Christmas Eve

Eight years ago on Christmas Eve a precious little baby was born.
That night was very special as his mother felt like she could understand, in some small way since she didn't give birth to a baby unattended in a dirty animal stall, how the Savior's mother felt. It was love at first sight for me- as soon as I saw that tiny little baby I loved him fiercely!
Isaac has grown a bit since that night but I will always remember how it felt to hold his tiny newborn body on that special day.
One of the doctors suggested we name him "Nowell" since he was born the day before Christmas- but lucky for him we already had a name in mind!
Isaac has grown into a caring, wonderful little boy and I am so proud of him! He is a great help around the house- the handiest child for chores. He loves his little sisters and while he does enjoy tormenting them at times, he makes sure nobody else does!
Right now his obsession is playing with legos. He is also a great reader- and gobbles up youth novels like crazy! Last night he read the 200 pg. kid's version of Swiss Family Robinson in about two hours- a massive feat for an 8-year old!
Ok, enough bragging-
I am so glad that Heavenly Father entrusted such a special little boy!
Happy birthday, Isaac!

Shoot me now! (The dangers of finals week.)

So you suffer through an entire semester- finally making it to the last, wonderful day of classes. . . . only to have to return to take huge tests that are a huge chunk of your grade.
You are exhausted, burned out, and out of gas- but somehow you must summon your inner Zen master and overcome.
Or, you can just say, TO HECK WITH IT ALL!!
Right now, I vary between the extremes. I toy with the idea of accepting less-than-my-usual Stellar grades and just ending it so I can REST. Then the annoying other voice in my head brings up the fact that we've suffered through the semester and why on earth would we just kiss our grades goodbye now??
Ah, the inner turmoil.

Concert Pictures

Monday night was our last show for concert this semester- here are a few pictures for your viewing enjoyment! Look hard to see that baby!
That dress appears again- urgh! This is from a foxtrot called "Who Wouldn't Love You?" It's a really fun number with 20's-ish nostalgia.

This is from our "Una Furtiva Lagrima" waltz- one of my favorites of the show.
Here I am in the Latin Medley with my partner Nick. Aren't we adorable? This was another dress that revealed the baby's presence. . . .
These pictures are from a really awesome Lindy called "Jeep Jockey Jump" that is another nostalgic look backwards- this time at the end of WW2.


This is me in our new foxtrot- the "French Foxtrot"with David, who is awesome!

Out of the Baby Closet

Sooo. . . . . we have been keeping this secret for a while now but the secret's out- I am pregnant!
Here is the dress that outed me at dress rehearsal! hee hee You can email me for the full story if you really want the gory details. . . .
Anyhow, we are expecting another little Darbita's arrival on April 10 next year! That's right- a GIRL!
We are excited- We told the munchkins the week before the gender-revealing ultrasound- Eve and Isaac were voting for a baby brother but it was not to be. Isaac cried at first but he's happy to have another baby sister now.
We have an ultrasound video but for some reason it won't load on here so stay tuned for boring plain ultrasound pictures.
Oh yes, and this baby's womb name is Lucky Buttercup. Basically, the story is that this baby was conceived right before Patrick's vasectomy and I wanted to also be able to sing the song from Three Amigos. . . . . .

UVU Ballroom Company Concert coming up!

Our Ballroom Company fall concert is coming up! It starts the Thursday evening after Thanksgiving and runs that weekend Fri, Sat (matinee & evening) - Dec 3-6 and the following Monday evening, Dec 8. I think the evening shows start at 7:30 and the matinee at 1? I could be wrong- check comments for updates. The ticket are $10 and seating is open so get there a bit early. Pretty much all the seats are ok but it's nice to be nearer to the center!

WELL, I hope to see you all there!

Fun With Hogle Zoo

A few weeks ago we decided to go check out the zoo before the weather turned cold. It was a perfect day to go- still warm but not the roasting-hotness it was in the summer!
Our number one goal was to see the baby elephant. Oh my GOODNESS, that baby elephant was cute!! Unfortunately, I didn't realize we had the camera with us at that time (she was the first animal we looked at) so we don't have any pictures. Boo hoo. It really is a shame because she was the cutest animal I have EVER seen. So, if you want to see the baby elephant, you are just going to have to come down here and visit us!
Anyhow, after Patrick got the camera out of his bag we got a few fun pictures:

Esther had a very terrifying encounter with one of the zoo animals.

The alligator was still hungry after devouring Esther. . . .
Waiting in line for the train.
The Mamma Tiger with her three babies.
Two giraffes and three monkies.
I think they are looking at penguins here. . . .
Here, turkey turkey, Thanksgiving is coming soon! Yes, keep eating . . . mmmmm . . . . see you on the table later!

#2 turns 6!

My first view of the little pink baby. (Eve)


Six years ago this week Eve was born! She was a beautiful little baby. She enjoyed using her loyal subjects as pillows. . . .





I can't believe that tiny little baby has grown into such a humongous little girl! Ok, she's not really huge- she's scrawny and little but her personality is huge! Eve loves to draw and play with her big brother and little sister. She loves to sing and dance and run around like a crazy person! She has a big imagination and a big heart. Eve is my best snuggler and she takes care of everyone around her. If someone is cold she'll get a blanket and "snug" them under it. Evie has a spunky side, too- and she's a little bossy. I have no idea where she inherited that trait from. . . anyhow, I am so happy to have such a precious little person in my family! I am grateful for my Eve!

Mary and her Little Lambchop

My small children have been looking forward to Halloween for the last few months. About two months ago I dragged them to JoAnne's Fabrics to get something and we ended up looking at Halloween patterns. At first, Esther wanted to be Snow White. Isaac wanted to be a vampire and Eve was going to be a fairy. But then Eve found a pattern with a beautiful girl in pink holding a shepherds' crook and everything changed. "Esther! I am going to Mary and YOU are going to be my little lamb!" I cringed in anticipation of Esther's displeasure at being forced into a role chosen for her- but she immediately was enthusiastic and so the deal was sealed! We quickly found a little lamb pattern and went in search of material.
(You may think I am neglecting Isaac- so let me say that he found a Robin Hood costume and was hooked. There are, however, no pictures of him in this post because he refused to stop playing on the computer and put his costume on when I was taking pictures of his sisters and when he finally put it on I couldn't find the camera anywhere! Esther had it and Patrick found it the next day behind the couch. SO you must wait for the story of Robin Hood for now.)
ANYHOW, the little girls were insanely, disgustingly cute and here are the pictures to prove it!
Unfortunately, while we were trick or treating, everyone accused Eve of being Bo Peep- and she was constantly frusterated and corrected everyone who was silly enough to not recognize a Mary with her Little Lamb when they saw one!

32 Years and Counting!

Today is Patrick's birthday! We won't mention exact numbers- but let's just say that a long, LOOOONG time ago, a little baby was born in the city of Salt Lake City, UT and his name was Patrick Thomas Darby. Some time has passed since then and now he is significantly taller, has a wife, three children, and a cat! Besides being in possession of those lofty achievements, Patrick has developed a lot of fantastic talents that are not generally known. Patrick has the amazing ability to look in the cupboard and the fridge and create wonderful meals for his family! It truly is a talent that amazes me every time because I am a recipe-dependent sort of person! Patrick also has a fantastic sense of humor and comic timing that make him an excellent story-teller! Oh and he has some great voices when he reads books to the children, too! Ok, there are many wonderful things about Patrick and we are so happy to have him as a father and husband!
So, Happy Birthday Paddy!
It's his party and he'll cry if he wants too. . . .
Please don't mention the exact time elapsed since his birth because Patrick is a little sensitive about his really REALLY REEEEEAAAAAALLLY old age.

His birthday cake: Double Chocolate-Praline Fudge Cake. The picture just doesn't do it justice! It was GOOD. mmmm
A good man deserves a good cake! Happy birthday husband!

Toady Isaac

Last weekend was my ballroom company's social- a picnic at one of the many parks up Provo Canyon. Don't ask which one because I still have no idea! Anyhow, my coach is a photography fanatic and he caught our darling Isaac doing this. Just thought I'd share! (FYI- that is a piece of watermelon in his mouth.)

New Bags

SO. . . . with these new activities the children are starting, I thought they needed a bag to put things in like shoes and tights and leotards so they don't lose them. I haven't made Isaac his yet because he needs a more manly-like version, but here are the lovely bags I made for the girls!

Ballet/Taekwondo/Gymnastics Kids

I always said that I wasn't going to put my children into lessons until they were at least six. . . . this year I broke down and put everyone into something because I have no more convictions. . .or something. Anyhow, Isaac is taking Taekwondo, Eve is in dance, or as she calls it, "ballerina class", and Esther-loo is doing gymnastics. This week they had their first lessons so we had to document the moments with pictures!

Eve in ballerina class- you can't see but her teacher is a man. It was so cute to see him teaching his little flock of girls. Eve is actually awesome in her class, despite the plies you see below. (I am trying not to judge on the first day)

Isaac in class. The teacher turns around with the pool noodle and they have to duck or jump over.

Esther in mid-jump. Ok, I think she is incredibly adorable in her gymnastics ensemble! What a little poser.
We'll work on the sickled feet. Ah! Not a show mom, not a show mom, not a show mom. . .