Foto Friday

 

 (taken 4.26)

8 months old

-We spent most the month in Texas, visiting both sides of the family. We had a great vacation and a few firsts: first time to swim: she LOVED it. She loves the water. She is very cautious so it took her a few minutes to get used to the idea but then she was excited and even splashed a little. First wagon ride: also loved it. She loves being outside and seeing things. And she loved riding with her cousin Cason. First time boating: she was a sour puss the whole time but i think if we had stayed out there longer she may have warmed up to it. She also had her first Easter.
 -She starting crawling on April 22nd. Just a few times, and it's increased from there. I took this video on the 23rd, and she's improved a lot since then (not as much side to side action).

-She LOVES to be standing. If you are on the ground playing with her all she wants to do it crawl up to you and grab your fingers so you can help her stand. And then she's so happy and proud of herself. She wants to stand all the time. She also loves to walk around (with a little help of course).
-She started waving around the 17th. We were out for a wagon ride in Texas and she started waving at everything she saw. It's so adorable.
-She still sleeps about 12 hours through the night and takes 2 naps during the day. She still gets so excited in the morning when we go in and starts pumping her little arms and legs.
-No teeth yet but they are definitely on their way soon.
-She is SUCH a daddy's girl. She just loves being with him and having him hold her.
-She reaches for people when she wants to go to them.
-She gets SO distracted when we try to feed her. Any excuse to look at something else or twist around in her chair, or bend over... she's a wiggly one.
-She laughs a lot more. Whenever we tickle her tummy, she tried to hold back her laughs with grunts and noises. But eventually she will let it out.
-Just today I walked into get her from her nap and she was standing in her crib all by herself! This was the first time she pulled herself up to standing in there.

-Then she started "cruising" around her crib, holding onto the sides and when i brought her in the other room she was switching off standing between two of her toys.
 
 

one year older and wiser too

i turned 24. I had a great day, thanks to an amazing husband, family and friends. I felt truly loved with all the phone calls, text messages gifts and kind acts.
-it started with sleeping in and breakfast in bed (oatmeal and scrambled eggs and fresh squeezed juice.. exactly what i wanted) Then when i came into the kitchen i saw some amazing cupcakes that Paul had whipped up for me! He is quite skilled.

-then i went for a jog and came back and did a few things while Caitlin napped.
-met up with Paul for lunch and went to Happy Sumo
-Caitlin and I went and visited Cassie at her new apartment
-met back up with Paul and played some games at the Provo Beach Resort, turns out i'm kind of ok at shuffleboard!
-met up with a bunch of our friends at Pizza Factory for a big group dinner. Unfortunately it wasn't the best day for Caitlin, so she spent most of dinner crying (that whole teething thing is rough!) but other wise it was so fun to see everyone and get to talk and mingle and of course eat those delicious breadsticks. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to come.

-Mike & Jenna, Cassie & Chase came back to our house with us for cupcakes and opening presents. I got some great things from friends and family and from Paul i got a total surprise: a new camera! I was secretly hoping for one because i've been having lots of problems with my old one and i've been so jealous of the amazing clear shots that other people were taking so i've been saying forever that i want "a good camera" and i can't believe i got it! I've already taken so many pictures and read the 200 page manual (although some of it was a little over my head because i don't know all the lingo yet) all i know is i love it! As if i didn't already take enough pictures, i will be upping that number by about a million.

Paul asked me first thing if i felt older and wiser and i said "not older, but probably a little wiser" conceited? no. it's been a big year for me! i would hope wiser... I've become a mother, a homeowner, and hopefully a better wife and friend. Here's to getting wiser in the year to come!

our little bunny

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday as a family:

-went to church in the morning and Caitlin wore her precious Easter dress that my mom got her. She looked like such a little princess!

 

 

-Came home and relaxed/took naps for awhile and then the Easter bunny came! Caitlin woke up to fine her little basket with a teething ring, some spoons, a few books and an activity walker. She was thrilled with it all and played with her new toy for pretty much the rest of the day.

-Family and friends came for dinner and we had a little Easter egg hunt and then had dinner and finished off with games and bunny cake!

 

 

Happy Easter

I was trying to explain to my group of 3 year olds in church today what "the real meaning of Easter" is. The Atonement and the Resurrection are such amazing blessings and huge concepts that are so important to understand, and to appreciate and apply in our lives. As I tried to explain so that their little brains could grasp onto something, the main point I was able to make to them was: Jesus lives! He died and was buried and then came back to life. He lives! And we love him and he is our friend and he loves us. Which, actually, is not a bad concept for any sized mind to grasp. Happy Easter.

April Texas

So my impulsive trip to Texas turned into an almost 3 week stay! And i'm so glad it did because the weather was fabulous, and the company even better. I had such a great time visiting with all my family and we did so many fun things. I think I might make spending April in Texas a personal tradition!

Caitlin and I drove back from Utah to Texas with my parents and then stayed for a few days in Dallas. Caitlin did great in the car and once in Dallas we: shopped, spent time outside, I got to attend my dad's institute class, went out to lunch, watched TV shows and movies together, and spent time with my grandparents.

 

 

 

 1. Happy as a clam on the car ride down 2. how does she get into these situations?! 3. At Grapevine Mills mall 4.Hanging out in the yard 5. exploring and having fun outside

I then went to Austin and was there for about a week and then Paul came down too! He had to come down for work so of course I wanted to stay longer! Austin was so much fun. Lorraine, Christine and I were like the 3 musketeers, along with the babies. We did almost everything together and had so much fun and adventures. We also go to do things with the rest of the family of course: Stewart, Rebekah, and Chris.
We went for walks, wagon rides, took the babies swimming for their first time, went hot tubbing, went out to eat, shopped, laid out, went to a movie, (tried) to go boating, and went downtown to eat our way through the Austin food trailers. We also celebrated my birthday a little early and we got to go out to dinner and i got some awesome presents and cake. The Easter bunny even came a little early for us.
We also had some grand adventures such as: discovering the boat engine had a crack in it when we found cream toothpaste-like stuff all over it once we had been on the lake for about 10 minutes. We barely made it back to the dock to load it up on the trailer. We also got rear-ended TWICE! the first time we were just sitting at a red light, had been stopped for awhile when we felt our car be tapped from behind. luckily (for us) the kid that tapped us was in a low car so he had actually just ran into the hitch of our car and there was no damage (for us). Then the very next day we were sitting on the off ramp of the freeway when we heard screeching tires and then we got slammed. This guy had been going to fast and realized it so he tried to switch lanes but couldn't do it fast enough. We got a huge dent in our trunk and everyone was jolted. the babies were crying and it was a scary couple of moments. Luckily everyone was fine and we were able to settle everything pretty quickly. But what are the chances?! They say things come in threes so hopefully they won't be having any more vehicle problems for awhile.
I also got really inspired by my Mother in Law when i was down there to start running more. I am NOT a runner, but 'm gonna try it out. While we were there, she completed a half marathon and we were so proud of her. I really want to do one now. So for most of my birthday presents, i got new running shoes and workout clothes and i'm going to start training for a half marathon! Part of me is excited and part of me is wondering what in the heck i committed myself to.
And here come the pictures:

All in all, it was an awesome trip. I'm so glad i got to go down and spend so much quality time with both families. My parents are so cute with Caitlin, they are just obsessed and i love it, and the Dicksons are always so fun to be with. I'm so glad i have in-laws that i feel comfortable just going and visiting without my hubby. Christine always makes me laugh so hard and Cason is the cutest little chunk, so happy and easy going. The whole trip totally made me want to move to Texas.
Especially when i got home to Utah and the high for the day was 45. That's ok, i'll survive... as long as i can keep having my Aprils in Texas.

Foto Friday

Caitlin has discovered her bows and flowers and now she's always messing with them and trying to get them off to see them. Sometimes, she gets a little rough. case in point:

We were just shopping at the mall and she was chilling in her stroller when Paul looked down to find flower parts everywhere and a happy mischievous little girl!

Foto Friday

the crib escapades will never end

(taken 3.28)

parents weekend

My parents came into town on Thursday (3.30) and got to stay for conference weekend. It was their first time to see our new house and stay with us so that was fun. We had a very nice and relaxing weekend with family. Of course Caitlin got spoiled from all the attention and loved every second of it. I just never take enough pictures of everything.
Friday I hung out with my mom and Caitlin while my dad skied then that night we all had dinner together then headed to Cassie's Women's Chorus concert. It was only her choir and they sang about 12 songs. It was beautiful, and of course always fun to see Cassie up there singing. Afterwards we went for frozen yogurt.  
Saturday we watched conference and ran some errands throughout the day. The boys went to priesthood session that night while us girls went and saw "Beastly". I hadn't seen any previews for it but it was actually really good! It was totally predictable and maybe a bit cheesy but really clean and a cute movie. Caitlin liked it too, she sat in her car seat watching for almost the whole movie.  
Sunday was my Dad's birthday! We watched more conference and had a delicious dinner with everyone. Then we had the traditional Pelton birthday cake and played some games. My dad is one of the kindest  and most loving people I know. It was fun to celebrate with him.
Monday we met up with Cassie at BYU and had lunch with her at the Museum of Art, then helped her prepare to try out for Young Ambassadors. While sh was in her tryouts we ran some errands and also got to tour the Carl Bloch exhibit at the Museum of Art. There were some beautiful paintings, some that i was so familiar with seeing at church that i didn't even know he was the one who painted them. He was truly an inspired individual. That evening we went to dinner at CPK with everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Tyler and Cassie sporting matching mustaches after her concert. 2.Trying out our swings. Saturday was such beautiful weather! and sunny (hence my squinty eyes) 3. cooking with grandma 4. playing 5."Happy Birthday dear Dad..." 6.Caitlin & Grandpa 7.She gets a little spoiled with the desserts when we have visitors 8.helping in the kitchen 9.this girl LOVES lemons! 10.(video) my parents brought up a bunch of my old stuffed animals so we had caitlin try out the cow

Foto Friday

my little helper! 

(taken 3.17)