I Love Food!!!

Over the past three weeks, we have slowly been introducing solid food to Jared. Because Mom has been busy with party planning and Christmas shopping, we have been introducing the fruits and veggies very slowly, but so far so good! (It probably helps that we started with applesauce, blueberries, and sweet potatoes!) Here are some pictures from breakfast this morning. Beside starting solids, he has also added 2 new teeth. On Friday the 14th, the right tooth starting poking through, and just today the left tooth has started to poke through as well. These will probably be some of his last pictures with a toothless grin!

Goodbye toothless grins, hello toothy smiles!

Open wide!

Yum, yum, yum....gobble, gobble, gobble!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

For the past few years, Elizabeth hasn't had many opportunities to play in the snow. This year so far we have had 3 good snow storms, and she has really had fun making a snowman, throwing snowballs with mom, having mom run her around the yard on the sled, and of course eating a tasty lunch of snow. All the snow has sure made it feel more like Christmas!

Wading in knee deep snow.

Trying to avoid the camera - not sure why, but she decided during the 2nd half of the afternoon to sabotage all of my attempts at picture taking!

Our little snow bunny and her increasingly popular forced smile!

Nothing beats a tasty handful of freshly fallen snow!

Heading back in for a glass of hot chocolate.

The First Snow of the Season

Yesterday the first snow of the winter season fell. Elizabeth was so excited that on the way home from the post office she asked if she could play in the snow. I told her she had to wait until Dad got home because it was dark by then and I needed to make dinner. Luckily Daddy was already home. So Elizabeth dressed in her pink princess dress and sporting a pair of pink sweats underneath headed outside to play. She and Dad built the world's tallest snowman, or in Elizabeth's words they built a "gimentic snowman". It was too dark for pictures last night, put here is a picture of Snowy. After a good hour in the snow they were ready to come in and warm up.

Miscellaneous Monday

Okay, I know it is Wednesday, but I just love that title.
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Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful holiday weekend spent with family. It was nice to enjoy the beautiful (if a bit chilly) Thanksgiving morning by taking a walk with Steven's family. We even simplified the visiting this year and stuck to one house! Although we missed seeing everyone on Thanksgiving, it was wonderful to have a more relaxing day. It was also nice to go and visit with Steven's sister on Friday who was in town from Fresno and catch up with her before she headed back home. It was fun visiting my parents on Friday afternoon with the kids and just having a relaxing chat. Finally we had a fun Friday night and Saturday morning putting up all the decorations (Elizabeth couldn't wait!!). Thanks to all who helped us enjoy our weekend. (And thanks to BYU for winning the football game so we had something to celebrate!)

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Since the BYU vs. Utah football game was on Saturday, when we went to Steven's Mom's to take our Thanksgiving morning walk, we dressed Jared in both BYU & Utah attire, representing the split family he comes from. We thought it was a pretty cute ensamble!

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Elizabeth: Mom, can you make me some cold hot chocolate?

Mom thinking to herself: How is that possible!?!

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Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for...

Two little kidlets, that are the light of my life.

A sense of humor!

All the little helpers in my life.

The fall. Childhood. Playing.

A family that I love and adore. One that shares with me

all the joy, laughter, sadness, pain and love.

Star of The Show!

Okay, so maybe everyone else thought their own kids were the star of the show, but for me Elizabeth was definitely the star of the show. Today was the primary program, and she had a speaking line and a duet with another little girl. Much to our surprise and excitement, she did both her speaking part and her song beautifully with no stage fright. She was one of the loudest singers on every song, and knew some of them better than the older kids (or maybe the older kids were just bored by the whole experience!!) Anyway, we are pleased that she has gotten over her stage fright a bit, but she still didn't talk to one single person that told her that she did a good job, even people that she knew. Congratulations Elizabeth on a job well done!

Go Utes?

Papa got this wig for Elizabeth from one of the recent U football games. We put it on Jared one night and all started laughing. So I snapped a few pictures to share. Here are the pictures of our little Ute (or maybe he is a Cougar in disguise, you never can tell!!)

Elizabeth on Halloween

Here is a little audio clip of Elizabeth telling me about Halloween:

Happy Halloween

Click here to view pictures in a larger slideshow.

We had fun this year helping Jared celebrate his first Halloween. He was the cutest little tiger ever and was very patient as we went from house to house so people could see him. I think Elizabeth has finally caught on to what Halloween is all about. She did some actual trick-or-treating this year, about 10 houses. She realized that the more houses you got to the more candy you would get, so after getting her candy she would wait a few minutes (since every house we stopped at wanted to chat about how we were doing and look at Jared), and then she would be down the driveway yelling at us to hurry up so we could keep moving. She was so cute and had a lot of enthusiasm, which made it fun for us. We headed back to Steve's mom's for chili and then watched Ghostbusters (well, at least Steve did!) Elizabeth ending up getting a little scared and so she watched Heffalump Halloween instead. It was nice to finally get home and get tucked into bed.

Tender Tuesday

This conversation was held as we were driving home from the grocery store on Tuesday.

Elizabeth: Mommy, when you and Daddy die, Jared can live with me, that is okay. I will take care of him.

Mommy: Well, hopefully when Mommy & Daddy die Jared and you will be bigger.

Elizabeth: Well, I know, but still, when you die I will take care of him.

Mommy: Do you think you will miss Mommy & Daddy?

Elizabeth: No, I won't miss you because I will always be your little girl. I will always Daddy's little baby. Even when I get older, I will be Daddy's baby.

Mommy: That's right, you will always be our little baby!

The Friday Funnies

This conversation was held as we were driving up to my brother's ward for their baby blessing.

Elizabeth: Are Nathan & Isabelle going to be there?

Mommy: Yes

Elizabeth: Isabelle is a lot cuter than Jared.

Mommy: Oh really. Why do you think that?

Elizabeth: She is just a lot softer than Jared. She is just cuter than him.

Mommy: Oh, okay.

Wordless Wednesday

Click here to see an enlarged slideshow.

The Garden After Dark

Last Thursday night we had the opportunity to attend the Red Butte Garden's "Garden After Dark". It was so much fun. Elizabeth really loved it and since we are members we got in free. For our free entry she got to walk around and play in the garden while participating in a bunch of really fun activities. She got to make a wood elf mask, paint a pumpkin, run through their vine covered snake tunnel that was filled with smoke, make a little bee on a stick, make music by beating on some "drums", walk through a forest trail lit with black lights, watch a magic show, and do some face painting. We aren't sure who had more fun, her or Steve and I watching how excited she was. She was especially excited to be able to wear her costume. If any of you have the opportunity you should go. It was a great start to our family vacation weekend.

Taxes & Teething

I haven't spent much time doing blogging lately because I have been busy with taxes and teething. For many, tax season ends in April, but unfortunately for me (or maybe it is fortunate, because then I can work all year), we have a good supply of perpetually late clients at my office. These individuals can't seem to get us their tax stuff until the very last second. So, I spent Monday from 7:30 - 9:00 finishing up taxes before extensions expired! Needless to say I didn't do much yesterday.

I think we have hit teething season. Jared was super grumpy yesterday, and although I don't remember Elizabeth being exceptionally grumpy when she was teething, Jared did something that he never does, cry unconsolably. Nothing I did seemed to help, except nursing. So instead of cleaning the house and getting organized, I napped on the couch with my grumpy boy! Luckily he woke up today with a much happier disposition. Hopefully it stays that way! I am now anxiously awaiting his first tooth, I know it is a bit early, but Elizabeth got her first tooth early as well. Who knows, maybe that was just the tip of the iceberg and we really have 3 more months before a tooth pops through. I will let you know when it happens!

Besides that I have tried and failed to do some minimal fall decorating. I guess decorating is not my thing. I am hoping that someday I might get a little more imaginative, but until that day Elizabeth will have to continually tell me, "Mommy, we don't have very many decorations. But that is okay, we can just go buy some!"

Weekend Warrior

Over the weekend Steve, his sister and her husband headed to the Grand Canyon to hike Rim to Rim to Rim. For those who don't know what that means, it means they started at the North Rim, hiked down to the bottom of the canyon (approximately 14 miles), then headed back up the South side to the South Rim (approximately 9 1/2 miles), and then turned around to come back. A total trip of approximately 47 miles. For what reason, you may ask yourself, would anyone actually want to do this hike? This is exactly what Steve was asking himself with 4 miles to go. Why was he doing this again? It wasn't part of an organized event, no one was waiting for him to finish at the top, and his hiking partners had to drop out at the top of the South Rim due to injury. Why then did he turn around by himself and travel an additional 23 1/2 miles alone? Good question, he has no idea. Wanting to take as little as possible, he didn't take the camera this trip, but the following are from a similar hike he and his sister did last fall. Enjoy the pictures and comfort of your chair knowing you didn't have to sacrifice your body to catch a glimpse these beautiful sights!

Chunky Monkey

For those who haven't noticed (or seen), Jared is much bigger than Elizabeth ever was. He has those fat roles on his legs and arms. To me he is just Jared, but when I see other children I realize how chubby he has gotten since he was born. He is definitely our little Chunky Monkey.

Elizabeth's Treasure Box

About a month ago Elizabeth told me that she wanted to build a treasure box. Not being very inventive, I just let her tell me what she was thinking that she wanted. We didn't get much accomplished with nap time and taking care of Jared and cleaning the house. By the time Dad got home later in the day, I think we had gathered together some boxes and glue and papers to decorate with, but nothing had been put together. Well, I had to go to a meeting that night. When I got home this is what I saw, except it wasn't decorated yet.

Once enlisted Dad gathered some even bigger boxes and created a true masterpiece for our daughter to decorate. It took us many "treasure box decorating" sessions to get it finished. But now when she gets inspired she will drop a surprise down the top and you get to look inside and gather your treasure. It is a good thing that she has such a fun and imaginative daddy to help fulfill her dreams, Mom would have been of little help on this project!

Posing with the treasure box

Climbing into the box.

Gazing down at her from above

Our Little Treasure

The Friday Funnies

Elizabeth: Mommy, when I am 80 like you and I am still in school....

Mommy: I am only 28 sweetheart, not 80. An 80 year old is someone like Grandma Crockett.

Elizabeth: Oh, sorry (fades to laughter)

I sure hope she isn't still in school at age 80, but maybe with all the things she keeps telling me she wants to be when she grows up!

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Elizabeth: Mommy when will I be 40?

Mommy: Well, in about 36 years.

Elizabeth: So how long is that?

Mommy: Um, well 36 years.

Elizabeth: Well, but how long is that?

How do you explain 36 years to a 4 year old?

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Daddy, we hope you had a good birthday celebration week. We know it wasn't fancy or exotic, but we hope the memories of time spent with your little babies will be forever in your heart. Thank you for all the time you spend on our family. Thank you for getting up each morning and going to work. Thank you for coming home each evening and laughing and playing. Thank you for making our yard and home beautiful. Thank you for teaching us what is truly important in life. Thank you for your service to the Lord and teaching us commitment to our beliefs. Thank you for your adventures and teaching us that we can accomplish more than we think we can. Thank you for your faith and teaching us that with God all things are possible. Thank you for being you!

Where has the summer gone?

I posted those pictures of Elizabeth running through the sprinklers, while wrapped up in the front room of my house with rain and sleet falling outside, and I began to wonder where the summer had gone.



It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming Jared into our family.






It seems like just yesterday Elizabeth was starting swim lessons.



And yet, it seems like a life time ago that I was anxiety stricken over my little girl being wheeled away into surgery and wondering if her eyes would ever be normal again.


And it seems like a lifetime ago that we were taking Jared daily or every other day to the lab to get blood drawn, hoping that his bilirubin counts would go down.


Although I can't tell you where the time has gone, it has gone, and left a family filled with gratitude realizing the blessings we have been granted in such a short period of time. A new life, a healing eye, and a new found commitment filling our days with joy and happiness. I hope each of your families has been equally as blessed this summer.

Sprinkler time!

Last Friday Elizabeth had me get the sprinkler set up for her. She ran around all day in her swimming suit. I think I had to beg her to put clothes on so we could run a few errands later. It is so much fun watching her do new things. We have set up the sprinkler before, but she has never played in them much, mostly she likes me to fill up her pool, but since the sprinkler is easier, I am trying to convince her it is fun. She is so funny to watch. She will go right up to the sprinkler and let it pass right over her and spray her a ton, but she is too scared to actually run through. Steven coaxed her into it a few times, but other than that, she just runs up to it like maybe she will go through this time and then races away as fast as she can when it starts heading her way. What a funny girl.

Ahh....don't let it get me!

Into the fire

Hello Farrah Fawcett!

I can't believe I actually got this picture and it turned out clear! I love the expression!

Disneyland

No, we didn't go to Disneyland, although I am sure Elizabeth would love it if we would. After dance yesterday, Elizabeth informed me that her teacher was going to Disneyland next week, so they would have a different teacher. Elizabeth then asked when we were planning on going to Disneyland. I informed her that I wasn't sure, but not right now because we didn't have the money saved up to go. I also tried to tell her that Grandpa Sammy has told us he would like to take her to Disneyland sometime. So I said, maybe we would talk to Grandpa about a time we could all go in a few years.

She thought for a moment and then told me, "No we can't ask Grandpa he doesn't have any money. We would have to ask Papa, he has the money." Don't ask me why she decided that Grandpa doesn't have money and Papa does, but isn't it fun to see their minds in action! So Papa, since you are apparently Mr. Moneybags, next time we have a vacation Elizabeth said you can pay!

County Fair

Daddy, Elizabeth, and Papa visited the County Fair on Wednesday night. She had a ball. They got to check out all the winning produce, some of which was bigger than her. She loves animals and had fun looking at and petting all of them. Earlier in the day as she was getting ready to go she had been telling me about how excited she was, but she made sure to let me know that she didn't want to see the horses because they were too stinky. She told me she would just look at them but not get too close. Despite her claims, she did end up riding a pony. Daddy couldn't find anything she wanted for dinner (I guess the fair doesn't usually stock PB&J sandwiches or Mac n' Cheese), so she had an extremely healthy meal of corn, chips, root beer and fudge. What else can you expect from the fair, right! After checking out all the other stuff, she was ready for the rides. She rode just about every ride they had, and enjoyed herself immensely. Check out the fun pictures Daddy took of their adventures.

County Fair

Quick update: For some reason the embeded slideshow isn't working. You can click on the album above and it will take you to view the pictures on a separate website.

Dancing Girl

Ever since her last dance class ended over a year ago Elizabeth has been begging me to sign her up for another dance class. I just plain forgot a year ago to sign her up for a fall session. Besides that I hadn't been very impressed with the dance class she had been in before and wanted to find a different class.

Well, we finally got her back into dance and she loves it! I love it too because she has to go by herself (no mommies or siblings allowed) and she is happy to go. After the struggle with swim lessons this summer I wasn't sure how it was going to be. When I told her mommy wasn't allowed in the class, she told me she didn't want to go. But after the first class, she got over her fear. Maybe Daddy telling her that it is a lot more fun without mommies helped.

It seems like a fun class. They teach the dance principles by telling the girls they are doing princess walks and princess twirls, saving a princess trapped in a castle, being a choo-choo train, etc. I love that she is using her imagination and learning about how her body moves all at the same time! Plus, I am excited that this is a progressive program teaching her stuff appropriate for her age and dance level. Thanks Melissa for helping us find this great community dance group!

Greek Festival

This past weekend was the Greek Festival downtown. Steve had received some free tickets from a girl at work, so we decided it might be fun to head down and check it out. Besides if going down meant being able to eat a delectable piece of baklava, how could I resist. When we showed up at 5:30 we thought the line for food was long. Boy were we wrong. By the time we got through the line, ate and were ready to go explore a little more and find something fun for Elizabeth to do, the line was about twice as long as when we showed up.

After watching the dancers for a few minutes, we headed to the rides and games they had at the back corner of the festival. After much contemplation Elizabeth decided on a ride, Daddy decided that maybe he should ride with her. I got a few pictures of them as they went whizzing by.

Of course what is a festival without cotton candy. So, after they got off their ride, Daddy and Elizabeth waited in line for a little treat. Unfortunately the camera died, but we all had a good laugh about the boy running the cotton candy machine. He looked like he had grown blue fuzzy eyebrows and a blue beard. After Elizabeth finished eating her cotton candy she was blue all over as well. The sight of her made me laugh, and made we wish, once again, that I had brought the spare batteries. Oh well, next time right! It was a fun night spent together, plus any day with baklava is a beautiful day!

My little princesses

A couple of weeks ago Elizabeth brought me one of her pink baby bracelets and told me that Jared could have it and insisted that I put it on him. I told her that boys don't wear pink and gave her back the bracelet. So, the other day when she was playing dress-up and putting on her jewelry, she decided that Jared should join in the fun. She remembered that I said boys don't wear pink, so she decided that she would put her blue jewelry on him. It looks like I still need to do some explaining about boys and jewelry. Dad joined in the fun by putting one of Jared's earrings on himself and letting me take some pictures.

3 Months Old

Here is our 3 month old little boy. We love having him around. At 3 months old Jared is a fun and happy little boy. He loves to "talk" and have a conversation with you. He loves people and smiles for everyone. He loves to take his baths and feel the warm water on his head. He enjoys the little "massage" mom gives him after his bath and smiles so sweetly while I sing to him and slather him in lotion. He is our little heavyweight, growing steadily. He is so mellow and calm even with a big sister that smothers and loves him all the time. He is a great sleeper. He loves to eat his hands, which makes dad kind of crazy when he goes to pick him up and gets all slobbered on. We are really enjoying the gentle spirit he brings into our family!