Puppets on Strings

We got this puppet over a year ago when we were in Mexico and Ayla just noticed that it has been hanging in her room. This afternoon Papa was playing with her while she was sitting on my lap and she was cracking up like we've never seen her before. Unfortunately, she doesn't laugh as much in the video since it is her nap time and she isn't sitting on my lap anymore, but it's still so stinking cute!

Rock a Bye Baby

I don't mean to be biased by we truly have the most adorable little girl ever! She brings so much joy and laughter to our house.

Sometimes entertaining her can be the hardest thing, but the simplest of objects can keep her occupied for the longest time.

I've been meaning to get a video of one of her newest activities, which is rocking. The beanie really has nothing to do with it, but both together made it even better to watch.

Some Our MANY Projects

We've been quite busy already this year doing home maintenance projects. It's been going on 4 years since we renovated the house, so it's time to do some work. I've been painting the kitchen all the floor and base boards and still have a lot more painting to do. When Milton renovated the house they stuck to pretty much the same paint color throughout since the original intention was to do a fix and flip, but we decided to keep in when we got engaged.

I have decided that this year I am going to give a garden a try. In our backyard I will have the tomatoes, sunflowers, pumpkins and squash. For all the others (beans, peas, lettuce, spinach, etc) I am going to buy a plot at our community garden. I think it's awesome because all I have to pay is $20, which includes a 10x20 plot and water. One of the reasons out of many that I am doing a garden is my new church calling which is the Welfare/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for our ward. So, yes I have a lot to learn!

Since Colorado has such a short growing season I was advised to start most of my plants in pots and the above flat about 6 weeks prior to planting so that they will have the best shot at harvest before the frost comes.

Milton has also been very busy too...We do have a fairly large plot for our house, but most of it is front and side yard, so we've decided that the two large trees in the back need to go so we can accomodate for the small garden, Ayla's pool and room for our patio set. I have no idea how Milton did it, but he was able to take down the smaller of the two trees. However, after over 2 days of work on this one alone I think we'll leave the larger one to the professionals...It was dark by the time he was finished so I wasn't able to get a good picture of it and then it snowed later that night. I just hope the dogs don't end up falling into the hole or breaking a leg!

Of couse, the work never ends!

Ayla's First Time at the Pool

Ayla's is ready for the POOL! I think she could feel the excitement because she was all pumped up before we even left the house (which was shocking since she didn't take very good naps today).

We weren't sure what to expect since this was her first experience, but she had a blast! She was screaming in excitement (her way of communicating) at everyone around her, including the ladies in the locker room.

Her favorite was the shallow part where she could sit up and splash away. She is such a sweetheart and we love every minute!

A Touch of Spring

Milton and I have been quite busy this past week getting back into our workout routine, home repairs, painting, etc...So, I decided that we would take part of the day off to enjoy the 55 degree weather. Brittany and her boys joined us to Ayla's first trip to the playground. We put her in the swing and she acted like it was something she's been doing her whole life.

I think she liked looking at the ground the most.

Kaden on the other hand didn't like the swing at all!

Austin was all over the place, climbing and exploring.

And Ayla just watched all the excitement from below.

She's really taken to the finger foods, but sometimes she just eats it right off the tray (maybe she thinks she's a dog already).

I can't believe how much she's grown! She's sitting up investigating anything within her reach. One thing I can't figure out if why does she like her toy boxes better than the actual toys?

February 26th Will Always Be A Special Day

While at the temple today I was thinking back on the past 5 years and how much has happened in just a short amount of time. I made a big move from Utah to Denver, met Milton, dated him for 1 1/2 years, got hitched, adopted Kusko and Bahlu, went to the temple to be sealed one our 1 year Anniversary, excelled in my job, had a beautiful daughter, decided that I was going to be a stay at home mom. etc etc...Then it occured to me that the 26th of February has been very good day...

Four years ago Milton said the three (long awaited for words), "I love you." Now, normally it may not be something I would remember the date over, but in this particular case I did. By that time Milton and I had been seeing eachother for almost a year and I had confessed to him several months prior that I was falling in love with him. When I told him that I was falling in love with him all I got was...silence...followed by more awkward silence...then he went on to say that he wasn't a person to say what he didn't mean (basically he wasn't in love with me, definately not what I was wanting to hear). However, he did think we were going to get married some day. HUH? How can someone think of marriage before they can even say that they love someone. But I held on for some reason and knew the day would hopefully come...soon. It did about 3 months later and that's why I remember it so much. February 26, 2006 started a good trend.

One year ago today we got to have the amazing ultrasound to find out how baby was doing and the sex. We had actually found out in an earlier ultrasound that she was a girl, but on February 26, 2009 we got the final confirmation. I had felt from the moment we found out I was pregnant we were having a girl and every thought went directly to baby girls.

Then today I had the most amazing day at the temple. Not only did I feel the peace and knowledge that I was part of a much bigger plan, but it was so wonderful and that I got to spend it with great friends, my wonderful husband and my beautiful daughter. What a great day!

Not for Those with a Weak Stomach

You may be wondering what the above picture is and as I warned you in the title, if you have a weak stomach you should move onto to the next post. The last couple of weeks has been a bit difficult. Bahlu has always been the puker and Kusko the pooper and we got a lot of both. Now, I love big dogs, but I have to admit that I don't like the larger things that come with them (poop, puke, slobber, vet bills, etc).

Bahlu started throwing up two weeks ago and it got worse and worse. The morning that we found the above puke in his crate we knew we had to take him to the vet, especially since he was losing weight and there appeared to be blood in his puke. Ayla and I took him to the vet and feared the worse, but luckily he had a bacterial gastro...(yeah, I can't seem to remember the medical terms) infection. He had to be put on several medications and a bland chicken and rice diet. If you're wondering how he got the infection the truth is SQUIRRELS! Those darn animals bring junk into our yard and halfway bury them only for Bahlu to dig them up and eat it. One time in particular just shortly before he got sick I found him munching on a crab leg shell.

In report, he hasn't puked in several days and seems to be on the mend. Now we just have to get him to gain back 15 pounds.

Kusko has always been the "princess". We would know that Bahlu had just puked when Kusko would have a panic attack. Every time he would run around frantically and refuse to go near the area that Bahlu had just thrown up, which was usually their room. Well, one morning Milton went upstairs to discover that Kusko had literally "crapped his pants" after one of Bahlu's sick episodes. The video is quite hilarious since Milton always adds humor to every situation. If you're thinking of getting a big dog, don't let this dissuade you because they really are great dogs.