Pose for the Camera

Auntie Erin sent the girls some matching outfits for Cara's Birthday. She requested pictures and I tried my very best. The post from yesterday was part of Cara's outfit and here is Ryann's new pretty dress.

I have about 7 other pictures and this was the best shot Ryann would let me get.

I wasn't able to get a clear shot of the pink highlighter that Ryann took to her face. I think she was bowing her head in shame for getting in trouble because of that.

Yeah right. She isn't upset she got in trouble. She is just a stinker.

Happy Birthday Cara Kay

My sweet baby girl is 1 today. I haven't made her 1 year appointment, but I don't think she has made the weight for a forward facing car seat... so rear one it shall stay.

She has 4 teeth and walks about 3-6 steps before she falls. She loves walking and gets so excited when she does. She makes funny faces and has just discovered her tongue. She clicks and twists and turns her tongue all over funny ways.

She loves all of her clothes and toys that she has gotten from her birthday and she even had birthday cake today from Miss Mary at daycare. (somehow Miss Mary knows I don't have enough time to make a cake!)

We didn't party today because I had an interview, but we will party soon and post lots of pictures!

Hot Dog Man

Ryann ate this little hot dog man right up.

I saw someone do this on a blog and it made me laugh so hard that I thought I would try it with Ryann.

Are you impressed with the likeness to a real person?

Child Labor Laws

I really hope no one investigates me... look... I not only make my 3 year old wash my car but I make my 1 year old do laundry! The nerve.

Happy Birthday Zach

Happy 19th birthday to my little brother Zach. He is getting ready to leave for his mission for our church to Texas, speaking Spanish. I am so excited and proud of him.

Someone asked me the other day if I had already said goodbye to him (since I won't see him before he leaves) and it was a hard answer. Because, yes, We did say goodbye on our trip to Utah, but he hasn't left. I can still talk to him and skype him and post funny pictures of him on my blog.

I am so proud of my little brother Zach. He has always been such a good friend and example to me. He was one of my best friends my senior year of high school and that is when I really learned the importance of family. Whenever I came home from college he was never too cool to hang out with me. And then when Rich came along he always tried really hard to pretend like he liked Rich. :)

Another thing about Zach is he is such a great uncle. Even after making this silly picture of Ryann she has always held Uncle Zach in a special place in her heart. She constantly asks to talk to him and even when we talk to Grandma she is asking for Uncle Zach.

Zach really means a lot to Rich as well. Rich has great brothers but it means a lot to him that Zach will be serving the Lord for 2 years like Rich did. They will both speak Spanish at the end of this and I am sure they will spend a lot of time laughing at Zach's Texan accent.

Rich has also made it a really big point to make sure I know we will be writing Zach a lot of letters while he is on his mission.

I love you Zach, more than words can say. I want to be a better sister because of you. I want to try harder and do a little better because of you. I want to be a better mother so that someday I can have a child who grows up to bring joy into such a wonderful family, just like you.

You are the humor, the love, the light, and part of the glue that holds our family together to be such great friends. There is never a dull moment with you and everyone is a little happier when you are around. Thank you for being such a great brother.

Here is my post from last year!

Picnic in the Park

Yesterday we went to a picnic in the park for the Arizona Birth Network. There was a canned food drive, raffle prizes, baby clothes swap, and a potluck. Rich I think turned into the professional babysitter because he was almost always surrounded by 4 or 5 kids.

Ryann showing off her feather. How do you get kids to not play with feathers and rub them all over their faces? It is gross because of all the germs from a pigeon feather that has been on the ground, but trying to get that thing away from her was not fun. We had to make her "hide" it so no one else knew where it was.

And here is my cute almost 1 year old (aak!) trying to convince her daddy to give her more apple juice. She is pretty convincing.

Bundle of Joy

This bundle of joy woke me up at 6:15 this morning to tell me that she wanted Grandma to come play with her.

But this happy look on her face is sort of like the one on mine... I have a pretty good possibility on a new job... only part time though... keep your fingers crossed for me!