"Eesh one-ee"

This is Aliyah's new idea of fun. When I'm getting ready in our closet she will hide in my shirts and then come out and yell "BOO!" It is so cute. Then after she does it a couple times and I pretend she is so scary she says..."Eesh one-ee." Translation..."It's funny."


Sometimes I don't know how we got so lucky to have this bundle of crazy in our house.

It's about time!!!

My poor kid. No wonder he's been whining for about a month. All four front teeth are on their way in at the same time. Last Friday (the 20th) Xander got his first tooth...3 days later the second came in. Now we're waiting for the top teeth. I can see them...they're just not through the gum yet. At least he was happy for these pics. :)

He CAN Show Sympathy

I have never known Jace to be a sensitive guy. Especially about being sick or getting hurt. His philosophy is pretty much to just tough it out. That's why I was really surprised yesterday when he came home with a bird that has a broken wing. He found it in the parking lot and said "I couldn't just let it die." He kept it in a big plastic tote in our closet last night and was trying to feed it pancakes or apricots or whatever he could think of. It's been pretty great to see the sensitive side come out. Today he decided to feed it some formula.



After dinner I caught him giving the bird a bath in our sink and putting neosporin on the cut under his wing. No words can describe how shocked I am at how much he cares for this bird. I just hope he can help it and it doesn't end up dying anyway.

the spoon

Yesterday my sister, Amy, was feeding Xander with this spoon. He stole it from her and ever since hasn't let it go. He carried it around with him all last night. Aliyah tried to take it a couple times...that didn't go over well.

This morning it was the first thing he grabbed when he got up. Obsess much?

This is him trying to figure out how to eat holding the spoon and the pancake.

This kid is pretty funny.

happy anniversary!!!

Today is our 4 year anniversary! In some ways I can't believe it's been 4 years...and in other ways I feel like it's been a LOT longer than that.



The first 4 songs on my playlist remind me of the dating days. We lived an hour apart so when we got to see each other we would mostly be in the car. I remember sitting in Jace's truck...it was winter and freezing outside...we would snuggle in a blanket and just talk while his CD's were playing. These songs remind me of those times when our biggest worry was if we were going to see each other soon. Ahh, the good ol' days.

Jace...I love you. I am such a lucky girl to have you forever. Thank you for all you do for our family...you are the best!

Family Home Evening

For FHE this week we went to the Visitors Center to see the statues of Christ that are being displayed right now. They were made by a lady who was an opera singer for the majority of her life and discovered a hidden talent that she had of sculpting clay. These statues are amazing! It took her 10 years to make 12 statues (I think) of different stories in the New Testament. We weren't allowed to take pictures or else I would have. If you haven't gone to see these statues yet they will be on display until June 20. I would totally recommend going because of how great these depictions of the Savior are. A few of my favorite are when Heavenly Father and Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, When Christ raises Lazarus from the dead, and a giant sculpture she did of the Christus. I just can't describe them...they are awesome. You should go see them!

I had ample opportunity to take pics while we were waiting for our tour to start. Aliyah found a friend...a little boy about her age and she followed him everywhere. Luckily, his mom kept a watchful eye because I kept losing her in the crowd. (Don't worry...we waited an hour and a half to see these statues...mostly because it was FHE night.)

Quick Post For Amy

Who do you think of when you see these?...



Somehow I remember they used to put a LOT more sprinkles on them...and they actually looked like the pictures on the bag. I guess times have changed.

I WAS TAGGED!

Well, this is like my first formal tag. I think I am a little too excited about it. O well, thanks Jodi...I love this stuff.


Food
1. First thing you ever made on your own? It was probably scrambled eggs or something of that nature. Well...it could've been a birthday cake. My mom made them when we were real little, but then as we got a little older she stopped, so that became my calling in the house. I was the birthday cake maker.

2. First meal you cooked? ...Real meal? Well, my mom had this plan when I was in high school (I think) that the 3 girls would plan and make 1 meal a week. I think that lasted 2 weeks. It was a good idea though. She just couldn't stick to her guns because us kids were so blasted busy. So, I guess that would've been the first one...but I don't even remember what I made.

School
1. First formal schooling you had? I went to Pre-school. I don't remember much about it, but we rotated houses of kids that were in it with me. It wasn't at a "professional place." But I did go to Kindergarten at West Jordan Elementary. Wahoo. (Side note...I remember when I was in Kindergarten, I cut my hand with a knife and had to have stitches (not at kindergarten...just when I was that age). They wrapped my hand in gauze and I was so scared to go to school because I thought everyone would make fun of me. O the things I worried about back then. My sister, Amy, had to take me to class to make sure no one said anything. :) hehe. Thanks big sis.

2. First bad grade you earned? Well...all throughout my schooling years I got As and Bs. But when I was in college I took this Human Biology class that kicked my butt. I got a D. The worst grade in my whole life!

3. First post high school education you had? College at good ol' Weber State. I never got any degree...I got married before I got my Associates and then I decided not to go back. Who knows, maybe a little later in life I'll go get something.

Career
1. First job you dreamed of having? O...it changed weekly. But I think I wanted to be a school teacher at one point...I know I wanted to be a mom...and I think I remember wanting to be a zoo animal trainer.

2. First time you made money? Allowance. I remember when I lived in West Jordan my mom would give us fake money for nice things we would do...or chores. When we got enough we would go get whatever toy we wanted or something like that.

3. First paycheck job? Crap...I don't even remember what it's called...it was the summer in between 8th and 9th grade and it was a telephone company set up by a guy in my stake. My mom worked there and her friend...it's just not coming to me.

4. First career? Full-Time Mom...and I love it! (some days are better than others though, but I guess that's the case with every career.)

Travels
1. First family vacation? I don't even know where we went. I know it was with my mom's side of the family. We went with them every year...still do. We would drive everywhere though. We would only go to states right around us and Canada because that's where my Gramps is from.

2. First time you went out of state? One of those vacations. Looking back...we would always go to the same places...Urray, Colorado...Jackson Hole...Idaho...you know...exciting places.

3. First road trip with your friends? It was with Kirsten Hoenes (woot woot) and it was just after I got engaged. We drove down to Arizona and stayed with her sister for a few days.

4. First time on a plane? I was in 6th grade and we FINALLY went to Disney Land. My gram and gramps went with us because he was there for work. I still remember them going on the log ride with us. Crap...why can't I remember what anything is called? It's the one with Briar Rabbit and Briar Bear...you know what I'm talking about.

5. First time out of the country? Gotta be Canada. To be more specific...Cardston, Alberta.

Boys
1. First crush? Devin Bland. It was in Kindergarten and he had blonde spikey hair. What a hottie. :)

2. First boyfriend? Well, I don't know if you could qualify it as a "boyfriend," because in the elementary days we called it "going out." It was Jake Stapp and it was just after I moved to Fruit Heights. He gave me a ring and I remember I lost it on a field trip to the State Fair. He "broke up" with me after that. Sniff, sniff. Sad times.
But if you want to go "boyfriend" that would be Jordan Nicholls...my sophomore year. I wasn't 16 yet so my friend, Laura, would always drive over there. Luckily she was kind of dating Jordan's friend, Trevor...so it all worked out. In the end, it just couldn't last. The boys went to Layton and we went to Davis. There's no keeping a relationship like that. :)

3. First time you held hands with someone? O...I don't know. It must've been Ryan Lym. I was a Sophy...he was a Junior. You know...the whole "older man" thing. :)

4. First date? My mom convinced my dad to let me go to the Prom when I was a sophomore. My birthday is in July so I wasn't 16 my whole sophy year. :( That night was so weird. First...I didn't even know the kid who asked me. His name was Brandon Payne (not the one in my ward now...) and I had never even talked to him before. So, the night was a bit awkward.

5. First kiss? Jordan Nicholls

6. First love? Well, in high school you think you "love" everyone you date. So, in my eyes...my first love was probably Ryan Lym. But, in real life...the one and only man I've truely loved is Jace.

Well, that was a lot of fun! It's good to go down memory lane sometimes. Hope you all enjoyed. :0 Now I tag...Dion, Jealin, Hillary, and Marci...if you haven't had the baby yet it will give you something to do. :)

"I Love You!"

Aliyah is such a cutie. She learned to sign "I love you" and does it all the time now. The first couple times she got her pointer and thumb up, but she had to use her other hand to pull up her pinkie. It's the cutest thing.

to continue with the birthday post...

Well, you all saw that he got awesome pancakes...

But you didn't get to see the rest of the day. So, here you go.

He opened his presents...


Jace and I went out to dinner...but I didn't take the camera. :( We had Pizza Factory. When we came home all his friends were there for ice cream cake!



Aliyah had so much fun with all the kids there. But I think her and Cru mostly wanted to be alone...



Jace, I love you and hope your day was fabulous!

Does He Look 28?

Well, today is my hubby's 28th birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!! He started the day off with a nice run of 2 1/2 miles and came home to these lovely pancakes made by me. :)

(Making pancakes into letters is a lot harder than you might think. It's supposed to say Happy B-Day.)

Jace just left for work...looking mighty sharp in a dress shirt and tie. I don't know what his birthday will hold (well, I do...he doesn't) but, I'll update as the day goes on.

Happy Birthday...a day late

I failed to blog yesterday. I was planning on it, and I don't know what happened. Actually, I think I was just so relieved my first sharing time was over. Anyway...I need to tell my mom HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

My mom is the best mom around. She is always there when I need to talk. Growing up, she would always make time for me. We would talk about anything I wanted...mostly boy problems I'm sure. I know she was totally not interested in all the drama I created in my life, but she was there anyway. When I was still in elementary I got on a different track than my sisters because she wanted time with just me when I was off track. I still remember some of the time we spent together.

My parents love to spend time together and in the summer will often be found in Jackson Hole. In fact when I called her yesterday to wish her a happy birthday she had just got home from there. (Starting early this year, eh?)

My mom is the best grandma and will do anything for my kids. I love that she would come down at the drop of a hat if I needed her. She makes time for them and is so concerned that they will forget her if they don't see her in a while. (It's ok mom. I show them your picture :))

We love you mom and hope you had a special day. Enjoy this year...for next year you hit the big 5-0!


I also need to tell Jalee HAPPY BIRTHDAY Her birthday was also yesterday. I have only known Jalee about 4 years, but in that time here are some things I've observed about her...


(Sorry about that picture Jalee. I really don't have that many of you. :( That was taken Christmas morning.)

Jalee LOVES children. She is such a good aunt to my kids and the rest of the nieces and nephews. She doesn't mind being silly with them and doing anything to make them smile.

When Jalee sets her mind to something she gets it done. She is a go-getter just like everyone else in the family.

Jalee would do anything for anyone. (I think she learned this from her mom.)


I am so happy for Jalee and Kyle who are engaged right now and will be getting married in August. We are excited to have Kyle join the Vernon Clan. :) Good luck you two.

Once again...Happy Birthday! (Sorry I forgot to blog, but at least I remembered to call.)