Boys can go to tea parties too!

Here are a couple pictures of Aidan at Princess Shalee's birthday tea party. All the girls dressed up in their princess costumes so I couldn't resist dressing my prince in his pink tie. I can't get over how cute he is in it.
This picture is kind of blurry, but I love his smile. He's not a poser for the camera so I'm happy when I can capture his genuine smile.

Princess Shalee opening presents. I'm in love with her Cinderella dress. I kind of want one.

More of our summer vacation...

Fiesta Days... I love the boys in their matching shirts!


My birthday... One more year and I'm officially old. Sigh.


Lots of swimming... This picture isn't even of this summer, but we've been having so much fun at the new pool, I haven't taken any current pictures.


Evacuating our house Friday night when the fire on the mountain came within a couple hundred yards of our house. It was really a scary night- our whole ward was evacuated. Thank goodness everyone was ok- nothing like a fire to put what's important in your life (and house) into perspective.


Watching the helicopter filling up with water (from the irrigation system across the street) to fight the fire all weekend long...


Boating with my family...




Preparing for the piano camp I'm teaching all this next week...


And finally...

Now if I could only find a second to start reading it!!!

Crazy week...

What a week! We started off by taking Ethan to the Dr. for his one year checkup and ended up at Primary Children's Hospital having him tested for Cystic Fibrosis. The poor boy is just not gaining weight well and since he has been relatively healthy since his hospital stay in April, the Dr. was concerned. That was an extremely anxious day, night, and morning and we're happy to say the results came back normal. Still doesn't explain why he isn't gaining weight, but the things going on in our minds about what was on the other side of that test being abnormal was enough to send any parent over the edge. This sweet boy of mine is going to largely contribute to every gray hair on my head. We followed that, a couple days later, with an emergency trip to the Dr. with Aidan (let's just say it was one severe "Ooo Boo" that would make any male reading this cringe), as well as him running into a cement wall and leaving a big bump on his head. He has survived both well, though. Luckily we were able to have a couple fun days at the pool and Brett and I were able to get a babysitter (who happened to be our Dr.'s daughter- pretty much the next best thing to having the Dr. babysit Ethan) and go out on a nice date of dinner and a movie ("Hancock"- really fun!). I have also been meaning to post a picture of my beautiful new niece, Lauren Beth...

She is the first girl to be born on my side of the family and I am so looking forward to flying up to Oregon next month, with Ethan, to get to hold her and hug my sister!

Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Oh.. the time flies! I can't believe our baby boy is one year old today. I wonder if I have enjoyed every minute as much as possible. This boy is such a blessing to our family. I think about how I when I was pregnant with him I wondered how another child would feel in our family and now I don't know how our family felt complete without him. We are so grateful for his sweet temperament, his wonderful laugh, his willingness to always love and give cuddles, his exceptional sleeping patterns and those big blue eyes! We love you so much Ethan Michael! Happy Birthday!

Family Pictures

We recently had our family pictures taken by my friend, Amanda (see link on right), and I am over the top happy about them! Here are just a few of my favorites....







I love the red wall! Aidan took this last one- not bad! Thanks again Amanda!!

Vacation pictures

I'm finally getting around to posting these. Bear with me... I'm going to have this blog published at the end of the year and am trying to be through in my journaling, which means lots of pictures. It was too hard to just pick a couple! We had such a great time with all my family and are looking forward to making these vacations happen every year!

The first morning there we went to a kite festival on the beach. As we rounded the corner to park, these are the kites we saw. It took my breath away! They were so huge and unlike anything I've ever seen! We watched a few people fly kites to music and it was a little strange. It was all choreographed out and there was even a clown and someone dressed as Charlie Chaplin performing. Hmmm... Fun to see, though!



Fun in the sand building sandcastles! The only problem was that any time they would actually start to get something built Aidan would demolish it. More fun that way, I guess!


I really wanted to bury Jordan's 9 month pregnant belly in the sand (I thought it would make a funny picture!) but she wouldn't hear anything of it (even when I tried to get her in the sand because I knew she couldn't get up fast enough) so I buried Ethan and he thought it was fun. Ha. Ha. :)

We brought boogie boards this year and everyone had a great time in the water- I was happy to stay on shore with the baby though. Aidan even got to try it out a little.

Such a cute picture of my sweet nephew, McKay. He is at such a fun age and was always full of hugs and kisses and something to say. He just followed Aidan around and the two of them are the best of friends!

Even Ethan wanted a turn on the board!



Ethan with Grandma and Papa. The kids had such a good time being with all of my family and everyone was so wonderful to help everytime I needed them and more.

I had to save the best for last. The last day we were there, we were able to meet up with my aunt and uncle and cousins and everyone was out in the water so Brett had to borrow a wet suit from my cousin's girlfriend. I think he looks like an 80's super hero. Hilarious!

This is the life....

We just got back yesterday from a wonderful week long trip to the Oregon Coast with all of my family. We had the best time! More pictures to come but here's a couple from the so cute house that we stayed in...

This picture doesn't even do the house justice... it was so cute and in a neighborhood of all my dream houses when I live on the beach! It was so comfortable and accomodating for all 13 of us.

From the windows in this room and along the other wall next to it (not pictured), this was our view....

What more could I ask for?!
More pictures to come soon!