What a Happy Girl!

Our little Susan is the HAPPIEST baby ever! She does so many funny things that I have been wanting to write about for a while:

1. her laugh; She has the cutest fake laugh. We noticed this unique laugh back in September, when she was 8 months old or maybe even younger. Its like a dolphin squeal, or happy witches cackle, whenever I make the laugh noise she copies me, super cute! I hope to post a video clip of that one soon

2. Her happy feet dance. When she gets really exited she does these quick light stomps and laughs a genuine laugh, she sometimes even looks down at her dancing, happy feet. Usually she is so exited because Daddy just came home and she wants to be picked up. Along with the happy feet dance and giggle she holds her hands up in the air which bring me to number 3.

3. When Susan wants something and she can't say the word for it she flaps her tongue up and down and babbles Its a lot cuter to watch or listen to then it is to explain so I am trying hard to get this one on video. That is the noise on Katie's talk video clip, (Susan was closer than Katie to the camera and Susan wanted the camera.)

4. Susan has the cutest happy wiggle run. Again, when she is exited, and going somewhere she runs while exaggerating the hip shake movement. Her little butt (which is actually kinda big for a child of Brian and I) wiggles back and forth as she happily runs away.

Susan really is such a happy girl, she has a way of making everyone around her happy too! She has always been easy going and lots of fun. When strangers pass us by at the grocery store, Church, preschool, everywhere she waves, smiles really big, and "talks (see#3) until they notice her. Then they always say,

"What a happy Girl!"

Shout-out: Thanks Cindy for taking the great pictures at the George's Luau! Susan had so much fun that night!

Day Trip to Ramona & Another Food Critic Rating

Every Saturday that Brian is not busy with school we try to do something fun with the kids. Brian has a hobby for driving, studying maps, and go new places. It is always fun being married to that. Last week we checked out the Mexican boarder. We drove as far south as we could then as far west as we could. Usually the beach is open there but due to rain the beach we closed to car traffic so we decided to drive around. There was lost of signs that said, you cant go this way, Government Property! So we cruised until we found a dirt road that only said " No off-roading." We followwed the road up a hill/mountain to the top and saw a great view of south San Diego and the ocean. We wanted to see the border and check it out more so we followed the road a short ways further south, just as we could see a freeway, that must have been Mexico with its brightly colored overpass the Border Patrol Agent saw us. He kindly told us to get out of there, that we were in a spot where there was a lot if drug smuggling and people illegally entering the country. We left but wonder what was down the hill, and bummed that we never did get to see the border.

This Saturday Brian wanted to go back to the boarder and walk on the beach. He herd the boarder and beach were pretty cool there. I asked him find out more about that, and maybe next time. So we checked Ramona. It is up in the mountains about 30 miles east of us, Brian had been there for a service project to help clean up the fires so he knew a little about the small town.

When we got there, we could not find a suitable park for the kids, but we found a goat family! It was the cutest thing I have seen in a while! In a little green field, with a small stream flowing through it, there was about 10 baby goats (kids) and three adult goats. I decided it is about time to wien when I related tot he mommy goat as she walked near the kids and they chased and aggressively started to nurse. Susan kept laughing and wanting to get out of her stroller. The Kids (humans) loved watching the goat family. It was stinkin' cute!
After the goats we continued out walk to Main Street. We strolled down the street enjoying the small town atmosphere we decided on Dinner at Romana Cafe. The sign said historical land-mark and it looked pretty casual, with 3 kids under 5 we have to be careful! We walked about 5 blocks then crossed the street and back up 5 blocks to the cafe. ( Good advice: When walking with kids in a busy place and they just want to run around, play red-light green-light.) The cafe was pretty simple, the kids were hungry and confterable. Nobody minded Susan running around, she was in the stroller the whole time and needed to get baby wiggles out. When we ordered, I had been busy chasing the kids so I asked her what was popular and she said the Chicken Cordon bleu was featured on the Food Network so I said, "sure I'll get that!"

The food was great, the french classic, chicken cordon bleu was deep fried! but not in a eww greasy way, it was delicious! Even the mashed potatoes were dressed up with nutmeg and the meal was surprisingly very good! It tasted so homemade. Brian got meal loaf, corn bread and he loved it, the kids chicken strips were great and they loved the model airplanes decorating the cafe. The Waitress was very personable and casual. It was a surprisingly great dinner.

Cafe Romana gets.... 5 1/2 tacos.



We ended the day with a nice bath

Arizona Statehood day!

We love Arizona! and we love San Diego! One of the things we love here in San Diego are the funny little things that remind us of Arizona. All these photos were taken here in San Diego.
Happy Arizona Statehood Day!

And Happy Valentines day. In case you couln't tell I am really enjoying the picture maker!

Here we have:Susan's cute heart pockets. A super cute valentine diaper cake from Kims Shower. The build-a-bears all dressed up for the holiday. Katie wearing her valentine's day shirt and showing off her cookie. The ultra cheesy, and totally perfect box of chocolates I LOVE ( the box not the chocolates). Flowers blooming in the back yard. Valentines gifts for the CTR class Brian and I teach, and Jr with his perschool cookie.

I feel so blessed to be surrounded my pepole who love me. Happy Day everybody!

Happy Valentine's Day Brian

Katie's First Talk

Katie gave her very first talk today and did such a great job! For F.H.E. Monday we wrote her talk ( actually just copied from the friend magazine) and then put pictures to the words to help her remember. I read the talk to her just a couple of times as I pointed to the pictures. Then asked her if she could do it. She impressed us when the first time she read through the pictures she could retell the whole short talk!

All week long a t bed time we would practice. She carry the talk around with her all week and read it to herself. Sunday came and she was all dressed so pretty in her flower girl dress for Clara's wedding, that she wore at Christmas with the addition of a red sweater, now transformed into a Valentine's day dress with and add of a red ribbon with white hearts in her side pony tail. (very cute!) We recorded her practicing for the big talk

When it was time for the talk she went right up to the primary pulpit and retold her talk like she had praticed. She was not shy and spoke clearly and loud enough into the microphone. She didn't need any prompting it was perfect! she is so cute! We are so lucky to have Katie in our family!

"Re-purpose" to make lovely "dish-plays”

I loved theses plates that I read about in betz and and in Bella Dia. I have been looking for a cake plate or some kind of stand perfect for fruit, sandwiches or little goodies to serve at luncheons, showers and parties. I always say my mom is an amazing hosts. She hosts lot of bridal and baby showers, wedding receptions, and holiday parties for friends and family. It is always so fun to see how she decorates with different themes and always great food. I want to be a great hostess also but I am cheep, so I loved the thrift store fancy plates here is how mine turned out:

The stands were easy to make, fun and cheep. ( my photos are pretty poor compared to how great they look..dang cheep camera!)Check out the tutorial's above for details on how to make them.
Look forward the these "dishplays" at the next baby shower!

barf

Our little girl is a little sickie She didn't mind me taking photos, she loved the extra attention but she would not smile. She has a fever, and feels achy she wasn't eating all day then finally she had dinner (we had breakfast for dinner). I thought she was feeling better so we let the kids set up the tent (to keep they busy while we watch Lost on line) like was had promised all week. They were doing well until she puked in the tent Smelly! actually though it wasn't too bad to clean she only got the tent floor. I hope she is better soon. They were all exited for Julian's (from preschool) pirate birthday party tomorrow. She acts so sweet when she is sick, I feel bad for her but not too much for me.

shout out: Thanks Amberlynn for showing me how to do fun things with my photos!