-5 PM. So far, she absolutely loves it. This school has never had an American student. They are more than thrilled to have her there.

Most Argentines are very fair skinned. The blonde-haired lady is her teacher. She is a native Argentine through & through. She does not speak English. However, AnnMarie has a very gifted tutor there who speaks amazing Spanish & beautiful English. (She is the dark-haired lady in the second to last photo.)

The second day, all apprehensions were gone – at least for AnnMarie. (Carlie’s not too happy about dropping her playmate off every day.)

The street names here are dates (like The 12th of October or The 25th of May). Ironically, the name of the street that the school is on is the day of AnnMarie’s birthday.

It must be meant to be.

Dear Blake Shelton

2011-09-26T06:36:00.001-07:00

Dear Blake Shelton,

My cousin & I wrote a new song called “Ain’t What Shoulda Been.” You should listen to it, love it, & have your agent call me ASAP. There still might be time to get it on your new album. Okay, maybe not, but your voice would fit it perfectly, so download it for free HERE, & then we’ll talk.

Your aspiring songwriter,

Sharee Wolfley

From A-Z

2011-09-23T19:12:00.001-07:00

I’ll let the pictures tell the story…

Our life in 12 bags.

Already busting into the snacks, & we’re only in Pasco. Good thing one whole bag was dedicated to snacks.

Thank You Uncle Clint for helping us check our bags in.

In answer to the question, “How was your flight?…,” this photo about sums it up. I look so scary. Now you’re thinking that, too, right?

Doesn’t the National Migration Office look professional?I

On the street where we live. (Don’t worry, this is down from our apartment about a half a mile.)

A few streets down, but very cute.

I’m Definitely In South America

2011-09-19T19:30:00.001-07:00

Oh, wow. We made it to Argentina. We finally made it! I spent all of last week in our house getting ready to leave. Movers came & family came. It was exciting & exhausting. I cleaned every square inch of our house. I packed & repacked…& repacked again. I slept on an air mattress & ate out of a cooler in our nearly vacant home. It was a good good week to remember.

We have been in our Argentine apartment now for about 2 days. It took a full day getting to Atlanta, Georgia from Pasco. From there we flew over 10 hours to Argentina on a red-eye flight. When we finally arrived, we drove about 5 hours to Venado Tuerto, our new hometown. Sheesh! And the greatest miracle, I somehow managed to refrain from being a blubbering mess through it all.

I have some fun pictures of our journey, but my feet & back are not holding up (I miss my carpet)! I’m headed to bed, so in the meantime, I have to share some pictures of when Grandma & Grandpa Wolfley came to visit us in Kennewick before we left.

At the time, I thought the Pasco, Washington Farmers Market was surely a preview of Argentina, but oh, I was wrong. Very very wrong.

(Excited Sharee is still excited – just undergoing a little (okay major) culture shock).

They Have Each Other

2011-09-08T23:30:00.001-07:00

Lately, these two have been clinging to each other. I’m certainly not ready to say that they can go an entire day without fighting over something or another (oh, the drama!), BUT they have been developing a very sweet relationship that I adore. I never had a sister growing up, & I can’t help but wonder how magnificent it must feel to have one – someone like yourself, yet different than yourself - a special kind of double really. I’m pretty sure that the only thing better than having a sister is having a daughter. Lucky for me, I have two.

JC Penny Portrait Studio just went up about 100 points on the richter scale in my book! I thought they captured some beautiful moments in only 20 minutes.

Our Little Corner

2011-09-05T22:56:00.001-07:00

Oh, I will miss our Kennewick home! Moving is an emotional rollercoaster. We haven’t been here nearly as long as I thought we would, and these sleepless nights of worrying & packing are causing me to wonder why in the world I am consenting to move across the world! I love this house! (Start the violins)…BUT all this change has caused me to once again ask the question, “What is home? Is it a house? Is it a specific location?” From my experience, home is being with the people you love.

So here’s to this house that we will always love & remember…

But cheers to a new adventure & the new memories to be made in our new little corner of the world.

Grandma & Grandpa Are Here!

2011-09-01T00:27:00.001-07:00

We have company this week! Better than company - it’s Grandma & Grandpa J! We are within a few short weeks of moving to Argentina, so a lot of transition is going on these days, but the support & presence of loved ones is making this doable & exciting.

(Can I just say that my dear Mother looks AMAZING!? She has lost over 50 lbs. in the past 6 months, & we are all so proud of her! Way to go MOM!)

You know you’re a grandma when you think it’s completely normal to take your granddaughters to the mall for nothing other than strawberry smoothies, orange balloons, & the sheer joy of riding around in red converti-strollers. Yep, only everyone was starring at us.

The girls had their pictures taken this morning. I can assure you that this is not normal attire for attending the mall…(although they did make quite the fashion statement).

West Coast Getaway

2011-08-25T11:15:00.001-07:00

Last minute weekend getaways are the way to go. Jared & I typically plan things months in advance, but the weekend before last, we went out on a limb and took a last minute two day trip to the west coast. We even forgot the GPS, so my map reading skills were revisited (I didn’t do too bad until we got to Portland, but luckily, we hit a traffic jam, & I had sufficient time to figure things out;) ).

We first stopped off at Multnomah Falls just east of Portland.

Just before we got to Portland, we drove through Hood River, the birthplace of my Dad. (The scene below was past Hood River, but it gives you an idea of how beautiful Oregon country is). I love Oregon. It’s so green & picturesque. We passed a sign that read , “Elephant Garlic Festival – turn here!” Oh, I so wish we would have turned!

After staying a night in Portland, we drove 90 miles to Seaside. I have many memories there. It’s a very quaint beach town full of petunias, seafood, surfers, homemade taffy, & multi-pedal bikes.

A Jr. College Women’s Volleyball Tournament was going on at the road side end of the beach. We were pushed through to the ocean side pretty quickly, so I missed taking any pictures of the actual tournament.

The Seaside Candyman had 150 different flavors of homemade taffy. The list of flavors was unbelievable. Almond Roca, Banana Marshmallow, Blueberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Christmas Peppermint, Irish crème, Mint Oreo, Root Beer Float, Peanut Butter & Jam, Pink Lemonade…I’ll stop already.

Jared snuck a Green Jalapeno flavor in. Bad idea.

Heading home before the typical rainfall.

We hope to see you again Seaside.

A Flagship Store Tour

2011-08-20T23:20:00.001-07:00

Last month I toured the new Deseret Book Flagship store in downtown SLC. The store is located almost exactly in the same spot as the first Deseret Book location. The art collection was full of original paintings and sculptures including replicas of the original Book of Mormon.

LDS Artist Michael Bedard happened to be painting on site that afternoon. He was working on a new painting entitled “Ephraim Hanks, Angel of Mercy.” (If you are not familiar with Ephraim Hanks, I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read his personal account HERE.) I was inspired to say the least.

“The beauties that surround us consist of two kinds: those found in nature and those found in the fine arts. The beauty in nature is our gift from God. The beauty in the arts is our gift from others – artistic men and women of all ages and from all countries.” - Belle DeJong VanWagenen

Mama Don’t Cry For Me

2011-08-17T09:26:00.001-07:00

This morning my amazing friend Lisa (at The Far Side of Complexity) featured a post on my cousin & I’s song Mama Don’t Cry For Me. You can check her post out HERE. (Talk about a big surprise when checking her blog this morning!) ;)

Aside from Mandy’s son Clyde, Lisa’s daughter Elisabeth was a huge inspiration for us while writing this song. Lisa has a contagious love for living that I admire beyond words. Her faith & overall attitude is simply incredible.

I am constantly amazed by the mothers of special needs children. Even though Mama Don’t Cry For Me specifically refers to autism, our hope was to somehow reach out to any mother with a special needs child, sending the message that these children are “meant to be,” & would say if they could, “Mama don’t cry for me.”

Mommy Memo No. 4

2011-08-15T15:31:00.001-07:00

Funny, but Mommy Memos are becoming a way for me to get advice from my own mom. I love it. Or maybe I am just secretly coercing my mother into documenting moments of significance in her own life. Either way, I wanted her input on ways to give children self-esteem. This is bold, but I think individual worth, the root of a positive self image, makes the difference between stability & instability.

Julie:

As a Mom, I have come to realize that self esteem in children is developed through life experiences. You can't give your children self-esteem. You can only help them develop it. When I was raising my children, through trial & error of course, I learned a few things about self-esteem. Small children develop healthy self-esteem when they are taught these 5 things:

1. " I belong."
2. " I am capable."
3. " I can handle the disappointments of life."
4. " I can learn from my mistakes."
5. " I can make meaningful contributions in my world."

A memory just popped into my mind! Bedtime is always hard! In fact, it's the hardest time of the day sometimes. I remember one thing that worked with my little ones. At my wits end one particular evening, I created a bedtime routine chart. I involved my children by asking them what they needed to do before they went to bed. It seems like they were too young to write, and so we made a list of what they said. I HAD THEM PUT THEIR LIST IN ORDER. Going to the bathroom, washing their hands, getting on pajamas, brushing teeth, reading a book, saying their prayers, etc. This made them feel very capable (an important ingredient of self-esteem). They felt like they created the list, not the parent. We took photos of them completing each task so they could post the photos on the routine chart. The routine chart was posted in a place that could be seen everyday. The routine chart became the BOSS, not me. Instead of me telling my children "Get ready for bed," I only had to ask, "What is next on your routine chart?" Bedtime became much easier. My children got to tell me! Most importantly, they felt smart and capable.

Birthday Party in Idaho

2011-08-14T18:32:00.001-07:00

Both Jared & I grew up surrounded by lots & lots of family – cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, & grandpas. Birthdays were always a big deal in my family. In fact, one might say my family went overboard in this department, but as I’ve gotten older, those celebrations have become some of my greatest childhood memories. Every family has many different ways of showing love. In my family, big birthday parties were a traditional way of showing love for one another.

Since my girls haven’t lived in neighborhood proximity to most of their extended family, I wanted to take the opportunity while we were in Idaho to throw AnnMarie a memorable birthday party surrounded by lots of family members who love & care about her. So that’s exactly what we did - animal cupcakes & all. (She specifically requested those).

This girl has an amazing amount of grandmas. A huge thanks to everyone who came & made this such a special day. It’s August, & we’re still talking about it.

Harker Wolfley Has Launched!

2011-08-08T22:39:00.001-07:00

Dear Family & Friends,

My latest endeavor has launched. Visit www.harkerwolfley.com for music joy.

Love, Sharee

I Said YES…Again!

2011-08-05T09:50:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago we found ourselves in SLC again for more meetings. Jared & I had a little extra time one night to enjoy Temple Square.

We watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice for an upcoming concert in the Conference Center.

During their rehearsal, Jared proposed to me with an anniversary band that I’ll wear in South America instead of my wedding ring. I laughed, but I said yes – I didn’t' really have to think about it. Very practical (& spontaneous) he is. Spectators thought they were witnessing something monumental, but perhaps they were.

Because marriage is about falling in love and saying yes to love every…single…day.

Grandma’s Quilting Tips

2011-07-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

I somehow (luckily) convinced my Grandma McNair to jot down her quilting tips...for the next 10 years! (Okay...maybe not...but hopefully…because I'm pretty sure she'll still be quilting in 10 years if her hands allow it). Any tips I can get from her while she's in the trenches of quilting are a treasure.

For those of us who desperately need or want to learn more about sewing & quilting, my grandma has provided a great resource - the Grandma's Quilting Tips page. I'm mostly gathering these tips for myself, but I couldn't help but share as she has with me. Enjoy!

AnnMarie turns 4

2011-07-11T01:13:00.001-07:00

Growing up is so exciting & amazing. I love sorting through old photos. Life is a beautiful thing.

6 months

1 year

2 years

3 years

And now…4 years old (sniff, sniff)

AnnMarie is a very talented little girl. We feel fortunate to have her strong spirit in our home.

She is so charming, particularly articulate ;) , unusually detailed in her drawings, & is a sensitive caretaker to hundreds of dolls & stuffed animals. She tells us she will be a nurse someday. She is a very thoughtful (borderline controlling) big sister to Carlie whom she adores. She loves animals. Loves them. I can assure you, we will have a pet someday, but not this day, so in the mean time, we’ll just go to the pet store once a week.

One of her drawings…(a profile of her zuzu pet)

A cat showed up in our backyard a few months ago. This could have quite possibly been the best day of her life. Her exact words were “I knew my prayers would be answered.” The cat disappeared after a few weeks. We just figured it was a neighborhood shmoozer. She has been praying for a dog ever since.

Trying to rock a cat to sleep at the pet store…

Just delighted to be in the presence of a baby goat during a pre-school field trip…

Miss AnnMarie, you are so beautiful to us. You will do amazing things in your life. We love you so much (times a hundred million).

Love, Mom, Dad, & Carlie

Our New Pool

2011-07-04T17:13:00.001-07:00

It even has jets!

My girls got creative over the weekend. A stark contrast from the water park we went to the week before, but still suitable. After our MTC experience, we met up with Jared’s parents & his sister Kristen & her family. We went swimming at Cowabunga Bay in Draper & ate dinner at an amazing Mexican restaurant in SLC called Red Iguana. I’m so glad my girls have cousins to look up to. All of our nieces & nephews are so talented & fun. We love them very much & relish any opportunity to be with them.

And last but not least, a very handsome man…with a perfect farmer’s tan. ;)

Floor 14 & The MTC

2011-06-28T00:48:00.002-07:00

In our preparations to head South, we went to Salt Lake last week – all 4 of us. We flew out of Pasco early early Wednesday morning & took a straight through flight to Salt Lake. It was a miracle…flying to Salt Lake in literally 1 hour & 10 minutes as opposed to what would have been a 12-13 hour drive. I know, I’m old fashioned, but I don’t care.

We spent most of that day on Temple Square, in particularly Floor 14 of the Church Office Building. The girls loved getting their fingerprints taken. I wish I had a picture of that, but I was too wiped out to think straight.

The next morning was spent at the MTC. Our main purpose in going there was to meet with the Argentine Consulate. This was an amazing experience. Security was extremely tight. We spent our morning with all the missionaries departing to Argentina next week. The Spirit was overwhelming. We were so happy to be a part of the MTC that day. We met some exceptional missionaries & even had the chance to see Elder Holland for a moment.

On a much different note, during the night before we went to the MTC, our fire alarm went off at 4 AM & again at 6 AM. Apparently, our room was the only one “on fire.” Nothing was wrong, but it made for an exhausting day. My 6 AM phone conversation with the front desk went something like this – they called me.

Front Desk: Ma’am, what is going on?!

Me: What?! I was just about to ask you the same thing! We are trying to sleep here, but it’s impossible. I have two little girls &…

Front Desk: Ma’am, your personal safety is my concern, & I have….siblings, okay?! I completely understand. This is not my fault!

Me: Look, this is not about you. I’m not attacking you. I’m just a little confused as to why…

Front Desk: I really appreciate that. I’m doing the best I can. I will take care of this. I’ve done this before…

(By that point, I just figured the guy was delusional. Luckily, my husband is good at laughing about crazy things. If you can laugh later, you might as well laugh now I guess).

The Tiki Hut

2011-06-24T18:05:00.005-07:00

This girl is the epitome of optimism.

Last March my cousin Mandy & her family moved to Plymouth, Washington, just 30 minutes away from me.

This girl inspires me.

She...
has lived in Brazil for 2 years,
is battling cancer,
is raising an autistic son,
AND
has opened a Tiki Hut selling Gourmet Shaved Ice in Hermiston, Oregon...all with a smile on her face!!

So, as our Great Great Great Great Uncle Mark Twain said,
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Pre-School Board

2011-06-17T22:03:00.008-07:00

Now, I'm not an overly crafty person, but every now & then I muster up the ambition to attack a project. It all started a few months ago when I joined a little pre-school co-op for my 3 year old. One of the moms had built a pre-school board that I took one look at & thought, "I HAVE to build one of those!" So, I did what any desperate wife would do, & I put my husband to work! Okay, not totally, but it did turn out to be a great team project that we had fun building together. It was definitely a learning experience if anything else.

Supplies:
3 - 1/2" Wood Boards (2 w/dimensions 2' X 11 3/4", & 1 w/dimensions 3' X 1')
Sand Paper
6 Sheets of Sheet Metal (4 w/dimensions 2' X 11 3/4", & 2 w/dimensions 3' X 1')
Liquid Nails
Spray Paint
U-Trim
Staple Gun
4 Medium-Sized Hinges

* I purchased the sheet metal from a sheet metal fabrication warehouse in town. It was way cheaper than going to Home Depot or Lowe's.

1. Sand down both sides of your boards.
2. Glue the sheet metal to both sides of each board using liquid nails.
3. Wipe down the sheet metal with white vinegar.
* Do not spray paint the sheet metal until you have wiped it down completely with white vinegar. Let it air dry for at least 30 minutes.
4. Spray paint the sheet metal using any colors you'd like! Don't be surprised if the paint slightly bubbles or cracks. Just let it dry, sand it down, & spray paint it again. We had to spray paint ours 3 times - a pain, I know.
5. Cut the U-trim to fit the edges of each board, then staple it on using your staple gun.
6. Hinge the boards together! Placement varies depending on hinge size, but be creative. We screwed ours onto the front surface of the boards. We had to re-place our hinges several times, but we finally got it. Screw it through the U-trim to make it most secure.

I ordered a really inexpensive Pre-K set from www.teacherstorehouse.com. I had to laminate everything using contact paper which took some time, but it was well worth it.

I made my little bright fuzzy ball magnets using bright fuzzy balls, magnets, & a hot glue gun! Those were a huge hit (& super easy to make)!

It certainly isn't perfect, & if you look too close, you'll find flaws, but the key is, we got brave & did it! AND it has been so useful for more than just pre-school (FHE, piano lessons, you name it). Go craftiness!

Grand Coulee Dam

2011-06-14T00:00:00.014-07:00

Last weekend, we attempted our first family camp out. Jared has been awaiting a camping trip for years, & we finally felt like our girls were old enough to handle the roughage (& beauty, of course) of nature ;). So off we went to Northeastern Washington to visit the Grand Coulee Dam. We enjoyed the company of great friends, & even though everyone had a camping trailer but us, we stayed surprisingly warm in our cozy little tent. We only had to shew away two snakes before we went to bed. What is it with snakes lately? I may very well be manhandling them before this year is over.

Anyway, we stayed at the Spring Canyon Campground which was lovely & completely well equipped with the essentials - a firepit, a spicket, an outhouse, some toilet paper, AND a nearby beach which both girls embraced.

We (the girls) made duct tape purses. Funny. The boys naturally made duct tape swords & guns.

The actual dam was spectacular!

We enjoyed a great laser light show on the dam that night, but by that time, we were all a little loopy, & it hypnotized the girls to sleep. I think we'll try it again soon...living in Argentina may or may not constitute camping.

My Baby's Two

2011-06-02T22:17:00.003-07:00

Little Carlie is still little, but she turned 2 last Saturday. I love birthdays...I love parties...so yes, we had a birthday party! Lots of friends, cupcakes, & zuzu pets. My girls love zuzu pets (& cupcakes), so it was a wonderful day.

Despite her mere 22.5 lbs., that beautiful mane of hers is still growing...and growing...

Mommy Memo No. 3

2011-05-28T22:30:00.010-07:00

Cousin Lily & Carlie at Grandma Julie's

My Mommy Memo page is officially in order - woo-hoo! I thought it would be fun to not only document my own Mommy Memos here & there, but to document Mommy Memos from other moms, too...AND who better to start with than my own Mom?! ;)

So, a word from my amazing Mother...

This month I had the opportunity to tend & care for my beautiful grand-daughters. It was like a walk down memory lane.

Picture perfect memories of daily tasks taking care of my own toddlers flooded my mind. Where has the time gone? I thoroughly loved exploring their fascinating world with them. After many years, I was once again able to catch a glimmer of how important a Mom's job is. Motherhood is exciting, challenging, and fun; it demands all our best efforts. As nap time approached, I lay between them reading the same books I used to read to their Mom. I glanced at a picture on the wall of my daughter, and I thought to myself, 'It's such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother - that's why the world calls her grandmother.'

"There is nothing more beautiful, no picture more lovely, than that of a mother with her daughters." Gordon B. Hinckley

While Daddy's Away, The Girls Will Play

2011-05-16T23:47:00.008-07:00

One of the bummers about being married to a brilliant economist (do those two words go together?) is the fact that he travels the world all too often. Oh, how I miss my hubby, but I take full advantage of girl time when he's gone.

Home Sweet Home?

2011-05-15T01:05:00.008-07:00

Well, a little Pingree-ite is somehow seeing more of the world than she ever thought imaginable. A little adventure never hurt anybody, but wow - I never thought South America would be in the cards for me. An offer to re-locate our little family turned into a 10 day trip for Jared & I - a crazy, long, & wild 10 day trip full of flying, driving, walking, more driving, more walking, more driving, & more flying. (I'm obviously not a very optimistic traveler, but hey, I'm an active mom, & active moms don't sit, but I'll get better at it...I think) ;). Of course I missed my girls tremendously who were having the time of their lives being spoiled rotten by Grandmas & Grandpas everywhere throughout Southeastern Idaho. (I'm so grateful for everyone who helped take care of them - I know I missed them more than they missed me :)!!

Anyway, after having created a decision tree (not once, but twice, wait, three times), we now know we need to cease this opportunity. We have a few months to prepare, but alas, the day will soon come when we take the plunge to Argentina for 2 years. Something about this upcoming transition has given me a new outlook on life, & I look forward to really sharing my testimony & heart with the people of Argentina. Here are a few of the sights we saw...

A private Catholic school. Pink is a popular color in Argentina.

A ridiculous poisonous snake I helped kill. Basically, I thought I was going to die. Okay, not really, but it was creepy. The snake was still alive & well when Jared took this picture. I was screaming in the back of a truck.

A glimpse of Quebracho (a ranch literally out in the middle of nowhere where Jared & I will be spending a lot of time).

More of Quebracho. The parrot nests were incredible.

Walking a neighboring street of our future new home. Primitive? Yes. Livable? Certainly...I think!

Walking in Argentina

2011-05-03T19:12:00.003-07:00

Today I walked through the streets of Venado Tuerto Argentina. The streets are dusty, & it smells like exhaust - not necessarily a bad thing, but I wish I had my camping clothes. There's either a fresh fruit stand or a French pastry shop on most corners (definitely yummy), & there are a lot of people riding bikes & motorcycles with a baby (or two) attached somewhere. Animal control is non-existent. I'm not quite sure where all these stray dogs are coming from, but they seem pretty tame. Jared & I made it to the central park, & we sat on a bench for about an hour & didn't really say anything. We were staring at a giant bronze statue of an Argentine cowboy getting bucked by a horse. Our conversation went something like this:

Jared: "Well, what do you think?" (About the 100th time I've heard that this week.)
Me: "About what?"
Jared: "About life?
Me: "Do you know what sets centurions apart from everyone else?"
Jared: "No, what?" (Is this 20 questions or is this a conversation?)
Me: "Their ability to adapt."
Jared: "Looks like I'll live to be 100, how about you?"
Me: "I could get used to paisley tight jeans & red high heel boots."
Jared: "Yeah, me too." (Not sure how to interpret that one.)

2010 Wolfley Christmas Vacation

2011-01-25T08:26:00.008-08:00

After Christmas, we had the opportunity to visit the Wolfley homestead on Taber Rd. We had a great time, & the girls especially loved spending time with their cousins whom they haven't seen in quite a long while. Aside from the traditional gift exchange, we experienced the joys of getting studio family pictures, the adventure of Mountain River Ranch, & the competitiveness of a New Year's Eve day bowling tourney. I'm so grateful for a wonderful family. Life just wouldn't be the same without loved ones.

Santa did come...

2011-01-17T07:55:00.011-08:00

I was a little worried, but yes, Mr. Claus managed to find the Wolfley household this year. Two little girls make for mahem & mischief, & my own husband walks the line between naughty & nice all too often. I'm sure the elves were perplexed, but mercy was given.

We had our 1st annual 'stay-at-home' Christmas this year. We missed the warmth of family, but were grateful for the opportunity to start some of our own traditions & memories...like a day of service on Christmas Eve, the sprinkling of reindeer food on the back lawn, & the readings of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" & Luke 2. I shouldn't remember this particular holiday as the Christmas of melt-downs, but hey, girls are emotional creatures. My two females are no exception.

Strange

2010-12-21T00:47:00.007-08:00

My ever charming 3-year-old is discovering a unique style, although I must say, her fascination with clothing compliments her fetish with hair (a potentially good combination). Four weeks ago she thought it ingenious to smother her hair in Desitin diaper cream. Lovely. No worries - white vinegar, baking soda, & lemon juice work wonders (beware of a slight sting from that last one). You might loose a little hair in the process, but it's better than a buzz. Maybe she'll take care of Carlie's mullet for me - I can't seem to find the time.

70 Years

2010-12-13T02:15:00.005-08:00

On December 3rd...
this man

and this woman

celebrated 70 years of marriage.

That my friend, is amazing. Happy Anniversary Grandma & Grandpa Wolfley.

Cinderella and Lucifer

2010-12-05T19:48:00.004-08:00

I thought it was funny. If you're confused, there is a mean black cat in 'Cinderella' named Lucifer. The two of them made quite the pair on Halloween night. We had almost 100 trick-or-treaters this year, roughly half as many as last year. A little too cold maybe...

My Funny Life

2010-11-15T15:13:00.004-08:00

My life is always making me laugh.

This week I...

1)encountered the cops at 6:30 AM on Thursday morning. The sweet mother of one of my piano students was parked outside our house waiting for her son's piano lesson to finish. My crazy neighbor called the cops on her saying something like this, "I've been watching this homeless lady for weeks now. She parks in our cul-de-sac at random times & sleeps in her car."

2)sat through an all-day appraisal course taught by a very intelligent dwarf (I think that's the politically correct term, maybe little person is better).

3) wrote a hilarious country song with my cousin Mandy regarding red neck pride.

4) called a music store to inquire about book returns. I had to return 3 books. The man on the other line says to me, "we have never had a return on this product in the history of this business." I say, "I am not disappointed with the product itself. I just ordered the wrong level." Man says, "the author of the book happens to be here right now. Why don't you talk to her about your concerns..." I say, "What?" I then speak to a well-known method author about why I am returning her book. Did that really just happen to me?

My Silly Three-Year-Old

2010-09-16T23:46:00.003-07:00

AnnMarie has a new pose. Can you figure it out?

This girl is full throttle non-stop. Good thing we started gymnastics last week.

I Love My Girls

2010-09-01T22:03:00.004-07:00

I am so blessed to have these two little cuties in my life. The other morning as I was attempting to make our bed, AnnMarie told me to stop. She wanted to make a swing out of the sheet. I remember being swung in a big red blanket by my mom & dad when I was a little girl. The sheet was a little too wimpy to do the same for them, but they turned that bed into a playground for the morning. They laughed & played & laughed & played. We all did - it was great. These two are so precious to me, & I can't imagine my life without them.

Garden Goodness

2010-08-27T19:51:00.007-07:00

Last year (after an interesting attempt to plant a garden), we knew we wanted a good garden this year. We worked hard, & our efforts have proven successful. We have thankfully been enjoying a bountiful harvest, & I have to say, it is rewarding.

The girls enjoyed eating fresh peas off the vine early summer, & the rest of our produce has been keeping me busy nearly every day this month. I've already freezer packed a good amount of green beans (much more to go), & I had my first "in my own kitchen" canning experience last week. Thanks to a great mom (my right hand) & mom-in-law (my much needed phone assistant), I canned & pickled our beets with get this -zero disasters.

I threw a fit when I found out all of our tomato plants were cherry tomatoes (sorry honey), but so far, we've been making good use of them. Seriously, if you need ideas on what to do with cherry tomatoes out your ears, I've got you covered. I made a pizza sauce with them the other night, & it was delish.

Other than that, we're trying to keep up with our carrots & cucumbers. Our squash & watermelon are coming on - that'll be fun in a few more weeks. Will I do this next year? Ask me in April.

Winter in July

2010-08-05T16:56:00.004-07:00

I discovered my two little shenanigans playing dress-up with some winter clothes. AnnMarie includes Carlie in everything these days - she did a pretty good job of bundling her up, too. Maybe they're getting a little too much of their swimsuits & kiddie pool...

Mommy Memo No. 2

2010-08-03T15:23:00.006-07:00

I must confess that one of the greatest joys in sharing life with my children is the fact that in some ways, I get to be a child again. Not only do I relive moments through my children (like eating otter pops & getting sprayed by a hose or biffing it in my hallway due to a neglected pink pearl bracelet - ouch), but I see life again through a child's eyes. I love taking the time to see what they see & hear what they hear. Butterflies really are tinker-fairies to the untrained eye & just the other day, the announcement of Pooh & friends parading up our front walk with a bouquet of purple balloons was so convincing that it had me looking out our window - just in case. Because I'm a grown-up now, I realize how quickly these scenes will pass. I can't help but embrace these moments with a deep appreciation of their simplicity.

A quote by Evelyn Nown says it best: "Perhaps parents would enjoy their children more if they stopped to realize that the film of childhood can never be run through for a second showing."

Too Funny

2010-07-13T23:34:00.002-07:00

Jared deserves credit for taking these great photos. All I can say is "Wow." I've never seen two girls so excited to get out of a vehicle.

Mommy Memo No. 1

2010-07-08T16:08:00.003-07:00

Over the past year, I have found myself attempting to pour over books offering insights to raising children or being a better mom. Perhaps I'll discover the secret to finding more 'me-time' or even find justification for the break-down I just had with my 2-year-old for interrupting my 'all important task.' At any rate, I keep experiencing the same ah-ha moment again & again. I chose marriage, & I chose motherhood. Because of this, I am in for a selfless life that will ultimately keep me grounded anyway.

"There was a time when I could have chosen a more solitary life where I would have had innumerable hours to collect my thoughts, to complete a given task---but I didn't. I chose marriage and motherhood." Debra Sansing Woods

San Francisco

2010-07-01T10:24:00.003-07:00

Before our Disneyland venture, we spent some time in San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge was much more amazing than I imagined, & the sour dough bread bowls with clam chowder tasted yummier than yumminess. Despite the crazy wind conditions, we enjoyed strolling along Pier 39 listening to the sea lions. AnnMarie & Carlie got the "arf arf" down pretty good.

Our experience just wouldn't be complete without driving through the lovely rainbow tunnel. Did we really just see that?

Jared trying to prevent Carlie from jumping in the bay. Alcatraz Island is in the background - home of an isolated Federal Prison back in the 50s & 60s.

Happiest Place on Earth

2010-06-24T21:12:00.005-07:00

Our little family had a California getaway last week. We braved Disneyland with our two girls & had a blast. It always cracks me up when I think of Disneyland as "the happiest place on earth." Yes, it is happy indeed, but the majority of folks are grouched out, out-of-shape, stressed out, sunburnt parents trying to keep track of their kids amidst giant crowds ("You will go on this ride, & you will like it!"). We managed several break downs ourselves, but all-in-all had a great time.

The happiest moment of AnnMarie's life.

The lines really weren't that bad, but who would've thought waiting to see Winnie the Pooh would've taken an hour. AnnMarie LOVES Winnie the Pooh, & all she could say after meeting him was "He didn't say anything Mom." She's still disappointed about that one. I've been reassuring her that he's just really shy.

Luckily, Tigger was a hoot. When it was her turn to see him, she started jumping up & down to mimic his bouncing. She even purposely bumped into him & then kept jumping like she was doing some kind of a weird rap dance. It was hilarious - the whole line of people watching was laughing.

Gotta' love the "Bug's Life Show."

Very sweet.

Happy 1st Carlie!

2010-06-11T23:35:00.004-07:00

Carlie turned the big 1 on May 28th. I can't believe it. We had a fun barbecue with my cousin Mandy, her hubby Scott, & their two wild huligans. Ironically, Mandy & her family moved close by a few months ago. We've had some good times to say the least. Carlie is such a happy little girl - we love her so much.

A Day at the Park

2010-05-23T20:43:00.002-07:00

Lovin' this warm weather.

You Were There

2010-05-12T11:51:00.005-07:00

A poem written by me, for my Mother

You were there in the early years,
the soft and gentle newborn years,
You held me tight through sleepless nights
and calmed my cries with lullabies,
I reached for you with all my might,
You were there for me.

You were there in the tender years,
of fingerprints and gummy-bears,
You cheered me on at my first step
and read to me at each sunset,
Hand in hand – I’ll never forget,
You were there for me.

You were there in the selfish times,
When “I knew best,” you stepped behind
(content to watch and let me shine),
From every stage, I’d see your face,
With every loss, a warm embrace,
Your special touch can’t be replaced,
You were there for me.

Now you’re here in the grown-up years,
of trials, hardships, and new mothers' fears,
Walking side by side as friends,
I’m overcome as I comprehend,
Our love is one without an end,
Dear Mother, You are there for me.

My Baby's Walking!

2010-04-29T14:37:00.004-07:00

A few weeks ago, Carlie took her first steps. It's fun to see such a little thing walking around our house. Where did my baby go?

Shoe Shopping...(in a bin)

2010-04-21T22:22:00.004-07:00

At what age will she decide that handy downs are "so not cool?"

A Sunday Morning

2010-03-30T22:28:00.001-07:00

Did you know?

2010-01-15T21:29:00.004-08:00

Did you know that this backcountry

bagpiping

maniac (AKA my little brother Nathan Mark Jackson)

is now a missionary in the MTC headed to Roseville, CA this Tuesday? Did you know?

This One's for Claire!

2009-11-30T10:11:00.005-08:00

How lucky am I to get another adorable niece in the same year?! Jared's sister Kristen & her husband Richard welcomed Claire Emma to their family on Veteran's Day(11/11). Congratulations you guys. We can't wait to meet her in person.
A few days after she was born, AnnMarie could not quit talking about her. Unaware of her activities, she kept saying, "this one's for Claire!" After an entire morning of intense creating, she finally presented this lovely concauction. If you can't tell what it is, I'll help you out. It's a tupperware bowl filled with yellow play dough, water, a ziplock bag, toothpicks, a sponge, and a baby spoon. The only way I was able to get rid of it was by telling her that I sent it in the mail to baby Claire. She was satisfied.

5 Months Already

2009-11-02T22:09:00.004-08:00

Time is flying by with my second one. I am loving every minute with her. AnnMarie still adores her. We're lucky to have this smiley little munchkin in our home.

Cousins

2009-11-02T21:59:00.003-08:00

AnnMarie & Carlie have been having fun with their cousins. We even got to see Henry & Clyde over Labor Day weekend.

Meet Lily Jackson

2009-09-24T22:06:00.002-07:00

Oh. my. goodness. Could she be any cuter? Congratulations Kyle & Sarah on the birth of your new daughter.

I'm tired

2009-08-21T12:38:00.006-07:00

10:10 am - Pump milk for first time
10:30 am - Carlie wakes up from long morning nap
10:31 am - AnnMarie steals Carlie's bottle & runs around house like a mad woman screaming "Car Seat's baba!!" over & over again 10:40 am - Retrieve Carlie's bottle
10:45 am - Carlie hates bottle & refuses to take it
10:50 am - Carlie has major upchuck that gets all over me & everything else
10:51 am - AnnMarie wets all over the living room floor (first accident in a week by the way)
10:52 am - AnnMarie does some weird dance around her accident
10:55 am - Call doctor because I realize Carlie hasn't had a bowel movement in 4 days
11:00 am - Try to give Carlie bottle again
11:01 am - Carlie screams, I comfort her
11:05 am - Greek neighbor rings my doorbell & wants to talk about artificial snowmen
11:10 am - Dr. calls back, says give Carlie laxitive
11:15 am - Give Carlie laxitive
11:16 am - Carlie screams, I comfort her again
11:20 am - Carlie finally goes to the bathroom - not a normal bowel movement
11:21 am - Call my mom - AnnMarie must've fed her something we decide
11:25 am - Carlie calms down
11:30 am - Discover AnnMarie giving her baby Debra a laxitive which explodes all over her baby just as I'm about to recover it
11:31 - Sit on the floor & laugh my head off
11:35 - Carlie finally goes back to sleep
11:40 - Clean up chocolate pudding that AnnMarie found

I'm going to take a nap now.

Summer Moments

2009-08-19T16:07:00.001-07:00

Some fun summer pics...

A Pennsylvania Wedding

2009-07-28T16:16:00.006-07:00

Jared was a best man at an old college buddy's wedding in Pennsylvania. Him & Mike were on the wrestling team together at Cornell back in the day. I LOVE weddings. Too bad I couldn't go. It's okay though...I think I like AnnMarie & Carlie a whole lot more than weddings:)

I found this old picture of Jared, Justin (another old buddy that Jared also got to see), & Mike at the Eastern Championships about 8 years ago.

The Real Octomom

2009-07-05T22:46:00.005-07:00

So I know everyone thinks I only have 2 babies to take care of, but in reality, I have 8. AnnMarie is the proud mother of 6 babies, the latest of which is a boy by the way (I'm pretty sure it's suppose to be a girl baby, but she calls him Ralph). She got interested in baby dolls before I had our new addition, but ever since I had Carlie, this like has turned into an obsession that not only takes up a great deal of her time, but mine as well. I really don't even know how she does it all. By the time she feeds them all (one at a time even), rocks them all, takes them all out for walks, & yes, even makes them all go potty, my head is spinning trying to keep track of who needs what at any given moment. You may want to fault Jared & I for providing her with these babies? No. All but one was given to her as a gift whether it be from neighbors, friends, family, etc. (not a problem, really, just no more babies please, nine would be a little much).

My Eight Babies

A Quick Carlie Update

Our New Precious Girl

2009-05-31T21:36:00.010-07:00

Welcome Carlie Joy! Our sweet girl came in at 5 lbs. 13 oz. & 19 in. long. She was born on Thursday, May 28th at 2:38 PM. I was scheduled to be induced at 8:00 AM that morning, but crazy enough, I went into labor at 4:00 AM, just four short hours after my parents arrived. Thanks to a great coach (Jared of course), an excellent doctor, & a sweet nurse, everything went so well. I can't thank my parents enough for being with AnnMarie through it all. It's really been a special time around here...something about a newborn changes everything.

Katie & Clint came to the hospital a few short hours after Carlie was born. She took some great pictures for me. Thanks Katie for helping me out so much this past month. It's been so nice having you close by to call on.

I can't believe all of Carlie fit inside me! It's the weirdest feeling going from a bowling ball out front to a deflated balloon out front, but boy, it's lovely. This is me the night of my due date.

Our rose bush blossomed just a few days before Carlie was born. How appropriate...a soft pretty pink. We love you Carlie & couldn't be more happy that you are a part of our family now.

Will She Come?

2009-05-26T13:28:00.003-07:00

Today is officially my due date, the day I've looked forward to for soooo long! I thought she would've been here by now, but I should've known better. AnnMarie didn't come early by any means, but she did decide to come the night of her due date. Hmmm...maybe tonight's the night? At any rate, I have an appointment tomorrow morning, so hopefully, I'll know what to expect after that.

I've been so blessed throughout this pregnancy. I'm looking forward to seeing the face of this new little girl. A part of me can't even imagine what to expect. I'm so use to AnnMarie's personality that sometimes, it's just hard to comprehend anything different from what I've known. Two girls - who would've ever imagined. Here we come emotional fickleness.

My Family...

2009-05-06T14:00:00.003-07:00

I've got a great family, I really do. As I'm getting closer to my due date (less than 3 weeks now!), not only am I swelling up just beautifully, but I'm realizing how grateful I am for such a great family. Jared's family came to see us over Easter weekend, & of course, we had a blast. AnnMarie is lucky to have such awesome cousins. She was pretty sad to see them go; it got all too quiet all too quickly around here. I didn't end up with very many pictures (blame it on the pregnancy, works every time), but the ones I did get turned out adorable.

Coming Along...

2009-03-18T21:59:00.005-07:00

The days have been going by way too fast! We made it into our new home without any problems. A huge thanks goes out to my ma & pa. They are amazing workers. We couldn't have accomplished near as much as we did without their help, especially since I'm 7 months pregnant right now. For anyone who's moved, you know what a job it is - cleaning, organizing, de-junking, assembling - the list goes on & on, but all & all, it's so exciting.

AnnMarie is adjusting so well, but she seems to be more excited about her little sister on the way than anything else. A couple of weeks after our big move, my little brother came up with my mom to see us. Thanks to his giant muscles, he was able to transport gallons upon gallons of blue sand for us. Don't ask me what a huge pile of blue sand was doing in our backyard, but there was one, & it was weird. Him & my mom scooped it all into a garbage container for me with merely two tiny garden shovels. It was hilarious (we haven't bought a real shovel yet, sorry again about that guys).

Our New Year

2009-01-29T08:42:00.004-08:00

The new year is here. It's hard to believe, but new months & new years keep coming. Just before Christmas, Jared & I found out that we are having another girl! More bows, ribbons, dolls, dresses, & hugs - we can't wait. I think AnnMarie will love having a sister, something I never had growing up. I told Jared that it'll take at least 3 girls to outnumber him anyway.

Shortly after Christmas, which was wonderful by the way (we were all spoiled rotten), we bought our first house. It happened kind of fast, but we've been looking ever since we moved here. When we saw it, we knew it was what we wanted. So, as you can imagine, packing is on the agenda between now & the end of February. Not to worry, AnnMarie is a huge help when it comes to packing - she does it all day, every day. She's also a pro at unpacking though (could be a potential problem). Note to self: have plenty for her to pack.

Congrats Dr. Wolfley

2008-12-22T19:23:00.013-08:00

Well, after 8 years of hard work, Jared earned his new title. Last week, my entire family & Jared's parents flew back to College Station, TX for Jared's graduation. It was only a four day trip, but it was well worth it. I'm so proud of him! He always gets so much done in such a short time & still seems to have this crazy energy about him - that's one of the reasons why I married him. I knew my life would always be an adventure, & so far, it's been a great one. So here's to you Dr. Agricultural Economics man - no more tests, study groups, late nights writing papers, & sadly, no more Pepsi runs with Ben & Ryan. You've made us all very proud!

Kyle & Sarah enjoying our pre-celebration dinner at C&Js Barbecue

Here's Pat, the great mom that she is. Not only did she iron his ridiculously wrinkled gown, but she figured out how to get that hood on - thank goodness for me. Doesn't Jared look pleased?

Proof that my family survived the 3 hour ceremony.

Here are Kim & Pat singing & dancing to "La Bamba" at the Original Mexican Restaurant along the River Walk in SanAntonio. Okay, so maybe they weren't singing, but they did break out a few moves. It was hilarious that there was actually an authentic band going around & singing at the tables - what a blast.

The last day, we spent the afternoon in a cute little German town called Gruene (pronounced Green), TX. There were some neat German antique shops & restaurants to explore, not to mention Mr. Johnny Cash himself. Well, obviously it wasn't him, but he sounded exactly like him. Listening to that band had to have been one of my dad's favorite parts of the whole trip. Thanks for the memories everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T11:14:00.004-08:00

My cousin Joslyn is an amazing photographer! When I went home in October, I was lucky enough to get her to take some pictures of AnnMarie & I. Here's just a preview of some of the shots. Oh, & she just got a new web-site launched that looks so good: www.joslynleigh.com. We had such a good time - thanks Jos. Have a Happy Turkey Day everyone!

Big News!

2008-11-09T22:28:00.002-08:00

Baby #2 is on the way! Come May, AnnMarie will be a big sister.

I Voted...Did You?

2008-11-04T08:21:00.001-08:00

Am I Inhumane?

2008-11-02T10:54:00.003-08:00

So Jared & I spent the morning after Halloween in Urgent Care with AnnMarie. Her fever was back, she was screaming, & worst of all, she was pulling on her ears. I don't have an established pediatrician for her yet here in Washington since we've only been here a short time. She had a great Dr. in Texas, & I'm really missing her right now. I told the Dr. at Urgent Care that AnnMarie HATES the medicine she was prescribed at the Urgent Care in Blackfoot. I do all I can to get it down her, but she either spits it out or throws it up, even if I disguise it in her FAVORITE foods. Trust me, I've tried EVERYTHING! He told me that the only way she'll get better is to make that medicine go down somehow, so he prescribed a more concentrated dose of the same medicine, & now, I'm suppose to give it to her 3 times a day instead of 2! So since yesterday, I've been wrapping her in a towel, holding her arms down, & basically shoving the medicine in the back of her throat. It's traumatic for all of us, & she's still spitting a significant amount of it up. I've been doing laundry like a mad woman since medicine seems to be flung everywhere by the time it's all over. One thing's for sure - I'm finding a good pediatrician on Monday morning & scheduling an appointment ASAP.

Our Little Kitty Cat

2008-11-02T10:40:00.005-08:00

Doing the kitty cat boogie...

Sampling the goods...

Autumn Days

2008-10-31T11:56:00.005-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Well, this October has gone by way too fast. Aside from AnnMarie turning from a baby girl to a little girl (she's literally running all over the place now), I had the chance to be around family - a lot. It was great to say the least. At the end of September, my mom, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law, & I all took a girls trip to Seattle. We had a blast visiting the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Pikes Market, & of course, a few of the seafood restaurants. We even went on a little lunch cruise around the bay. AND we saw a Broadway play - Phantom of the Opera. Way fun!

A few weeks later, Jared's mom & dad came to Tri-Cities for a weekend visit. Even though it was only for two days, we had so fun just spending time with eachother - shopping, eating out, & just driving around. I ended up joining them on the 8 hour ride back to Idaho which luckily, wasn't that bad at all. I felt bad for Kim & Pat since AnnMarie slept a total of maybe 20 minutes the whole trip home! Yeah, crazy I know. Turns out, she had a nasty ear infection that is just now getting better, I think.

Anyway, it was nice to be home for a week, especially while AnnMarie was so sick. I felt like I had a newborn again, waking up every 2 hours in the night to a screaming baby. Not fun at all. I so appreciate when she sleeps through the night now. My mom, Sarah, & I spent time canning up a storm - applesauce, chili sauce, salsa, & plum juice. It was great - my mom's amazing.

I'm back home in Washington now. Stay tuned for AnnMarie's kitty cat costume - it's adorable.

Pigtail Power!

2008-09-18T21:58:00.017-07:00

So one of the great things about being in Washington is that we're literally only about 7 miles from Jared's brother Clint & his wife Katie. It's so nice to be close to family. Katie's not only a great Aunt, but let me tell you, she knows how to do hair. Those pigtails - all her doing. They suddenly transformed our baby into a little girl. However, it might be a while before we see AnnMarie in pigtails again. She got her first hair-cut two days ago. Trust me, it was time. She was starting to remind me of that girl on the 'Incredibles' that has her hair in her eyes all the time.

Before (somewhat traumatic):

After (much better):

We Made It!

2008-09-18T21:58:00.010-07:00

Well, we're finally settled. It was a long road, mostly for Jared (he spent nearly four solid days in a moving truck pulling a trailor with my car on it), but we made it. AnnMarie even contributed to the packing. She didn't want to feel left out. (In fact, she's still packing everything in our new apartment. I can't get her to stop).

Here it is, Saddlewood #315. It's been good to us through the years. Geckos, frogs, spiders and all.

I flew home to Pingree the day Jared pulled out of Texas. We eventually met up at the end of that week. Jared drove back to Blackfoot after unloading the truck all by himself - yeah, he's buff, and stubborn. Anyway, we spent a couple of weeks at home. We couldn't miss the fair, of course. Those teriaki chicken bowls are just too darn good. AnnMarie looked stylin'. She loved the animals, too.

We're so happy to be here in Kennewick. Jared's enjoying his job so far, & we're all definitely enjoying the weather.

A City Beautiful

2008-08-20T20:37:00.005-07:00

During the last week in July, our little family had the opportunity to go to Nauvoo & see my little brother perform in the Nauvoo pageant. We had such an awesome experience. We met up with my parents, older brother, & both sets of my grandparents, and we stayed in a nice condo just outside of town (we missed you Sarah!). I've never been on a vacation before with all of my grandparents - it was so much fun. They are all so special to me.

I really felt the spirit of Nauvoo. I hope we have a chance to go back again sometime. I was absolutely amazed at everything, & the weather couldn't have been more perfect. I learned so much about our church - it was quite motivating actually. Nathan did great, he's so talented. I am a VERY proud sister. He just got back and started school at Utah State today. As we walked through Nauvoo, we'd tell people why we were there, & they'd all say, "Oh, you're Nate's family?! We LOVE the pipers!" Jared loved the Browning Shop (Richard, I took some cool pictures for you), and both Grandmas loved the quilting demonstrations (I have a cute picture of them listening intently).

Anyway, thanks mom & dad for letting us tag along, & thanks Nate for being so darn good on the pipes! We love you! Oh, & by the way, Nauvoo translates 'a city beautiful' in Hebrew.

Goodbye C&Js

2008-08-20T20:25:00.002-07:00

So when we moved to Texas, EVERYONE raved about C&Js Barbecue. We tried it & loved it, of course. When I was pregnant with AnnMarie, I couldn't stand it, & I've had a hard time liking it ever since, but lately, I've been able to go back a time or two. Anyway, we had our last meal there as a family a few weeks ago. AnnMarie enjoyed it as you can tell. She's still an absolute doll even with barbecue all over her face! Actually, this was the first time we put her in a high chair at a restaurant. She's still as petite as ever. She just hit 20 pounds a few weeks ago. But anyway, here's to you C&Js. Barbecue really is bigger & better in Texas.

It's Official!

2008-07-18T08:18:00.003-07:00

We're moving to Kennewick, WA on August 24th. We almost have everything lined up. I'm still trying to find us a place - it's way harder than I thought. We'll probably end up going to another apartment for the first 6 months. Oh well, apartments have a work-out room & pool, so they're not all bad. Jared already has the moving truck lined up, & I started packing a month ago. Five more weeks & counting! Yoo-hoo!!

Where did our baby go?!

2008-07-18T07:29:00.003-07:00

A few Sundays ago, I was holding AnnMarie, & a member of our church asked me where our baby went. It took me a second to figure out what he was talking about - AnnMarie's not a baby anymore. It's true! She's really growing up. Her first birthday was July 9th. We had a combined party for her with one of Jared's friends. Their little girl turned 1 just a few days before AnnMarie. I took this picture of her the day before her birthday. We got a little birthday package from my mom. I know she doesn't look happy in this picture, but it was right before her nap time, so she's a little grouchy. I must admit, she definitely got her hair from the Wolfley side. I was bald until I was about 18 months.

A Daddy's Girl

2008-07-17T20:32:00.003-07:00

Jared & AnnMarie enjoying Pepsi time. (Okay, so it's diet Pepsi to Jared's credit, & no, AnnMarie is not drinking Pepsi)!