Happy Golden Birthday to Me

I had an awesome golden birthday! The best present was having healthy kids (last year was so awful with sick kids on my birthday). But everything else was wonderful too. I got to sleep in, go to my exercise class, go out to lunch at "Taste of India" with my friend Shehnaz, boat with family, and eat cake and ice cream with family as well. To top it off, Kyle gave me a surprise present: a future getaway to St. George. Woohoo!

 The boys loved boating. Noah didn't seem to mind his life jacket.

Hard at Work

Jason playing with play-dough. The pink structure is a temple.

Noah loves Kyle's laptop. This little guy is SO close to walking. He will take steps, and he can stand alone, but he still prefers to crawl everywhere.

A Visit From Shelby

My niece Shelby came and stayed with us for five days. We were sad to see her go. The boys loved having an older sister around. She played with the boys, read them stories, helped Noah practice walking, and she helped me with dinner. I told her I didn't think we would give her back to her mom, but she didn't like that idea.

We went to Scheels twice to ride the Ferris Wheel because that is what Shelby requested. We were happy to oblige.

Hikes

I am enjoying not having a nursing baby this summer, so I am trying to go out and do a lot of things that we missed out on last year, like hiking. We have great hiking buddies-- Sadie, Isaak (4 yrs), and Chloe (1 yr). I have a goal to hike once a week during the summer.

Week 1: We hiked Ensign peak, which was quite ambitious, but we made it. I carried both boys for parts of the way.

Week 2: We hiked Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon, which was a little less ambitious, but still a challenge.

This is my friend Sadie and her daughter, Chloe.

Week 3: Lisa Falls, which was a great little hike, but we should have worn shoes that could get wet. Shelby came with us.

Noah is 15 Months Old

Noah's 15 months-old statistics:

Weight: 23.26 lbs (29th percentile)

Height: 32.48 in (83rd percentile)

Head Circumferene: 19 in (78th percentile)

Noah has 12 teeth, which includes four molars. He still crawls everywhere--no walking alone yet, but he can stand on his own. He can crawl up the stairs without any problems, but he still hasn't figured out how to come down them on his own. After a few tumbles down the stairs while trying to get down them, Noah has chosen to just make noises at the top of the stairs until someone comes and gets him. He still doesn't say much, just "Mama," but he makes noises all the time.

Noah loves to be in the middle of whatever is going on, which is usually cars, trains, or angry birds. He knows how to speak up to get attention and can be quite feisty at times. Diaper and clothing changes are daily battles. Noah LOVES going outside. He'll often stand at the door, waiting for me to take him outside to swing, dig in the sand, or just explore. I have to keep him in pants and socks so his skin doesn't get all scraped up outside.

We play the piano together a lot these days now that I have to practice for my organist calling in the church. I am grateful for the calling because it is helping me expose the boys to music more.

Noah insists on feeding himself with his own utensils. He and Jason are still often opposites in their food preferences, which means Noah eats a lot of what I cook and loves mashed potatoes.

05/26/2013

I love spring! Here are a few things we've been doing:

Playing at the Dinosaur Museum

Working in the yard

Finishing Jason's first year of preschool, which he has loved. Pictured here is Jason with two buddies, Carson and Ashton, on Jason's pretend birthday.

Going on lots of walks

Feeding ducks. We love seeing the new ducklings.

Spending time as a family. We love having Kyle around more now that busy season is over. Kyle and I are enjoying exercising a lot more. I am happy to be fitting into all my old clothes.

Great-Grandma Geniel's Funeral

Kyle's Great-Grandma passed away-- She was 102 years old. I feel guilty that we never took Noah to meet her. We are glad we were able to attend the funeral. Kyle was asked to give the family prayer and was one of the casket bearers. 

From left to right: Grandpa Robbins, Kyle, Noah, Kate

Obituary: 
Geniel Bardsley Robbins
1911-2013
Geniel Bardsley Robbins, 102, returned to her loving Heavenly Father on May 16, 2013. Geniel was born January 2, 1911 in Centerfield, Utah.
She is the daughter of John Samuel and Ane Marie Nielsen Bardsley. Geniel was the second oldest of seven children.
After graduating from Gunnison Valley High, Geniel moved to Salt Lake and graduated from Stevens-Henager College. She then worked in California for a time.
Geniel was a devoted member of the LDS Church and served in numerous callings throughout her life including organist in the Utah Gunnison Stake and California Hamilton Ward, transcribing patriarchal blessings for the Los Angeles Stake Patriarch, a temple ordinance worker and in many of the auxiliary organizations of the Church.
After returning to Salt Lake City, Geniel became secretary for Elder Richard L. Evans of the Council of the Twelve Apostles where she worked for the next 27 years.
During the summer of 1952 Geniel was introduced to Seymour Kenneth Robbins who had been widowed the year before. Geniel and Kenneth were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on December 11, 1952. Geniel helped raise his three children, S. Kenneth Robbins Jr., Donna Robinson, and Ralph Robbins who survive her. She is also survived by many grand and great-grandchildren who love and admire her.
Geniel loved to cook and share her delicious food with many of her neighbors. She loved animals and birds and was very generous with everyone.
Two younger brothers, Quenten Bardsley of Murray, Utah and Harold Bardsley of Salt Lake survive her.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staff of the Sarah Daft Home in Salt Lake City for their excellent care and love where Geniel resided since October 2006. Geniel passed away in the home of a beloved granddaughter Lynn Tusieseina.
Funeral services will be held at the Garden Park Ward 1150 East Yale Ave. (1045 So.) on Tuesday, May 21 at 11:00 AM with a viewing 1 hour prior to services. Interment will be at Salt Lake Cemetery.
Please send condolences to the family at www.broomheadfuneralhome.com. Instead of flowers, Geniel suggests contributions to the Humanitarian Dept. of the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Published in Deseret News on May 19, 2013