Last weekend, he took me to our favorite restaurant, Mikuni for dinner and out to a movie to celebrate the end of tax season. I just love that my husband still is, and always will be, my boyfriend! :)
Thanks again, Whit, for babysitting!
A few weeks ago we went with my family to a "market" type of thing at Sutter's Fort. They had all sorts of displays and of course period memoribilia and clothing to buy. Since Marc and I are going on the Youth Trek this summer as a Ma and Pa, my dad as a Captain, and my two younger siblings attending, we thought it might be a good place to get some ideas and maybe buy some things to wear on the trek. For the trek, you have to dress in the pioneer garb. I went crazy with the pictures. I was in this deep reflection on how simple times were back then, and it was just so cool to me how everyone had their trade, and they were happy to be good at their thing and share with everyone else. I'm sure you had the occasional over acheiver, but for the most part, they all did their part to help and they all chipped in so they could survive and have what they needed.
My little 
brother Logan had his Senior Ball on the 19th, and like any good big sister and brother in law, we went to see them and take pictures! :) At first when Logan told me he and his girlfriend Sam picked yellow as an accent color to her black dress, and his black tux, I was afraid they may look a bit bee-ish...however, how could anything make these two look bad? They looked adorable, and the yellow actually turned out to look very nice! Cute couple! I miss getting all dressed up and going to dances like this!
The ceremonial pinning of the bouteniere (sp?)
The placing of the corsage
The famous pose
And the adorable couple! 
Okay, so I'm a little embarrased to tell this story, but it'll definitely make for a good blog! (And even though I hate to say it, probably a few laughs.) So, Sunday evening we stopped by my parents house to drop some stuff off, and Marc of course, wanted to ride David's motorcycle. So, we stopped there for a little bit, and before we left, my brothers pulled out their little pocket bike. It's like a mini real motorcycle...that looks like a clown bike. So everyone started riding it, and its so funny! Here's a video of Marc riding it. BEWARE, the bike is SUPER loud, so you may want to turn your volume down a smidge.
At this stage of Montana's life, I feel like I'm constantly bandaging a cut, or icing a sliced lip. Nine times out of ten, the bumps and falls don't even phase her, but there is that rare occasion that the blood flows and or the bruises swell. Pictured below is one such occasion...
Our little rascal was running around playing outside as usual...she LOVES being outside. She was running around in her usual way, like a little pixie on the tips of her toes, and tripped and hit her eye on a plastic wagon. Presenting, Montana's first (and hopefully last) black eye...
Of course, being the music lover that I am...this post brings me great joy and pride! Our little girl is a music lover...and naturally, not by force! :) I have been amazed that even since she was an infant, she has responded so much to music. Through her Baby Einstein videos, me singing in the mornings, or the music at church, she always seemed to perk up and listen.
Now, she's joining in with her own musical talents. She loves to sing, dance and "pay" (as she says it) the piano...and now, courtesy of Uncle Logan, the drums! :) Enjoy!
Tickling the Ivory's
Marching to Her Own Beat
Montana was quite the helper this weekend! She tried her hand at cooking and cleaning. Here is she doing a little sweeping action Saturday morning to help Mommy clean the kitchen...
This past week has provided many amazing inspirational opportunities for me. Friday night we were able to attend the temple with Rachel and Trent. It has been a few months, and it just made me realize that even though we have a baby now, we really need to make more time to attend the temple. I had a very spiritual experience and a very real and true answer to prayer on something I had been pondering and fasting about. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a temple so close so that I am able to have a haven from the world, to be so close to God and be able to focus fully on the Gospel and keeping an eternal perspective.
lso read an article in the Ensign this month about getting answers to prayers out of General Conference, and so I as well had that thought in my mind as I watched conference, and received many answers and confirmations from this conference. It was such an awesome experience to be able to sustain the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and know with a firm confirmation from the Spirit, through my own sustaining vote, and through the testimonies of the Lord's apostles, that he is a true prophet, called of God. 
pulled from a small, seemingly insignificant experience I had, that proved to be very symbolic and inspirational to me. Early last week, a woman in my ward had brought me a beautiful orange/reddish gerber daisy plant and left it on my door step. There were five flowers; one in full bloom, one that was beginning to bloom, and three buds. I was excited about it, and put it in the center of my island in my kitchen. However, my week got busy, and I kind of forgot about it. Bills and papers crowded around it on the island, and by the weekend, it had not been touched since the day I received it. And honestly, I didn't even think twice about it. I'm definitely not someone with a green thumb. I have not really tried, to be honest. I planted a strawberry plant in the backyard last year, half expecting it to grow on its own, with the occassional watering from the sprinklers. Needless to say, I haven't seen one berry from the plant. Another example of this, is when Marc brings me flowers, I usually put them on the counter in the vase, and enjoy them on the counter, until they wilt and die. I hardly ever put more water in them, let alone the little packet of "flower food" provided. I guess, again, I just knew cut flowers died, and didn't put much thought into prolonging their life and beauty. We were finally able to get together as a group with our friends the Lindsey's, with the Barkers. We went to Mikuni for sushi and it was so fun. One of the best parts about getting together (besides making all the plans for Santa Cruz trips and shopping days), was Montana making a new friend in Kami Lindsey, Sam and Eric's beautiful daughter, who is about three weeks older than Montana. She is absolutely adorable with the sweetest personality. I was amazed at how smart she is and all of her sign language and songs. Good job, Sam and Eric. She's beautiful! Not to mention tan...I thought Montana had a pretty olive complexion until she stood next to Kami! Here are some pictures of the girls playing. They loved giving each other kisses, but after many try's, with many different cameras, the kisses proved too quick for our flashes. So this is the best we got, but trust me, it was cute! Also, they had fun playing the piano back at our house. Thanks Lindsey's and Barkers...we're excited for even more fun times to come!
