My big girl

For her birthday Anna got this toy from my sister, Brandy. We thought it would be a little while before she could walk with it, but just look at her go!

I think it's funny how she tries to manhandle the toy in the direction that she wants to go and gets frustrated when it doesn't obey. That's pretty much her attitude about everything :o)

The hug monster!

Don't ever try to distract the boy when he is playing golf!

Anna's cool coiffure

(you can double click to enlarge the photos)

Randomness

I guess it's time to share some of the many pictures I've take lately.

Geared up to watch dirtbikes on t.v.
and to play with monster trucks

Fastest drill in the west!

It's officially official!

Goose is ambulatory!!! She no longer needs coached to walk, she chooses to do it all on her own. There are times that she still crawls, but the majority of the time now she is walking! She can even change direction and turn her head to look at other things while she is walking.

Monster Jam!!!

Eric and I took Ayden to the monster truck show yesterday. On the way into the arena, Ayden kept saying "I'm so 'cited to see monster trucks!" It was so much fun! Grave Digger was a hit, and anytime he was out of the arena Ayden was asking where he was. There was also two quad war races where 4 riders from Idaho battled 4 riders from Utah. These races were pretty exciting because the riders really had to work to stay in that 1st place spot. A guy from Idaho would be in 1st place, then Utah would get ahead on a corner and it just went back and forth like that the whole time! It was anybody's race right up until the end, but Idaho won both races. Yeah, baby!

The most anticipated part of the show (at least for Eric and I) was the stunt bike portion. They had a really tall dirt ramp in the middle of the arena and then they set up another ramp and three stunt riders did CRAZY stunts while jumping from that ramp to the dirt landing ramp. They did back flips and hand stands and I just thought they were plain nuts! But it was really fun to watch, definitely our favorite part of the whole show. When we were walking back to the car Ayden said, "thanks for watching monster trucks!" When Monster Jam comes to town again we will definitely go. Next time, though, we will get pit passes so we can go see the trucks up close!

Ayden wearing his "ear glasses"

Ayden was surprised when all the monster trucks fired up their motors at the same time to start the show

trying to get a better view

"where's Grave Digger daddy?"

The star of the show!

Pictures taken with my new lens

I got a new lens for my camera that I am very excited to have. It allows me to take better pictures in low light situations so I can get good pictures of the kids no matter where they are in the house. I didn't expect the lens until today, so when it came to yesterday I was pleasantly surprised and couldn't wait to try it out. Most of these shots are of Anna because Ayden was down for his nap before I could get my camera out, not that he would cooperate for pictures anyway.

Anna's birthday bash

We had such a fun party for Anna's 1st birthday! Some of us had a little too much fun (you know who you are). She thoroughly enjoyed her cake and opening her presents. When Eric put her to bed last night she went right to sleep without so much as a peep. She was even in exactly the same sleeping position when we checked on her before we went to bed.

She's our Goose

My mom was about to give Anna her cake when she dropped it! Luckily it landed on the table and was salvagable.

"Gimme that cake!
"

She dug right in

Nope, she wasn't the least bit shy. At least she didn't get any in her hair.

Oh, wait, yes she did (thanks Uncle Rob)

Poor Goose at sooo much cake!


It took a team of two to clean her up


And she got a bath in the sink


And now, let the gift opening commence!

She got a very snuggly teddy bear and knew just what to do with it

My parents gave her a little crib and my mom made this goose blanket for it. So cute!


Here she is modeling her new hat

Ayden had to get in on that action! He's striking a pose.

Oh yeah, she's all girl. See how happy she is that she got clothes!

And of course she wanted to try them on right away

The big gift of the day was this cop car from Daddy and Mama

It was a very popular toy! The other kids wasted no time fighting over it.

Cousin Dakota squeezed in

So did Aunt Jen

After the party my parents and my sister's family stayed and we played a game. Anna "helped" grandma.

She looks like such a big girl!

These are for you, ma

You just can't invite Eric's family anywhere without bedlam breaking out :oD