Home Sweet Home

We're home! We just got back to Utah yesterday so we are still trying to get everything unpacked and put away but it's SO nice to be here! YAY!(:

Our baby girl is growing up...

Yesterday Makenna said her first word, "bye-bye". I waved at her as she was crawling out of the room and said, "bye-bye". She turned around, waved, and said it right back! She has only said it once since then, but I am sure that pretty soon we won't be able to get her to stop talking (like her brother!) She also decided that yesterday was the day that she was going to pull up to standing on the couch. It's only Tuesday and it's already been a big week for her!(: She's our little princess and we love her so.

Parker quotes, swinging, and leaves

A friend of mine posted some funny things that her daugther said on her blog and it made me think that I should write down some of the stuff that Parker says. Here are two of the funnier things he's said so far today:

-Parker talking to me about Andrew, "He's kind of a silly man."

-Parker asking why there was yellow on a green leaf that he found, "Did the sun eat through it?"

What a goofy kid.(:

We took the kids to the park last Sunday and Makenna got her first ride on the swings. She loved it! She smiled and giggled the whole time. I'm not surprised because she has always loved movement and being on the go. Parker found some leaves on the way back to the car and, as you can see from the pictures, Andrew knew just what to do with them.(:

Four Things

My cousin tagged me for this fun post all about 4!

A) Four places that I go to over and over: the grocery store, the park, church, the mall

B) Four people who e-mail me (regularly): Renee, my grandma Joyce, Marcy, Old Navy(I guess that's not a person)

C) Four of my favorite places to eat: Outback, Famous Dave's BBQ, the old Chinatown, Old Spaghetti Factory

D) Four places I would rather be right now: sleeping, swimming, shopping (without the kids), Home sweet home(:

E) Four TV shows I watch: The Office, 30 Rock, Wipeout, America's Funniest Home Videos

F) Four of my favorite books: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Crime and Punishment, The Blue Castle

G) Four places I have lived: California, Washington, Texas, New Jersey

H) Four things I wish to do before I die: sing with an opera company, learn to play the piano, travel to Europe, FINALLY graduate from college(:

I) Four people I'm tagging: Shelley, Sara, Jordyn, Malinda

Parker turned three!

Our little guy turned three on Saturday! We had a great day together doing everything that Parker wanted to to. After Andrew got home we opened a few presents and then piled into the car and went to Chucky Cheese. We ate some pizza and Parker got to play on a bunch of the rides they had there. He had so much fun just running from one ride to the next. When we finally got him to leave, we drove home and opened some more presents, blew out candles, and ate the cake. I think the cake turned out really well. I was up until about 12:30am the night before finishing it. Parker loved it, so that's what mattered most. I think my mom would have been proud. I am so lucky to have a little boy like Parker. I love how sweet and gentle he is. He is so smart and is always asking questions about everything. He adores Makenna and always includes her in his playing. I can't believe what a great big brother he already is. He's always good for a snuggle and seems to know when I really need one. He wants to be just like his dad and I know he will be. He is such a special miracle in our lives. I just love him and I can't wait for all of the wonderful things that the years will bring as I get to watch him grow.

Random Thoughts

I just had to blog about a few things so this will be pretty random.

Andrew and I got to go on our second date in the last 4 months last night! THANK YOU SARA AND JAKE (for watching the kids)!!! It was so nice to be with my honey and be able to focus just on him. We did the traditional dinner and a movie. I know it's boring, but I'm not one of those people who likes to get creative on dates. The most creative things I think we've done are a Jazz game or bowling. Wahoo! Love you Andrew!

I have been watching American's Got Talent and I have to say that apparently America doesn't have much talent, just a lot of white trash. The truth is that most people with real talent actually already have careers so they don't have to go on desparate reality shows to get a gig. And the judges are just dumb. They have put through a 4 year old girl that sings to the semifinals! What in the world! Yeah, she is cute, but that's not a talent! What on earth were her parent's thinking entering her in the contest in the first place! Stage parents scare me. I'm so glad my parents didn't push me into a singing career when I was young, but just did what they could to nurture my ability. I need to stop watching this show because I get so mad at it. It's so annoying that the more skin you show the more likely you are to get through to the next round. I guess any show with "the Hoff" as a judge and Jerry Springer as the host is going to be pretty white trash, but America's Got Talent really takes it up a notch.

I am most likely going to be making Parker's birthday cake tonight so please cross your fingers for me that it turns out. My mom always made us amazing cakes when we were kids so I'm trying to carry on that tradition. My cake is not going to be nearly as cool as my mom's were, but hopefully Parker will love it.

We found a spider in our house last night that was the size of spiders that you see at the zoo! Scared me to death! It was hairy and everything! What is going to find it's way into our apartment next! I love looking at wildlife, but not in my living room!

The home stretch!

We are almost to the end of the summer! It really has gone by fast but I am very ready to be home again. Just a few more weeks! Makenna is crawling like a pro now. She is also becoming an expert at finding tiny little specs on the floor and trying to eat them. I don't know how babies can always find the stuff that the vacuum misses. She loves to eat table food too. It's nice to finally see her enjoy eating. Her favorites are bananna, string cheese, and carrots(cooked). Maybe we will be able to plump her up yet.(: Parker is getting excited for his birthday this Saturday. He talks about it all day long now. I am going to attempt to make a dinosaur cake for him. We enrolled him in a little preschool they have in our neighborhood. He will start that when we get back. It's just two days a week for a few hours. I really think he will enjoy making some friends and learn a few new things. We can't wait to be back and be able to spend some time with our family and friends!

Here is one of the three salamanders we found in our apartment IN ONE DAY! Crazy! It's like we are living the nature channel or something.(: We also had a few more visits from our frog again.

We went to a park on Sunday and played with Sadie. Water bottle, YUM!

Parker running after Sadie

Silly baby girl! This is one of my favorite looks! She is so beautiful!

Parker resting on the grass after chasing Sadie around and playing on the playground. Some of his favorite things to do.