Hoppy Easter!

Easter was pretty low key at our house this year with church starting at 9 am and our house being a disaster in preparation to move. On top of that, my friend Shannon, with whom I've had Easter basket parties for the past two years is now married and living in New York - so Jordan got mostly store bought candy this year instead of home made goodies. I did get around to making him his favorite cookies (white chocolate macadamia nut) after church, but they did not make an appearance in his basket. Easter baskets didn't even come out until around 4 pm and Lily helped me put them together (ate some of the jelly beans while I put them together). Lily received a pile of new books (new to us at least) with the favorite being an electronic nursery rhyme book that I found at a consignment sale.

However, it was a wonderful day at church and a quiet afternoon at home with a simple dinner and an hour long family walk around the neighborhood.

I didn't take any pictures on Sunday due to our scrubby nature (remember we did Easter baskets post nap time). I did get these pictures on Saturday when we did our Easter Egg "gathering". Jordan placed the eggs on the floor and sofa with a jelly bean or two in each egg.

Lily only gathered a few before she realized the treasures within and stopped to consume those before moving on.

The pictures are not high quality since my nice camera has been at the Nikkon repair shop for the past 6 weeks (they temporarily lost it- the good news is that they are now fixing it for free).

Today was also our last Sunday in our Bountiful Val Verda 3rd ward. Never have we been so sad to leave a ward. I can't say I know too many of the Relief Society sisters since I've been in the primary since my second week attending this ward - but those that I do know, I love. It has been wonderful learning from my darling primary children and the more experienced families in the neighborhood. However, we are looking forward to a new adventure in Provo and we keep telling ourselves that you don't go looking for Zion, instead you build Zion where you are.

Excuse me, did you drop your hemroid cream?

One of Lily's favorite places to play in our apartment is the bathroom. She loves every single aspect of this room - the bath tub for bathing (I only have to say the word "bath" and her face lights up), sitting on the potty (with the lid down of course), sitting in the sink as I have previously posted and getting into the cabinet under the sink and causing all sorts of mischief. Normally I don't let her play in there unattended and I try to keep the bathroom door shut.

Unfortunately one morning we were in a rush to get out the door early to head down to Sandy for a HUGE consignment sale at a local church. With these sales you have to be there when the doors open to get the good stuff and so I was trying to get Lily out the door in time for the 30 minute drive down + an extra 10 minutes for me to get lost. And of course, this morning she was extra extra clingy and did NOT want to be put down making it near impossible to get myself out of pajamas and the diaper bag assembled - until she decided to play in the bathroom. I was so desperate that I let her play unattended while I rushed around getting dressed, finding directions and getting the diaper bag ready.

It was at this last step of getting the diaper bag ready that Lily came out of the bathroom and helped me unpack several of the things in the diaper bag. I hurriedly threw them back in and finally rushed out the door.

We made it in 20 minutes after the sale started and so things were pretty much picked over. Lily picked out some toys for herself - including a high chair for baby dolls that she carried around with her everywhere. I also found some soft blocks and pajamas for Lucy so I decided it was worth it to stand in the mile long line - especially since we had already taken 30 minutes to drive down there.

Lily had been a doll during the entire shopping experience until it came time to stand in line. Then she decided to run around everywhere. Gratefully there were some nice women behind me that moved my stuff up for me when the line moved while I was chasing my toddler. By the time we made it to the front I was pretty frazzled and ready to be done. In the room set aside for checking out Lily was a horror and was grabbing everybody's stuff and would not be held or eat a snack. She successfully spilled a cup of safety pins, stole 2 pens and was shooed away from 3 different women due to her trying to steal the toys they were trying to purchase. 

On top of that, I had brought our old checks, which only has Jordan's name on it - so the woman checking out our stuff took 10 minutes finding a supervisor who could approve her accepting my check. With my menace of a toddler and my holding up a mile long line, I was ready to disappear. When the woman came back telling me that they could take the check I hurried and pulled the checkbook out of my bag, and unknowingly let several other stuff fall on the ground. It wasn't until I was done writing the check and showed my ID that a woman came up to hand me my fallen items which included a pen, a coupon and a tube of Equate Hemroid cream! 

How in the world did that get in my bag? How long had it been on the floor with a mile of woman behind me looking at it? I stared at it mortification. My darling little munchkin must have found it under the bathroom sink and decided that we should pack in case of an emergency. In my defense, it is at least a year old and I am not the one who purchased it. Mommy's little helper.

Grandparent Extraveganza

At the Beginning of March Jordan and I decided that it had been too long since we had been down to Cedar so although Jordan still couldn't take any time off we drove down for a short weekend visit. During this short visit Lily was able to spend time time her Great Grandma Leany, and Great Grandma & Grandpa Carter along with my dad, Kathy and of course Jordan's parents (we stayed at their house). 

Unfortunately I didn't get my camera out until Sunday morning, meaning I didn't get a picture of Lily with any of her Great grandparents. Although we had such a short trip I'm glad we made it just to be able to see family. I'm also glad we picked that weekend because it was the same weekend as the Mountain West basketball conference finals, in which BYU lost the championship game to San Diego State. I'm glad Jordan was with his dad for that game. He knows how to best support Jordan in BYU's time of need.

Speaking of March Madness, I have to admit that although I started out cocky and was ahead by far in the bracket competition in the end I lost to Jordan.  I now owe Jordan 1 baked Alaska.

Lily and her gorgeous Grandma Jill before church. If you notice the Kitty in her hand - it was a present from my Dad and Kathy from the previous night that Lily would not let go for several days.

 After church we headed over to my dad's studio to visit him on our way out of town and of course he had to take some pictures of Lily with her new kitty. This shows how Lily did when we forced her to pose.

 Then we let her run free around the studio - you see the difference.

Ahh... She's giving the Cookie Monster a hug

At least you think it was a hug until you saw how she ruthlessly tackled him to the ground. The result of too many wrestling lessons from Jordan.

"Hand over the kitty and there will be no tantrums"

A little too much fun playing with the back drops

After about an hour of letting her run create chaos in my dad's studio we decided it was time to head home and had to drag her out kicking and screaming.

I Won!!!!

The last time I remember winning anything was a free Starburst Frisbee when I was 7/8-ish. It seems I used up all my luck marrying the wonderful husband that I have. However, that doesn't stop me from entering every single "no purchase necessary" sweepstakes that I encounter. The months I was pregnant I entered Jordan and myself into a Johnson and Johnson get-away sweepstakes every day. Did I win, no. Even blog give aways with only 10-20 other contenders seem to elude me.


So imagine my surprise and glee when out of the blue Papa Murphey's mails me a $5 gift card saying I won their massive give-away sweepstakes!!!!! I only vaguely remember entering this sweepstakes as it was weeks/months ago and only one of many within those months for which I have submitted my name.


Sure, it doesn't even pay for a medium size pizza, but with my luck, I'll just say, "Thanks!"

Family Home Evening

One of our family new years resolutions was to be better at involving Lily in our nightly scripture study and FHE (along with having lessons more often than 1x month!). Well, although we direct our lessons toward Lily, I can't say whether she is getting anything out of them (based on the fact that she usually only listens to the first 1 minute before jumping off the sofa)- I make myself feel better by telling myself that at least we're setting a habit. However, the games and treats have her full attention! 

About a week and a half ago we played "break the ice" - Lily took tuns helping each of us hammer out an ice cube which was fun for her - but not nearly as fun as violently throwing each of the ice cubes off the coffee table once the game was over. We found some of the ice cubes all the way in the bedroom!
 

This past week we filled out our NCAA brackets. The liahona would stop working if it was based on my faith in the BYU team making it past round two. However, I need to take this moment to gloat. It's the first day of the tourny and already I have twice as many points as Jordan. That should teach him to make fun of my top secret team picking methods. If I win he has to go buy me a blizzard. If he wins I have to make him baked Alaska. Keep your doors open DQ!

Milestone

Tonight as I after we read scriptures and said prayers, I gave Lily her hug and kiss and per tradition waved goodnight as Jordan carried her off to her room to read stories. However, tonight was special because as she waved good night to me, she said, " I wub u" which sounded a lot like "I love you"! (I'm 75% sure) Melted my hear anyways.

I should be studying, or planning our weekly meal plan, but I needed to document the first time Lily said, "I love you" which coincidence or not, was on John 3:16 day (3/16/2011) - one of the ultimate scriptures of our Heavenly Fathers love for us: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

"

18 months old Elf

Lily is officially Nursery Age!!! She's been going since she was 16 months (Thank you Youngberg's!) and doesn't even bat an eye when we leave her, but still, it's a milestone worth celebrating.

Here are her stats from the doctor's office:

Height: 32 1/4" = 65%

Weight 23 lbs 7 oz = 40th%

Head: 48 cm = 80%

Lily started out in the 90th percentile in height when she was born and then slowly moved down in percentiles all the way to 25% at 15 months- then suddenly at 17 months she was a very hungry caterpillar and asked to eat every hour on the hour- I guess I now know why- she had a lot of growing to do.

 

Brushing teeth? Fun. Brushing teeth in the bathroom sink? Hilarious - and never seems to get old. She does this every morning for about 15 minutes while I put myself together for the day and she still thinks it's a hoot.

Any guess at whom Lily is grinning adoringly? That's right - her Daddy. Having the bottle of bubbles in her hand doesn't hurt, she alternates between asking for bubbles or eating first thing in the morning.

Sisters Part 2- Snowy Utah

It wasn't too hard saying good-bye to my sister in Cali because I knew she was coming out in just 1 week!!!!

Lily didn't loose any time jumping into her Uncle Brad's lap.

We all headed down to the bowling alley as a fun family activity. This was the first time I had been bowling since Jordan and I were dating. They had these ramps for the little ones- and honestly I was jealous. I would have used it myself if it wouldn't have been too embarrassing. However looking back I don't know which would have been worse; the score I left with or using a ramp....

Even Lily got a kick out of pushing the ball- but couldn't understand why we wouldn't allow her to then chase the ball down the lane. I don't know how many times the buzzer sounded for "crossing the line!"

Team work. Lily and Cali pushed the ball while Laney used her Matilda-like brain power to will the ball out of the gutter.

Lily discovering her own Matilda-like brain power

How Jordan and I spent most of the time at the bowling alley

Monkey Twins!!!

Lily adored having her Aunt, Uncle and cousins over. She was Laney's little shadow and loved everything about all of them, even her Aunt Tess's shoes. Perhaps she thought if she hid them, then they wouldn't ever leave.

Sisters Part 1- Sunny Cali

I had a perfect excuse to fly out to sunny California at the end of cold, freezing January- My wonderful friend that I met while doing the LPN program was getting married in Sacramento! And, lucky for me, my sister lives just 2 + hours south of Sacramento!!! 

It was nice having some time with my best friend - my sister. She has always been my best friend (second only to Jordan now that I'm married) which is why I am excited that we are having a baby GIRL (not to mention reusing all the cute girl clothes we have)! I hope Lily and her little baby sister are just as close as Tess and I were & are. 

I didn't want the week to end - the only thing that would have made it perfect was if my hot husband was with us.

Lily LOVED having two playmates 24/7 for a whole week. She particularly enjoyed stealing Cali's toys and being Laney's shadow. 

Spinning chairs never get old.

The weather was so nice! I was sweating waiting outside the airport even after shedding my coat. It was nice to just send Lily outside to play with her cousins and all their cool toys.

 

We even made it down to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Lily thought the fish were cool but really just loved all the running space. The only two exhibits that got her to stop were the hands on starfish station and the penguins.

My sister was sweet and drove me all the way to Sacramento with Lily and Laney in tow. She even watching Lily for me so I could go into the ceremony. There is something very special about being at a live sealing for someone you care about. I am very grateful I was able to be there on Shannon's wedding day.

 Lily was quite excited about the favors. I love those chubby cheeks!

She thought Shannon and Chris's fancy dance moves were worth a round of applause.

 

The wedding was just day 2 of our trip and it was around then that Lily decided that Tess was Mom #2. In fact I think both Lily and Cali were getting confused. Cali started calling Brad "Uncle Daddy" and Lily just called him "Dada".