Happy Birthday Mom!

Today, is my wonderful mother's birthday. I love her very much. Below are the 10 top reasons why I love her.

This was taken a few months ago, when Melissa taught me how to cut my mom's hair. I had dyed it the week before. I think it turned out great. The only problem is, I don't remember how I did it.

#10-I love that my mom taught me to love music. Some of my favorite memories as a kid are when she used to dance with me in the living room. It was always to the Beatles, Elvis or Neil Diamond. Love all those groups.

#9- I love that my mom always makes sure that I am taken care of. She always brings me lunch. Thanks mom!

#8- I love that my mom is always there for me at the drop of a hat. I can call her and she will be there. I do this to her a lot. She is a good sport. She always says, "Aren't you glad I love ya?" when I thank her for coming on such short notice.

#7- I love that my mom has always cared for other people. She has taken people under her wing. She has let people live with us when they had no other place to go. One time she even paid for one of her friends to get dental work done because she couldn't afford it.

#6- I love that she supports me in everything I do.

#5- I love that my mother has always kept her promises. She promised me that I would get braces when I was younger. It took a few years but I got them. She even said she would get me a car if I graduated high school. I got my car. It wasn't new but it was a car.

#4- I love that my mom has always used the positive reinforcement thing. She has always told me that I am good, beautiful, smart, that she loves me and that I don't make stupid decisions. This has given me self worth.

#3- I love that she loves to hang out with me. I hang out with her almost once a week. I enjoy her company.

#2- I love how my mother has always nurtured me. Every time I was sick when I was a kid, we didn't have much money but she made sure I had anything I wanted at the time. She still takes care of me when I am sick. Though my husband is really good at that now.

The number on reason I love my mother is that she just plain loves me and loves being a grandma to Ayla. She loves her very much. 

Happy Birthday Mom! 

I hope you have a wonderful day! I love you!

Ayla at the park!

We took Ayla to the park for her first time this past Saturday.

We went because our friends, Cole and Maura, had invited us to Cole's graduation BBQ. 

And I made the dessert. 

He had graduated from the U too just like Kurt. 

I wanted to get a picture of Cole with his cake that day but we got to the BBQ late; they had already cut into the cake. But it didn't matter that we got there late because I wouldn't have been able to take a good picture anyway. We realized after some time of being at the BBQ, we had forgotten the diaper bag and the camera was in the diaper bag. LAME!!

I was really disappointed because I wanted to take pictures of Ayla at the park. I still did with my phone but the picture are small. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. The picture are still darling though.

Here is Ayla on the slide for her first time. FUN!

She had a lot of fun running around.

She loved the pine cones.

 Notice the look on her face? She didn't want to be picked up but it was time to go. She cried all the way to the car. I guess that is what kids do when they have to leave the park.

We had a good time at the BBQ. We enjoyed the company and the food. Thank you Cole and Maura for inviting us! Congrats again, Cole!

Kurt Graduated!!!!

I am so excited to announce that my hubby has graduated from college. Yay!!! He graduated this past Friday. He didn't do the ceremony thing but he is done.

I made him some cupcakes!

I can't believe the word congratulations took 14 cupcakes. 

He graduated from the U, so that is why there are two U's on the sides of 2009.

Kurt has an associates degree in computer science and now a bachelors in film and animation. 

He works for a place called Access Development where he does web developing. He also films things for his work and makes animations for his work. Below is the link to one of his animations he made for his work. It has Ace in it (a character he made out of his companies logo). I have been wanting to show this animation for quite some time. It is one of the recruiting videos he made for Access. Enjoy!

 

Kurt's animation!

I had to do a link to it because when I put it on the blog it cut half of the picture out.

I am very proud of Kurt and his work. I am also proud that he graduated. I love you Honey!

Long over due post!

This post is long over due. It is about Ayla turning 14th months. She turned 14 months on April 25th. She is now 3o and a half inches long and weighs a total of 19 lbs. She she has gained a pound and grown a half an inch.

This was taken that day.

Some of her accomplishments during her 13th months are:

She received 3 more teeth, which brings us to a total of 10 teeth.

She started to eat with a spoon.

She started to say, "Whoa, What's that?" Her first phrase.

She started to act like she is talking on her cell phone.

She is growing so fast, I can't keep up with her. I can't believe how smart she is. She amazes me everyday.

Now for the second part of this post. I want to share some new things she has discovered.

She discovered the piano the other night we were at Young Women's.

I was amazed at how gentle she was with the keys. She didn't slam them at all. It didn't sound bad either.

She discovered she likes powdered doughnuts.

She discovered what outside is.

This was the first time I let her play outside because we live in an apartment and we don't have a yard. This was at my parent's house. They have a full fenced yard.

Notice the grass stains on her pants? She loved it.

She loves dogs and of course she had a great time chasing Chico around.

See how excited she gets?

She has discovered blinds and loves to play in them. 

She got to see baby pheasants. These are Marion's and Monty's baby pheasants. They are in their basement and will stay there until they are old enough to go to the farm.

This was taken today.

She has discovered a way to move her little castle around the living room. It is kind of like the way a hamster rolls in its ball. It's awesome! I love how when she plays in it now her hair stands up. Electrified!!!

Another Baptism!

On Saturday, Ayla and I went to my friend Katie's son, Traeden's baptism. I love going to baptisms. It is so great to watch one of Heavenly Father's children decide to enter the waters of baptism and to receive the Holy Ghost and to become a member of the church.

Here is the happy family!
Jordan, Elie, Traeden and Katie.

This was my first time going to a baptism that was on a stake level. So there were other children being baptized other then Traeden.

They had one big meeting with everyone where they had people give talks, sing and the mothers each got to go up and share some things about their child. Then everyone took turns going into the Relief Society room (that is were the baptismal font was) and they each had their own personal baptism. Then they had them go to another room to receive the Holy Ghost. Traeden was the last one to be baptised. So we didn't have to leave the Relief Society room for him to receive the Holy Ghost. That was very nice.

I thought it was nice that each child still got their own personal baptism. I thought they would all go in there and watch each other be baptised. I liked that it was personal because it is a big deal when someone enters the waters of baptism and I think it should be recognized on an individual basis.

During the meeting before the baptism, Ayla and I spent the whole time in the halls. Ayla did not want to sit still whatsoever. It was okay. I still got to hear the talks and the mothers talk about their child.

My friend, Ann's kids Mary, Tenney and Christian came out in the hall a couple of times and played with Ayla. I had to get a picture. Too cute!

During the actual baptism, Ayla was playing in the curtains. That was nice because it kept her occupied and I got to enjoy watching Traeden be baptised and receive the Holy Ghost.

Traeden really loves the Utah Jazz and Katie asked me over a month ago if I would make him a Birthday / Baptism cake. I told her Yes. They decided they wanted it to be a Jazz cake and so that is what I made.

My sweet Mom, Dad and Uncle Ernie came over on Friday to entertain Ayla while I decorated the cake. Thanks family! The cake took a total of 5 hours to make from start to finish. And the decorating part was only about a half an hour of that 5 hours.

And of course I got a picture of Traeden with his cake at the luncheon after the baptism. I loved that he had changed into his Jazz outfit. He loved his cake and all the kids stood around and starred at it for a good while. Every once in a while I would hear Traeden say how cool it was and he would tell the other kids not to touch it. Seeing Traeden and how much he loved his cake made it all worth it. That is what is the funnest thing about making cakes is—that the person really loves their cake. Especially when it is a child. I love to see children happy.

I really enjoyed the baptism and to be amongst good friends. What a fun day.

Traeden, I am very proud of you and your decision to be baptised! I am glad I got the chance to be there! Thank you!

Pictures of Ayla!

Here are some of the pictures that Kris took. Which one is your favorite? I know they are small but I can't get them any bigger or they will look pixelated.

#1 Ayla with her hands up!

I got a 5x7 of this one.

#2 Ayla getting ready to eat the flower!

#3 Ayla in the tulips!

I actually got an 8x10 of this one.

Thanks again Kris for sharing your talent!

We got pictures of Ayla taken!

My friend, Ann called me up the other day and told me about a free photo session for kids that would be taken in a garden. Kris, who is an amazing photographer, was the one doing the session. I tell ya, she is amazing at taking pictures and capturing moments. Ann has her take pictures of her family all the time. So when Ann told me it was a free session, I jumped at the chance to have pictures taken of Ayla in a garden. I just have to pay for the pictures I decide to get.

Yesterday was when the photo shoot took place and the pictures are amazing. If you want to see them, check them out here. Ayla is in the 4th photo from the top. She is standing in the middle of some tulips. It is so cute. I can't wait to see all the pictures she took of Ayla.

Thank you Kris! You did an amazing job!

You should check out Kris' blog. She is truly an amazing photographer.

Did I say amazing enough in this post?