1 year old: the CELEBRATION!

Rebecca & Mary-Gail celebrated their 1-year birthdays on Saturday!!
Tony and I discussed what we wanted to do, and instead of a huge over-the-top princess party (Tony really wanted to have one) we decided to have a luncheon and serve homemade cake and ice cream. Oh, and there were to be no presents. Instead, we would make presents and give gifts to the NICU.

Family donated money, we made up the difference, and purchased several types of fleece for fleece-tied blankets. These blankets will go to the NICU babies to cover their isolettes beds. And Tony and I purchased two "Tiny Love" mobiles for our lovely Occupational Therapist, Annie Miller (the mobiles were on her wish-list for Santa).

Before the party and fleece tying began, we had food! Honey chicken fingers, Doritos, Cabury Christmas chocolate balls (love Cadbury chocolate), crystal light, and my favorite - pickles, black olives, and sharp cheddar cheese on a toothpick.

Travis holding Rebecca....

Somehow Rebecca got a hold of the pickle/olive/cheese appetizer...

Rebecca and her dehydrated pickle

The ladies, Pam, Mom, CarCar, JoJo, and Carol are tying the fleece together. The men are all downstairs watching the BYU/U of U football game (BYU won, just so you know).

Here are the ladies tying the blankets - where is JoJo?

Now, SOME people didn't listen when we requested no presents...Mom, JoJo, CarCar, and Kristie (who was in St. George with daughter's Madison and Georgia and Pappy for Madison's soccer tournament) went ahead and got the girls "a little somethin' somethin'"

Mary-Gail showing off her new high-chair, while she plays with my measuring spoons

Auntie Pam gave us a picture frame

Mary-Gail being silly in her new high-chair

"My thumb tastes better than those sweet potatoes!"

Rosy cheeks and a joker-style smile

"Look at my two loop-sided pigtails mom! Auntie JoJo did it!"
(Pixie in the background foraging for food)

Rebecca holding up the hand sanitizer - even she reminds people to sanitize!

Early birthday w/Great Grandma & Grandpa

Grandma & Grandpa Gourley weren't able to come to Rebecca & Mary-Gail's birthday party today, so they stopped by last night around 5:00 pm. Grandpa didn't want his picture taken, so unfortunately, he isn't shown here. Mom and Grandma ate the girls up!

Baby "Becs" showing me her birthday card from Great-Grandma Gourley


Mom w/Rebecca; Great Grandma w/Mary-Gail
(both girls are eating their birthday cards)


Rebecca & Mary-Gail have the same look on their faces!


Grandma & Grandpa gave the girls identical birthday cards & $20 each for their birthday. Their birthday cards were for a "Special Great-Granddaughter..." where did Grandma find cards especially for great-granddaughters??

Early Thankgsving at Mom's

My mom is the hostess with the most-est!! Mom managed to fit 30+ people in her home for an early Thanksgiving dinner. Kristie's family (6), Josh's family (5 + 1/2), my family (4), Jo's family (5 + 1/2), Carly's family (2), Jack & Carol's family (6), Grandma & Grandpa Gourley (2), Kristi Lou + Brett (Spencer's sister & boyfriend (#91 on BYU football)), and Dadda all joined together on Sunday, November 18th, to celebrate family and the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Memories of Thanksgiving

We used to go to Grandma & Grandpa Gourley's house for an early Thanksgiving dinner - Grandma would always make real homemade mashed potatoes, and we'd always argue with Grandpa over the wishbone. He'd set it in the kitchen window so it could dry, but it was always within our sight and such a temptation! Grandma had her kitchen arranged so the little kids (that would be me) could sit at the table, while the adults (parents) could sit in the dinning room and keep their eyes on us. Soon, the family grew: my Uncle George and his kids moved to Utah from Oregon, and my Aunt Linda and kids move to Utah from Indiana, and the "little kids" were spread across the great-room. Grandma managed to keep her cool while fixing Thanksgiving Dinner - the full monte - for over 30 people!

We'd gobble down our food and then clean up to play "BINGO." If you were lucky, you could sit near Grandpa in the dinning room and "whisper" the number you needed for a "BINGO." Then, miraculously, the next number Grandpa called out would be yours! Grandma had 6 presents for each person - that's over 180 presents to find, purchase, wrap, identify, and handout!! She was always kept on her toes handing out presents, because once Grandpa got rolling with BINGO, he didn't slow down!

But, as it always seems to do, time flew by, families grew, and after celebrating "early Thanksgiving" at Grandma & Grandpa's house with all our spouses, our children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their children, it was too overwhelming and Grandma & Grandpa stopped decided to let their children continue the "early Thanksgiving" tradition.

So, Mom's been having her early Thanksgiving dinner for about 4 years now. Some years the family swells, others the family is small. When Tony and I moved back to Utah (Nov 2005), we had early Thanksgiving dinner with my Aunt Cindy and cousins. We were remembering fun times with Grandma & Grandpa "next door" Brown - Grandma passed away the end of May 2005, and Grandpa passed away early November 2005. Last year I was on bedrest and Tony and I had our own Thanksgiving dinner at home. No matter the company, the spirit is always the same: THANKFULNESS.

This year, Mom requested each family bring a side dish - ours was a sweet potato souffle (a GREAT recipe from Joanna, of course) - and everyone was able to come. Everyone that is except my brother, Jason, who lives in NY. Jason has lived in NY for over 13 years - he's an artist and loves living in NY, but I miss him so very much - Jason, you were missed!

The Greatest Great Grandma & Grandpa!

Grandma & Grandpa Gourley, 80 years old, surrounded by the Brown, Rosser, Chrisman, and Kemp great-grandchildren!!

Kemp Kuties + Grandma & Grandpa Gourley

Interview with God

My mom sent this to me a while ago. It good for all to see. Just click on the link and make sure your volume is turned on.

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

Thanksgiving is approaching us in 2 days. After viewing this "interview" please post your comments on what you are thankful for. What is important to you in this life?

Mary-Jail?

Tony called Mary-Gail "Mary-Jail" yesterday morning. Here's why:

Mary-Gail and Rebecca were playing in their room (recently padded with all our pillows to cover the sharp dresser edges) and Mary-Gail kept crawling away leaving Rebecca behind. Rebecca would whimper and cry and get scared that she was alone. Tony would bring Mary-Gail back to their room, but moments later she'd be back in the hall, office, or our room. So, Tony put up the gate, and Mary-Gail became "Mary-Jail" and the escape plot began...

Introducing "Mary-Jail"

Mary-Jail is fashionably dressed in her hand-me-down pink striped footed pajamas from her cousin, Reese.

No pouty face will get you out of these bars!

"Hmmm. How am I going to get out of this one?"

"I've seen ArlaMae ram the gate -

- maybe that will work for me too"

"Nuts! The gate didn't budge. Maybe I'll have Rebecca help me escape..."

And here's Rebecca: Sitting in front of her Jesus picture just like an angel

"Mary-Jail" calls to Rebecca:

"Help me break out sis!"

Rebecca replies in her most angelic voice,

"Is that what Jesus would want us to do?"

And the story of the Great Escape continues...

P.S. Mom and Dad are really scared that the girls will actually figure out how to escape!

More songs for Mary-Gail

Sing this one to "Casey Jones is coming down the track" from Dumbo
(I just updated the song and added the 3rd and final verse - Sun, 11.18.07)

Here she comes, MY Mary-Gail is near;
Crawling to and fro - look she's almost here!
Watch her as she puts her little hand forward,
then she moves her legs and she's crawling now!

We can't wait until she turns one-year old
Can't believe it's here, just a few days more.
Little Miss Mary-Gail is so grown-up
Where's my baby-cakes? Where's my little one?

Mary-Gail Darleen is getting faster now,
Holy Cow - Watch out! She is out of sight.
Soon she'll be walking and then nothings safe,
There's no turning back - Nope, there's no turning back!

Fall pictures at Thanksgiving Point

Last Friday, November 9th, Tony and I took the girls with us for a little drive. We decided to head North and visit the grounds at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, UT. There are 55 acres of gardens at Thanksgiving Point and lots of picturesque "nooks and cranny's" for pictures. We visited for only an hour or so; it was a good day to be outside and the weather was mild for early November in Utah.

Tony with the girls in-tow


Kemp Kuties family on a fall day


"Mom, what is this?"


"You know your bow is too big when you can't see your eyes"

SIDE-BY-SIDE SNAPSHOTS

Rebecca tasting "FALL"; Mary-Gail is not so sure

Both girls give their "I'm not interested" look

I love the girl's expressions in these two photos

Lots of leaves to play with

My Mary-Gail

My Rebecca

Remembering the 156 & 147 heartbeats

Here I am listening to the girls' heartbeats. You'll hear Baby "B" first - Mary-Gail Darleen was always easier to find since she had more room to move. Baby "A"'s heartbeat - Rebecca LaRae - is only captured for a few seconds. Rebecca was wedged so far in my pelvis that I had a difficult time finding her. I was so nervous about her that I asked JoJo if I could borrow a dob tone from the office for the weekend...

...the next weekend we delivered. The entire video is less than a minute. Just some more fun memories as we venture into the firsts of many anniversaries.

More Baby shower pics November 2006

More pics from our baby shower on 11/11/06...

Fleece-tied blankets my sister-in-law, Darleen, gave us.

This was the 1st time the girl's names had been written permanently.

What beautiful names and beautiful people to be named after too!

My Reese talking to the girls. She loved touching my tummy

(JoJo stayed close by just in case Reese forgot to be "soft")

My Reese tickeling the girls

My Reese giving me BIG hugs - she loves me!

Me & Pixie after the party - tired baby girl!

My Reese helping My Lovey put together one of the bouncy seats we received

My Reese unwrapping a sheep for the bouncy seat

My Reese showing us all what happens when you pull the cord on the Moo-Cow: it sings!

Look at the delight on her face!

Me and my first born, Pixie (this picture was earlier in the week)

I think Pixie enjoyed me being on bed rest - she got all my attention:)

Breakfast the next morning...

...the girls were always by my side making sure I shared with them