Kyle, Ky Ky, Ga Goos, Bubba

My baby is one!
The progression and development of a face amazes me. A little baby changes so much in the first year, yet each day they look the same to you until you look back at pictures!







He is so much fun! He loves us. He loves to play with toys. He has been such a good baby all year long...going with the flow of our lives. He's been ripped from peaceful slumbers more times that I can remember {multiple times a week} and tags along to our busy schedules so well! He has started to exert his opinion more in the last month...especially when he's getting left out of playing with daddy and the brothers {especially wrestling}.

The nicknames at the top...
we all use ky ky.
Ryan and Sean started calling him Ga goos when he first started making noises.
I call him Bubba sometimes.

Accomplishments:
can sign: all done, more, hi/bye, thank-you or blow kisses (not sure which it really is), no-no

8 teeth - 4 top, 4 bottom {working on the bottom molars}

makes all-in-one truck/motorcycle/car noise

points to nose and eyes upon command

hold up one finger when asked how old he is

sticks out tongue for what a lizard does (learned 5 days after birthday)

walked up to 7 steps 4 days after his birthday...started to love his walking toys the night of his birthday. (he's up to 10 steps a few days later...I'll try to get video on it soon!)

claps hands on command to "if you're happy and you know it."

laughs and claps along with others - so cute!

Favorites:

blue minkee blanket

toothbrush

mom's wallet

going through toy boxes

cheese, oatmeal, anything we're eating

Stats:

height - 30 inches (56%)

weight - 22 lb 14 oz (50%)

head - 18.75 inches (82%)

making 4 wheeler noises while sitting on new birthday Kawasaki!

LOVED birthday cake! Of course after a while...he was so messy...and the cake was obliterated...he started to throw...so he had to be stopped!
*don't look too close at my cake deco...the frosting was too warm and soft...and I was in a rush!

the blue frosting is in dedication to his first love ~ the blanket...read on.

My baby and his blanket.

This is a continual source of humor in our home. Kyle's blanket.
He loves this blanket. He prefers the shaggy side, not the polka dotted side. I have numerous blankets, including two other blue minkee fabric blanets, but both are slightly different - but super soft nonetheless. Regardless, Kyle loves this one. I can't quite remember when the attachment began, it seems like he's always preferred it to the other blankets. Here he is at 9 1/2 months and 10 1/2 months and his love hasn't changed. Last Sunday someone left their infant carrier with an identical pink blanket in the Primary Room. Kyle was so tired and ready for a nap, and then he saw it. And went to it and attacked with the same love as he would his own...apparently color doesn't matter. He ended up crawling entirely into the carrier for a snuggle{I ended up taking it out of the Primary room as soon as he got distracted}. The interaction was hilarious to watch go down. Today I had a Prim. pres. meeting at my house and when he was tired and we weren't finished, I gave him his blanket and he cuddled on the floor for a good 20 minutes or more! It's so stinking funny!
Here he is trying to get at it through the crib. When he's tired, it relaxes and soothes him. But he doesn't need it all day and doesn't carry it around. When he does happen to see it/find it, he is full of glee! He is so funny about it...often totally attacking it as if he were an animal.

(For the record...my other two boys never cared about any blanket. Sometimes they'd like to sleep with a stuffed dog, but it wasn't til later and it wasn't a big deal. Yes, I too had a baby blanket and slept with it at night until I got married. I am not ashamed...it was soft and added extra warmth...especially in the neck region that doesn't get adequately warm inside the covers.)

Kindergarten is so CUTE!

These are my kind of pirates! Today was Pirate Day! Kindergarten pirates are adorable.


Now that pirates have made a comeback on the high seas...it seems a little strange to celebrate...and all the way to school...the boys were asking me if there were any good pirates. But it's fun to dress up, pretend and talk funny!

His pirate gear was so fun to put together! I made the vest out of a scrap piece of flannel this morning! I also altered an old white shirt of mine...sewed the front together so there were no buttons and cut the collar and top a bit...tore the bottom so it was a little ragged and took in the back so it would fit him better. It took a few tried to get it just how we wanted it, but was super easy! I only wish I would have had time to look for the treasure bead necklaces I knew I had...found them on the first try after school - it was halloween costume worthy.

Ryan's school Open House was last month...and it was all just so cute! I found out he asked Scott a few nights before the open house if his grandparents, aunts, unlces and cousins were going to get to come. So since he wished you could all check out his class and his projects and that couldn't happen, here are some pictures...this is the wall where all the kids were holding kites. It was so cute! He wrote a story about his magic kite that took him to Arizona to play Star Wars with his cousins!

And this is his self portrait...if you look closely you'll see that he painted a Yankees logo (NY) on his hat.

He was proud of his work. His writing is beautiful.

He's progressed so much this year and it's really neat.

I get to volunteer one Friday a month. This is Ryan and Jonathan after my butterfly center last week.
I just love going into the classroom. I wish it was more! I love getting to know the teachers, kids and observing my own little man. Fridays are craftsy days so we've made some fun stuff...though I think next year I'll try to get into the classroom during learning centers to keep up on everything.

My girls!

Yes. I do have girls...from Young Womens! I love these girls so much!

Summer 2008 before Brooke left for BYU!

I was released from my Young Women's calling about a month ago now. Before time slips away, I wanted to show them off and make journal for me and my posterity. I've been stalling for some pictures and haven't gotten them yet...and if I ever do, I'll add them (i really want the group picture (and other cute ones) from our ward camp morning hike circa 2006)...it's for my own benefit anyway.

This was my third time being in YW as a leader...as in the past I kept moving before being released. So this time I got to be with the girls for a long time (3 years) and it was awesome. I've watched them grow up. I've seen them mature. I've seen some go off to college and some about to go off to college. I will miss them terribly! My new calling is Primary Secretary which is really great and I already love it, but because I have my duties to attend to on Sundays I can't hang with them in the halls and visit so I'm a ghost now at church to them...and I don't want them to think that because I'm not in there or I can't visit much or at all in the halls that I don't love them or miss them anymore!

These girls are just awesome. There is such a wonderful feeling between them...as younger ones and older ones are friendly and comfortable around eachother. I remember being a little Beehive myself and feeling like the older girls probably didn't even know my name.

And you wouldn't believe how talented they are either! Sports, academics, music, etc...you name it!

Brooke holding my baby Kyle at the surprise baby shower from all of them!

Modest Fashion show ~ Fall 2006

I was the MC... It was funny.

Me and Jenner - she's not one of the YW...she was the Laurel advisor at the time...but I found this old picture...and since she is one of my favorite ladies and we probably have no other pictures together...sad!...I included it. Miss you Jenner!

Spring 2006 ~ Mini Golf
Beehives

Mini Golf ~ same day 2007

Beehives Fall 2007

Fall 2007 ~ Sacramento Temple

Winter Ball 2007

I wasn't actually at their school dance...I stole this picture from a friend's blog...because I love it. Look how pretty and modest they are!

All dressed up! Beauties!
I think I teared up the first time I saw this picture!

The three on the left are the only ones who I've not actually had in my own class(but it doesn't feel that way at all...all the younger ones circulated through my Beehive class and the beauty on the right was in my Sunday School class before I was called into YW...along with other older ones too. Despite the fact that they've never officially been mine, I love them just as much! Since our group is pretty small, we most activities together and summers we always combine our lessons, in addition to the first sunday of each month.

Fall 2008 ~ Street Corner

Halloween Party 2008

I have so many awesome memories from my first year when my Beehives were so young to our Ward camp that year - nicknames and all - you would not believe my nickname...and it'd take such an explanation...oh good times:) to Heart attacking our new Riley when I was prego and couldn't run fast to slumber parties (staying up til 2 while prego - craziness...playing camps and Mafia) to a snow activity, Christmas caroling in the rain, going to tennis, softball, basketball, dance team half time and soccer games(and there are musical performances and track meets, etc that I still haven't made it to yet...), basketball championship(go seahorses! or horses of the sea - Sean's favorite cheer), countless lessons...a few silent lessons...sweet testimonies. I missed out on two years of Stake Camps and that makes me sooo sad...Scott even got to go see them at camp last year and I didn't! Apparently babies are not welcome at Girls Camp - booo!

Fall 2008 ~ Sacramento Temple

It was a priviledge and honor to serve both in the Young Women's organinzation and among these Young Women! They are such good girls. I loved being around them! It was a joy to serve with the other leaders too. The ladies of the two Young Women boards I served on in this ward are some of my favorite people! You know how that happens? When you serve with people you are connected in a spiritual way and friendship way. It's awesome!

The day we were all released was a tough one. Letting go after three years and knowing you won't get to be around these stellar young ladies as much is really sad but at the same time, needing/wanting to supporting change in a ward is good as change happens and is inspired. My last year was icing on the cake because when Scott was called into the Bishopric last year, I thought they'd surely release me. They didn't and I couldn't be at mutual this last year nearly as much as I would have liked so that was tough. But I got to be among them a year longer and see their growth and teach more lessons which I loved....I just love teaching Young Women lessons! So while the release made some sense in my case it was still sad and teary at moments. But then during Opening Exercises when we said the theme(which everyone stands and repeats weekly), I don't think I could say but one word! My was I soo emotional because the Theme is so beautiful and means so much to me and I hope it means so much to them too. So I sign off my Ode to the Young Women with the Theme:

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father,

who loves us, and we love Him.

We will "stand as witnesses of God

at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9)

as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith

Divine Nature

Individual Worth

Knowledge

Choice and Accountability

Good Works

Integrity and

Virtue.

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,

we will be prepared to strengthen home and family,

make and keep sacred covenants,

receive the ordinances of the temple,

and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

Celebrate good times, come on!

We've had a busy fun filled week of many celebrations!

the birthday

As mentioned in a previous post, Seanny's birthday was this week! Due to rain, we post-poned his birthday party that was originally scheduled on his big day. Since I didn't want to make a full on cake twice...I made a serious last minute cupcake-cake (which Ryan was so excited about) a soccer ball with green coconut grass...seriously my lamest birthday cake attempt to date. Embarrasing, actually(i only had a few minutes to frost/decorate...and soccer balls are quite a challenge to freehand!)!


Here's the birthday boy with some presents.









the projects
















This week was also Ryan's spring break, so he got to play with us all week, but most importantly on our Preschool co-op day. I was pretty excited about this preschool project I found online for Easter! It's Jesus' empty tomb - made out of paper plates. Then we made chocolate pops from melted chocolate. And of course we dyed some easter eggs too...no cracked shells this year! (last year - Sean kept dropping the egggs into the cups too hard:( )

the amusement park

Friday we finally (we got season passes for Christmas from Scott's parents - yay!) got to go to Discovery Kingdom - which is a mix between Sea World, a Zoo and an amusement park. Here is a tiger diving after a chunk of meat.

Scott and Ryan throwing shockers on the mini roller coaster. Ryan has grown up a bunch this year as he went on a big, real roller coaster, the Cobra (last summer he wouldn't do a comparable one). Sean was really sad he couldn't go on the Cobra with dad and Ryan.

After the Shouka show! They loved it!

A Cheetah. Such a beautiful animal!

The cougars came up close to the fence to say hi to us...and made their cool noise!

Four flipping dolpins!

the party

Saturday was the highly anticipated birthday party (after testing out Sean's new golf club at the driving range)! Sean decided a soccer party would be fun...so Coach Scott brought out the cones, goals and whistle! He got the kids doing warm ups, some drills and ended with a game. Sean was in heaven! Since he's watched Ryan play on a soccer team, and now a t-ball team...he finally had his moment. His smile was so big, the kind that makes you feel so good...knowing how happy he was!

the teams...

A much better attempt at a soccer cake...especiallt since the soccer ball's design is officially super difficult to draw! (ignore the mushed frosting...there was a bit of a mishap in the fridge.)

the hunt

And today was Easter! We started off the day with an egg hunt in our backyard. I love their genuine excitement! When they squeal and laugh with glee it is so fun! We've heard a lot of that this week!

Easter Roll ~ Tombs

After our egg hunt we had these Easter rolls...I copied it from an old friend...but didn't remember it precisely. I'd only remembered that you use the frozen bread rolls and wrap them around a large marshmellow and cook - which created an empty tomb roll. I'd had this in my mind all year - but all I remembered was the marshmellow. I forgot she also dipped them in a bit of butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar - would have been a hit since Ryan mention he thought I was making cinnamon rolls. Also, I only had mini mellows so I just put a bunch in and so the hole for the tomb wasn't as good...but I just wanted to pass along the idea. I'd never heard of it before and I think it's a great tradition! Thanks Camille!

Handsome Easter boys before church! Capturing eyes and smiles from all three boys is pretty difficult all by myself!










Then we got to have another egg hunt after dinner with cousins!

Checking out the loot!

What a nice evening!

















the tooth

And the finale of the week of celebrating. Ryan noticed a loose tooth on Tuesday. He was so excited. From the first moment of wiggles he began talking about getting money from the tooth fairy. Then, even though he made sure we were careful on each tooth brushing, he decided tonight that it was time to pull it out. Scott gave him options...pull it out with finger, pull it out with string and finger, pull it out with string attached to doorknob. He chose pulling it out with a finger by dad. But that little wiggly tooth was a slippery one! So he decided to switch plans to the string attached to a doorknob!

After Scott got a lasso loop securely around that wiggly little tooth (many tries later) he gave it a tug and the tooth was out...they never made it to the doorknob. So brave. I remember my Grandpa Gene suggesting we attach a string to a doorknob to get one of my teeth out and it terrified me! No way ho-se! But my little man is growing up and chose it himself!

What a week. Hope I didn't bore you. We've had a great time...last night Sean asked what fun things we were going to get to do today. Today was a great one...our bishops wife even brought the kids a new Star Wars Lego set that she said the Easter Bunny left at her house for them...imagine the glee!

Tomorrow can't possibly top the last 5 days!

Happy Birthday Sean!

Today is Sean's birthday!

My parents put together this music video for Sean and it was so fun for us to watch, I thought I'd share with all! He is so cute!



One thing is for sure...life would not be as much fun without Sean around. He is hilarous!
He loves to laugh. Loves to tell stories about stuff...sometimes we have no clue what he's talking about. Sometimes he tells stories just so he can be the one talking...which means he makes stuff up, sometimes false...this bugs his big brother. He's naturally athletic. Smart too...with Ryan learning to read, he always wants his turn too...and can actually read some of it. He is my biggest helper, seriously will do anything and everything I ask him(bringing folded clothes upstairs and retrieving wipes or diapers are most frequent requests). He loves fruit - all kinds. He loves asparagus! He loves to play with his family and Ryan is his best friend. He shares his food...even candy...even the last one! He tells me that he loves me daily...then tells me how pretty I am. He thinks and says he loves me more than I love him, but I don't think so! We are so happy to have him as part of our family!