Lake Powell

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I know I'm a little behind since we got home from Lake Powell over a week ago, but I was a slacker and didn't take any pictures so I had to get them from Kelcie and Caryn. Thanks guys! Anyway, we had so much fun up there. We always have a great time just relaxing and playing on the water. Jaci loved getting to go swimming and she liked getting to ride in the boat. She and I even got to go jet skiing together and she fell asleep!!! We went and stayed on my dad's houseboat with my parents, Kelcie, Ryan, Rusty's family, and Bill's parents. Jaci is a smart little firecracker and figured out how to undo the latches on the little gates on the boat. She even tried to teach Berkley and so we had to tie latches up so they couldn't do that. We couldn't find anything to do it with, so Caryn used straws. Pretty crafty! We had a great time tubing, wakeboarding and relaxing. As always, my favorite parts are the sunset cruises. Thanks Daddy! No place has sunsets like Lake Powell. Jaci and I drove home with my parents to Arizona so Jaci could go to the doctor before our big cruise through Europe. Bill comes to join us in a couple of days and then off to Venice! We are so excited! However, Jaci and Berkley are getting to act too much like siblings. Last night we put them together in the pack and play and they wresled. Well, Berkley wrestled and Jaci just kept trying to give him kisses. She doesn't take much crap from him anymore though. If he pushes her, she just pushes him right back! We have so much fun down here around family!

Jaci can walk!

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It finally happened! She finally got up the courage to take the steps on her own. She was doing one or two at a time for weeks, but this past week my mom was here and she up and started walking. She now walks all the time. She can't stand up by herself yet, but if she pulls herself up against something and is already standing up, she just goes off walking. I can't believe how big my baby is getting. It is so crazy. She is good at letting you know what she wants too. She has gotten good at pointing at things and she is a DRAMA QUEEN. If she doesn't get her way or what she wants she'll throw a fit. It's actually really funny to watch. She'll lay down and roll around and kick her legs. She's a nut! Well, we're getting excited for our trips this summer. We head to Lake Powell next weekend and then only a couple weeks after that we go to Europe! I'm getting so excited. Of course, that means I have to get packing! I have to get the house packed and get Jaci and I packed for the trips. Bill is really excited that as of today there are only 3 more days of school and then he's finally graduated!!! Yay!

Little Red Wagon

Jaci got all dressed up for her birthday party on Friday. We had a lot of fun with friends and family up here in Utah. Jaci got a lot of fun presents from everyone, including: Eeyore & Pooh stuffed animals, a dolly dressed like a lady bug, a coin collection, lots of cute clothes, a precious moments figurine, a hawaiian girl swimming suit, a blow up pool, chocolate, a book, and her favorite of all...a wagon! I put all the presents people brought to her party in the wagon and when it was time for presents I rolled the whole thing out. She got so excited when she saw the wagon. She started pulling the presents out of it and trying to climb in. She got to sit in it and open the rest of her presents. All she wants to do is sit in it and go for rides. She will almost sleep in it even! We walked Bill to school the other day with it and she turned over and curled up like she was going to sleep. It was so cute! Thanks everyone for making it a great 1st birthday!

Happy Birthday Jaci!

I can't believe that Jaci is a year old today. It doesn't seem possible that it has been a year since our precious little girl was born. She is the light of my life and makes every day worth it, even the hard ones when she's cranky. All she has to do is smile at me or randomly come give me a hug to brighten my day. I can't put in to words how much she means to me. This past year has definitely had its difficult moments, but it has had its amazing moments also. Here are just a few of the many reasons I love her!

1. Her smiles!
2. Her hugs and when she just comes and cuddles up on my lap!
3. The way she says "mum mum" or "mmmm" when she takes a bite of macaroni and cheese.
4. The way she always wants to be with mommy and wants to just sit on my lap to watch Baby Einstein.
5. The way she follows me around like a baby duck!
6. Her laugh!
7. The way she sleeps all night!
8. How she likes to "help" me cook!
9. How much she loves shakes!
10. How dang cute she is!

I just love her so much! I never could have imagined that I could love anyone as much as I love her! Her daddy wants me to not forget that he loves her too especially when she gets really excited when she sees him after he comes home from school or work. She is so happy most of the time and we are so blessed to have her in our lives!

Riding the Train

Saturday Jaci got to ride her first train. Bill's mom, Melanie, works for UTA (Utah Transit Authority) and they are opening up a train that goes from Salt Lake to Ogden, and eventually down to Provo. Last weekend was the family and friends weekend to ride for free, so we all decided to go. It is a very nice train and we had a good time. Jaci tried to get everyone's attention by screaming her high pitched ear shattering scream and trying to crawl down the stairs...it is a double decker train. We got off in Ogden and went to a couple museums while we waited for the return train. We visited an antique car museum with cars from the early 1900s. It was really cool. And then we visited the Browning gun museum, which all the guys loved.


In other news, two new teeth have broken through in Jaci's mouth. The top right canine and a top left molar. I'm checking every day for more. It's getting more dangerous to stick my finger in there to feel though. Jaci has gotten a lot more lovey too. She gives me big hugs and kisses all the time, and most of the time she doesn't even try to bite me when she kisses me anymore! She has loved getting to play outside on the days when it's warm in between the days that it snows (still). We actually got to have a picnic outside for dinner last week. She still hasn't started walking and will only take a couple steps when she's on the grass. Silly girl. She's getting tall too. She can reach things on shelves that I thought would be safe, but no, I'm going to have to do a little more baby proofing I guess. She has gotten a little more finicky about what she'll eat now too. She mostly sticks with waffles, fishy crackers, and mac and cheese. Needless to say, she loves CHEESE. I wonder who she takes after!!!

April showers

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Hello everyone! Well, this has been a crazy week here in Utah. Yesterday it was a beautiful 80 degrees outside and today it is SNOWING. I can't believe it. I was so excited yesterday. So was Jaci. We got to play in the yard and Jaci even felt brave enough out there to take a couple of steps on her own!!! She's still hasn't worked up her courage in the house though to try and start walking alone. She has however, gotten into the habit of screaming a high pitched ear shattering scream. It's usually a happy scream and very random. Needless to say, I get lots of headaches. As for the video...when we were in Arizona a couple weeks ago, Nana, Jaci and I sewed together and when we got back Jaci wanted to keep sewing. I had some fabric in her closet and she went in there by herself and found it. When I found her she was sitting in her closet sorting through the fabric. It was so cute. Later that night she realized she could get into the drawers in her room if she stands on her tippy toes. She has also started laughing if she hears anyone else laugh. I'll laugh at something and she'll laugh with me, it's so funny. She has a stuffed animal that laughs if you press it's foot and she goes crazy with that. She is getting so big so fast!!! We have so much fun with her, even though we've had to finally put gates up in the house. She is a very curious little girl and wanders all over the house...which the landlord just sold. We are praying that we won't be kicked out before Bill is finished with school and we are able to leave. Speaking of school, Bill has finals this week and then one "term" left. He will be done the end of June, just in time for our cruise!!! No word from any law schools yet, but we'll keep everyone posted.

Happy 24th Birthday!