1st Date!

Well it was the first date in a long time. I really can't remember when the last time was that Jon and I went on a date. My sweet sweet neighbors watched the kids, even Elora, and we were able to go to dinner. This is us waiting outside for a table at The Olive Garden. It was well worth the wait, the food was good and it was the most relaxing dinner that I have had in a long time.

Happy 1st Birthday Elora

I can't believe it, my baby is 1. How did that happen so fast? Elora has grown up to be such a sweet little girl (when she wants to be). I love her personality, her laughs, her smiles, her baby smell, her big brown eyes, her long skinny little body, the way she claps, the way she talks, the way she crawls and tries to walk (with her hippo walker still), I love everything about her. I am so in love with this little girl there are no other ways to describe it. My heart is so full when I see her and hug her I almost want to bite her (OK I admit it, I do bite her softly sometimes). Elora has truly blessed our family.

The boys love her just as much as I do. They wanted a picture with her and her free birthday cake from Albertson's. Degan looks sad because I smashed his little finger in Elora's high chair right before the picture. Poor kid.
The cake event was fun. She wasn't too sure about getting messy though. She did pretty good and had a few bites and then she was done. You can see in the video. Don't forget to pause the music below.

Elora also had her 1 year doctor visit and she is good and healthy even though she is on the skinny side. The Dr. told me that she can have all the chocolate milk and whipped cream with her strawberries that she wants.

Weight: 17 lbs. 3oz. = 3%
(same weight as her 4 mo. old cousin)
Length: 30 1/2" = 90%
Head Circ.: 45 cm. =50%

It's the end of the road.....

......for Tyler's winning streak. His reflections entry came back today. It is not moving on to State but that is OK. We are still so proud of Tyler for making it to the District level. He is already saying that he can try again next year. Good attitude Tyler, we love you.

The Little Winner

A couple of weeks ago Tyler brought home a coloring page of George Washington and said that there was a coloring contest at school. I figured OK go ahead and color it, so after a few reminders that it was due Tyler got to it and did a great job. I didn't think too much of it since it was just coloring and every kid in the school can color right? Well our lucky little boy won out of all the 2nd graders. He was called to the office to enjoy a root beer float in the teachers lounge and then was handed a wrapped present. He is so cute and didn't open it until I picked him up from school. I think his 2 friends Gabe and Conner were more excited than Tyler was and told him to hurry and open it. Inside were these 3 books, 1 about George Washington, 1 about Abe Lincoln and the other about all the United States Presidents. He was so happy and proud and totally loves the books. Way to go Tyler you did awesome.

Case Lot Sale

Just a heads up, Macey's (Utah only) will be having their case lot sale and emergency preparedness sale for 3 weeks starting March 4th. Start checking your food storage to see what you may be in need of. www.myfoodstoragedeals.com has an inventory checklist that might make it a bit easier. Macey's usually has some really great deals so start planning now.

The Kids

My camera has been acting up lately. I keep getting fuzzy pictures but I still had to post this one. Tyler and Degan will hate me when they are older for showing everyone but I love when they get all dressed up and use their imagination.

We try to tell them not to shoot each other but boys will be boys.

I just loved this picture of all 3 of the kids. They were all playing on the couch. Tyler has blue gum in his mouth in case you're wondering.

Elorable

My cousin in New Jersey calls Elora that and I think it is so cute. Here are some more pictures of our ever changing little girl.

Snowsuit that she can't move in. Probably the last time she will wear it, it is too small now.

Discovering cups.

Finding out that if she straightens her body then I can't put her in her car seat.

What is with that little finger??? It is not the first picture like that.

Not your typical Valentines Day

This year for Valentines day we decided to get Monster Jam tickets for the boys. We thought it would be a fun activity that we could all enjoy. Jon had been to one about 16 years ago or so and said that it wasn't that loud and that Elora would probably be fine. Oh was he wrong, it was so loud. We did have fun but towards the end Elora was tired of me holding her ears so me and her watched from outside the arena. One of our favorite parts was when the dirt bike riders came out to show off some jumps. Next time we will get tickets for just that, it was a lot less noisy. Tyler and Degan had a blast, they loved it.

Blue Thunder racing against Utah's own Maverick Monster Trakker

So excited!

Degan was tired by this point.

Awesome stunts.

Those trucks were big.