Family Pics and Conni's One Year pics

We got Conni's first year pics and family pics the day after Conni's bday. Here's my favorites from the batch. Some people have requested copies - if you want one, just send me an email and I'll print one off for you (Mom!)

Enjoy!

The Scary Penguin

Last year at one of my showers we got this this "Bat and Wobble Penguin". The top part is inflated and it makes noises and music when it wobbles. We pulled it out when Conni was about six months old and she was a little hesistant with it because the first time she hit it it came back and bonked her in the face. So, we've put it away and pulled it out off and on over the last six months. She has always been a little wary of it. Well, yesterday we pulled it out again and showed Conni. Dave and Conni were down on the floor and I was sitting in the recliner. As soon as Conni saw it she turned and made a beeline for me. She pulled herself up on the recliner and all but tried to jump into my arms. She was whimpering and then started to hyperventilate. Her little heart was just racing! We couldn't get her fully calmed back down until Dave took the penguin out to the kitchen.

Then this morning, she could see the penguin while I was feeding her breakfast. She kept pointing at it and whimpering. I finally took it out to the car and she settled down to eat breakfast.

So for now the penguin is at Grandma's house for the cousins to have fun with. Hopefully watching the older kids play with it will help Conni overcome her fear.

Learning to Walk

My family is so helpful. They are trying to help Conni learn to walk. She's getting the hang of it, but still needs practice.

Stephanie is helping Justine call Conni from the left, and Sarah is helping Conni on the right.

Here's a cute video of the family help.

Swimming

We went swimming at my sister's pool a week or so ago. Its not heated, but it had been a nice day so we thought it would be ok. Well, the water wasn't quite as warm as we thought it would be. And there was a breeze. So, Conni didn't much care for the whole experience. It was fun though, and Sarah's boys enjoyed having Conni over. If it were warmer I think that she would have had a lot of fun. We are hoping for a really hot day soon so that we can try again. But here's a pic of us having fun and Conni crying about the whole thing. :)

Conni's Birthday

I can't believe my baby is one year old! I am excited to say that Conni is very happy and healthy and thoroughly enjoyed her first birthday. We are especially greatful for all the love and support from all the family and friends. Here's a little bit about what we did with some fun pics.

We started out the day (after breakfast and getting ready) with presents. Conni did ok with them - she didn't completely grasp the concept of tearing the paper. So Mommi and Dad helped her open them. Here's what she got from her parents:


After opening presents, we loaded up and headed to Hogle Zoo. Conni has really been enjoying animals and since we got her the Fisher Price Zoo I guess this was kind of our "theme" for the day.

Conni did really well. She enjoyed being in her stroller and watching the people and the animals. She was very mellow and laid back thru the whole thing. She actually preferred to stay in the stroller than to be held and shown the animals.

Hogle Zoo now has a carousel. We paid the $2 for her to ride and went on. She was ok at first - patting the kangaroo and waving at Daddy. But once we started going around and up and down she started to get very nervous. She insisted on being held and wanted to get off.

Once we got home from the zoo Conni took a nap and then played the rest of the day with her new toys and Mommi and Dad.

The next day we had the extended family over for cake and ice cream. For the big family cake we got a "My Little Pony" cake. Harmons also gives a free "smash" cake for first birthdays - you'll see whats left of it in the later pictures. :)

Here's a super cute picture of Conni sitting on Grandma Bonnie's lap. She refused to keep a bow in her hair, but we still love it!

Here's a fun picture of Conni and Mommi at the party with family.

Conni loved her cake! Once we put it in front of her, she took one finger and scooped off some frosting and ate it. Then she dove in for more. I smashed her hand in to see that there was something under the frosting and she very much enjoyed that. Then Aunt Michelle helped her get some on her face and tummy. As you can see - she totally got into it :)

After a quick bath, it was time to open presents. Again, Conni was somewhat hesitant about ripping the paper, so Mommi and Daddy helped.

This pic is just to show you how much she's grown. We were inside playing with toys and she wandered over to the gate.

Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Kerry gave Conni a Leap Frog ride-on train. She loved it! Aunt Michelle helped her get her feet and she was pushing it all over the front room. Since then she has been pushing it, riding it, and climbing over it and getting more and more stable. I'm sure we'll have a walker on hands soon enough!

Once again, we are so greatful for all the friends and family that have helped us figure out this parenting thing thus far. Much thanks for the gifts Conni got - she is very spoiled - I mean well loved. :)

Here's to another wonderful year!

Cinch Packs

A little while ago I mentioned I was sewing cinch packs for girls' camp. It was a little bit of work using this particular fabric, but I think they turned out pretty good! I made a total of 30 bags, then had them embroidered at work. The girls loved them! I think I'm starting to get the hang of this sewing thing.....

Six Songs Collide...

I was sharing the Jon Schmidt "Love Story meets Viva la Vida" with a friend at work and she showed me this link. Its awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JKKl95Ttrc

(ps - I'm still trying to get stuff up from Conni's bday!)

Fishes Family Home Evening

Last Monday my sister invited us over for FHE. The lesson (from Grandma) was "We are greatful Heavenly Father gave us fish." After the lesson, we took the girls outside in their swimsuits and had goldfishes for them to play with. Conni was more interested in the swimming pool than the fish. But she did like it when Daddy caught them. Once Tini got into it she loved holding (and squeezing!) the fish!

Catching goldfish

Chillin' with the fish

The girls in their swimsuits

The bulb syringe

Most babies hate to have the noses sucked with the blue bulb syringe. Ever since Conni was born it hasn't bothered her at all. In fact, after her bath tonight the overly-tired Conni was due for a "treatment" with the bulb syringe. It soothed her and she was giggling while Dad cleared out her nose. Then she fussed when he put it away!

I love the quirks of children!

Tribute to Google Maps, GPS, and Smartphones...

I have a bunch of stuff to add about girls camp and cute things Conni has done - but this was too funny not to put up...

The day began bright and early at 5:00 am (ok, 5:45). We dressed, reviewed directions to Preston, ID, and headed out for nephew Dalton's baptism. We made great time and arrived early. So early in fact that we couldn't find anyone we knew and were worried we had the wrong place. However, the stake primary lady reasurred us Dalton was on the program, and shortly thereafter the rest of the family arrive.

The meeting was very nice and Dalton was very handsome and excited. After the meeting, we had a nice lunch at the park across the street from Jessica and Justin's. Then it was time to go home. Here's where the story gets good.

We had loaded up the car and said our goodbyes and I asked Dave if he needed directions from his father. He said "no, that's why we have Google maps. We'll be fine." So I typed Jessica's address in Google maps and requested directions home. We should have known we were off to a fine start when at the very first turn, I said, "turn left, I think. These directions don't match this street." (Now I must note, we weren't going home the same way we came.)

We were going along just fine, things looking vaguely familiar, when we arrived in Clarkston. Well, silly Clarkston's roads don't have the same names as Google maps. I hadn't been able to get a GPS signal, so after turning around twice, we stopped into a very lovely driveway to find a stupid GPS signal. The GPS led us down a small country lane, with promises of arriving at I-15 within oh about 10 short miles. Little did we know those 10 short miles were on a gravel road over the blasted mountain! We drove thru a small grazing cattle herd on either side of our little trail. The hills were better than Lagoon. We just prayed it was right and we wouldn't end up in the middle of no where and run out of gas!

Finally, I-15 appeared on the map, but we were still on a gravel road. We passed the very small town of Plymouth and miraculously found a paved road and the on-ramp.

For the most part we were able to keep our sense of humor and enjoy the fields of sagebrush and some random, albeit thriving yellow flower.

To the good folks at Google maps - please review small town road names in Idaho (or was it Utah?)! To whoever invented GPS and smartphones - thank you!

[We were obviously a little loopy by the time we hit Ogden and starting writing our tale, so forgive us our silliness.]