Welcome To Our World

Improvising

2012-01-30T09:45:00.003-07:00

Gabe wanted some tortilla chips and brought us the unopened bag. We said no and set the bag aside. Gabe went into the kitchen and found a can opener and got the bag of chips again. He then proceeded to try to open the bag of chips with the can opener. I give him an "A" for effort! And Ryan thought it was so cute that he opened the chips and gave Gabe one anyway so really, it worked. (Side note...Do you see Freya waiting in the background because she is sure she is going to get some of those chips? ) Much love to you all!

Literally Bouncing Off the Walls

2012-01-28T21:08:00.008-07:00

Last weekend we went to Airborne Trampoline Arena with the kids...and when I say kids that includes my husband, my sister, and her husband as well as Gabe and Sera. If you have not been to this place and you have kids (Or adults that act like kids.) you need to check it out! It is really fun and extremely exhausting.

This is Sera on the rope ladder that is over the big foam pit. She loved climbing this because she was really good at it and almost always reached the top to ring the bell.

This is Gabe playing in Kids Area. I am really glad they have a designated area for little ones because as much as he liked being on the big trampolines sometimes he got a little bit overwhelmed.

And as I said before, we went with Becca and her hubby Spencer. I wish they would have given us the heads up on wearing yoga pants and not jeans! Seesh Becca! I am still glad they were able to come with us because they made it that much more fun.

Spencer is a natural at a place like this. People were stopping to watch him when he was doing flips into the big pits. He is really amazing!

And even though no one stopped to watch him, Gabe was equally amazing at making baskets with the foam blocks.
And Ryan was proving himself to be my own personal Superman by taking a flying leap into the big pit as well. Side note, after belly flopping into the big pit he got a little stucks in the foam blocks...like a turtle on it's back. It was cute!
And just to prove that I wasn't sitting the whole time here is a group shot of the Baker family.

Airborne Sports is a lot of fun and good if you want to wear out your hyper kids. But a word of caution: you will be sore the next day! Much love to you all!

Nuts About the Zoo

2012-01-28T20:54:00.004-07:00

With the money we get for Christmas from family members we buy a yearly membership to the zoo. It is always a great place to take the kids for a relaxing outing. And with the membership we don't feel bad if we only go for an hour and miss some of the animals because we can always go again the following weekend.

One activity we almost always do when we go is the Conservation Carousel. The ride operator was nice enough to take our family picture. That is another thing I like about the zoo-friendly staff!

In the winter the animals tend to be more relaxed because there are not as many people. In fact, Gabe and Sera got a good look at one of the tigers that lives in Asian Highlands. Gabe took one look at the tiger and said, "Mommy! It's big!"
And Sera, being the cheeseball that she is, just couldn't help but being silly!

If you haven't been to the zoo in the winter you should check it out. And remember that the new Polar Bear exhibit is set to open this spring so be extra sure not to miss that! Much love to you all!

Clearly They're Not Golfers

2012-01-27T12:14:00.006-07:00

Took the kids bowling last night in Ogden and Sera decided she would teach Gabe how to bowl. In the end Gabe ended beating Sera's score but come on...HE HAD BUMPERS!

Let's Hear It For the Girls!

2012-01-19T14:00:00.003-07:00

This video goes out to all my female friends and family. I think I have watched this video about 20 times now and it is still funny. Mostly because I hear myself saying A LOT of these things. Ladies, if we can't laugh at ourselves sometimes, we will just end up getting laughed at.
Much love to you all!

Precious

2012-01-17T15:49:00.002-07:00

I check the clock and see that it is just after 7:30 AM and I know I have to go. I have to load my purse and my son into my “not-mini-van” SUV and go to work. But I linger just a moment longer. “Just a few moments longer.” is what I tell myself.

Gabe is sitting on my lap. He is too tall for me to cradle him like I once did plus I don’t think he would let me. He is fixated on the small singing animals on the T.V. which is the only reason I can hold him now. And I do hold him.

I lean in and smell his fine blond hair that is so stick-straight in places and in others points to the sky because of his cowlicks. The scent of his baby shampoo gives my heart a little poke as I realize that the word “baby” is somewhat inappropriate.

I hold out my hand in front of him with my palm up and he instinctively places his hand on mine. I sit for just a minute and study the differences in our hands. He is a part of me and his hand is half of my hand. I will forever be a part of him and I hope to be the best parts of him and his life.

One day I hope that he sits with his own son cherishing the moments that may seem so small. I hope that one day he is a part of something as special as he is to me. But for now I will hold on to that moment where as big as he is, he is still so small. He is still so precious.

2 Year Celebration!

2012-01-12T09:30:00.003-07:00

Last night Ryan's mom Linda sent me some pictures of Ryan as a toddler and some of Sera. I was blown away by Ryan's picture! I can hardly believe that the pictures are of my dark-haired husband. So after giving it some thought and getting a picture from my mom I decided to post a blog with pictures of all 4 members of our family when we were about 2-years-old. It is amazing to me how much Gabe looks like his Daddy. Hope you all enjoy these as much as I do.

Ryan at 2-years-old. His kids look so much like him!

Me at about 2-years-old. To me, I still look the same!

Sera at 2-years-old. She had such adorable chubby cheeks.

Gabe at 2-years-old. Such a big boy with such an adorable smile.

Much love to you all!

Happy 10 Year Birthday Sera!

2012-01-11T10:57:00.002-07:00

Dear Sera,

Last week on January 5 you turned 10-years-old. I cannot believe it. Double digits! I think your Dad is still trying to wrap his mind around it.

We spent the evening eating terrible Chinese food and playing at Nicklecaid. It was fun to be able to spend a birthday with you since you have the tendency to be out-of-state a lot. We miss getting to share those special moments with you when you are gone Sera. I want you to know how much it means to your Dad and me when we can be there for you. I know that sometimes it gets confusing for you because of what you are told but some day when you read this I hope you believe me when I say, we love being in your life as much as we can!
I have known you since you were 3-years-old. I remember the first night I met you. Interestingly enough, you wanted Chinese food then too. We sat on the floor of your Dad’s apartment in Sugarhouse and ate sweet and sour chicken and fried rice. After that we played with your blocks. You kept handing me different blocks telling me that they were various types of food and then insisting I eat them. When ever I did as you asked you would laugh and clap your hands. I wish it was still that easy to make you laugh!

Over the past 7 years I have grown to love you just like you were mine. I need you to know that. I love you Sera Bear! You bring so much sunshine into my life. You make me smile when you tell jokes, even when those jokes don’t make much sense. You amaze me with how creative you can be.

I also want you to know that your Daddy is so very proud of whom you are. He is always remarking about how smart and clever you are. It makes him nearly explode with pride when he sees you reading at such a high level. He loves asking you about what you are doing at school even though I know sometimes you get bored talking about it. I think your Dad would call you every single day if he thought it wouldn’t drive you crazy. You are not always a big fan of talking on the phone.

You have an excellent memory which is something that will help you a lot in later life. You can recall things I said a year ago and it amazes me every time you do it. You like to play jokes or pranks on people, which is fine. But when it comes having a joke played on you, you are not such a big fan. Like when we told you Becca got bit by a tiger at the zoo-you were so worried about her leg and were trying to be so careful around Becca so she didn’t get hurt. But when you found out that we were teasing you, you were not so happy and decided to sit in the bathroom by yourself for a little bit. Even now every time we have you for the weekend you ask if we can play a joke on Becca to get even. And I trust that some day you are going to get your revenge on Becca even though the whole thing was really my idea.

You give excellent snuggles. Both your Dad and I love it when you want to snuggle up next to us on the couch or sit on our lap. You love to play games with the family and are very good at it. Some of the games we play are made for older kids but you are so smart that you always pick up the rules so quickly and can keep up.

And of course, you love to be the star of the show. You love the attention people give you and eat it up when all eyes are on you. You love to sing and dance. You love to make people laugh. I think that you are destined to be some sort of entertainer.

You are an incredible big sister. For me Sera, this is such a blessing. You love to help your brother. You will read to him if he asks. You play with him. You get him a drink he if needs help. You go into his room in the morning and crawl into his bed with him so that the two of you can play. Gabe looks up to you Sera and always asks if he can come see you. He loves you with all his heart and you are one of his favorite people. I know as you grow older you may not always want to play with you baby brother but for now, I am glad that you love him so much and will play with him.

You are an amazing, compassionate, tender-hearted, brave, and smart young woman Sera. Sometimes I don’t give you enough credit for how grown up you really are. But I hope that through everything that you have been through in your 10 years, you have always known just how much your Daddy and I love you.

Happy Birthday Sera Bear! I love you always and forever!

Love,
Rach

Big Stinky Feet

2012-01-11T10:21:00.002-07:00

Gabe: "Mommy look! Socks off!" said while proudly holding socks over his head.
Mommy: "Did you take those off because you have stinky feet?"
Gabe: sits down and smells own foot..."Yep! I have stinky feet!"

Also would you look at the size of that kid's foot? HOLY COW! Is it big or is it just me?
Much love to you all!

Adios 2011!

2012-01-03T20:46:00.004-07:00

Things I Have Learned in 2011

Marriage can be hard work but when you have a great Husband the work isn't so bad.
2-year-olds can be challenging.
2-year-olds can and will outsmart you
2-year-olds are so much fun!
It doesn't matter how many times some people screw up, if they are nuts they will not learn from their mistakes.
NBA lockouts SUCK!!!
Good people will always be good people.
When good things end it just means there is something better coming.
Never give up on what you want.
Have a little faith and God will help you out.
When it comes to a home-owners crisis...I tend to lose my shit.
I learned that I really am a tree-hugging Liberal.
Hammer Time will NEVER be out-of-style.
Like always, I have the world's best friends!
It doesn't matter how old they are, they will forever be my little brother and sister.
I love cooking!
Take time to relax and focus on yourself every once in a while.
Being a Mom can be tough but it is always worth it when you see your kids smile.
Nothing is better than hugs from your loved ones.
It doesn't matter how it is prepared...broccoli is EVIL!
What is better than having a loving husband? Having a loving husband that will fight for his kids no matter the odds.
Sometimes it feels really good to yell at stupid people.
I enjoy the show Doctor Who and I realize that I am a total nerd.
I need to hear the words "I love you." every day.
And even though I have said it before I am always amazed at just how much more I love my husband and kids every single day.

Much love to you all! Hope you have a wonderful 2012!

The Liebster Blog Award

2011-12-22T14:53:00.008-07:00

First and foremost I need to give a HUGE thank you to Lacie Messerly who selected me for the Liebster Blog Award!!!! I had no clue what it was until she clued me in and now I find myself full of smug pride that she honored me as one of her choices. This is why I love Lacie...she always feeds my ego. Plus she is smart, driven, and smokin' hot!

So what is the Liebster Blog Award you ask??

I decided to look it up on Google after I read a post on Lacie's blog and saw that is what she did. I am totally a copy cat like that! And just like Lacie, I found that Liebster is German and it basically means favorite. The whole idea for this award is to spotlight blogs that you love but that have less than 200 followers. I should be hurt that I do not have more than 200 followers but then how would I qualify for the Liebster Blog Award? It is double-edged sword.

Upon accepting the Liebster Blog Award, you are asked to:

1: Thank the giver, mention them, and link back to their blog.
2: Publicly choose 5 blogs you would like to give the award to, and leave a comment letting them know.
3:Copy and past the award to your blog.
4: Ask those that you pass the award on to also pass it on to their 5 favorite blogs with under 200 followers.

So all of this being said I am hoping that most of you are still with me and will enjoy the following blogs:

The Bitterman Blah Blah Blog: This is a blog done my lovely cousin Jennifer. She started this when she moved to New York so that we could keep up with her family. She is funny and takes wonderful pictures which is understandable when she has an adorable little girl. Even though she has moved back to Utah now and I wish she would keep updating because I love the way she writes.

Cheeky Gal: This is a blog my completely adorable friend Whitney! I read it while she was overseas for school and now as she has become a married woman. She is one of the most charming and sweet people I have EVER met and it totally comes through it her writing. If you want a little ray of sunshine in your day just read her blog.

The Peanut Press: If I could be a stay-at-home Mom I would want to be just like my friend Sarah. She loves her family so much it proudly displays it on her blog. And she has a list of books that she is reading that I always turn to when I am looking for a good book.

Utah Valley Foodie: To my friends in Utah County, if you are not reading Janey's blog then you are crazy! Not only is she a wonderful writer but the photos she takes are stunning. I check her blog daily for updates because I NEVER want to miss a post. Janey's talent is obvious as is her passion for good eats!

The Schilling Clan: This is my long time friend Ashley's blog where she posts all about her children and her life. Ashley is such a strong and dedicated mother and I love reading all about the fun times she has with her family.

So there you have it! My 5 nominations for the Liebster Blog Award. I hope you enjoy them all as much as I do! Much love and thanks again to Lacie for the nomination. This really was fun!

I Love Ryan Scott Baker

2011-12-09T21:40:00.002-07:00

Last weekend my work threw a wonderful Christmas party for all their employees. The food was good and the dancing was fun. And the best part? PHOTO BOOTH!!! It was so much fun! Here are the pictures Ryan and I took and yes those are mustaches on sticks.
I love my husband and it was fun to have a date night with him.

Not So Scary Santa

2011-12-09T21:31:00.002-07:00

Tonight we went to the Layton Hills Mall on our way home from picking up Sera for the weekend. Sera saw a sign that said Santa was visiting and asked if we could go see him. Both the kids were well-behaved while we stopped into a store so Ryan and I agreed that we could go say hello. Gabe did really good this time and didn't scream or cry. This is the best picture they were able to get because Gabe kept getting distracted. He looks a little dazed but at least he is kind of facing the camera. Sera looks great as always and has the cutest smile. When Santa asked Gabe what he wanted he said "Firetruck!" It was fun to see both the kids so excited.
Much love to you all!

Giving Thanks I Didn't Burn Down My House

2011-11-30T21:02:00.012-07:00

Thanksgiving, a time for family. A time for friends. A time for wanting to get so blasted drunk that I can’t see straight and keep thinking the raw turkey in my kitchen was really a tiny space alien.

Okay so I didn’t get drunk or burn my house down or end up in a loony bin. I did, however, gain an all new appreciation for anyone who knows their ass from a turkey giblet. All the damn work that goes into one meal is not worth it on a lot of levels. Yes, it is great to hear how good the food is and see the smiles of my loved ones (Equaling 2 people this year!) as they partake in the meal I literally spent all day cooking. But on the other hand, the shakes I was getting from stress as well as wanting a VERY LARGE glass of wine sort of counteract all that.

Now to be fair Ryan and I got several offers inviting us to various places for Thanksgiving. But I began to question people’s motives. Some were just being kind but I think there were a couple people that thought it might be safer if I wasn’t near a stove or oven when I am so prone to panic attacks. Plus, somewhere along the line I must have given off the impression that I don’t know how to cook and I am sure there was concern over Ryan, Gabe, and I all getting food poisoning.

Let me start my tale on the evening of Thursday Nov. 17th. I called my mom to ask if I could borrow her potato masher and turkey platter. I told her I bought my turkey and was going to put it in the fridge Monday when I got home from work. She told me to put it in the fridge on Sunday morning. I was shocked! It is a bird that I assumed was not that big but she was telling me that I needed to give it 4 full days to thaw?

When I checked the turkey on Wednesday night it still had a few bloody ice chunks inside it. First off, NASTY on the ice chunks. And second, it still had frozen stuff inside after 4 freaking days! And not only was there frozen ice but other treasures too! I know that there are guts in a turkey but why in the hell are there guts in a turkey? A turkey neck? Really Butterball? That seems like something people might want to consume?!?! It is already bad enough that I am going to have to stick my hands inside a dead animal carcass and now you are packing up their innards like I want them as a prize from some disgusting piñata? Get real and put a sealed Itunes gift card in there the next time. Guaranteed you will sell more turkeys.

The cooking process was unreal. I had to start my day at 6:00 am. Internet, I don’t wake up at 6:00 am to get ready for work. But I did on Thursday so I could get my rolls started. I was going to make rolls from scratch but at the thought of having to do all the other crap I bagged that idea and got some Rhode’s Bake-and-Serve which still need 3-5 hours to rise. I should have just wadded up slices of white bread into balls and called it good.

I also made FROM SCRATCH: sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, deviled eggs, the relish tray (Yes I count that!), and green beans with bacon and onions. And of course, I made the turkey as well.

This is me making the roux for my turkey gravy. This is one of the first things I did because I was able to put it in the fridge and then add the drippings (Another nasty cooking term.) to it later right before it was to be served. I was excited at this point because I felt like Martha Stewart or Rachael Ray. By the end I felt like Lindsey Lohan after a loooong weekend.
And Gabe was helping me by making sure all the onions tasted delicious. His breath smelled so bad!
Here I am making the deviled eggs. What it that you ask Internet? What am I doing? Oh yeah! I am piping the filling into the eggs! Suck on that Thanksgiving!
And finally we come to the turkey. As you can see I really loved sliding my hand under cold turkey skin to smear butter on the breast meat. I felt like I was some deviant or doing something really inappropriate to that turkey.
Not a pleasant experience!
But the final results were better than I could have ever hoped for. I mean, look at that gorgeous bird! For my first try I think I kicked that turkey’s butt!
But I could not have done it without Ryan. Not only did he keep Gabe out of the kitchen but he was a great helper monkey! All I had to do was ask and he was right there with bowl or pepper or a spatula. The only thing he refused me was a 20-Gauge shot gun when I wanted to blow the turkey to bits in frustration.

And I can’t even take all the credit for cooking. Below is the dish Ryan did all by himself.
But honestly, I can’t say I regret making Thanksgiving this year. I tackled a cooking fear that I have had for years and proved to myself I am not completely incompetent. And when I see smiles like this from across the table it is hard not to remember why I did it in the first place.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. No you are not invited to my house next year.

On the Mend

2011-11-22T11:12:00.003-07:00

My poor Bubba has been sick the past few days. He had a viral throat infection that was causing pain and irritation and a fever. It was also causing two very worn out parents. Gabe hasn’t been sleeping well or eating well. He has been grumpy and difficult. And when he normally has such a sweet and funny disposition, this complete 180 makes it a hard adjustment for Mom & Dad.

But I found that even when he doesn’t feel 100%, a balloon from the store will always being a big smile!
And the doctor’s office is even getting wise and while we were waiting they gave him some apple juice.

He is on the mend and I hope better by Thanksgiving because…I am making the WHOLE MEAL myself! Eeep! I want him feeling better so he can enjoy (or suffer through) this huge milestone right along with me.

Superiority Complex

2011-11-18T15:50:00.002-07:00

This is Gabriel-King of the Leaves. All shall bow to his mighty power & adorable smile.

Chatter Box

2011-11-16T10:59:00.002-07:00

The following is a conversation that I had with Gabe this morning in our kitchen. It made me laugh so I am sharing it with all of you. Living with a two-year-old has its perks when it come to the humor department.

(Disclaimer: This is an older picture from a couple weeks ago but it still fits!)

Gabe: Hi Mommy!
Me: Hi Bubba.
Gabe: Whatcha doin’ Mommy?
Me: Making some lunch to take to work. What are you doing?
Gabe: Call Beeeecaaa.
Me: You are calling Becca?
Gabe: Yup. Call Beeeecaaa. *Picks up his toy phone and pretends to push the buttons.*
Gabe: Beep! Beep! Beep! (These were button noises.) HI BEEEECCCAAA!
Me: Are you talking to Becca?
Gabe: Yup. HI BEEEECAA!
Me: Can I talk to her?
Gabe: NO! MY BEEECAA!
Me: Please Gabe?
Gabe: NO MOMMY! NO NO NO! MY BEEECAA!
*Runs from room still saying the word no and shaking his finger at me*

To be honest, if he really was talking to Becca I doubt she would have wanted him to hand the phone over to me anyway. Much love to you all!

It's Dino-mite! Get it? DINO!

2011-11-12T21:47:00.009-07:00

The weather in Utah sucks. Right now it is cold and wet and well, it sucks! What do you do with 2 kids on a Saturday that is indoors and doesn't involve T.V.? Luckily people much smarter that I already tackled this problem and built the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point.

I have never been because it is in Utah County and there are few things I would go there for. Although I do have to say I have been following a blog done by a friend of mine called Utah Valley Foodie and it does entice me to leave my bubble of the Salt Lake Valley for some good eats, but that is beside the point.

The drive wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and the offer a 25% Military Discount which was nice. At first I wasn't sure but they had me at "you can save money!"

The kids actually loved this place almost more than cake. I am thinking in a death match cake would still win.
And yes, even I had fun. Sera and I created this lake/island/dam thing at the erosion exhibit which she named "Lake Ridge Back" because it looked like a ridge back dinosaur...??? I didn't see a dino called a Ridge Back but whatever. It was fun getting to spend some time with just Sera and I being creative and having so much fun.
My Family and some creepy looking fish.
Eeep! Scary shark!
Ryan and Sera were busy trying to uncover the bones while Gabe ran around them in a circle saying "I have 2 brushes! I have 2 brushes!" He was SUPER helpful!
And here we all are together in the sand. On a side note, I think that I brought back about a gallon of sand in my shoes and Sera kept remarking about all the various places she also had sand. Souvenirs for all!
So on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being painfully boring and 10 being Disneyland I would give this place an 8.5 for kids. If you haven't been and you have little ones, give the Museum of Ancient Life a shot and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Much love to you all!

My Good Looking Guys

2011-11-12T21:35:00.002-07:00

On Tuesday Ryan had the day off from work and so he and Gabe decided to go to the park. It was cold outside so they bundled up and headed out. According to Ryan the park was empty so Gabe had free reign and loved it. Usually this park is packed with kids and Gabe gets pushed around a little but so this must have been a nice change of pace.

And this has to be one of the cutest dang pictures of the two of them I have ever seen. I love my boys so much and it is pictures like this that make me love them a little more.

Thanks to Ryan for being such a good dad. Some day when Gabe is older his going to really appreciate that you took the time to have special moments like this. Much love to you all!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-12T21:08:00.008-07:00

Halloween was really busy this year! I feel like it just flew by and I hardly had a chance to breathe! It was fun though and I would do it all over again...in a year or so.

I told you all about our "adventure at the corn maze" where Sera had the crap scared out of her in a corn maze. Well I finally got my camera back from my sister and found these pictures that we took at one of those cutouts. My camera died halfway through so I missed some but I did get a few classics!

I am Frankenstein and was trying to make a scary face and I was successful just not in the way I intended to be. I look crazy and a little constipated. Becca...what are you doing? Not scary! FAIL!
Sera is putting her face up and Gabe just couldn't help himself! He wanted to give his big sister a kiss. It was really cute.
On Monday Oct. 31st Gabe's daycare had their annual Halloween parade. Ryan and I always make an effort to go because it is fun to walk around with all the kids and see everyone in costume.
But as you may be able to guess, Gabe was getting tired and so we ended up carrying him on our shoulders which was a pretty good workout.
Here is the whole group and as you can see, trying to get all these kids to sit and smile was similar to herding cats. It was still really cute!
Later that night we were lucky enough to be able to take both Gabe and Sera trick-or-treating. And even better? Linda was able to come down!!! I love it when Ryan's parents can here for special events. And Linda is always such a good sport and up for anything. I loved having our whole family together for Halloween this year. We miss a lot of Halloweens with Sera because of situations that are beyond our control so we cherish the times we do get.

Halloween 2011 flew by and I feel like I am not even doing it justice with this blog. But it was fun and I hope memorable for everyone. Much love to you all!

Sometimes It Really Is About Me

2011-11-03T14:08:00.002-06:00

A friend of mine who I have known for about 11 or 12 years recently wrote a blog about trying to find out who she is. First off, I can tell you that she is amazing. She is stronger than she gives herself credit for and she is smart. She has come such a long way in her life and gone through more than I ever have or hopefully will. But she talked about trying to discover who she is and what makes her happy. I found this to be so interesting because how many of us are brave enough to admit that we don’t know who we are really?

It got me thinking about who I am. I assumed that I know who I am but most of that is in relation to who I am to other people. If I were to strip away what everyone else thought of me, both good and bad, what would be left?

1. I am a writer. I claim that this blog is so that my family can keep up-to-date on what I am doing but really, it is for me. I love expressing myself in such a fluid form. When I write, I write to make other people see or feel certain things. And when people tell me I am funny based on what they have read it makes me so happy.

2. I am an entertainer. I love to throw parties or make dinner for my family. I love telling stories and making everyone around me laugh. I love entertaining in various forms and each way makes me feel good.

3. I am a cook. Something about cooking a delicious meal (or even attempting something that turns out to taste like farts.) makes me feel creative. I love being creative and taking raw ingredients and turning it into something that I can put on my dinner table. I love cooking new things and trying out new ingredients. I love making my “go-to” meals and hearing how much my husband loves them. I love to cook.

Yes, I am a mother and I cherish my kids. Yes, I am a wife and have an amazing husband. I am a friend, a co-worker, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, and more. But I am also a person and I need to embrace who I am. So thank you to my friend who reminded me of that because I think it is something we all need to be reminded of once in a while. Much love to you all!

Boo at the Zoo 2011

2011-10-30T22:39:00.011-06:00

This weekend we attended Boo at the Zoo at Utah's Hogle Zoo. It was fun and a little overwhelming. I was kind of shocked by how many people were there. It was fun to see all the kids in their costumes. The only thing that I would complain about is the crazy parents that were there with their cute kids. Who pushes and shoves over a piece of free taffy? Honestly! I hope those people feel good about getting aggressive with a little girl in a Pikachu costume.

This station was giving out free cheese sticks and so they had a cow mascot. I am guessing Gabe is secretly lactose intolerant by the look on his face. He was creeped out by this cow. Even as we walked away he kept looking back like he thought the cow was going to go all Freddy Kruger on him. But you know, now that I get a good look at this cow it does look a little too happy. Or maybe he just gets freaked out by giant animal costumes since he does have a history of that.

Sera was having a great time looking at all the animals who were a little more active-maybe because of the cold weather. I thought it was kind of a cool picture with her bright yellow costume against the blue water.

And here we have Captain America who again, looks less-than-thrilled to be at the zoo. But I promise you that he was having fun running around getting candy. Plus he just looks so darn cute in his costume!

Also on Saturday my dad asked if he could take Sera to the University of Utah football game with him. At first Sera was hesitant to go because she wanted to stay home and watch T.V. When we told her that there would be no T.V. she changed her tune and said she wanted to go to the game. It had nothing to do with not wanting to spend time with my Dad but more she just likes T.V. a little too much.

But by the look on her face in this picture she looks like she was having a fantastic time! And according to my Dad she had fun jumping and screaming. He said that she was really well behaved and engaged in the game and that he was thrilled she went with him. And Sera said she had a really fun time once she was home.

It was another fun weekend with my kiddos. Tomorrow night should be even more fun since we get to have Sera for trick-o-treating and Ryan's mom Linda is coming too. I will post pictures soon! Much love to you all!

All Skin and Bones

2011-10-27T10:55:00.002-06:00

HOORAY! I love my new PJ's! Thanks Grandma Linda! Much love to you all.

Not a Foodie For Sure!

2011-10-26T13:59:00.001-06:00

Ah the joys of living with a tiny human! Last night he was trying to hand Ryan a cup and spilled some Coke on the couch. And instead of getting a towel and wiping it up, Gabe licks it off the couch and then declares “Yummy!” No Gabe, not yummy-nasty!

He has also gotten very good at opening the fridge to find himself something to eat. This is a problem for obvious reasons. Last night after putting Gabe to bed I went into the kitchen to clean up and lying on the floor was one of Ryan’s hard-boiled eggs that looked like someone had taken a bite out of it-shell and all! At least that time he realized it wasn’t yummy and he stopped.

But to be fair, he is smart. He can recognize almost all the capital letters of the alphabet on sight and no, they don’t have to be in order for him to do it. He can also almost sing his whole ABC’s but still struggles with the “H, I, J, K” part.

But all I have to do is take one look at this face and I melt. It is a great way to start my day when I can walk into his room, flip on the light, and be greeted like this. Much love to you all!

Our Family 2011

2011-10-18T21:11:00.007-06:00

So as I mentioned in my last blog we took family pictures at Wheeler Farm. These are just some of my favorite ones!

I love this one because of all the light and color. I think it all works really well with the colors of our outfits too.
I love how happy and natural the kids look in this one. They make each other so happy.
Sera is fun-loving and free-spirited but can also be so grown-up. I think this picture captures that.
This face makes me smile every time I see it. When he is 13-years-old and acting like a turd, I will have to remember to look at this picture.

This is one of my top 3 favorites shots of our whole group. We are a good looking bunch!

Our cute family taking a walk through the woods.

I cannot say enough good things about how these pictures turned out. Thanks to my family for being a part of this. I hope you all love them as much as I do! Much love to you all!

Sneak Peek!

2011-10-17T10:24:00.003-06:00

As Courtney said when she posted this photo on Facebook, "A Sneak Peek at the Paulsen Family!" I'M SO EXCITED I MIGHT BARF! The last official family photo we have includes a sort-of mullet on my dad, 80's-style permed hair on my mom, and Byron missing some front teeth. These should be a definite improvement. Will post more when I get them. Thank again to Courtney Ryan for her amazing work!

Tough Beans

2011-10-16T12:01:00.008-06:00

We had Sera this weekend and were invited to go to the Crazy Corn Maze in West Jordan. I am not usually a fan of corn mazes because I hate getting lost. Even though I know I won't get stuck in the corn forever it still causes me stress and anxiety.
Sera was so excited to go because not only were Becca and Spencer going to to there but there was also going to be a bunch of other kids from Spencer's family. And too make it extra exciting the corn maze had a haunted section which Sera was so pumped to go through. I was kind of surprised she was so excited about the haunted section but she swore that she was brave enough to go and that she really wanted to. I agreed and we waited in line.

Ryan was going to try and just carry Gabe through the haunted part but as we inched closer to the entrance, Gabe started screaming about a guy in a silver Jason-style mask. Ry, being the good Daddy immediately walked away with Gabe saying they would meet us at the exit. Why oh why did I not offer to take Gabe and let him go through the scary maze? I hate haunted houses and now I was going to have to be the brave one. CRAP!

We start through the haunted part and I know I am in trouble because I have to bring up the rear. My mom led the train the consisted of her, Sera, 2 of Spencer's nieces, and me last in line. Last is the person who gets the truly twisted people that love to sneak up and scare the holy living piss out of you...great...

Sera and the 2 other girls insisted on being in the middle. And somewhere along the line we took too long and not only caught up with 5 other people from our group but 5 annoying 14-year-olds who acted tough but still insisted my mom and I go first. Awesome right?

Sera was doing okay-trying to act strong and brave but still staying pretty close to me or my mom. She would growl at the people in costumes and try to keep smiling. Well, she did okay until the damn Chainsaw Guys. Yeah, those A-Holes have no mercy! They were jumping out, not at my mom and I but at the 3 girls that were squeezed between us. And poor Sera, she will probably never admit this but when the second chainsaw guy jumped out she let out a scream of terror and hid her face in my jacket. I wrapped her up in my arms and covered her by leaning over and whispering in her ear, "It's okay. I've got you." She didn't respond because she sounded like she was trying not to cry.

I grabbed her hand and hurried her away from the jerk with the power tool (Yeah, you feel like a big man when you scare little girls to tears.) and as we were walking away she looked up at me and said, "I think all my brave ran out." I laughed and told her that it was okay because this was a really scary maze.

When we finally got out Sera was so happy. She did not like it one bit and said that even though she was the one that wanted to go through the scary part she probably wasn't ready for it. She can smile about it this morning and is telling everyone that she never screamed once in the haunted part. I am just glad that I was there to protect her and help her out. And the silver lining? For once I was not the girl screaming and trying to run away! Yay me!

While I faced my fears and Sera's in the corn maze, Ryan got to wait outside and take adorable pictures of our cute Gabe. Not exactly sure how this worked out....
On Saturday morning we met Courtney Ryan at Wheeler Farm to take some family photos. (I will post some as soon as I get the disc and the copyright release from Courtney!) I wanted to give a quick shout out to Courtney because she does amazing work! This is not the first time she has worked with us and I hope it will not be our last. If you need pictures for any reason, I suggest you give her a call!

Once the official pictures were over we let the kids play for a little while. They had done so good trying to behave for the photos and we felt like they deserved some time to run wild.

We went over and said hello to the goats and sheep. The kids were taking handfuls of weeds and trying to toss them to the animals who promptly ignored them.

When they ignored the food that was thrown at them we had to be content with the waving hello and yelling HI!
We also played the playground that is at Wheeler Farm. I think this was Sera's favorite part. Here she is showing me her muscles and she proclaims herself Queen of the Mountain.
And what trip to the park would be completely without a family ride down the slide. Ryan is a good sport even though he is a little tall for the slide.

All together it was a really nice weekend. I am so excited that we got family pictures done and I cannot wait to see how they turned out. Much love to you all!

A VERY Belated 2-Year Birthday Letter

2011-10-11T21:42:00.007-06:00

My Sweet Boy-

Alright…Mom screwed up and forgot to write your 2-year-old letter. I KNOW! I’m awful and just bought you another 6 months of therapy when you’re older. I apologize in advance-you can send the bill to your Dad.

I’m not even sure where to begin here…you are 2. TWO!!! Where have the past two years even gone? It seems like only yesterday I was in the lobby of the St. Mark’s Women’s Pavilion having an emotional break down because my doctor was telling me the he had to induce labor. And now, 2 years later, every time I look at you I see the reason I was put on this Earth. I am here Gabe because God wanted me to have you. I am here so that you could be here.

You have grown into quite the little man and it has been fun to watch it all happen. At 2-years-old you can count to 10 by yourself and count to 20 with some help. You can recognize almost every letter of the alphabet-you still get L & J confused along with Y & T and U & V but that it still pretty darn good. You have a hard time with colors and now refer to everything as the color blue-for a long time everything was yellow because I think you really liked saying that word.

You can open the fridge and get out you own snacks. This is great when all you want is a yogurt. It is not so great when you eat Salad Dressing, Butter, Chocolate Syrup, or Cholula Hot Sauce. Although I do have to give you some credit because you took a HUGE drink of hot sauce and didn’t even bat an eye. In fact, you wanted more.

You have 3 things that will make you happy without fail: your blanket, Elmo, and Wheel of Fortune. I am guessing it is because of all the yelling of letters that makes you so happy but as soon as you hear the music you get so excited. You will jump up and down, clap your hands, and scream out “LETTER SHOW!” Then throughout the entire episode you will repeat the letter after each contestant speaks, you will call out different letters, clap when they win, and occasionally say the words “Prize Puzzle.” Some people may look down on your Dad and I for letting you watch T.V. but I figure 30 minutes of repeating and identifying letters can’t be that bad for you right?

You love to talk. You are always asking us “What’s that?” or “What you doing?” You are always grabbing our hands and pulling us to wherever you need us: getting you a snack from the cupboards, getting you more milk, turning on the dryer so your blanket gets warm…ect. You love to tell us what things are. You love being able to communicate with us and sometimes, not always, get what you want. You love to boss the dog around and finally feel superior to someone.

You love playing with your big sister Sera. Gabe, unlike your first birthday where I had to express my sadness that Sera was gone, now I get to tell you how happy I am that she is FINALLY back! We always knew Sera would come back to Utah because that is just the way things work but it was still hard having her gone. Now she is back and you cannot get enough time with her. You watch everything she does and try to repeat it. You run and chase each other. You will roll on the floor and laugh about things I am sure I don’t really understand. You give her hugs and ask for her when she is with her Mom. Gabe, I hope that you always get to have this loving and close relationship with Sera because it is incredible to see the two of you together again.

You love being outside and playing with your basketball hoop or swinging on the swings. You love to play catch with your Dad and throw all sorts of toys. You love running and being chased and then tickled. In fact, every night when we got upstairs for bed you will say “Come on Mommy! Get you!” This is my signal to chase you up the stairs while growling while you giggle and run into your bedroom. You love Grandma Karen’s mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, apple sauce, yogurt, green beans, and cheese sticks. You cannot seem to get enough apple juice or milk. You love to say “Love you Mommy” and “Love you Daddy” and we love hearing it.

At 2-years-old you have now been to your first movie in the movie theater and you did pretty well. We took you and Sera to the Lion King and you smiled and looked amazed by all the animals. You got restless towards the end and kept trying to climb down to the seats in front of us while waving and saying “Bye-Bye.” It was fun and your Dad was pretty excited that we made it.

Yes, you get into trouble. You throw tantrums, you tells us no constantly and spend time sitting in the corner. You hit every now and then and spend even more time sitting in the corner. You throw toys, books, garbage, and shoes into the washing machine for fun. You will unroll all the toilet paper or just take a whole brand-new roll and toss the whole thing into the toilet. You HATE HATE HATE having your teeth brushed. You try to escape outside anytime we open the door. But I suspect those are all things that are pretty normal for being 2 and I still love you despite your naughty behavior.

Being your Mom for the past two years is the best thing I have ever done with my life Gabe. You have made me a better person and I will never be able to thank you enough for that. I hope that you continue to learn and grow just as quickly as you already have. You are smart Gabe-even at 2-years-old I can tell you are so smart.

I want you to know that your Dad and I love you with all our hearts. Every night after laying you in bed, giving goodnight kisses, and saying a prayer, we leave your bedroom and stop for a second and just relish that we have you in our lives. We are constantly told how smart, how handsome, and how good you are. And I have to say, hearing that never gets old. We love you Gabriel Scott! Happy Belated 2 Year Birthday!

All Growed Up & Married

2011-10-04T09:15:00.009-06:00

On September 1st my little (Okay not so little.) brother Byron married his soul mate Holly. I do not think he could have found a woman who fits him any better. Holly has a great sense of humor and doesn’t get embarrassed by pretty much anything Byron does. She can put up with our whacko family and still seems to like us. She is smart, kind, and I know that she makes my brother so happy.

I am, shall we say, hard to please when it comes to who my siblings choose as partners. I vetoed quite a few for my sister. I guess I am so bad that Spencer was a little nervous to meet me. WHATEVER! Truth is, my siblings are 2 of my best friends and I only want the best for them. If that makes me a scary hard-to-please Biatch…so be it!

Holly and Byron are one amazing couple and I am so happy that they found each other. I love seeing my brother so happy and I just want to publically thank Holly for loving him and for being there for him. Now get busy and have a kid since the Larsen’s can’t seem to get with the program.

Another great thing that happend that day? Gabe made a new friend in Holly's niece Avery. Aren't they ADORABLE!?!? She is such a sweet little girl and loved giving Gabe hugs.
It was a happy day for so many people but Gabe was really getting hungry and he needed a nap.
I need to give a shout out to Holly's amazing sisters Linsey, Amanda, and Eleasha, who I now kind of love! These 3 girls are awesome and are so freaking fun to be around.

To Holly and Byron: I love you both and wish nothing but the best for you!
But I can't talk about how great Byron and Holly are without giving some attention to my sister Becca and her incredible husband Spencer. We are all grateful he chose Becca over chocolate!
And of course I should pay tribute to my own husband who never stops trying to make me smile! I love you Ryan!

Baby You Can Drive My Car!

2011-10-03T10:34:00.004-06:00

Gabe loves cars! (Maybe because he was conceived in one! JUST KIDDING MOM!) But seriously, he finds them extremely entertaining. We might be in BIG trouble one day. Baby you can drive my car. And maybe I'll love you...Beep beep! Beep Beep! Yeah! (A little Beatles for you Internet.)

2 Year Stats

2011-09-22T09:21:00.007-06:00

GABRIEL SCOTT

Weight: 34 lbs - 95.59%

Height: 3 Feet 0 Inches - 84.09%

Head Circumference: 22.08 Inches - 94.44%

What does this all mean? Gabe is huge! He is healthy, developing extremely well, and is still 100% terrified of the Pediatrician. Our pediatrician is the NICEST man and always gives Gabe a book after each appointment. Gabe still runs from him when he enters the room and tries to hide behind the exam table. Gabe will high-five the nurses who give him shots. He will smile for other doctors we have taken him too. But Dr. Flynn, he hates.

Gabe is large and in charge for sure! And at 2-years-old I should really emphasize the IN CHARGE part. Much love to you all!

P.S. In case you can't tell his stickers say "I Visited My Doctor" and "I Was Brave." He got those stickers after he screamed bloody murder from the 2 shots he got. Brave...maybe not.

He Keeps Us Laughing

2011-09-21T08:26:00.002-06:00

We bought a toy box from IKEA in hopes it would keep our house from constantly looking like Black Friday in a Wal-Mart toy aisle when Barbies are on sale for $5. Not only does the toy box not work because Gabe has too many toys but also because boxing up his stuff neatly only encourages him to dump it all out again. And when to box is empty he decides to use it for, let’s say, other creative means of entertainment.
Squish Face!
You cannot imagine how hard I laughed when he did this. And of course, because he got such a laugh he just kept on doing it. At least the dumb toy box is getting use for something!

And after all that hard work of making Mom and Dad laugh Gabe had a good nights sleep.

Obviously he is a restless sleeper. Much love to you all!

Gabe 1-Mom & Dad 0

2011-09-20T09:08:00.004-06:00

Gabe loves to be a helper. He has his own Gabe-Sized broom to help sweep. Last night he smelled like dish soap because he tried to help with dishes. But Gabe really loves to try and unlock Freya’s cage and let her out. The only problem is Gabe cannot get the key in lock and usually ends up losing the key somewhere. So Ryan and I decided to outsmart him by moving the key so that is was hanging above the cage where he could not get it. Why we think our plans will ever work, I have no idea! Yesterday Ryan was doing the dishes when he could hear Gabe calling for help. Ryan assumed it was because Gabe could not find the key and he wanted to let the puppy out. This is what he found:
What a cute picture right? Look at that adorable smile! But wait…what is that in the cage?

Ah yes. It is the key.

So Ryan, instead of moving the kennel out of the way or simply lifting it up, found something long enough the try and knock it out of the cage. When I asked him why he didn’t just move the cage he said that it was because Gabe would not move off the top of the cage. When I asked why he didn’t just move Gabe and then move the cage he said “Quiet You!” I think we all know what that means…I WIN!

Life is never dull when trying to outsmart a 2-year-old.

Much love to you all!

Words of Encouragement From Sera

2011-09-15T21:44:00.006-06:00

We were able to spend some time with Sera tonight and we decided to go bowling as a family. Sera loves bowling but she can be a bit competitive-she really loves to win! But I give her credit that even though I know she would sigh with relief when I messed up she would always try to cheer me on. For example, here was one conversation we had tonight:

Me: I really stink at bowling. *Said with a smile on my face.*
Sera: Well why don't you use bumpers like me?
Me: Because I'm an adult and that is kind of cheating.
Sera: Yeah but you really suck at this-no offense!

I love having her back home and I wouldn't trade it for anything! (Even though she tells me that I suck.)

Gabe really enjoyed bowling too. He loved pushing the ball down the little ramp and stomping his feet when he knocked over pins. Even if he only got one pin, you would have thought it was a 300 game. It was really cute and Grandma Karen would have been so proud. We were all cheering each other on and clapping. There were lots of hugs and high fives too.
As you can see below, it was a team effort just to get the ball down the lane too. It was fun to do this as a family and see how much Sera loved to help Gabe.You ready to see the final scores???
BOOM! That's right...I was not in last place! Now, ignore the fact the I only beat a two-year-old by four points and that I got beat by a 9-year-old by 8 points. THEY HAD BUMPERS DANG IT! And look-I got a strike AND a spare. It was really a good game for me.

I love spending time with my kids and my hubby-it feels great to be a whole family again. Much love to you all!

Personal Ad

2011-09-15T09:12:00.004-06:00

SWM seeks SWF with similar interests. Enjoys walking in parks, reading, and relaxing in home appliences. Skills in Washer/Dryer repair a plus!!! Please comment if interested.

Yes, my son put himself in the dryer. No, we did not close the door or turn the dryer on. Yes, he really did get himself stuck in there. No, we have not figured out a way to make it so he can't do this again.

Much love to you all!

Cross It Off His Bucket List

2011-09-11T15:43:00.011-06:00

Ryan once told me that before he died he wanted to go skydiving. I thought he was crazy because unless it is on fire, there is no good reason to jump out of a plane. But I love him and want him to achieve his dreams so for our anniversary I bought him a tandem jump along with a video and pictures. Yay for him!

After many attempts and having to cancel because of weather, today we were finally able to get him out to Skydive Utah in Erda, UT.

Safety is the first priority so Ryan had to watch a video and learn a few things before he could jump. When it is your first jump you have to jump with someone which is called a tandem jump. The tandem master does almost all the work which takes a lot of pressure and worry of the first-timer.

After getting hooked up into his harness they got a few pictures of the family. My guess was this was just in case this is the last time we ever see Ryan in one piece. Just kidding!
Ryan's parents also got to be there to see Ryan live one of his dreams.

To jump safely the plane was to reach a height of 13,000 feet. It probably felt like one of the longest moments of his life but he kept a big smile on his face! I can tell from the pictures hownervous but also how trilled he was to be doing this. That was his tandem partner Avery behind him in the blue shirt.

So he assumed the correct position which looks similar to a banana with chicken wings and you jump from the plane to go free-falling to Earth. I love Ryan's face in this picture because he looks like his heart is racing and and he is having an awesome time.

And even while plummeting to the ground he is still smiling and giving the experience 2 thumbs up.

He is obviously having the time of his life!

Once you reach a certain altitude the instructor pulls the cord and deploys the parachute. On the way down, Avery asked Ryan if he wanted to do a few loops in the air. Ryan wasn't sure but agreed. He said the the first loop made his stomach do a flip but then he loved it and asked if they could it again. He is a fearless guy!

After Ryan landed and got unstrapped the photographer asked him what he thought about the experience and he said, "That was so bad ass!" He had a fantastic flight and could not stop smiling the whole way home.

For me, it was an incredible experience to watch the man I love accomplish something that was a big deal for him-he already wants to go again! Ryan is brave and loves to try new things. I could not be happier that I was able to help him achieve the dream. I love you Ryan and I hope that I can be there for you when to reach all your goals in life.

Bees and Hippies and Hot Springs...OH MY!

2011-08-23T21:52:00.007-06:00

A lot has been going on since I blogged last. Was any of it SUPER exciting...well, no. But we have been having fun together as a family and even though it wouldn't make the headlines of the Deseret News, we have enjoyed ourselves.

Last Thursday we got tickets to go a Salt Lake Bees baseball game with my parents and my sister Becca and her hubby Spencer. It was a lot of fun and I want to give a thanks to my Aunt Kathy for giving us the tickets.

Gabe, always being safety aware, knew that foul balls were a concern. So after finishing his popcorn, he turned the bucket into a helmet. Now he is "safe" and adorable!

And what game would be complete without a visit from Bumble, the Bee's mascot? If you ask Gabe, that would have made for a much happier baseball game! Eeep! Scary Bee!

And this past weekend our family made a trip to one of our favorite places to visit. HIPPY HOT SPRINGS! And this year was even better because Bubba was there and also because Mom and Dad's cabin actually had a door and not just a piece of tie-dyed fabric.

Gabe was having a good time despite his reservations about the water being hot. He was really enjoying himself until he slipped on the slick rock and went under the water for a second. Then he was kind of scared and mad at me for letting it happen. Clearly, this was my fault and so as punishment Gabe threw my cell phone into the hot spring. Androids are amazing phones but folks, they aren't waterproof by any means!
But Gabe was not the only person having a great time! Here are Spenny and Dad doing some fancy swimming. Excellent form in the arms Spencer! And Dad...nice swim trunks?
Here we have The Ladies enjoying the lovely surroundings along with the warm water.
I do have to praise Spencer for not only for his excellent dance form but also for his environmental awareness. As he was exiting the hot springs he almost stepped on this little guy but stopped himself just in time. And Ryan, not to be outsmarted by a frog, chased Walter (Yes, I named the frog.) because he wanted to show it to Gabe. Gabe was not impressed but the rest of us were!

This weekend is sure to be full of excitment with Byron and Holly's wedding carnival extravaganza! Not to mention Gabe's 2nd birthday next week, the rehersal dinner, and the wedding day. I am going to be busy so I may not post again for a little bit but I gave you 2 posts tonight so that should tide you over for a bit. Much love to you all!

Boot Scootin'

2011-08-23T21:46:00.004-06:00

Gabe is considering a career in furniture moving. He is kind of lazy however and will only be available for rocking chairs. ENJOY!

P.S. Those marks on my parents floor came off...no worries!

Top 10 Things That Are Bugging Me Right Now

2011-08-15T11:01:00.004-06:00

Please take this Top 10 with a grain of salt or perhaps a shot of whiskey. I have not had any coffee today so I am "in a mood."

Top 10 Things that Are Bugging Me Right Now

1. The snacks in my drawers. Right now, I really wish I had more food than a bag of Cheddar Cheese Rice Cakes. What the hell was I thinking? Why didn’t I buy something that would actually satisfy a craving? Oh but Rachel, they have 0 grams of Trans Fat and 13 grams of Whole Grains. You know what? All 13 of those whole grains can kiss my butt-I want a damn Snickers bar!

2. The pedometer on my side that reminds me of how much I hate walking.

3. The people walking across the street to go get coffee. You suck-unless you bring me an iced vanilla latte and then, you are AWESOME!

4. The fact that people assume I am in charge of a function simply because I made the sign-up sheet for it. No, it just means I know how to use clipart better than the person who really is in charge.

5. This itchy patch of dry skin on the side of my nose.

6. The fact that I am being so whiney. I hate it when I annoy myself.

7. The envelopes I have been helping to address. People, listen up. I love you and how crafty you can be. The cute handmade invites to things are fabulous! However, if you would like me to help address things in the future, make your invites with a normal size envelope. My handwriting blows and to try and make it tiny enough to fit on your cutesy envelopes…not happening. On second thought, the next time, I am buying sticker labels.

8. People who think I am a grump because I don’t love planning/attending wedding showers, baby showers, blah, blah, blah. I hate the little games you play and all the garbage. I am not saying that I don’t love you and that I am against your special event. But don’t expect me to get so excited over playing a game where you unscramble the names of household items or go all sappy over tiny little nut cups with pink and blue mints. Just let me show up, give you my gift, and smile and be grateful I am not drunk.

9. Thunder and lightening storms that keeps you up when you are trying to sleep.

10. Sisters that will not have a baby because your child needs a cousin. Who cares if you and your husband are career-minded and responsible? Get busy and give my son a playmate already!

More Gabe to come soon! Much love to you all!

So Much Love

2011-08-08T21:50:00.006-06:00

It has been a little while since I have posted and I appologize about that. We have had a busy month of July. I want to take this quick opportunity to say thanks to our families and friends for all your support. It was a hard month and Ryan and I were tested to our limits. But one thing we learned is that we have amazing families and incredible friends who will stick by us no matter what. Things may not have gone as well as we hoped but we know that some day Sera will see that we fought for her and always tried to help her be in the best situation. She will know we love her and always have.

That being said, Gabe is doing great! He is always keeping us smiling and we love him more and more every day.

As 2-years-old approaches we are seeing him be more and more of a little boy. He is getting stubborn and so independent. He is talking so much and trying to do everything by himself. And boy does he LOVE books! He cannot get enough books and Ryan and I are always reading to him. He is getting so big too-he wears a size 3 in clothes which is so hard to believe!

And just look at his cheesey smile! He loves the camera and is such a ham. But with a smile like that it is hard not to love him to pieces.

While Ryan's parents were in town at the end of July we decided to take Gabe to Jungle Jim's Playland in Midvale. It was hot outside and we wanted to let Gabe play so it was a good choice. Yes the place is old and a little rundown in some aspects but Gabe didn't care. It was clean and that was really all that mattered to me.

Gabe loved all the rides even though he wasn't sure at first. He may look like he is freaked out in the pictures but he never cried or made a scene. He even seemed to like the roller coaster but his eyes got as big as eggs when it started to go backwards!

On the Jeep ride he gave me a little bit of a half smile until the ride started. Once it was going he was concerned about the car behind him bumping his car. It was funny to watch him give the kid behind him the stink eye every time the cars bumped.

He really enjoyed the space ship ride but didn't really like pulling the handle to raise up the ship.
And what trip to Jungle Jim's would be complete without a ride on the merry-go-round. It was late so Gabe didn't want to smile but I still think this picture is really cute!
Gabe's favorite ride by far was the swings! He wanted to ride them over and over! And every time he did, we couldn't stop laughing. If you watch the movie below I think you will see why.

Thanks again to everyone for all your support and prayers. We love you all so much!

The End of An Era

2011-07-12T08:59:00.001-06:00

Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to see an advanced screening of the final Harry Potter movie that is going to be released this Friday. Was it amazing? OF COURSE!

I have not always loved Harry Potter. I boycotted it at first because people were telling me that I absolutely had to read it. I refused and it wasn’t until after the first movie came out on DVD that I even bothered to pick up a copy.

After the first book, I WAS HOOKED! I fell in love with the characters and truly hated others. I can remember while reading Order of the Phoenix, “Is it right that I hate Delores Umbridge so much? She is a fictional character.” And I really did hate her. The emotion was so real even though she wasn’t.

But that is what great books will do for you. They come alive and the characters become people to root for, cry for, and sometimes hate. A good author can make you feel real emotions for fake people. And for me, that really is what those books did.

The books are wonderful and I was sad, as I am sure many others were, when I finished the last page of the Deathly Hallows. I felt sad that the story was over but at least I had the movies to look forward too.

Last night marked the end of that for me too. The movie was, well, it was simply spectacular. Of course I loved it because I love the story so much. It could be the biggest piece of technical trash with poor effects and bad acting and I would probably still love it. But in truth, I thought it was great.

It had parts that made me laugh, which was nice because Deathly Hallows Part 1 was such a serious movie. This one brought a little humor back and I loved it. Ron has some of the best dialog and the actor Rupert Grint has great facial expressions. It kept me smiling between the parts where I got choked up.

Yes, I did shed a tear at a couple parts-I know, LAME! And there were other parts where the entire theater cheered and clapped at. It was fun to be in a room full of people who loved it just as much as I did that when you see Ron and Hermione kiss, you can’t help but clap. (That does sound a little creepy now that I think about it but oh well.)

All I can say is that it was a fantastic movie and I am sad that it is over. I don’t want to go on and on because most of us know the story. And for those of you who don’t…have you been living under a rock? I won’t spoil it for those who don’t know how it ends but honestly, if you haven’t read the books and you don’t know what happens go to the library right now and check them out.

Thanks to my Mom for taking me with you. Thanks to my Dad for not wanting to go and letting me have your ticket. And thanks to Ryan and Becca who were cool with me going even though I know they both wanted to see it too.

And remember, help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.

Boys of Summer

2011-07-07T20:55:00.009-06:00

We love summer time here at Homestead Farms. As I have mentioned before, we have some awesome neighbors/friends and when summer time rolls around, we get to spend many evenings outside just hanging out and letting the kids play. (And by kids, that often includes the husbands along with the children.)

Here we have J and his lovely little girl TaylorAnn. TaylorAnn and Gabe are just over a year apart and I am sure as the days go by, they will become good friends. And the other night as Gabe was scooting around on his fire truck TaylorAnn wanted a ride too. It was so cute to watch the 2 of them rolling around on the truck together and TaylorAnn could not stop smiling.

Also in my previous blog I mentioned that Gabe has turned into quite the little Picasso at times by way of coloring on my living room walls. There were some doubts that my sweet little boy could do such a thing....

BAM! Doesn't he look proud? Here is my little artist sitting below his "work of art." Of course I had him help me clean it off but not before getting proof for you, Internet.

Here is a close-up of his art. I wish his creative outlet wasn't released on my white walls.

Also this summer we have taken Gabe swimming a couple times. We wanted to find a pool more suitable for little kids and we scored big time with the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center.

I have already allowed a picture of myself in my swimsuit once so you will not be seeing one of me again. Did Ryan take some? Yes. But you will not see them. They are just too sexy for a family blog. If I were to post them on here, I would have to give this site an Over 18 Warning and I really don't want to start a sex riot over my blog.

This past holiday weekend we had the pleasure of having Ryan's parents Scott and Linda in town. We always love it when his family can come down and spend time with Gabe. Gabe gets to see my family all the time and he loves it. We want him to have the same relationship with Ryan's family too.

On the 4th of July we took everyone down to the Tracy Aviary. Gabe loves birds and Ry and I have wanted to take him but we are lazy no-fun poops and it took having special company in town to get us down there.

Gabe was running around like a chicken with his head cut off...a little bird humor for you there. He was having so much fun feeding ducks, peeking into cages, and yes, chasing pigeons. He did occasionally stand still long enough to get his picture taken. Above we have Gabe, Grandma Linda, and Grandpa Scott.

The aviary had a few of these wooden cutouts and Gabe loved them all. He loved getting his picture taken and when we would try to walk away, he would get a little cranky until he saw something with feathers and then he would forget. Phew for short attention spans.

It has been a great summer so far. We love being able to get out in the sunshine and spend time together as a family. We wish Sera could be here with us and miss her fun-loving spirit. We know that she wishes she could be here with us too.

Sorry for the long blog but you should see what I didn't put in! I will try to not be such a slacker and post more frequently but honestly I say that all the time. Much love to you all!

Top 10 Things I Have Recently Discovered

2011-06-27T14:26:00.006-06:00

Here is my newest Top 10. These are things that I have recently learned or discovered about myself. I am sure many of you will see where I am coming from. Enjoy!

1. Whatever comes after the DVD I am going to boycott. Who is with me? I am not restarting my collection.
2. My child blows on his ice cream is cool it off-I don’t have the heart to correct him which proves that I really am a good mom.
3. How many times can I apply sunscreen before someone stops me and tells me I am obsessed?
4. It is easier for “You” to put on a jacket to warm up than it is for me too turn off the air conditioner and remain cool. Unless you want to see me naked, better start bringing a sweater with you!
5. I must have a cutoff time for coffee consumption.
6. There are 2 moments that I dread: The first is the moment when I am arguing with Ryan and realize that I am wrong and the second is the moment is when I realize I have leaned too far back in my chair.
7. I have put certain phone numbers in my phone before so that I can be sure I don’t pick up when you call. Question is, are you one of those people?
8. Why is it that it is when you think you can finally trust your child not to do something, they do it? I am obvisouly too trusting.
9. I hate it when people assume that I am a bitch because I like to be loud and sarcastic…wait…Nevermind. I get it now.
10. Have you ever walked out of a public bathroom smelling your hands because you like the scent of the soap and had someone stare at you? I have and let me tell you how awkward it was trying to explain that one. “No no! This isn’t what it looks like. I really did wash my hands! I just like the smell of the soap. Smells like Fruit Loops.” They never believe you and will never again ask to borrow your pen. I need to work on my timing.

P.S. More Gabe to come soon. Much love to you all!

Pure Toddler Terror

2011-06-24T10:25:00.000-06:00

This one goes out to anyone who thinks Gabe is always an angel and offers to take him from me because he is such a sweet boy.

See that face? That Demon Howler Monkey? This happened because I wouldn’t let him use the ketchup-cover piece of popcorn fish that he had speared on the end of his fork to paint his face. For one, he would most likely poke his own eye out with the fork in the process and two, ketchup sucks to clean up. But clearly I was the meanest, most terrible mom EVER! So terrible that I even took a picture of him while he was so obviously devastated.

Other fun things Gabe does:
-Removes all the paper from the printer and spreads it generously around the house.
-Hides my flip-flops
-Turns the bathtub on and gets mad when we say it isn’t bath time
-Obsessively wants to flush the toilet
-Bangs on the wall of his bedroom when he wants OUT OUT OUT!
-Removes all the wipes from the plastic box they come in
-Drinks Ryan’s Mt Dew, or Daddy Juice as Gabe calls it, when ever he can get to it
-Refuses to eat anything not in nugget or ball form
-Uses the dishwasher door as a step-stool
-Bites my face!
-Pulls the handrail for the stairs from the wall

So this being said, do you still want to take him from me? (Either of Gabe’s grandmas will be saying YES right now.)

I love Gabe with all my heart. And despite his clearly destructive toddler behavior, I wouldn’t trade him for anything-NOT EVEN A KLONDIKE BAR!

Where's Gabe?

2011-06-15T20:07:00.004-06:00

WAIT! I lost Gabe! Gabe? GABE?!?! Where are you???

There you are Gabe! Phew...that was close.

Also Gabe has a message for his Grandparents. Much love to you all!

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?

2011-06-14T20:30:00.003-06:00

Gabe has been getting better about his eating lately. I was starting to get worried because for a couple weeks he only wanting to eat Popcorn Fish and cheese. The doctor said not to worry because clearly Gabe is healthy and will eat when he is hungry.

One of the best places to take him is Sweet Tomatoes. I normally HATE buffets but this one is soup and salad only and is actually pretty good. Gabe is a fan of soup and with all the different fruits and veggies, we can usually get him to eat something.

This past Friday my parents wanted to take us to out for dinner and so we opted for something Gabe-friendly. Unfortunately he wasn't a big fan of vegtables that night but he did like the oranges.

SMILE!

Thanks to Grandpa Chad for suggesting that I get this picture. It was worth the trouble of hiding the camera from Gabe and trying to work around eating. Much love to you all!

Seriously?

2011-06-13T09:40:00.001-06:00

Okay this is just getting ridiculous! This is a picture of my father-in-law Scott and what appears to be a MOUNTAIN OF SNOW! Linda and Scott went for a Sunday drive and this picture was taken on Cooke City Highway in Montana. Mother Nature is giving me the finger with all that snow. I am glad it is in Montana and not in Utah. If anyone else has snow pictures, send them my way! Much love to you all!

M/M/M and More!

2011-06-10T09:19:00.004-06:00

I am going to try something new today. Today I am going to try doing an M/M/M. What is M./M/M.? It is something I saw on Facebook (Sigh…) called MakeOut/Marry/Murder. I think this is pretty self-explanatory.

M/M/M for 6-10-2011

Make Out: Republican Rep. Chris Lee
Marry: Democrat Rep. Anthony Weiner
Murder: Slim Goodbody

Allow to me to explain-Chris Lee resigned from his position as a U.S. Representative back in February because he was caught sending shirtless pics of himself to women he met on Craigslist. Lee would be a good make-out I imagine but not someone I would want to settle down with. Rep. Weiner on the other hand, he is the marrying type because as of right now he was only sending pictures-not trying to hook-up with anyone. And Slim Goodbody, that douche! Anyone who wears a roadmap to his vital organs on the outside deserves what he gets.

As for Gabe, he is doing great. He is big into safety right now and is wearing his protective head-gear. Interesting side note: that bucket also serves as a basketball hoop, water pail, giant blue shoe, and oddly-shaped and not-too-effective spoon. P.S. My M/M/M is in no way a reflection of how I feel about my husband. Ryan is the BEST and I would not trade him for 1,000,000 perverted pictures from Government Officials. (And if that isn’t true love then I don’t know what is!)

WTF?!?!

2011-06-07T09:04:00.002-06:00

My Dad sent me this picture about 10 minutes ago. These are 2 of the guys he works with and they are all up near Brighton Ski Resort. IT WAS TAKEN TODAY! Look at all the effing snow! I hate snow and by the looks of it, very soon I am going to hate snow runoff. Eeep!

Good Clean Family Fun

2011-06-05T21:43:00.006-06:00

Memorial Day weekend was rainy here in Utah. And if it wasn't raining then it was overcast and kind of chilly. We were lucky enough to have Ryan's brother and his wonderful wife in town until Monday morning. We went to the zoo, played games, and just enjoyed getting to hang out. We don't get to see Ryan's family very often so it is great when we get to spend time with them.

Monday afternoon we went with my family to Wastach Lawns Cemetary to pay our respects to my Grandpa Byron and my Dad's mom LuRee who passed away from breast cancer when my dad was a teenager. We also visited my Dad's Grandparents who I never really knew. My Great Grandpa passed before I was born and my Great Grandma passed not long after I was born. But my parents have always stressed the importance of paying respects to our loved ones and even though it was cold and wet, we took Gabe to put flowers on the headstones.

I hope that when you read this someday Gabe, you will remember these times as being happy and just as important. It is so important to remember those who came before us and made our lives possible. I hope that all my kids remember that lesson.

Here are my Mom and Dad in front of the headstones of my Great Grandparents. I picked this picture not only because it is a nice one of my parents but also because you can see Gabe wandering in the background. He was OBSESSED with all the flowers and things people had left-I was worried he was going to start acting like Gabezilla and destroying things but under our watchful eyes he did very well.

I also want to take this opportunity to say Happy 4 Year anniversary to my amazing husband Ryan. On Friday night he surprised me with a wonderful dinner at Tucano's down at Gateway and then we spent the night at the Anniversary Inn in the Mysteries of Egypt Room. I should have guessed that when left in charge, Ryan would chose a room with a Snake Tub & Shower.
I love you so much Ryan! This past year has been full of difficulties for our family. From skin cancer to custody battles, we have been through a lot together. I want you to know (along with anyone else who reads this blog.) that I know you are the greatest man I could have ever hoped to marry. You love me with all your heart and treat me better than I could have ever hoped for. And as for your skills as a father...you are incredible. Your love for your children and the depths to which you will go to protect their well-being in unsurpassed. You are an amazing parent and anyone who truly knows you can see that.

This evening we had dinner at my parents' house with Becca, Spencer, and Spencer's father Larry. Spencer is always the first to offer to do the dishes and tonight he had a special little helper.

Becca had me take this picture of the 2 of them standing at the kitchen sink. They are so cute! I know that someday (Hopefully Soon! Hint hint!) that Becca and Spenny will be great parents!

I was trying to get Gabe to look at me and when he finally did he was not happy that I was trying to disturb him during his very important work.

I guess you could look at the theme of this post as being "I Have An Amazing Family!" And it is true...I DO! Much love to you all!

Part 2...FINALLY!

2011-05-22T09:57:00.008-06:00

Recently I learned that the "Beginning of the End" was scheduled to happen on May 21, 2011 at 6:00pm. I decided that blogging would have to take a back seat as I prepared for what would be left of this world. As you can see, I was not planning on being one of the chosen few who were lifted up and taken to Heaven. All I asked of my loved ones was that they put a good word in for me once they got there.

6:00 PM came and went yesterday. I would like to tell you that I was huddled in my living room in the fetal position with a helmet on and a shotgun tucked safely within arm's reach but alas...I forgot. I was driving down Bangerter Highway when I asked Ryan, "What time is it?" When he replied that it was about 6:27 PM I said, "Well we're still here." After I came to the conclusion that I was safe from a flaming and miserable 5 months of existence I knew there was only one thing left to do...Jager shots.

All this being said, I woke up this morning and decided to continue on with my blog because clearly, Jesus didn't come yesterday because he was also waiting for Part 2.

Part 2

With all of Ryan's family in town I thought it would be nice to make Easter dinner. I wanted to impress them with my culinary skills. I also found out that my Mom would be out of town Easter night and so I asked my Dad to join us for Easter dinner. Then my sister Becca and her hubby Spencer asked if they could come too. OF COURSE! They were quickly followed by Byron and his fiance Holly. Okay...10 people and one Gabe. I bit off more than I could chew. Luckily everyone pitched in and helped with dinner so it went really well.

After dinner we did another egg hunt for Gabe and he kind of kept getting distracted and wasn't really interested. Becca ended up finding most of the eggs for him.

It was a busy weekend but it was a great weekend! I love being around our families and letting Gabe really get to know them all. Ryan's family lives so far away that I feel bad he doesn't see them as often as I wish he could. That is why this weekend was even more special because he really got to spend a lot of time with them.

Easter is such a special time. I know I joke about being an evil hell-bound person but I am going to get all spiritual for a second. Easter always reminds me of new beginnings and being able to overcome any trial. You all know the personal trial that our family has been going through for almost the past year. It has tested my faith on more than one occasion. But Easter came and I was reminded that if He could overcome death, I can overcome...well, you know.

Since Easter we have been trying to enjoy the few sunny days we have had. We have spent several days playing in the park or across the street at the elementary school. Gabe is so big now and he loves climbing, swinging on swings, and going down the slide.

It is always so much fun getting to explore with him as he discovers new things.

And even on rainy days Gabe still knows how to have fun and he never lets the gray clouds stop him.
Ryan always says the his Grandpa Dunbar remarked that he would never have a grandchild that doesn't love puddles-that statement is still holding to be true!

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the world didn't end yesterday because there are still so many great things Gabe has to discover about this place.

Thanks to everyone for waiting for Part 2. I guess it probably wasn't as exciting as you were all hoping it would be. But hopefully you see this the way that I do: It may have taken me a month to finish his blog but on the plus side WE AREN'T BURNING UP BECAUSE WE ARE EVIL!

Much love to you all!

Easter Weekend 2011 (Part 1)

2011-04-25T22:04:00.022-06:00

Our Easter was so JAM PACKED with events that I am going to have to create a 2-part blog to provide my readers with all the fun! I kind of sound like a used car dealer...like I really have to convince any of you to read this blog. My family is so damn cute I should be charging you to read it.

Our Easter events technically started on April 16th when Ryan's unit at the Guard Base held an egg hunt for the kids. Ry and I were worried that Gabe might not grasp the concept of the egg hunt yet but once he saw the other kids, he did just fine. Things were going great until he realized there was candy in the eggs and then he would stop, throw the eggs out of the basket, and then sit on the ground and eat the candy inside.

It was almost impossible to get Gabe to look at the camera once he discovered the candy but this was such a good picture of Ryan, I am posting it anyway.

Here I am trying to help Gabe because he kept throwing the eggs back out and I didn't want some other little egg hunter to steal his goods.

This past weekend we were lucky enough to have Ryan's parents, Scott and Linda, and his brother Todd in town for Easter. As some of you may remember, we went to Montana last Easter but this year we decided to stay closer to home. I was really bummed and so Ryan invited them down.

Saturday morning we drove to Herriman for an egg hunt with Ryan's family. Let say this one thing, Herriman is too effing far away! I guess I am an idiot because I failed to realize just how far away Herriman really is and I thought we would never get there. But I am glad we went because it was a really good hunt.

Here we have Gabe and Ryan just killing some time before the hunt started. Have you ever seen a bunch of adults trying to contain 100 toddlers from collecting candy? Hilarious! Ryan was kind enough to act as a jungle-jim and although his face may have been squished, Gabe was having a great time!

Once the hunt started all the adults grabbed the kids and ran for the field. I thought it would be cute little hunt where the kids gathered eggs but oh no! It was every adult for themselves as the little ones sat on the lawn and ate suckers. Luckily Ryan's brother was there to help.

Gabe did have some fun with some of the more creative items that were there for the kids (adults) to collect.

Later that night we went for a swim at Grandpa Scott and Grandma Linda's hotel. Gabe hasn't been swimming in a long time but he did great! Ryan and I spent most of our time in the water passing him back and forth while he kicked his legs and splashed our faces.

The ONLY thing that could have made this picture better was if Sera was in it too. That girl loves the water and I wish she could have been with us.

And this will be one of the few times that I am ever allowed to be photographed while in my swimsuit. But I want proof that Ryan is not the only person who plays with the kids-I just happen to be the one who takes most of the pictures which makes it hard for me to be in them.

On Easter Sunday Scott and Linda took us all to an incredible brunch at the downtown Marriott. If you ever have the chance to go, DO IT! My gallbladder is acting up but I premedicated and enjoyed the food. It was divine! And the Easter Bunny was even there to pass out some treats. Gabe was hesitant but wanted candy more than he was afraid.

Part way through brunch Gabe started getting fussy so Grandma Linda began a game of peek-a-boo from across the table. Things were going great and until Gabe head-butted the table in an attempt to duck under it and then the tears came pouring. But Grandma Linda was quick to rescure him again and took him into the lobby to play with the revolving door.

And let's be honest-nothing cures tears like kisses from Grandma!

After Brunch we met the Easter Bunny outside for a quick family picture. I was wondering why Gabe was being so nice and quiet for this picture since normally he screams when he gets within 5 feet of the Easter Bunny...now I know why.

I will post Part 2 soon but for now, I am going to bed. Much love to you all!

He's a Lumberjack & He's Okay

2011-04-20T08:38:00.002-06:00

While I was at dinner last night with some friends, Ryan and Gabe spent some quality time together. Gabe is wearing his onesie from Grandma Linda that we think makes him look like a lumberjack and apparently felt he was too cool for pants. And to top off his outfit...SNOW BOOTS! But I think he was questioning on if he should switch to his green froggy galoches because it is really not snow boot season anymore. Either way, this picture made me laugh out loud! Much love to you all!

Top Ten Again! (& Gabe Too)

2011-04-19T14:41:00.002-06:00

Time for my favorite segment where I get to complain about things! YAY! That’s right my 10 (Hells yes double digits!) followers, I am talking about a new Top 10! And if you would like to pretend, each one of you can claim one of these Top 10 Items as your own. Sort of like I am dedicating them to you but I won’t…because I am lazy.

Top 10 Things I HATE About Living in MY Townhome Community

1. The Drive-In Swap Meet: I do not want to hear about all the bargains you can find at a swap meet. (Ryan I am talking to you here!) Mostly it is full of old N64 games, knock-off purses, and bongs…I mean, decorative vases. And as much as I love myself a nice decorative vase, I don’t love the line of cars the swap meet draws EVERY EFFING SUNDAY! Sunday is my time to drive to the store because I forgot bacon the night before, not to wait for you as you wait in line to go buy yourself a crappy pair of sunglasses.
2. The Garbage Can Situation: First off, let me start by saying I am glad we have a pickup and not some random dumpster somewhere on the property. However, when the 2 cans we drag out in front of our unit get blown over, sending our garbage along with the lid to our can rolling down the road, I don’t love it so much. And if by some miracle the cans don’t get knocked over, the garbage man usually tosses the lid back on my lawn finding the small patch of mud near the wall or random pile of dog poop left there by the yellow lab that roams around. Thanks for that Garbage Man! Also, the people on our street that drag there cans to the grass across from our driveway and leave them there for 2 days-I’m going to paint curse words on the cans next time as a friendly reminder to pick up your crap!
3. Dog Poop: Speaking of crap, the people who let their yellow lab crap on my lawn or the community grass. I pick up after my dog. My neighbors pick up after their dogs. Why are you special? Your dog leaves GIANT poops and I don’t want my kid landing in them. Clean it up before I make you wear it.
4. My Neighbors Kids on the Stairs: We share a wall with a family that has 2 young boys. And those boys must have freakishly strong legs because them noise they make tramping up and down those stairs sounds like a pack of wild buffalo. I am going to talk to them about “Indoor Feet” and how if they don’t stop, they will be hobbled.
5. The Guy Who Creeps Me Out: Jason, I am talking about you here! Just kidding. But seriously, there is a guy who whenever I go outside either downstairs or on my deck, he is peeping out his window or peeking over the fence on his deck. For example, we were out grilling on Saturday and Ryan can hear something over on the guy’s deck. The fences we have on the deck are pretty tall, maybe 7 feet so Ryan stands up on a chair and sees the guy looking over his fence at us. I KNOW RYAN WAS BEING CREEPY TOO! Please don’t point that out because I already know, but it freaked him out when Creepy Guy was already standing there looking at him.
6. The Stairs: Our townhomes have 3 levels so there are 2 big sets of stairs and then a little set of baby stairs. Yes I have fallen down them because I am not very graceful but that is not why. It is because when I have too many shots with my friends, those things are impossible to climb! I usually have to lie in the hallway on the second floor until the world stops spinning before I can keep going.
7. That Red Car Across the Street: My carport is being torn up because they are going to re-pour my driveway. No problem except there is a red car that has not moved in a year taking up one of the only extra spots we have. And if you think I am joking about it being there for a year I’m not!
8. 2:00 AM Fire Trucks: Our complex is across the street from a fire department and I am grateful because I know someday Ryan is going to blow up something. But when there is a fire or accident at 2:00 AM on a weeknight, it is not so fun. They try to be as quiet as possible and wait to turn on the sirens until they are down the street but it still wakes me up.
9. The Fact That My Mailbox Is At the Other End of the Complex: Need I say more?
10. Location! Location! Location!: I don’t mind that I technically live in west Valley. It really doesn’t bother me and I feel safe in my little complex. (Minus the Creepy Guy) But it bothers me when people hear where I live and assume that I must be A) Getting Shot At Constantly or B) Have Seen or Been Involved in Some Sort of Criminal Activity. It’s West Valley People! Time to wake up and smell the urban development.

All this being said, I do love where I live because I am close to the freeway, I don’t have to do yard work, and I have the world’s best neighbors, so it isn’t that bad. Much love to you all!

P.S. And once again, for those of you who only check this blog to see my cute boy, I present you with this. Gabe drank that entire cup of lemonade by himself! He is getting so big.

He Claims the Newspaper Started It But I'm Not Sure

2011-04-11T10:31:00.004-06:00

He is the reason we can’t have nice things! LOOK! This picture was taken back in February and I forgot to post it but it is funny so I am posting it now to give you all a laugh and start your week off with a smile. And P.S. We did get rid of that end table and put a bookshelf there instead and yes, the bookshelf is mounted to the wall. P.P.S. I would also like to thank my sister and brother for teaching him how light switches work.

Red Yellow Green Red Blue Blue Blue...

2011-03-26T17:57:00.005-06:00

Today was a fun day because we decided to head down to the Lotus Temple in Spanish Fork which is the Hindu temple in Utah county. And this weekend they were celebrating the Hindu holiday of Holi which celebrates the coming of spring. Apparently it is a HUGE holiday in India and the most common way of celebrating is by throwing colored powder on people. It doesn't even have to be at people you know which we found out the hard way.

So Gabe, Ryan, my sister Becca, her husband Spencer, and some of our neighbors loaded into our cars and drove down.

There was music, dancing, food, and of course, AN INSANE AMOUNT OF COLORED CHALK! Technically it was some sort of flavored flour that was also lightly scented. And I will say that although it was safe to eat DO NOT ATTEMPT IT! Ryan so very kindly threw a handful of bright orange in my face and it mostly got in my mouth. Not delicious at all!

And yes, we are the type of parents that we dressed Gabe in a white shirt and told perfects strangers that, yes they could throw chalk at our baby. Most people were kind and sprinkled a little on his head or rubbed it in his hair. Most of the "damage" done to Gabe was done by our group.

We, as adults, were not treated so gently. You would turn your head and BAM! All you could see was pink, or in my case purple, as some giggling D-Bag runs in the other direction. I get that you can expect certain things from the people you are with but "the rules" say no powder in the face unless you ask first. Oh well! And I will have you know that I followed the rules and only threw it in Ryan's face unless I did it on accident.

It was so much fun to just be there and see the clouds of pink smoke surrounding the temple. The music was booming and it was perfect. It was fun throwing powder at perfect strangers especially if they were really clean.

If you have the chance to participate in a Holi celebration DO IT! Yes you will get messy. Yes you will get hit in the face. Chances are you will eat your fair share of the powder too. But I promise, you will have a great time. And what an incredible experience.

And just to show you that I am not a completely mean parent and do let him have fun this is a video of Gabe having some food and dancing to the wonderful music. Love to you all!

More Little Milks Please!

2011-03-20T23:12:00.003-06:00

He takes after his Big Sister. For those of you who know the story hope this makes you smile. For those of you who don't, enjoy this picture anyway! Much love to you all!

Two Amazing Sundays!

2011-03-16T21:38:00.009-06:00

On Saturday March 5th Ryan and I took Gabe to Hogle Zoo for the first time this year. When we went last year Gabe was still too little to really enjoy. But for Christmas Ryan's uncle Tom and his wife Annie got us a Yearly Family Pass to the zoo so we decided to put it to good use.

We weren't sure what to expect because we didn't know if he would get the whole "Caged Animals! Woo!" thing but luckily he grasped the concept. We saw the monkeys first which he went crazy over. He loved watching them jump from branch to branch and would giggle and clap when they got close to the windows.

He also liked the baby orangutan who was sitting right next to the window. He would put his tiny little hand up against the glass and the orangutan would do the same. It was fun watching them interact with each other.

But what Gabe really loved were all the birds. He wanted to pet the peacocks, chase the chickens, and catch anything with feathers. If it flew, he loved it! I think it is the bright colors and loud squawking that makes him love birds. It was really fun to watch Gabe show such an interest in them.

This past Sunday the weather was gorgeous so we decided to take Gabe over to the park. He, of course, went crazy over the slides and swings like always.

I love that it is getting warmer outside because that means we can have more weekends like this was smiles as big as this!

But like I have said many times before, it isn't always the special things that we got out and do together as a family. Sometimes it's the nights that we spend playing in the living room. Tonight was no exception as I caught this moment between Ryan and Gabe. Ryan was tickling Gabe to the point where they were both laughing and the perfect moment they both looked up and gave me the 2 biggest smile I have seen in a long time.

I love these two guys so much and cannot seem to get enough of them. Much love to you all!

Why do I bowl? HONESTLY!

2011-03-16T09:43:00.003-06:00

I have discovered that the word blog is a “4 Letter Word” in my life at times. I want to do it and I take pictures so that I can fill this site with memories that someday my children will hopefully cherish. And then…I fall asleep watching Tosh.0. Yes Internet, I watch Tosh.0 instead of writing about my family, but have you seen that show? Hilarious!

So Friday Mar 4th Ryan and I were tired of our son looking like a Moonshine-Making Hillbilly and took him to get his haircut. Not to mention, I had a date later that night. No, not with Ryan. I had a date with a lovely lady named Lacie. Now okay, Ryan and her husband Mike were invited but she and I both know this night was about us getting together and making each other laugh our butts off. Those two just came along to get us beer and/or food.

So we took Gabe to this little place that Ryan goes to get his haircut. We walk in and all I hear is a T.V. that is turned up to the MAX volume to some Asian Soap Opera. Also, on the floor by the front desk is a little tiny shrine with a plate of tangerines in front of it. Seriously Ryan?

We wait a few minutes before Tiffany (Her name is not really Tiffany I AM SURE!) motions for us to come on over. She was sweet and her Vietnamese accent was thick. She gave Gabe a sucker and tried to start. But as soon as those clippers came on so did his screeching. You would have thought she was trying to remove his head with those things.

He fought and screamed the whole time. And poor “Tiffany” kept smiling and trying to stay calm although I am pretty sure she wanted to duct tape him down. By the end, Gabe had “Tiffany’s” spray bottle and was squirting his Dad in the face with two suckers in his other hand. I was taking pictures but most of them just make me look like a bad parent for allowing some person to torture my child.

I did get this picture once we were safely out of the salon and back in our car. “Tiffany” really like hair gel. Before I could really say no she was slathering the goop all over his head and turning him into Sonic the Hedgehog. Glorious!

After the trauma of Manhattan Salon, we met up with Mike and Lacie for some bowling. I love Lacie because we cannot stop laughing or giggling when we are together. (But what do you expect when you have known someone for 11+ years?) We have been through some crap together and haven’t always stayed close but I admire her and love to hang with her when we can. And might I also add that she recently got married to a great guy named Mike who seemed to be able to put up with me, my strange husband, and Gabezilla all in one night. And on top of that, Mike has a great sense of humor and was able to put up with us for a whole night of bowling. Yeah, he is pretty cool.

Of course, I sucked at bowling. I tried to play it off like I wasn’t really trying that hard but to Ryan, Lacie, and Mike, I will admit now, I was. I was trying to be a good bowler and I am sorry that I SUCK! But at least we all got a good laugh at the expense of my stunning display. I definitely should have had more beer but then the chances of me falling on my butt in front of everyone increase and I am not sure I would have wanted that either.

All in all, it was great night and I am so glad that I got to spend that time with my family and friends. I want a bowling rematch with the Messerly’s but I think I need to practice a little more first. And Gabe, may I just apologize in advance if you happen to inherit my bowling skills…just know that you will always be good for a laugh and the it was your handicap score will be for.

Much love to you all!

I LOVE YOU ALL! SERIOUSLY!

2011-03-11T09:13:00.002-07:00

I know that everyone is expecting a Gabe blog, and trust me, it is coming! I have lots to share about Gabe. But I quickly wanted to share my thoughts on an issue that hits very close to home for me.

Please understand this first and foremost: I am grateful that we love in America where people have the freedom to live their lives as they choose. I embrace that freedom by living my life in the way I choose. My husband has been to Iraq to help other people get the same opportunities to have that freedom. I respect that everyone has the right to feel how they want to feel. And I understand that not everyone who reads this blog is going to agree with me on this issue.

I was raised to believe that God loves everyone. EVERYONE! There are people in this world that I detest with every fiber of my soul and I still have to accept the fact that God loves them. THEM! Really?!?! Yes really. And as much as I think there is no way anyone could really love this person, God does.

I have heard the saying “God doesn’t make mistakes” many times in my life. When I was younger and hated myself, it was said to me on more than one occasion. And I have come to believe that it is, in fact, true. God loves all his creations because he made them. He knew when he made me that I was going to be the size that I am. And God loves me, just as I am. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t want me to be healthy, but he loves me either way.

God loves me even though I don’t attend church on a regular basis. He knows that I believe he is out there and that he listens to me when I need him. I know that he loves my family and friends that do attend church just as much as he loves me. God just wants us to be good people. And truth is, even when we are not, he loves us anyway.

God loves us not matter our gender, religion, skin color, or…sexual preference. I know that God loves people who are gay. God doesn’t care because, well, he made them knowing that was the way they were going to be. It isn’t a choice for them just like I didn’t choose to be heterosexual. Who would choose to fall in love with someone of the same sex knowing that they would not have the same rights? Who would choose to have their relationship judged and deemed unworthy? Would you choose that? I know I wouldn’t. I believe that just as I love who comes naturally to me, so does everyone else.

And yes, there are gay rights activists that are loud, pushy, and obnoxious. But there are anti-gay activists that are just as bad. You will find pushy, rude, hateful people on both sides of any argument. That is just the way it is…I mean, look at the Democrats and Republicans!

I have people that I love and cherish who are gay. And I would never be so bold to assume that I am better than them and deserve more because I am heterosexual. I have friends who are of an ethnic minority and I don’t feel like I am better than them either. I have family and friends who are very religious and I know that they love me even though I don’t believe the same as they do. Hell, I have Atheist friends who might think I am a little weird for believing in a higher power, but they still love me and would do anything for me.

I guess the moral of this blog is, I don’t care how you live your life as long as you don’t care how I live mine. And no matter what, God loves us all. He loves us despite the mean and cruel things we do to each other. And I think He just wants us all to get along and quit judging each other.

I hope that you all take from this the message of: I will love you for you. And for those people out there that I don’t like and wish you would just go away, I may not love you, but God does and that is at least on person on your team-YAY FOR YOU!

Better Than Emeril...BAM!

2011-03-03T20:03:00.003-07:00

Tonight we made pizza for dinner. Gabe saw Ryan using the oven mits to get the pizza in and out of the oven and decided that he would look AWESOME in those mits! So he walked around the house clapping his mitten hands together and yelling "Yay!"

Also yesterday morning I was trying to get Gabe to send a voice message to my sister Becca. We have been trying to get Gabe to say Becca's name and he used to say it right but then for some reason he started saying it more like the word "Banshee" which I found entirely appropriate.

Once it was time to go to daycare Gabe looked at me, smiled, and said loudly "Eeew Banshee!" I laughed so hard which of course, encouraged him to keep saying it. It was awesome! Gabe thought Becca was gross and I couldn't stop laughing. It was a great morning.

Much love to you all!

For the Benefit of Mr. Kite

2011-03-02T21:05:00.004-07:00

Today I wasn't feeling well because I had another headache. I think it is all changing weather plus the nasty cough I've had for a week but I've been get more headaches than usual. But when I got home the cool wind on my face felt so good that we decided to take Gabe over to the school across the street to try flying a kite.

The picture below is from a distance so I could get both Ryan and Gabe in the shot. And since you can't really see the kite I circled it in yellow. I wanted to prove that Ryan and I really can fly kites.

And natrually Gabe was very helpful in the whole process.

What did you say Internet? Is that a Yoda kite you ask? Why yes! Yes it is. Would we have any other type of kite? Honestly Internet...did you even have to ask? This is Ryan's son we are talking about!

So I am going to go find my lung that I think I just coughed up on the living room floor before the dog eats it. Much love *cough hack cough* to you all!

Imagine the Theme Song From Jaws Here

2011-03-01T20:34:00.008-07:00

When Gabe and I went to Logan last weekend it was brought to my attention that Gabe sort of has a rat-tail/mullet. I know...I should be ashamed. It's just, Gabe was bald for such a long time that getting his haircut has never been high on my list. And now that his hair has grown, he is business in the front and party in the back. He has a baby mullet or as Ryan calls it, a Bullet.

So tonight while giving Bubs a bath we experimented with some different styles that didn't look quite so white trash.

I call this one the "Grandpa Chad Morning Hair." My Dad is infamous for his morning hair. All he has to do is look at a pillow and BAM! His hair goes crazy. This is Gabe's interpretation of Grandpa Chad's hair.

This is what I call Gabe's "Jersey Shore" look. Although similar to Grandpa Chad hair, this is much more intentional and tends to look more like Devil Horns. I didn't let it last long because as soon as Gabe got his hair done like this he expressed a desire to go tanning and skin cancer runs in our family.

This is our final look and probably my favorite. We call this one "Mowhawk Bubs" and it makes him look tough. Just ignore the smiling red crab on the wall and you will see just how tough he really is.

After Gabe's bath it was time to dry off. Gabe's new towel that we bought from Costco is maybe the cutest thing I have ever seen. It makes me want to start singing the theme song from "Jaws." And he is just like that giant Great White with the exception that he has yet to barf up a license plate from Louisiana.

But really he isn't at all like a shark. He is my little Cuddle Bug and I am sure he is going to love that I called him that on the Internet when he reads this later in life.

And once he was all clean and dressed it was time for bed. So after kisses and hugs good night, he got tucked in with his buddy, Phil the Penguin.

Nights like this might seem boring to some people but to Ryan and I they mean so much. It is fun to spend time with Gabe and get to see him grow every day. So Gabe when you read this later in life I want you to forget the Snuggle Bug comment and be grateful for 2 things:

1. Mommy & Daddy love just being around you because you make our life brighter.

2. I was kind and have not posted any pictures of you naked from the waste down while you were in the tub.

You're welcome Gabe! Much love to you all!

Fancy Pants

2011-02-27T14:43:00.012-07:00

Yes Sir! We always laugh when he is around!

For those of you who aren't aware, I have an amazing Grandma named Diane. (Her real first name is Clarissa but she hates that name!) My grandma is one of the coolest women I have ever known. She is strong, independant, smart, motivated, caring, humble, funny, and loving. She is always making me laugh, sometimes she does it on purpose!

Oh the stories I could tell about my grandma. But I fear that if I put many of them on the internet where anyone could read them, my grandma might take me out of her will. And seeing as how some day I am the one who she would like to give her eulogy I am on her good side and would like it to stay that way. But Grandma, fair warning, someday people will hear about the duck, the broken microwave, and the sign above the toilet. Oh believe me, the world will know!

Grandma Diane has always been a woman who loves to be involved. She is active in her local LDS Relief Society. She is part of a book club at a local library. And so it should surprise no one that she also likes the Red Hat Society.

The Red Hat Society is for women 50 and older who wear red and purple hats and do...I don't know...lady stuff? Okay that makes it sounds like they sit around and talk about child birth and menstrual cycles. It is more like they eat and laugh. Sometimes the go on vacations. It is really a reason for women to just get together and celebrate being women. And you have to wear red hats.

Recently the ladies in my family got together for my Aunt Kathy's 50th...err...I mean, 49th part 2 Birthday. (Sorry Aunt Kath!) At the party besides getting told by some weird hairy short little waiter that he would strip for us, we were also informed by my Grandma that she wanted us to form a little Red Hat Society of our own. One where we would all try to get together monthly and all wear hats. Anyone over 50 can wear red and dark purple hats. Anyone under 50 can wear pink or lavander hats. And my Grandma's rule is no baseball hat or beanies. They must be, what she calls, fancy hats.

Now, I am not a southern belle. Nor was I ever cast as a rich lady from that Horse Racing scene in "My Fair Lady." I do not own a plethera of fancy hats, let alone one. So that means that I had to make one. And if I am going to be making a fancy hat, you had better believe it will so fancy, it will blow your fancy pants off!

Yesterday my mom and I made the trek to Logan, Ut. For those of you who haven't been to Logan, congratulations. I am not a fan of that "small town" feel. And although Logan is pretty big, I feel like I have stepped back into time and at any moment expect the town to the covered with horses and women in long dresses who are both humble and silent. (Two things that I am not!) But we went anyway so that we could join my sister Becca and my soon to be Sister-in-Law Holly so that we could make our fancy hats.

But before we got started on that, we decided that we should take Gabe for his first real sledding snow adventure. And I would quickly like to thanks Grandma Linda for Gabe's snow boots and Grandma Linda's neighbors who sent Gabe a snow suit and coat. Without those things Gabe would not have been equipped to partake.

Gabe had a hard time manuvering in his suit because it was still a little too big. But with some help from his Uncle Byron and Aunt Holly (Soon-to-be!) we were able to get over to the snow.

I do not have a snow suit and I was not dressed for snow but Aunt Becca was ready to go so she offered to take Gabe on the sled. He wasn't sure at first but after a minute he seemed to like it a little more. I think he was just having such a hard time moving in that suit that he was just never sure.

And even though I wasn't properly dressed, I went into the snow so that I could be a part of the fun. And even though Gabe's face doesn't really look like it, he was having fun.

After we finished sledding we got to work on our hats. And with a little help from Gabe, we got everything done. And boy! Do we have some FANCY HATS! I will let you be the judge of just how fancy they really are. We had a great weekend in Logan and then dinner with my parents tonight. Ryan had his Guard weekend so we didn't get to see much of him. But it was nice to have dinner with him tonight. It was the perfect end to a great weekend! Much love to you all!

To Shut Everyone Up

2011-02-27T14:24:00.003-07:00

I am not going to try and catch up. Period. It is too long and complicated to review everything. Suffice it to say that December was filled with lots of changes and trials. And January was full of new beginnings and hope.

Sera is still in Hawaii (YUCK!) and we hardly get to talk to her (DOUBLE YUCK!) but when we do talk to her, she seems pretty happy. I miss her more than words can even say. I know Ryan shares my feelings. It gets especially hard when Gabe points to her picture and looks at us as if saying, “I would like to see her now please.” I miss my daughter on a daily basis and hope that she will be with us again soon.

Gabe is a toddler and likes to remind me of that daily. He is saying so much now that I am constantly surprised. He knows: Mama, Dada, Puppy, Milk, Juice, Shoes, Please, More, No, Yes, Bird, Hi, Bye, Up, Cheese, Yogurt, Grandma, Grandpa, Becca, Bath, Night Night, and Ew. Ew is my new favorite. The other day he was eating waffles with syrup for breakfast. When I got him out of his chair he ran over and grabbed the dog with his sticky hands. He then held up his hands and loudly proclaimed “EW!” Ryan and I laughed so hard I thought I might cry.

Gabe is running now. Not walking, but running. He goes and goes until he drops. He has really started to play with his toys like you would expect them to be played with. He is especially fond of his trucks which he will take into the kitchen and roll around on the linoleum while making trucks noises.

Ryan and I consider ourselves very lucky to be where we are at in our lives. We have 2 healthy kids. We are both have full-time jobs. We have a home. We have amazing family! And we have some great friends.

I know I have not been blogging lately. And I apologize to all my family and friends. I know that many of you read this daily and I have heard about my lack of blogging. Just know that I went through some things that really made me think. And I needed the time away to collect myself and focus on what is important. I am not going to get too serious on you. After all, this is me we are talking about. But I promise to try harder for now until I have another emotional breakdown and the doctor has to increase the dose on my “happy pills” again.

For now, I leave you with my “What I Have Learned” 2010 list.

What I Have Learned From 2010

1. Giving someone, who has proven them self to be evil on countless occasions, the benefit of the doubt is a waste of time.
2. People who matter will always come back into your life when you need them most.
3. Kids are the most incredible blessing.
4. Having a husband who loves you enough to tell you that you are not okay is also a blessing and a life-saver.
5. Your family can be your best friends.
6. Skin cancer the size of a seed can leave one hell of a scar.
7. You can survive anything as long as you have hope.
8. Blue frosting can stain your skin.
9. It is possible to fit 6 adults and 8 kids in a bounce house.
10. Honey helps with sore throats, coughs, and catching flies.
11. Some day she will know who we are and that we are good people.
12. Be grateful for what you have.
13. Save more money because that rainy day is sometimes a tsunami.
14. Friends you had in high school can still be some of the coolest people you know.
15. Dogs will eat anything, including 14-month-old peanut oil. (And P.S. It gives them wicked-bad gas!)
16. Crockpots are one of the most AMAZING appliances ever!
17. Learn everything you can from your Grandparents and Parents because, as it turns out, they really know their shit.
18. God loves everyone despite what church they attend.
19. Utah is crazy but not as crazy as Arizona.
20. Be kind to everyone and be open to communication-sometimes people who you once thought of as the opposition can turn out to be allies.
21. Ryan Scott Baker = My Rock, My Heart, and My Very Best Friend
22. Seraphim Dawn Baker = My Hope, My Dream, and My Precious
23.Gabriel Scott Baker = My Sunshine, My Smile, and My Motivation

Love to you all!

Have An "Ice" Day

2010-12-12T18:04:00.006-07:00

This weekend was pretty busy for us. We celebrated Grandma Karen's birthday with dinner at Sugarhouse BBQ. If you have not been there, you must go! It is delicious! I have some plate with Beef Brisket and Smoked Turkey and sides of mashed potatoes and baked beans. And it came with a HUGE piece of cornbread with honey butter. It was so much food and it was a good price. I ended up giving some to Ryan, Byron, and Spencer I had so much food left. But it was really good I wish I could have eaten it all.

As you can see from below, Grandpa Great Jim and the Birthday girl Grandma Karen ordered ribs and since they, like me, couldn't finish, Ryan and Gabe got to enjoy their leftovers.

The ONLY things I will say about the place is, don't go if you are looking for a quiet meal-the place is LOUD! And it felt a little cramped to me with lots of tables kind of squished together.

MEAT LOVER!

Today it was chilly but fairly nice outside so Ryan and I took Gabe over to the school. He had a little bit of a tough night, waking up frequently, but we think it was from all the shots he got on Friday at his 15-month check. (SIDE NOTE: After his visit on Friday we found out that he is 27.5 lbs which is 80% for his age and 2 ft 8 in tall which is almost 72% for his height. So he is big but growing at least he is proportionate.)

But as the day went on, he seemed to be doing better. And by this afternoon, we figured we would take a chance on a visit to the park. Gabe was cooped up all day today and so we thought he could use a little time outside.

Having fun at the park!

And finally for your viewing pleasure, I give you Gabe walking. Ryan loves to chase Gabe and as you will see, he likes it too. Gabe has been walking since he was 13 months but ever time I have tried to get video of it, he gets angry or starts crying. So today was perfect because he turned out to be in such a good mood. Much love to you all!

We love Christmas time

2010-12-12T00:22:00.003-07:00

I told you I would post again soon! SEE! I can keep my promises. We started the season off by taking a visit to Valley Fair Mall. Valley Fair has stepped up their game and have done a lot of remodeling and revamping. And now that they have the GIANT tree up and a bunch of lights, it really very pretty. So we went to check it out and snapped some cute pictures too.

And of course, no December would be complete without a visit from THE SCARIEST MAN IN THE WORLD....SANTA! I am not sure why little kids are so terrified on a man that is just trying to give them free candy but it makes me feel safer in a way-you know what they say about strangers and candy. BEWARE! But luckily he didn't have to sit with Santa long and we were back to running around Ryan's office at the Air National Guard Base. Yay for sugar!

The Famous Mr. Ed

2010-12-11T23:45:00.003-07:00

So this video shows Gabe walking but only a little bit. It makes me laugh more than anything. We are asking Gabe what a horse says, just in case you can't understand what I am saying. I hope it makes you laugh as hard as I did. Love to you all. More to come very soon!

Men Always Look Good In Uniform

2010-11-06T20:06:00.005-06:00

Not only does Gabe support voting but he is also a proud supporter of our military. And might I add that both my men look quite handsome in uniform!

Also today Gabe and I went to the school across the street to play. It was so nice and I just couldn't keep him cooped up inside. He played for about an hour and a half and I was having so much fun, I forgot to take pictures while we were there. But I did get this one when we got home.

PROOF!

2010-11-02T20:47:00.005-06:00

A-HA! See?!?! I told this little guy gets into everything. Ryan and I were sitting in the kitchen and within 60 seconds Gabe did this. Gabe, after this mess, you owe me. I want to be put in a nice old folks home some day-one that will clean up after my messes as well as I clean up yours.

Also as a friendly reminder, Gabe wants to remind you to do the following...

A VERY Belated One-Year Birthday

2010-11-01T22:27:00.017-06:00

HAPPY BELATED ONE-YEAR BIRTHDAY BUBBA!

My Sweet Baby Boy,

I don’t think I should be calling you a baby much anymore. My guess is that if you really understood me when I call you “baby” that you would point your chubby little finger at me and squawk. You are so incredible Gabriel, even when you are cranky. And instead of being my precious baby, you are now my wobbly little toddler.

In the time leading up to your first birthday your Dad and I pushed you so hard to get you to walk, but you were not having it. You were content with crawling and cruising. You would stand on your own in the middle of the room, which was a huge improvement.

You were communicating so well. You were pointing at things and letting out squeals to get what you want. It is cute to see you get excited when you are able to communicate what it is that you want. And although sometimes you are trying to get toys or your blanket, mostly what you want is food. Food is a good motivator for you.

On your first birthday we had a party for you at Grandma Great & Grandpa Jim’s house. They were not able to be there but they were kind enough to let us use their home and backyard. We had pizza and a dragon bounce house and lots of family and friends over to play.

For me, however, the best part came when it was time for cake. You weren’t sure at first why we put such a delicious and large piece of cake in front of you. But very quickly you decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and began to shove handfuls of cake into your mouth. And quickly your hands became mittens of blue frosting. It was this that upset you and started the screaming. When you no longer could separate your fingers because they were so caked with frosting, you kind of freaked out. So while I dished up cake and ice cream, Aunt Becca and Nicole took you upstairs to wash you off.

Also somewhere during this period of time, “someone” started a cake fight. And just for your info Gabe, it was not I. But needless to say, lots of people ended up with blue frosting all over. And also, just because I feel the need to have it documented somewhere, I was trying to stay out of the fight and YOUR FATHER shoved frosting in my face. So someday Gabe, when you see me get even, you will be able to understand why.

It was shortly after your birthday Gabe that things got crazy in our lives. Many people who read this blog, and someday you, understand why I have not been posting. It is not that I have been too busy for you but more, things have been darkened by a certain event in our lives. One that I fear, will hurt on of the most important relationships that a person can have-the bond between siblings. Some day Gabe, when you are reading this post and get curious, I will explain anything that you have questions about. Your Dad and I will tell you what happened and why this past little bit of time has been one the most wonderful and most awful times of my life. But you need to know Gabe, that the light that you continue to bring into our lives is what helps us to keep on doing what we are doing. We want you to have the best, even if when can’t give that to someone else.

And you need to know Gabe, that your sister Sera loves you. I am sad that she does not get to see you grow and learn every day. And it breaks my heart to think that right now, you probably have forgotten who she really is. But Sera loves you Gabe. When you have grown I want you to know that she asks about you every time we talk to her. She wants us to send her pictures of you and she tries to talk to you on the phone. I hope that the bigger you get, the more of her you will be able to remember. And I pray ever night that her absence from your life is only for a short period of time.

The day that we saw Sera leave at the airport, September 27^th, was the day you took your first real steps. Before that time you had made little lunges towards thing maybe accidentally getting a step or two out of it, but it was that day, after we had seen Sera off and were back home, that you walked. It makes me cry, right this very moment, for two reasons. One, because it was something we had been trying so hard for and it was amazing to see you finally achieve. And two, because I know how badly Sera wanted to be there with you when you took your first shaky steps in this world and she missed by about an hour.

Since that day, we have not been able to slow you down. Our primitive baby proofing has proven to be amateur at best. And if there is something we don’t want you into, that is usually the first place you go. You shove your toys under the kitchen sink. You pull potholders and other utensils out of the drawers. You put crackers in the clothes dryer. You get boxes of cereal or Hamburger Helper out of the cupboard. Or my personal favorite, you unroll all of the toilet paper off the roll, play in the toilet, and then proceed to march out of the bathroom with the nasty toilet bowl brush in your hand. Learning to move with you and have a good defensive strategy is the main focus of your Dad and I. In fact, as I am typing this your Dad is in the kitchen installing child lock to the cupboard under the sink, which is sure to piss you off in the morning.

Your favorite game is peak-a-boo but not in the traditional sense. Oh sure, we can throw a blanket over our heads and yell loudly, “Gabe, where is Mama?” And soon enough you yank it off, along with a few hairs, and smile proudly as we proclaim “HERE I AM!” But even better than that, I will lay on the floor so that I am looking away from you and ask “Gabe, where are you?” and you giggle as you sneak up along side of me and peak your face around my head so that I can just barely see you out of the corner of my eye. I then clap and say, “There you are Gabe!” and you smile a clap too.

This past weekend marked your second Halloween. We celebrated with a parade with the other kids from your daycare on Friday and a visit you my work and your Dad’s work later that afternoon. You got a lot of candy on Friday and everyone thought you were almost too cute for words. Saturday we celebrated by going to Grandma Karen & Grandpa Chad’s church for a trick-or-treat parade which brought in even more candy. And after that we went to your cousin Cameron’s birthday party, which about did you in. By the point, you were so overwhelmed with candy and kids and NOISE NOISE NOISE, that you would periodically throw yourself on the floor and scream “Mama!”

It was raining Saturday night so we didn’t take you out with the neighbor kids but the did get to see you in your cute costume and you even got to partake in a few of the treats the you collected. And I will say it here, I think you are the CUTEST Yoda to ever walk the face of the Earth or any other planet for that matter.

All in all Gabriel, these have been a couple of crazy months for us all. You talk more and more. We can’t understand most of what you say but you first three words were: Dada, Mama, and Puppy. You followed quickly with Hi, No, Grandma, and Night Night. You walk and borderline run almost anywhere you go. You play games with us and like to turn the pages when we read to you. And clap and smile, even when you hear the crowd doing it during a Jazz game that your Dad and I are watching on T.V. You will mimic Grandpa Chad’s silly laugh which makes all of us laugh even harder.

I want to thank your grandparents Gabe. Your Dad’s parents, Grandpa Scott and Grandma Linda and my parents, Grandpa Chad and Grandma Karen. It is amazing to see all that they do for you and how much they love you. I know that you make them just as happy as you make your Dad and I. And I want you Grandma Linda and Grandpa Scott to know that we hope they are able to come down and see you as much as they would like, now that they are retired. We want them to have an amazing relationship with you because you are one amazing little boy.

And you are truly just that Gabe-my little boy. Not so much a baby but a little boy who loves making messes, being loud, acting silly, and giving kisses to his Mommy and Daddy. I hope that you never getting tired of giving me kisses Gabe because I cannot seem to give you enough. I am sorry for not posting all of this sooner, but I know everyone understands. I love you Gabey-Baby. Happy Belated One-Year Birthday!

Will Return...I Promise!

2010-09-29T09:52:00.002-06:00

Sorry to all my family and friends! As many of you know Ryan and I have been dealing with some personal issues involving our daughter Sera. Suffice it to say that involves her moving to Hawaii this past Monday night. Things are still in process with all of that and I will let know you know more when I can. (I am not sure how much I should really say on my internet blog because you never know who reads it.)

Today is Gabe's 13 month birthday and I have still not posted about his AMAZING 1st birthday yet. Someday I will explain to him why there has been this lapse in posting and he will be cool and understand and then we will shotgun a beer together.

So I promise I am not gone, just trying to keep my head above water right now. Happy 13 month Birthday Bubba! I will post your 1 year blog soon and update everyone on your progress because you are a BIG BOY now! My tiny little toddler, I love your guts!

11 Months

2010-08-07T16:09:00.006-06:00

HAPPY 11 MONTH BIRTHDAY!

You have made leaps and bounds in this past month Bubs! I mean, look at you climb the stairs. You are faster now and it takes both your Dad and I most of the time to contain you. You are always on the go and trying to explore new things. Most recently, the stairs. We try hard not to let you play on the stairs because they are dangerous but the more we try to keep you away, the more you love them.

You love unrolling the toilet paper in the bathroom. You love putting things in Freya's dog dish. You love taking books off the bookshelf. You love anything that makes noise...LOTS OF NOISE! Pots, bowls, toys, your own voice. If it is loud, you are allk about it.

You clap and wave. You say Dada, Mama, Bubba, and we think you also say No. And you think it is so funny when you shake your head no. You blow raspberries when I ask for kisses or when you don't want to eat something.

Speaking of eating, you have really started to enjoy real food. Now that you have 4 teeth-yes 4!- you want to be eating whatever the rest of us are eating. Bread, noodles, veggies, cheese, and fruit. You love fruit! It is not a surprise that you like fruit but it is fun to watch you try new food. You new favorite is cantelope.

You are such a happy baby Gabe. You enjoy being outside in the sunshine. And you really like it when the wind blows in your face. Your Dad and I will take you with us when we go Disc Golfing and you sit in your stroller and smile, laugh, and kick your legs. Very rarely will you fuss when you are outside. The grass and leaves are some of your favorite things and when you pull some off a tree or out of the ground you smile like you just won a gold medal.

You get bigger and bigger each day Gabe. You are devolping and I am still sure that we are on the verge of you taking your first steps. You can pick things up and throw them to us. You cruise around the furniture like it is what you were born to do. And music...Gabe you love music. It doesn't matter what type it is, you like it. And we love sitting around the table as a family and playing games while you sit in your high chair and we listen to music.

I am shocked when I look at you and see a little boy who is almost one. At times I still only see the same little face I brought home from the hospital. You have the same big blue eyes that strangers constantly comment on. You have the same big round head with almost no hair. And you have the same sweet smile that is infectious.

I love you so much Gabe. Your Dad, Sera, and I cannot imagine what life would be like without you. You make all of us so happy. And with this next month already started and your 1st birthday approaching, we are all trying to take in these precious moments where you still like being our baby boy. Happy 11 Month Birthday Bubs!

Secret Code

2010-07-12T18:04:00.002-06:00

I really felt like I needed to write to Ryan today. So forgive me Internet. Forgive what is sure to be the most annoying blog you have ever read on my website. But with kids, work, and family, I never get to write about the man who is helps me hold my shit together.

You hear all the time that to make a marriage work you need romance, candles, flowers, and private dinners for two in dimly-lit French restaurants. But after being married for 3 years I have realized that although those are nice, they aren’t what keeps us going. (Yes Mom! I know…you are going on 28. But let’s be honest, lots of people don’t make it past 2 years, so I am going to praise myself.)

Every couple has their own secret language. Their own lexicon — phrases that have come out of some shared experience and have become an inside joke for them. I think it is that type of bond that really makes a marriage work. Knowing each other so well that you can communicate an entire feeling or moment with a word as simple as “Tam-poon.”

Allow me to explain. Ryan and I went to a restaurant close to our home one night for dinner. Towards the end of our meal, I had finished but Ryan was still picking at his steak. Our waitress, clearly distracted, came to the table and asked to clear our plates. I handed her mine but Ryan said, “I am still working on mine. Thank you.” The waitress then absent-mindedly grabbed his plate and began to remove it. Ryan held on and said “I am still eating.” But the waitress was looking in the other direction and kept pulling on his plate. Ryan then said very loudly and in one of the saddest voices I have ever heard, “But I still want it!” The waitress then realized what she was doing and apologized.

We can still look back on this moment and laugh. It was the look on Ryan’s face combined with his tone of voice added to the fact that his was holding onto his plate like a hungry kitten that made the situation so funny. And now when we want to describe a pathetic situation all we have to do is look at each other and timidly say, “But I want it.”

This is not funny to other people. In fact, you are probably reading this and wondering why you are still reading . But it is moments, like those, that in a very strange way make you closer as a couple. Those moments that you share and you can always look back and laugh about. They are what make my marriage stronger. And they always end up making me love Ryan a little more.
Ryan is an incredible man. Yes we have romantic dates and flowers. But I appreciate even more the special friendship we have together. He makes me smile and we always end up laughing even when things are not going okay. So to Ryan: thank you for being my friend and my husband. Our secret language may never make sense to anyone else but you will always know the following:

“By the rules that bind us…”
“Cause you’re the Queen of the Night”
“Seriously!”

Although we may NEVER make sense to anyone else, at least we have each other.

4th of July Fun

2010-07-10T09:28:00.009-06:00

Not only did this 4th of July mark Gabe's first 4th but we also got Sera this year as well. Ryan gets Sera every even year so we were really looking forward to this holiday. Sera is so much fun and Ryan and I miss having her around. We feel very lucky that it was Ryan's year to have Sera because we were needing to spend some extra special time with her.

We went to Veteran's Memorial Park in West Jordan on Saturday July 3. There was a HUGE carnival with rides, food, a movie in the park, and of course, Sera found the petting zoo right away! There were goats, bunnies, sheep, a pony, and the cute pig. Sera said that is was really hairy but I still think it was pretty cute! And a special thanks to Ryan for getting this cute picture. I had to wait outside the pen with Gabe and Linda.

After Sera spent a couple hours riding on rides with her Grandma Linda, we all settled in to watch the movie flushed away but as you can probably guess, we had more fun playing then watching a movie. And Ryan being the great guy that he is, went and bought a glow stick and some flashing devil horns which Sera thought were AWESOME!

And even though it may not look like it in this picture, Gabe loved them too! It was so much fun hanging out at the park with our family, Grandma Linda, and our neighbors Jay, Rosie, and Logan. We snacked on chips and cookies and just had a great time watching the kids hang out.

And when it finally came time for the fireworks, I will admit that I was a little worried about how Gabe might react. But let me tell you something Internet, this picture below says it all! He sat in Ryan's lap the whole time and could not take his eyes off the fireworks. No crying or screaming. He was hypnotized by all the lights and sounds. It was cute to watch Ryan and Gabe share that moment together while I got to cuddle with Sera while we watched the fireworks together.

The next day on July 4th we decided to take a family trip to Hogle Zoo with Grandma Linda. It was great to be able to spend so much time with Ryan's mom this past holiday. It made everything even more special. Linda is always so much fun to be around and it is great to she her relationship with the kids.

And of course no trip to the zoo would be complete without a ride on the carousel. This time Sera decided to ride the kangaroo because...wait for it...she wanted to slide down the tail once the ride was over. She is always good for a laugh. Her sense of humor is truly one-of-a-kind.

And Gabe also got his first ride on the carousel. We chose something a little less exciting and went on the peacock. Gabe was having a great time until the end of the ride when I smacked his head on the giraffe. OOPS! But eventually he forgave me.

When all was said and done, I felt like the weekend was way too short. We had so much fun with kids and I wish we had another couple days. Thanks to Linda for coming down and spending the time with us. We could not have asked for a better holiday weekend!

10 Month Birthday

2010-07-09T22:32:00.007-06:00

HAPPY 10 MONTH BIRTHDAY GABE!

Oh our Sweet Baby Boy! 10 months has gone by so quickly. And you are getting bigger and brighter all the time. I know that in your 10 month picture you are not even awake but we take what we can get these days. Whenever I pull out my camera you automatically think it is something you should be eating. So we sneak pictures when we can of when you are restrained like in the picture below.

As you can see in this picture you were so happy to see me. Over this past month your emotions have become much more intense. And your facial expressions are so vivid. You have the most expressive little face and it is becoming easier to tell what it is you want or need. And let me tell you, that smile kills me every time. It's getting really hard not to spoil you.

This past month you have really started to be fascinated with everything you shouldn't. It can be the T.V., the dog dish, or something like baby powder, but you must have it. We have become pros at getting the baby gate up quickly before you can get into the kitchen and destroy. But even when you are being naughty, you are as cute as ever.

You are also talking more and more. And guess what my little Angel??? MA MA MA! That's right! You have finally started to say it. I am still unclear if you really understand that I am MaMa but just like DaDaDaDa, I am taking what I can get. You have also started using the Ba, Na, and Pa sounds. I am hoping that soon enough it will become real worlds.

Also you have started "cruising" which means any day now you are going to walk. You will grab the couches and go from one end to the other. You will also do the same with Entertainment Center. It is so cute to watch you go. But the down side is that you are having more bumps now. It seems like at least once a day you are bumping your head on something. In fact tonight, you were attempting to throw an empty soda bottle over the baby gate into the kitchen and it slipped from your hand and hit you on the head. You cried for about 30 seconds and then went right back to smiles.

This month we have also started you on more solid snacks. Things like bread, bits of lunch meat, chunks of cheese, green beans, Oreos, Goldfish crackers, and lots of other things. You seem to love solids even more than your baby food. And it is so cute to watch you shove all these new foods into your mouth. You will smile and clap and it is so much fun. P.S. Your favorite thing so far...green beans straight from the can. That's my boy!

Gabe, you bring so much joy into my life. I know that I say this to you EVERY birthday blog but I don't think you can ever hear it enough. You have a the greatest personality and so many people love you. Perfect strangers will stop and smile at you. They comment on your big blue eyes and your infectious little grin. It is nice to see that it isn't just your Dad and I that think you are adorable.

I see you learning more and more every day. You love your blankie. You hate having your diaper changed. You like the sound of your hands and feet slapping on kitchen floor. You like playing catch with your Dad. You love things you can stack or things with wheels. You LOVE music! But most importantly you love your family. And Sweet Baby Gabe, WE LOVE YOU TOO! Happy 10 Month Birthday!

Mick Jagger

2010-07-06T13:43:00.003-06:00

This post is dedicated to my father, Chad Paulsen, who always reminded us that no matter how much we complain and yell and beg, sometimes...You Can't Always Get What You Want. I think that there is one person in my life right now that really needs to learn this same lesson.

I saw her today at a reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

No, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was, footloose man

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you might find
You get what you need

Oh yea-ay (hey-hey-hey, oooh)

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singin', 'We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't, we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse'
Sing it to me, now

(You can't always get what you want)
(You can't always get what you want)
(You can't always get what you want)
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find
You get what you need
Ooh baby, yeah, ooh

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standin' in line with Mr. Jimmy
A-man, did he look pretty ill

We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was 'dead'
I said to him

(You can't always get what you want) well no!
(You can't always get what you want) tell ya baby
(You can't always get what you want) no
But if you try sometimes, you just might find, mmm!
Mmm! you get what you need
Ooh yes! Woo!

(Instrumental & choir) Ooow-ooh!

You get what you need
Yeah!
Ooow, babe!
Ooh, yeah

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well, I could tell by her blood-stained hands
Say it!

(You can't always get what you want) yeah!
(You can't always get a-what you want) ooo-yeah, baby!
(You can't always get a-what you want)
But if you try sometime, you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need

Ooh, yeah!
Ooh, baby!
Woo!

Ah, you can't always get a-what you want
No, no baby

You can't always get a-what you want
Tellin' you right now

You can't always get what you want, mmm!
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find, that ya
Get what you need
Oooh, yeah!

I'm tellin' the truth, babe

Walk In the Park

2010-06-13T21:03:00.010-06:00

This past week before everyone I know got sick with the illness that "Plague Monkey Spencer Larsen" brought around, we spent a lovely Tuesday evening with Grandma Karen, Aunt Becca, Sera, Gabe, Ryan (Who had the plague at that point.), and myself. We went to Veterans Memorial Park right by the West Jordan City Hall. It was so nice to spend our one night a week with Sera outside and playing. I feel bad that Ryan was sick but he took one for the team and spent most of the time lying on a blanket while the rest of us played.

We took lots of pictures that night. Becca loved taking Gabe the every spot at the park. And Sera, being so grown up, played with some kids her own age. I try not to hover over Sera when at the park because she would rather play with kids than with me or Ryan. But she did occasionally swing by and say hi.

This picture is of Aunt Becca and Grandma Karen pushing Gabe in the swing. As you can see, Gabe "thrilled."

And then it was Mommy's turn to push Gabe. And again...he could hardly contain his excitement.

Here we see Gabe enjoying some time in the grass. He kept trying to crawl away from us and we kept chasing him down. Just look at his bright blue eyes! If he wasn't so cute, I might not chase after him...JUST KIDDING BUBS!

And finally we have a video of Gabe and his new favorite thing: a balloon. All day we have been listening to the same squeals of delight. I secretly keep hoping that the balloon will pop but I haven't gotten lucky...yet...

Let him eat cake!

2010-06-06T23:52:00.005-06:00

Tonight we spent the evening at my Mom and Dad's house. Mom usually does a big dinner on Sunday and so we decided to join them. It was my favorite meal: Pot roast, carrots, mashed potatoes with gravy, and salad. YUM!

I was in charge of dessert and so I went with my standby: strawberry short cake. Ryan doesn't care for more sweet stuff but he does like strawberry short cake. And while we were are enjoying our after dinner treat, my sister made the mistake of giving Gabe a taste of whip cream. His eyes got wide and he started going after her plate like a moth to a flame. He was a baby on a mission. So after we all finished our cake we made sure that our plates still had whip cream and strawberry juice and then...we let Gabe take care of the rest!

As you can see, he wanted to eat the plate along with what was on it.

Hope you enjoyed your Sunday evening as much as Gabe obviously did. Love you all!

9 Month Birthday

2010-06-05T22:52:00.007-06:00

Happy 9 Month Birthday!!

As you can see Bubs, your 9 month picture is not like your previous birthday pics. You are not lying down and I am certainly not trying measure you. You would not have such a thing. Around our house now, if you are not standing, then you are crawling to place where you can pull yourself up. In this past month you have gone from my cute stationary cherub to a lightning-fast howler monkey of doom. And please know, I say that with all the love in my heart.

I am not sure where the past 4 weeks have gone but I can probably guess that you had something to do with it. You love taking things that you shouldn't have and either shoving them DIRECTLY into your mouth and crawling away with them and throwing them across the room. Your chubby little fingers always seem to find something the grab and then cling to with a grip I can only compare to the Jaws of Life.

You are fixated on my hair, my cellphone, my jewelry, the remote control, and about any beverage that we leave out. And of course, the more we say "No" the more you seem to want it. And once you grab it, believe you me, we have to pry your five Anaconda Strength fingers from around it all while trying to avoid getting bit by your 2 sharp teeth. And when we finally are able to force you to let go, you scream like you were just forced to look directly into the sun for five hours straight all while the "It's a Small World" song plays on repeat in your ears.

You have become stubborn and are gaining a certain amount of independence. You want what you want and you want it RIGHT NOW DAMN IT! DO NOT MAKE ME TELL YOU TWICE WOMAN! But you laugh more too. And it is becoming easier to make you smile. As you learn and grow you are beginning to see the world in a whole new light.

You are learning more and more each day. You can now wave Hi and clap your hands. You definitely are familiar with your name and know when we are talking to you. And you say "Da da da da da" like it is the only word that you will EVER need to know. Your father loves it when you say this-he feels so special. And I will admit here, that as cute as I find your babbling, I wish you would say Mama too. But I know that day is not far away.

You are growing bigger and stronger too. And are eating so much and losing that baby fat that I love. Your chubby little legs are getting more muscle and thinning out. I knew this was going to happen but it is a little sad to see them go. You are becoming a little boy and less of my tiny baby. And because of all this moving and growing, you are beginning to really value your naps which remind me that no matter how big you get, when you sleep, you will always look like my precious tiny baby.

You love exploring your surroundings. You want to climb over, crawl into, and look at everything you can. This past month you have really started figuring out your world and how things work. And sometimes this works to your advantage while other times you get yourself stuck and are not quite sure how to get yourself out.

But no matter how much you grow and how smart you get, I have realized that you will forever be my little boy.

So happy 9 month birthday Gabriel. You are crawling like mad, standing up, "talking" all the time, and I simply cannot get enough of you! You have taught me so much about love and I cannot wait to see you grow even more. Please never stop smiling at me and always continue to learn. You make me proud and have given me the best 9 months of my life.

Happy birthday Bubba!

Love always, Mommy

He's a Real Mover

2010-05-24T22:42:00.006-06:00

Hello again Internet! Another week down and not much has been going on. I will mention that today is Ryan's 28th birthday. Sera picked out a new shirt and jeans for him. Gabriel bought him the last expansion for his Killer Bunnies game. And I bought him tickets to the CAKE concert for June 19th. He did not have to work today so he spent his time relaxing with Gabe and playing with his new Droid phone. I will admit that I am worried he's going to have an affair with his new phone.

Now that I have said all that: TIME FOR BABY PICTURES!!!

This is a picture of Bubs with a wipe on his head. For some reason this wipe was really freaking him out. And the look on his face says it all!

A little later that day we gave Gabe his first real taste of an Otter-Pop. He loved the whole thing except he did not want to hold it-I think it must have been too cold for him. I also find it FREAKING ADORABLE that his food matches his eyes.

And finally this video is for Grandma Linda, Grandpa Scott, Great Grandpa Willard, and Uncle T. Let me start by saying sorry to Linda for not getting this loaded sooner. It seems like every time I went to take video, something went wrong with my camera or Gabe started screaming. But tonight I finally got it right and I give you Bubs On the Go! The quality isn't perfect but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Much love to all our all family and friends from Montana, Utah, and everywhere else!

Big Events

2010-05-12T23:03:00.010-06:00

This past week has been very busy for my family. With mostly fun and happy moments but also a sad one. I will start with that because I feel it is the respectful thing to do.

On Monday morning my Grandma Diane's older sister, my Aunt Ruth, passed away. I didn't know my Aunt Ruth as well as my sister or my brother did, but the moments I did share with her were often filled with laughs and fun. I mean, how can it not be fun when you hear a woman in her late 80's talking about Auto-Erotic Asphyxiation? She was intelligent, kind, and hard-working. And I know that she will be missed by many people.

That being said last week was crammed with BIG events. Starting with my sister graduating from the University of Utah with...are you ready for this Internet? HER MASTERS! I KNOW! HOLY SHIT! I am so incredibly proud of her and all the hard work she has put into this. She is smarter than she gives herself credit for. And I know that she is going to take her MSW and change lives. She truly is making a difference and is doing good in this world.

But of course this night was really about me...

And of course, it wasn't just me that was there-Gabe and Ryan came along to show their support to Becca. I mean look at Gabe stare at his Aunt Becca in awe!

And then Saturday marked a HUGE moment for my parents as they were married in the Manti Temple. I am happy for my parents to reaching this goal that at one point in time, seemed like it would never happen. I know how much this means to them and I cannot truly express how happy I am for them. They have both worked very hard to get here and that says A LOT about them.

After they were sealed in the temple, we all went to my Aunt Wynn's dairy farm in Sterling, UT. Sera enjoyed all the cows and climbing on the hay. I was worried that she was going to have allergy issues but she did just fine. She played and ran so much that she slept almost the whole 2 hours for our drive home. I only hope that we will be able to go back before she gets so old that a day on the dairy farm won't be so cool anymore.

And of course Gabe had fun too. Here we see one baby bonding with another baby. Shortly after I took this picture the cow licked his face. NASTY! He didn't seem to care about it nearly as much as I did.

And here is a picture of my family outside the Manti Temple. I know this picture is a little out of order but oh well! My blog! Sadly this is the best picture I have of all of us together that. Please forgive the blurriness of the photo. But just look at how happy my Dad looks? That right there is priceless.

Thanks to everyone for a great week! I love you all and will post again soon!

Can You Hear Him Now?

2010-05-04T22:27:00.000-06:00

Why yes, I always buy cell phones to match my Baby's eyes.

It's Full of Lots of Brains

2010-05-02T23:37:00.002-06:00

This was the same sweater that I brought him home from the hospital in. Yes it still fits him because my sister bought a VERY LARGE size for him. Well it mostly fits. LOOK AT THE HOOD! I put the hood up and his giant head almost didn't fit in it. And for those of you who are wondering, yes I am addicted to that smile.

Set the washer to the Extra Cute cycle

2010-05-02T08:29:00.002-06:00

While working on the MOUNTAIN of laundry that I have in my room, Gabe decided to help me out by playing with the laundry basket. Now that he is growing up, he wants to help all that he can.

Happy 8 Months

2010-05-01T14:39:00.009-06:00

Happy 8 Month Birthday Little Man!

Eight months...I can hardly believe it. I look at you with your two bottom teeth, chubby little legs, and bright blue eyes and I still see a tiny baby. But then I go back and look at the photos from the day you were born and I realize how big you really are. And I am sure that this will happen for the rest of your life. Everyday I will see you as my sweet baby boy and every day you will do something to remind me that you are growing up right before my eyes.

This month has been jam-packed with firsts. It started with your first long car trip to Montana where you met your Uncle Todd for the very first time. You did such a good job being in the car for 7-8 hours. Both your Dad and I were surprised and grateful that you did so well. And we are VERY GRATEFUL for your big sister Sera who was so willing to play with you and keep you entertained during those few moments that you started to get bored.

And in just these past few days, you have learned how to crawl. Now I will say this, you can't crawl well. In fact, it is more of a scoot that you can only do for short distances and then you have to stop. But I am still excited to see how you progress with this.

I will never forget the first moment your Dad and I saw you crawl. I had just finished making dinner. You Dad had just finished feeding you your dinner. He got up and came into the kitchen to grab his plate and as we both turned to corner to come around and into the living room and there you were. On all fours and you scooted forward-first your left knee and then your right. I let out a sqeal and it startled you so much that you stopped. I looked at your Dad and said, "DID YOU JUST SEE THAT?!?!" All he could do was smile so big and nod. We were both so proud of Gabe. You make us so happy.

You have also learned how to sit up all on your own. Now you can roll from one end of the room to the other, stop, and sit up. You don't sit up by lying on your back and sitting straight up from there. Oh no! You get up onto all fours and sort of back into a sitting position. This has become very useful for you because now you can roll to an item and sit up to play with it.

You are becoming so very expressive! Your actions are really starting to let your actions do your talking. This can be adorable like when you eat something yummy and you smile and wave your arms all around. Or it can be frustrating like when you eat something not so yummy and you try to slap the spoon away. Or like when I am trying to change your butt and you fight me every step of the way. You will roll away, kick your legs, or arch your back and this causes me stress. You get poop on yourself, on me, and on the floor. I guess we need to start trying to teach you what "NO" means now. DANG IT!

But despite the fact the sometimes you are a grumpy little stink, you are the sunshine in my day. You smile at me and your blue eyes light up. You lean in and give me "baby kisses" which are slobbery and sweet. And you will still fall asleep in my arms at times and snuggle up against me. I love you so much Gabriel Scott. You bring me a level of happiness I never knew I could reach.

So Happy 8 Month Birthday Chunky Monkey! Number 9 is sure to be even better! WE LOVE YOU!

Cached In

2010-04-27T22:59:00.010-06:00

This weekend we had Sera and at her request, spent much of our time Geocaching. She got into last week when we went to Decker Lake and found a great cache. And since the weather was perfect to be outside, we decided to humor her and go out caching again. We found quite a few caches and most were big enough for tradeable items. Sera had fun trying to be sneaky and avoid being seen by non-Geocachers. And as you can see from the pictures below, Gabe joined in on the fun as well.

We also had dinner with my parents on Sunday and decided to let Gabe experiment with feeding himself. As you can see this turned out to be more of preformance art than dinner time. He wore most of it as warrior face paint then getting it into his mouth. It was great watching him try though.

And of course, after his dinner attempt, he ended up in the bath. It was a prefect ending to a perfect weekend.

Bad Habits

2010-04-20T22:17:00.003-06:00

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been slacking on the posts. It's not that I have been really busy. It's just that ever since I got sick and then we went to Montana, I have been out of the habit of posting. But I promise to try and get back into my normal routine of a daily post.

Tonight was a nice night with Sera. We took her Geocaching after dinner and let he find some treasure. She liked it so much that we are going to try and go again this weekend as long as the weather is nice enough. I'll be sure to take my camera along to get some pictures. But for now, here is a cute picture of Gabe who instead of crawling forward, scooted backwards under his play mat. I am sure that within the next few weeks, my sweet baby boy will turn into a tiny crawling gremlin.

This was Gabe the other night. He was so tired but he would not settle down enough to let us put him to bed. Instead, he wanted to roll around on our bed making grumble noises and looking angry. But even his angry face is cute. And no matter what mean things, like bedtime, that we try to do to him I know that his shirt doesn't lie. He still loves us.

HA-ZAA!

2010-04-14T22:41:00.008-06:00

As some of you may know, Ryan and I have been trying to get into Geocaching. Thanks to a friend of mine who blogged about it, I heard about this wonderful activity. And since we have a GPS we decided to give it a try.

After the first time we went, I will admit that I was ready to throw in the towel on Geocaching. We looked for one at Decker Lake and couldn't find it, plus the GPS died. After we tried another near Gabe's daycare and even though the GPS said we were right on it, we couldn't find anything. In fact, the only thing we brought home was dirty laundry for me to wash because Ryan fell in a ditch trying to locate the cache.

So when Ryan suggested that we go "Treasure Hunting" tonight, I grumbled on the inside. I really did not want to go but it was such a nice evening. Not to mention that Gabe and I could use a little fresh air and walking. So I agreed to go and even plugged the coordinates into the GPS for Ryan.

We went to find our first cache and found nothing but a green gas station dinosaur statue that smelled like cat pee. (Don't ask!) Second one we tried to find, Ryan ended up jumping over a wall and disappearing for about 5 minutes so I thought he might have been dead. This was strike 2 for the night. Now all of Ryan's hopes hung on a cache supposedly located at Taylorsville Park.

We drove over to the park and got out of the car. We started walking towards our destination per the GPS. As we got closer I could not off-road the stroller with Gabe inside so Ryan headed into the bushes. I could see his red shirt through the sticks and was starting to get restless. I was already frustrated by our first 2 caches coming up empty.

But suddenly Ryan holds up a pipe with a sprinkler attached to it. I am about to yell at him for destroying public property when he comes running towards me with a HUGE smile on his face and sprinkler-pipe still in his hands. He twists off the lid to the sprinkler and it turns out, it isn't a sprinkler at all. Inside it a ziplock back with a small notebook and various little items. He then yells "HA-ZAA!" in victory. I had to admit my defeat at that point. From that cache we took a small soccer ball whistle and left a little green army man.

But we weren't done there. Oh no! Now Ryan had a taste for treasure. He knew that if we went went to the place where he had fallen in the ditch that he could find the other cache. That cache was his Unicorn or something. So we head back. And after getting busted by a security guard who, after we explained that we were "hunting treasure" (Who would honestly believe that?!?!?), pointed us right to the hidden cache. Where was that guy 4 weeks ago before Ryan ended up in the ditch? He explained that he had met a few Geocachers and knew that we meant no harm so he didn't kick us out, but instead helped us. From this cache we took a little pink plastic chip and left a small green army man.

But we still weren't done because now, I am into it. So we plug in one final set of coordinates. It is so close to our house we could walk there. We drive up to it and trying to be as stealthy as possible to avoid any "muggles." (What Geocachers call passersby who might catch us trying to get our treasures.) We looked under a pile of very large and heavy rocks to find a large old ammo box. SUCCESS!!! From this we took a small rubber snake and left yet another green army man. When it is all said and done, Ryan and I hope to have sleeper cells of little green army men hidden in caches all over Salt Lake Valley. BEWARE!!!

In the end I am glad the Ryan kept pushing this activity. It turned out to be a lot of fun. And hopefully the next time we have Sera we will be able to go again so that she can find some treasure for herself. I know that she would be just as into it, if not more, than we are.

Also for those of you who ONLY stop by to see pictures of the kids, here is a picture of Gabe after a long night of playing video games with Ryan. As you can see, his Mountain Dew high has clearly worn off and his hand are tired from all the "L2, R2, X,X,O...DAMN YOU! I SAID JUMP!"

Easter 2010

2010-04-14T22:17:00.005-06:00

I am finally getting to post about the wonderful trip that Ry and I made to Montana for Easter weekend. We left early on Friday morning with Gabe and Sera loaded in the back seat and made the 7 & 1/2 hour drive to Butte, Montana. Ryan's parents made a long drive, about 4 hours, from their home in Billings, Montana as well. We all met Ryan's brother in Butte so that we could spend some time together.

This is the second time I have been in Butte on Easter and it is so much fun. I really enjoy going to Butte and it is a nice meeting point for all of us. Ry and I would love to be able to spend more time with Ryan's family but find it hard with work and now 2 kids that we have to load up and get there in one piece.

The drive to and from Montana was good and we didn't encounter any issues. The weather was great, the kids did AMAZING (this was Gabe's first long car ride), and my Escape made it without exploding.

We ate, we went swimming, we played games, and most importantly, we got to spend some quality time with the Baker side of our family. Like I said, we feel bad that we don't get to see them as often so we honestly do cherish what little time we do get.

So here are some of my favorite pictures from our visit. And I am going to give credit where credit is due: most of these were taken by Scott and Linda. I left my camera at home and our video camera doesn't take great pictures. So thanks to Scott and Linda for such a wonderful weekend. We love you guys and miss you. And thanks to Todd for being such a great host. We hope to see you all again very soon!!!

Grandpa Scott, Grandma Linda, Sera, and Gabe on Easter morning in the hotel room.

Sera & Gabe in their adorable Easter outfits.

The Baker Family on Easter Morning-April 4, 2010

Happy 7 Months!!!

2010-04-07T21:21:00.005-06:00

Happy Seven Month Birthday!!!

Happy 7 month birthday Baby Boy! You are 7 months old plus a few extra days because honestly, I was so busy this past couple weeks and didn't get the chance to post yet. But here you are, 7 months old and still doing AMAZING! You're smile is as infectious as ever and you just keep on growing.

You finally got the hang of sitting up this past month. After months of trying and helping you along, you finally figured out of to balance enough to not fall straight on your chubby little face. And now it seems like you would rather be sitting up all on your own than lying down or sitting in your swing. You will sit in the middle of the floor and play with your toys and smile at your Dad and I.

In this past month your first teeth have also come through. It was a long process filled with lots of tears and sore gums. Lets just say that we went through lots of Oragel and Tylenol. But you finally have one tooth that has really come through and your second one has just started. This of course means that we have had to be more careful about what you chew on. When before we could let you gum on apples now we can't because you'll little chunks and that makes you gag.

In the past 4 weeks you have also become expert in rolling across the floor. You'll roll from one side of the room to the other and then back again. This habit of rolling has also continued on into your bed. You are still sleeping in the bassinet in our bedroom and you will now roll onto your side as well as your tummy. Being on your side in fine but sleeping on your tummy is driving me nuts. I have to flip you onto your back and every time I do, you wake up and get mad at me.

You Dad and I love spending time with you Gabe. We will lay on the floor and play with you and your toys. We will give you baths in the kitchen sink while you splash water all over the floor and us. We feed you jars upon jars on baby food and watch you grow bigger and bigger. It seems like every day you learn something new and do something to make us laugh.

Your smile makes us smile. Your laugh makes us laugh. Your cry makes us...well actually you do this little gurgle thing when you cry and that kind of makes me laugh too. You are the sunshine in my life and I cannot imagine my life without you. Thank you for all the joy and happiness that you have given your Dad and I over the past 7 months. I am excited to see what the next month is going to bring us. And as always, Happy 7 Month Birthday Bubba!!!

Why Hello!

2010-03-29T22:52:00.002-06:00

Now that Gabe is EXCELLENT at rolling over he will get onto his stomach and look out into the bedroom. So now we will look over at his bed and this is what we see. Two big blue eyes watching us...creepy.

A "Zoo-per" Ending To a Great Weekend!

2010-03-28T23:58:00.003-06:00

Today we woke up a little late and missed church. So instead, we decided to go to the zoo since it was such a beautiful day. We got lucky because it was the perfect mixture of cool breeze and sunshine. And the animals at the zoo seemed to like it too-they were all very active.

We had a great weekend with the kids. And of course, we talked a lot about next weekend when we make the EIGHT HOUR drive to Montana to spend Easter with Ryan's family. Ryan's brother has never met Gabe, Linda hasn't seen him since Thanksgiving, and Scott hasn't seen him since he was about 4 weeks old. I can only hope they are as excited to see us as we are to see them. MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL!

Parks & Rec

2010-03-27T22:47:00.005-06:00

Today we went to Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan. It was the nicest day we have had so far this year and we decided to take the kids to the park. The playground at this park is the most amazing park and Sera loves it so much. There is so much for her to play with and she runs until she drops.

I tooks lots of pictures and these are some of my favorites. This is one of Ryan pushing Gabe in the swing.

And Ryan was kind enough to snap this one of Gabe and I. I think Ryan and I were having more fun with the swing than Gabe was. He just seemed cold and would occasionally crack a tiny smile because we were dancing around like idiots trying to entertain him.

And here is a close up of Gabe-zilla having his first ride in a swing.

And finally this is such an AMAZING picture of Sera! I wish I could take the credit but Ryan was the one to get this. And it was hard because when Sera knows she is on camera she will act cheesey and silly. So he spent quite some time secretly snapping pictures and caught her here having so much fun! And honestly, this is one of my most favorite pictures of Sera EVER!

It was such a nice day and I am glad the weather is starting to get better so that we can have more days just like this.

A Review

2010-03-27T22:28:00.003-06:00

This week has been such a busy week. Both Ryan and Gabe were sick and so I was busy taking care of them. And yes, both are better now. I am not going to write much here because honestly, other than 2 sick boys, nothing too exciting has really happened.

This first picture is from yesterday when we gave Gabe his first bath in the kitchen sink. The first time he splashed the water with his hand he stopped, looked at his hand, and started to splash all the water from the sink. The floor was one GIANT puddle by the time we finished the bath.

This one shows just how flexible this little man is. And he loves eating his feet. I am not sure why babies love this but I am sure glad that they do because it makes for adorable pictures!!!

And finally this picture shows just how good Gabe is at sitting up. We have been really working with him so that by the time we headed to Montana for Easter he would be able to sit up on his own. This picture makes me oh so proud of him!

BEEF! It's What's For Dinner!

2010-03-21T23:20:00.003-06:00

Don't worry! We were being really careful about any chunks that he might accidentally swallow. And we only let him drink about a half a beer and it was LIGHT BEER! Too many carbs make him gassy.

Suckiest Bunch of Sucks That Ever Sucked

2010-03-21T14:14:00.005-06:00

Notice anything about Gabe's right eye? Does it looks a little puffy or PINK to you? IT DOES?!?! Well that must mean Gabe got Pink Eye. And the title of this post represents how I feel about the last few days I have spent taking care of my sick baby boy. So now you know why I have not posted almost all this week. Gabe got sick on Wednesday afternoon at daycare and by the time I got home from work, he was sitting on the couch with his Dad and his right eye was almost swollen shut. Funny thing was he was still smiling and laughing.

So Thursday Ryan stayed home with him and took him to the doctor where he was given this gel that we have to rub into his eye. Let me tell you how much he doesn't love that. He screams and jerks his head like he just licked an electrical outlet.

And his mood only got worse over the next couple days. Friday my Mom and sister helped me out by watching him while I went to work for a few hours. But the rest of the night he was cranky and miserable. Saturday was just more of the same. I know he is also teething and so this does not help his mood any. I will say this though, my Little Bird will always feel well enough to eat no matter how poorly he feels.

Today has been much better though. His eye is still a little goopy but his mood has improved so much. He is still pretty sleepy and gets a little fussy as well but I can tell he is feeling better. This is good because if he hadn't stopped crying soon I was going to give him to the Goblin King. (JUST KIDDING!)

Smells Fresh

2010-03-16T22:49:00.001-06:00

Feeling fresh and clean Gabe decided to eat his foot and look really cute while doing it.

Pit Stop

2010-03-15T22:09:00.002-06:00

If only Gabe would remember where he parked his Ferrari he wouldn't have to eat his keys. Also he wishes he could see over the steering wheel.

Geometry Is Not Her Strongest Subject

2010-03-13T12:03:00.005-07:00

Last night Ryan picked up Sera for our weekend. When they got home, Gabe, myself, and my sister Becca were already here at the house. Sera loves Becca because as I have mentioned before, Becca will do all sorts of fun stuff with her that often leads to mischief. Last night they decided to use the big foam blocks to build towers up around Gabe so that he could knock them down. They did this by Sera looking at a picture and then directing Becca on where to place certain blocks. Becca, always looking to sneak learning in where she can, was asking Sera what shapes all the blocks were. Green square...CHECK. Purple triangle...CHECK. Polka dot triacticle....wait what? Folks, you heard me right. Sera was trying to remember the word rectangle and instead came out with triacticle. Personally, I like it much better than the world rectangle but oh well.

After building block time was over "someone" started throwing blocks (NO! NOT ME) and one thing led to another and Sera ended up getting pegged in the face by a not-so-soft red bridge looking thing. Ryan tends not to know his own strength and while trying to play, instead smacked Sera in the face with a block. Sera didn't cry and there was no mark, I think it startled her more than anything. And I will be honest that it was all Bec and I could do not to burst out laughing.

We also had dinner and played one game of Killer Bunnies. After all that Becca headed home and I read Sera a very long book about kangaroos. Fun fact: kangaroos cannot go backwards because their tails are too long.

It was a great night with the family. Ryan was really tired and didn't feel up to going out anywhere and now I am okay with that. It was such a quiet but fun night at home with my family. But in hindsight maybe instead of reading a book about kangaroos we should have read one about shapes...triacticle...

Welcome To Our World

Improvising

Literally Bouncing Off the Walls

Nuts About the Zoo

Clearly They're Not Golfers

Let's Hear It For the Girls!

Precious

2 Year Celebration!

Happy 10 Year Birthday Sera!

Big Stinky Feet

Adios 2011!

The Liebster Blog Award

I Love Ryan Scott Baker

Not So Scary Santa

Giving Thanks I Didn't Burn Down My House

On the Mend

Superiority Complex

Chatter Box

It's Dino-mite! Get it? DINO!

My Good Looking Guys

Halloween 2011

Sometimes It Really Is About Me

Boo at the Zoo 2011

All Skin and Bones

Not a Foodie For Sure!

Our Family 2011

Sneak Peek!

Tough Beans

A VERY Belated 2-Year Birthday Letter

All Growed Up & Married

Baby You Can Drive My Car!

2 Year Stats

He Keeps Us Laughing

Gabe 1-Mom & Dad 0

Words of Encouragement From Sera

Personal Ad

Cross It Off His Bucket List

Bees and Hippies and Hot Springs...OH MY!

Boot Scootin'

Top 10 Things That Are Bugging Me Right Now

So Much Love

The End of An Era

Boys of Summer

Top 10 Things I Have Recently Discovered

Pure Toddler Terror

Where's Gabe?

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?

Seriously?

M/M/M and More!

WTF?!?!

Good Clean Family Fun

Part 2...FINALLY!

Easter Weekend 2011 (Part 1)

He's a Lumberjack & He's Okay

Top Ten Again! (& Gabe Too)

He Claims the Newspaper Started It But I'm Not Sure

Red Yellow Green Red Blue Blue Blue...

More Little Milks Please!

Two Amazing Sundays!

Why do I bowl? HONESTLY!

I LOVE YOU ALL! SERIOUSLY!

Better Than Emeril...BAM!

For the Benefit of Mr. Kite

*Imagine the Theme Song From Jaws Here*

Fancy Pants

To Shut Everyone Up

Have An "Ice" Day

We love Christmas time

The Famous Mr. Ed

Men Always Look Good In Uniform

PROOF!

A VERY Belated One-Year Birthday

Will Return...I Promise!

11 Months

Secret Code

4th of July Fun

10 Month Birthday

Mick Jagger

Walk In the Park

Let him eat cake!

Imagine the Theme Song From Jaws Here