Thank You

Can you spot the item on the table that I just made spending $4 at the Dollar Store?

Not much happening in our neck of the woods.

Last weekend got some great deals going to garage sales - Aftyn finally got the new wardrobe she was needing! And she looks so dang cute, it brings a smile to my face every time I get her all dressed up.

Aftyn has really started to have a lot to say lately. I just discovered today that she says "Thank you." Where did our child learn to be so polite? I think it may be because when we take things from her that she shouldn't have, we say thank you. Sounds kinda like "Dadejyou". Pretty dang cute. She will say a few things on command, including thank you. She seems to be growing up so fast. But no worries. She's still not walking, so she's not growing up WAY too fast.

Oh yeah. She loves the song Old MacDonald. Especially the E-I-E-I-O part. And she sometimes helps to sing the O part.

Sorry no video or funny pictures of Aftyn. I'll work on remembering to buy some batteries for our camera so we can record these cute things of Aftyn for posterity's sake. And then we'll share them with you all. Have a nice weekend!

And like Mr. Minor my chemistry teacher used to say "Stay out of the jails and hospitals!"

Ta-Da!

Clearly, she wants up. Yet another word I'm trying to teach her to say when she wants to be picked up.

Aftyn seems to have hit the point in life where she likes words. Especially the word "Dada".

She knows who he is, likes to look at pictures of him, and just generally walks around muttering that word or forms of it all day.

It's okay, because when she really needs something from me, like a bottle or to be rescued from something she's gotten herself into, she says mama in the most sweet way.



Today, however, she learned a new word, and it sounds like dada.

I unknowingly brought it into her world today when I said "Ta-da!".

You should have seen the grin that just popped up on her face - and the immediate sounding out of the sound "t".

I heard a lot of those, followed by lots of ta-da's. (When she says it, it sounds more like "day-da" and you can tell it's different than dada because she holds the last da out extra long.)

Darn those cute chubby cheeks and sparkly eyes - she's got daddy wrapped around her finger.

Wonder what we'll learn today?

Could it be Spring Fever?

No idea why, but updating my blog has been the furthest thing from my mind lately. It's not that I'm super busy, I guess I'm feeling creatively constipated. :) Do you ever feel that way?

As I'm sure everyone knows, we had lots of sickness in our house last week and I'm glad to report that other than Reed's dry cough, we all seem to be all better. Aftyn's appetite even seems to be back to normal.

Aftyn still won't walk, but a few days ago, accidentally took her first step. Twice. I saw it. But I can't prove it to you.

Aftyn also has lots of words to say. Dada. Mama. Baba. Bup. Papa. Poopoop. Also lots of squealing and giggling and this new "ha" thing she says when she's trying to be funny. I think she got it from daddy playing with her. She is truly such a sweet little thing, and has a lot of personality. Oh yeah, and she likes to sing. Really, all it is is a sustained sound, but that's all that singing is, so she's gradually catching on. Smartie. She loves to jump with daddy, and even without daddy. She will stand against the couch, leaning on it with her arms and jump her little legs. So darn funny.

Okay, well, that's a good start for me. I'll try and build on my creativity this week. Maybe that's the problem, I've been channeling all my creativity into bows. That's something to think about.

Our Easter

Thanks to Cindy who took all these fabulous pictures when all the rest of us (with kids) totally forgot our cameras! :)

Daddy's helping.

Look Mom, I found this thing, and if you shake it, it makes sounds! :)




Here's one of Aftyn's new bows!




All the cousins who participated in the little people egg hunt - and some of their daddies.

Inspirations

This weekend has been full of inspirations. Of course, what with having General Conference, you might expect that. But along with it, I have been having bow inspirations. And I am might proud of some of the cute bows I created the last 2 days. Check them out!

The Long Awaited Reunion . . . . and Meeting

Dad looks tired.

Not surprisingly, Mom is loving on all the grandbaby's she hadn't seen yet.

Since I'm a bit of a slacker at blogging lately, of course it's Tuesday and my parents have already left to go on their church history tour and I'm just now sitting down to tell you all how it all went.



My parents arrived back in Nampa around 4 pm on Sunday. I know because I called them as soon as I got home from church which got out at 4. I somehow managed to wait until we had had dinner, Aftyn had had some kind of a nap, and we all had had some time to relax before we made our way to their house which is approximately 4 minutes away. Can you believe I waited 3 hours?!? I can't either.



Walking into the house which was full of family, all time seemed to vanish and it was as if my parents had never left. There we all were, in our usual spots on the couch, the floor and in various rooms. Amazing how so much can change and still be the same.

My dad still looks the same, his hair is a little grayer. My mom, always known for her infamous ability to "rat" her hair at least 2 inches off her head, now wears it straight, no more "foof". Both seemed much more confident in themselves, and definitely seemed to work as a team. And it wasn't something they were lacking to begin with. I can clearly see what their mission has done for them.

Aftyn, in spite of only 2 1-hour naps on Sunday, was surprisingly happy with my mom. She didn't seem to take to my dad very well, but she's coming around. It's amazing how having them at home seems natural, yet I now feel like I'm sort of living at home again since we live so close.

My parents will be back from their long awaited church history tour in about 2 weeks. Can't wait!

A little Anti-climatic

Things around here seem a little anti-climatic this week, in comparison to all the exciting things going on all around us. Here are just a few of the things everyone else has happening:

-1 sister on a mediterranean cruise. She just landed in Barcelona Spain this morning.

- 1 sister's husband just got a permanent job after having part time work for a little while and
no job for even longer. The new job requires a move to a city a few hours away.

- my parents just drove home from their mission and are visiting with a sister and family in
a city many hours away, so we haven't seen them yet

- 1 sister is getting ready to get married in 2 months

- 1 brother contemplating a move because of his job

Now, lest you think I am feeling sorry for myself, here's some of our exciting news this morning.

- Reed's playing tennis this morning with his usual group of guys. First time this season!

- Aftyn is going to get to meet my parents for the first time in her life tomorrow hopefully!

- my sister in Barcelona just called ME to let me know she had landed and all was
okay. (sorry Mom, but next time leave your phone ON) :)

Look for pictures tomorrow of the happy meeting and reunion of my parents with all of us