Merry Christmas Everybody

Christmas Eve with new Christmas jammies. Grey does NOT like holding still for Daddy to take a hundred pictures.

Christmas Morning-Lucy could not BELIEVE all of the presents under the tree. Grey got into the action pretty quickly.

They both got some great gifts-thank you Santa! Lucy's favorite was her Polly Pocket ship and Grey didn't really have a fav, but really did enjoy the wrapping paper. Mommy and Daddy did pretty good too. Lucy got an iPod nano (that was totally Adam) and Grey got the rocking giraffe along with boring old clothes (according to Lucy but they needed them and I am all for making it part of their gifts cause they really do have enough toys already)!

Adam and I didn't go all out on each other this year. We are both saving up for new bikes-yes we need new bikes! But I got some bike gear-jacket, shorts, gloves, socks along with The Cyclist's Training Bible. Thank you Adam. And I gave Adam a bunch of cd's. Yes cd's. Much easier to do everything we want we in the good old fashioned cd form. We actually gave each other the new Kanye West cd. What can we say great minds think alike! He also got some clothes for school-which he asked for-and a really cool (if I do say so myself) sigg bottle. Adam was on call the whole holiday but got home for Christmas Eve dinner, presents, cookie making, and Polar Express watching. And was able to enjoy all of Christmas day before he had to go back in Christmas night. We felt that that was the best and luckiest present of all!

Naked Candy Bar

Is that a saying that only the Barlow (my maiden name) uses? Anyways, Grey is getting really big into running around naked after his baths. And yes there is a problem with that. One day I got him out but didn't put a diaper on immediately. He played in the cabinets under the sink in Lucy's bathroom. I have left them empty so they can play there. They LOVE it. Well 3 minutes later pick him up and dress him. Probably 6 hours later he goes back to his favorite spot to play under the sink and pulls out a bunch of poo. Yep he had pooped in the cabinet and I had no clue. Yes the bathroom stunk but I just thought it was a previous poopie diaper that I had taken out but the bathroom had just not aired out very well. No more naked candy bars in my house:)

Sunshine Performances

Valley View Mall Performance-yes my name is Valerie and I have a daughter that sings in the mall.

Sunshine at Six Flags!!!! If you look closely you can tell that Lucy is actually singing into the microphone. I was so proud I seriously cried every time she did it. And she was on key!

Lucy got to meet Frosty and Rudolph. She informed us that they were not real because they had zippers on their backs. Lucy is getting too old too fast.

Lucy got to ride lots of rides with her friend from church Malia. She is so not afraid of amusement park rides

Lucy's 6th Bday

I know its a little late but here are a few pics from her Fancy Nancy Tea Party/Bday Party!







I have a wonderful friend who is a makeup artist that did the amazing face painting. The girls played musical teapot and tea party bingo. They got to decorate their own cupcakes which is a fun idea if there is only a small group of girls-not 15. And of course a pink butterfly pinata to finish it all off. It was exhausting but so much fun. Lucy invited all of the girls in her kindergarten class and some church friends too.



This is the next morning, Lucy wanted tea party cuisine for breakfast and in our house your bday isn't just one day but the whole weekend. So turkey and cheese sandwich with no crusts cut into triangles, grapes, chips, and apple juice for breakfast!!! She loved this keyboard which has magically disappeared-not sure what has happened to it;)

This was Lucy's last 6th birthday present from Adam's parents. She got an American Girl Doll who she named LuLu. They have matching jammies which Lucy LOVES. The Bitty Baby came with different outfits, a blanket, and toys. Perfect way to end a perfect birthday.

Here It Is.....

So I decided to post my Christmas card because I think it is so cute-we were at the mall after one of Lucy's Sunshine Generation performances and decided to do a bunch of photo booth pics. And it is okay that I misspelled Christmas. I made a mistake I can live with it and move past it (well sort of). And lastly because everyone either already knows or has seen it so why not?

Major Disclaimer

The guilt set in and I decided to send Christmas cards (notice I spelled Christmas correctly?). I promise I spell checked and even had Adam check to make sure it was right. There are only 7 words on the entire card-we couldn't mess that up right? Well today I mailed 30 of them, got home, my friend came over, and I showed them to her. She thought they were so cute but Christmas is misspelled-seriously ahhhhhhhhh. I mean it would have been nice if she had told me that before I sent most of them out. So if you didn't make it in the first batch, don't count on one. Trying to decide if I should post the card-I was when I LOVED it, now it is just an embarrassment. So how this Christmas season has been going!

Santa's Lap

As I mentioned below, it wasn't until the other day talking to my friend Christina that I realized that I really was falling behind on the whole perfect mom at Christmas time. She was talking about taking her kids to sit on Santa's lap, which had not even cross my mind this year. But don't worry I took care of it. As you all can see it is your typical bad pic of kids sitting on Santa's lap. I mean do they try to take the worst pic possible? Do they wait so long to just take it to make sure both kids are not looking their best? Cost of bad Santa picture: $20, memory: priceless.

Help

Need your input-all of you. We (yes I had asked Adam) had decided to give Lucy a trip to Disneyland for Christmas. But Adam is changing his mind, and I have been so sick since I got back from UT that the thought of another trip sounds overwhelming (BUT we wouldn't go until the beginning of February). So what do I do? Adam wouldn't go but my parents and sister would meet me in CA for 4 days of Disney fun. She has never gone and still believes that the princesses are real people. But Adam isn't so excited about it anymore. So tell me what to do-oh and I have no other ideas for her big present so I would need some suggestions.

And no I am not really on top of things this year-still not sure if I am going to get my act together enough to get our cards out. Yes I am being lazy and sick and not sure if that will change:) Just got done talking to a friend-I haven't even thought of visiting Santa-what a looser mom. BUT-so I don't look so bad-I have decorated so stop judging.

We Are Official!

Saturday, November 22, 2008. Bountiful Temple. Sealing time 12:00pm.

Utah Here We Come!

SLC Airport: Still surprises me how excited my parents are to see us, they know the mess and destruction we will soon make on their home! Grey was just happy to be off the plane.

First stop: Dress shopping of course. Lucy needed a dress for the temple. I don't know who was more excited for a big puffy dress, Lucy or my mom.

Next: Lunch of course. Nanny met us for lots of yummy food. And yes I know the pic of all of us below is awful but memories memories memories!

First tantrum the Grandparents saw. Now when Grey gets mad he carefully lays himself down on the ground and kind of kicks his legs. He doesn't really scream maybe whines a little. It really is pathetic! (But we are not complaining)

Hiatus

For the few of you that don't know, we are going to UT in a couple days to have Grey sealed to us in the Bountiful Temple. We are so excited!!!! But that means my blog will be neglected even more for the next two weeks. So what to expect in the future?! Lucy's 6th bday pics (my friend was our bday photographer and we still don't have them back), Grey's sealing day, and our exciting adventures in UT (oooohhhhhh). Oh and I forgot, my review of the what I am sure to be a terrible movie Twilight.

Also I have stopped the musak-in honor of our departure.

What a Crappy Day-Literally

Started with Grey peeing all over himself and his crib during the night. Got him up changed him, new blanket, back to bed. So first thing when he woke up I bathed him. All fresh and clean, grabbed his towel to get him out and I look over to see him standing pooing. I wont go into too many details but ewwww. So grabbed him and told Lucy to watch him and keep him in the bathroom so I can fish them (yes them) out. Then I hear Lucy yell (and laugh really hard) "he's peeing in my room". So clean up continues with a LOT of dry heaving. Lucy kept asking is there throw up now? And no there wasn't, hadn't eating breakfast yet. The day went okay after that just linger tremors from the dry heaving experience. Later that night....Lucy was in the tub and starts scream/laughing again. What now you ask? Lucy had pooped but didn't flush the toilet and Grey was playing in the toilet-yes with the poop.

Go Look At Lucy's Blog...

....posted some pics and of course I just think she is just beautiful. And yes I am biased:)

Favorite Book Parade

Lucy's school didn't celebrate Halloween, but let the kids dress up as their fav character from their fav book. Lucy and her friend Frankie wanted to be fairies. Lucy was Tinker Bell and Frankie was Rainy (which is one of Tinker Bell's friends, you have to have a little girl to know this). I really didn't want to come up with a second costume so Frankie's mom who is an awesome woman made the girl's costumes-pay attention to Lucy's shoes-so cute. So thank you Mo for making Halloween even more special for Lucy:)

The Dentist and the Tooth Fairy!

I know all of you dental friends don't think this was overly creative but I found baby scrubs that I could have personalized with Dr Bushell DDS and I really couldn't resist! I knew that this would be the only year that I could choose his costume and thought that Grey being Daddy was just too cute not to do. Lucy loved it too. In fact she lost another tooth on Halloween at school so the real Tooth Fairy even visited us on Halloween night!

Adam just happened to wear blue scrubs that day and I just couldn't resist taking a pic of my two dentists!

Lucy LOVED this costume. i just turned a princess costume into the Tooth Fairy! The wand even lit up, which of course she thought was so cool.

Lucy protecting her goods from Penelope-seriously. Our neighbors and friends the Brown's came over to trick or treat and eat pizza.

Kid heaven:)

Bad Hair Day

I had never heard of a school doing bad hair day for spirit week until Kate S, but Lucy's school did it too. I knew I couldn't come up with a hair-do like Kate did, so what to do with a bunch of short, curly hair? Get a giant spider and put it on top of slept on, uncombed hair. Lucy's hair made a perfect spider's nest!

Lucy with friend Dusy-as in rhymes with Lucy (Seriously that's her name, we totally didn't believe here the first day of school when she came home and told us that she has a friend named Dusy. But come on would you?).

I'm Taking Over

Lucy has totally slacked in the blogging department. I am utterly disappointed so now its mine to post all about Lucy. Mainly to clear off all the artwork on my fridge:)

Update on Crap

Just thought you would all want to know that I have had a cold with chills (and sweats), sinus pressure, and just plain feeling like "crap" for the last six days.

Sunshine Generation!

First time she put on her costume. She really loves it and thinks its beautiful (I thought Ronald McDonald).


Ms Ella her singing teacher.

During a performance I don't think anyone knew what was going on:)

This past Saturday was Lucy's first Sunshine Generation performance at a local arts festival. For those of you who did not grow up in Utah it is a singing group for kids that was started by someone in Utah and even the tags on the way too beautiful costumes just say Utah (really couldn't we update the costumes just a little bit?). Lucy loves to dance and sing and really wants to be a "pop star" when she grows up so we thought this would be perfect for her. If I think of it I will put on some of the video up. Lucy was pretty funny. She was concentrating on the steps and hand motions so much she basically forgot to sing except when it was her turn at the microphone. And to our surprise she did sing into it. I don't think anyone could hear her but she did do it! We are so proud of you Lucy and love you so so much.

Happy 10 Year Anniversary Part II

Yep, I not only got a grown up bedroom and new living room furniture (yes we finally gave up our Ikea stuff from Dental School) but Adam got us tickets for the Ben Fold's concert. And let me tell you it ROCKED!!!! Okay so we felt a little old, not that we were the oldest people there we just fit into the married and not so cool category. I didn't let that stop me from singing and yelling so loud that now my throat is KILLing me. We also don't remember concerts being so LOUD, which is a sure sign of age. But it was so much fun. We definitely are feeling the after affects today though. Adam is in bed napping and I am just patiently waiting for my turn:) I added a bunch of his music for all of you that don't know Ben Folds and may I say shame on you! Also this is his official site: www.benfolds.com Please view for all of you ben folds pleasure. Its funny because each song I add to our blog reminds us of a different time in our marriage. Like "Brick" reminds us of dating and being students at Weber State. "Rockin the Suburbs" is definitely a Maryland memory. "Zac and Sara" is our marriage the first two years living in Ogden. I'm sure y'all get the point. Needless to say Ben has definitely been a part of our 10 years. I do need to add that some of his lyrics are not suitable for youngens. We apologize just turn off your sound or pause our musaz.

CRAP

Those of you who know me well or who have gotten to know me lately know that I seriously have the worst luck with health related issues. This past month I have had half of my face go numb (no I didn't go to the doc I figured it was nerve related cause my arms do it too), vertigo for TWO weeks which is a virus that makes you dizzy and I MEAN dizzy (if I moved my head or eyes the whole room spun), and last week I enjoyed an allergic reaction to I don't know what and my ENTIRE body broke out in an itchy, blotchy rash (picture a bazillion mosquito bites). So now what? Last night riding around my bike around the lake a HORNET flew into my helmet and stung my scalp. I quickly jumped off, ripped off the helmet, and tried to pull the stinger our of my scalp but it was a bit difficult with my hair in the way. It hurt like HELL (still hurts a little even now). I seriously wanted to cry but couldn't look like a wimp so I slowly pedaled home feeling way sorry for myself. The only thing I can be grateful for is that even though each week I am blessed with a bizarre illness or pain, they are never serious just frustrating.

Firsts:

Okay I don't know which to post first! Because they are all equally important.

At age 1year and 1 week exactly Grey learned to walk. He just figured it out all of a sudden. He is so funny, I think he looks like a little Frankenstein.

He also got his first pair of boots. No not cowboy or hiking, but cute brown leather ones. I think he looks adorable in them.

Lucy learned to ride her bike with NOOO training wheels-congrats Lucy we are so proud of you. It really is good considering she really hasn't been riding her bike much this summer but decided last week that she wanted to learn. Adam really was the proud mother uhhhh I mean father hen.

And lastly, Adam and Lucy went to the State Fair. Which of course (according to all Texans) has been the biggest thing in their lives so far!

Pumpkin patch, Big Tex & Lu

Ferris Wheel, Pig Races

First Birthday!

October 9th was Grey's first bday. Adam and I can hardly believe that it has already been a year. Of course it made us reminisce about his birth story. He was born in Jackson, CA. So we flew out with Lucy and my parents and missed his birth, but Adam and I got to see him that night around midnight. I still remember walking around the corner of the maternity ward and seeing a nurse holding a baby. I knew it was our baby. It was so strange to hold him for the first time. It truly felt like a dream. A wonderful dream but I just kept thinking this cant be real. Of course we went to the hospital the next morning and this time Lucy got to see him too.


This really has been an incredible year. Grey has brought so much joy and happiness, its amazing to think how much love one little boy has brought to our family. We love being a family of four. Grey is really such a happy little boy. He is very clinging to me (mom) but I really love it. He is 100% boy which I don't think Adam and I were really prepared for. Honestly we just laugh and laugh watching all of the crazy things he does. Grey loves his big sister and Lucy has really enjoyed being a big sister. Don't get me wrong there has been some jealousy and tantrums because of little bother. And Lucy more than once has wished his was a little sister. But she loves him so much and plays with him so well. They are amazing to watch together. They really make each other's lives better!


We had a little party for him the night of his bday. We had his favorite friends over: Penelope, Zoe, Jonathan, Sara, and Clayton. My mom thought I was crazy when I said his "favorite friends", but he knows each of them and always gets so excited to see them and play with them. I don't think Grey really understood that it was a party for him. He had so much fun though eating a little cupcake and ice cream and opening presents. The best part though was just having people around who love him as much as we do. He loved playing with toys with all of his little buddies.

We had a monkey party with a cake to match! My friend and neighbor Amanda made the cake with a little of my help. It was definitely a hit.

I made a plate of cupcakes with #1's on them. I thought it would be easier for Grey to eat and enjoy. Initially he wasn't so sure but after a little of Daddy's help dug right in.
NO MORE CAKE!

Big Sis and Sara

Presents!!!! So glad sister was there to help. Grey got some great gifts. He loved the Jack in the Box and the Little People garage. So fun:)