Joel's B-Day!

This birthday may just rank as Joel's favorite birthday ever. Many of you know that Joel and I struck up a little "deal" this time last year. The deal was that if Joel lost 40 pounds by his birthday this year, I would buy him a dirtbike. At first, I wasn't sure if he was really going to go all-out working towards this goal. And lets face it, I'm not the greatest encouragement with my candy intake :)

BUT-sometime in June he started to get really motivated. He started riding his bicycle to and from work (about 25 miles per day), joined a soccer league and watched what he ate. While Joel hasn't quite reached his goal yet.....we decided to get the bike anyway. We compromised on a used 2007 Yamaha YZ450F. I wanted to reward his efforts and encourage him to stay active. As I have had to debate with many people...I figure the risk of him being unhealthy due to inactivity outweighted the risk of him getting injured on a dirtbike. Hopefully I will not eat those words. Start sending up those prayers :)

Other than the main event, Joel opened some great presents from our family and friends-THANK YOU to everyone! We also ate Flying Pie and a homemade cake (enjoy the video!). We sure love celebrating this awesome guy! Happy 3-6 Hubs.

Choppin' Locks

Gone Daddy, gone, the hair is gone. I chopped off 14" of hair this week to donate to Locks of Love. I'm in a little bit of shock, but love the new hairdo. Change is always refreshing for me in this capacity. Joel is still adjusting to it as he is one of those "long haired lovin' fellows" but he's being supportive.

Burley Fair

It's almost been a month since we've had a Gandara family post-eek! I figured you were all overdue for an update. We have had a lot of family time in the last month starting with the Burley Fair! Many of you know that for the past 22 years the Barnes family has set up shop on the corner of 11th and Elba selling cotton candy. And for 22 years now it has been $1 a bag! My brother and I used earn our money for school clothes by helping out during fair week and now it's fun to bring our kids back to Burley for the Fair experience. I've never had so much fun as I had watching my little girl try to make her first pig noises! And even after all these years Granny and Grand-dad still paid us some of those $1 bills in exchange for our company. Because let's face it...at this point, bringing grandchildren along is more of a distraction than a help. A welcomed distraction I'm sure, but still-a distraction :)

Saturday Concert Outing

Yesterday we took a little family bike ride down to Hyde Park for a free concert. Truthfully, it wasn't a "little" ride. It was 24 miles and it was pretty dang hot outside. But it's fun to do as a family on a Saturday. Joel does this same ride every day to work. I don't think I would have the discipline to keep it up day after day. Good thing I work from home :). Joel's a rockstar.

Anyway, back to the concert. Donovan Frankenreiter (http://www.donavonf.com/) played at one of our favorite Hyde park hot spots, Parilla Grill. It was packed! But we snuck in a heard some good summer time tunes. Afterwards we hit up Goodies from some Chocolate treats and then headed to Camel's Back Park.

We finished the night off with Shaved Ice and Olympics! GO USA!!

Margo to the rescue

Kids Zone, the place where Ruby hangs her weekday-daytime hat, was closed this week.

Joel and I both had busy work weeks and we weren't quite sure how we would handle this dilemma. Margo decided to come into town on Tuesday to ease the load. She and Ruby had such a great time bonding. They went to the park, read books..and of course played on the air matress! Ruby spent a lot time showing off for Grandma. She started by telling her every word she knows and a few new tricks like walking backwards :) Poor Margo was introduced to the Backyardigans and even worse-DIEGO! Thanks for all your help Mama Gandara.
We feel very blessed to have such a supportive family.

1096 days later...

Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. In a way it's hard to believe that our fateful day was 3 whole years ago. In another way, it's hard to believe it wasn't 10 years ago :)

We've enjoyed the hard work of owning a home, supporting ourselves, becoming parents, and meanwhile learning to love each other the way that God intended. Marriage is a blessing. Some days it can be less than rainbows and butterflies, but compromise moves us along and makes the good days that much sweeter.

All in all it is hard work. But it's hard work worth doing and it is a priviledge to be the wife of this wonderful man.

~Holly

The Horror of the Water

Swimming lessons didn't go so well. In fact, we couldn't even make it through the whole 30 minutes. It was a pretty funny thing to watch. Now, of course, we're not in favor of tramatizing our daughter, but come on...it's Mommy/Daddy and Me swimming! Ruby screamed the whole 15 minutes she did last in the water and then we called it quits. We'll try again Wednesday.

Swimming Lessons Begin

Ruby starts swimming lessons tonight at the YMCA Aquatic Center.
Ella, Andrea and Chauncey Barkes will be in class with us to learn all about baby swimming :)
Ruby hasn't loved the water in the past so we are crossing our fingers that she'll gain some confidence through the lessons.