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2013 Spring Dance Recital

Kaya and Stella worked really hard to practice for their Spring Dance Recital. They were Baby Buddah's in the Asian themed concert. Loved their performance and loved their cute little costume!! The very last performance of the concert was interrupted by the fire alarm. Suddenly there were little girls running and screaming everywhere. Lucky for us, I was already waiting for Kaya and Stella by the dancers exit hallway. I got to the girls very quickly and we went outside. Turns out, all of the fog from the fog machine had set off the alarm!

After the performance we took the girls to get some icecream at Leatherby's! They loved being celebrated on their special night.

All tuckered out after a long night of fun! xoxo

{Best Friends Forever}

{Kaya loses her 2nd tooth}

Kaya's second tooth finally came out. She was not at all excited about it getting pulled this time around so she waited and waited and waited until finally she was eating her food and it fell out! Her other grownup tooth was already growing in behind it... it was time for this baby tooth to say bye bye!

Unfortunately, that evening the Tooth fairy was unable to leave money under Kaya's pillow...we think it's because Kaya woke up in the middle of the night and the tooth fairy couldn't risk being seen... so we left her a note... Luckily, the tooth fairy did come the next night!

 

{Kaya's Kindergarten Graduation}

I can't believe my baby has graduated from Kindergarten! She has had such a great year. She has learned so much and made lots of new friends. She is at the top of the class with her reading skills and always on her best behavior.  Her best friend this year is Charlotte or "Charlie", and her crush for the year is Boston (who also happens to have a crush on her, along with most of the other boys in her class.) She had a darling graduation program/fashion show. She chose to wear her cute little dance costume. They sang some adorable songs and got their cap and graduation certificate.  After graduation, I took Kaya on a Mommy, daughter celebration. I told her we could do whatever she wanted to do.. She wanted to go to lunch at Texas Roadhouse and then go to the mall. (She is her Mother's Daughter!)

Thanks for coming Mimi and Papa, Grandma Rama and Ashy 

  

Thanks for the Graduation Gifts Grandma Rama and Grandpa Bill

Kaya's bff Charlie

Kaya and Charlie, Meici and Shannon

 






 We threw a big end of the year pool party for Kaya and Stella! They invited all of their favorite classmates and had a great time with pizza, capri suns and fun in the sun! (That is Boston sitting next to Kaya)

{Father's Day/Bunny's Day}

This year was Greg's first official Father's Day since we got married in September. Greg has stepped into the role of Fatherhood with so much love, grace and humility. I could not have asked for a more perfect Father figure to have married. I am so grateful for his love and protection of Kaya. He cares so much for her every need and emotion. So I wanted to make sure that this first Father's Day for Greg was amazing!

We started the night before with Kaya delivering the 'Room Service' menu for him to hang on the bedroom door. He chose waffles, strawberries and whipped cream.

Kaya and I woke up early and snuck down to the kitchen to make breakfast. We brought him breakfast in bed with loads of presents. Kaya picked out a shirt for him, donuts and a tie. (Greg was happy to have his first official Father's day tie. He said it was a right of passage and he was finally in!) I got him a pair of shoes, and another shirt. He was super surprised and very happy about his gifts.

After our own morning Father's Day, we went to church then to the Johnson's to celebrate the men in the Johnson family. Rama made a delicious dinner as always. We love the men of the Johnson family! Bill is such an amazing Father-in-law, Father and Grandfather. Such a great example of selfless service. He is constantly serving other people weather it be in the family, the ward or the neighborhood. He always jumps at the chance to serve anyone. I am so grateful for his example to Greg growing up as an amazing Father figure. All of Greg's brother's and brother in law are amazing fathers and husbands. I am so glad to be part of this amazing family!

The next week (on the actual Father's day) Greg and I had to speak in Sacrament meeting. Lucky us! It was so nerve wracking but ended up being a good experience. Both of our families came as we spoke about the fathers in our lives including our most gracious Father in heaven. 

I am so Thankful to my Dad, for always teaching me about the importance of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I am grateful to a Dad who took an interest in my life, for a father who stood at the doorway of my very first date with a sawed off shotgun to scare my date half to death. I am grateful for a father who made me turn around and change my clothes, when he thought I was wearing something inappropriate. I am grateful for a Father who shares a love for the back to the future trilogy,  I am grateful for a Father who stepped in when I was a single parent and became a father figure to my daughter, I am grateful to a father who was always an example of a spiritual giant who reminded me, when it was really hard to go to church as a single parent, how important it was in my role as a Mother, to make sure that my daughter was blessed with the gospel in her life.  Thank you, Dad. 

I have also been blessed with brothers and brother in laws who have taken Kaya under their wing, especially during my single parent years. They have always made her feel loved and special. Kaya has never gone without feeling loved in my family. For that I am truly grateful. 

I am blessed with amazing men in my life and the life of my Daughter. Thank you for your examples of love, kindness and sacrifice. Happy Father's Day today and everyday!

{Best Mother's Day EVER}

This year was the best Mother's Day in my 6 years of being a Mother! I didn't realize how crucial it is to have a husband in order to have a great Mother's Day (Just to facilitate all of the good ideas!)... turns out my Husband just so happens to be GREAT!

Kaya and Greg woke up extra early and surprised me with breakfast in bed (stuffed french toast, which is a talent I never new my new hubs had!) A huge poster wishing me a Happy Mother's Day with Reese's Peanut Butter cups all over it, and my floor was covered in balloons.  Kaya informed me that I had to pop each balloon in order to find out why she thought I was a great Mother. They were the cutest messages!! 

Kaya told me that she now knows how to spell 'because' really, really good!

These are what the notes said:

Because you made me cute
Because you love Jesus
Because you are smart
Because you are a knucklehead
Because you sing with me
Because you are funny
Because you kiss me
Because you are awesome
Because you take care of me
Because you take me places
Because you are special
Because you are my best friend
Because you are sweet
Because you help me
Because you love me
Because you are crazy
Because you are the best mom ever
Because you have funny toots
Because you are pretty
Because you take me to the park
Because you are a good cook
Because you snuggle me
Because you teach me
Because you take me swimming
Because you draw with me
Because you play games with me

We got ready for church and Kaya got up with the Primary for the Mother's Day program. So cute! It made me cry as usual.

After church we went to Ashley and Tyson's house and had dinner outside under the trees. We had a blast. It was the nicest most relaxing day and the weather was PERFECT! We all sat around and talked and played on the rope swings. No one wanted the evening to end!

All of the Mother's on the rope swing! So much fun!!

Kaya is the best face maker around. This was our best family shot out of 10! haha

Rama so graciously had her Mother's day last week so that we wouldn't be stressed going from place to place on the actual day of. She is always so kind and thoughtful that way. My sweet Husband was not having it though. He wasn't going to let the day go by without dropping by the Johnson home to wish his Mother a Happy day. We sat out on the back porch swing and talked the evening away. I am blessed with amazing in laws that let me chat their ears off. Amazing people who raised an amazing son!

I am so extremely grateful to be a Mom. It has truly been the greatest blessing and joy in my life. I am thankful for Kaya.. she is the perfect child for me. We have so much fun together. She is getting so big and we can paint our nails, shop, read books, snuggle, dance and play.  I enjoy every day that I have with her. She will never know the gift that she is to me in my life. I love you Kaya bug... you are my baby.. and you always will be! Thank you for giving me purpose and meaning in my life! xoxo

I am also extremely blessed to have a Mother who has taught me how to love. She taught me that unconditional love is the only way to love a child. No matter the heartache or problem... we always love our babies and stand by them. Thank you Mom for teaching me so many lessons in life that have changed me. You are such a great example of Motherhood and Love. I don't  know what I would do without you. Thank you for all that you are and all that you taught me to be. 

I am also extremely blessed to have an amazing Mother in Law who raised an incredibly good man who has been nothing but short of an amazing Husband and has stepped into the role of Father very naturally. Thank you for teaching him the ways of light and truth. I am so thankful for you and for the way you have brought both Kaya and I into your lives so easily. We love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our life. Thank you Rama... for being a great Mother to Greg, a great Mother in Law to me and an amazing Grandmother to Kaya! 

I am thankful for both of my sisters who have helped me so much with Kaya! I am lucky to have them both so close to help watch my baby. Thank you for helping to Mother my daughter. I couldn't do it without you guys!! I love you both!! xoxo

Happy Mother's Day to the Mothers in our life! xoxo

{Wedding Videos}

I finally figured out how to get these videos on YouTube so that I can share them. Mostly I just want to make sure I have backup of the disc they are on.

Greg's brother Kyle put them all together and his brother Billy took all of the video footage.  I'm so grateful to both of them because now I can relive these beautiful moments anytime I'd like to!

This first video is our Pre Wedding video of all of our dating pictures... It even has video clip of us on our VERY first date.  We are doing our best dance moves in front of car headlights (10:08)... pretty cute.



This is video and pictures of our engagement photo shoot... so happy Billy was there to tape it all.. love these memories!



This video is us on our wedding day.. Sept 14, 2012..starting with us coming out of the Temple... such a perfect, gorgeous, happy day!



Our wedding luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.



This is the end of the luncheon and the send off!



So grateful I found this amazing man to be apart of the rest of my forever!! I love you Greg! xoxo

{Kaya loses her first tooth!}

Kaya has had this loose tooth for about two months now.  She has been so excited for it to come out but also a little nervous.  Today, she told me she wanted to get her tooth out tonight. She said she was going to ask Bunny to pull it out. So we waited for him to get home from work and she asked him and got really excited...but when it came right down to it... she wasn't sure.....



After all of this... I decided to step in and take over.... I love her reaction! So funny!!



She is so happy because FINALLY she gets to tell her class at school tomorrow how she lost her first tooth... AND she is pretty dang excited for that tooth fairy to show up tonight. An overall good experience, I think.  Love my little, big girl! xoxo

{Happy 60th Birthday Dad}

{Tonight, my sisters and I threw a surprise birthday party for my Dad's 60th birthday! It was a lot of work but it was very successful! He was surprised! We collected letters from family and friends to present to him at the party! It was a big hit! We catered in Pei Wei and had lots of family and friends to help us celebrate this great man!}

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I can’t believe I’m old enough to have a Dad who is 60! haha Just kidding! I guess at the ripe old age of 33, I have quite a few memories of you…

One of my first memories is being about 2 or 3 years old and I told Mom I wanted to marry you and she said that I couldn’t because you were her husband…then she kissed you and I got so mad! My first love was my Dad and I wanted to marry him! (I guess it’s good I grew out of that phase!)

I always remember thinking I had the coolest dad at my mia maid daddy-daughter dance dates because you were the only Dad who really knew how to shake his booty! You would swing me around and throw me up in the air and under your legs. All of my friends were so jealous because their Dads were kind of dancing duds!

I will never forget my first date to prom when you greeted my poor date at the door with a shotgun. You thought you were so funny, and at the time, I was mortified! Looking back, I always knew that I felt protected and loved by my Dad and I appreciate that. I know a lot of my friends never felt that kind of love from their fathers.

I remember you and Mom coming up to Logan for me when I was struggling and always being by my side. You were there to support me when Kaya was born…and during the hardest times of my life…through my divorce. I will never forget the blessings of comfort you gave me during those times.  You gave me several conference talks to help me feel better about my choice to leave my marriage. You were always a shoulder I could lean on in hard times.  You allowed me and Kaya to move into your home for 5 years… something I have probably never properly thanked you for.  I don’t know what I would have done without you guys during that time. I appreciate that more than you can ever know. Thank you.

You have always been an awesome Grandpa.  Kaya loves you so much and has many fond memories of times she has been able to spend with you.  I am thankful that she had so much time during those 5 years to develop a strong relationship with you. She loves you so much.

Thank you for being there and supporting me through my new marriage with my new husband.  He has qualities in him that I looked for because of who you are.  He has a strong testimony of the church, just like you.  He is loving and kind and a hard worker.  All qualities I realized I wanted the second time around.  Thank you for being that example, so that I knew what to look for in a new Husband.  I feel very blessed to have two strong men in my life!

I am forever grateful for the choices you made to be a gentle, loving father.  I am grateful that you chose an amazing woman to be your wife.  I feel blessed to have been raised by you and Mom.  I know I am a better person, mother and wife for it!

I love you Dad!  Happy Birthday!!

Love, Whit

  

Dad making his entrance.

My Dad's brother, Guy made an extra effort by making a poem and recording his voice reading it to my Dad all the way from Poland. Thanks Guy! He loved it!