My 28th Birthday Party with my Girlfriends

My friends from the ward are so great. They planned a girls night out for my birthday. I feel so spoiled to have such amazing ladies to hang out with, talk with, walk with in the mornings and just to do girly things with. On Friday all the husbands got together and watched the kids, while we went out to Cafe Rio (my favorite) and than back to Cassie's house for some good cake and ice cream. That night we hung out and watched the cheesiest movie- Gidget, an old chick flick movie. I was laughing the whole time and making fun of it the whole time. Thank goodness it was my birthday, or they probably would have kicked me out. And just for the the records- it was a funny movie and that's what made me like it even more. Thanks a ton to each of you for making my birthday a fun day and for your friendships. I really want to start a craft night like we've been talking about.

Happy Father's Day To Two of My Hero's!

My Father is one of my hero's. I have always been a daddy's girl and have felt really close to my dad. Ever since I was small, and even now, "I still climb upon his lap and give him what? A great big kiss!" My daddy has been a great example of patience, wisdom, knowledge, forgiveness, kindness and unconditional love. He is such a soft patient man and is very slow to anger. I know his heart has always been one that is close to the lord. I always tell him that I love him, but I just wanted to tell him that I feel like the luckiest little girl to have such an amazing man as one of my number one hero's and constant people in my life. I am one proud daughter and know that I you are a true blessing to my life. Thanks for always believing in me and for always being there for me no matter what. You are amazing and I am always bragging about you. You have so many characteristics that are like my father in heaven. Thanks for being the man, father, husband, brother, friend and everything else that you are to those you know. I love you with all my heart and Happy Fathers Day to you! I am so lucky to share my birthday (every 7 years) with 2 of my favorite men in my life. I know I can speak for James when I say that he has the best daddy in the world too. It is so crazy, but at 7 months I can already tell that he knows who his daddy is and he gets so excited when he sees him. I am so grateful to have such an amazing husband who treasures his son so much. I absolutely just love how Josh cares for him and enjoys the tender moments, spends time with him and just loves being a daddy to his baby boy. James is so spoiled to be surrounded by the love his daddy gives him, and I will be the first to tell you that James is one of Josh's proudest possessions, he loves showing him off and would do anything for our little boy. Josh, please know that you are the greatest father James could ever ask for. Who would have ever guessed that being a father would come so natural for you? You are a natural and the love that you have for James is perfect. Thanks for being such a wonderful man, one who honors his priesthood, and has the values and beliefs that will allow our family to return to heaven as an eternal family. You Rock our Worlds and Happy 1st Fathers Day Babe! You are my hero and I just love you to pieces. Since my birthday and Fathers day were on the same day, we decided to just take it easy and relax together on Sunday. We went over to our neighbors, the Cox's(who are so good to us) since the rest of the family is in California for the family trip that we can't go on because my 10 year reunion is at the end of this week. We had some good grub and than Allyse, Josh's sister came over and we all hung out. So Monday morning we celebrated father's day and did the following. My birthday celebration with Josh is after he finishes his finals for school. Can't wait. To celebrate his greatness,I made breakfast in bed for Josh, while James went back to sleep and Josh and I had some alone time. Than later on when daddy walked into the room, James presented daddy with the gifts. How thoughtful you are James! James gave him an ipod adaptor to the car, a computer lap cooling mat, a beach towel and a cute little card with his cute little hand and foot print on it. James loved celebrating his daddy's special day with him.

James at 7 months

James is growing everyday. He has become quite skilled at doing some "big boy things." These milestones have sure made me excited, yet sad at the same time. Every evening daddy and I go into his room and just stare at him, say our prayers and always thank God for giving us such an amazing, fun spirited, cutie pie. His smile is the cutest little smile that lightens any ones day,seriously we will be in public and he is always making heads turn and smile. He is such a happy little guy, full of giggles, and such a great personality. Even though he is only 7 months old, his personality is sure taking off. I just love how he will go to anyone with no complaints, how he just loves people, especially little kids his age or older.

James loves this little carrier, sometimes he will cry abit if I am cleaning or something and all I have to do is put him on me like this and he is a happy little one. He just loves the interaction between people. I am always talking to him, either singing a song, talking baby talk with him, being silly with him, reading books, and just having fun hearing him talk in his baby talk. He has become so skilled in grabbing things, holding things and using his motor skills. He is such an intense individual. So many times he grabs things, he pulls it to his mouth and gives a big "Ugg" sound, while keeping an intense face. He is so funny to watch. James is a lover of long walks in the stroller, being outside and being with people. He is quite the little man on the move. James seems to never be able to take a break from moving all over the place. So many people have told me that I am going to be on e busy momma once he starts crawling. One of his favorite times is still bath time. He loves being in the water, splashing and playing with his rubber ducky. One of his other favorite things is being around animals, especially dogs. He gets so excited when an animal is in the same room. He loves to grab or pet the dogs hair, sometimes he gets so excited and he just grabs his hair, we have to release his hands before it effects the dog. Maybe someday James will have a dog of his own. Someday..... This little man is best buds with his daddy. His eyes lighten up when daddy enters the room. Daddy plays a little game with him, like peak-a-boo, and James' whole body gets into it. His arms, legs and basically his whole bady start wiggling all over the place. His whole face is covered with a huge smile and he just laughs his little head off. He love his daddy, and I will admit that he is one lucky boy, to have a dad that just loves him so much. James is now so independent. He now sits in booster chairs, he sits completely by himself and doesn't need any support at all. He is rolling all over the place. He can now reach anything he wants too. I can't leave him on the bed or any unsafe place, because you never know how fast this boy will get somewhere. James had his first temple visit. James and I went to the Timpanogas Temple just to walk around the grounds and hang out on such peaceful grounds. I kept on singing "I love to see the temple...I'm going there someday." I am sure James loves it and is totally planning to go there someday(I hope). This little guy is a total eater and loves food. He loves fruit the best. He is not a picky eater at all, besides not liking the homemade carrots I pureed up for him. He loves to move when he eats though, sometimes we end up with tons of food on his face and anywhere else he plans to fling it. We are trying to learn how to get it all in the mouth and not to make such sudden movements of grabbing the spoon and scooting himself wherever he pleases. I have learned something about his sleeping patterns. If I put James to sleep before 8 o'clock he usually sleeps for a good 12 hours. Yet, if I put him to bed later on, he usually always wakes up at 4 0'clock a.m. I have read in some books that babies has automatic alarm clocks and if they do not get to sleep before their alarm clock goes off, they will have a rougher night, waking up earlier than usual. When he gets his 12 hours sleeps, he is so happy in the morning. I hear him whimpering in the next room, wake up, go into his room, look in his crib and see the cutest baby kicking his feet with the biggest smile on his face.

To my dearest sweet baby James,

Your mommy and daddy love you so much and love being your parents. It is amazing how much time we spend with you and just how much we love you more every single day. Everyday we look at you and feel like we have everything we could ever want. you make our lives complete and you bring all the joy in the world to us. We are so spoiled to have you with us every single day. You want to be such a big boy, but to me you will always be my baby. Thanks for all the smiles, loves and memories you give to us everyday. We are lucky parents and love you more than words can say. Everynight before you go to sleep I say:

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as eternity, my sweet baby James you will be.

I Love Family Time!

Stacy, my sister from Virginia came and stayed for another week. We had so much fun together with our kids, talking, sewing and just being together.

For one of the days she was here, we went to Bridivale Falls and the kids were able to play in the water. It was fun, even though it rained and we had a picnic in the back of the explorer. Here two girls thought it was pretty fun. James loves being in this carrier. What can I say he just loves being close to mom. The water was pretty chilly, but the kiddies didn't seem to mind. I love the mountains so much and I am really craving to go camping. The whole time Josh and I have been married we have never been, so I am hoping it happens this year.This children's book is one of my favorites. I t depicts all the stages of life we will experience with our babies. I remember the day mom and I were looking for a blessing outfit for James. We had entered Nordstoms and saw this book. As we began reading it, there we were in the middle of the store balling our eyes out. It really touched us, and I am sure it will touch any mother out there that reads it. Below is the wording in the book: One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one. One day the first snowflake fell, and I held you up and watched them melt on your baby skin. One day we crossed the street and you held my hand tight. Then, you were my baby, and now you are my child.Sometimes , when you sleep, I watch you dream, and I dream too...That someday you will dive into the cool, clear water of a lake. Someday you will walk into a deep wood.Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine. Someday you will run so fast and so far your heart will feel like fire. Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow. Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away. Someday I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving to me until I no longer see you. Someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small. Someday you will feel a small weight against your strong back.Someday I will watch you brush your child's hair. Someday, a long time from now, your own hair will glow silver in the sun. And when that day comes, love, you will remember me. As a gift for mothers day and my sisters 30th birthday I gave each of them a copy. We were all in tears by the end of the book. Oh, how words in a book capture feelings and true meanings in life and love. Grandma was sure proud to be with her studly grandsons. They love their grandma so much too. Lilli and I were buds the whole time. She would watch me get ready in the morning and end up putting make-up on too. Her favorite place is our bed in our bedroom. There is a huge mirror and she just loves to get dressed up in my fancy clothes and dance around on our bed. This visit she couldn't stop asking me to play thriller, by Michael Jackson. I acted like a zombie and did a whole bunch of actions to it, after that, it was the main even everyday, at least 4 times a day. When they left on Thursday, Lilli was in complete tears when we had to say good-bye and she just kept on blowing me kisses and hugs. She broke my heart. She really did not want to leave. Man, I love that girl and she is one beautiful little princess. While my family was here we all went to Seven Peaks water park. James just loved the water so much. He especially liked this tub, as it allowed him to be free and wiggle his legs and arms. We had a lot of fun watching James and Talmage in the water for one of their first times. Their little facial expressions are priceless. We will be going to Seven Peaks quit a bit now that we have season passes. The pool will be our main hang out for the summer holidays.

Personal Oil Painting- Hawaii

Almost a year ago, I received my first paying customer for a painting. I have always loved painting, but have never painted for money. So last summer a friend of my sister in laws heard that I painted and she got a hold of me and asked me if I could paint for her. She gave me a small card that had a picture on it, that read, "New Birth," and she explained the colors she wanted in it. I honestly thought it would just take a few months, but as time passed quickly I finally finished it this summer. I guess it takes a lot more time when you have a baby that needs you at anytime.

This was the process that I had to go throught to get the end product.

The lady who bought it, put this picture on her main wall because it is very symbolic to her. Her family used to live in Hawaii and she remembered hiking up to a waterfall that looked very close to this picture. She had just had a baby and she loved the dove in the right hand corner symbolizing heaven because while she was in Hawaii one of her friends had lost a child. There was great meaning behind the whole picture and the feelings that it brought out. She said that it resembled the Hawaiian people so well, along with the love and the peace which is felt in Hawaii.

The above picture portrays the actual colors, yet in the picture beneath the flash went off and left a glare.

I will admit that I was kind of nervous to give it to her. I had put in so many hours just trying to get it perfect. I was happy with the end product and I was so happy that she was overly excited and grateful for the way it turned out. She kept on saying "I love it, I love it. " She said it was perfect and better then she ever imagined it to be. For the last 5 years she has felt that there was always something missing in their dinning room area (the room attached to their front room). She said that she has envisioned it for so long and she just kept on going off on how much she liked it. I was so happy she liked it so much, that made me feel good and worth the time and effort I put into it.