Emily, we hope you had a great day! You are so amazing and so helpful! (to all of us).

We appreciated having you with us when we had visits to Doctor Noyes and then again for the day of surgery at the Huntsman. You know all the right questions to ask and it was so comforting to have another person listening to all those directions when we came home. Thank you!

I love spending time with you, and cooking with you, too. We had fun times with new recipes and new "gadgets"!

It was a snowy day like today when you were born. What a sweet blessing you have been!

my dear emily

Today is Emily's birthday. Oh how I wish I were in Utah to surprise her at work and take her to lunch, or shopping at Nordstrom's!
I have really really loved living in Oklahoma, but the hardest part is being away from family. Especially Em.
Not many people are lucky enough to have sisters like Emily. We have had so many amazing times together! Here are just a couple of my favorite Em memories.

ER, Friends and Taco Maker Thursdays. No one can flirt their way into more free crispitos than Em :)

Going to Salt Lake and staying with Emily. Always knowing I'd have a spot in her bed and that "my pajamas" would be there waiting for me.

Shopping with Em is the best. She really knows her stuff! She was always willing to go with me to find the perfect shoes to go with a dance dress, or to advise me on wedding make up. She definitely has good taste!

Playing the train game. nuff said. She always beats me, but it's always fun.

CANCUN. Seriously, one of the funnest trips of my life. So glad we could go together.

Emily is the kind of person who is always doing something for someone else. If she's not bringing something special for someone in the office, she's up in Kaysville hanging out with Cam, Addison and Axel so G and C can have a little break.

Emily, you are such a wonderful person and there are so many people who love you. I love you.

I call it a COME BACK!

Look Mom!

All it took was almost 3 months of nursing and I brought it back. That's not one, but TWO healthy leaves!

Nutella

I was in the next room working, and Mike was "in-charge," but apparently "in-charge" means allowing Asher to snuggle down in his blanket with a tub full of Nutella! Somehow Asher pulled it off the kitchen counter, opened the jar, and feasted. We couldn't believe it! So funny.

Asher's Glamour Shots

While I work on Tuesday and Thursday in the office, Asher goes to visit his friends Liv and Heather. We have been so blessed to have so many amazing women live nearby that have babysat Asher. Thank you Katie, Heather, Elise, and Melissa! And to our subs Melanie and LuAnn. Anyway, Asher has really loved playing with Liv, and Heather is taking a photography class and took these cute pictures of Asher:

Thanks Heather!

Seven Ways you know you have a Toddler:

1. Your suitcase becomes inhabited by a 30 pounder:

* I know that not all toddlers are nearly 30 pounds, but I am just working with experience people!

2. Your bathroom time is not only interrupted by someone, but also his toy table:

3. Your trash can becomes a new place for socks or various other nondisposables:

4. Small items just seem to cover your floor at ALL times, no matter what you try and do about it. :)

5. Your lower shelves are not longer a place for books:

6. Instead of finding something wrong when he looks in the mirror, your thirty pounder just seems to LOVE himself. And you have a bag full of dirty diapers hanging from your door. Gross, I know.

7. And finally, Dad's quick shower turns into Asher's unsupervised baby powder extravaganza:

P.S. I love the little footprint in this one. Even with all of the above, I think I wouldn't mind freezing Asher in time.

A long time!

First of all, congratulations to Gardner, my oldest brother, and his wife Crista, and their children Cameron, Addison, and Axel on their new baby boy!!! We are so excited for a new baby Crane.

Yes, it has been a few months, and it may be a few more before my next post, but that's just how the Popes roll.

We had a great and busy end to 2009.

Asher and I (sadly Mike had to stay home and study) were able to share Thanksgiving with my family in Utah:

The girls in all of my mom's aprons

Cameron and Addison in their cool school shirts



Gardner & Crista

Maren, Grant, and Dad

Asher and Axel: man talk

And we were able to gather with Mike's family in Billings, Montana for Christmas. It may have taken us 2 1/2 days, 3 missed flights, one Asher throw-up on a flight, a desperate, unsuccessful search for a sippy cup in the the ENORMOUS mall of America, and one unplanned night in a shady hotel to get there, but it was definitely worth it. We had a great time.

Visiting our friends, the Trendlers, in Minneapolis during our second day of our prolonged layer-over. So fun to see them though.

Big cousin Joe showing Asher what Chucky Cheese is all about.

The Popes and the Nyes... and yes, the Nyes are attempting to steal children.

A shepherd with his little uncooperative sheep

Now back to the cold, harsh reality of a Chicago winter in January. Wah, wahhh.