What do stars say?

Emory is the funniest person I've ever met! She cracks us up daily. Yesterday, she was playing the game "what does a cow say?". Ya know, when you ask your kid "what does a cow say?" or pig or horse etc. Emory's changed into "what does any-inanimate-object-that-catches-my-eye say?" She'd done the TV, piano, computer, oven, the list goes on. Then she looked outside and saw the stars and said, "What does a star say? I know, I know . . . Twinkle, Twinkle!" I laughed so hard I cried!
We haven't seen Cory much due to finals, and she misses him something fierce! I got so sick of her asking "Where's Dad? Where's Dad?" that I told her if she asked me one more time she'd be sorry! She put her thinking finger to her chin and said, "I'm sorry Mom . . . where's Cory Boyd?" GRRRRrrrrrr!
She's also quite the drama queen and has been testing her acting skills out. "The fake cry" with real tears is my personal favorite!
Tessa is my chubby bunny! I don't know what I'd do without her sweetness. She's the BEST! My favorite thing is to get her when she wakes up in the morning. She sleeps from 9 to 7 and literally at 7 am, I can here her stomach growl through the monitor! She's starts singing and jabbering and I run into her room. She gives you the biggest smile and just goos! I LOVE IT!
Cory's "break" starts today, but all that really does is start the count down to the boards! I think I'll be ready to burn down the medical school when this is all over. Emory is always saying, "I'm going to school!" and I think she'll be utterly distraught when she goes to school and Cory's not there! School = Cory, in her little mind!
PS I was tagged by my cousin's wife Amanda, so here goes:

10 years ago I was:
I was livin' it up in SoJo (South Jordan) in the big time 9th grade, playing the saxophone in the Sympohonic Band, and getting ready for high school. I know I was awesome!

Some highlights of the year were:
EFY (my first romance!)
9th grade lagoon day

5 things on my to do list today: Friday
1. Walk with Mandie.
2. Start Laundry
3. Celebrate Cory finishing finals by going to dinner!
4. Make Nutella empanadas for the party.
5. Play Rock Band with the Anderson's and the Campbell's!

Things I would do if I became a billionaire: Pay off our massive student loans, buy tons of clothes for me and my girls (Cory's on his own!), buy a sensible house with a pool and indoor basketball court and gourmet kitchen and . . . (did I say sensible?)

3 of my bad habits:
1. I catch myself gossiping way too often!
2. obsessively cleaning
3. picking my kids noses

5 places I've lived:
1. Phoenix, AZ
2. Logan. UT
3. Kansas City, KA
4. Dallas, TX
5. Atlanta, GA

5 jobs I've had:
1. babysitter
2. Salt Lake County Parks and Rec (Summer Youth Adaptive Camp)
3. Lonestar Steakhouse
4. Shopko
5. Moxie Pest Control

Something most people don't know about me: I have a crazy poky-outy rib on my left side. My family used to tease me that a cancerous tumor behind the rib was the reason it stuck out!

Tessa is four months old!!

I can't believe it! Well, I guess I can since my tail bone is still hurting from giving birth to her! We went to the doctor today to get Tessa's 4 month well-child check up. She's 15 lbs. 4 oz. (84th percentile) and 26 inches long (96th percentile). That's about where Emory was at if you go by her adjusted age. When Em was 6 months she was 14 lbs 14 oz. and 25 3/4 inches long. Doctor Ravi, our fabulous pediatrician, said Tessa's looking great! Emory loves Dr. Ravi and always tries to steal the show. The minute we get in the office she yells, "Dr. Rabi (I didn't mis-spell that) . . . where are you?" It makes all the office ladies laugh!
Cory's finals have now begun so we don't expect to see or hear from him in the next week and a half.
Our ward was split the week before last, and it was long over due. The original ward had just under 300 members to start with and as of the day they split us we had 775 members! The church is growing! I kept my same callings, but Cory is the new Valiant 12 teacher. He's excited to have a calling, and still be able to go to priesthood.
Congrats to Jeremy, Laura, and Parker on their new little edition! Landon Blane was born on February 7th, and he's super cute!
We had my mom and Kate visiting last week, and are missing them terribly. We had a lot of fun with them, and can't wait till our next visit.
Emory's been taking a dance class and my mom took some fun pictures of her. The other pictures are just what was on my camera since the new year.

Our favorite "Grandpa"!

Our dear, sweet prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away on Jan. 27th, 2008.
I have always thought of President Hinckley as my prophet, because he'd been in that position all of my teenage years. His inspiring words and kind demeanor always pushed me to "stand for something". I loved the six B's that he charged us with; Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Clean, Be True, Be Humble, and Be Prayerful. He was a man who followed God's commandments and did it with a smile! Temples now dot the earth as a testimony of the importance of temple work.
Forever, my most tender memories of this Prophet of God will be the influence he had on a two-year old girl. It brought tears to my eyes as I watched how Emory would stop whatever she was doing to hear him speak. She would plop herself right in front of the TV and just listen. Once she told me, as we were reading a church board book with pictures of Pres. Hinckley, that he was her favorite "grandpa"! (Sorry Dad, Flint, and Grandpa Hulse) I had a hard time telling her that he had gone back to be with Heavenly Father and Jesus, but she seems to understand in her own little way.
At this sad time, I still feel peace in knowing that this isn't the end! I am also very excited to here from our new prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, at conference in April. Truly, this is the Lord's work and I love this gospel with all my heart!