Ashley's Baptism

Ashley was baptized yesterday, on October 8th, 2011. It was a wonderful day. We are thankful that Nana and Poppi and Zach and Katie and their kids drove down from Utah to be with us. It makes every event more special when you have lots of family for support!
Ashley had been looking forward to this big day for a long time. When asked by our Bishop why she was being baptized she said because she wants to be like Jesus. She knows that he was baptized by immersion by John the Baptist, even though he was perfect. He asked everyone to follow him. I am so proud of our beautiful daughter for choosing to; she is such a good girl!
Congratulations, Ashley!

11 month old little sugar

This is the first month I haven't remembered to post right on Claire's month birthday... it was quite a day. But Claire is now 11 months! Three weeks away from ONE YEAR OLD. Are you kidding me? She is precious beyond words and a gift to our family every day. Yesterday you would have thought my three boys (Luke, Jake and Tyler) were arguing over who could open a big Christmas present first, but it was actually just an argument about who got to go in to get Claire up from her nap. They all wanted in first. That baby is loved!!

I took a bunch of pictures of her in her high chair the morning of her 11 months. So fun.






Unfortunately, here she was just a few hours later:

On an ambulance, having fallen out of my laundry room sink. Thank heavens she is fine, but it was so scary. I'd been folding laundry by the dryer and she crawled in to me. I had a couple more things to fold so I sat her in my empty, deep laundry room sink with a few toys to play for a couple minutes. Soon she pulled up to stand and before I knew it, leaned forward and tumbled out onto her head. I rushed her into urgent care and they took us in to the hospital for an x-ray and CT scan. Everything came out okay and she is perfectly fine again. But man, what a horrible day, and what a lesson I learned (or was re-taught) about watching these kids like a hawk and being SO careful with them. They are so precious.

So we have been extra cautious with and extra grateful for Claire's health and happiness this week. She gets busier every day (and that's part of my learning curve, remembering what it's like to have a curious pre-toddler) and she is so cute!
Happy 11 months, baby girl!

The gang

Here we are at the temple site. Six months ago we took the kids to this same spot for a picture, and things have certainly changed. The temple structure is going up quickly, and the kids are growing up quickly, especially the babies. I love it.

Little Lady

GIRL PARTY!

We had a fun girl party, for our fun birthday girl this weekend! Ashley invited 8 cute friends over to hot-tub, play doll-house and watch a movie! It was so much fun!



















Ashley is our sweet little ray of sunshine around here. She is our flower. She is our sweet-heart. She is so dainty and feminine, she loves to daydream and sing and play and plan, like all girls do. She loves taking care of her baby sister, she loves spending time with her mom. She is my good little friend, and I'm often impressed by her maturity. She understands a lot and is eager to learn about the world around her. She wants to be a teacher, or a kids' doctor, or a daycare worker, and most definitely a mother. She is going to do some remarkable things in her lifetime and I can't wait to watch them unfold.

Most importantly, now that she is 8, she is going to be baptized! She is so excited about her pretty white dress and the big day coming up on October 8th. Nana and Poppi are coming down to support her, we can hardly wait!

Project Complete.

Let me start by telling you of two blogs that I have grown to love recently, in regards to house projects: www.betterafter.blogspot.com (scroll down under a blue tile bathroom remodel and you'll find a wonderful red, blue, brown and green room which has been my inspiration). Also, www.favoritepaintcolors.blogspot.com Both are very fun to look at.

We did it! The house is painted and almost all put back together! It's been so theraputic to pull down, take out, and move every single thing in this house and then to clean it, dust it or declutter it as we've put it back. In some ways it feels like we just moved in again - only easier. M - F though this has been our life.

Thankfully, we are happy with our color choices. As you'll see in this picture I had about 10 paint samples on my walls the week before we went into this...debating. But we love how it turned out.

Before and Afters:
Entry:
before
after
Living room:
before
during
after

Kitchen:
before
during
after
Family room:
before
during
after
Mater bath:
before
after
Basement:
Good-bye Ute red!

Go Cougs!