Our California Adventure

Last weekend we had the great priviledge to attend our nephews baptism. We drove down Friday afternoon and made pretty good time down to Newport Beach. My Aunt was very gracious in letting her stay with her. Jacob had read online about the monster waves hitting Southern California and decided that he wanted to go check them out on Saturday morning... it was such a good idea that everyone else decided to come too! It took us over an hour to park but once we got lucky it was a short jont across the street to the beach.

We put Kira down on the sand and she immediatly asked to be picked right back up. She did NOT like the sand.

This is her trying to get the sand off her feet.
We were surprised that she didn't like the "Wawoo" she usually loves to swim but I think the noise from the waves was too much for her.

So we took a little walk down the boardwalk and came across a playground. Kira was all for that so she spent some time pretending to be a Moonkey



In the afternoon we drove out to Corona and got to see Dallin get baptised. It was a great experience and we are so proud of our "Dal-doo".

We then went to Dallins house for a combined birthday and baptism celebration. We didn't get pictures of that. Jacob was sick all weekend so he took a break from picture duty. But Kira loves all the new clothes she got!

Sunday was spent with my family and with some friends who made us a great dinner!
It looks like we will be down mid September so we'll see you all again soon!

WaWoo Park and the "Art Festival"

Here in Vegas they are very good about building parks and a lot of them have water features. Our area happened to get the newest and most popular water park around so Jacob and I have taken Kira a couple of times already. These pictures are from a Daddy/Daughter Saturday... the idea is: He takes her to the park and I get to vacuum the whole house... but the vacuum broke and we are waiting on parts... BUT at least Kira had fun!
(Don't worry Auntie "M" she is slathered with sunblock)









THE FIRST FRIDAY ART SHOW
Jacob had heard about this art show they do in Vegas on the First Friday of every month. We decided to check it out. It was kinda not what we expected but we had a good time being out of the house together and see some art.
Part of the show was indoors and so we had to take her out of the stroller. She used this as an excuse to run around a be crazy!
We had a pretty good time over all... but hope it's a little better next year.

She picked out her Elmo outfit ...

... we got her hair all cute and ready to go....

... and by the time we got downtown... the pigtails were out.

Kira also learned that she can push her own stoller!

And had lots of fun with it too!
AND LASTLY... GIRLIE STUFF
I bought these shirts over a year ago and put them away as she was too small for them. I pulled them out the other day before scouts and she was sooo excited to see them... She saw them and said "OOOHHH -WOW"(which means shes very excited about something) and ran out to show them to daddy. Then I went to scouts and this is what she looked like when I got home..


All 3 shirts on and her shoes on so she can go look for "Mom Mom"
How funny is she?

Flashback Friday - this one is for you Mom!

This flashback is 19 years in the making! (Can't beleive that)
Inspired by Jacob's cousin's expose of her trip to Thailand... they went to a place similar to this.
This is a picture of the 4 Winfrey kids at Minitown. Minitown is in Durbin South Africa. (I wonder if it's still there?) And consists of miniature replicas of building around the country.
Couple things to note:
1- See those ugly shoes I'm wearing? I begged borrowed and stole for those shoes and I look at them now and think they are horrible!

2- Check out my sisters florecent shirt - had to be the 90's - oh and her and my brother's shoe laces... funny

3-I also begged borrowed and stole for that perm too - and you gotta love the leggings!

Enjoy

Fathers Day

Since getting the newspaper we have become more aware of the many things Vegas has to offer those of us on tight budgets. Jacob read last week that the Imperial Palace hotel and casino was giving free admitance to their Auto Collection. (Regular admitance is $8.95)
For those of you who do not know the Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace is a collection of antique and one of a kind cars worth millions of dollars when combined. There were at least 4 that I saw that were worth 1.5 million just on their own. So if you're in the market for a new car....they did have one worth 12,500.. but I don't remember which one it was.
So after church we drove down to the strip and found a place to park. We waited 10 mintues for the elevator and finally made our way up to the Auto Collection. Now, after having Kira and watching her as she grows up there are some things I believe are truly genetic! I wouldn't know how else to explain her enthusiasim for both cars and animals. So as soon as we walked off the elevator and she saw the first 1953 Ford whatever it was and yelled "CAR"!!!
As we walked around the exhibit she kept asking "More Car?"... "More Car?" and just had a great time!
Here are some pictures from our fun day!

Flashback Friday - Father's Day Style

I think I'll follow in my friends Stephanie's theme and do a flashback friday about Jacob and how good of a dad he is.
From my first dating Jacob, I knew he was going to be a good dad. His nephew was 6 months old (he'll be 8 next week... don't know how that happened) and Jacob adored him. We would often go over to Jacob's brothers house to hang with Dallin and Jacob and Dallin grew close.
So when it came time to having our own child, I was only worried that Jacob would be wrapped around her little finger the moment she was born. And while that did happen... he has been the BEST Daddy to her. When she was little she would light up when he walked into the room, she loved to watch football with him on Sundays (which allowed me to catch up on sleep)and overall just loved to be with him. And that has not changed at all! Kira loves her Daddy! She's still excited when he gets home from work and she asks about him all day while he is gone. Daddy reads books to her (better than mommy)-see post below for daddy/daughter reading time and they play together all the time! He is still wrapped around her little finger but I don't think I would have it any other way....
Thank You Jacob, for being such a good dad and a wonderful husband. It means more to me than I can say!
So in honor of Fathers Day... here are some pictures of Kira and her Daddy.


The first time he held her.


At her blessing party with her "Godfather" Henry


Watching Football with her daddy.... well she was... I often have this problem when I watch football too.

Last July at a 4th of July Party

Last July at Laguna Beach

Eyes, Ears, Mouth and Nose & the going to bed book

Haven't posted a lot of pictures lately, like I have said my camera had died and Jacob sometimes takes his to work which limits the camera time I have available. BUT I have been able to catch these two snipits, which I love and have no qualms about showing off.
Kira has been a busy girl! We went down to California to take cousin pictures the middle part of May and Kira had a good time playing with her cousins. Though at times I think she was a little overwhelmed by the noise and craziness of having 7 other cousins all under the age of 8!





We got to see "GG" and GramJan and PapaMike and as promised almost at birth, Auntie "M" got to give Kira her first real haircut. It seems as if she already needs another one!






We also got to spend about an hour with the Ferrieras and Tanner and Kira had a lot of fun bouncing on the beds at Martin and Suzy's house.




Her Uncle Mike and Aunt Krista invited Kira to Chuck E Cheese to join a party they were throwing for their niece. She had a ton of fun there and walks around with her "credit cards". Lately, she has been a bit of a challenge, as most things have been with Kira, the terrible twos have come early. She is talking, singing, and dancing. She still LOVES "melmo" (Elmo) and we watch an Elmos world at least once a day. We are up to 3 now so I don't go as crazy about watching the same stuff all the time. She has learned some words from Elmo and is not shy about talking all day long! Her vocabulary is getting really big! We go get her shots on Friday(which is why I made the list of words...need to keep track), which I'm NOT looking forward to...maybe I'll take her for some icecream after (that's what my mom used to do when we had to go to the doctor) This next video, I got tonight... she procrasinates bedtime with the following activities
1) Chooses not to participate in Family Prayer, I guess she thinks if she doesn't participate then she doesn't have to go to bed.
2)Asking to be read the same book over and over again (which is how we got the following video)
3)Snuggling up to daddy hoping that if he gets a cuddle he won't put her down.



So, that's our update.. hope it makes up for not having one lately. I had a flashback friday planned but didn't get it up, so maybe I'll do it this friday.
'til next time... keep smiling

Flashback Friday

Somewhere in early 2000s


1994


Somwhere in early 2000s
Me and my friend Jo.
Jo (or as Jacob likes to call her... Jo-Anna) has been my friend for 16 years!!! She is my oldest and dearest friend. Sometimes I think that the ONLY reason my family was sent to England was so that I could meet Jo. We meet not long after I moved there and became almost insperable on the weekends. I was only there for 6 months but my life has forever been effected by knowing her.
I love what technology can do for us. I have talked to Jo twice this week (if you consider instant messaging on facebook talking... I totally do!)
It hard being some 5000 miles away from each other... last time I saw her was almost 4 years ago. I miss her everyday. So I wanted to dedicate this flashback Friday to my best-friend (other than Jacob) Jo. So Jo... I miss you and love you and hope you enjoy the pictures