Happy Birthday to our little joy! Caroline's party was such a blast and we loved having all of our family there. She loved her "party dress" and has wanted to wear it everyday since the party. She was excited about everything that went on and whenever she walks by the banner she says, "Happy Birthday!" Forget celebrating my birthday anymore (which is quite a statement from me) I am ready to plan the next party for her. Adam and I had as much fun watching her reactions as she had during the party.

She was so excited to sing Happy Birthday and to blow out the candles

Caroline had lots of help from Liam and Andrew T. while opening presents.


We played pin the candle on the cupcake which was pretty funny because it wasn't very easy for the little toddlers to walk with a blindfold!

Coming soon to a family near you....

Caroline's birthday is in just 1 week and we can't wait to tell about the best gift she is getting....she is going to be a
BIG SISTER!!!
We are ecstatic and are trying to patiently await the arrival date of December 17th. The first trimester went well, and Caroline has been diligent in helping the baby get nutrient's via mommy's belly button by sharing her sippy cups of milk, her fruit snacks, cheese, and much more. She adores babies and every time we see one, she just wants to stop and stare at them and kiss them. So, it truly is the greatest gift as Caroline acts so ready to have a new little one around. We are so ready for another sweet little peanut!

Caroline update

Caroline is busy keeping us laughing and being very active. Some of her new comedy acts are...
-calling Crystal Light "Crystal Life" (I ask her to say it over and over)
-She loves stretching out between the couch and the coffee table and then she says, "Yoga" or lately she also says "Stretching". She pulls the yoga move at church between benches, on patio furniture, anywhere she can get her downward dog move going.
-She has come up with new exfoliating masks for her face such as peanut butter, ketchup, ritz crackers...and her skin looks great!
-She can't get enough of spinning in circles and yelling "Circles, Circles!" Then she will pause, look quite unsteady and try to walk, and yes there have been some funny dives into the floor.
-She loves bugs and will lay down on the cement right by them and say, "I see some! Hi bugs!"
-High pitch screaming is another painful, but often funny talent? At the bees game last week she sounded like a high pitch firework going off. Everyone around us was laughing, which she thought was great. Although it hurts the eardrums, it's hard not to laugh.

The Wave

Over Memorial Day weekend we headed south to areas between Kanab, Utah and Page, AZ. There is an amazing hike there, the Wave, and we were excited to try for a chance to get permits to hike it. Well after two days of trying, our little bingo ball with our number on it got picked! We couldn't believe it, especially on such a busy weekend.
We enjoyed a lot of other things while down there. We drove through flooded roads in Page on Friday and watched sand and dirt slide onto the roads, blocking them. The rain didn't hinder our fun though, we took a tour of Glen Canyon Dam and watched waterfalls pour over the canyon from the rain! We also visited Antelope Canyon which was also picturesque.
Thanks Dad for planning such a fabulous trip. I will so miss these times when we move.

Mother's Day was incredible. I adore my mom so much! She has always gone above and beyond for her children, trying to help us in any way she can. I am lucky to say that she is one of my best friends and I want to learn how to do all of the amazing things she can do!...knit, crochet, sew, cook, sing like the angels!, calligraphy, draw, decorate. You name it! Also, I love being a mom. Yes, it makes me very emotional because I love Caroline so much, but is there anything more tender? I tried reading "Love you Forever" (the book with the little boy playing in toilet paper on the cover) to Caroline and couldn't get the words out, just tears. This is my favorite job ever!!
It was so fun to be together on Mother's Day. The kids enjoyed playing outside in the nice weather and relaxing on the hammock.



The grandkids also did the tradition of making popcorn with Grandpa. They have a little ritual that the kids make sure stays the same every time. Caroline now pulls out the popper at home and after it is popped she says, "Budder" because Grandpa really likes his butter!

The day ended with the enjoyment of the chocolate fountain and watching Corinne and Clark get into a chocolate brawl. It was quite the show and both of them ended up with big chocolate smiles on their faces after!

Friday's fab five...a bit late

Even though it's late, it was a great week last week so I have to post!
1- Caroline is as active as ever and her thing right now is "Circles". She'll say that and then spin around many, many times and try to walk after. Adam and I have been rolling laughing, as we watch her dive for the floor, run into the love sac, and we've had to monitor when she gets close to the fireplace, etc. I love her energy and excitement.
2- Adam called Friday and said, "coming soon to a park near you.." He and Caroline had found a great park very close to my work and had me come over to meet them for lunch. It made me so excited that I cried, I thought it was so sweet.
3- I enjoyed Mother's Day all weekend and died when I came home from work Friday and Adam had cleaned our place, every inch, every piece of clothing, you name it. I didn't have to lift a finger all weekend!
4- Happy Birthday to brother-in-law Dave! We think Dave is pretty cool because he and Emily play in a band that is really good. He is very talented with music. I also still daydream about their unreal wedding in Moab, it was the best!
5- Oh, yes, and we did one of my favorite things this week....Yardwork. I am obsessed with yardwork once I start. It is so rewarding and fun to see the instant beautiful outcome. We take care of the yard at the house we rent out to people, maybe someday we will live there, I am in love with it. It's great too because Caroline was having fun pulling weeds and putting them in her bucket.

This picture is several months old, but when I came across it, I had to post it because I LOVE the people in the picture! I also thought that many people would enjoy this fun memory. This is the gang from the Operating Room and it's a baby shower for our dear friend, Melinda. Working in the O.R. was one of the most fun things I have ever done. I do miss it sometimes...but then other times I think of certain doctors or doing a bowel obstruction case and I am just fine.
But truly, first of all, I met the love of my life there..and what a hottie in scrubs, second, I went into labor with Caroline during a heart surgery in O.R. 15, and there were endless laughs throughout work with all of the fabulous people we worked with.
Someone have a baby or get married soon, I miss y'all!