STILL NO UPDATE

Hey Everyone,

So it's Tuesday and still no desktop, which means, still no updates. We're headed to Utah tomorrow, and Comcast is scheduled to come take care of our internet June 4th (I can't believe we have to wait so long!!), so check back next week and hopefully all will be current, with pictures and all!

Thanks for your patience

Paige

MAJOR UPDATE TO COME

Hello everyone.

Just wanted to let you know that Bryce and I moved last week and it has put me back on my blogging. I currently do not have access to my computer, and we're going out of town today, so the soonest we'll be back up is Tuesday (hopefully Comcast will be here next week and get our desktop up and running before we go out of town again on Wednesday).

So check back Tuesday and hopefully we'll be all caught up. Until then, happy blogging to everyone who still can :)

GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER EXCUSE TO GO TO VEGAS

Paige got this email today:

Dear Runner:

We are sorry to inform you that you were not selected in the lottery to run the 2008 St. George Marathon. We had over 10,500 entrants this year vying for 7000 numbers. Sorry, but we do not maintain a waiting list or allow the transferring of numbers. There are a few spots available through selected charities. For more information, please go to our website at www.stgeorgemarathon to access the charity link. If you have been unsuccessful in the lottery for the last two years (2007 and 2008), then our "Three Times a Charm" policy will allow you to register next year with a guaranteed spot in the 2009 St. George Marathon. Thank you for your interest in our race. We hope you try again next year.

St. George Marathon Staff

Paige is bummed that she doesn't get to run the marathon this year, but is hoping that since this is the first year she's been denied, and her father-in-law's second year, that next year she'll be able to ride his coattails in...and that she'll be able to talk Bryce into running it with her again as well. Based on how much Bryce enjoyed it the first time they ran the marathon (as seen below), he has told Paige that she will need to pray for a certain hot place to freeze over before he runs it again :)

Paige lovin' it, and Bryce hatein' it after they ran the St. George marathon in '06

REASON #7:

Having fun together

click on the grid to enlarge the pictures

MY FIRST MOTHER'S DAY

Bryce and CJ made me breakfast in bed (that's a strawberry shake in the mug, not hot chocolate :), and gave me a sweet card filled with all sorts of coupons for acts of service

After church, we drove to the Tri Cities to surprise Bryce's mom, Sheila, who was visiting her parents. There are four generations in this picture: (L-R) Sheila Mackay, Grandpa Glen Gilbert holding CJ, Grandma Lula Gilbert, and Bryce


CJ swinging for the first time (now that the weather is nice, he'll get lots of practice)

CJ and me...our first Mother's Day together

FOR OUR MOMS

Dear Norine,

I wanted to wish you a happy Mother's Day, and thank you for helping make my life so wonderful. Not only have you welcomed me into your family with open arms (which is quite an understatement), but you have raised an unbelievable daughter that has changed my life. Seeing how Paige is with CJ has helped me understand how great of an example her mother was to her. I love you so much and I'm so grateful to have you in my life.

Love,
Bryce

Dear Sheila,

On this Mother's Day, besides honoring my mom, I wanted you to know how much I love and appreciate you. From the first day I met you, you have done nothing but love, support, and spoil us like crazy. I listen as my friends complain about their mother-in-laws, and am so grateful to be able to sincerely tell them I have the greatest mother-in-law someone could ask for! You're thoughtful, generous, honest, considerate, kind, giving, loving, and fun. And I hope to raise CJ as well as you raised Bryce (and Ty, Cam, and Kels too :), because Bryce is the most wonderful man I know who treats me better than I could have ever imagined! You are such a great example to me in so many ways and I feel blessed to have a mother-in-law who defies all the stereotypes. And I hope that someday my future daughter-in-laws will love me as much as I love you! Happy Mother's Day!

Love,
Paige

CELEBRATION BBQ

We did it! We made it through the first year of law school! And with what's said to be the most difficult year behind us, we decided to celebrate with some good food and great friends. It was a bitter-sweet celebration since some of us are staying for the summer, some of us are going, and some of us are already gone. But we look forward to September when we'll all be reunited again and on our way through the second year...

Back L-R: Rachel Lillian, Becca Adams, Misty McKitrick, Laura Benson, Megan Arnold, Jessica Sorensen, Michelle Peterson, Chelsey North, Mogan Fountain, Stephanie Ellersick
Front L-R: ???, Erin Mayfield, Ashley Lemon, Mauressa Juassi, Paige Mackay

Back L-R: Nick Lemon, Brett Peterson, Tyson Dobbs, Bryce Mackay, Sam Sorensen, Shay Wells, Dave Lewendouski, James Lillian, Brooks Benson, Ben Summerhays, Ryan Ellersick
Front L-R: Gage Arnold, Nate Anderson, Beau Juassi, Taylor North, Levi Adams, Will Fountain

REASON #6:

Accomplishing things together

after we ran the St. George marathon together

just after CJ was born (so Paige is allowed to look awful :)

Bryce's BYU graduation

law school and moving to Spokane

REASON #5:

Acts of Kindness

(big and small)

Like Paige making Bryce his favorite homemade freezer jam...

or Bryce, after having already gone to one grocery store on Saturday night, driving to another grocery store in order to get the "right" yogurt for CJ, just to make Paige happy (which, as you can tell by how much is still left, CJ ended up not even liking)

Reason #4:

The Temple

REASON #3:

Romance and Affection

click on the collage to see the pictures enlarged

REASON #2:

Making time for each other

Bryce is in the middle of finals, and since he couldn't go out with us on Friday night, we brought take-out to him and had a lovely family dinner at the law school

CJ's 9 mo CHECK-UP

CJ had his 9 month check-up on Friday and all seemed well going in to the appointment. His stats were:

weight - 19 lbs 3.5 oz (26th percentile)

height - 28 in (38th percentile)

head size - 18 in (61st percentile)

We were excited to hear that CJ is old enough to eat pretty much anything at this point, with the exception of holding off on meat for another few weeks, and the the basics: no nuts, milk, strawberries or citrus, or honey until he's at least a year. But everything else, we're good to go. At this point, CJ is still a picky eater when it comes to baby food, only liking vegetables, so hopefully opening up his palate will help him learn to like more foods (like fruit!).

CJ hasn't started crawling or scooting yet, and only recently started rolling both ways, so he hasn't quite figured out how to roll to get places yet either. But Dr. Lee said to try to motivate him by keeping his toys out of reach, and to not be concerned about it for another few months.

And he seems to be right on point with his language development, talking up a storm (and we're pretty sure he said "Da da" intentionally the other day), using different syllables and sounds. His fine motor development is doing great as well, picking up things with just his thumb and forefinger, feeding himself, using his sippy cup. And one of the cutest things that CJ has started to do is share.

But unfortunately, during his routine check, Dr. Lee informed me that CJ's allergy-like symptoms that I was concerned about (runny nose, congestion, coughing, sneezing) were actually viral and that CJ had his first ear infection!! CJ has been such a good boy - not fussy, sleeping fine, no fever, smiling, laughing, playing - that we had no idea anything was wrong. So Dr. Lee prescribed an antibiotic and within hours of leaving the doctor's office, CJ actually seemed sick for the first time...his fever hit, and has been hitting him hard all weekend. But he seems to be feeling better today, so hopefully we're gonna be on the downswing of things from here on out.

ANOTHER 10 REASONS WHY OUR MARRIAGE IS PHENOMENAL

The other day, Bryce left me a cute note on my toothbrush. It was very sweet, and totally like him, and it got me thinking about how wonderful our marriage (and our life) is. Since there's not much going on now because Bryce has finals, I thought I'd feature one random reason a day why our marriage is great!

REASON #1: Surprises