2011 Looking Back

Just thought I would take a moment to look back at 2011.

• FOOD ALLERGIES: Finding out what was causing G3's horrible eczema was the biggest blessing of last year. While I was nursing him we both did the allergy elimination diet. It was a success as we discovered he is allergic to wheat, dairy, and eggs. Now every day is a challenge as I try to figure out what he can eat and what he will eat. (He is a picky one year old.) My older two children have learned a lot about food and what is in it. Pinkie quickly spots out the words "Gluten Free" when we are at the grocery store. We have all tried new foods, and are eating more fresh fruits and veggies, and less processed food.
• BIRTHDAYS: My kids talk and plan their birthday parties and cakes all year long. This year we had gluten free cake for G3, a Barbie Cake for Pinkie (the kind with a real barbie, and you eat the dress), and a blue velvet Yankees cake with Oreos around the edge for Junior.
• NEW FAMILY MEMBERS: We added three new people to my side of the family this year. My littlest brother, Todd got married to Ashley in April. In May Abbey had her fourth baby, a little boy. Robert and Heidi had their first baby in July. He is carrying on the Robert name to the fourth generation.
• CAMPING: This year we finally took the whole family on a real camping trip to Beaver Creek, near Beaver Mountain Ski Resort. Two families in our ward joined us. The kids had a great time getting dirty and playing their hearts out. We also visited with my parents at their cabin in August. While we were there Pinkie was petting my Dad's dog Gus. He suddenly barked really mean, and lunged toward her, biting her on the head. We had to head down the mountain to the ER in Mount Pleasant. She ended up with 3 staples in her head. She doesn't love Gus, but she still loves dogs.
• PINKIE'S BAPTISM: We looked forward to Pinkie getting baptized all year long. The day finally came and it was wonderful. We are so happy with the choices she is making. We had a fun ice cream party after her baptism with all of our family.
• SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES: This year Pinkie and Junior both got to play ball. Machine pitch softball for Pinkie, and Tball for Junior. We spent a lot of time at the ball park enjoying the weather and watching the kids. Pinkie was a mouse in her 1st grade class Opera. Each class of first graders at her school writes an opera with the help of a mentor from Utah Festival Opera Company. It was cute to see what the kids came up with. Pinkie also played the part of an Ice Skater in her Ballet Company's year end performance. She has really taking a liking to ballet, and loved going to see the Nutcracker in Logan this year.
• SCHOOL: Pinkie is now in Second grade, and Junior goes to preschool at the Presbyterian church. The light at the end of the tunnel is bright now that Husband has only one class left at Weber State!
• HALLOWEEN: Husband talked the kids into being the Flintstones for Halloween this year. He wanted to be able to show off G3's Barney Rubble hair.
• BRIGHAM CITY TEMPLE: We have enjoyed watching the temple be built this year. The kids and I even waited several hours in the rain to see the Angel Moroni be raised and installed on the east spire.

Meet the Flintstones

Possibly my favorite Halloween ever!

For the most part my kids were happy to go along with their father's idea of the Flintstones which all came about after husband started calling G3 Barney Rubble. He says he has perfect Barney Rubble hair.

We had a great time on Saturday at my mom's Halloween party. She was so nice to plan out the treat menu so G3 could eat most of them.

Sunday we carved pumpkins at my in-laws which is a bit of a tradition. Pinkie did the cat one, traced from a pattern, but did most of the cutting herself this year. Husband did the other three.

Monday night we did traditional trick-or-treating. The weather was perfect! Pinkie, Junior and I had a great time seeing some of our friends out and stopping by a lot of the elderly people's houses in our neighborhood.

Now we are eating our candy as fast as we can. That way it is gone, and mom doesn't have to try and regulate it!

Fall Photos

Crazy blue eyes.

Crazy mass of blonde hair.

Crazy beautiful.

I love taking photos of my kids in the fall. They always turn out better than school pictures - even though I am not a photographer. Here are my favorites this year.

Out Takes

This is life at our house right here.

Pinkie's Baptism

She had been waiting all year long, and finally baptism day came. It was lovely and beautiful.
Just like her.

Football season is here and all the males in our house are geared up and ready.

G3 is following right along in the sports loving tradition. He's even working on his Tomahawk Chop!

Eight is Great

She turned eight. Halfway to dating and driving.
And getting prettier everyday.

Back to School 2011

Pinkie started 2nd grade on Monday. She is growing up way too fast.
Apparently when you are 7, it is difficult to act natural for a photo.
When you are four, however, you want your picture taken in every possible way. You also want pictures of just your backpack.
This is the funny face version. (Love those blue eyes.)
This is the "Go Seminoles" version. Definitely his father's child.

Perfect Cheeser

Lately when I pull out my camera, G3 pulls out his perfect cheeser.

Big smile + little baby teeth + dimples + wrinkled nose = perfect.

Play Ball!

Pinkie and Junior both got to play ball for the first time this year. That means we were at the ball park many nights, but what a great way to spend your summer.
I love this photo of Junior running, and how you can see his tongue sticking out. Thanks to the movie "The Sandlot" he likes to slide into home.
This face says it all. He loves baseball. Every second of games, practice and just playing around in the yard.

These are some game treats I made for Pinkie's team. Just Rice Krispie Treats with a cute wrapper.
Pinkie loved to play too. She however, will probably end up focusing on Ballet.
In Pinkie's league they hit off of a machine. It is pretty difficult and a little scary. That ball comes at you fast!
Here she is posing in the field. She did a pretty good job fielding!

Angel Moroni

Last Tuesday, July 12th, the kids and I braved the elements to watch the Angel Moroni be installed atop our temple. It was raining quite nicely when we left, so we wore jackets with hoods, and carried umbrellas. Junior held one umbrella over he and G3 in the stroller while Pinkie and I shared another, and pulled the stroller. We had to walk from the library parking lot, about two long blocks.
G3 is over getting his picture taken. I can't hardly get him to look at me anymore. He managed to be pretty patient as we waited, and waited for the wind and rain to stop.
You can see behind Junior there is a crane holding a bucket with some men in it. They went up and down several times.
After about a two hour wait, the wind finally died down, and the started hoisting him up there. (Even Pinkie was a little grumpy by this point.)
Junior was actually pretty well behaved through the long wait. I did let him take pictures with my old camera. I will have to share those in another post. They are pretty funny.
Aunt K, I think she is crying, and cousin J. They were nice enough to save us a seat. I think K was there about three hours early, plus the two hour wait.
They finally got it up there! It was neat to hear the people on the tabernacle lawn gasp when it finally came into view for them.
Junior looks so angelic here. Really, all the kids were good to wait so long. I hope this is a day they won't forget.

Popsicles

Summer is speeding on by at our house. We are trying to eat as many popsicles as possible. They are a favorite treat at our house. Even G3 the allergy nerd can eat them.

Sidewalk Chalk

We have a love-hate relationship with sidewalk chalk here at our house. Everyone loves it, but Dad. He detests it. There are some things he is just going to have to let go...
Junior is practicing writing his name.
I am not sure why one needs a Snow White head band, Sleeping Beauty shoes, and a Tinkerbell wand to pose with her sidewalk chalk drawing, but there you go. Oh, I forgot to mention the gloves.

The Mouse and the Ice Skater

Pinkie's ballet performance is coming up on June 17th. This year she will dance the part of and ice skater. If you are dying to go, the seats are reserved this year, and tickets are 5 bucks.

The first graders at Pinkie's school participated in the Opera by Children program sponsored by the Utah Festival Opera Company. Her class wrote an Opera called, "The Children and the Magical Leaves." The class helps write the words and music, as well as designing the costumes and painting the set. As you can see Pinkie was a mouse - "squeak." Be prepared for her to ask you if you would like to watch the DVD.