Little Boys' Birthdays

Ryan turned 3 last month and Eric turned 1 this month. We had low-key celebrations with homemade birthday cakes and just a few gifts. We bought a small metal swingset for the backyard so they can play in an enclosed area.

Ryan is our child who has been the most verbal from the youngest age. He loves to play with Jordan and Maya, and is starting to play with Eric as well. He recently learned how to play a marble game on the XBox 360, which Aaron is convinced is developing his eye-hand coordination and problem-solving skills because he has to keep a marble balanced as it rolls through mazes. He enjoys riding his tricycle and scooter. He loves to be outside and play with other kids. He still hasn't shown much interest in potty training, although he did pee in the toilet the other night and was rewarded with a tootsie roll, much to his delight. He absolutely adores his dad, and when I cuddle him he still loves to play with my hair--something that began when he was a baby.



Eric is a sweet baby who loves to smile, babble, and get attention from everyone around him. He is an absolute delight because he is so happy. He has 4 teeth on top and 4 on the bottom. He crawls around super fast, and is starting to stand and take steps. He enjoys pulling everything out of the drawers in the kitchen and he's at a very curious stage--always wanting to know what's happening with everyone and everything around him. He says "uh-oh", "dadda", and "mama". "Dadda" was his first word. He is following the trend of his older brothers to be a very active boy!

Testy Chef

We recently tried out a local restaurant located right next to the Cedar River. We sat outside and the view of the river was great.

Cub Scout Day Camp 2009

Jordan had a great time at Cub Scout Day Camp! Each half an hour there was a different station to go to for activities, from archery to cooking, to art to science--they were all fun. Aaron spent one day at the camp walking from station to station with the Webelos in our ward. The next day I was able be a "walking leader" with our Wolves and Bears. The Scouting program is so great for boys! :)

Mason Lake

Aaron was recently called to work with the Boy Scouts (12-13 year-olds) in our ward. Last month he went on his first hike/campout with them to beautiful Mason Lake. It was about a 4-mile hike--uphill.

4th of July Bicycle Parade

We enjoyed our ward's annual 4th of July celebration held in the church parking lot. The Boy Scouts started the activity with a flag ceremony, followed by a yummy breakfast. The kids then rode around on their decorated bikes while patriotic music played in the background. It was fun (and SUNNY)!

Lake Wilderness July 2009

Jordan participated in playing flag football with police officers at Lake Wilderness. During one of his practices we enjoyed the lake with the other children:

Lollipop! Lollipop! Oh, lolli-lolli-lolli!

Eric fell asleep sucking on a lollipop and it was so cute to watch the process:











This lollipop-sucking experience was VERY sticky and we had to stick him in the tub:

MILAN, ITALY!!!

My baby sister, Lisa, received her mission call to Milan, Italy!!! She enters the Missionary Training Center on September 16th, and my family is SOOOO excited for her!



Here's a long story, somewhat short:

Way back when, there were two Prina brothers living in Baceno, Italy. They went to the United States to seek their fortune in the mining industry, and thus ended up in Nevada. After 12 years, one brother, Giacomo, returned to Baceno, Italy, where he married his sweetheart who had WAITED for him during those long 12 years he was away. The other brother, Cesare Prina, stayed in Nevada and married Teresa Borgna, another full-blooded Italian. They had 9 children, the oldest of which, Angelo Caesar, was my grandpa.

The descendents of these two brothers have begun to be reunited over the last 20 years by our visits to Baceno and their visits to Utah. One of our direct relatives, Andrea Prina, actually lives in Milan. Baceno, Italy, our homeland, is in the Milan Italy Mission.

We hope to all go over at the end of Lisa's mission to have a gigantic family reunion!

When you click on the map below, there is a town near the Swiss Alps (upper left border by Switzerland) called Domodossola--Baceno is very close to that. Baceno is a small town of only about 1000 people set in a GORGEOUS mountain setting. It's actually fairly close to the Matterhorn. Our Italian cousins do a lot of hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. :)