Congratulations Kyle and Kim

My little brother "Spike" got married this last weekend. It was a fun and exciting time for everyone. Lots of family came to town, including my sister, Tara, from Pennsylvania, and it was so fun to be surprised with cousins traveling far distances that we didn't know were coming.

I'm so happy for Kyle and Kim. I think they are a darling couple and they totally "match." My love and congratulations goes out to them. I wish you the best as you begin your eternal journey together.


Along with all the fun over the weekend we also had a little scare. We had some intruders that managed to make their way into our garage and go through the cars and garage looking for anything they might want. Luckily, they only took the cash in my wallet-no cards or anything else. I usually don't even leave my wallet in the car, but I guess I was just too tired when we got home from the reception to really notice. My camera was in there too, but when I came in the house, Kyler was asleep on the couch and I had to get a picture (since every time I tried earlier he ran from me). So, I LUCKILY grabbed it and got the picture. Who would've known without that, I would have lost my camera and all the pictures from the wedding. I felt so relieved when I realized that. Unfortunately my brother Guy wasn't as lucky. He had his laptop, navigation and entire wallet stolen. :(

Just a reminder to us all...lock your doors and set your alarm if you have one. We didn't do either one that night. Heck, when you go to bed at 2am after a fun filled night of after wedding ping pong tourneys,(there's a new Sheriff in town now LOL!) who thinks of that? Well, I will from now on, no matter how tired I might be.

Halloween Fun

Just wanted to post a few pics from Halloween. We had a fun night with the Stuart cousins trick or treating around our neighborhood. Karsten sure LOVED the thought that he could get candy at every door he went to.

We're Having Another...

GIRL!!!!!!! Yep, it's true. I can't really believe it, but I'm super, way, totally, absolutely excited. I didn't really realize how badly I was wanting a girl until the lady doing the ultrasound said "It looks like a little girl," and I was overcome with emotion and had to hold back the tears. I'm not holding back anymore though and we're already starting to think pink. :)

Oh and yes, Kambrie is so extremely excited and happy. She's already planning on how she and her sister are going to be twins, have the same hair and wear the same dress to church.

Karsten is 18 Months Old

Okay, so it's been FOREVER since I posted. So much has happened just in the last week too. I'm feeling like I really need to catch up. I'm back into enjoying pictures again...yeah, I despised them during the sick prego time. I was worried I would never snap out of it, but I did. I'm hoping I at least can keep my obsession under control a little now that I've realized how bad I really was.

I had to get some pictures of Karsten since he is now officially a year and a half. I was supposed to be doing laundry all day today, but oops, I've been taking and looking at pictures instead. How can I resist looking at this little cutie though?

Happy Birthday Danny!

Danny had his birthday last week...31 years old. For his birthday he realized a dream he's been wanting since he was a kid. He got a PILOT. Yeah, well, when I heard the words Honda Pilot, all I thought of was the car. Little did I know that years ago that meant a little ATV thingy. Well, since he was twelve he said he always wanted one, and when he found one that only had one owner and looked almost brand new, he decided it was time to make that dream come true. Anyway, he got the pilot a few months ago, but since he's very hard to buy gifts for, we agreed that it would be his birthday present. I got him a couple token gifts too, a shirt, tie and some new socks (he was most excited about the socks), cause I figured it just wasn't a birthday without some sort of a surprise. I think his very favorite thing about the day though, was that I wasn't sick. Yep, I've been feeling so much better for the past week and a half. It really feels nice.

Oh and speaking of the pregnancy...last ultrasound (on Danny's birthday) showed no change in the hemorrhages, BUT they still felt encouraged because they didn't get any worse. And...we tried to find out what we were having, but they couldn't tell! I was just over 14 weeks along, and it just wasn't clear. I was bummed, but there's always the next ultrasound. Until then...what do you think we're gonna have?

For Now Anyway...

So, you've all probably noticed on the side where it names all our family that it ends in "for now anyway..." Well, I'd like to announce that the "for now anyway" is only gonna be for about another six and a half months. Yep, that's right...we're having baby number 5!!! I have to say that we're really excited, but also really anxious to get the next few weeks over. These first 12 weeks have pretty much done me in. Between being sick and not being able to do anything because of the risk of miscarrying, we're all overly due for life to get back to normal, or at least as normal as normal is around here. I have to say though, that everyone has been so good to help out and take care of us. We've had lots of yummy meals brought in and I've even been completely kidless for a couple days so I could rest and do nothing. Wow! We've definately felt the love. My next (4th) ultrasound is in one more week, so I'll keep you updated. It's looking promising though, as the last one showed that the bleeds under the placenta are healing and if it continues they will probably be completey healed in another 3-4 weeks.

5 kids...Whoa!! Yeah, we're still a little bit in shock. :)

A Delicious Harvest

I'm sure you all remember my post about when our little family planted our garden. Well, months later, we've been enjoying our farming efforts as we've been able to eat our squash, tomatoes, banana peppers, red peppers and watermelon. Yum! We still have a few pumpkins growing and many more watermelon to come as well. The kids love checking to see if anything is ready to be picked and they've even shared in the watering duties. Kolter loves to "check on the garden" and asks everyone and anyone if they want to "go check on the garden" with him numerous times a day. He also tells me when the watermelon "curlers" have died and they're ready to be picked. (Thanks Molly for filling us in on how to know when they're ready.) My Grandpa Neva would be so proud of us for growing a garden. He LOVED gardening. I guess his hobby and green thumb just might live on in my little ones, especially Kolter.

Can you believe this good lookin' melon? I might just have to say that it is the best watermelon I have ever seen and it came from our very own garden. Let me tell ya, it was delicious too.

First Day of School

I had to paparazzi Kyler. He didn't want to get his picture taken.


Look at my little Kindergartner.



After two official weeks at school, Kambrie is loving it, and Kyler is hating it. Really. Kambrie does like five pages of extra writing every night, and I can barely force Ky to do his homework. He also already had to have a talk with the principal cause I couldn't pry his hands off of the front doors of the school to get him to go in yesterday. Nice. I know. Luckily we know the principal, and she was really nice about it. She was able to convince him to go to his class while I got to go and talk to the school counselor in my hot pink pajama bottoms, goldish yellow, ten year old city league softball T-shirt with a hole in it, no bra and tennis shoes with no socks. No, I hadn't showered yet, in fact I don't even know if I had brushed my teeth. I just threw on my stuff out of bed and was going to get ready as soon as I had the kids off to school. Well, when Kyler stalled for five minutes a half a block away from the house, I threw on my Nikes and thought I could convince him to get going. You can see that my persuasion skills need some work, as I had to walk him all the way to school and live out one of my most embarrassing moments. The counselor and the principal seem to think that this may happen again, and they gave me their cell phone numbers so that one or the other of them can meet me at the door when it does. I'm hoping that it will never happen again, and you can bet if it does, I won't be in my pajamas!

I wonder if the Golden Girls know that things like this happen when they are declaring on national television that they both want to have a baby so badly. Okay, okay, I wouldn't trade it for anything, not even a gold medal, but honestly, you never know what you're getting yourself into when you become a parent.

Olympic Glory

I'm just going to brag a little bit and let everyone know that one of my best friend's husbands is in the Olympics. His name is Jake Gibb and he is a pro beach volleyball player. I'm so excited for Jane and Jake! This is such an incredible experience...dream come true. Jane was my setter my sophomore year at Dixie (no wonder Jake married her, she was a little stud setter besides being a hottie. Yah, both my brothers had a huge crush on her and pretty much loved coming to my games to watch HER.) Anyway, I still remember the first time Jake watched us play at a tournament at UVSC, and then the first time I watched him play here in St. George at the spring tourney over at the park. He amazed me then, but now...Olympic Glory. Wow. Nothing could compare. So everyone, cheer for team Gibb/Rosenthal. Here are their game times...yah, I guess we missed the first one.

August 10th at 7:00am, August 12th at 8:00am, and August 14th at 5:00am. (These are Utah times).

Party, my house for the game on the 14th. Everyone invited, you can come in your PJ's. hahaha J/K I really think I'll watch it though, so come over if you want.

UPDATE:
Ok, ok...so the times posted above are actual times that they play, but I've come to find out that they are not the times that the games are broadcast. So, just check your local listings to find out when you can see them play.



USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

Is This Even the Same Boy?

So my little man got a haircut. Finally. I put it off forever becaue I loved all of his curls. I finally decided though, that it was time. So he got his first official haircut a week ago. I'm just now finally starting to get used to the way he looks. It TOTALLY changed his appearance. Bye, bye baby. The good news is that I think when his hair grows back his curls will grow back too.

Pine Valley

We spent the weekend at Pine Valley with our good friends, the Magnesens. It was so beautiful up there and a little cooler too. The kids had fun and so did we. We rode the rangers, played a little rock band, ate, and ate some more and stayed up way past our bedtime laughing and enjoying the TV with nothing on it. It was a good time. Thanks Maggies, we'll have to do it again, soon! :)

Lady Rebel Reunion

2004
2004
2006
1997

Okay, so I guess it's time for our bi-annual Lady Rebel Reunion. Everyone has been talking about it, but we haven't picked a day or place yet. I'm making the first move and announcing it for this summer, SOON! I'll host it if you don't mind traveling to my place. Here' s the deal...whoever hosts does all the planning etc. etc., but doesn't have to travel. All the travelers have to do is show up. So what do you think? My house...last weekend in July or first weekend in August? Or anytime in between. I'm thinking about a two day deal, playin', eating and just hanging out, kids and husbands welcome. Everyone can stay at my house. Let's get some feedback going so we can get it finalized and we all can mark our calendars. When does Jane go to China? Ok, give me some input and pass along the word. Can't wait to see everyone. Go Rebels!

4th of July Fun

We had a very fun, yet relaxing 4th of July this year. We had a little barbeque in our new back yard ( yes, our back yard is finished!) for lunch. Grandma and Granpa Neva came over along with Bear and Uncle Don and Aunt Wendy. It was a last minute get together, but it was fun. The kids loved running on the grass and jumping on the trampoline and playing on their new airplane teeter totter that Dad put together for them that morning. We just kind of spent the day relaxing, and then headed over to the Waldvogels' for the neighborhood party at night. Mom and Dad decided to come with us, and so did Bear and Kyle and Kim. They love our neighbors and everyone has made them feel at home here. So it was fun swimming and eating and watching fireworks with the fam and all of our great friends of the neighborhood. Of course, I spent the night trying to get pictures of sparklers, and I guess I sort of did. Chyna (one of my YW and our good friends' daughter) helped me out with spelling with her sparkler. She spelled CTR. What a sweetie! Thanks to Monica and her taking pictures, I actually have proof that I was a part of the action. It was so nice to not be the only one taking pictures. The grand finale of the night was doing our own fireworks. They must have been illegal, but they were pretty awesome, and of couse, the guys loved lighting them and running. It was a great holiday for everyone, and again....I'm proud and so grateful to be an American.

Proud To Be An American

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the patriotic music. I'm Proud To Be An American is probably my very favorite and every time I hear it I cry. Really, how lucky are we to live in the blessed U.S.A.? So lucky. Thank you Grandpa, Grandad and Dad for serving our country and helping to give me this freedom. I love you and it's because of you and all the brave soldiers like you that I love to celebrate this great day of independence.

Can You Say Three?

Three gold medals that is. Let's give it up for my brother Bear. Oh yah. He won three gold medals at the Utah Summer Games in the Basketball Skills Competition. What a stud. I know, he got that way trying to grow up and be as good as his big sister. ;) What?! He did! Anyway, in honor of his achievement, I thought I'd treat him to a little photo session. It lasted forever and we had fun. Thanks Mom for watching my bald kids (I'll have to post a picture of the boys after Grandpa Nev Dog got a hold of them for haircuts) while I tried out my new photograpy skills and while Bear got practice for the cover of Slam Magazine. Top podium baby. I wish I could've been there to cheer him on as he took his place on the top three different times, but I heard Jamie did a pretty good job of giving him sister support, putitng on her gold Oakleys and cheering like a maniac everytime he got a medal. btw...I asked him if they had a flag hanging behind him and he told me no. What's a gold without the flag? Hence the inspiration for the photo shoot. Congratulations Bear. I'm proud to be an American...I mean, I'm proud to be your sister.

Okay, okay, I know I need to get some sleep. I'm going to bed right now. Goodnight.

Beautiful Girl in Beautiful Sepia

I'm Shooting in Manual!

Okay, so this may not seem like a big deal to you, but up until this last weekend, shooting in manual seemed like an impossibility for me. I took a class taught by Kellie and Staci, (thanks ladies!) and they made it all so clear to me. Yes, I'm excited about it. I thought I'd post a few pictures. Keep in mind, they haven't been edited at all, and no critiquing me too harshly, please. I still need to learn photoshop :) If you want to see a few more pics from the class check them out here. http://www.momentsbynatalie.blogspot.com

Let's Go LAKERS!

So I'm a little worried about the way the series is going right now. Although back in the day of the original rivalry (speaking of...don't you just love the Magic-Bird commercial?) you would've found me along side my dad, rooting for the Celtics. For the past ten years though, I've been a Lakers fan. Ever since Kobe joined the team, it's been Lakers for me. He was just such a great player that first year in the league, how could you help but root for his team. I was into him and had him for the screensaver on my roommate's (Viva) computer. I even borrowed my little brother's shoes, the Kobe's, to wear one weekend for my hoops games at Dixie. I wish I still had those shoes. :) Anyway...I'm still rooting for Kobe and the team. I hope they can battle back out of the 2-0 deficit. I think after the game tonight the Celtics have to be a little worried. Don't count us out yet. We're coming.

Fang Baby

I think he might belong in that book with the apple on the cover, ah, come on what's it called? The one with the vampires that all my friends LOVE and say I really need to read? Hmm, it's not coming to me. Weird. I think Stephanie Meyers is the name of the author. Anyway, check out those vampire teeth. Oh and don't pay attention to the mess on his face. We were in Montana, in a motel, after a very long drive, and I was too tired to care. Lol.

Another Birthday

Spring is definately a busy birthday time for the Stuarts. Let's not forget about Kyler's 7th birthday. He got a new bike and although he didn't have a party this year, he went to the Fathers' and Sons' Campout and then the Fishing Derby the next day. Camping and fishing...two of his favorite things.

Field of Dreams

Ky Ripkin, I mean Stuart

Kyler is on his first machine pitch Little League baseball team this year. Go Cardinals! He has great coaches and he is really starting to love the game. He's a good little fielder and hitter. He's very attentive and loves to get in on all the action. It's so fun to watch him play.

Birthday and More

Kambrie on her 5th birthday. They all had fun getting their faces painted by the princess. Kambrie was so excited to have a real princess at her party and all of her family as well. Yah, Dad surprised us all with the special guest. It's hard not to spoil the only girl.

Here she is at her gymnastics review. They said cartwheels were the thing she did best.

Now, here she is on pre-school graduation. I was practically crying when I saw her like this. I can't imagine how I'll react 12 years from now when she's doing the real thing.
Yes, yes, this last month has been so busy!