Special Visitors

We started off Easter weekend with two very special visitors on Saturday night. Grandma and Grandpa Allred (T.J.'s Grandparents) came to visit! They had just finished their shift at the temple and made the rounds seeing all of the great-grand kids. They showed us pictures from their latest trip to Hawaii with Great Grandma Carol. They had a great time and brought back fantastic photos from whale watching, chocolate covered macadamia nuts, and a cute little wooden frog. It had little triangles on the back that you run a stick over and it sounds just like a frog. Grandpa held it behind his back making the noise and kept asking Trista if there was a frog in the house. :) She is holding it in this picture.

Before the night was over we all played with the frog, Papa Red toe danced with Trista, grandma taught her a hula, and everyone loved on baby Whitney.

I also got a picture of Grandpa and T.J. with the toy box they built together.

I love it, and thank both of them for the time and work they put in making it.

T.J. had just gotten back from an overnight with the scouts about an hour before they came over. We were so happy to see them and so glad they came over to visit. We love you Grandma and Papa Red!

Kaylee's Birthday Party and Baptism

Two Saturday's ago, my best friend LaNae's little girl Kaylee turned 8. They had a cowgirl party at "high noon" at a park next to their house. It was one of the most fun birthday parties I have ever been to. The invitations were so adorable, and looked like denim. Trista couldn't stop talking about the party that whole week leading up to Saturday. I drew a little calender for her with pictures of what we do each day of the week, all leading up to the big day with a birthday cake and balloons in that square. She held on to the calender all week long and colored on it everyday.

All of the kids dressed up in cowgirl attire. Trista wore jeans and boots with a white shirt and red bandanna. I put her hair in two curly pigtails with white bows. T.J. let her wear his Uncle Lane's cowboy hat and she loved it. Whitney wore jeans and a white onesie with a blue bandanna and a white bow in her hair too.

When we pulled up to the park we saw a horse trailer, bales of hay and two brown horses! Trista just loved it. We all ate hamburgers and the kids all got to ride the horses around the park and have their picture taken. LaNae had other games planned, but the kids just wanted to ride the horses the whole time. Kaylee's Grandpa Davis led the horses with around the park in a big circle for hours giving each child rides.

Trista was such a big girl and did so well on the horse. He put her up on top, let me take a picture and they were off. She got to ride for so long and was giggling and smiling the whole time.

Baby Whitney got a turn too!

I was more than a little nervous about this, so it didn't last longer than a few seconds. :)

Trista was the smallest one at the party, and was so cute trying to keep up with the other kids.

If you look closely, she is the little one in the back, wearing Uncle Lane's hat. I think you can click on the photo and it will come up bigger.

Here is the birthday girl with a Doritos smile.

Here is the side kick looking up at her.

And here is T.J. holding Whitney while I took photos of Trista on the horse.

I think that he is holding up the baby camp quite nicely, don't you?

On Saturday, Trista and I went to Kaylee's baptism. (I forgot my camera, so I don't have any photos.) I think that Trista and I were the only people there that weren't family. It was so special, and I am so happy that we were invited to share that day with her. It was a special time for Trista and I to spend together too. I got out my gospel art picture kit and did a little lesson about baptism and confirmation before we left. She sat with me in the chapel and did such a good job being reverent. When it was Kaylee's turn to be baptised and we were walking toward the font, I saw LaNae's mom and dad and one of her aunts in the hallway. They all gave me a hug and her mom and dad said the nicest things. When we sat down it was amazing how the spirit in the room became so strong so fast. I have never cried at a baptism before. Looking at that sweet little girl in her white jumpsuit in the font with her dad, I couldn't help it. I remember going to the hospital to see LaNae and Kaylee the day she was born. I held that little angel then and have loved her ever since. Now LaNae and I both have two little girls, and they are friends.

We went over to LaNae and Jared's house after the baptism with the rest of her family. Kaylee cracked me up. One of her little cousin's was playing with a Sleeping Beauty snow globe that Kaylee got at Disneyland. I told her that I would take it back upstairs to her room for her so that it wouldn't get broken. She was relived and said, "Oh good, because that is really, really, old. I got it in 2004." She would have been four, so I guess that would seem like a long time to an eight year old.

One of LaNae's aunts was so sweet to Trista and was asking her questions and talking to her. I always appreciate it when people listen to the things that she says, instead of ignoring her when she is talking, or talking over her. She asked Trista who was in her family and Trista said, "Jesus and Santa." That sounds about right..... :)

It was a wonderful day and I am so glad that Trista and I got to share it with LaNae's family.

Delgato

Trista's favorite show right now is "The Little Einstiens" on the Disney Channel. They mostly talk about music and art and dance. For the last week Trista has been doing everything "Delgato". She likes to help me in the kitchen, and we always have to stir things "Delgato". It is so funny that she knows what that word means, slow and deliberate. She keeps saying, "Mom, do it....deeelllgaaatooo......." :)

My Baby Rolled Over!

Yep, it's true. Miss Whitney Grace rolled over today! She is three and a half months old. She was on her tummy and rolled to her back. I was so exited I kept turning her back over and she did it four more times. She pushes up with her hands and puts her head down to the left side and then twists her torso that direction. She was so proud of herself, it was adorable. She knew she didn't want to be on her tummy, and was able to do something about it.
She has been smiling and giggling like crazy lately. Listening to her new little laugh is the highlight of my day. She has the cutest grin too. She gives you one of those all gums grins and you can see her one dimple, just like her daddy has.

I think that you can see T.J.'s dimple really well in this picture.


This is Whitney "latched on" to T.J.'s cheek.


And here they are together just a few days ago.


On a side note, I got to talk to my wonderful sister in law Meg today, and it was so nice. Thanks for calling me! We talked about vacuums and school and babies. She will be graduating this August. We are so proud of you Megan! You are going to be one fine nurse, you were a beautiful bride too. (Trista helped me pick out these pictures of you.)

Megan coming home from her mission, just off the plane.

Megan holding Isaac at the airport.


Megan and Will at the St George Temple.

On another side note, we are hosting Easter dinner for the third year in a row. I am so grateful to have a house that I can do things like this in. Our last house was a little too small for family gatherings. We worked all day Saturday and got the back yard almost ready for the egg hunt. T.J. planted new grass and fixed up the koi pond while I planted new flowers in the flower beds. We still need to replace a tree that didn't make it through the frost and we will be ready.

Now it feels like spring. Here's what it looks like today.....

This is what our yard looked like last year. The grass and flowers should have enough time to grow so that we can look like this again for the party.

Trista and Erin looking for eggs.

Uncle Jim helping out.

Trista at the egg hunt.

In her Easter dress.

And Trista and Erin the year before....

That morning in her jammies and bunny ears.

How time flies. Now we have another baby that is rolling over!

This is for Grangirl

We got to have Jess and Cami's kiddos over last night. They had tickets to the Suns game and needed a sitter. I like to spend time with them, and it helps me not feel so guilty when I ask them to watch my two kids. :) We are starting to do a babysitting exchange which is great. We watched their kids on Valentines day, and then they watched Trista and Whitney for us so we could go out that Saturday night.

We played outside in Trista's play house, briefly talked about not touching the water in the koi pond, took turns on the swing, watched part of Spiderman for Diego, ate a little pizza and macaroni and cheese, got ready for bed, watched Bambi, then played Elefun (which is a must when they come over) and Trouble. Noelia talked to me at the table after dinner. She was asking me what it felt like to get married. I told her about getting married in the temple with all of our closest friends and family around, and how it felt to look into T.J.'s eyes during the ceremony. She said in the cutest most dramatic seven year old girl sort of way, "That must be the greatest moment of life." :) After a few drinks of water all around, I finally convinced them to lay down. They all fell asleep amazingly fast, including Trista. She shared her bed with Putt Putt, and Isaac was on the floor. Noelia and Diego fell asleep on the couches in the family room. I had thought it would be an all night slumber party.

When Jess and Cami went in Trista's room to pick up their sleeping kids, I told them about Grandad being the first one to sleep under the princess canopy over Trista's bed when they stayed with us for Whitney's blessing. Good times.

Earlier in the evening, when we were watching Bambi, and it started to snow, Diego said, "Oh, they must be in Utah." I had to smile because I knew what he was talking about.
I said, "You think so?"
He said, "Yes, because there is snow on the ground."
I said, "Yep, they probably are! I think that you are right Diego!"
So, Grangirl, you don't just have plain ole' deer in the fall that eat your pumpkins........

Bambi lives in Parowan.

Planar Rocks

We received this blanket for Whitney in the mail from Planar the other day.

It has a little yellow lamb on it and says, "Whitney, Baby's First Flat Panel, PLANAR" T.J. sells tons of Planar products, so they sent us this super soft blanket with super cute embroidery for Whitney! I would also like to give a shout out to Planar for the nice flat panel 37 " T.V. that is behind her in the first picture. Instead of giving T.J. a commission, they give him points that he can use to redeem for Planar flat panel televisions, computer monitors, or other gifts. I have as many t.v.'s as I do people in my house now.

Before the baby was born, Planar also hooked us up with one of these...



A Dyson DC18 Slim vacuum cleaner! Thank you to T.J. for using all of your points on a new vacuum for me. He put a bow and a tag on it that said, "I hope this makes crawling prep easier on both of you." :)
Planar rocks.

Potion Number 9

Since Trista has curly hair, I have have always used leave in conditioner, Sebastian Potion Number 9, and Sebastian Wet in her hair since she was 12 months old. Yesterday, I gave her a bath and washed her hair when she woke up in the morning, and put in her hair products when we were finished. After dinner, I asked T.J. to take care of Trista for me while the baby slept so that I could finish some work. They put on their swim suits and got in our jacuzzi. I knew that I would have to give her another bath and wash her hair again, but just fine by me to have them both happy and occupied. I gave her another bath and put in her leave in conditioner when they were done. The baby started to cry, so I asked Trista to go put on her pajamas while I took care of Whitney. She did, but then went back in the bathroom and closed the door. A sign for things to come. :) I went in to check on her and she was rubbing Johnson and Johnson baby lotion all over the top of her head. I just had to laugh. I told her that we would have to wash her hair again, but it was getting too late and we would do it again in the morning. I got the globs out and put her down for the night.

The next morning she had her third bath in 24 hours and I washed her hair again. I put in the leave in conditioner and then she said, "Now the lotion?" I laughed out loud and said, "Oh no baby, it's Potion! Potion not Lotion!" I told T.J. that I had figured out the lotion thing and he had a chuckle too. She was trying to finish up our routine all by herself. She also took out my nail polish and fixed one of her "paintnails" that had chipped and didn't make a mess! She is getting to be such a big girl now, or a small girl if you are talking to Trista. She also says that she is a small sister, not a big sister. :)

Here is the very first picture of Trista's curls.