Our Birthday Girl

We could hardly believe that our little baby girl turned a year old this past week, so we had to celebrate twice for it to sink in! Birthdays are 10 times as fun when they are for your kids. I will tell you all about it in pictures…

First I made some "candied" cupcakes...

Then Packaged them up and handed them out with Victoria's Birthday invitations (Sorry if the invitations looks weird, I had to blur out our address)

Next I made a birthday Tutu.

On Victoria's actual birthday I made her a cake...

Then Dada cam home and we went and got a cupcake birthday balloon... (the most expensive balloon I've ever paid for- 10 bucks!) Victoria loves balloons and in this picture she's saying the word balloon, or at least trying to.

After that Victoria ate her birthday cake.

And tried some cows milk for the first time.

A couple days later we had her cupcake themed birthday party with friends.

We ate some crab dip, fruit, and cupcakes (chocolate cherry and party mix all with cream cheese frosting)

Then everyone had some bubble fun and crawled around the backyard.

The cupcake pull string pinata was so fun!

Victoria and friend, Tessa, checking out the pinata after the pulling.

Group shot of all the kids at the party.

(Sierra, Eliana, Victoria, Felix, Everett, Owen, Lydia, Tessa, and Seth)

We opened presents and then I snapped this picture and it was too funny not to post with Victoria's finger up her nose (she just discovered that it fits up there) and Sierra playing with the gift she got Victoria.

Watching Baby Einstein in her new chair from Shawn and I.

She cracks me up!

Loving her new Dora the Explorer ride-from Shawn and I. She loves to stand up on the peddles as we push her around the house and outside.

Sitting with most of her Birthday gifts...

From Mom and Dad: Dora ride, Tinker Bell chair, Pj's. From Grandma and Grandpa Waldron: Noisey farm book, Five silly pumpkin book, outfit, Alpha blocks, nesting tower blocks, baby Einstein dvd. From Grandma and Grandpa Atkinson: Little People plane, animal book, two dresses. From Sierra: Little People SUV with mom and baby, From Tessa: 'My pretty learning purse'. From Seth: Toy car that plays "Are You Ready For This" song. From Eliana: Leap Frog Alphabet learning magnets. From Angelina: "Cute as a Cupcake" beach towel.

A BIG thank you to everyone for the fun gifts! Victoria loves them all!

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl! We love you so much and love being your Mama and Dada. You've made our life absolutely incredible. We only thought we knew what love was until you came along, and now we know for sure. Lots of hugs and kisses to you always!

With Love,

Mama & Dada

Shawn's Dirty Thirty

(Baby Shawn 1979)

Shawn is officially 30 years old! We celebrated the big day last Friday with some shopping, gift opening, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and dinner at PF Changs. Despite the little bits of stress we had that day (rained on, no luck finding jeans for Shawn, and battling Victoria in the restaurant) mixed with that bitter moment of realizing he was 30, I think Shawn had an okay day. Thirty isn’t so bad when you’re Shawn and still look 26…and have a butt like his! We’ve still got a lot of life to live, babe!

Love you so much Shawn. Happy Birthday!

Shawn, with Victoria's help, opening his new Puma's and Fly Fishing DVD

It's About Time I Post Something

Well, I blinked and July was suddenly two weeks into August! And then August turned into september! I've been busy...I couldn't exactly tell you what I've been busy doing though. A little cleaning here, some church calling duties there, a growing baby, and an overwhelming feeling for the need to prepare our food storage has all added up to being busy I guess.

We've had a pretty good summer with lots of grilling and s'mores. This is kind of embarassing to admit, but Shawn and I ate s'mores after dinner every night...for two weeks straight! Gross, I know, but they are oh so addicting.

The First two weeks of August Shawn was gone on another training workshop in San Antonio. I hate when he is gone, especially for so long, but it is awsome having a car around to use while he is off on his trainings..we only have one vehicle, remember, which Shawn takes to work everyday. It was freedom having that car! I think I went to Micheal's like six times. A day or two before Shawn left, in all our desperat attempts to get Victoria to crawl (at 10 1/2 months), she finally took just a few short crawls to get the car keys that we had thrown on the floor. By the time Shawn got back, Victoria was an expert at crawling!

Anyway, Shawn flew back from his trip on a Friday night, LATE. And then all three of us were up and on our way to the airport at 5:30 the next morning (Saturday). We flew into Salt Lake and drove up to Logan, Shawn spent the rest of Saturday packing with his brothers and Dad for their annual backpacking trip to the Windrivers, and then they left Sunday morning. So Victoria and I were without Shawn again until Thursday night! He had a good time though, and always does.

I tear up a little now when I realize that our baby girl will be a YEAR old next week! What the... Shawn and I can't believe it. Although the year has gone by incredabley fast...too fast...I can say that the time was well spent. Everyone told us that the time would pass all to quickly and to soak it all in...well, we have and not a day has been lost so far! Watching Victoria grow out of stages has been emotional, exciting, exhausting, and sometimes a relief!

Victoria isn't the only one who has a birthday coming up...Shawn turns 30, tomorrow!! He's a little bummed out about it too. I was going to throw him a "Dirty Thirty Birthday Party" but he said he wanted no part in it, I couldn't convince him-even if it was a surprise it would make his day worse he said. On top of the birthday planning we recently decided to upgrade to a larger townhome. We are moving on the 26th ...in two weeks. Have I started packing? Nope.

Okay, Picture time...

She loves Momma's cell phone

Rainy Day

check out those chompers...she has nine

Dog breath

opening early birthday gifts from Grandma & Grandpa Atkinson and Aunt Brittany

Family pic on the lawn of Aggie Ice Cream

Enjoying some of Grandpa's ice cream

Brittany, Casey, Carol, me, Victoria, and Brad at Aggie Ice Cream. Yum!

Saying "Bye Bye" to Uncle Justin and Aunt Jessica