Amelie's 2nd birthday!

Sometime just a few weeks before Amelie's birthday, the idea of birthdays was introduced to her (I don't know where!) and so it was really fun to throw her party, since she would go around saying Happy Birthday! all 2 weeks, or even singing the song. I wanted Amelie's birthday party to be original, but fun for all different ages (and just something besides princesses before she starts asking for it.) We went with a POP! theme for her party this year, and I think it was pretty successful. We had POPcorn, chocolate POPcorn, soda POP, mini POPsicles, and of course, a cake (and cupcakes.) All the invitations had a big bubble wrap bubble on them, just waiting to be POPped. For activities, we had probably a hundred square sheets of bubble wrap for the POPping, POPpers, a bubble machine, and a kiddie pool filled with balloons for POPping, cause they were full of lolliPOPs. Favors were a little soda POP shaped bottle of bubbles.






The kids seemed to have lots of fun popping everything in sight, and I know Amie had a blast. She got some great presents-she loves EVERY one of them! Thanks everyone! We had a good showing of family and a few friends.














I made her cake, of course. It wasn't too adventuresome, but it fit the theme well and I was very happy with it. And it tasted great! (we went with dots of cupcakes cause I knew the cake wouldn't be enough. Good thing, too-we only had a few left over!)




Grandma made her a Barbie cake at Sunday dinner-she was incredibly sad and mad when we tried to cut her!! Finally she consented if SHE could do the massacring... and a massacre it was.



Since her party was a few days early, we ended up spending a kid day out on Monday, her actual birthday. She requested McDonald's for lunch (with LOTS of time on the playplace.) Aunt Mal came and played with her too (she was getting my mom's keys we accidentally took-too bad she didn't bring my camera I left there-I have NO pictures of this day!) After lunch, we went to Discovery Gateway and Amie had a blast! Lisie even loved it (until it got to be well past naptime.) We also got a parking ticket there-we parked on the curb where our car was partially past the parking/no parking boundary. How lame is that? No, Jeff does not have any influence on making tickets go away...

The next day was her doctor check up. She grew 3 inches since her last visit! She's now right around the middle/low middle for height and weight, and they no longer measure (her giant) head. She's trucking right along, and our doc said she's ahead in speech. She's a dancing superstar!!

Now, here's the obligatory parental statement. It astounds me that I have a two year old! It has flown by, and I think that I will finally get used to the idea of being a parent right about the time I am gonna be a grandparent. My little lovie has brought so much joy and color into my life, I couldn't ask for a better little girl!

General Conference

General Conference is totally my very favorite. I've always watched as many sessions as I possibly could, (a fewyears ago I had to work, I even snuck into the office and listened by internet broadcast to hear who the new apostle was...) When I lived with Mal, we would do something different for every session-attend one, watch at the building, with friends, at home, and our favorite-on a blanket at the park with a stereo and lunch. Anyway, it's been difficult for me lately to really get to focus on Conference, because of my beautiful, short-attention-spanned, energetic, demanding little girls. I was very lucky this weekend to be able to be with lots of family who helped spread the load and got to really listen to most of it. (Thanks SO much families-I always appreciate the help you give loving my little girlies!) Here are just a few of the messages that really stuck out for me and my family unit.

-Slow Down! Simplify! Jeff and I had some very specific questions that were neatly and strongly answered with this idea.
-How to bring the Spirit into the home more. I have had a very difficult time setting any kind of schedule for scriptures, prayers, even FHE sometimes, with the schedules of babies, graveyard shift dad, and completely erratic shift mom. There were lots of suggestions.
-Finally, follow the prophet. Did you not hear this in almost every single talk? Jeff and I debated about whether something tough may be coming soon, or if just too little people actually put their trust in the prophet. Anyway, I firmly vow to listen to all he has to say. (Sidenote: I adore President Monson!)

That is all. Carry on. :)

International Peace Gardens

For one of our recent FHE's, we went and took a walk around the Peace Gardens. If you haven't been there (and can) you should definitely go. It was built for the Olympics and I think it's impressive. It's just a park, but it is huge and divided into various countries. We love going there and just taking our time strolling through.

Cutie!


My sweeties.


Hanging out.


Her third love.


Hazy double slide!

Yeah, she's... cupping... the mermaid.


She just reached over and picked a gorgeous flower... then ate it!


"Soft."

Aww!!

-Playing-that girl has an endless reservoir of energy!

Be Well Utah

The University Hospital hosts a wellness fair every year, and though I wanted to go, we were very pleasantly surprised at how much fun we all had. We had SO much food and actually had to leave before we did all we wanted. There were cooking demonstrations, a billion health food samples, fitness classes, lunch, raffles, toys/activities/samples/gifts at every booth, balloon artists, recipes and of course, tons of great information.




Mommy and Amie twinners!











Ready to go!














She's got all the gear a dolly mommy needs.








Showing off her pretty bracelet, who's beads change color in the sun-reminding us to put on sunblock!









Brushing a little pony!! She loved this.

Beautiful Book Babies at Barbecues

We had a Saturday a while back where we had a Police BBQ during lunch and a Ward BBQ at dinner. (That's a lotta hot dog for one day!) During lunch at Jordan Park, a freak torrential rainstorm broke out! I got soaked, and Amie was none-too-happy, but Dad and baby were safely waiting under the pavilion for us to get their food.

PMAA

Ward

There are lots of story times around here, so we try to go as much as we can (which is not near enough.) They even have "Book Baby" which is meant for little little ones. We go and hear stories, play with bubbles (the fave) and Amie gets to sing lots of the songs she already knows from Nursery. This is one of my favorite free things to do with the girls (if only it wasn't at 10 am!)

This is after the BB at the Anderson-Foothill Library-she was sure Clifford was for riding. She took him everywhere!



These are in "the Attic" at the City Library downtown. She and this monster were playing nigh night on the stairs (this is currently her favorite game.) Of all the cute little stuffed animals in the attic, she picked this green monster to mother and love!!


Random cuties from home and other places:

Alisa usually needs lots of help falling asleep, but every now and then, you look down and...

Amelie found mommy's makeup. :) You can't see so well, but she's even got eye shadow! Boofull!

Just SOOO close to crawling. She moves around a bunch but it isn't exactly intentional.

This was at the Provo hospital. She was amazingly good for being there about 12 hours.
Gramma love!
Choco face at Gma's.

No name for that face.