Michael...Kara...Kenzie...Olivia

One Year Ago

2011-04-26T18:13:00.000-06:00

A year ago today Olivia Jane was born! Can you believe a year has past already? It seems to be in a blur, but looking back on the past year, a lot has happened, and one thing was that Olivia grew up! {sad} Oh how I love her! She has the sweetest smile and cutest laugh! She wants to be just like her older sister, and in doing so, she has grown up a little faster than I would have liked her to.

She said "dadda" before 6 months!

She started to crawl around 8 months.

She was taking her first steps at 9 months.

Walking by 10 months.

Running at 12 months!

She can say...

Yellow

Mama

Daddy

Papa

Ra-Ra

Jo Jo

Baby

and probably more that I'm forgetting... she talks all day long!!

She can sign...

Please

Thank you (working on getting it on her chin instead of her forehead)

All Done

Boy oh boy!! She has been a joy in our lives! Kenzie has been blessed with a sister who adores her {and looks out for her.... yelling at doctor's when Kenzie seems to be scared and all}. They are the best of friends and can play all day

Michael and I love Olivia so much and are sooo grateful to our Father in Heaven for sending down this sweet blessing in our lives...

{Stats coming later... her Dr's appointment isn't until Thursday!}

Olivia Dance!

2011-03-19T13:48:00.000-06:00

Sorry!! I couldn't figure out how to turn the video. Any help with that would be great!

She's walking everywhere now! She's been taking steps here and there for about a month but now she's using it predominantly as her means to move! EVERYWHERE... So fast!

Arizona Museum for Youth

2011-03-19T13:32:00.000-06:00

This week was Spring Break for most of Kenzie and Olivia's cousins, so we all got together and went to the Arizona Museum for Youth. Right now they are putting on "Once Upon a Time" exhibit! They have everything for a kids imagination from princess dress up, the 3 little pigs costumes as well as the Big Bad wolf, Alice in Wonderland tea party in a black light room so everything is crazy colors, to Wii Baseball. It was a lot of fun for all the kids. They have crafts throughout and stories to read.

They have a play area too on one side that we all stayed at for a time. They had blocks of all different shapes, sizes and colors that the kids could roll over, stack up and knock down. They had a kitchen for the kids that had everything you need to cook, as well as all the food too (fake of course). They had a stage where you could preform and sing! So many things! It exhausted the kids so I know it was a great day!

Park Adventures

2011-03-19T13:22:00.000-06:00

Boy oh Boy! We've been having so much fun going to different parks around town. Sometimes we'll just go to the ones in our neighborhood, but I like to explore around and see what fun things we can find. We went to Freestone Park a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun! They have a huge water area with a ton of ducks and one of Kenzie's favorite things to do is to try and catch some "birdie-birds". So off she went as soon as we go there to chase the ducks away! It was fun to watch.

They have a little kids playground that is mainly for toddlers. The kids enjoyed it. It was pretty much us there for most of the time, which was nice.

I am absolutly in LOVE with this little girls faces she makes! She gets so frustrated at times for no reason!

This is what big sisters do to try and get a perfect picture of both girls... sometimes though it doesn't work out!

Kenzie started to climb up the slide... so guess who was trying to follow! Olivia!

"Sure sister... I'll pour sand all over your head. No Problem!"

Here she goes! See the ledge!?! Ya! She doesn't care!

Topple over!

We took a bike ride and had a picnic at the park last week!

Top Ramin... yummm!!!

Haha... again with the faces!!! I had to keep swatting her hands away from her mouth because she would find all sorts of rocks and attempt to put them in her mouth! So swat, swat, swat and this is what I get! Her hands fly up in the air and she gives me THE LOOK!

This was at the San Tan Mall.

This is so funny to me the difference when Olivia realizes there's a camera watching her... here she is bored out of her mind! Shoulders hunched over and all... Then...

SMILE!!!! Bam!!! Such a ham!!! Waving and all!!

.:Cruisers:.

2011-03-19T13:01:00.000-06:00

As a present to ourselves when we moved down to Arizona we decided to get some cruiser bikes! I have been wanting some bikes for about a year now, but money was never there, so we took part of our tax return and Voila! We have had so much fun on these bikes so far. I've been cruising to the park for picnics, quick rides around the block at night, and just afternoon strolls when we want to get outside and the girls are relaxed. We bought this fabulous trailer as well, so when Kenzie isn't riding her bike she can just hop on in with Olivia and take a stroll.

Kenzie is still learning how to ride. It was really hilly in Utah so it was more difficult for her to be able to pedal, but she has done a fabulous job when she tries!

We're going to be having fun this summer! :)

Phoenix Zoo

2011-03-19T12:50:00.000-06:00

Since we have lived here we have been to the Zoo twice now. It has been fun for the girls to be outdoors with some family and friends! The first time we went when my parents moved us down here. My two brothers came and all the kids! It was so much fun!

Kenzie wasn't really into petting the animals.

Kyra loved it!

We found some grass and let Olivia out to play for a bit so she could stretch!

The crew! :)

Sisters! So cute!

This is our next trip. I went with my cousin Dani, her little girl and one of their friends. This time we started on the opposite end of the Zoo and made our way around. Not too many pictures were taken, but it was just as fun!

The Long Haul + Tumbling

2011-03-16T12:13:00.000-06:00

On March 2nd my sweet Mom flew down to Arizona with Olivia in tow. She had the brilliant idea, because she didn't want to drive and it was so much better for me not having to drive by myself with a 3 year old and a 10 month old. The night she left we loaded up my dad's car, my car and my dad's trailer to the brim!! We had so much stuff. The next day we took off and we were on the road to start our new adventure in Arizona.

Kenzie was an excellent car buddy. We had her DVD player in tow as well as music/stories loaded up on the Ipod. The first few hours were full of rain, snow, and sleet. We weren't in traffic though so that was good. It seems we almost always got to a gas station before she needed to go potty. Almost because we did stop on the side one time for her to "repel".

When we go to the dam she wanted to stop and look out at the bridge. Excellent idea!! I had never done that before! We walked along both sides and looked at the view and took a few pictures! It was fun. We just had to stop a few more times on some scenic areas to take it all in and look at the local jewelry! I found a beautiful ring that I'm wishing I would've bought!

This little girl missed her daddy so much she wouldn't even allow a stop for lunch! She just wanted to get to Arizona without any more time wasted! And we did! We got there in 12 hours! Wow! Such a long trip, but with the stops we made it was an okay drive!

When we got into the valley here I opened up our sun roof and rolled down the windows a bit. Kenzie was in shock and awe... we had never done that before!! Bahahahaha... it was so cute to see!

My friend Connie and I enrolled our kids in a "tumbling" class of sorts and it began the next day, so off we went with what clothes I could find! haha! It was fun! I think Kenzie would like a more involved class next, but for now she is getting used to interacting with other kids!

My Mike-less Month a.k.a. February

2011-03-16T11:57:00.000-06:00

February 5th Mike left for Arizona, and me and the girls did not join him for a whole month! We went out on a date the night before he left, and I decided I wanted to get dressed up. So Extensions in, dress on, make-up looking great and this is the only picture we get! My goodness. I look ridiculous! My "photographer" that night was a 12 year old and needless to say I was trying to give directions while he was taking the picture. Next time... just smile! It was a great night! We went to Tempanyaki for din-din then to the Cinema for a movie! Thanks to my parents it was a great night with just my love and I.

So my life in February was love-less... well, not so much! I had these adorable girls to spend every night and day with, and boy oh boy, they are a riot!

This little girl rarely sat down during her bath time and she thought it was optional to listen to her mom's stern voice telling her No! Hmm... I hope this isn't a sign of what to come! This is a rare opportunity she was sitting and I had to capture it!

Also a rare time when she leaves her headbands on!

Daddy bought the girls these red shirts from Old Navy and they look so cute in them!

My dad wanted to do a family outing, so we voted and went bowling. MY GIRLS LOVE TO BOWL. It is so funny. Everyone kept on picking Livi up so she wouldn't get dirty and in the way of the people bowling and she was so frustrated with it. Kenzie just wanted to bowl everyone's turns for them, and I think she did that quite a bit!

My nephew, Grayson, did the same thing. This was Papa's turn but it ended up being G's!

Kenzie eventually stopped needing my help. She'd hold her ball when it wasn't her turn then put this black thing in line and go!

Helping Papa!

Don't mind the "stoned" look Tyler's pulling right there. Haha... I just caught him mid blink!

Oma is holding Livi so she can get her fill in of the bowling...

Kenzie keeping her ball safe while she patiently awaits her next turn!

Eventually Oma had to take Livi over for her own turn.

Precious!!!

Classis Kenzie and Olivia in pictures looking ever so adorable

This was the first time Olivia got in this bouncer. She loved it... then she hated it. Her sister was moving and she wasn't able to so she had to get out! But... did you notice the head tilt!?

My grandma and grandpa once had a dog named Tug. Tug loved it when we would flash a light on the wall and he would try to catch it and eat it. (I'm not sure "love" is the right word, but whatever). Olivia found that she loved that too! haha... I'm not saying she's a dog, just like that dog! haha

I don't know if you knew, but Uncle David gives the best horse rides ever. Notice Olivia is in his face!

All through the winter time, the Hogle Zoo has free Wednesday's! So my friend was in from out of town and we decided to go. There were sooo many animals out! I want to say they were all out! It was a great day! The girls are in coats and jackets because it was still in the 40's that day, but it was a beautiful day for the Zoo! Have you ever seen a Gorrilla poop then eat it!?! Yeah... we did!!! Gross!

Kenzie loves the Giraffes!

Yes, there was an egg, and I put them in it!

On the bridge looking at Ducks! Kenzie did not want to do this. She wanted to go on the playground and play some more!

But Olivia LOVED looking at the ducks!

This was sooo funny! Olivia and I were playing and Mickey Mouse was on in the background. She was being so animated and following me (I think we were playing hide and seek) and all of a sudden she was silent and not behind me. I come back and she is enthralled in the show!! It was so funny! She loves Mickey's voice but really isn't into tv so it was just so cute to see her just so captivated!

Oh! One more in the Egg!!

Back when... in January

2011-03-16T11:17:00.000-06:00

Back when we went to meet Princess Cinderella at a Kids Club event in Utah. Kenzie was her usual "happy" self through the whole thing and ended up not wanting to even meet her... sad. But we got a picture in her carriage. Again... not smiling! Ha!

Back when we went ice skating with the girls to the Olympic Oval in West Jordan. Kenzie had never been ice skating, and I hadn't been since my 7th grade birthday party! Sheesh! So we got some freebie coupons, loaded up the van and headed on down. It was literally like 5 minutes from our house! Such a fun outing and only seconds away, who knew!? Anyways, Kenzie was of course timid about the ice, but holding onto Mom & Dad helped her out.

We tried this "walker" that was supposed to help the kiddos but it just made both her and I more nervous, so we tossed it soon after the employee who found it for us disappeared!

Trying to balance yourself and a wobbly 3 year old is tough work, so we went to the stroller! Yes, people! Strollers on the rink are allowed, not to mention its a great workout on your legs :)

Oh and did I mention this one time...back when... Olivia thought it was funny to play with the soot in our fireplace. It was a two-way fireplace that could be accessed from either the living room or dining room. Everyone was in the living room trying to keep her out of it because she was obsessed! Well, my little miss brilliant snuck around to the other side. Things were quiet for too long. I found the trail of soot on the carpet going into the kitchen leading to my little girl... soot covered face and all. Oh yes! She did eat it! And she was so very proud of it! Needless to say, the soot was vacuumed up!

Breakfast of Champions...No?

2011-03-16T10:41:00.000-06:00

Today is Wednesday. Last week Wednesday meant Park Day... today I decided it means the same thing. Wednesday is Park Day around here people... I think it needs to be a better name than that though... hmmm... wacky, weird, wired, witty, wubbzy... haha... More on the theme of Wednesday later... but today it also means... Editing picture day to make them smaller so my bloggity-blog (anyone watch Wubbzy?) won't say I'm out of room. Today means I'm going to get my wall photo frame collage underway. Today means BLOGGING people... at least I hope today means all these things. It would be nice to not work too hard today :)

No More Room

2011-02-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else experienced the Google Alert stating that they are out of space on their blog!?!? I have gotten that a few times... what do I do? I really think it's odd and lame that I would have to purchase more storage for my blog! I've used 1 GB that they have alotted me and want me to purchase more... hmmm...

I did have some SUPER cute pictures to post, but now I'm not in the mood to re-add them!!! Maybe next time!

Trouble in Love

2011-02-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm in trouble!! T.R.O.U.B.L.E

Serious

Serious Trouble.

I am in love... with a color! And I don't know what to do with it.

Robin's Egg Blue... I.heart.you.

Yup! That right there is the culprit.

If you will remember this post... you will see that this is one of the primary colors in my girls room. I have been loving this color for YEARS now... years! If I had planned my wedding not so frazzled, I would have had this be one of my colors! (and red... beautiful mix don't ya think?)

Anyways... yes! Years! So ... enter Olivia... perfect opportunity to switch up the decorating in my girls room! So I picked it! Before I found out we were having a girl I picked out boys colors to match Robin's Egg Blue as well... that's how in love I am!!

Here's my problem.

I'm moving!!!

New bedroom

Same decorations... but... am I going to go overboard with the things I'm "remodeling" because I have an excuse to do it???

I think I am!!

But here's my real problem... I was doing some searching on fun things that I could buy/make/refinish for my girls new room and I came across this!!!!

A KITCHEN IN ROBIN'S EGG BLUE & WHITE!!!

My.Heart.Be.Still

I have been loving white cabinets (like the ones above) in kitchens for months now. Collecting magazine pages here and there so I remember what to do when we're ever in our own place that is OURS. White cabinets were a must in my kitchen!!!

But now I come across this!!! Robin's egg blue is a perfect accent to my White Cabinets in my kitchen...

It doesn't end there...

A perfectly tranquil bathroom awaits... in Robin's Egg Blue...

Am I doomed to have my ENTIRE house decked out in this color?

Can I get over my fascination?

What would the neighbors think!?!?1

Oh dear...

Until I can calm my fears of forever being in love with this color I will just have to focus on making my girls room the perfect balance of Robin's Egg Blue and Pink, White & Black!

Maybe I'll just fall in love with their room and won't need it in my kitchen and bathroom... (they probably have a robin's egg blue in a washer and dryer by now too... oh dear!)

Help!! Is there a 12 step program for getting over a COLOR!?!?

A Penny for your Thoughts

2011-01-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

I'm a horrible journal keeper. I really am! I set goals, I aspire to become one, and then I fail... miserably. I don't know what it is. I want to keep a record of my family. I want to look back and see those goals and setbacks, the struggles and the endurance we showed. I want to remember that Olivia walked on January 23rd at around 8:30pm, not to mention it being a complete accident on her part! I want to remember my exact thoughts and feelings about my husband, and daughters, as well as my own life! Ah... why can't I do better at this stuff? I have tried hand writing things, and I feel like I forget my thought before my hand can write it out. I have tried to do an online journal, but my computer broke.
I think my biggest set back is my schedule. I don't give myself the TIME to do the things I most desire. I've been having a hard time with getting my girls on a schedule. Part of my problem is my work schedule. I babysit 3 other kids, in their home. I would've thought that it would have been easier with me being in a home all day long, but it's lacking their own things. It's lacking their beds, and boundaries. It's lacking the familiarity, even though I've been doing it for about 7 months now. Well, that's all going to be void here in a few months because we're moving anyways, and then I'll have to figure out our own schedule because I won't be working, and Mike will actually be home at a decent hour from work each night. It'll be bliss! Do I think I can fit in my journal then? I'm not so sure.... I'm exhausted by days end, like most of you are as well! I only have 2 kids now!!! What will I do when we have more!?! Oh I don't know....

I need help with a particular matter mentioned above. My girls and the dreaded schedule! I am determined to get them on one! A solid one! Olivia isn't sleeping well... EVER! She takes cat naps during the day, and doesn't seem to take a good solid nap ever! At night she fights and fights going to sleep, then she wakes up multiple times! I know lately it is caused by her being sick, and (hopefully) teething! Those dreaded things haven't even showed up yet, so I keep thinking everything has to do with her teeth coming in! So what do I do? I need to read baby wise again... I should do that now since I don't have any books I'm reading at the moment... I need baby wise and toddler wise... do they have a Mommy Wise?? They should! Seriously... anyways. What are some tricks to do with her? I know I need to go back to letting her Cry It Out, but I feel like I shouldn't until we move.... BUT THEN I have an entire month where Mike won't be there to spot me and help me with the day time stubbornness and night time terrors! Should I start now? What to do... What to do...
That brings me to Miss Kenzie. She takes naps... sometimes... She sleeps in her bed... most times... (She slept in her bed for an entire month to earn a Princess Car that Santa Claus promised to give her if she accomplished it... soon after she had surgery and it was BACK IN WITH MOM AND DAD!) I know she's capable of it... but lately she's been feeling more comfortable in Olivia's crib! A crib! She couldn't get out fast enough and now she wants back in! Most nights, and days, I find her in her crib when she should be in her bed. Is is the heigth of the crib vs her lower bed? Sometimes Livi's in there, and sometimes she's not, so I'm not sure if its the comfort of someone else there... I'm not sure! She's barely getting enough sleep! It goes back to the schedule... but how do I "brainwash" both my kids to take naps and fall asleep at night?
How do I get them on a consistent schedule where they are in bed early enough so I can have "Me" time or "Husband" time??
Help!!!

I seriously would love to start trying something even if I have to re-do it in March when we're in Arizona! I don't know how I'll survive a whole month without Mike there! Oh goodness....

Big Announcement!!

2011-01-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

WE'RE MOVING!!!! Yes, yes, it is true! Michael & I have decided to move back to ARIZONA!!! Michael will be there on the 5th of February and I will follow some time at the end of February! We'll be living in Gilbert, for the time being! We are both anxious and excited to start this new chapter in our lives, but ecstatic about being closer to friends and family! I'll keep you all posted on things as it develops!!! Until then... We'll be seeing you!

Be Still My Heart

2011-01-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Can I just tell you how much I am IN LOVE with these two girls in my life! I am so blessed to have their laughs, smiles, tantrums, frustrations, googly eyes, sicknesses, and everything else with them!! I am extremely lucky to be able to watch their every move, action, word and deed. I love watching Livi figure things out and Kenzie teach her new things! I love them to bits!!!
We had pictures taken by Candace before Kenzie's birthday and she was super excited to have them taken! Livi crept in their and we snapped a few of her too!!! Oh I love them!!!

Kenzie is THREE!!!

2011-01-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? My baby is THREE! I'm in denial, and a little emotional about it, in fact, that she is now 3. Old enough for dance classes, old enough for pre-school, old enough to be THREE! Oh my... over this passed few weeks (since the countdown began 3 weeks before) she has looked so much older. She seems taller, more grown up, talking more... ugh! Okay... I'll stop!

STATS:

Height: 36 1/2"

Weight: 26.6 lbs

I was trying to find previous posts to compare what she was to last year, but I was a horrible blogger at that time! I do have the paperwork somewhere. She is still in the 5% for her weight and 30% for her height!

We had the best birthday yet!! We woke up and opened up presents! She got spoiled...

*All her gifts in front of her*

** Princess music CD's and stories **

This is a valentine's picture I got and put a picture of us at Disneyland in it! Perfect match to her room!

Princess note pads for all her note taking...

Collection of all the princess stories!!

A Tangles Baby Doll!!!

Princess Phone and shoes galore!

Princess Flashlight for all those late night adventures... ha!

The day before her birthday we went to get her pictures taken by my wonderful photographer Candace! She is amazing and my girls love her! It was frigidly cold outside that day (20*) so we did it all indoors. I'll get those pictures back soon and post them. Kenzie went out for a birthday maicure with her auntie Stefani! Then we started baking!!! And baking... And baking... Seriously! I had 4 different cupcake recipes and I cut most of them into two or three parts so I could color them different colors. We experimented with this cupcake recipe but it didn't work too great. I wanted the cupcakes to be more fluffy and they weren't. Anyways... we had a bunch! We decorated our kitchen with streamers going in every direction! And put balloons all over the house! There were banners, confetti, and everything princess up and ready for the party!!

This was another present for her, but she opened it the day before... it's her birthday outfit. And perfect for her Princess Party.!

Everyone had to make an object having to do with princesses or princes/ castles etc. until everyone arrived!

These are the 3 darlings I babsysit!!! Kohen, Jersee, and Kamree! Next we had a treasure hunt for all the golden coins that the pixies had come and spread across the kingdom... we then went on to decorate wands and septors!!! That was fun!!!
Next... DANCE PARTY... FREEZE!

Don't mind my booty!!!

Uncle Tyler was the only one that didn't freeze when the music stopped! He's Out!

She got another Tangled Doll...

A full Cinderella outfit... she got the shoes earlier that day, but she got the dress, gloves, purse, necklace and ring!

She also got a makeup and nail set from her other cousins!!!

That Night!!! We went and saw Tangled, because what's a Princess's birthday without going to see a princess movie too!!! We have the soundtrack in our car and listen to it all the time, so we were ready for when they sang! It was fun! Just Kenzie Mommy and Daddy!!!

Then we went out for a birthday dinner to Applebee's!!! And guess what came after dinner!?!?! Singing and dessert!!! I think she's just like her mama in liking the fact that people sing to you!! ha! Here's her and her big sundae!!

All in all I believe it was a fantabulous day!!! Kenzie is such a light in our life! She is so amazing, smart, talented and kind!

...:Kenzie is:...

Saying her Prayers

Brushing her Teeth

Going potty (& wiping) by herself

Dancing (and making up dances with your hips shaking a lot... don't know where she made that up)

Sharing

Being an AMAZING big sister

She does an Elvis lip curl that makes me laugh everytime

Sleeping in her own Princess bed all night long

Speaks so well... sometimes her sentences have 50+ words. Talk about run-on

Can count to 20 with out help

Knows her full name and Birthday

Has all her 20 teeth

Wears size 6 shoes

Can fit anywhere from 12 months to 24 month pants

Size 2T-3T shirts and Dresses

Painting her own fingernails & toes

..:Kenzie Loves:..

Posing for Candace

Mickey Mouse

Wubbzy

Princesses

Chocolate

Cheese Quesidilla's

Papa & Oma

Disneyland

Playing Dress-up

Pink

Shopping Carts

Baking Hot Chocolate in her Kitchen

Reading

Candy

Twirling

We are so in love with our Kenzie Grace. She is such a fun girl and getting more fun as she gets older! We can't wait to see what we have in store this year for her! Love you Kenzie!

Kenzie & Olivia's Room + Playroom

2010-12-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

I know we've lived in our house for what... 8 months now... but I'm slowly getting our rooms done and decorated. I decided I wanted these colors while I was still pregnant with Livi and they have been so fun to do! We made some changed recently to make their room more them! First we painted Kenzie's bed White & Pink. It's a Princess Bed, so we needed to make it like a princess. We got a canopy and put that over her bed to make her feel more princess like. I made her bed spread. I am still needing to make one for Livi too! They'll match!! I still think i need to do some vinyl, add photos to their walls, and maybe something else, but all in all... it's close!!

I mentioned before that we've had a hard time getting Kenzie to sleep in her bed. Two weeks she's been sleeping on this!!! So... as the time gets longer, she gets to add princess stickers wherever she wants!!

That bright light is a salt crystal! Helps purify their room! We've had problems with mold and smells... it's working I think! It's also supposed to help with immune systems!! Now if only it would help Livi to go to bed when she is supposed to!

Kenzie's nightstand. She picked out her picture of Jesus with the children. She picked out who she is in the picture and Livi! Ipod for nighttime music too!

I love these frames! My aunt made them for me!

I transformed these curtains from a shower curtain! It was just too perfect for their room! Just a few cuts, and sewing and bam!! Curtains!

Love this picture!!! I bought it while I was pregnant! Perfect colors!

Here is their play area! It's so fun with the hanging lanterns and lights! We put the hutch that we remodeled to hold their books and toys, along with a bookshelf for more toys!! Imagine the toys that 4 kids have!!! It is kid heaven here!!!

Mother of the Year?

2010-12-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

So... i don't think I'm winning any "Mother of the Year" awards with this one, but I find it to be brilliant!!!! We have had a difficult time having Kenzie sleep in her own bed for months and months, even years!! Mostly this is due to me sleeping with her when I first had her. It became a habit, so unfortunately, when Mike and I got married, it stayed the same. Well.... lo! and behold!!! the GATE! This gate is a life-saver! We implemented it about 2 weeks ago. Kenzie hasn't cried or fussed or gotten out since we put it in. Kenzie claims to not like the gate, but it also protects her room from intruders (i.e. anyone who she doesn't want playing with her toys!) We told her that after a whole month of sleeping in her room we'd get her a princess car that she's been asking for. So... now we'll have to buy the car!!! But I couldn't be happier!

Here are just some updated pictures of our girls!

This is what we do when Livi is extremely fussy. Stick her in the baby stroller and let the kids take her around :)

I found Livi like this when she woke up from her nap!

Always a poser! Everytime I have a camera to my eye this is the look she gives me!

It's the Most Wonderful Day of the Year!

2010-12-26T12:19:00.001-07:00

I think the older your kids get the more enjoyable Christmas gets for others rather than all for yourself... I don't know... am I wrong? This year was definitely for the kids! I went way over my original budget and they got a lot of toys and fun things. They were spoiled on all accounts from us to Grammie to Oma & Papa and aunts and uncles. We left a note for Santa with a plate of cookies and a glass of chocolate milk. (Kenzie decided he doesn't get enough of that this time of the year!) We made A LOT of cookies. Aunt Tamye and Kenzie made mint cookies, M&M cookies (for the reindeer), chocolate chip cookies... we had cookies coming out of our ears to say the least!!

After we set the cookies out we had to go listen for Santa. We heard he was just about to come over Utah, so we wanted to listen and see if we could see him. Last year we did this when we were in Arizona and the weather permitted a lot more looking outside than in Utah, but we made due. Kenzie, Olivia and I sat at our back door and watched and waited... and waited... All of a sudden we heard him! "Ho! Ho! Ho!" followed by the jingles of his bells!! Oh we looked and looked but couldn't see him but we know we heard him! We shouted outside to let Santa know we were going off to bed and to wait just a few more minutes!!!
We hurried downstairs, said our prayers, and then Kenzie started to cry! She didn't want Santa to come in her room! We assured her that he only goes where the Christmas trees are at and to not worry! She... eventually... went to sleep.

Then came Christmas!!! David, Tamye, Grayson & Hayden were up first so I heard them unwrapping presents. I went out to put my contacts in and then waited. Once I was up, I was up!! There was no going back to sleep. I layed in bed for only a few more minutes before I heard Livi crying... I jumped out of bed (yes... jumped) and said, "She's up!!! That means Kenzie will soon wake up!!" I ran into their room, and sure enough Kenzie was stirring. She woke up and I told her Santa Came!!! She ran out to our living room and BEHOLD!!! She found her princess couch that I have been dying to give her... She walked over and sat down like a Queen on her thrown.
Commence unwrapping!!!

What did Santa bring you ask!?! Only the cutest Pink Ipod ever!!! Both the girls got a shared gift of a radio and an Ipod for their room! We loaded all the Glee music we could find and some other songs so that they could jam and and dance anytime! (We're big dance partiers!)

All in all it was a grand morning!! Olivia kept looking around bewildered because we have been trying to keep her away from the presents all month and she couldn't figure out why we were allowed to do it! The girls got clothes, books, toys, a camera for Kenzie, dolls, princess stuff galore, and lots of chocolates!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas as we did!

XoXo

Everton Family Motto

2010-12-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

For the past few months now I have heard over and over again the importance of a Family Motto. A few short sentences, phrases, or words that is who you are or who you aspire to become. So as I have been thinking and hearing about this so often as of late, I decided to do it! I had Mike come up with words that he hoped to teach our children and ones that we could live up to, and I did the same. Some of them fit with this idea of a motto, but some didn't. So we narrowed them down... and down... and down... I have to tell you this was no easy task! How could I possibly put together a short and sweet motto for our family that would be the center of our teaching, that would guide us in our lives, and would hopefully stick with our kids and help them in the years to come?? We thought and thought. Most of the words were simple. We wanted to teach our kids to work, not only out of the house, but in the house... working is a part of a family unit. That one was simple. Service is and should be a center of our lives. We should always strive to Serve others. So that one came easily as well. To Learn is important in our family as well. Mike is on his way to finishing his Master's Degree, I am not yet that far, but I hope to be some day. No matter if there is an end goal in sight or not, I am a firm believer in learning all the days of your life. There is always something to learn! Respect is a big ticket! This encompasses a lot... family, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, teachers, leaders, authorities, etc. The list could go on! Love was a no brainer honestly! But now I was left with two... I didn't know what I wanted. I was tossing Believe and Hope around. I loved both of those words! I loved the meaning in both of them, however, Hope was more special to me. Hope means to believe in something no matter what, basically. Wow! I couldn't think of something better to teach my kids, and myself!!! Now the last word... Endure... this is such a powerful word!! I can't even begin to express my testimony on this word! It has helped me in my life countless times, and I hope to instill a belief in this word into my children... that no matter what, if they will ENDURE there will be countless blessings waiting for them! In the midst of these things, as you can see, is us... the Everton's!!! This is who we are, and who we hope to be and teach and emulate. At the very bottom is a scripture verse... 2 Nephi 31:20...We have adopted this as our family scripture. It's a great one! If you would like to steal it, I wouldn't blame you! If we could all live like this scripture tells us to we would sure be a force to recon with!!

Anyways, this is part of our 2011 goals... we have a lot of them!! It's going to be grand! I am looking forward to 2011 more than any other year that I have before! Things are happening I can't yet talk about, but it's going to be great! More to come when I can tell you, but for now... keep checking in!!!

Christmas Eve

2010-12-25T11:34:00.001-07:00

Christmas Eve this year was fun surrounded by family! We were going to go down to Temple Square and look at the Temple lights but most of our family (including the girls) are sick with colds. This time of the year is full of sickness, especially with 14 people living in a house together! Eeks! It was super fun though. Everyone got to open a present up and most of them were jammies of course (tradition!). The little kids got books to read!!

Oh!!! Here is Miss Livi standing up all by herself! She pulls herself up on things now! She just started crawling less than a month ago and it seems like she's bored by it already! She loves this walker! It's bright and noisy but most of all, she can stand with it!

Here are my joys! My loves!!! My girls!!! Kenzie is swarming Livi, but that's what she does best! :)

Merry Christmas!!

December Vacations

2010-12-25T11:19:00.001-07:00

Boy oh Boy!!! December has been such a fun month for our family!!! And that was just in the first half of it! We got to go to Disneyland... TWICE... and spend a day on the beach too!! Our first trip was the Everton trip. It was so nice to be with Michael's family in California. Our drive was a 12 hour drive, and our girls did AMAZING!! I couldn't have asked for anything better. Despite our long drive, we were actually the first to arrive to our hotel. Most everyone else got stuck for 5 hours behind an accident without any way to get around it, Yuck!! But we all arrived safely, and had the most beautiful hotel to stay in Newport. We got to go to breakfast with Mickey and friends the next morning, and that was such a treat for all of the kids to see.

Kenzie was a bit nervous to meet everyone by herself. But, Olivia had a blast, especially with Mickey and Minnie!!

When we got to Disneyland, we had all the little girls go to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. There, they got pampered! (In the beginning the fire alarm went off so we had to delay their makeover by a few hours, but we got back there and got it all done!) She got her nails painted, makeup on, glitter everywhere, and her hair done. She wanted to have extensions in so she could have long hair like mama! Then they topped her off with a crown. Now... this experience wouldn't have been completed if Kenzie hadn't thrown a royal fit!! She did, but we expect it, so eventually she got to the point that she loved it!!!

Again... picture above is typical Kenzie and I LOVE IT!!! She is so funny sometimes. Below, I think that Olivia's face is so darn cute!!

Can you believe her posing above???

Here we are on our second trip to Disneyland. We came home and left within a week!!! We let my mom and dad have a day to themselves and we took everyone to the beach. Kenzie has never been before so she was a bit nervous at the mass of water, but she took to it with the help of Anna and Stefani!!! Slowly... she started taking off clothes that had gotten wet. She refused to wear a swimming suit, so she ended up in a tank and undies... ha! We eventually stripped Livi down to her nothings because she would scoop up sand and put it in her diaper anyways!

This picture is so cute to me. They both have their eyes closed with almost the same expression on their faces! Ha!

Here is our second trip to Disneyland. We did the promotion that Disney had at the beginning of the year where you do service for a day and get a free day at Disneyland! We went to Downtown Disney and shopped around for a while the night before we went! Kenzie couldn't believe everything that she saw!

She absolutely loved the Tea Cups and could have ridden them all day long! Oma (Grandma) took her on these and she still says that it was her best ride!

We got to meet Belle, Tiana, and Ariel too!

Minnie was so kind to let us in her house. Below is her favorite chair, her kitchen and a contraption that Mickey had in his house!

Last, but not least, is the cutest girl EVER!!! Tyler bought this hat and Livi kept on pulling at it, so he put it on her, and she went to pose for a picture!! She is so sweet and adorable! I think she loves long hair because she's still bald!! HA!!

Our trips were fantastic and so fun! Kenzie enjoyed herself tremendously and Livi even had fun for being such a young age. She loved Mickey Mouse the best and would suck on his nose all day if she could! We got to go on everything we wanted to go on and had a blast spending the time with both of our families!!!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T16:29:00.003-07:00

This year for Thanksgiving we went to my Grandma's house. My Grandpa recently passed away, and it was a lot harder to be there than I could have imagined. I kept on looking around for him on his big high back chair he normally sits on. He wasn't there... that'll take some getting used to... Thanksgiving was great. Low key. Spent with loved ones. I'm thankful for that.
We went shopping at NIGHT on Black Friday. There weren't any deals to grap my attention at 4 a.m. so we just went later in the afternoon. AND... I even was able to grab a door buster deal when we went. Our portable DVD player broke recently and, with two trips in the next few weeks coming up, we needed a new one. We got it and for a screamin' deal. We got a new camera too!!!!!! YAY!!! Merry Christmas to me! It's wonderful... I am in love.

For those who don't know... we had the "Blizzard of 2010" this last Tuesday. We still have quite a few feet of snow on the ground from it and so Kenzie, Mike and I went out to try and build a snowman... we couldn't. It was all powder. But it was rather fun!!! Kenzie has had these snow pants for a few years now and this is the first time she has worn them. Bless her heart, she was so nervous at how she looked!!! How did that happen!? She is two years old and already worrying about how she looks for other people. I helped to assure her that they were necessary for playing in the snow and building a snowman, and that if Mama had some she'd be wearing them too...that seemed to help, but not before it broke my heart about this little lady of mine!!

Look @ this face!!!! She has a rosy cheek from snow being on there! And that precious red nose!!!

I hope everyone had a joyous Thanksgiving weekend!! Now.... onto Christmas lights, decorations, music and joy!!!!!

Burton Board for Sale!!

2010-11-06T21:08:00.003-06:00

I know it's shameful... but I am using my blogger to sell (I hope) this board! It's Mike's and it's NEVER BEEN USED!! He got it when he was poor and single, and now we're married and no time and no money = no snowboarding! So... here it is! I don't know much but I do know it's a popular board!

It's a BURTON 162. Comes with boots, gloves, board, and choice of two (you can really have them both!) cases! The board looks nice... (I know NOTHING of snowboarding!) We're taking offers! I don't know how much it's all worth...but please be fair :)

Let me know if you're interested!!! We really need to sell it! We tried last year, but it was at the END of the season, so now luck!!!!

Olivia is 6 months!

2010-10-26T12:43:00.003-06:00

So today my dear baby is 6 months old. I can't believe it has been 6 months. I know everyone says that, but seriously... SIX MONTHS!?!? What have we been doing? Where has the time gone?

Oh how I love this sweet lady of mine. She is a doll and so much fun to play with. She has a toothless grin that brightens my world. She laughs at everything. She loves her mom and daddy but she especially loves her sister. It has been amazing for me to watch their relationship blossom since Olivia came into our world. Kenzie can make her laugh more than anyone. Olivia is not afraid of heights. She loves to be thrown in the air by anyone... she loves to start up high and swoosh down into your face. That is sure to bring a laugh out of her. Oh and did I mention she is a big fan of herself??? Oh yes!! My daughter thinks she is so beautiful (which she is right about!) She has a mirror in her crib and is often caught cooing at herself. Yes, I know that this is what all babies do, but if you saw her, you would know that it's not just that it's something to look at but it's her that she's looking at!!!

She is a great eater. She loves sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas (favorite), and green peas are okay. She's a soy drinker, but not so much. She steals french fries from her mama and cries until she can't breathe when I take it away... often I just substitute a whole one with one that is falling apart.

She can sit up on her own, although her head often makes her tumble, but she just goes right back up to doing it again. She loves to roll and will often use that as her means of getting to where there is a bright object to stick in her mouth. She is starting to scoot backwards and her doctor believes with the progress she is making, she'll be crawling within a month! WHAT?! I can't have a crawler on my hands yet!! Eeks!

Here's the stats:

Height- 25 1/4 inches & 14# 10 oz!!!!

She got FOUR shots today! Yikes! I hate shots. Luckily, she had her big sister resting at her head and holding her hand saying, "its okay livi!", and that seemed to calm her down pretty quick.

How does she rank with her sister???

@birth Kenzie was 6#7oz, Olivia was 5#10oz

@ 2 weeks- Kenzie was 6#12oz; Olivia was 6#2.5oz

@4 months- K was 11#12 oz; Olivia was 11#13oz

@6 months- K was 13#; Olivia is 14#10oz

Seems to be that Olivia was caught up to Kenzie by 4 months time!!! Oh goodness! But she is still as cute as ever with those rolls!!!

Oh I love my sweet Livi!

You There?

2010-10-24T00:16:00.002-06:00

Hello?

Is there anybody going to listen to my story...

Is anyone there?

I've been absent from the blogging world off and on until recently... I've been slacking. But is anyone there? I write... I post pictures... I do it now, but are you listening?

Do I need to be doing things differently?

I've been aching to write this more of a journal of life. I've come across some amazing bloggers lately who have inspired me to do more but will you listen? Will you comment? Will you offer suggestions/ opinions/ advice?

I have to tell you that its rather discouraging when you spend time doing something for yourself (but a lot for others as well) and you don't get feedback...

HMMM....

Along those same lines... I've been wondering if I should make my blog public. It's been private for a lot of different reasons but I'm wondering if I truly want to share my thoughts, have more readers and start to want to share my life, thoughts, advice and adventures more then I may want to be open to being viewed... Any advice on that? I'm just not sure that my reasons for being private are reasons much anymore.

Picking the Perfect Pumpkin @ the Patch

2010-10-11T20:02:00.005-06:00

This has been such a fun tradition we have had for the past 3 years now. This pumpkin patch is amazing! I love it! They have a little corn maze for kids (and adults!). They have a dozen tractors for the kids to get up and play with the gadgets and take pictures. They have photo ops set up EVERYWHERE all over the grounds, on hay, in trailors, in a really OLD truck, and sooo many pumpkins! This year David, Tamye. Grayson and Hayden (still cooking!) was able to come with. Grayson was so much fun to watch!! Cutest Nephew Ever!!! (For a few weeks anyways!)

Can you say....Cutest nephew EVER!?!?

Movie & Frosting Cupcakes!

2010-10-11T19:58:00.003-06:00

The girls were in such a good mood on Friday that we decided to watch a movie before naptime, and make and FROST cupcakes!

Park Days...

2010-10-11T19:41:00.006-06:00

The weather has been soo nice lately, so while I've been babysitting the past few days, we've decided to venture to the park to play. We have an amazing park in West Jordan. It has so much stuff for the kids to play with. It's so big too! Hours of adventures in that place! It's so nice that Kenzie is venturing out and away from me. Normally I would have to do everything with her, and while that was fine and fun when I didn't have a newborn, now it's just nice to watch and take pictures like the ones below! She is such a fun girl to be around everyday!

This is Jersee (above) and Kamree (below). These are two of the kids I babysit.

Keep Posted...

2010-10-10T21:05:00.002-06:00

Pictures and stories will be coming soon!

Making my way...

2010-09-16T16:19:00.003-06:00

So I've been working all week. I haven't worked this much in a year! I'm babysitting for 3 kids, 3 days a week. This week, though I'll have worked 4 days. My brother needed me to watch his son too yesterday, so I had SIX kids total!!! Oh goodness! It was crazy, but fun at the same time. It's fun being at a different house and getting into a schedule with the kids I watch. It's nice that I can have Kenzie and Olivia come with me and I get to spend some time with them while still earning some money. Kids are tiring, but soooo enjoyable! Luckily, I have a great husband that is my rebound to our own kids. He has school on the days that I go to work later, so I get the kids dressed and ready to go for the day. But, on the days he doesn't have school, he gets up with the girls and get's them dressed and all did up and brings them to me. That way we don't have to wake up way early! My kids like to sleep in, so it makes for happier kids!

This week has been a lot better. I'm still reading the Happiness Project, and my goal is to be able to begin it on the 1st of October and go through September of next year! A lot of one's attitude has to do with their outlook on attitude I'm realizing. I've resigned to be happy, and I have been a lot happier, doing the same things that I've been doing lately. It's all in the attitude. One thing this book says is "Fake it til you make it". Sometimes it takes a faking of one's attitude of happiness until you're happy. I don't think I'm faking it. I think I am happy, I just had to decide to be happy.

I'm off to a Coupon Class tonight. A little excited. Okay! A LOT excited. The lady teaching the class has a famiy of FIVE and she is able to buy all groceries and household items (toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, cleaners, etc) for $250!!! It takes a bit to get to that point, but I'm determined!!! I'll write more on that when i have the info!!

Summer Adventures!! PICTURES

2010-09-14T20:11:00.012-06:00

Me and Miss Olivia... I know... braces aren't too pretty.

We went to dinner and the park with Auntie Amanda when she came in town to play. Below is what Kenzie did as soon as she laid on the bed!

We went to Lagoon for my Mom's company work party. These are the only two pictures I took! Sad...

Stefani and I went down to her orientation for Southern Utah University. Again... I really suck at taking pictures. But! In my defense... Stefani didn't want to take them either. It was such a fun weekend with her! We toured the campus (separately- which was no fun!) But we also hit up Chili's for dinner and saw Knight and Day, which was one of my favorite movies this year!!

Secondhand Serenade concert with some Great company!!!

We went and saw Dispicable Me at the drive-ins! SOOOO fun! I think we may go again soon! I loved it and it was sooo inexpensive!

Getting ready to go to Malad for the 4th of July!

We took a Sunday walk to the park in Malad.

We didn't pack Sunday clothes so we went for a drive instead. We ound this AMAZINGLY beautiful lake! We had to stop and take a look and take pictures!

Kenzie was taking some candid pictures of me while we were waiting for the parade to start.

It's really fun in Malad. Its a VERY small town and everyone seems to know everyone. When the parade comes around everyone throws candy out to the crowd, so all the kids go around and are scrambling to pick up the candy. Here's Kenzie patiently waiting.

You can't see Olivia's outfit clearly, but it's the same as Kenzie's! I love these outfits!!

We went to a rodeo that weekend as well. Kenzie had to sit in front of me and not next to me! I think her pigtails are adorable!

Surfing the net like her daddy!

Misc fun!

We had the AMAZING opportunity to have Kenzie sealed to us in June. I had been hoping and praying for that day since before she was born. All of Mike's family was able to come and enjoy this special occasion with us as well. I had some amazing friends come up from Arizona to celebrate too... Again, I suck at taking pictures of life's events! I only have a few. We had Olivia blessed the same weekend and didn't get any pictures :( I need to work on all this!!!

One of my very best friends came in a day or so early for our special sealing/blessing of our kids. Adria stayed with us and we stayed up practically every night until like 3am talking and laughing and getting EXTREMELY tired. It was so fun. On my way to pick her up from the airport, I won some tickets to meet a charactor from Twilight: Eclipse. It happened to be that gorgeous man a few pictures up! He was Demetri and is MUCH MUCH cuter in person! We had SO much fun!

Kenzie and I got to go to the Princess Festival that was here a few weeks ago. She dressed up in this so cute dress and we had some fun!

We went to the Zoo when Stefani's friend Kaleigh came into town. We took my nephew Grayson, and it was a blast!!! VERY HOT! But very fun! We need to go again soon!!!

Hope you enjoyed them!!! I will attempt to post pictures as we have the events!!!

Family Pictures

2010-09-12T15:19:00.008-06:00

We had our family pictures taken back in July and I am in love with them! Thank you Cheri for referring me to Candace! She will forever be my photographer while we are in Utah!! Love! Here are a few (lots) of my favorites!

Every Mother Needs a Good Camera

2010-09-12T14:40:00.002-06:00

I'm recently in the market for a GOOD camera. A professional-type camera. A camera that will best capture the moments of my little ladies and my family. A camera that is AMAZING! I need one! I've been wanting one for a long time, and I feel like if I do my research and find what I need then I'll be able to get one and start snapping!!!

BUT ... I have no idea what to get! I know a BUNCH of professional photographers (you know who you are) and a bunch of professional mom photographers! I need help! Give me your advice on what you like best and why you like it. Tell me the make and model and any accesories I may need to get with it. Tell me the price and where I can buy it! Anything will be helpful!!!

Thanks!!

Forgiveness

2010-09-12T13:25:00.004-06:00

How do you forgive someone when they have wronged you, but you have also wronged them. How do you forgive someone when you feel like you were sticking up for yourself and they battered and berated you? How do you do this? I am in a situation where I know I need to forgive, but I don't know how to entirely. I need to forgive people that I don't see face to face, so an email will be the way I need to go, or a letter...but I don't know how to word it where it would actually be sincere. Right now I'm still hurt. Right now it's still fresh. But I know that we are taught to forgive all men, as we would want our Father in Heaven to forgive us. I certainly wouldn't want to wait to hear that I've been forgiven after waiting for a week, a month, or even a year. How can I let it go and forgive? How do I face these people again after what they did. How do I do it without caring for a reaction? How do I say I'm sorry without a but in there... "I'm sorry, but I feel..."

Help!!! I truely need wisdom on this more than I have!

Happiness is...

2010-09-11T20:30:00.007-06:00

I am very blessed. I am not one to think... "I am not loved"... "I'm not provided for"..."I'm not being taken care of"... etc. I am very well loved. I am surrounded by a family who loves me. I have an amazing husband who never ceases to do acts of kindness for me, say that he loves me, or surprises me with things I want and don't necessarily need. I am very loved. I have two beautiful daughters whose smile lights up my days, and can dry my tears. They are my life and I wouldn't change anything about them! I have the fortunate opportunity to be living with my parents, while we are unable to get a place of our own for the time being. I have love. I have laughter. And I have family.

But...

These past few weeks of mine have been ... let's just say challenging. While I have the fortunate opportunity to be living with my family, it has its own challenges in that I am a mother and a wife, and I am VERY protective of them and the influence around them. I live with 3 teenagers , who are not my children, butnevertheless have an influence on my kids. And while they are terrific aunts and uncles, they are teenagers and its not always a bright and cheery influence. (I am not blaming them, because I shudder at what I put my parents through when I was their age, and for the years beyond!) I just feel like I would best serve my children if I were able to guard against negative influences... for the next few years at least.

While these last few weeks have been challenging for me, I have found myself with a negative attitude and much to be wishing for. I wish we were able to live on our own and start our family being raised by just mom and dad, instead of auntie, uncle, grandma, grandpa...etc! I wish we had a better job to be able to afford that opportunity... I wish... etc! You get my point without me going further. During this time, to try to help in my own way, I started babysitting a few days a week. I watch 3 more kids (ages 5, 3, 1). Some of the time its good. Some of the time its not so good. The money I am getting is allowing us to provide winter clothes for Kenzie, pay for my braces (yes...braces!), stocking up on things we need, going on dates, and saving for our end of the year vacation. Nice things!!! Its a wonderful opportunity for me to earn money AND to be able to keep my kids close. But it also has its challenges. The two older kids aren't that great of an influence on Kenzie. She is acting out (may be partially due to being with other kids) and acting more rude lately. The kids fight, hit, scream, yell and use language (stupid, idiot) that I do not want around my kids.

So... I have some challenges at home and challenges at work... *sigh*

Going through these past weeks I haven't been happy. I haven't laughed, I haven't sang, I haven't been joyful. I haven't been the excited mom that Kenzie is used to, and I can see how my attitude has had an effect on her attitude. These past few weeks I have felt like I was drowning in my life. And when you feel like you're drowning, you aren't really a help to others. This has been my life.

What is my life? My life is a mother and a wife... that is what I have always aspired to be. I love, love, LOVE being a mom and love being a wife as well. I love sharing a life with someone with an eternal perspective in mind (even though I seem to lose sight of that perspective). But I have caught myself thinking on more than one occasion in these past few weeks... Is this it!?! Is this all I am? I am always a mother. I am always a wife... What else am I?

I'm sorry to admit it, but I have no life. I have no friends nearby to go and have girl time, to talk to, to do girl things with... and I didn't realize until recently how much I need girlfriends in my life. But how does that happen? I am in an established ward... meaning I am in a ward where most of the adults have kids that are almost through Elementary School. There isn't anyone near my age. I don't go anywhere without my girls, I don't interact with anyone but my girls (and the kids I babysit, and my family). Is this it??

Its a very scary/sad/disheartening feeling to think you have no one to talk to... Yes. I have my husband... however, I work Monday & Wednesdays, he has school Tues & Thurs morning and works Saturday to Wednesday until 11 pm. We don't see each other. Yes we talk, but mostly my life is 2 years old and under, and lately it has been talk of frustrations. Not a great conversation for anyone to have. And not fun when there is no fun in yourself.

My point in all of this is I have had a hard few weeks. This week being the hardest and the most upsetting. I have been crying all day today. But one thing I find when I am crying is my Savior nearer to me than normal. I feel things. I feel like I'm guided by him. I was looking through some websites today, and stumbled across one from a girl I have known since grade school. And as I was looking I came across a post from her that wasn't unlike this one. Wondering if there was more. She shared my same feelings with loving being a mother, but also having those feelings of wear on her life. I kept browsing... I came across another blog that led me to another webpage. There I found some answers. I kept looking. I came back to my original friends blog and went further down on her page and came to a book (that I went out and bought tonight) and a challenge.

My challenge is life. Life is noisy, messy, lovely, fun, exciting, thrilling, hurtful, scary... Life is life! I haven't been living my life. I have mearly been getting through my life. I keep on thinking "one day I'll get through this"... well... I'm tired of getting through anything! I want to start living.

The book I bought is called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She conducted a study in her life where, for an entire year, she did different things every month to try and find that happiness. Well, I am beginning this NOW. I need to be happy. This life is full of too many people trying to put you down and not enough of building up. I tired of the negative. I want to surround myself with positive influences, things, books, people, etc. Why put up with the negative? Believe me... I have put up with the negative for far too long, and like a cancer, it has eaten away a part of me. I want it back.

I know that true happiness comes through the Lord. I know I haven't been doing what I need to be doing to have Him in my life as much as I need Him to be. That is part of my challenge. I am surrounding myself with things that reflect Him.

This week (and weekend) have been hard. I have been beaten down by enough things to want to waste away. I have cried (and blown my nose) more than I thought you ever could in one day.

A year is a long time, but so short as well. In a years time I hope to be happier in my life, my relationships, and my heart. I hope that I can have the strength to complete this challenge and change the way I have been, especially these past weeks. I hope I will be one to build up, rather than tear down.

I don't think I'm alone in thinking and feeling the way that I do. I think a lot of women feel and think this way at one point or another. I just need to get out. I don't want to drown (I'm not that great of a swimmer anyways!) If you have any advice for me along the way I would welcome it!!

Real Salt Lake Soccer & DAVID COOK

2010-06-15T16:43:00.004-06:00

That's right! It finally happened again... David Cook graced us with his presence in Utah. I have been waiting for this day since the day after he came for the American Idol tour two years ago. I love his lovely face. I was super stoked to see him. AND to make it better he was going to come to the Real Salt Lake soccer game. Mike and I went to one other game before and had a blast so I knew it would be great. David Cook sang the national anthem *lovely* then he did a performance after the game. {We won!} I was a bit worried because of the unpredictable weather here in Utah. They had already paused the game for about 20 minutes during the first half because of lightening and rain. Mother nature was against me seeing David for some reason. But alas! It did not deter him from serenading me with his sweet sweet voice. {I'm convinced he was singing to me and only me} He was a bit worried too. Because of the delay they began after 10pm, which in most places is when the concerts need to stop because of the noise ordinances... but to make me love him more he said..."Screw the noise ordinance!". {My heart be still}

Anyways... I left with some seuvineurs of course. This lovely t-shirt, which I have worn to bed most nights since we went {Mike loves it-ha!} and a key chain! All in all we had a great time!

Summer Fun

2010-06-08T12:59:00.006-06:00

The weather has been amazing the past week. Surprisingly because we had just had a snow storm the week before :( We've been able to enjoy the weather some more and get outside. Since the nights cool off to the perfect temperature, we decided to get out Mike's portable fire pit and we had S'mores. Kenzie had a blast helping daddy start the fire and we taught her how to roast a mallow. She eventually found the chocolate (see picture) and just wanted that for herself.

Last summer we bought a little splash area for her, but she didn't really enjoy it until now. We got it out and bought her a new suit and she went out and played! Too bad the splash pad ripped... now we have to run through the sprinklers (like the old days when that's all we had haha).

Olivia is doing great... filling out well! Look at those chubby cheeks!!! She is laughing and smiling all the time now. She is still sleeping for most of the day. It seems she's up more at night. She is so attentative!!! Looking everywhere; recognizing people; smiling and cooing. It's so fun to have a little little girl again! Kenzie loves her role as a big sister too! She's always smiling at Olivia and saying "How cute!".

Two Weeks

2010-05-14T12:47:00.003-06:00

Boy oh Boy the last two weeks have flown by! I guess it goes by faster when you've technically only been home for a little over a week. Monday was Olivia's two week check-up and everything was great! We changed pediatrician's with her and I am so pleased with her new doctor. Second time around still doesn't prepare you for the prick in the foot for that stupid test! She was crying so hard! Kenzie came with us to the doctor's and she was so concerned because Olivia was hurt and she needed a bandaid (Kenzie has an obsession with bandaid's lately).

Here are her stats right now. She weighs in at 6 lbs 2.5 oz and 19 inches long! I cannot believe she's grown 1 1/2 inches in two weeks! Can you imagine how tall we'd all be if we continued that trend? (ew!) The doctor was so pleased that she has gained the weight and going beyond her birth weight! My milk must be doing something :)

Life is good in our house. I'm getting restless with having Mike work nights every single day but Sunday. I never get a break to get out of the house :( I'm making him quit his pizza job so we can at least have Monday's to go out when we can. My doctor gave me clearance to start walking for exercise so I'm stoked! (I've never been excited to start exercising haha). I'm going out and buying me some new shoes and I'll start going when I can, probably lugging around the huge stroller we have so maybe my arms will get a good workout too!

What can I say... life is sweet!

Life is Sweet

2010-05-04T16:02:00.004-06:00

Olivia Jane is HERE!!! She was born on Monday April 26, 2010 at 8:17 a.m. weighing in at a whopping 5 lbs 10 oz and measuring 18" long! We knew the date she would be born because we had a scheduled c-section. I had a c-section with Kenzie and my recovery could only be explained as a nightmare. This recovery has been easy breezy. I do wear on myself a lot because I feel like I can do more than I should be doing, but all I have to do it pop a pill, put on an ice pack and lay down.

My two girls are so sweet. Kenzie was leary at first when she came to the hospital the first time. As soon as I invited her into bed with me she was doing better. Olivia came in and the introduction took place and the kisses began! Kenzie just wants to kiss and hug her baby sister. She is soo soo sweet with her. I am so happy that it's been that way and not the other way around with Kenzie being jealous.

We stayed in the hospital for 5 days. I was cleared to go home on Thursday but Olivia had a little case of jaundice and had to be kept for another night. Friday we were cleared by her pediatrician (who is awesome) and we got to go home.

The hospital was a hospital. The bed killed my butt and back and the midnight checks were annoying but all is well. Olivia has such a sweet demeanor. I think if we let her sleep longer then she would, however we are still waking her up about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours to eat! She is a great eater! Oh- this baby girl of mine is sooo precious!

I love having two kids! It's been so nice with the two girls and although Kenzie has been out of her routine for the past two weeks she's been a doll and so very helpful. I know we'll get back into a routine, but with moving into a new house 2 days before we had Olivia, it's understandable that things will be a little shakey for a while.

Anyways, here are some pictures of the event. I have more, but our camera is downstairs and I'm upstairs and don't feel like moving :) Maybe next time!

Blessings

2010-04-02T15:35:00.004-06:00

So... I know, I know! I'm a horrible blogger, but I have no remorse :) I have been busy lately and when I sit down the last thing I think about is updating this thing. Mostly I update Facebook, so if you're not my friend on there.... You should be!!! Well, there's me at 33 1/2 weeks. Mike was taking me out to dinner for my Birthday and we snapped the picture real quick! I need to get out the ones when I was prego with Kenzie and compare bellies :)

Here's Mike and I on our way to dinner. I had a wonderful 26th birthday... 26!!! Can you believe it??? I was pampered the whole weekend, which was lovely seeing as how I can't reach my toes :) First I got a massage on Friday then we went to dinner at Benihana's. That place was fun but pricey! Woo... that's a once a year thing for sure! Saturday Mike made me breakfast in bed, but due to my gestational diabetes I actually had to wait until I took my blood sugar to eat it, so it was more the thought that counts. I then set off for a facial and pedicure! It was heavenly. A friends wedding was that night so we went there with my mom and Kenzie and went out to dinner again. Wonderful birthday!

Sunday we had ice cream cake to celebrate once again! Kenzie helped me blow out the candles.

The end of March we had a diaper shower for Olivia. Since we're having a girl we really didn't need anything other than diapers and a few other odds and ends, so we decided to throw a diaper shower. My mom made the best salads and we had some great friends come over!

This was Kenzie's "I'm a big sister/princess" outfit. She had a blast entertaining everyone who came over. She was so exhausted by the time it was over she fell asleep on the couch! Adorable!!!

Other than that stuff we've just been chillin'. I'm down to my one week appointments and on April 26th @ 8am we'll go in to have our little baby! Let the countdown begin! Oh and did I mention our family is packing/moving in the next few weeks! Yup! Hopefully I can make it that far with all I have to do!

I am proud to say that Michael got a full-time job {finally}!!! He had one before that he started in mid-January, however, it was for a shady company and they ended up only paying us for about 20 hours per week when he was working 40. He ended up quitting and was only unemployed for two weeks before he got hired and started working for Verizon Wireless. He loves it so far... it's opposite of what he was doing before which is a blessing! We have been truly blessed over the last few months with Mike not having a job and insurance, etc. He actually wasn't supposed to start until April 20th, but a quick background check and a last minute call to start had him start on the 23rd of March. The Lord is VERY mindful of us right now and we are indeed grateful.

No promises on when I'll be back to update this thing... guess you'll just have to stay tuned to find out :)

New Me

2009-12-21T10:19:00.004-07:00

My hair was bugging me and I needed a new lift, so I had a friend do it and I LOVE IT!!!

{BEFORE}

{AFTER: Don't mind me looking like a ghost!}

Stanley Family Christmas Party

2009-12-21T10:04:00.005-07:00

{On our way to Grandma's House}

{Anxiously waiting for Santa to call her name}

{Wanted Uncle Tyler to take her up but she still wouldn't sit on Santa}

{SO EXCITED for what Santa brought her!}

{Playing with her cousin's tea set}

{We even got to sit on Santa's lap!!! ---Don't mind how ridiculous I look in this picture--- I think I'm huge}

Mall with Kristal and Peyton

2009-12-21T09:49:00.003-07:00

Kristal watched Kenzie for the first year that we lived here. She is fantastic!!! Her son is just a few months onlder than Kenzie is so they always had a lot of fun together {and fought a lot depending on who the bully was that day}... I quit my job back in August and unfortunately we haven't been able to see her because of my morning sickness or Kenzie being sick or something else... BUT we were able to get together before the holidays and go to the mall. They have a train ride there that Kenzie couldn't keep her eyes off of when we went a few times before. Then we just went to the playground and played for a bit... then to these car things {whatever they are}. The kids had a great time and it was nice to see that Kenzie didn't forget about Kristal! {I didn't get a picture with the two of them though :(... shoot!}

Santa Claus is Coming To Town...

2009-12-14T15:26:00.002-07:00

We went and saw Santa Claus today at the mall! Kenzie has been looking forward to seeing him for a long time and was so excited. She said "Hello Santa!" and "Ho! Ho! Ho!" but was a little nervous still to be so close to him... No crying though!!!! That is definitely an improvement from last year! This is our little picture we got from them! If only Santa knew where the camera was :)

Getting Dressed & Auntie Amanda

2009-12-12T20:00:00.003-07:00

I asked Kenzie if she could get her herself dressed this afternoon. She was trying her hardest to do it. She knows how to take everything off, but couldn't figure out how to pull up the pants or put the socks on... This is just her trying to get her pants up on our bathroom floor! haha

Kenzie loves her Auntie Amanda. We had a date night for a while once a week and Kenzie would be so excited for her to come over. With her leaving soon, all these precious moments are definetly getting documented and cherished.

Things We've Been Up to the Past Few Months!

2009-12-09T11:24:00.015-07:00

So we have been busy the past few months, we just lost our camera or it died on us when I was wanting to update things... but here it is!!! LOTS of pictures! ENJOY!!

>The Everton Soccer Team came to town the end of July and Mike got tickets from his mom for his Birthday so we all went to it. We dressed up in our colors to support the team and his mom sent us some of the things Mike had. I was wearing a scarf and he had on his hat! It was really fun to watch. They played the MLS All-Stars and Everton ended up winning! Kenzie loved watching the game and trying to find where the ball was!

> These are just some classic pictures of Miss Kenzie. She loves talking on the phone like any girl would and liked kickin' it back at the table!

Always falling asleep in random places.

Cutest smile ever! > Splash park with daddy! It was really cold!!

> We came to Arizona to visit over Labor Day weekend and got to play with friends and family.

Her uncle Josh and her.

All the cousins.

The fall was full of FOOTBALL and Kenzie enjoyed every minute of it. I think that she has a favorite sport in this. Everytime Tyler had a game she wanted to go to it and would be seen and heard cheering on the sidelines whether he was in playing or on the sidelines. And at home she would always sit with Daddy, Grandpa or Tyler when they were watching a game!

> Mike and I went to the Brad Paisley concert in September! It was a lot of fun despite our drunk people around us. I wasn't a huge fan before but he puts on a great show!

> Adria and Mark came in town to visit us the end of September. We went to the Aquarium one day and Kylee, Kenzie and Brock all had fun looking at the fish!

There was a pond of Stingrays that you could touch and that's where we spent the majority of our time. They were slimey and very friendly to everyone. Some would jump out of the water to get your attention. We had Kylee and Kenzie touching them by the time we were done.

They are best bhuzzie buddies! They had a fun time with each other while they were in town.

> Fall came and so we had to break out the warmer gear for Kenzie. I couldn't resist taking a picture of her in this outfit! She looks like such a snow bunny :)

> In October, Mike's brother and sister came to town with their families and we met up with them at Thanksgiving Point for some fun times. Here are just a few pictures that we got!

>HALLOWEEN!! Kenzie had a bunch of places to go for Halloween. First we went and visited Grandma at work and got lots of candy there. Then, Mike's cousin had a Halloween party at their GINORMOUS house! This thing was huge! They have a room for their little boy with a secret play center behind his bed that just goes on and on... not to mention the elevator, panic room, and basketball court all inside the house! There was so much more too! It was a fun event with some of his cousins! And Kenzie warmed up pretty quickly and was playing all night long!

I was feeling sick all day long and didn't even have energy to get dressed up. So I wore a robe and slippers...

She was exhausted by nights end.

>We carved pumpkins as a family too! I have pictures on another camera of us picking out the pumpkins and will post them once I find them :) The top on is mine! I had fun with it and I was the fastest at doing it.
Like I said in a previous post... November was full of sickness and December is here now. I will leave you with a picture of Miss Kenzie looking fabulous in her furry jacket and boots :)

Pampering Kenzie

2009-12-09T11:16:00.002-07:00

Today I decided to pamper Kenzie. She's a big girl without her binkies {see other post} and so it was time for her to spend some quality girl time with her mommy. I gave her a bath first. Then I decided to round brush her hair. I've been wanting to see how it turns out for a while now, so we did it today and she loved it! All the while she just stared at her cute self in the mirror. After the hair was done we decided to give her a pedicure. We cut, filed, and pained her toes! She was so happy! After an hour of being naked and having fun she wanted to get dressed and wanted to wear a skirt! Her skirt is SOOO huge on her and has been falling off of her all day long! This is how teeny my Kenzie is... she will be 2 in a month and this is an 12-18 month skirt!!! Teeny-tiny!!!

Uh-Oh Fairy Came to Visit

2009-12-08T16:11:00.009-07:00

We finally decided that we didn't want to be dependent on Kenzie's uh-oh's {binkies} anymore. She will be 2 in a month so it was a perfect time. I have been telling her about the Uh-Oh Fairy for a few weeks now, and told her that she would soon be visiting to collect all of her uh-oh's. We had planned on starting next Sunday, but Monday night we couldn't find an uh-oh when it was time for bed. Kenzie takes them and hides them EVERYWHERE and forgets where they are, so the timing was kind of forced upon us last night. And boy I tell you it was rough! She took about 1 1/2 to fall asleep then she kept on waking up wanting her uh-oh, at which point I would tell her we don't have any anymore and that they were all gone. By the time morning came, she was finally better about it. I explained to her again about the Uh-Oh Fairy and how everything works. I told her that once the Uh-Oh Fairy meets with Mommy then she'll come and collect the uh-oh's. Kenzie and I decided to write a note to her, and I explained that she normally leaves a gift in return...

Me: "What kind of gifts would you like from the Uh-Oh Fairy?"

Kenzie: "Chocolate!"

Me: "Oh that would be yummy! Would you like anything else?"

Kenzie: "Wubbzy!" {She just lost her Wow! Wow! Wubbzy DVD}

Me: " Okay! Anything else?"

Kenzie: "A puppy!"

Me: " A puppy!? Do you want to just share Oliver {Stefani's new puppy} with Auntie Stefani?"

Kenzie: "Yah!"

So when Kenzie was sleeping this afternoon, I created this letter to the Uh-Oh Fairy. We made a letter and an envelope to go with it! Kenzie added her own personalized message on there, but we'll leave it for the Uh-Oh Fairy when she goes to bed.

In case you can't read it, it says:

"Dear Uh-Oh Fairy, I am saying goodbye to my uh-oh's now. I will miss them and have loved them very much, but I am a BIG GIRL now and do not need them anymore. I hope you will take good care of them for me while I wait for my younger brother or sister. We might need them back at that time! Until then... I will miss you Uh-Oh! Love, Kenzie Grace (1 year 11 months old). P.S. I really LOVE chocolates and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy right now... Just so... you know."

This was the envelope that it was sent in...

We had Kenzie sign her own signature on there....

So we had her seal up her letter in the envelope...

Then we had her put the letter under her pillow...

THEN... it's off to bed!!!

So the next morning when we woke up she found a tinkerbell bag in her room. She was kind of nervous and looking at her window... probably wondering how the Uh-Oh Fairy came into her room... BUT the unwrapping began!!

All in all she got TWO Wubbzy DVD's and a bag a chocolates!! She was absolutely thrilled and I'm happy to report that she didn't ask for her uh-oh once last night!!!

November

2009-12-08T15:56:00.003-07:00

Instead of going through EVERYTHING that I have missed I am starting fresh with a little bit of an update... November was sick! Seriously... we were ALL sick. Mike and I started feeling sick in the beginning of the month. I couldn't keep anything down so we ended up in Urgent Care to see what they could do for me. After all day of testing and loading me with fluids they sent me home saying I had the Swine Flu... I was on Tamiflu for the 5 days and wanted to die until day 4. Mike wasn't able to get the medicine because he wasn't a priority case. About day 3 of our fun my mom and dad started getting sick, and Kenzie started getting a cough. Needless to say, I was feeling better in time to take care of my dad, Kenzie, Mike and my mom somewhat when she would rest enough to be taken care of.
At day 5 of being sick, Mike got a call from some co-workers saying that they had closed down their office permenantly. After a few calls, we found out that it was true and Mike was unemployed. He went to pick up some information left there for him about our options... It was a horrible day!! They had indeed closed down the office and we had two options...take a severence package or move down to Arizona and work for the same company. Although many would want us to move to Arizona at this time, its not where we are supposed to be right now so we took the severence package... PLUS we didn't like the company anyways :)
The next week Mike was all geared up to start his hunt for a job, but he wasn't getting any better. After another trip to the doctor's he was diagnosed with bronchitis. He lost his voice, had a terribly deep cough and continued to battle his body aches. After a week on medication he STILL was not better... going back to the doctor and he was put on heavier medicine and the doctor was worried about walking pneumonia... Luckily... right before Thanksgiving he was feeling better, with his voice back and his lung compacity almost where it was before.
This whole month we were putting off our move, so we had to cram it all into Thanksgiving weekend, which is no fun to do anyways, but we got it done... and I'm proud to say even got a partial amount of our deposit back from our apartment {that's never happened to either of us before}!
Thanksgiving was filled with family, crafts, turkey, noise, fun and being thankful! It was a great weekend! I even got all my Christmas shopping done with WITHOUT having to go out at 5 a.m.
I am determined to start blogging more!! Our cameras have both either been lost or dead with our move so I will post pictures soon!!!

Slacker

2009-10-05T17:58:00.003-06:00

I know! I know! I have been slacking extremely since I got married with updating our blog... funny! Thought I'd actually post MORE blogs after we got married than before... everytime I would get on here I would get overwhelmed with HOW MUCH I had to update so I just switched the webpage and went on doing anything else... HERE I AM!!! I am updating! Might be short... may be long... I really don't know yet :)

April: We were married {yeah!} and had an enjoyable honeymoon in California. Sadly, there are not many pictures to show for it... haha! We stayed at a wonderful resort, got to go to Disneyland, and relaxed on the beach.

May: We had our second reception and it was definitely a success! So many people came to help decorate and we had it at my wonderful aunt's backyard {gorgeous}! It was hard to do two receptions but it was WAY fun to see so many more people than we would have if we just had it in Arizona.

June: We celebrated Michael's 30th birthday and his first Father's Day! He attempted to have a difficult time with turning 30 but really it was just to try and get sympathy and it wasn't working on me very well...The month was fun! {i don't remember that far back ... haha}

July: July was crazy busy for us all! Over the 4th of July we went to Malad, ID with Michael's family. It was a very small town but way fun! We went to the carnival, watched the parade {they threw out candy to all the kids and Kenzie LOVED it}. The fireworks were even fun!!! :-D The 24th of July we went to Bear Lake with my family. We stayed at my Grandma's cabin. It had been a few years since we've all been up there. A lot of family showed up and it was a great weekend! My aunt and uncle brought up their jet skiis so we had fun on those! It was nice to get our raspberry shakes as well! Stefani's friend Kathleen came up and we all had a great time. The end of the month we got to go to the Everton Soccer game! It was fun going there and dressing up! Mike's mom had brought a bunch of stuff for us to wear. I sported the blue of course with a scarf, and Mike was wearing a hat I think... I don't remember what else we had! haha... {my brain} Kenzie had fun watching the game too. She liked to look at where the ball was and see everyone run! We had great seats too so it was fun for her to be so close to the action!

August: August was a close of summer fun for us! Mike was busy working both his jobs {he works for GCU full-time still, and is working part-time at nights delivering pizza's}. I was busy working as well. Kenzie got really sick in the middle of the month. She was throwing up for about a week, and it took a toll on me with work. We were planning on me quitting my job to be at home with Kenzie in September, but as things progressed with Kenzie, I was getting more and more exhausted, and worried, so my last day of work was August 21st! It just so happened that that was the day that my department went on our day retreat and it was a fantastic way to end my time working there. We went up to Deer Creek and played on jet skiis all day long, had bbq for lunch and just had a great time!!!

September: We started off September wonderfully by visiting family and friends in Arizona over Labor Day! Thanks to my wonderful mother in law we were able to fly down for the weekend. Jared and Jill blessed their sweet baby Clair that Sunday at church so it was super fun! I got to spend time with my cute nephew Grayson {meeting him for the first time} and have dinner with my whole family {miss them tons}. We couldn't forget the bhuzzie breakfast could we!?! NO! Afterwards I almost died by going to the San Tan mall and shopping OUTSIDE in 140 degree weather!!! Sheesh.... ladies almost killed me :) It was great to spend time with Mike's family as well. We had an adult dinner {nice break} out to Charleston's, and had a bbq with all the kids on Saturday! It was a busy but very enjoyable weekend!

Later in the month my dearest friend Adria came to visit with her husband and kiddos. They stayed at my parents house and it was fun to go about hanging out with them like olden times. I discovered it's possible for them to move here {at least for a few years} so I am going to work and work until that happens :) It was fun to watch Kenzie with Kylee. They are best little bhuzzie's.

October: October has just begun and so far we've had snow, conference, rain and snow. Conference was wonderful and refreshing. Kenzie was fantastic through most of the sessions and only had to be told to be quiet a few times. Luckily we made a trip to Hobby Lobby for some activities for her to do...

Life is full of me playing house with Kenzie! It's been so fantastic to spend time with my little girl every day. She is trained well :) She sleeps in until about 9:30 to 10 o'clock every morning, and then we have a routine with breakfast and will go visit her Papa so she can play with him for a little bit! She is such a fun girl to be around all the time! She is such a spunky, vibrant girl. It's amazing that she is my daughter and that she is already so big! I keep looking at her day by day and realizing how much she has actually grown up. She is talking so much now and picking up on so many words from everyone {watch what you say!} It's adorable. Since my wonderful husband works ALL THE TIME we have our nighttime routine as well. We go home, take out mama's contacts, get into our pajamas, and then we read a book {lately she likes the book Grammy gave her: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish} It's an adorable sight to see. She lays in my bed reading her book while I'm laying in my bed reading whatever book I'm reading that day. We say our prayers {she knows how to be reverent and fold her arms, and at the end always says Amen}. It's a great way to live!!!

As I said my wonderful husband is busy working his life away. Some days {depending on what time he gets home} we don't see each other for a few days. I go to sleep early and he wakes up early... But I am extremely grateful for him and his willingness to work so that I can be at home with our sweet daughter. He is a fantastic father, husband and friend. Thank you babe for all that you do for our family!

Future: Soon our lease is up at our apartment, and because we're unsure where we'll be in the next few years due to Mike's schooling we will be moving in with my parents. Luckily they have the space and everyone is allowing us to crash their house for a little while. It will be nice to help out at the house more since I'll be here full time now. As for schooling, Mike is finishing up his Master's Degree right now and at the same time working on Pre-requisits for his Physician's Assistant program. He is a busy man, but seems to handle everything well.

Well, this is all for now! Hope all is well... and I will update soon {ish}

Love, The Evertons

Coming Soon!

2009-08-10T16:32:00.001-06:00

I promise I will post a new blog full of events, updates and pictures of us soon! I don't have the time right now to do it, however ... IT IS COMING SOON!!! Promise!

The Story Begins...

2009-05-22T18:14:00.011-06:00

Eek!!!

2009-05-19T11:53:00.002-06:00

Just got released today... Let the countdown begin... 185 days (i think) Eeeek!!!! SOOOO excited!

Pictures

2009-05-18T14:46:00.009-06:00

Can you say AmAZiNg!?!?! Oh my goodness... Here are just some of the pictures that Brian and Cami of www.claymoorephotography.com took of my family :) More pictures are on their way once I get the rest of them. These were just some of them on their blog...

ADORABLE!!!!

~CUTE CROOKED SMILE~

* BREATH TAKING *

* LOVE *

** BLING BLING **

*SIGH*

~~ DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS PROBLEM IS~~

Temporarily Unavailable

2009-05-17T20:48:00.003-06:00

I know I promised pictures... but my blogger uploader is not doing its job... Soon-IsH... I promise!

~Update on LIFE~

2009-05-17T20:16:00.002-06:00

HelLO fAmILy & FrIEnDs... We are AliVe, I pRoMisE. Needless to say... LiFe has been cRaZy!! Here's a little update... picture posts are included of course! :)

~~ArIzONa~~
We were able to go to Arizona for a week before we got married. It was a busy time, but very enjoyable. We got to see family and friends and celebrate our wonderful event. It was fun to relax (ha!) and hang out with my family... I definitely miss my brothers and sisters and the little girls... It was fun to watch Kenzie with Kyra and Lexi and have them build that relationship more than before. It was fun to see the BhUzZiES and the bhuzzie BaBIeS!!! Ah... our kids are going to grow up so wonderfully, with such a close group of friends. We went shopping, got our toes did, and hung out and had fun! Oh I love thee!

~~ApRiL 18, 2009~~
We were MaRRieD!!! Woo-hoo!! It was an amazing day filled with our closest family and fabulous friends. We had one of Mike's dad's close friends seal us in the temple. It was wonderful having someone close to us perform that blessing. It was such a WoNDeRfUl way to start our lives together. I couldn't help think of the day when we can have KeNZiE GrAcE sealed to us as well... We are so loved!! We had so many close friends, family and people that mean the world to us in that sealing room with us to share that beginning.
Some of our close friends, Brian & Cami Clay, were our photographers, and BoY oH bOy... They are FanTaStiC!!! Here's my plug... http://www.claymoorephotography.com/... They will not disappoint!!
The reception was at Mike's mom's house and she is AmAZinG!!! She put on a wonderful reception and it was everything I ever wanted... it was such a beautiful evening!!

~~HonEyMoOn~~
....*smile*....

~~Utah Reception~~
The reception up here was fabulous as well and we couldn't have done it without some wonderful family and friends up here! We had a wonderful turn out and it was great to have everyone come and share the night with us...

~~ Life Afterwards~~
It's busy... thought it was going to slow down, but I'm realizing life DoEs NoT slow down, especially with a little one :) We've moved into our apartment and I've gotten it mostly decorated. I'll have to take pictures of what is decorated... you'll just be missing out on bedroom and bathroom for now (until it gets finished)... I LoVe OuR ApaRtmENt!!! It is sooo adorable and PeRFeCt!! We have vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, a dining room and 2 great rooms big enough for the three of us.

Michael is a fabulous husband and father. He is continuing to work at Grand Canyon University as an enrollment counselor, and I think, despite the drama, he likes what he does. He's going to school full time for his Master's Degree and will be done within a year... then on to the Doctorate... This last week we found out he got a SeCoND job at night to help with some extra income... He is sooo wonderful with Kenzie from getting up in the middle of the night to get her a bottle or binky, dropping her off at her babysitters, to taking her to the park to play on the slide. He is patient, loving, forgiving, kind, self-less, and so much more. I am so very grateful that he chose me and for how much he loves Kenzie and I.

Kara is working for Deseret Mutual Benefits Administration. I love my job and the people I work with. Unlike Michael, I couldn't handle the drama at Grand Canyon, so I have moved on... and I am enjoying where I'm at! I took the semester off to plan the wedding, so I will be returning in June--- FulL-TimE-- Going towards my degree in Elementary Education. I love coming home after work and playing, laughing, and enjoying time with Kenzie and Michael.

Kenzie is adjusting well. She has been used to Mike for a while, but mom is still #1. The biggest adjustment was leaving Grandma and Grandpa, but we see them often and so she does well with going home now. She's growing up FAST!! She is almost ready for nursery--- Oh My Gosh!!! I can't believe it. She is such a tiny might... She's between 17-18 pounds now, and 30 inches tall!! She is walking, talking, and singing any chance she gets. She loves Signing Times-- and The Office!! She loves to dance and gives nuckles to EvERyoNe! Her laugh can turn a rainy day into sunshine, and her smile (with 10 teeth) will melt your heart. She knows where every part of her body is, and attempts to *wInK* (by blinking) all the time. She loves to cook with Mama and Daddy and she only likes the vacuum when she's in charge of it! She helps with laundry and helps mama clean up the apartment. She is an absolute doll and mama's LaDYbuG...

We ArE LoVInG OuR LiVEs ToGeTHer AnD CanNoT WaiT FoR WhAt CoMEs NeXt...

Welcome!

2009-05-13T21:14:00.001-06:00

I know it looks the same, but it is actually a new address. My old blog will be deleted soon, so everyone who has accepted my request... WELCOME!!!

Soon pictures will be up I promise... for now I must go and get LOST in the night!!

Love to all !!!