Dance Recital Time!

So I go in and watch Zoey dance in her class sometimes. She often seems bored and distracted and not really all that good. ha. As a lover of dance I have often been disappointed to see this. At her age I am pretty sure I was rocking it in class!! haha. As the recital approached I kind of braced myself for a  semi disappointed performances from Zoey. Don't get me wrong...she was still pumped and excited to get in a costume (even though she REALLY wanted to wear a shirt under it for itchiness), and excited to be on the stage. Jess and I had so much fun getting Zoey and Charly ready and doing make up and curling hair and just reliving so much of our childhood with our own girls. That alone was touching and special.
So, to get to the point here.... Zoey comes out on stage and she just rocks it! She knows every step and does such a perfect job! I can't just sit there and enjoy her dancing....no.... I am just bawling. There is my little girl putting me in my place of my low expectations for her. She shined and I was soo proud and so so sorry that I doubted her. One thing I should know about Zoey is that she works hard for success. She was only bored and silly in dance class because she had already learned and mastered her dance.
  I am so proud to be her momma. So so proud of the lesson she constantly teaches me in my life. Thanks for a truely memorable performance and lesson my dear Zoey.

Gigi and His Baby

This boy can't stopping kissing his little sister! Piper thinks he's hilarious! I can just see the special bond these two have and can't wait to see it bloom even more as they grow

T-Ball

I couldn't wait to sign the kids up for t-ball this summer. I got to put them on  the same team....the Green Gators! The games were every Tues and Thurs for the month of June. Everyone had fun coming and sitting around watching the kids attempt to play to game. There wasn't much involved. They took turns hitting, and rounding the bases and in the outfield they took turns throwing to first base and then rotated to catching on first base.

Logan LOVED it! He was always smiling and so proud of himself everytime he hit to the ball or ran. I can tell he just was so excited to be there and to be playing on a team. I can't wait to see him improve every year. I can really see him being a good athlete and maybe baseball will be his thing.

Zoey on the otherhand was hysterical to watch! She would be out there laying in the outfield waiting her turn. Ha. Clearly tball isn't for her, but she still did a good job when it was her turn.

Linda and Lloyd and Jess pretty much came every game! Jess and Charly came as much as they could too. It was fun to all be there supporting these kiddos.

Regardless of their ability they sure looked freaking cute in their uniform! Finding the uniform, the hats, the mits and getting them there on time....well that was a completely another thing!!

Zoey 5 1/2

Zoey....... big big sister now, and she takes her job seriously. She always wants to hold Piper and carry Piper and be a part of every smile that Piper gives. Zoey has really just taken off since getting into preschool this year. She just became so confidant. She certainly isn't a baby anymore, and I see a glimpse of adult Zoey in the way she carries herself. She is going to be just lovely!!!!

Some things about 5 1/2 year old Zoey:

Zoey loves BUGS! She has caught hundreds of lady bugs. She walked looking at the pavement to see who her next bug friends will be. None of them scare her...Worms, snails... she doesn't care. I swear she is like the bug whisperer.

Zoey is a GREAT friend! She loves everyone and is always a good play mate to the kids on the street! She loves playing with Gigi of course, but also Emily and KAtie and Mavis and Sella, Ada, Maddi, Grace etc... She can play for days outside! Sometimes I can barely get them inside for lunch.


Zoey is sooo HELPFUL! She never complains when I ask her to get me a diaper, or pick something up or grab my phone. She just does it. I love that about her.

Zoey is FEARLESS! She is so athletic and willing to try new things. She can do the monkey bars on her own! It's awesome to watch. She tried anything the gymnastics instructors gave her last fall. She can be "socially" shy but when it comes with physical activities she is on top! I hope she always has that!

Zoey wants to be a COWGIRL!! I've got big plans for her birthday! She loves horses, especially black and white ones.

Other Things About Zoey:

She still doesn't like Chocolate
She also doesn't like Watermelon and Spicy
She loves chicken legs!
She is scared to flush toliet paper.... like she won't do it! It's hilarious and so annoying!
She still comes in our bed ALL the time!
She rocks at reading her Dick and Jane books
Her pre-school teacher said "She appreciates that Zoey works hard and doesn't cut corners"
She has almost no friends her own age. They are all older than her.
She has become a great swimmer (not in the deep end) but loves to go underwater and jump into the water from the edge.
She loves shrimp, and meatballs, tomatoes, of course cereal.
She is very obedient and wants to do the right thing (most of the time)

We love Zoey!! We are sooooooooooooo lucky to be your parents!!!

Piper's Baby Blessing

We blessed Piper on April 11th. My parents were still here and Jake's family all came. We had it in Pleasant Grove at Linda's church building. We had both grandma's share some words (and yup I cried) and Jake gave a beautiful blessing. Piper looked beautiful wearing the dress that Linda made for Zoey. It was special to have Piper wear it as well. She was a really good girl during the blessing and throughout the evening. We got to visit with some friends and family during the dinner. 

We are so so lucky  to have such a wonderful support system. Miss Piper is already is so loved by so many and we feel really blessed. We are also so lucky to know that this blessing is just one of the many ordinances that will be a part of her life and that the gospel will bring her such peace as she learns to love and rely on the Savior. I know our Heavenly Father just loves this little girl. I know she was sent to our family that we organized way before we got here. I can't wait to learn from her and be a witness to all the wonderful things she will experience. I know that by having a relationship with Jesus Christ throughout her life, she will be comforted and guided throughout her earthly journey. I hope she always knows how much He loves her and how much I love her and her father and all these people that were there that evening. We love you Piper Sue. 

Sarah's Shower

Look at us all growing up having kids and becoming mommy's! What a fun and weird stage to be going through with these girls I've loved so long. It was such a nice shower for Sarah. She looked freaking awesome in here tight pink dress and heels. I mean seriously....what else would Sarah wear? 

I really needed some time catching up with everyone and I loved being able to show off Piper. My mom came too and Linda Hines and Diane Dawson and Debbie Forest were there too. 

The shower was perfect and I'm so excited for Sarah and can't wait to hear about baby Savannah! The icing on the cake was hearing that Kari is also expecting! Yay for babies!!!!

Quick Trip To NY

I really wanted to take advantage of my maternity leave and my time off to take Piper to NY and meet the family and to attend Sarah's baby shower and see my girlfriends! I was a little nervous to fly alone with Piper only being 6 weeks but it went great using my moby wrap through the airport and checking the darn carseat and stroller at baggage and not dealing with that!

Up until going to NY I pretty much fear leaving my house, having three small kids in any public space and having anxiety of how the baby would do at the store, or the park, or at church.

Well NY surely broke me of that fear. My mom and I kept so so busy that poor Piper was just along for the ride... literally for the several days I was there!

I got to see my dad's side of the family including my grandma, and my cousin Katie (who is having a baby any min) and my Aunt Julie and Uncle Bob. I love being with them. I have so many happy memories with them.

I also got to see my girlfriends and I got to spend a ton of quality time with my mom who just fell in love with Piper during the visit. Piper was a champ and just did a good job going with the flow.

When I got back to Utah, three cuties (Zoey, Logan and Charly) were waiting for me at the airport with one big cutie (Jake). I love visiting NY but LOVE LOVE coming home to my family!