Congratulations Val....

.... You have successfully taken the first decent Sandberg Family Picture ever! I have to say, besides Avree, the Sandberg family is the most UN-photogenic family in the world. My mom has tried multiple times to get professional family pictures taken and either someone is closing their eyes half-way looking like a mutant (me, usually), or Blake was making a stupid face on purpose, or whatever (Avree always looked perfect in every single picture)... but these pictures actually look good. In fact, we're a pretty dang good-looking family, don't you think!?




Here's just the Moncur fam. Marin was being such a stinker, I'm surprised we actually got one we are all smiling in. Again, props to Val the photographer!


Marin looks like such an angel in this picture, you would never know the trauma we had trying to get her to hold still and SMILE!


When Marin saw this next picture she said, "Where's Marin?"


And last, this picture is of my dad and Avree's little boy Spencer. I think it is just precious!

Football Night

We had a Sandberg family get-together tonight minus my parents (so sad) and it was way fun. Avree and Matt were returning from a vacation in Yellowstone so Mitch invited them to dinner. I figured I might as well invite Jaren and Blake too (since they're both up here for college now) and we had a fun night. After some Mexican and specialty Aggie ice cream the boys played a little football. Marin was hilarious! She totally thought she was one of the boys. She ran around the whole time with them. Mitch showed her how to lean down and put her hands on her knees waiting for the ball, so after that she had to keep telling them "Do like this!" if they weren't properly leaning down. Marin had quite a blast. If my parents would have been here it would have been a perfect night!

Stephenie Meyer Critique

I know this is a little late, the frenzy happened about a month ago, but it has taken me a little longer to decide what I think. I was a little wary of the whole "Twilight" thing from the beginning, I had a few friends telling me about the books but I didn't think they were for me. I've never been into fantasy-fiction. I once tried reading "Lord of the Rings" and got past about 1 chapter before I thought I'd DIE of boredom. But after every one of my neighbors and friends told me to read the book, and partly so I could keep up on their conversation, I started reading Twilight. Against all components of my personality, I LOVED the series. I devoured all 3 books in like 3 days. Then, I hate to admit this, but I went back and re-read my favorite parts and thought about them all the time for at least a week! I felt like such a little high school girl, almost guilty, for liking these dumb books so much. Then I got my sister to read them (she was a skeptic at first too) and she loved them too! So with much anticipation, I awaited the release of "Breaking Dawn" (on my birthday, no less)! My sister got the book first, then gave it to me and I read the whole thing in 2 days! I will admit, it was entertaining, and with a little skimming over the too mushy parts (I'm very good at this) it was pretty good actually. But I have to agree with many of you out there-- I couldn't help but picture myself reading this at 16 or 17 years old or younger (the age the books were actually intended for) and I was pretty disappointed. I won't be recommending this series to my teenage daughter (in about 11 years). That's enough about that, I'm not going to repeat what everyone has been saying in this regard.

But what this post was really intended for is to say that I was pleasantly surprised by her other book, The Host. I actually didn't read it until last week because everyone I talked to said it was just "so so." My sister-in-law gave me her copy and said it was good so I started reading it, expecting it to drag and be boring. I actually liked it! I thought it was really good actually. I know Stephenie Meyer isn't the greatest, most eloquent writer in the world, but she really knows how to spin a good story! I will be reading the next books in this series. If any of you haven't read it, I encourage you to give it a try. You just might like it!

The Homecoming Trip

My brother Jaren returned home from his mission in Brazil a few weeks ago and it was a great reunion! He has adjusted to civilian life quite well and has already been on a few dates! We are lucky because he and my brother Blake are starting college here in a few weeks. Jaren is staying with me until school starts and is working on getting a job (and meeting cute girls). Here are a few pictures from the trip to St. George.


The Sandberg siblings (and their kids)


Walking in my parents' front door for the first time in 2 years!


Blake took Mitch and Matt skim boarding for the first time. Mitch LOVED it! He enjoys anything that involves a board. We came once and let Marin play in the river (well, mud). She really enjoyed herself, as you can see.


Blake took Mitch and Matt on a few mountain biking trips. Now that Mitch has his sweet new bike rack, he is able to fit a little mountain biking in practically everywhere we go.