More Vanessa

It seems like with Andrew and Ally in school all day now I only take pictures of Vanessa. No, it's not because she is my favorite (wink, wink) it's just that she's all I am with all day and right now she is growing and experiencing so many fun things that I can't help but take pictures of her practically every day. Here are a few of the fun things we have experienced the last couple of days...

Crazy Hair Tutu Girl
My friend Kelly gave Vanessa a super cute tutu and wings for her birthday. She found the wings the other day and wanted to put them on (don't mind the hair, she hates having it done and pulls or tries to pull anything out that I put in it)



I figured cute wings, why not finish it off with the cute tutu too



She loved it!!! She would not let me take it off. I got it off her to change her diaper and try to get her dressed and she brought it back to me yelling for it to be put back on. She ended up wearing it the rest of the day.




Big Girl!!

Vanessa loves being outside and she loves it even more when the kids are home from school and are out there too. She saw some of the neighbor girls playing at the park and there was no stopping her, she went straight to play with them. Luckily we have some very sweet girls living around us and were more than willing to let her stay and play.



Cute Hair Girl

Proof that I actually do her hair sometimes




She Loves to Read

Vanessa loves books. She is constantly pulling all the books out of the basket and looking at them on her own or she'll bring a book to one of us and try and climb on our laps to read. The other night she was using the windowsill as her chair to look through the books. I love that she already has a love for books.

Yep, She's Officially a Walker

Vanessa is officially walking now. Life as we know it is over!! She loves walking and it's so fun watching her toddle around the house jabbering to herself.



(no, I don't know what the oven mitt on her hand means, but yes, she is quite goofy!!)

Her new favorite game is to throw things down the stairs and scream at the top until I go get it for her, which she loves watching.



It's a good thing I love her!

I Start Them Young

For those of you who know me, know that although I am a Diet Coke addict, I do not let my kids touch the stuff. No Vanessa was not drinking it, the can was empty but I had to get a picture of her, it was way too cute to pass up.

Soccer, Scouts, and Football

Last Wednesday we had a crazy night with Ally having soccer, Andrew's Scout Pack night and he had football right about the same time. Since I've been a terrible mom so far this fall sports season I decided to take my camera along to get pictures. Ally is really enjoying soccer,



although I think she enjoys goofing around with the girls on her team more than she likes the game.




When she puts her mind to playing, she really is a pretty good player. She has scored two goals this season which has made her very happy.



We raced from her soccer game to Andrew's pack night where he got his bobcat award and Duty to God bead.





(it was really cute to see him try and pin on the mother's pin)



He is really loving scouts so we are trying everything we can to keep his enthusiasm going strong.



We then raced to football. Andrew is liking football but he always says that he never gets to touch the ball.



Wednesday he got to punt the ball for one of the kick offs. I got the best picture I could but he was so fast, all I got was a blur.



It was a crazy night but it is so much fun to watch the kids be involved in the things they enjoy.

Flag Football Camp

Andrew decided to play flag football this fall instead of soccer. The high school coach and his players held a camp for a week this summer to teach the kids some of the offense and defense fundamentals and rules of the game. Andrew had fun with the kids and all the players that helped out. I was really impressed with the players and how great they were with each and every one of the boys.





What do you do to entertain yourself when you are the younger sister of the boy playing football??

You put a bunny on your head



and then make a bed of grass for said bunny.



One day Andrew will be paid back when he has to sit at all her dance, singing, etc. stuff.

'Greatest' Grandma's Birthday Party

Ever since I can remember Andrew has called my grandma on my dad's side 'greatest grandma' because that's how he understood it when we called her great grandma for him. And, I have to agree with him because I was blessed with the greatest grandparents ever!!!

Every year for my grandma's birthday we have a big party for her where all her kids, grandkids, and greatgrandkids get together for wonderful food and fabulous company. This and our family Christmas party are the only times we all get together so we look forward to it every year. This year was extra special because my sister Tricia came into town for Andrew's baptism and came in early enough for the party. We had it at Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove. Everyone brings their own dinner and a dessert. It was so much fun to get see aunts and uncles and cousins we don't get to see very often.





All the kids get along really well and had tons of fun playing together.



Andrew, Caden and McKinley were inseparable


(Trish and I joked about not having any pictures of the three of them 'cause they were always a blur running passed)

and Ally kept calling Kameron her new friend and wanted to go everywhere he went.



It was fun to see and hear everyone sing 'Happy Birthday' to Grandma. I really hope she enjoyed it as much as we all did.

Ally's First Day of School

Ally started Kindergarten this year and she was very excited to go to school all day like the big kids. She couldn't wait to use her new lunch bag and backpack that she picked out all by herself. She has already had a field trip and loved it. She comes home from school every day extremely happy which makes her mom very happy. I just hope she continues to like school as much as she does now.

Important Things in Life

Yes I am still behind in my blogging and no, I don't know when I will get caught up. We have quite a bit going on these days and I just don't feel I can give the time and heartfelt thought some of these posts need. Plus we went to our stake/regional conference yesterday and Sister Beck gave another of her amazing talks where she (as Jim described it) didn't pull any punches. She just said it how it is. She talked about mothers of young kids, but it really applies to everyone and said how we sit down at the computer for 5 minutes and all of a sudden it's three hours later. During this time we have missed out on so many family experiences, etc. It hit me hard 'cause this has happened to me sooooo many times!! Not only the time I could and should be spending with my kids but also the time I should be keeping the house clean and orderly and meals that should be prepared better than throwing together a sandwich or many times, a bowl of cereal. I do feel my blog is important because it is my journal and scrapbook right now but I do know that I need to find a better balance for me and my kids.

This morning at breakfast Vanessa was having so much fun with Andrew and Ally. She loves that she is a big girl and gets to sit by them now instead of in her high chair.





Looking at those silly faces who wouldn't want to put them first??