Roller Skating Bliss.... Happy Birthday Blakely!!!

Blakely has decided she loves to rollerskate. I think it's a bit ambitious for her age, but what do you do? So, she decided to have a rollerskating party. I thought my back might die trying to help a bunch of little tikes around the rink... but, luckily we could scooter too! Anyway, Blakely is such a fun girl. She is full of enery and pretty coordinated. She turned 6. I can't believe we have a 6 year old. She is such a great help to me and is a good big sister to Abby and Baya... We love you cute Blakely and hope to spend many more days chasing you around on your rollerskates!

Publish Post

With a litle toilet paper....

It's amazing what you can do with a little toilet paper!!! My cousin is getting married and at her shower we tried to create wedding dresses out of toilet paper.. i just watched! anyway, here are the dresses. I think my grandma looks so cute here modeling her dress! We are excited to see Sarah's real dress. thanks for the fun!

Hanging out... waiting for Spring

when possible, get out and see the sun shining and get some fresh air. that has been our motto for the winter. Well, last week we did get some nice weather. Here are some cute pics of the girls and our darling neighbor Claire playing at a local playground.... we love the sun!

my baby... is not so little anymore---

Baya is so fun right now. I always remember when my kids hit 8 months how I just love this stage. They are branching out so much. She is starting to babble a ton... giggle hysterically, and roll around like crazy and nearly crawling. She'll cross a whole room while I'm doing the dishes. It's like she's on the brink of not being my sweet little helpless baby anymore and spreading her wings and flying... so sad! But, also so fun to be a part of it.

Baya is 7 months

I took these pics at Baya's last appt. She is so darling... She is very into sitting and playing and this week started diving and rolling back and forth all over the floor. I predict crawling within the month. She is such a doll... And the chubbiest one we've ever had!

Bryan is 31!!!

Bryan turned 31 today... I look at it like--- well, I did that last year. But, it is starting to feel kind of older. I like being in the 30's. I'm okay with it. We had a fun gathering at our house tonight w/ family. Aram (to bry's right.. married to sister Karri) turned 31 a few days before so we tend to combine their parties every year for our traditional soup bash. Bryan make clam chowder once a year for his birthday. Abby put a necklace around him to look fancy for his party... it was a good night. ---- Bryan is really such an amazing dad and husband. I appreciate him so much and really enjoy the time we spend together. We have a lot of fun seeing new places and remembering the old places too. Happy Birthday...

Cute Girls

Blakely has now lost 6 teeth!!! She pulled it out herself the other night at Grandma's house. Here the girls are in their Valentine dresses! All three of them were helping me make juice for dad's party.

Abby is so brave--- up with kids

Abby and Blakely are in a dance/theatre /singing program called "up with kids." Abby is technically too young, but wanted to do it. Here she is doing a commercial for the group. She is so brave and it amazes me that she can memorize and be so cute! Blakely is going to be Flower in their play, and Abby is going to be the runt of the litter.

St. George of Martin Luther King weekend

We headed to St. George for a little break over Martin Luther King weekend. Bryan had taken a few days off so we hit the road.. with an extra little girl to make the trip a cousin delight. We took our cute niece w/ us too. The girls couldn't have been happier. We loved staying at G G and pampa Don's as they spoiled us w/ their delicious cooking. We took a stroll in Snow Canyon and ran through the sand dunes. Grandpa served the girls up ice cream every night and the girls were in heaven having what seemed like a sleepover night after night. It wasn't super hot, but we took the sunshine and 50 degree weather with a smile!!! These kids are pretty lucky... how many great grandparents do you know that can go out and hike w/ their grandkids?

teeth

We seem to have a lot of moments around teeth at our house lately. Blakely is the tooth losing machine... just lost her 5th, 6th is loose. She will be 6 in Feb. Baya on the other hand is teething... she just cut 3 and 4. This caused us to get all messed up w/ her sleeping habits. Anyway... Abby would like some tooth action; so today we made a big deal about how her teeth were so perfect w/ no cavities at the dentist! Bryan's teeth need a crown... luckily mine just need a good flossing!

Christmas Eve and Christmas

Abby trying to have Baya be baby Jesus Grandma Mary reporting to Santa Abby checking out the doll house Christmas morning at our house awaiting to see what Santa brought! The grandkids in their new jammies from G and G Ras Having a short play of the nativity Baya enjoys Christmas Eve This year we enjoyed Christmas Eve w/ the Rasmussen Family. We did a gift exchange w/ everyone, opened Christmas jammies, did a nativity, and even had a visit from a Santa... how did we fit it all in? We are so grateful for our wonderful families and all they do to spoil us and especially our kids. We are also grateful for the traditions that strengthen us and keep us going.

Christmas Events

e Every year we have a few traditions that we enjoy. I always get together w/ my highschool friends for a lunch the Saturday before Christmas. It's fun to see everyone and get an update on their lives. We also have a Sheppard/Lawrence family Christmas party usually the first Sat in December. Here the kids see Santa and we catch up w/ distant family that we usually only see a couple times a year. We also have on and off years now w/ our immediate families. This year it was a Sheppard off year, so we did it early. We love Christmas... here the kids pose w/ their cousins and new scarves and hats.

Day 5-- our beach in Puerto Vallarta

We spent the last few days just chilling on our beach at the condo and the pool. This is the pretty sunset from our balcony and the view of banderas bay. Mom went paraselling, and the girls had their hair braided by a lady who does this for money. Baya even enjoyed the sand a little. View from the balcony and Baya taking her usual nap by the pool.