Dylan's Baptism Announcement Photo Shoot

I took Dylan to Wheeler Farm last night to take pictures for his baptism announcement, which is soon to come, but until then, here are some of my favorites. He's a much better "GQ" poser than he is a smiler right now. He's at that age where the smile is so forced and not very natural, so I like the non-smiling ones...that's why there are so many of them. He was really upset when he found out he had to wear his Sunday clothes because he wanted to wear his cowboy boots, so we compromised and went "dressy cowboy". I have to toot my own horn and brag about what a HANDSOME boy he is!!!! A chip of the old block ;)

Rainbow cupcakes

Look at these fun, festive, RAINBOW cupcakes I made! Thanks for the idea, Rina!! I simply divided and added food coloring to white cake batter. Think of the possibilities: school/team colors, holiday colors for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, 4th of July, etc., country colors. The possibilities really are endless!!!

YAY!!

Enjoying dinner (curry chicken) at our new table!!

Moon Cake

Dylan is REALLY into everything SPACE right now. He gets books from the library and reads and reads all about space and the space program. The Apollo program, to be exact. He knows waaaaay more about space than I ever have. He told me that since he knows all about, and I seriously mean ALL ABOUT, the planets, he's excited to expand his knowledge by reading about the universe next. I am amazed every day when he starts rattling off something new he's learned.

On a recent trip to the Clarke Planetarium, he thoroughly enjoyed exploring every feature they had! Just before we left, we went to the gift shop and he found some small toys and asked if I would make him a moon cake for his birthday. So I did...:)....and he absolutely LOVED it!!

Happy Birthday, Dylan!!

WOW...this is a busy time of year for birthday's at our house! As you know, Emily's was May 29th, Dylan's is today, June 10th, mine is June 29th and Chris' is July 11. Then our anniversary is August 5th!

It's not hard to think of so many good things to say about Dylan. He has been such an angel from the day he was born. He has always been such a well natured boy - THANK HEAVEN!! I hope his mellow, kind, loving demeanor continues through his teenage years.
Dylan has a very special spirit. One that was evidently strong before I ever got pregnant with him. I KNEW he was ready to come when he did. Chris and I had gone to the Sunday afternoon session of Conference in October of 2000. As we were walking out of the Conference Center, amidst all the hustle and bustle of people, I was looking at the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. I was on such a spiritual high, having just heard the prophet speak to me. I could feel the spirit so near. As I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion, I suddenly had the strongest feeling I was carrying life inside of me. I knew in that instant that I was expecting Dylan. I didn't question it for a second. I knew it as surely as the sun was shining.





Dylan was so heavenly when he was born! He brought such a special spirit into our home. It seems like I say that about all of my kids, but it's so true. They are a piece of heaven, so fresh and new from the presence of our Father in Heaven. I was often overwhelmed with emotion as I'd hold his tiny body in my arms and just marvel at what a miracle I had been blessed with. He was so perfect. So sweet. So innocent. At times I couldn't believe that I had been entrusted with such a special little spirit; that I had been chosen to be his mother. I still get teary eyed when I remember the emotion that was stirring within me.



Dylan has always been an obedient (for the most part) child. His teachers at school and at church always tell me what a great example he is and that they've never had a minutes trouble with him. He's always respectful, polite and kind to everyone around him.

Dylan is a chip off the old block. He's more like Chris than any of the others. DEFINITELY from the same mold!! He is quiet and shy when he's away from home - just like his dad - but at home.....talk about CRAZY, SILLY and ZANY!!! BOTH of them are the life of the party inside the walls of 4187!!! Seriously, there is NEVER a dull moment with one of them around - or with just one of them. Dylan inherited his dad's "talent" for nicknaming the family. Most of the names are for Todd and Landon, but he's been known to come up with some random, funny, off the wall names! Here are a few of the best: Doofenshmirts, Galactis, Horsey Hez, Pookah and Stinker Tingle!! There are a MILLION more, but those are the ones that come to mind first. He never ceases to put us in stitches!!! I've always had a favorite quote that says, "Tears through laughter is my favorite emotion". That is especially true when I'm laughing with my family. My cup truly runneth over!!! I have been so blessed with such a wonderful husband and SIX beautiful children. Two of whom were bonus packages when I married Chris.

I LOVE you so much, Dylan! I hope you have had a fun day today!! You have touched my heart in a very special way that I am eternally grateful for. Life is so much fun, so vibrant and happy with you around. I hope you will always know how blessed I feel to be your mommy. Words could never express the joy you bring me.

Happy Birthday, Emmy!

I was all set to do this blog entry on Friday, May 29th, which is Emily's actual birthday, but I stepped away from the computer for about an hour to take her to lunch for her birthday. I left with an emphatic, "NO ONE touch the computer. I have unsaved files and unfinished projects!!!" I know leaving things unsaved is NOT a smart thing to do, but I was so busy scanning pictures and writing this blog entry that I lost track of time. By the time I noticed that I had to be to the school to pick Emmy up for lunch, I was already 5 minutes late and had NO time to save my work!! Making sure everyone heard me, I left.

I returned and much to my dismay, EVERYTHING was GONE!!!! Come to find out, Landon wanted to get on Club Penguin and just exited out of everything. I was LIVID!!! Needless to say, he's GROUNDED from the computer for a very long time. The rest of the weekend was so crazy, I just didn't have time to redo anything. But here we are, Monday morning and I'm attempting to get it done. Hopefully it won't take me all day to finish with all of the daycare kids and mounds of laundry calling my name!!! Isabel is coming back today with her new baby sister, so I've GOT to finish before they come because once the newborn is here, I won't have time for anything else.

Without further ado, my tribute to my sweet daughter.....

After 40 hours of looooooong labor, our little Emily came kicking and screaming into this world on a rainy Saturday night. She was a beautiful bundle of joy and we were so excited to have her in our arms. I've always joked about how she was born going through puberty! I had no idea girls could be so moody from such an early age, but nonetheless, we have always loved and adored our little girl.
Emily has been a girly girl from the get go! Maybe it has something to do with putting a bow on her head the minute she was born, I really don't know, but it's so much fun to have a girl who lets me dress her up with ribbons and bows. She's never complained. In fact, up until about a year ago, she wouldn't leave the house unless she had some kind of ribbon or flower in her hair!!! She's ALWAYS, and I mean always, loved shoes and has always had a closet full. Some of them hand-me-downs from her cousin, but most of them, great clearance finds!! Then there's her wardrobe....what can I say, I LOVE buying her clothes. Anyone who really knows me, knows that I don't pay full price for much! There are a few exceptions, but I am a bargain shopper! MOST of what Emily wears, I haven't paid more than $2 or $3 for!! NO JOKE!!! The clearance racks at the mall are the first place I go. You can get stuff cheaper that way than you can at Wal-Mart!! The key is to shop off season. Last year, I got her some shirts at Kohl's for 80 cents a piece! Anyway.....this isn't supposed to be about my shopping habits, I just love that I can deck Emmy all out for less than it appears I do!!! I take great joy in the fact that I can do that :)

Emily is such a joy to have in our home. She is so tenderhearted, thoughtful and sensitive (sometimes too sensitive) to everyone around her. Her first concern is usually someone besides herself and she's always willing to help or console someone. She's got such a good sense of what's right and wrong and she's not afraid to show that. Emily has always been a leader. A natural talent that I'm so grateful she has. She doesn't feel the need to be a follower and do what everyone else is doing just to find acceptance. She's independent and confident of herself. Again, something I am very grateful for.

She loves her family, daddy especially! She's got him wrapped around her little finger. It's great to see the awesome relationship she has with her daddy. He teases her like he's her big brother sometimes, but they have an unbreakable bond! She makes it very known how much she'd LOVE a baby sister, but I always tell her that she'd probably just end up with another brother. That seems to stop her from bugging us too much ;) I keep telling her that there are advantages to being the only girl in the house.....but I don't think she'll catch on to what I mean until she's a little older.

For her birthday, Emmy really wanted a friend birthday party. I wasn't excited about the idea, so I told her that instead of having a party, we could take the money we would have spent to go shopping with. I didn't have to twist her arm at all! So on her birthday, like I mentioned at the beginning of this entry, I took her to lunch. After she got home from school, we went shopping, then to the salon for a much needed pedicure! That was so much fun. Every mom needs to take her daughter(s) for that. We laughed and giggled the whole time. It was all she could do to sit still while they were working on her feet! I wish I had taken my camera. Oh well. After that, we rushed home to get her ready for her dance pictures. She had to wear make up for the first time and she wasn't liking it. Especially not the read lipstick. But I was blown away at how grown up she looked as I caught a glimpse of what the future is going to look like!!! WOW!!! I told Chris he's going to have to buy a shot gun!! Anyway, we had a great time at the dance studio. Of course I had to take a shload of my own pictures of Emmy with all of her neighborhood friends that she takes dance with. The highlight of the evening was that, on her birthday, she FINALLY did the splits!! She was SO thrilled!! (Later on that night, she told me that she was so excited about being able to do the splits that she forgot all about her cute toes!! It was cute.) On the way home from the dance studio, Emily looked over at me and said, with a BIG smile on her face and said, "Mom, this was my BEST birthday EVER!!" Of course, I cried. That moment will be burned into my memory FOREVER!! And then I thought about the day:

Lunch: $20

Pedicure: $40

Dance Pictures: $22

Emily declaring this her best birthday ever: PRICELESS

I love you so much, Emmy! You are my pride and joy and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter! Thank you for being such a great example to me and to all those around you. You are a ray of sunshine and you fill my heart with so much happiness. Words cannot describe how lucky I am to be your mommy. THANK YOU for your unconditional love and for spending such an AWESOME day with me! Here's to many more!!!!!