18 months already

It's hard to believe my baby girl is 18 months old. It seems like just yesterday... and yet it feels like our family has always included Georgia. {Was there really a time when it was just us & Jake? weird.} She is such a fun addition to our family. Her personality is so fun & spunky. She is sweet and kind and always aware of the happenings around her. The girl misses nothing.

Here's a little about our Georgie girl at 18 months:

Height: 33.5" {2 foot, 9.5 inches}
Weight: 29lbs, 13oz.
Head Circumference: 50cm

{all still off the charts, but staying consistently off the charts}

**Her feet are almost as big as Jacob's. We've purchased 3 sets of shoes this summer alone. She keeps growing out of them! She's currently wearing size 7.
**She's been wearing the same size clothes for just about a year now, but it's looking like the 24 month & 2T's will be moving to their place in the garage within a short time. Bring on 3T's!!

Favorite Foods: cottage cheese, whatever's on Daddy's plate, cheese, yogurt, chicken, beans
Favorite Show: Fresh Beat Band {drives us crazy.....}
Favorite Books: Pat the Bunny, Disney Storybook Classics, Book of Mormon, Where is Baby's Belly Button, I Will Surprise My Friend!
Words she knows: No!, Mom-mom-mom-mom-mom-mom-mom, juice, book, Jake, Dadda, ball, baby, nose, uh-oh, and a bunch more mumbling that we have yet to distinguish, although I am sure there are lots more in there!
Loves: her Daddy, to dance, cuddling with her baby dolls, playing with Jacob, to climb on anything high, sitting on the kitchen table, to read alone in her room, doing puzzles {or destroying Jake's}, playing, sleeping with Mommy & Daddy, to point to whatever it is she wants or take you by the hand and walk to what she wants, and Minnie Mouse
Dislikes: being told what to do, not getting her way, being left behind {by Jake or Daddy. Leaving for work is a nightmare everyday...}, being away from Daddy.period.

At Bonneville Dam in Oregon watching the fish swim up the ladder.
Playing in the backyard with Jacob
Eating her favorite food, the one she'll ask for all day everyday, and when she's finished... ask for MORE! {scratch that, dEMAND for more} ... cottage cheese.
Her new favorite hobby is taking all the toilet paper off the roll... it's lovely. She's really good -- and fast -- at it.
And, she is in love with this hat. She wants to wear it everywhere... which causes some arguments since it belongs to Jake & he still wants to wear it all the time.

We sure LOVE this baby girl! She has brought so much joy & adventure to our family. It's hard to imagine our lives without her. She is the sweetest baby girl, always doing what she can to make others laugh and laughing herself. She thinks she's the funniest girl in town. She can turn on the charm when she needs to, but if you upset her... watch out! She's got a temper to test the patience of Job. And she can turn it off & on in a heartbeat. She loves life... and it's obvious. She's always on a new adventure and can often be found in her bedroom, alone, reading books and playing with her baby dolls. She loves her big brother and always wants to be close to him -- sometimes a little too close, like on his lap, and he gets upset, but he loves her just as much as she loves him, they really are the best of friends.

These past 18 months have been such a wonderful experience, getting to know her and watching her develop into such a beautiful, sweet, and creative little girl. I cannot wait to see what our sweet Georgie girl decides to do with these next few years and beyond... she's gonna be amazing!

Back to School Enrichment

Tonight we had a really fun Enrichment. Our theme was Back to School and we went all out. There was a bell schedule, a yard lady, a working cafeteria with a special menu that included: Mystery Meat Sloppy Joe's, a veggie medley, fruit salad, green salad, a juice box, and for dessert giant cookies and jello; as well as classes for the sisters to rotate through, and school administration to keep things moving along smoothly.

We even had the cultural hall set up like a school lunch room with the long tables & all. It was too cute!!

I love this picture of our Lunch Ladies.

{Stacey, Carrie, Cindy & Thelma}

The women in my ward are hilarious.
Their love for life {& the Gospel} is infectious.
I love it!!

Six.

six years.
six wonderful, glorious, magical years.
here's to an eternity more.
i love you johnny b.

Dodger Day

John picked Jake up from pre-school today so they could have an afternoon together at the Dodger game. Nielsen was hosting their employees and Jake got to tag along, he loved it! When he got home he told me all about the hits, the popcorn, the snowcones, and "Take Me Out To the Ballgame".

And the Dodgers won. Not a bad day to be a Dodger fan.

{They also came home with this little gem. If you'd like it -- for yourself or maybe a Christmas gift -- let me know... it's ALL YOURS! I dontwantit. at all.}

Jake starts Pre-school

Jake has talked and talked and talked about going to pre-school for weeks. He's been so excited... until last night. I think his nerves got the best of him and he started crying anytime we talked about school. Instead of asking to go he started asking to play at the park. When we'd tell him we could another day, he'd start tearing up again.

This morning he woke up stressed. Tears were easy to flow. He started asking if we could go to Disneyland instead. I was worried about how our morning would go.

Each time I asked him to do something -- finish eating, get dressed, brush your teeth -- he'd burst into tears. I knew he was nervous. John & I did everything we could to help calm him.

By the time we were ready for shoes he was still asking for Disneyland.
All the way to school he asked for Disneyland.
I was not looking forward to this drop off.

And then...
we got to the school.
he hopped out of the car.
put his back pack on.
and was excited for school.
he thought he saw Norah, but it was just another little girl in his class.
when he saw Kyle & Ian he knew it was ok.

By the time we entered his classroom he was ready to be there. He sat right down and began playing. John, Georgie & I listened to a 10 minute presentation from his teacher, Miss Diane, signed up for our volunteer days, and then it was time to go.

I walked over to Jake, asked if he was having fun {he was!} and told him I'd see him in a little while.

There were no tears shed {by either of us!}

Two hours later when I picked him up he looked happy. He told me he, "had circle time, arts & crafts, washed his hands, we played outside. it was a fun day." I'd say that's a success! He can't wait to go back.

Thank goodness.
Here's to a happy, enjoyable, learning-filled year for my sweet baby boy.

How'd he get so big?

Happy Birthday Meme!

Tonight we celebrated Meme's birthday at Vincenzo's Pizzeria. Good times with great friends.

After we ate a Bluegrass band started. The kids sat & listened for awhile, then they decided that they'd had enough... it was time to dance!!

The Birthday Girl, Kiersten, me & George, John, Lin, Henry, Nathan, Jake, Ben & Andrew, Kyle, and Norah
{missing Bird, she had to leave before the music started.}
I love this picture.
NO ONE is paying attention.
Well, except Kiersten & Andrew.
What were the rest of us doing?!?!
Soooo funny!

Happy Birthday Meme.
We love you.
I love you!

Elerta Neoam Palmer Fair

Elerta Neoam Palmer Fair
18 February 1929- 21 August 2009
{E}
~Sister, Mother, Grandma, G'Gma, friend~

On Friday morning, August 21st, E quietly returned to her Father in Heaven. She'd fought the good fight with all of her might and her time for release had come. She was a determined woman with a heart of gold who always had an open door for anyone in need.

Born 18 February 1929 in Burbank, California to Neoam Kirby and James Bernard Palmer. She was the youngest of two daughters.

Her life was never easy. Her father died when she was just nine years old. But no matter what she faced she always had her sister, her best friend, her Donna, by her side.

On 30 April 1951 she married Bruce Richard Fair in Burbank, California. Together they had two daughters: Linda Alice, born in 1952 and Kathi Ann in 1954. After years of a rocky, trubulant marriage E and Bruce divorced in 1974.

E stayed in their Canyon Country home until 2008 when she needed full-time care and moved to the Mountain View Convalescent Home in Sylmar. During the 30+ years between her divorce and her final move, E took in all kinds of friends and family. Some took advantage of her kindness and others brightened her life. She was never one to tell you what she was thinking, but you knew from the smile on her face what her mood was. She loved to play games and watch people. She'd sit by her front window and watch as the world passed.

She's always had a deep love for her family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are her world. In fact, it's a common belief that the only reason she stayed so long in this life is because everyone kept having babies. She loved the babies. Watching her, watch them brought great joy to her family.

She was an amazing woman. Throughout her life she faced more hardship: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual then most people ever have to. She handled it all with grace and class. E did things her way, although she never voiced her opinion. She was a quiet woman who found strength from within to overcome whatever challenge was placed before her.

She will never be forgotten.
Nor will the struggles she faced.
Her life was full of lessons for us to learn from.
Examples to follow.

Elerta was proceeded in death by her mother, Neoam Kirby Palmer Bennett; her father, James Bernard Palmer, Jr.; her step-father, Donald M. Bennett; granddaughter, Holy Lee Reno; and many dearly loved grandparents.

She leaves behind two daughters: Linda and Kathi; as well as five grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one son.

As per her wishes there will be no funeral. At some point, when her grandchildren can gather, there will be a memorial at her home. The family wishes to thank Rose Home Hospice for their care and support through the past few years.

Saturday Beach Day

While John stayed home & rested {and watched football... don't let him tell you different!} the kids & I headed to Zuma beach with a group of friends in our ward. Our usual beach days are moms & kids so Heather DH thought it would be fun to get everyone together on a Saturday so the dads could come too. We would've loved our Daddy to be there, but maybe next time. We had such a great time being there with so many friends.

{Devore's, Heybourne's, Forgrave's, Thompson's, Almond's, Arbuckle's, DelHoyo's, Christianson's, Bartley's, Deveaux's, Albright's, Wilde's, us & Keil's}