Help!

I put this template together with a little bit of help from a girl who makes blog templates. I was at a friend's house today and pulled up my blog excited to show her my new blog skill and it didn't look right at all. On my computer it looks fine, but on hers the writing goes all the way across the background (striped) page and doesn't stay on the blue page. Please let me know if that happens when you pull up my blog. I want to figure out how to fix it, but first I need to know if it happens on everybody's computers or just hers. Thanks for your help.

Popsicle Fun!

There is nothing better than a popsicle on a hot summer day. Lily and Paul enjoyed their popsicles in Paul's bathtub.

Tracy's Book List

Here are 3 books I have recently read that I highly recommend.
#1 - Leadership and Self-Deception, Getting out of the Box By The Arbinger Institute
This book is a must read! It helps you change how you see and treat other people. Very inspiring! Also great for marriages/relationships too!
#2 - Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood - Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years By Jim Fay & Charles Fay Ph.D.
If you have children you need to read this book! It makes parenting so much easier and a lot less stressful. I have heard some people comment on love and logic before who haven't done their own research about it, at least enough to know what it's really about. I highly recommend it! My early childhood education program at USU was based around many of Love and logic techniques. Universities all over the country are teaching these methods. Love and Logic teaches parents how to raise responsible kids. I love it because it has helped me to not be such a control freak and give some of the decision making to Lily. She is such a well-behaved kid and I feel it is in large part because I read love and logic and apply the techniques in our home. Don't get me wrong though, Lily still has her moments :) I'm just getting better at dealing with them.
#3 - The Read ~ Aloud Handbook By Jim Trelease
This book makes you want to drop everything you are doing, go to the bookshelf, grab a book and read to your child! This book is incredible! If you are a mom who turns on the TV as soon as your kids wake up and realize it's 11am before you've sat down and actually done anything interactive with your kids or if your kid spends most of the day playing alone because you are so busy doing all the endless tasks, I highly encourage you to read this book. For anyone else who just wants to have smart kids, READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!! It is a book for every kind of parent. The benefits of reading to your children when they are young are PRICELESS. This book is a must read! I feel like it has made me a better parent. I have always known that it is important to read to your kids, but I had no clue the kind of long term affects it could have on their IQ, love for learning and reading! I read to Lily so much more now instead of just a couple of books at bed time.

All of these books are pretty quick and easy to read. I love reading books that make me want to be a better person or help me with my parenting skills. Please pass along any of your book recommendations.

Becoming Jane

Being a huge Jane Austen fan, I was very excited when this movie came out. I definitely recommend it, but know that it isn't nearly as powerful as Jane's books and some of the other movies made. It was fun to picture what Jane's life was like and where she got her inspiration from. Unfortunatley, Anne Hathaway's performance was a little weak. Don't get me wrong, I like Anne Hathaway, but she seems to lack the strength and intensity that you would expect to find in someone portraying Jane Austen. Despite a weak performance and a hard to believe English accent, I enjoyed the film. If you like love stories and don't have super high expectations you just might enjoy, Becoming Jane. And no, I have not become a movie critic even though I am acting like one. Plus, who am I to judge Anne Hathaway's performance when I know I couldn't do much better! Anyway, the summer is coming to an end and I don't have much to post on our blog. Also, being a big fan of Jane Austen I thought I would tell all of you what I thought of the movie. Please let me know if you have any movie recommendations!

Washington DC

We have had such a fun summer! My friend Melissa who lives next door is a lawyer and works for a law firm in DC. She needed to go to her firm this week and invited me to come along. She works a block away from the White House. It was very convenient being so close to all of the historical tourist spots. I did lots of sightseeing with Lily and Melissa's daughter Lucie. The last time I visited our nation's capitol I was in the 7th grade, so it was fun to go back as an adult. I really love the east coast, although I can definitely live without the humidity. It was so hot and sticky the whole time. The highlight of the trip was seeing Andy Roddick and the Bryan Brothers play in the Legg Mason Tournament. We sat in box seats right up front. The first night we saw Andy Roddick play. It was a little stressful because we had the girls with us and were doing everything we could to keep them quiet. They did really well and we had a great time. The next night we got a sitter and went to the tournament with some of Melissa's friends from work. We forgot to take pictures of Andy Roddick, but we got some great pictures of Bob and Mike Bryan. I didn't take very many pictures on the trip but here are a few.


The White House


Dwight D Eisnehower Building/ The old executive offices of the White House


The Capitol Building


Lily and Lucie at the National Museum of Natural History



Legg Mason Tennis Classic - Bob and Mike Bryan . . . . Am I such a dork for posting these pictures?! I am going to answer my own question by saying. . . Yes!





These pictures were taken on the roof of Melissa's office. You can see the Washington Monument and the White House in the background.



Lucie and Lily relaxing at The Marriott