One Year Older and Wiser Too!

Our little baby is a year old! Is that even possible? Andrew is now entering the toddler phase of his life... or he will when he's good and ready to walk.

Some facts about our BIG boy at one year old:

• He does not like being dressed! While changing a diaper or even changing clothes, Andrew squirms away and tries to make a run (or crawl) for it. He hates those pesky clothes. (He is extremely fast at getting away too. I have to pin him down for diaper changes).
  
• Andrew jabbers... a lot. His favorite LOUD conversations occur during church or while we're trying to talk on the phone. The boy just wants to be heard!
  
• He tries to walk occasionally. Depending on his mood for the day, Andrew will walk halfway across the room or absolutely refuse to try. It just depends on what he wants. He will stand himself up constantly throughout the day just to get a better view of the room, but he's unsure of himself while walking.
• He likes different foods. Andrew will eat almost anything off our plates. He doesn't like baby foods, and almost refuses to be spoon-fed. But if it comes off our plate or he can feed himself with his hands he is good to go!
• He has the sweetest smile! Seriously... there is something about his smile that just makes me happy. It's almost like a mischievous little grin that says, "I'm cute, but I'm trouble!"
• Andrew is curious. No matter where I am in the house, I constantly turn around and find things taken apart and out of their place. He also likes to "help" after I've cleaned up the toys. The minute the last toy bin is put away, he sneaks behind me and pulls out as many toys as he can reach. What a boy!
• He is a MOMMA'S BOY. Andrew has a real affection for his mommy. It is very endearing when it's not inconvenient.
• We love Andrew! He is one great boy and we'll keep him!
  

For Andrew's birthday we made a tractor cake, what else? It was a hit! I had never used fondant frosting, so I was extremely intimidated, but it turned out pretty good. Better in some ways than I imagined and worse in other ways. All in all, it was a success and Andrew thoroughly enjoyed devouring it.

Sarah and Emma had fun celebrating Andrew's birthday. They watched him eat his cake and helped a little, only taking a couple bites themselves. They did great at letting Andrew really experience it on his own. Then, they got down to business with the presents and helped unwrap them faster than Andrew could see them. It was a very fun party.

I added a little personalization after the real details were complete

"It's just a little bite, Mom."

"Hmmm... pretty good."

"Hey, this is fun!"

"I need more!"

"Thanks!"

Most Embarrassing...

I meant to put this on my last post, but I completely forgot. It is just too funny not to share!

The Sunday we were in San Diego we all got dressed up and ready for church. I had brought my favorite skirt to wear. I've had it since the end of high school (but it still looks in style) and it doesn't wrinkle so it was perfect to bring. It is a flirty little skirt, knee-length, red, and has ties around the waist - one on each hip.

Our little family sat in the middle of a big bench between Brenda's family (my sister) and TJ's family (my brother). That was our first mistake - sitting in the middle with our young kids. While the sacrament was being passed, Andrew started getting really loud. Dennis quietly got up and stood in the very back behind the over-flow seats. Then, as the water came Emma got really upset because I wouldn't let her take her own cup. When I do let her take it, she always spills it or spills all the other cups around it too. So, as she began her "Emma-tude" I ditched Sarah and started scooting along past TJ's family. As I got just a couple steps into the aisle I felt something at my ankles. I looked down.... and my skirt had completely fallen down! While we had been sitting, Emma accidently untied my skirt, but I had forgot about it. Yes, I did have a slip on thankfully! I glanced back at Dennis with the most horror-stricken face and grabbed my skirt with my free hand. By the time I'd walked the five or six steps out the door to the foyer I had tears streaming down my face. Dennis met me and was trying to help me feel better, but I was crying because I was laughing so hard. He kept telling me, "Just be glad that this isn't our home ward!" Needless to say, I didn't go back to my seat during the meeting.

After church, we piled out of our rental car back at the beach house. Well... what do you know? It happened again! Right there on the street as I was about to cross with tons of cars passing by. I don't know if that is my favorite skirt anymore or not!

Each of my family members had something different to say about the incident. TJ's family didn't even notice. Brenda's husband said he heard people behind him laughing, and he glanced back to see what was so funny. And, Scott and Brice's family were sitting in front of 4 missionaries who just happened to be sitting in the bench next to me when I lost my skirt. I guess they were laughing quite a bit too. I think that was more than Elder's are supposed to see, don't you?

So, now that I've shared a humiliating experience.... what is your most embarrassing moment?

Sunny San Diego

Last week found us in San Diego with my whole family including my parents, all my siblings, their spouses, and children. There were 27 of us, 15 being under the age of 11, and two people had birthdays while we were there. It was packed with fun, excitement, relaxation, and noise. We went to Lego Land California for two of the days (which is extremely kid-friendly by the way... perfect for our girls), spent some time on the beach, and just enjoyed one another's company.

Here are a lot of pictures from our stay...

Sarah's favorite ride at Lego Land

Emma's favorite ride too!

Everything was either made of legos, or looked like it was

Sarah's little driving course

Sarah's driver's license she got after the driving course. We tried and tried to show her how to hold the license so that we could see her face... I guess it's more fun this way!

All locked up. See the lock is made of legos... who gets the job to make those anyway?

Andrew endured the long stroller ride well - dozing off for a while.

Emma looks too cute in huge glasses! These are for the 4D movie we saw in LegoLand.

One ride Sarah did NOT enjoy. It bounced up and down a lot...
She is riding with my niece, sister-in-law, and two nephews.

Emma was content to find a make shift sand box while Sarah rode the "scary ride."

Girls on the beach

Enjoying the smooth sand and warm weather

What a great-looking couple!

Sarah made "sand angels" every chance she could get. When you don't get snow, I guess you made do with what you have!

Sweet squeezes from Emma

Cute cuddles from Andrew

Andrew is just getting some good grit into his diet.

"Hey mom! Stop taking pictures and come eat some sand with me."

So picturesque that I had to take a picture

Completely exhausted at the end of a great week!

Thick Blood...

We went to Iowa last week for a very quick trip. We needed a break from the day-to-day, the late nights at work, and the monotony that comes after the holidays.

In Dennis's family, there are a lot of cousins similar in age to our kids' ages because 4 of the 6 children got married within 5 months of each other. It is always very chaotic but extremely fun for our kids to play with their cousins.

L to R: Emma, Andrew, Sarah, Samantha, Corey, Caleb

This is the family that probably has the most similar ages to our children. Samantha is 2 months older than Sarah, Caleb just turned 3, Emma is 2, then Corey is 16 months, and Andrew is 11 months. Samantha and Sarah especially have a great time.

Jen's Bakery...

For those of you who don't know, my dream is to have my own bakery one day. I will get to bake to my heart's content and then sell the stuff instead of eating it all myself! Doesn't that sound divine? (maybe it sounds like a lot of work too)

For Valentine's Day, the hospital where Dennis works had a bake sale. It's become expected that I make a few things at each sale they have. We've tried to mix it up a bit and do something different each time.

Last week, I made a few of these....
A lot of these...
And even more of these...
(recipe & instructions at Bakerella)

My reputation preceded me this time. Dennis told me that the bread loaves and cookies didn't actually make it to the sale. They got bought as he walked into work that day. All the work is worth it when that happens!

Oh yeah... and everything tasted scrumptious. I had to test it out before I gave it all away.

Free Labor & Young Love

Mr. Andrew has decided that helping Mommy unload the dishwasher and the tupperware drawer is fun stuff. He's pretty good help.

He only requires room & board...
...and he's got a killer smile!



What ever happened to the rule of not dating until you are sixteen? Our defiant Emma has thrown it out the window and is often seen hand-in-hand with this little cutie...

He goes by the alias of A-Train and is such a gentleman - giving Emma a gentle push as they swing at the park.

Happiness Is:

Mommy's helpers standing in front of me while I try to bake...

A good storytime...

Warm days in the middle of winter...

A friend to enjoy the warmth of the sun...

Dressing up your baby BROTHER...

And baby brother smiling even under the circumstances...