All sugared out!

Well I am all partied out.  Now if I can just get rid of the Halloween candy while Ava isn't looking I will be very happy.  We have had such busy week.  On Tuesday it was my 30th birthday.  How time flies.  I didn't think I was that sad that I was turning 30 until that day and I was laying in bed and trying to decide if I was sick or not because I was so tired.  I felt like the friend on Ferris Beullar's day off and he is just laying in his bed depressed trying to talk himself into getting up.


Then on Wednesday it was Sophie's First Birthday.  This year has just flown by and I can't believe she is already one.  It just seems like she is still my little baby. We had a great time just staying home. I bought some balloons to play with, we had rainbow cake and opened presents. It was a lot of fun. Who knew that kids could be so entertained by some balloons on the floor but they loved them and chased them all over the house.





We finished off the week with Halloween. I am so glad that it is finally over. After birthdays and Halloween I feel like we have consumed enough candy for the whole year. This year I was pretty uncreative and just went to my sister's house and got some costumes that her kids couldn't fit in anymore. Ava kept saying she wanted to be all of the costumes so she actually was Snow White for the ward party, a cheerleader for her school party and then a care bear for the real deal (only because we talked her into it because it was the warmest).
Hope everyone had a great Halloween and had lots of fun.

Camping July 30-31 2009

Our summer is winding down and almost over but we were able to squeeze in one more mini trip camping.  We went camping at Lost Creek Reservoir in the Uintah's with Bart's family.  We had a great time during the day.  The one night we stayed was a nightmare with Sophie which I expected.  She was up most of the night because it was freezing and when she was asleep I was crazily awake listening for bears.  Needless to say I slept maybe 2 hours!  I'm not a good tent camper in my old age but Bart really wanted to go so we agreed to go for one night.  I decided I really do like to camp especially with Bart's family because they spoil us and cook great food  but I would  enjoy it a lot more if I could just figure out how to handle the nights better.

These moose came grazing through the campground both nights.  They were probably 30 feet from the road. 

Ava playing in Bart's Pontoon boat singing "Row your boat"

Ava fishing at Lost Creek Reservoir

Bart and Ava with her first fish ever.  She reeled it in by herself.  

Summer Lovin, had me a blast

I am tired of looking at the same blog posting so it is finally time to change.  We have been busy this last month traveling and just enjoying the summer.  We started the summer off with a family trip to San Diego.  We went to Sea World, San Diego Zoo, and Balboa Beach. It was a lot of fun.  The zoo was a lot of fun and I was amazed at how up and close a lot of the animals are.  Sea World was also tons of fun and enjoyed more by Bart and I then the kids.  They are just too young to realize how cool it is that a big old whale is doing tricks in the water. The beach was not as much fun as I had wished.  I would have loved to just sit on the beach and read my gossip magazine but with two kids it was more annoying than anything.  Sophie loved to play in the sand and wouldn't stay on the towel (no shocker there, I finally just gave up trying to keep her on the blanket) and Ava was a little afraid of the ocean after she got a face full of water so she decided to swim in the sand instead.  I was finding sand in both kids for a week and am still finding sand in the car.  The things we do for kids!

Our next vacation was on to Glendive, Montana to visit my parents who are on a mission there. We met the whole family there and spent the 4th of July with them. We stopped on our way up there and went to Yellowstone to break up the 13 hour drive. Yellowstone was great and I finally saw a bear there. I have been there a handful of times and have never seen a bear. This trip we actually saw two and a some wolves. After Yellowstone we went the rest of the way to Glendive which is clear on the East side of Montana in the Badlands. It was pretty much in no man's land but it was worth the trip to see my parents and spend time with my family. We were there over the 4th of July so we went to a parade and then the town has an event called the Bump and Run. It was hilarious, it was like a nascar car race on a dirt road mixed with a demolition derby. It was memorable to say the least. Here are just a few pics.

Here are just a few more things we have been up to this summer:

We said goodbye to Ava and Sophie's cousins before they moved to Holland

We've made several trips to parks

We've played way to much Guitar Hero

We've also been able to get out a little and go hiking at the Grotto in Payson Canyon

Well that is about it so far.   Summer is such a fun time and hope everyone else is enjoying there time.  

My Baby has teeth!!

I don't document things as much as I should but today my little baby has teeth.  She is almost 7 months old and the time has just flown by.  This morning at breakfast I thought that I saw some paper in her mouth since she is getting really good at getting paper these days so I finger swept and didn't find anything.  Then today at lunch I was feeding her and found two little bottom teeth poking out.  I couldn't believe it; she is growing up so fast.  She is already scooting all over the floor and getting into things and now two teeth.  I just couldn't resist posting a picture of her even though you can't see the teeth at all but she just looked so cute.  

I also couldn't resist posting a picture of Ava today at her quiet/nap time.  This is how she fell asleep.  I don't know if the picture does justice.  She has her backpack on with her moon boots and I think I even saw a couple of necklaces.  Oh she is funny!

                                                            

 

This is what she looks like when she is not sleeping.  

Ava is also getting so grown up and has been a lot of help these days.  The other day she told me she was ready to work in the yard and pull some weeds.  I had to laugh because that just means she is ready for Mom to work in the yard and pull weeds and she gets to play in the yard.  If I could really get her to pull some weeds for me I would be in heaven!

Not much else going on here.  We are getting excited for summer vacation and Bart having some time off of school.  We have lots of fun little trips planned and can't wait to just have some time together as a family.  

Ava's 3rd Birthday

Well I can't believe it but my little Ava Jo Jo is 3 years old.   She had so much fun at her birthday party and still is talking about it a week later.  Thank you for everyone that made the trip to celebrate with us.  We really appreciate it and always enjoy spending time with family.  

For her birthday we met at the park and had pizza and then went to Jumping Jacks.  I was surprised at how much fun it was there.  I even enjoyed the slides a little.

  

On Sunday we had cake and ice cream with just our little family.  I made a barbie cake for her and it was too unsteady to make the trip to her birthday party with the whole family so we ate it on Sunday.  I am going to post a picture of the dang cake to remind me next time how frustrated I get when I try to make homemade birthday cakes because it never turns out the way you want it to be.  But after about two cans of frosting, some sprinkles and meltdown from me it turned out pretty cute.  

Other than that our family has just been busy with day to day things.  I tried to take a picture of Sophie but none turned out that well except one.  She was moving so much they all turned out blurry.  She is now 5 months old.  She is rolling over and scooting herself on her back.  She is such a good baby and just smiles and talks at everyone especially Ava even though Ava is constantly picking on her and stealing her toys.  

So that is pretty much all our going on these days.  Now it is time to get excited for Spring and Summer.  Oh I can't wait to be able to play outside and go on walks with the kids.  Although it did snow today and I enjoyed seeing a blanket of white.  It sure makes everything so peaceful looking for a little bit.  

Best Valentine's Ever!

I have no pictures unfortunately but I think this Valentine's will be high on my list. I had to work on Valentine's Day so I wasn't really expecting to do much but Bart is the sweetest husband and made it such a good day. I walked into the house after working my 13 hours to find Ava and Sophie bathed and already in their PJ's. Then the table was set with beautiful flowers and chocolates. Bart made Chicken Parmesan with the whole works of bread, salad and Italian Soda's. It was so good and better than anything we could have gotten at a restauarant. We had such a nice low key dinner at home with the kids, I just loved every minute. It was so much better than trying to get a babysitter and wait for a table at a busy restaurant. The best part of the whole night was pulling in the garage after a long day and seeing the kids bathed and ready for bed. I could not have asked for a better present. Thank you Bart for all that you do for me and the kids. You are the best ever.

99 Life experiences for 2009

I am stealing this from my friend Heather's blog and thought it was cute. I still have a lot of things I still need to do so I better get going.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a Meteor Shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Would be o.k. if I didn't go again)
8. Climbed a Mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (This probably will never be done by me)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a Lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (and got caught none the less)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (Does the Life size replica in London count?)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (oh yeah)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (My Dylan Mckay barbie doll he he)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (Only because I didn't know how to drive one)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (the outside)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (I sometimes help doctor's save people lives)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (I once saw Jacke Chan from distance)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (2)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (I'm sure this will come one day if I continue to be a nurse)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (I've gotten stung by a bee and also once swallowed one whole on accident, that should count for two)

I was hoping to at least hit 50 % but just shy at 42%. I guess I better get cracking.

It's been a long December

Well my baby is now 2 months old since I last posted. I can't believe how fast time goes. We have been so busy with the holidays and new baby that blogging is last on the list of things to do. Today I am tired of cleaning, laundry, and taking care of babies so I am finally going to put some new pictures on.

Sophie has changed so much she looks like a totally new baby. She lost a lot of her hair and so we just shaved the rest off so now she looks nothing like her first pictures.

We had a great Christmas and had so much fun with Ava this year. It was fun to see her so excited about everything related to Christmas. It was also exciting to have Sophie with us and has been fun to watch her grow and develop.

Now it is back to reality and work in a couple of weeks.

So here are some updated photo's of the family:

Ava was so excited about her kitchen for Christmas she wouldn't turn around so we could get her face.

Ava and her snow angel

This picture sums up Ava and Sophie's relationship. Ava smothering her and Sophie scared to death of her.

Sophie 2 months old

Sophie in her blessing dress on Jan 4, 2008

Our little family at Sophie's blessing.

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