Gymboree!

Lexi was invited to a fantastic birthday party a couple of weeks ago. The celebration was for a girl in Lexi's nursery class who turned 2 years old. The party was held at a placed called, Gymboree. No, not the adorable clothing store, but another place. This place was great! There was a teacher who did some songs/activities with the kids and then the kids were given free play time and we ended with parachute play! Lexi had so much fun at this place. Check out the pictures!

The kids had to tap their maracas on this rolling thing while the music played, but then when the song gave a cue word, they had to stop and put their maracas in the air. This was hard for Alexis, but she liked it and by the end of the song, she understood what to do. 

She loved walking on the balance beam

She actually has a really good shot! she loved this!

The next few pictures were from the same activity. The kids had to put these monkeys in the middle of a slightly deflated ball, then they had to use their hands and press the sides of the ball so that the monkey pops in the air. She loved, LOVED this! She got one of these balls as a party favor and she has been popping all of her animals at home. She loves it!

I would have to say, this was her favortie, favoritest thing to do by far. she loved this slide so much. She went forwards, backwards, walked down it, you name it, she did it!

That blue pad was like a trampoline. So much fun!She jumped off the purple mat in the background onto the blue mat. This is her mid air then...

that was her landing! I want one of these mats for the house, awesome!

There were three different kinds of cupcakes to choose from: Lemon, Strawberry, and Chocolate. Lexi of course picked chocolate!

Bubble time!

There were so many bubbles, it was great!

Parachute play: The kids all sat in the center and the adults lifted the edges and walked around in a circle. This caused the kids to spin around. The birthday girl is the one right in the middle, with pigtails and cute green bows. She is a doll!

This was Lexi inside the parachute dome! The adults all lifted the parachute up, everyone ran inside and then we sat on the edges to create the dome effect! So fun!

This was the end, and they had to say goodbye and play with this clown. Lexi loved him!

Christine's Baby Shower, 10 months late :)

Last night I stayed up way too late looking at my blog. I have been in a very reflective mood lately, and it was fun looking back and seeing the changes that have taken place since arriving here in MI. Well, as I was looking back, I realized that I never posted about my baby shower that was thrown for me! So, although my baby is now 10 months old, I am now going to blog about my baby shower.

The shower was hosted by two good ladies in the ward, Jan and Callie. The shower was a joint shower. My friend, Nisha and I gave birth about two weeks apart! She had a boy and I had a girl, so the shower was pink and blue, it was fun! The shower was given a couple of weeks before our due date, so we were QUITE pregnant! Anyways, these are pictures that Jan took and sent to me after the shower was over.

The watermelon/fruit looks like a carriage! How cute is that? Zac, Callie's husband, made it, no joke!

Yummy food! These cucumber sandwiches were one of my favorites

Left: Sister Perriton (She has since moved out of the ward, and I miss her) Right: Margaret (YW, her mom hosted the shower at her house!)

Tara and her Daughter. Tara was my first VT companion in this ward.

Left to right: Megan (has moved :(, Sister Cook, Lexi's nursery teacher, and Sister Hawes, RS prez)

Left to right: Cami, Kaylee, both have moved, Sister King, bishop's wife, and Sister Adams

Sister Stamps and Tobey

Nisha and I, the mommas!

This gift was perfect for a MI winter. Christine loved this thing so much!

More fun things! 

Look how shiny my face was! I remember it was so hot that day and I remember just being so hot! Remember, this shower was in July! This also makes me realize I may not be ready to go back to AZ heat. But, at least I am not pregnant this summer!

Jan is in the middle, she was one who hosted the shower. Thanks Jan!

Close up! Oh man, looking at these pictures makes me realize how huge I was! Ah, the things we ladies do to bring children into the world. 

Anyways, now this event is official! I had to add it, because one day soon, when I convert my blog into a memory book, I want Christine to know she was loved and had her very own shower! 

Happy Mother's Day

I love my Mom so much! I love how I can call her whenever I want and she will almost always pick up to talk to me! And, believe me, this happens almost every day. I love how phone conversations that last for hours, literally, only seem like minutes to me. I love the fact that she is always thinking of me and my little family and this is apparent by all of the amazing packages and cards and visits we have received since living away from her!

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is I love my Mom more than I can say and she is my example.
She is the kind of mother I hope to someday get close to being. I love that she is an amazing Grandma to my girls. I love the fact that Lexi gets excited whenever her name is uttered! I love LOVE this woman.

I also love the fact that when you get married, you get to have another "Mom" in your life. My Mother-In-Law is also amazing! She makes the best cinnamon rolls around, she is one of the best listeners I have ever met, She helped create one of the hottest, smartest, men around, my Chris. She is so patient, something I am always amazed at, since I may not be the most patient person on the planet. But, most importantly, to me, she treats me literally like one of her own daughters and that is something I have always appreciated since being in this family. She always manages to make me feel special and floods me with more compliments, that I feel I sometimes don't deserve. She is kind, she serves, and she is a great leader! I have a lot to still learn from her and I can't wait to move closer so that I can be around her great influence.

I am so richly blessed to have wonderful examples of righteous mothers who inspire me to want to be a better mom myself.

This year, Chris took some pictures of me and my girls to share with you Mom, and Alice, and all others who read this blog. We send our love through the power of the internet :) We have been thinking of you today and love you so much!

Happy Mother's Day!

my favorite one

Sisters

I love watching the interaction starting to take place among my girls. The older Christine gets, the more Lexi loves her and the more Lexi wants to play with her. They play quite well these days, thank goodness!

Anyways, I told Lexi I was going to take some updated pictures of her and Christine, and she did not even protest! I was shocked!

I love them all so I am posting them all, because they really show off Lexi's little personality so well! I love my girls and am grateful to have them in my life.

Sorry it is a little blurry, but this has got to be one of my favs

Lex was screaming like in Home Alone. Don't know why, but there you go