Christmas 2009

Kay was so cute this year...she loved opening and playing with all her presents...santa brought her a kitchen and some other toys and grandma's gave many babies and other girly things...she is a TOTAL girl...we had a great time and felt really blessed to spend time with family.

Opportunity of a Lifetime

I had the opportunity of a lifetime...literally to accomplish something that i've wanted to do for over ten years now. i had the opportunity to go to connecticut and watch UCONN play on their home floor...not only that, but i got to be there as my superstar cousin got to PLAY on that floor. stanford was playing at connecticut and michelle basically said...you know i can get you in for free and my dad got me a plane ticket...it was really a no brainer :) i convinced diana to go with me :) my one dilema, obviously, was how i was going to cheer for both sides...diana solved that problem via our wardrobe...see pictures. we took a red eye on the night of the 22nd and arrived in hartford at 10 AM on the 23rd. the game was that night and then we flew out at 6 AM on the 24th arriving home in enough time to have christmas eve with our families. the flights and weather worked out perfectly and i really feel blessed that everything went so smoothly. it was a 36 hour trip and i literally got 5 hours of sleep in 2 days, but it was SOOOOO worth it. i literally sat there in awe (on the front row, mind you) at the experience of being there. it was really fun to get text messages throughout the game as people kept telling us how much we were on tv...i even got to blow a well seen kiss to the camera at half time :) michelle, you're a star and you scored on the huskies home floor...how many people can say that!

Snow Time

My neighbor lent me her daughter's old snow suit so Kayhlen and i headed out for her first adventure in the snow. As you can see, she didn't seem to like it too much. In order to keep her gloves on, i had to duct tape them around her wrists :) i think she would have liked it better if she could have moved...she really reminded me of the little brother in a christmas story but atleast she was adorable!

Gingerbread Houses

We had our annual gingerbread house decorating night at G & G wardwell's last week. It's pretty amazing...i have vivid memories of doing this every year while growing up, and now my daughter is doing it...sort of :) kayhlen didn't exactly grasp the concept...rather, mike would put some frosting on the house and kayhlen would take a piece of candy, dip it in the frosting and then eat it. oh well, it's meant to be eaten anyway, right?

Christmas Dress

Is this child abuse even though it's so funny :)

Socks

Mike brought his shoes and socks downstairs the other day and when he reached down to get his socks to put them on they were missing...we literally spent 3 minutes searching for the socks until we noticed kayhlen...she's such a booger.

G & G Wardwell's new toys

My parents recently purchased some 4 wheelers for our family to enjoy...and boy do i enjoy 4 wheeling. We took them out the day after thanksgiving just to give them a little taste of what the spring and summer are going to hold. i can't wait.

Passed Out

Kiley took these pictues while she was babysitting one day...apparently she's so boring that she puts Kay to sleep (j/k Ki)

Beg Doggy Beg

Kayhlen has some crackers in her hand. Whenever she has food, the dog follows her around and either begs or looks for opportunities to snatch it.

PS. On a side note...i have been trying to upload a video for 3 weeks now with no luck. i'm not doing anything different than i normally do...any suggestions?

Took the Advice!!!

I took everyone's advice and i started putting a strip of duct tape over the tabs of Kay's diaper. Thanks to the great advice, i haven't had poop or pee stained sheets in weeks...THANKS

Halloween 2009

We had a great Halloween this year. We trick or treated at my office on Friday and then headed over to my parents for the actual day. gma wardwell went all out on an awesome party this year for the kids and then we went outside. kayhlen really did awesome. we hit about 30 houses and she really started to get it...she was an adorable monkey.

SVU Flashbacks

i had the awesome opportunity to get together with some former SVU teammates twice in the last few weeks. Any time i get that opportunity i cherish it. it has been 5 years since i ended my college days but it still feels like yesterday and whenever we get together it feels like we have never left. i am so grateful for the friends that i met there and for the roles they played in my life. we have all moved on to different things...many are married, many have kids, jeannie is in the army :) ect, ect but we all share a common bond which was the magic of SVU.

Daddy Time

Once in a while Mike will get home in time to see Kay for a few minutes before she has to go to bed. On those days she takes full advantage :)

Animals, Pumpkin Patch, and Baylie's Bday

Here's a hodge podge of pictures from some of the events over the last few weeks. Seaworld came to my office and brought some animals...kristin and bryn flew out for a visit so we went to Hee Haws pumpkin patch and celebrated Baylie's bday.

18 Months

I'm feeling a little sentimental here so i apologize. Kayhlen recently hit the 18 month mark which in the LDS world means you're not a baby anymore :) My baby is quickly becoming a little girl weighing in at a whopping 21 lbs (10%tile). She is adjusting really well to nursery now and i was able to leave her for the second hour without any hiccups yesterday and next week i anticipate sneaking out a lot earlier. After i snuck out yesterday, i of course, stood outside and watched through the window of the door to make sure all was ok before i left. It was coloring time and i watched as kay used the crayons for everything EXCEPT coloring. She ate them and applied them to her lips like lipstick. I stood and watched for a few minutes and had one of those moments. All mothers know what i'm talking about. That moment where you're able and sit back and just observe. i was filled with emotions. number one...extactic that i get to enjoy church for the next few months until this kid inside me is born :) number two...time truly does fly and we really do need to cherish every moment with them. number three...this is it. this is my purpose here on earth...it is to be a wife and a mother. there is nothing else more important. i was especially grateful for this wonderful little moment i was able to have outside the nursery door especially due to the fact that it was the end of a pretty rough week for me. mike works all day 6 days a week and we truly only do get to see him on sundays. he and i would give anything to have him home more but right now it is what his job is requiring. for me, sometimes it can be really tough. i'm still working full-time, i'm pregnant, and i am pretty much a single mom. it all adds up as i know we all have experienced. kayhlen was sick last week and was pretty much...what's the word??? a nightmare!!! and my emotions are already out of whack and so doing it all on my own just built up and built up and it caused a pretty bad week for myself. how grateful i am for that little moment that i truly know was a message from my Father in Heaven. "i never said it would be easy, i only said it would be worth it". it is worth it in moments like that. moments like tonight when kayhlen goes into the kitchen, gets herself an apple, then procedes to sit on my lap and watch 2 hours of "Dancing with the Stars" with me while eating her apple. it is SOOO hard, but i am so grateful for the reminders that he sends us. it is worth it, it is wonderful and it is my purpose here. i love my baby/little girl.

Happy Birthday To You

So, Kayhlen is talking so much and singing all the time now, but everytime i start to record her she stops, of course. So, she's really into singing happy birthday since her cousins bday a couple weeks ago. This video is pitch black because we were driving in the car and i didn't want her to see the camera...atleast we caught the voice.

Whoops

It's a VHS case

Life-Long Dream

Anyone who follows my blog knows how big of a Uconn Women's Basketball fan i am. imagine my excitement when my super star cousin (who plays for Stanford) mentioned to me that they would be traveling to the land of the huskies to play them this season. because of this, she of course could get me into the game and get me a great seat which is a feat of it's own. i felt like this was an opportunity i could not pass up...so i put a phone call into my good friend diana and she on the spot told me she was in and a few days later...and many sky miles courtesy of my WONDERFUL father...i am heading to connecticut to see them play standford on their home floor!!!! this is a rematch of last years championship and could likely be the the matchup at the end of this season as well. diana and i will be taking red eye flights on the night of dec 22nd...watching the game on the 23rd...and flying home at 6 am on christmas eve. doesn't that sound awesome!!! i don't think i could ask for a better christmas present :) look forward to a great post about the trip!

Kayhlen's face when i told her the good news :) (she just happened to be wearing that jacket :))

My Little Cheeser

How we begin every day

Kayhlen still likes to strip every morning and pee in her bed.

Time-Out

This is where Kayhlen spends most of her time now-a-days :) (like mother like daughter)

Nauseousness for the next 9 monts

Bees Game

Baylie sang the national anthem at a Bee's game and so the whole family got tickets.

It was 100 degrees so we had to stay hydrated :)

Go Utes

Baylie searching for the family

Kay watching the game

Dave and Logan

Conflicting interests :)

Pool Days

Carrie and I split the cost of a pool membership this summer and shared a key...it's been really nice to have on some really hot days. This past Saturday, my whole family took advantage and came out to enjoy it.

Kenadie lounging

Kiley coming down the slide

Gma with Kay and Logan

Gpa throwing Avrie

Baylie posing

Dinner time or Play time?