Sorry about my lack of blogging. We have had 2 1/2 solid weeks of family and we have another week and a half more. We are going to have three different sets of Kate's grandparents coming to visit by the time we get done. We feel so lucky that they even want to come and stay with us. They are all coming at the same time because it is Cherry Blossom season. We have seen so many wonderful things and had such a great time with them all and are looking forward to making more wonderful memories. Thus I have slacked on my blogging. I just wanted to post and tell all my wonderful friends and family 'hi'. I love and miss all of you. I really enjoy getting to keep in contact with so many wonderful people who mean so much to me. Even those that I get to see often and especially those who I haven't seen in years. You know who you all are!

Kate actually received her first haircut in February. It wasn't very long but she was getting a mullet and she has curly hair which I have learned takes more upkeep because it gets snarly easily. I decided to take her in because I was tired of the poof ball the was the back of her hair. It kept snarling together no matter what I did. I was so stressed about this little excursion we were about to take. If any of you know Kate you know she is a very determined (as her grandma puts it) child. If she doesn't like something she won't do it. I was so worried we would have this terrible tantrum in the middle of the salon. To my amazement she didn't make a peep. Of course I give a lot of the credit to the hairdresser with the quick hands and the TV. You just can't go wrong with TV in times of desperation. I was a happy mom. I was so proud of her!

I realized lately I post a lot of pictures of Kate eating. I think that is because I keep my camera in the kitchen and she is always very happy when she is eating. She is a true girl. I will try to post some more exciting pics later. I am continually trying to do crafts of sorts with Kate-i.e. the finger painting experiment-but she just doesn't take to them as much as I would hope. I don't know if it is her age or her phobia of dirty hands but it is a challenge. I don't understand. I haven't meet many toddlers or children who don't like getting their hands or whole body dirty. We were decorating Valentines day cookies and I gave her some frosting and a cookie to decorate. I tried to teach her to smear it on with a spoon then her fingers, but as soon as that pink frosting touched her fingers she started to whimper and hold her hands out to me with a really disgusted look on her face. It didn't take. However, she did prove to be a wonderful taste tester for the experiment and she seems much happier doing this.

Saturday Night Party Hour!

Sometimes I miss the quiet nights in Utah. We have a sweet neighbor next door who likes to have parties on the weekend until the wee hours of the morning. Therefor, Kate and I have spent the last 3 weekends up until about 4 or 5 am. Lets just say church has been rough lately. It made me laugh to see how vigorous my little girl can be at 3:00 in the morning. I gave into the fact that sleep would not be coming so one morning we curled up and watched Pride and Prejudice (the new one). We had a early morning girls night and we both agree we love Mr. Darcy!




Notice the askew piggy tails, she had been asleep.



Does this look like the face of a girl who is about to go to bed? I think not!

My Two Valentines

Happy belated Valentines Day! I hope you all had as good a day as I did. I had roses delivered to my house and Chris also got me a really nice watch. We usually don't do anything for Valentine's day-at least give presents-so this year it was really fun. I kind of have a new appreciation for this day. Ha ha ha- I know a lot of people don't like it but I kind of feel like Valentine's day reminds us to love those around us just like Christmas reminds us to serve and give to others. To me it isn't just about your significant other it is about everyone you love. I think being human we often forget to show our love and appreciation for those who are most important to us. The ones that really matter-like the ones we get to live with eternally. Anyways-off my soapbox. It was really fun to see how all of you got spoiled by your hubby's and such. Keep up the post and I promise I will do better with mine! I just want to give a shout out to Melanie and Megan I am so happy for both of you. You are going to love being a mom. It is a roller coaster of ups and downs but it is so worth the ride!

These are my two Valentines!

We ended up at a buffet for our Romantic night out with Kate! We left too late everywhere else was a two hour wait and no toddler will that long for dinner. Well Kate made full use of her free meal. (We didn't have to pay because she is under 3). A couple of her favorite things are bread and potatoes which are in abundance at a buffet. When we were leaving I noticed how full her belly was and it looked like her pants were against her tummy so much that I had to undo her belt and first button before we put her in her car seat. My stomach just hurt looking at hers. I think we have all been that full before. Poor kid! She, however, was as happy as can be.

This is her showing off how well she ate.

Catching Up

Hey Everyone! Sorry it has been so long. Chris, Kate and I just moved into a new home. We are really excited, but have been busy. It happened fast. Here are a few things that we have been up to beside moving.

Kate is getting so big. She is offically not a baby anymore. She kept her baby look for a long time but its gone now. Being in a bigger place has made her much more independent. She has started going to nursery, evn though she is only 16 months old. Our new ward doesn't have very many toddlers, so they told us to bring her in. It was wonderful to sit through most of church and actually get to listen. She did end up crying and Chris had to go in with her, but it was better than roaming the halls with her.

I tried to teach Kate how to finger paint. I didn't know I would have to teach her because she seems pretty good at making messes herself, but I did. She didn't like having her hands dirty with paint. She was content with holding the bottles of paint. She really is her Father's child.

We got a new camera! Yah! I was practing pictures on my model! Can't you feel his enthusiasm.

Kate now has 12 teeth. She has two big front teeth with a gap in the middle. It is one of my favorite things when she smiles.

My friend Diana also had a baby. This is Kate and baby Lucy. She is so adorable. Kate loves on her as much as she can. She loves babies so much.

I'd rather be a mother than anyone on earth

Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth. . . .

I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed

Than twine a chain of diamonds about my [carefree] head.

I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes

Than paint a pageantry of fame or walk among the wise.

-Meredith Gray, from The Beauty of Motherhood

Princess at the White House

These pictures are meant especially for grandma's. There are a lot of pictures of Kate just standing around being herself. Some would find this boring and overdone, but only a grandma can truly appreciate it. You've been warned!

We went to the White House Christmas tour last night. It was especially nice because they had all the decorations up and also, if any of you have ever been through the White House you know cameras aren't allowed, however at Christmas they are. It was really fun. As you will see it was very beautiful and much more exciting than just the regular tours.


Kate was the only young child there. She was "the bell of the ball" if you will. She had on her Christmas dress (because we had to dress up) and everyone loved her. She kind of becomes a ham when people watch her and she acts it up. Other times she is very shy. She was a little of both last night. People kept calling her "Princess" because of her dress, which in that setting looked kind of like a ball gown. Her dress was gold and it matched the decor so she looked extra special.

She is incredibly hard to take pictures of because she won't hold still. However, when Uncle A.J. tried to take pictures of her she would just stand still and smile at him. One time she started blowing kisses for him. It was really cute. Unfortunately he got way better pictures than me.

Chris loves taking pictures too!

Being shy.

This is the big Christmas tree for the White House. Gorgeous!

This is her on the front step of the White House as we were leaving. If any of you have ever been to Disneyland and taken pictures with the any of the Princesses there you'd notice that they hold there hands a special way. When I saw this picture I noticed Kate is doing the same thing. I think she is practicing.

We also got to take a unexpected tour of the West Wing. This is when we were going inside. We've never been on this side of the White House. We got the see the Situation Room which I didn't know really existed. We saw the Oval Office and some other really neat things in the West Wing.

This is in by the Rose Garden where that famous picture of JFK is taken. Under the colonnade.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Candy!

Kate and I made chocolate dipped pretzels for our ward Christmas party. Why we were making them she snuck one off the paper. Oh boy! She loves chocolate. She would take a bite and then go "mmmmm". It would crack me up. I think loving chocolate runs in her blood.




We saw Santa Claus at our ward Christmas party. Kate didn't really like him. Hopefully he'll still visit her this year.