Happy Easter!

It's officially spring!

The swing is up!  Come on over, swing with me, and I'll feed you a cookie.

St. George

For Family Home Evening a couple of weeks ago we talked about "The Family: A Proclomation to the World."  In the proclomation it talks about the importance of "wholesome recreational activities."  Dallas and I decided when we first married that we were going to work hard to ensure that we went on a family vacation every year.  This year we let the kids choose where they wanted to go, and they chose Zion.

It was splendidly warm, the kids were sweet, and we had a wonderful time hiking around in redrock country.  Our favorite of the trip was Pioneer Park- located just blocks from our hotel.  Zion was beauitful, but having to ride the shuttle was difficult with three little ones, and the kids were beat after just one hike.  Lease favorite part?  Getting to the hotel we had originally booked and realizing it was a mess!  Thankfully Best Western had a room available and we were happy to pay triple the amount of the other just so our beds didn't fall over.

A few random joys:  Pools, wings, Target, General Conference, no cooking!, sun hats, sandals, sand, lizards, the temple, cacti, and smiles.

Paigey Abigail turns one!

We celebrated a "Bird-Day" at our house!  Our sweet Paige turned one.

We had some family join us at grandma's in celebration of Paige.    I decided on a bird theme and pulled out some craft skills- which is a HUGE deal for me because I do not craft.  (Last time I crafted the item ended up in the garbage.  Being a perfectionist is rough when you have no skill).  I ended up making tissue balls, a bib and onesie, and a fun birdie timeline.  Here are some of the details.

We had "bird food" (chicken salad sandwiches, fruit and veggies), birdie sugar cookies, and birthday cake.  Paige was a little overwhelmed with opening presents, but ended up loving what was on the inside.  She especially loved her Minnie Mouse Airplane from mom and dad.

At cake time she picked like a true bird!  And then ended up eating fruit instead.

The kids did a little crafting themselves!  They painted birdhouses... and ruined shirts in the process.  Sorry Jenn!

James, Annie, John, Will

Alli, Miles

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

O-N-E

Paige.  It breaks my heart a little to know that I'm writing about your one year milestones!  A whole year with a perfect angel.  At one you are:

18 lbs 1 oz (8%)
30.5 in (90%)

• Still nursing, and struggling to get you to take a formula bottle.
• Intermittently sleeping through the night, but if you wake up, mama lets you cry.
• Crawling champion!  You will walk around furniture or holding onto fingers.  You like climbing the stairs- I think the challenge excites you.
• You say- mama, dada, dog, ball, uhoh, wow.  "Uh oh!" was your first word.  You will also sign "more."
• 5 teeth- 3 top, 2 bottom.
• Giving biting kisses.
• Patting my back when I pick you up.
• Loving the outside!!!

We are so thankful you came to our family a year ago.  Can't wait to learn more about you over the next year!

Annie & Paige

To be fair- these two are the best of friends, and will be for all of time.