Congratulations!

We are THRILLED!

Who Likes Cookies?

Hi, this is Nick (Michelle is typing for me). I am on a competitive baseball team and we are selling Cutler's Cookie Dough to raise money for our uniforms and stuff. I am supposed to ask everyone I know how many tubs of cookie dough they would like. Please call my mom and tell her how many you want. They are $15.00. This picture is how I will feel if you don't buy any.

Thanks, Nick.


This is Michelle now. Doesn't he look sad? The coach of the team told them not to ask people if they wanted any cookie dough, but how many tubs. Nick has been doing a lot of "sales" (this is what he calls it) and would love your help!

How can you say no to this face?

If only I had been born with Down-syndrome

My sister would love me more.
I just thought that everybody should know, today my sister got mad at me and really wished that I had been born with down-syndrome, because they are just so cute....

Patrick's Recipe

I was trying to find a recipe today when I came across this. Patrick had just turned 4 and saw me writing down recipes. He wanted to write his own. I asked him what his recipe was called and he said "Zucchini Cheese Sandwich". He is so sweet. You can see all his 4 year old concentration was put into this.

Better Late Than Never

Here are the boys and their Halloween costumes. Nick was the $1.99 last year costume (for lack of better title) and Zach or "Christie" was a cheerleader. Zach didn't trick or treat much but instead opted to watch a movie with girls! He is growing up so fast.

Happy Birthday Zach!

After. This pictures deserves a story, right? It all begins with Zach.

If you're family, or knew us when we were living in St. George, we are sure you can't forget when three year old Zach loved Barbies. He would never put them down. His brothers tried relentlessly to persuade him that Barbies were for girls. They even purchased him a "Ken" Barbie in hopes that his fascination with the "pretty hair" of the Barbies would soon fade. The Ken Barbie didn't last long and we soon found him stuck down a sewer pipe after our basement flooded with sewage. He really liked his girl Barbies.

As Zach got older, the fascination dwindled, at the delight of his brothers. Every year since, as a celebratory act, Andrew has purchased Zach a Barbie for his birthday. This isn't an ordinary Barbie, this Barbie was bought with the sole intention of being burned.

This is the before shot.

The Tools

Well, you've seen how the story ends.

Zach had his 14th birthday yesterday. We've had fun celebrating it all weekend. We asked everyone around the house why they love Zach (it was too late to call you, Adam and Andrea, but we invite you to leave your love in the comment section)

Hiram: "I love that Zach loves animals"
Jane: "I love that Zach is very loving and tender"
Michelle: "I love that his hair sometimes looks like a helmet."
Andrew: "The way he laughs and the way his face lights up when he sees Trish (Andrew's girlfriend)"
Patrick: "Is this a trick question?"
Nick: "Zach's always mean to me"

There you have it, Zach. We love you!

As a good night story, we leave you the following:
Last week the Special Needs Mutual performed for our ward in sacrament meeting. It was so sweet. Michelle was especially excited to see some old kids she has worked with. Zach was asked to be the Bishop's Messenger that day and was sitting on the stand with the Bishop. Afterwards, in the foyer, a sweet older woman came up to Zach and said "I am Robbie's grandma and I just wanted to tell you what a great job you did performing up there!"

We always knew there was something special about Zach.
We love you Zach, happy birthday!

Finally

Michelle finally started her own blog. You can find it here. Now she can stop taking up our blog space with her pin cushions and things. I have more to post, I'll probably do it today or tomorrow.

Happy Halloween!

The Family

Cutler Cousins. Aren't they darling?

Hiram's costume was un-popular at the party. He was a Davis Dart.

Don't you just want to eat him?

Spooky!!

Cute Boys

The boys aren't home from trick-or-treating yet. I'll post pictures of them later. On Monday night we went to Mila's Halloween Party. It was so fun to see all the kids dressed up! She had fun games for the kids. We all had a great time. Thanks Mila!

Odds and Ends

Nick was really tired after his last football game.

"Jamming"

Doesn't Patrick look like Stevie Wonder?

Almost....

This was almost as embarrassing as the time I walked around campus with the back of my skirt tucked into my backpack. Almost...

While the Parents Are Away....

Nick walked into a pole while my mom and dad were gone. He resembles Adam even more now with that giant lump adorning his forehead.

Sweet 3D glasses

My mom and dad have been out of town since Wednesday and I've had to play mom. It was hard! These boys are crazy. The house has been a disaster and I am ready for some serious alone time. Luckily they come home tonight.
We took advantage of them being gone and spent all their money. It was their fault for leaving us their debit card. We went out to dinner and to a 3D movie. They should go out of town more often but next time, find a different babysitter.

Ransom

Dear Vanessa:

We are holding your tortillas hostage. If you would like them safely delivered this weekend, we are asking for $100 dollars per dozen. Think it over and let us know.

A Pin Cushion

I (Michelle) made a pin cushion tonight with help from my cute cousin Allie. The pattern was ridiculously hard to read and I ran over to her house for help. I was able to hold her sweet new baby while she figured it out.

I've really been enjoying all the extra time I have lately. On Wednesday while I was supposed to be writing a paper on the gender transformation of Avalokitesvara, (I linked it so you wouldn't think I made it up) I went to a quilting class on appliqué with my darling Tia Chacha. It was a lot of fun and I am excited to have some new projects to keep me busy. Thanks Chacha and Allison for your help!

Tagged?

My cute daughter-in-law "tagged" me. Here goes!

1. My real first name is Vaiola. If you are interested in knowing the story, let me know. I think if I tell it again, my kids will kill me.

2. If I didn't dye my hair, I would be completely gray. Yes, completely, 100 percent, gray.

3. If I had no Diet Coke I think I would die. Seriously.

4. I can't stand to be tickled. If you try, I can guarantee you will be seriously injured (or dead) after the attempt.

5. I have a half brother and sister I have only met twice.

6. I often do weird things in my sleep that I don't remember. I once fell off the bed, onto the floor and broke the night stand. I woke up with a sore hip but no recollection of what happened. Hiram loves this story.

7. I once got a job thinking I would be a waitress at a cute Mexican restaurant, my boss (Hiram's dad) only hired me hoping I would date his son. (Hiram) I was barely 18 and it worked. We were married in less than a year.

8. I grew up with no grandparents or dad, they all died before I turned three.


I tag my cute nieces Sylvia, Vanessa and Cheyenne.

Faces, Food and Fun

Adorable Andrew

Yum....cheeseburger!

Bearded Braden (Michelle took this picture right before she dropped the lens to Hiram's brand new digital SLR camera on the concrete. Oops! Good thing she is Hiram's favorite daughter)

Never-Not-Cute Nick

Brown Steve, also known as Giovanni

Terrible, Tiny Trisha (although tiny, we wouldn't never think Trish was terrible)

Wacky Zachie

We had some unexpected company for dinner this week. These two boys (Braden and Brown Steve) are never expected but we always love their company.

Feliz Cumpleaños Guelita!

Isn't she beautiful?

We wanted to wish Guelita a Happy Birthday!

Reasons Why We Love Guelita

1. What's not to love about Guelita?
2. She spoils us all rotten
3. She makes the best Mexican food ever!
4. She was able to give birth to fat baby Hiram (although it almost killed her, he was HUGE!)
   
5. She has raised great dads, husbands, grandpas, friends and aunts for us.
6. She is very hardworking
7. She is very loving
8. She takes good care of all of us
9. She stayed married to Guelito all these years (We love you Guelito!)
10. She makes beautiful quilts, dresses, dolls for all her babies.
11. She is the best Guelita EVER!
    

We love you Guelita!

Rick Rack and New Sewing Machines

I got a new sewing machine yesterday. Hooray! Isn't it pretty? I ran to my favorite place ever, Piper's, to get a pattern for an apron I've been dying to try. (When I was at the register and the cashier saw my last name, she said "Do you know Edna? She comes in here all the time and we love her!")

The apron is slowly coming along.

I got this sweet material for 39 cents a yard. Isn't the rick rack darling? I seriously think rick rack is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'd put it on sliced bread if I could.

This is a quilt I've been working on for years. I am hoping that by admitting it has taken me years, I'll try harder to finish it. It is all done by hand and it takes FOREVER.

Patty Really Does Rock

The picture is bad but we loved it. This is Patrick after a long day of school. He is having so much fun at the U and is really getting into the college atmosphere. He goes to all the events and even recently went to Oktoberfest just for the free sausage. Michelle loves to see him looking lost on campus. He is nice enough to even invite her to lunch with him sometimes, as long as she pays.

Patrick and Isaiah playing on his keyboard today.

Reasons Why We Love Patrick

1. He has recently stopped using his "loud voice"
2. He plays the piano really, really loud.
3. He is really tall and really skinny.
4. He once called himself "Patty Rocks"
5. He is a good lifeguard.
6. He is nice to his family
7. He is a hard worker
8. He mows the lawn whenever we ask.
9. He is very smart
   
10. He is very handsome

We invite you to list your own.....

Nick's Pinewood Derby

Isn't he so cute?

Nicky's Pinewood Derby was last week. Can you guess whose car the U of U one is? After many failed attempts and ruined cars, Hiram and Nick purchased one instead of trying again. As in years past, the Alba boys car came in dead last.

An Evening with Another Andy

Andrew is playing again at Slowtrain downtown on Saturday if anyone is interested. He always puts on a good show.

An Evening With Andy

We had a fun opening exhibit of Warhol prints at the museum (Utah Museum of Fine Arts) tonight. We had an Andy Warhol impersonator come and mingle with the members. He seemed to be a big hit but he was kind of a perv and wouldn't stop touching people.I think he got drunk on all the free wine the museum provided because he reeked of alcohol.

I am really enjoying this internship and have been offered a job for the spring but we'll see what happens. For now, you should go to the UMFA and check out the prints, they are pretty cool!

Because We Can

This post is dedicated to all you fellow Alba's, especially the ones who don't live close to us. Doesn't this look delicious? Guelita spoiled us with her chili verde, beans and tortillas. We loved it! Don't you wish you lived closer? We would invite you to come over for some but it was gone within a day. We love you Guelita!

Not So Ugly Anymore

We are pleased to announce that the hamsters are no longer really ugly. Zachie has done a great job taking care of all of them (except for the one that Michelle found in her bathroom last night-gross!)

UPDATE: The stinkin' hamster got out again and we found it, again, in Michelle's shower.