Emma Scoots!

The entire last week was spent celebrating the birth of our now four year old Emma. Can you believe how big she has gotten! Her grandparents gave her a scooter for her birthday and she has literally been riding it everywhere! From bed to the bathroom to the kitchen to her friends house. I can't get her off the thing! The best part was, immediately after opening it, she said "Mom, I need a helmet!" I had not mentioned a helmet or even thought about it, but she was obsessed so we had to go to the store and get her a helmet so she would ride her scooter.

She seriously loves the thing. And we love her. She is a unique individual - always moving at her own pace and sometimes existing in her own world. She has always been the sweetest, most genuine little girl. We love having her in our family!

Here is a video of her on the scooter:

Happy Birthday Grandma Marilyn!

So, we are probably two days late now - Africa time. But, we don't mean it any less!

Happy Birthday Marilyn!

The Awesome House

This is Matt and Joel's awesome house. (Note: this post is not a sales pitch. I just love this house and am very proud of how it turned out and I want everyone to see it!)

This is the view from my favorite feature: the porch off of the Master Bedroom upstairs. It looks out onto a very cute park and would be an incredible place to watch Lagoon's fireworks from.

This is the Master Bedroom. See the door in the right corner - that is how you access the porch mentioned above.

This is looking into the Main Living Space from the kitchen. My other favorite thing about this house is how big it feels even though it is a Cottage Home - what Matt calls a "detached townhome."

And this is the beautiful kitchen. I can't even express how in love I am with this house. Matt and Joel have done a great job. It's available if you want to buy - but I have to say I am 100% dying to live in it myself! Emma is a little attached to it as well. The other day when we had just returned home from the store, she threw a little fit: "Mom! We're not home....We live in the RED HOUSE!"

Cupcake Crazy

Some of you may be aware of my obsession with cupcakes, some may not....BUT, you will pretty soon be exposed because I just bought this little book and am sooooooo excited. I spent all last night reading every recipe and have decided that I will now proceed to make every recipe, page 1 to page 287. Cupcake exploits. And, I think it will be fun to blog about it, like in Julie and Julia. No, I don't expect a movie to be made, or even that anyone will read about it - but I can't wait to get started. I'll link the blog so if you want to read about this crazy new pursuit, you can. Anyway....cupcakes at my house every day if you want one! Oh, and if you invite me to dinner, you can expect that I'll bring cupcakes for dessert!

Busy Birthday Blog

It seems like I have been a little blog-neglectful ever since I got on Facebook. Curses. I should be better. I just don't have much to say or any photos to post - due in part to the loss of our computer, but also due in part to me being "the busiest person (you) know." That is what Sarah told me today! What's funny is that I don't know what I am busy with. I just...am.

This last weekend I will admit to what kept me busy: Matt's Birthday and work. We had Farmington's Got Talent on Saturday, which went remarkably well. It was the first show I ran tech on, Erik helped me out on that. I didn't realize how much of a "techie" I am! I think I just love theater and everything that means. I wish I could post video of the girl who won. It would make for some serious YouTube uploading. She was 10 years old and slight of frame belting out "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls (Yes...the one that got Jennifer Hudson an Oscar) and she WAILED. It was awesome. She is scheduled to perform at Festival Days, so come and be amazed.

More importantly: Matt's Birthday. It was a big one. I am wishing I had a fantastic picture of his handsome face to have on this post, but I just don't at the moment. I will, however, list for you...in honor of him turning the big 3-0,

30 Reasons Why I Love Matt:

He can build me anything

He will clean the kitchen

He does the dishes

He knows anything and everything there is to know about cars

He is patient

He tells every little detail of a story

He will cook with me

He will eat and compliment almost everything I cook

He looks good in whatever he wears

He will go after what he wants

He is a good driver

He keeps me level-headed

He gives people the benefit of the doubt

He always has something good to say about others

He is a worthy priesthood holder

He works hard to be a good husband to me

He is very well-built and nice to look at

He plays the piano beautifully

He is a good father to Emma and Lucy

He likes to spend time with me

He makes me feel good about myself

He will watch chick-flicks with me

He is a good brother and son to his family

He gets along with my family

He still surprises me

He plays with the kids

He likes to make new memories with me

He will talk me to sleep when I can't get to sleep

He loves me for all the weird little quirks that make up who I am

Yea for Matt!

And yea for me recommitting to blogging. Hopefully you will hear from me again soon!

Christmas Morning

Yea, yea...I know I am way behind.

Our Christmas morning was fun. Santa splurged and get Emma and Lucy the kitchen Emma has been asking for. Along with the kitchen, Emma also got everything on her list: an umbrella, a pizza, and a tinkerbell thing. I love the picture of her with her umbrella (see below). You can just see the joy on her face when Santa listened and delivered!

Most memorable moment was having Emma walk in and wonder "Mom...did you buy me this kitchen?" "No, Emma - don't you remember what today is?" "Mom....did Santa buy me this kitchen?!!!!"

Lucy was still a little too young to understand exactly what was happening, but she is dang cute - don't you think?

You have never seen a three year old more enthused with the Christmas spirit than Emma was this year (to this day the only songs she sings are Christmas songs!) She talked about Santa, the elves, baby Jesus, jingle bells, Christmas trees, candy canes - literally NON-STOP. It was amusing to me that the morning of the day she had been so anticipating she had completely forgot what was going on!
To truly illustrate Emma's Christmas spirit, watch below:

Emma's Christmas Dance Recital

There have been a few events since I have posted, what with Christmas and all, so I have to take you back a ways - to the third Friday night in December....



Emma's first ever dance recital!



Emma has been in a little dance class this fall with her friend Aspen. She is learning the basics of tap and jazz. I was a little nervous about her recital because the last "show" she did - well - it didn't go so well. But, she was really great in her show. She found her sticker on the floor and danced her little booty off. She was great and we were very proud of her.