Advice for Life

My mom sent this around via e-mail and I thought it was a wonderful reminder of who we are and what our purpose is in this life. It's an excerpt from a BYU devotional talk given by Elder F. Enzio Busche of the Quorum of the Seventy back in May 1996.

Watching Fourth of July Fireworks

Well, I guess these shots were taken pre-firework show but we were up in Idaho Falls, camped on a blanket along the Snake River, and just waiting for the sun to set. We forgot the real camera in the car but still attempted to preserve the moment with Shane's cell phone camera. The Melaleuca-sponsored fireworks show (billed as the largest fireworks show West of the Mississippi) was quite impressive -- over 40 minutes of non-stop wonders all coordinated to patriotic music.

Smashed into the first photo are me, Shane, Wyatt
(oldest nephew) and Kayla (Shane's sister).

Trying to get both of our heads in the shot.

Not sure what was going on here...just being silly us.

East Coast Storms

The storms out East this year seem especially fierce. I know they are pretty well known for being so, but this year is the worst I've seen for sure. A storm rolls in just about weekly. It will be all hot and humid and the clouds gather and then the thunder starts and in less than a minute it can go from no rain at all to an all-out dangerous downpour. My first summer out here I remember the garage of our apartment building flooded -- including several cars themselves -- but it was only like a week or so of wetness -- nothing as perpetual as this summer's set of storms.

I enjoy the storms when I'm home, cuddled up on the couch and can open the windows to hear the incredible cracks of thunder and the whips of lightning. But when you get caught driving in them (and suddenly you can't see the road in front of you), or you get caught walking outside at work and end up with your suit completely soaked through (true experience, just a few weeks back), then it's not so fun anymore.

One-Year Wedding Anniversary

On Sunday, June 29, Shane and I celebrated one year as a married couple. We met up in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyo. for the weekend, spend a few days in Yellowstone and then the Bozeman, Mont. and Rexburg, Idaho during the next week.

They say the first year is the hardest but to be honest, Shane and I agree that our first year together didn't bring the difficult adjustments and surprises that many couples describe facing. Maybe we just got lucky but I don't know that I've ever been happier.

The biggest challenge by far was our wrestle with the decision of whether to stay or go -- and finally this last week we were able to feel peace about sticking it out in Virginia for a few more years while Shane continues his studies at The George Washington University. We're excited to have more time to explore the East Coast -- in many ways we didn't feel like we were done -- but we'll miss the West and look forward to moving out that way one day and live a bit closer to our families.

So here's to you, my handsome husband. And here's to another year of adventure. Sure do love you. Very much so.

Sweet Little Sisters

Over on the Sellers family blog there are some fun pics of Natalie and Katy. Meredith snapped them and sent them over. I can't believe how quickly those two are growing up! It sure makes me feel old. Guess I need to face the facts. Here's my favorite -- it shows off their fun personalities:

What's really fun is they truly are best buds -- even though their personalities can be so different.

Day at King's Dominion

Em and I went down to Richmond the other weekend to see Darla and her kiddos. We spent Saturday at King's Dominion, one of the big amusement parks around town.


Needless to say, it was a prime spot for people-watching and we couldn't believe how many folks blow their money on these huge stuffed animals and then walk them around all day. So we snapped some photos of these super-tough looking guys carrying around soft, squishy stuffed animals.

Cousin Darla has more photos on her blog.

Time With Tiana

A few weeks back (on Memorial Day) I got to spend the day with Tiana and her charming family. We managed to snap a couple of pictures together before calling it a day. It's so fun to think we've been friends since 1st grade and somehow we both ended up on the East Coast together at this time in our lives.

Her nearly three-year-old son, Ches, gave me a kiss good-bye.

Oh, and check out this "vegetarian" tiger we saw while at the National Zoo -- he's gnawing on a cabbage.

For more zoo pics, head over to Tiana's blog.

Another Nephew on the Way: Gilbert Jr.

Most of you have heard by now that my sister, Chelsea and her husband, Justin are expecting their first in November. And just this week they found out that little Gilbert junior is a little boy.

This is nephew number five for Shane and I, so no nieces yet on either side. Which is kind of fun to think about, actually. Now I'm wondering if he'll be a cute tow-head blonde like the rest (especially if he takes after his mother). Check them out, all blondes thus far:

Haidean and Wyatt with Shane at our wedding reception

Dustin, all geared up and ready to ride

Tayson climbing along with Grandma Larsen's help

And, of course, the littlest Sellers sibling is about as blonde as they get:


Tannerman, the cutest uncle-to-be ever

Flashback:Ivy's 26th Birthday

Not sure I should be admitting I turned 26 this year but oh well. I wanted to write about the day, but just barely got this photo off of Shane's phone.

My birthday was on a Sunday and it was the weekend before Shane's law school finals so I have to say I wasn't expecting too much. I told Shane I didn't want him to worry about celebrating till the weekend after. But, somehow, after church in the morning and then counting tithing and attending a review session at school and then going home teaching, Shane showed up at our door at dinnertime with a chocolate cake in his hands! So while I put the finishing touches on dinner he whipped up some frosting. He also had a whole pile of gifts he'd hidden away from me. I couldn't believe my eyes. Just because I had insisted several times that he really didn't need to do anything that weekend.

So all in all it was a special day. And my sweet parents followed up with some gorgeous flowers (ProFlowers.com churns out gorgeous, long-lasting arrangements).

Many thanks to my wonderful husband and family and friends who made my birthday a special day -- whether with a card or call or surprise. Also, many thanks to Shane's cake bakers -- our neighbors and friends, the Castors -- the cake was one of the best I've ever had.

Excuses, Excuses

I know, I know -- we haven't been very good bloggers lately. My excuses:

1) My laptop decided to crash last month and I still can't get it to load WindowsXP -- and with Shane and his computer across the country I have no access to the blog when I get home at night.

2) When blogging is part of your job description it's hard to get excited about writing for your own blog after working on the senator's all day. The last thing my eyeballs want to see when I get home is another computer screen. I must be getting old.

But, alas, I will try to step it up. Hopefully I can get my computer back on track within the week. (As for Shane, he's living, eating and breathing chemistry and physics 24/7 this summer so he's off the hook.)