Young Women's in Excellence 2013

Our Theme for YW in Excellence this year was "Making Personal Progress Personal!" We had each of our YW choose one of the eight Value's to share an Experience about for Personal Progress. We had a beautiful spiritual meeting, then we headed to the YW Room to enjoy this...

The Candy Bar...

 Each person was given a baggie and told to ENJOY...

We had a candy colored to match each Value AND then a few rainbow options!

 It was a GREAT night had by all! 

Simple and Perfect in every way!!

SIX MONTHS!!

Our little BUNDLE of JOY is growing up...

 Kylie is now 6 Months Old!!

 This little girl LOVES the camera!

At her check up Dr. Jones told us that she can have all veggies and fruit, rice, noodles, toast and to introduce Peanut Butter. Well she had her first PB&J today and let me tell you... she LOVED it! She laughs at her little brother and just smiles at her big sister. She LOVES her mama and her food. When Daddy gets home from work she looks at him and smiles then hides her head in mommy's shoulder. She is our happy little one and I am just enjoying her so much! She truly is a gift from heaven!!

FIVE Months ~

Doing pretty good with this girls pictures...

FIVE MONTHS!!

 She has a beautiful smile and eyes that go for miles!

 She would be looking away and playing and I would call her name and she would look straight at the camera! I think she knows that the camera is her best friend!

 So glad she is in our family!!

 And of course we stripped her down and she got the sign!

We love you Kylie! Thanks for being SO Freakin' Adorable!!

FIRST FOOD ~

We had Kylie's "four month" check up yesterday... 

14 pounds 3 ounces!!

As the Dr. Says... she is really only THREE months, but she is doing so well I am not concerned about this little one at all! Dr. Richard Jones (the BEST pediatrician in the world as far as I am concerned; and I have had a few pediatricians to be able to give him that title) told me about "the new way MOST Dr.'s are feeding infants" He pulled out his Prescription Pad and started writing away...

~ Spoon feeding 3X a day... malt o meal, cream of wheat, oatmeal, rice... carrots, squash, yams, pears, applesauce, bananas, soft boiled eggs, strained chicken or beef...

The mama in me was shocked because I did not feed either of my kids before like 5-6 months AND we started with baby rice cereal and breast milk. Dr. told us that the evidence in the research that has been done on this "new way of feeding infants" can not be denied! Bone Density is twice as high in the studies that had been done with infants that are eating this way. He was also telling me that he read a few articles written by people who were following the research and they DID NOT want to go along with the new way of feeding, but after seeing the results, they had no choice but to recommend it too! Very interesting to me... ANYWAYS... we hit up the store and got some fruits and veggies to puree up!

Here she is... 

Don't judge me...

I know she is in a BLUE bumbo seat.

I had a purple one with Hailey, then got a blue, and I don't feel the need to get a purple one again.

(poor thing is going to have THIRD CHILD SYNDROME)

 There... added a BOW and a GIRLY BIB and there is NO denying this sweet one is a girl...

 add a little applesauce and she is a HAPPY little girl...

That Daddy has her giggling all the time! THUMBS UP to the NUMMYNESS!!

FOUR Months!!

What is the right age to introduce Disney Princess' to your little daughter?

Four Months you say...

 She LOVED this outfit! I found it at the store and sent a picture to my mom because it was SOOOOOO cute! They only had size Newborn left so I was not going to get it. (Size Newborn = 5-8 lbs.) Grandma said "GET IT... I want it!" I also got her a Cinderella Outfit! GUESS WHO STILL FIT THE OUTFIT!!?? 

 Landon helped me get her to giggle and smile! 

I can't believe all the different faces she pulled!

 She had me giggling too!

 She has that Disney Princess Smile and Wave thing DOWN!!

AND then she was done! Fell asleep while taking pictures! LOL!

At her check up she is doing great! 14 lbs. 3 oz! Growing like a little baby weed!

Happy 4th of JULY!!

We hope you enjoyed your Independence Day too!!

Fresno Chaffee Zoo ~2013

We LOVE going to the Zoo! This year we got to attend with other employee's from Matt's Work ilovetocreate.com for a Company Party ~ 

We got there early and decided to see the Sea Lion Attraction FIRST...

 It is really neat because you start above the sea lion cove area then as you walk down the path you get to get a sea level view... the kids LOVED this!

 On the path we found a bird that the kids just LOVED as well!

 We were walking by when the Lemur's caught Hailey's eye. The kids knew all about them because they are featured in the children's cartoon Madagascar! :) We loved that we were able to hear from the Zookeeper about these interesting animals! We headed to the Company Picnic area after this and enjoyed some GREAT food and fun times with work friends!

On our way out of the Picnic area we were able to catch the Bird Show. This was a GREAT show! If you go to the Zoo make sure to check the time for this and enjoy it!

 Landon and I had a little fun with the camera while we were waiting for the show to start...

 The kids liked being up close and personal to the Birds after. Hailey told each of the trainers that her last name was BIRD so she was the "birds bestest sister friend!"

 Of course Mommy can't leave ANY Zoo without seeing her FAV animal! I have LOVED Flamingo's ever since my very first trip to the Zoo back when I was a little girl. The Sacramento Zoo has them right at the front gate and I remember just sitting and watching them in awe... I still love watching them! We were able to hear about them from the Zookeeper again! Hailey asked alot of good questions about them. 

 THEN the kids and Daddy headed to Stingray Bay. This is an interactive area of the Zoo that is usually only around during the warmer months. We have not been able to attend it earlier; it was either not open or the line was too long so this was very exciting. (it also may have been because there is a cost... we all know how mommy is cheap... ha ha) I stayed out with the baby and listened to the kids giggle and just have a great time!

 Near the end of the exhibit there is a smaller area for the "baby stingrays" Hailey is holding what they call "a Mermaid's purse" because it holds the small egg for the stingray. The kids were very excited to tell me about this part! 

 Hailey liked to point out all the Boards she could stand by to get good pictures! Amazing because she is not usually very photogenic!

Sweet Baby Kylie was SO good all day long! She ate well, slept well, and watched everything she could!

The kids also enjoyed the petting zoo area. They were able to brush the baby goats hair.

 Above Hailey is looking at the monkeys to the left, and on the right both kids are enjoying the elephants!

 The kids last spot they HAD to see was the reptile house. The Turtle Shell is a favorite photo spot too!

 As we were heading out the baby ostrich came near the kids and they thought that was SO cool!

We sure are lucky to have a fun Zoo so close that we can enjoy!

San Francisco with Papa Dude ~

Father's Day Weekend was very special...

Not only does it usually fall near Matt's Birthday, 

but THIS year we were able to spend it with Papa Dude...

Kylie warmed RIGHT up to him and fell asleep, and Landon is ALWAYS warmed up to Papa Dude and got the special chair to sit by him to watch a little TV.

So, I let Matt choose what he wanted to do for this special 

Birthday-Father's Day Weekend. He said... 

"Visit Family and go to San Francisco to see the America's Cup Sailboats."

 So we made the trip! First we went to see the Seals. It was a chilly windy day!

 We shopped a little and let the kids get one souvenir and  

Papa Dude treated each kid to some candy; they LOVED that!

Then we headed to Boudin for some YUMMY Lunch! 

Sourdough Clam Chowder Bread Bowl Anyone!? YES PLEASE!!

 We headed to the end of Pier 39 to see if the America's Cup Sailboats were practicing... no such luck. But we were able to see other boats and enjoy the beautiful view~

Then we decided it would be fun to go and visit Fort Point. The kids thought that was neat. We climbed the stairs and FROZE so we went right back down...

 After getting these amazing photo's of course!

Then we headed to The Oakland Temple.

 This Temple is very special to us! Matt and I were married there 10 years earlier... 

It is always a blessing to visit there!

 We decided to take the kids to the Visitor's Center where Landon sang "Book of Mormon Stories" to the Older Sister and gave all the Younger Sister Missionaries high fives! The kids made sure to let the Sister's know that they had an auntie and uncle on Missions in Florida and Texas!

And by the look of the last picture... it was a GOOD DAY! ~

THREE MONTHS!!

guess who is getting bigger...

 she is smiling and cooing and just loving life!!

 she makes three months look good!!

 And it always helps when big sister wants in on the action

 (...i wish she would have let me brush her hair...)

Happy Girls!!

Ruffle Bum ~

Is there ANYTHING cuter than a RUFFLE on a baby Bottom?

 I agree... NO... No there is not!!

I went in to check on my little Sleeping Beauty...

 and I just could NOT resist grabbing my camera and taking pictures! 

See people, she does not wear bows to bed... I'm not THAT mean of a mother! 

She is still wearing her Newborn Clothes! And sleeping like a champ! 

The other night she went to bed at 10 and slept until 5 am! YESSSSS!! 

Starting to LOVE her more and more each day!

She is 11 weeks in these pictures.