Ainsleigh stuff

No, not any pictures, just some update stuff. I have some photos i'll post later this week, but Brody took our camera with him to Reno. We went to the coast for a few days last week and got some pictures there. When we got there Brody showed Ains the ocean and the waves. We thought she way saying "waves spash, waves spash". So Brody would repeat, "yeah, the waves go splash." She would say "no, waves spash." I started paying closer attention to what she was saying and realized she was signing whale. She was really saying "whales splash". I asked, are the whales making the waves, she said yes. I had to explain that on Dora the whales splash their tales to make waves to free baby humpback whale from being stuck on the rocks. Everyone (including me, of course), thought it was so cute, and so smart that she couls relate the two!! She loved being at the coast. Most days it was too cold to spend very long on the beach, but we would go for short times. The place we stayed at had an inside pool and spa, so we went swimming everyday - I think she would have lived in the pool if we let her. We also went to the Tillamook Creamery - they had big cow statues that she kept asking if she could ride, and she got her first ice cream cone (she's had ice cream before, just not on a cone) - and only a few drippies on the shirt. I thought it was funny she picked her ice cream by color - the green one. Chocolate chip mint, which I knew she would like, but I think she just liked the color, oh well, I was grateful - light green is a lot easier to get out than brown chocolate. Ains is growing taller all the time and beginning to look and act more like a little girl. She can say her abc's all the way through and count to ten no problem. She also started doing somersaults last week. She is still just a crack up and loves to be the center of attention and play with friends. Today as soon as we sang the closing song at stake conference she said, "yeah nerfwy." We ended up staying 30 mins after to play with and visit with anyone and everyone to avoid a huge meltdown over the fact that there was no nursery. I kept telling her and she would just say "no, nerfwy." Hope this find all doing well.

Spring PLEASE come!!

This morning, April 20th, a month after the "official" start of Spring - it SNOWED!! I was in such shock I called Brody (he's working in Reno area for a few days), my mom and my dad, and took pictures. It snowed for around an hour. It took about 20-30 mins before it started sticking. We ended up with about 1/2" on the ground - these are taken a good 15-20 mins before it stopped snowing. It warmed back up enough to melt the snow mostly over the next 1-2 hours, and by the time we got out of stake conference at noon the sun was shining and it was like a nice February day. I'm getting pretty sick of waiting for Spring, and this did not go over well for me. The thing I hated the most about the weather in Florida was the lack of seasons (yes I could even handle the humidity better), so this cold weather going on forever is driving me insane. Hopefully it gets better soon, and I'll do a happy dance when it finally does. Happy winterish spring day to all.

Fun times with Zane

This mornine while we were at the park, our friends from across the street came down and Ainsleigh and Zane played at the park, then rode around on his "bike" together for a while, then back to his house to play in the rocks. They had a great time, but we had to come home so all could have lunch and because Ainsleigh was just worn out exhausted. I think these pictures are just adorable, and i'm so glad to finally have a good one of the two of them, none of my others of them have turned out.

sun at last!!

We had beautiful weather yesterday (even better today), so we HAD TO GO PLAY OUTSIDE). I was so excited to see blue skies, I took a picture of it. Also, everyone here has daffodils and tulips in their yards - it's a different flower choice than i'm used to, but it's gorgeous and adds tos of color. The yellow all around the house on the right is daffodils, i'll get more as we go on walks, etc. And my dad and Sandy are coming in a few weeks and we're going to the tulip festival - so i'll get some really cool shots there.

Here's some of Ainsleigh at the park, I just love the way the sun was making her hair glow - it's gotten VERY light. People are amazed when I tell them her hair was brown when she was born, or that mine was lighter than hers at that age - but not much - it just keep getting lighter and lighter.

singing

Ainsleigh has started singing a lot - she just randomely breaks into song. Here are a few of her latest favorites - twinkle twinkle, abc song (though she usually does better than this, the confusion in the middle is pretty cute & funny), and do as i'm doing - she gets the beat right, but skips entire words, but that is probably her favorite song. It's a little long, but certainly worth the time (although I think everything is worth the time)!!

Michelle's mission call

Many of you knew our nanny, Michelle. she got her mission call - she is going to the Omaha, Nebraska mission. We're so excited for her!! Congratulations Michelle - you'll be awesome!!

digital vs traditional

I've been trying to get motivated to start scrapbooking (i've got a lot of catching up to do) for various reasons...
1) to have a hobby to keep my hands & brain busy so I don't think about food so much
2) creative outlet
3) get my photos in a format others can actually look at

In doing this I emailed my mother in law with some questions about some products, long story short, she suggested I seriously consider digital scrapbooking for Ainsleigh's book (all of her photos are digital). So, i'm looking for some opinions and personal experience here...

digital pros:
1 - cheaper in teh long run
2 - not as messy
3 - looks easier overall
4 - I can change it a bunch if I want until I like the results

digital cons:
1 - requires sitting in front of a computer
2 - now what do I do with all the stuff I have (although I do have my mission, my entire life, our life, and brody's mision (second half only) to do)
3 - not sure if i'll like the way it looks not being actually 3-D
4 - will it really fulfill my creative outlet need?

Please let me know what you think, and refer anyone else who might have an opinion to share as well. I really want to do what's best, and am therefore, continuing to put it off. Thanks for sharing.

Dairy Queen

We went to DQ one night while Erica, Shawn, and Cayden were at the church at roadshow practice. Cam really wanted to be with her mom, so we did something special since she was big and stayed with us.

Camrie was pleased with her choice - and always willing to smile for the camera.

The many faces of Ainsleigh...


"cheeeese"

Yum, I love "eye ceam"

"roar" face when she's scaring you

her favorite way to eat ice cream

happy to have a near brain freeze :)

This one requires some explaining - Camrie grabbed her reindeer before we left and wore them to DQ, at some point Ainsleigh got them from her and called them bunnytown ears and kept hopping everywhere - so this is them hopping back and forth at DQ by our table. Most people found it very amusing, but one older couple just glared at both of them - just what do you expect at 8pm at DQ?


Okay, funny side note - while walking into DQ Camrie and I were holding hands, swinging them and marching very flamboyantly. I looked up and saw a whole family watching us out the window - the dad gave me two thumbs up and I started cracking up. Then, when we walked in the whole family started clapping for us. Camrie didn't know what to do - i'm not sure if she was embaressed or confused. I just laughed, it takes a lot to embaress me.

Fun times with cousins

Last week Ainsleigh and I headed to Southern Oregon Monday - Thursday to see family because I had a long string of days off. It was nice to see everyone, I even got to meet up with a few high school friends and their kids. Ainsleigh loved playing with her cousins, spending lots of time outside because the weather was gorgeous, and just getting lots of attention.

They loved playing in the dirt/bark at nana's house - and the gravel out by their driveway. Ainsleigh poured dirt over her head more than once, so I had to practically drown her in her bath that night pouring cup full after cup full of water over her head trying to get it all out!

Everyone seemed to want to ride Ainsleigh's bike except her, she liked pushing them or running behind them - whatever, as long as they were having fun. Though she did periodically remind them that it was her bike by demanding she have it back for a time.

Camrie and Ainsleigh in my car, notice the seatbelts, undoubtedly so they "can be safe" just like Dora says.



Camrie friend Abby came over, and they performed a short concert for us - since no one in the family plays the piano at this point, nana doesn't care that it's horribly out of tune and they just make it worse - great news for the grandkids.

We also went to Papa and Grandma Sandy's house which Ainsleigh loved - especially the backyard with dogs, and a swingset. She did warm up to the dogs, which was good, I was beginning to wonder how long that would take. We also watched Jordan play in a baseball game. He did a great job, and Ainsleigh really liked saying "go Jordan!!". It was super cute.