1 YEAR OLD!!!

Yesterday, JAN. 17, 2009, Dallin turned ONE!!!! I can't believe it. I don't remember any of my kids first year going this fast! Granted, this has been a pretty busy year for us, but WOW....time flies! He has been walking for about month and he has started to say a few words like: Mama, Da (Dad), ball, boo (when playing peek-a-boo), nummies, dance and hot dog. (he likes to do the "hot dog dance" from "Mickey Mouse Club House.")

After church today Padilla's came over and we had a little party for him here at home. Dallin had fun playing with his new toys and eating cake!!! YUM!
We love our little man so much!!!

Here are a few pictures from his party:

























































First, Dallin ate cake......



















Next, he ate his plate.....
























Then, he ate his tray......



















And finally, our little one-year-old boy was all tuckered out.

(It's hard to tell because the video is a little dark, but as we were sitting around the table talking we looked over and saw Dallin falling asleep in his high chair=)



HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALLIN JOSEPH!

Tagged....The 8 list....

8 TV shows I watch:

1. Super WHY!
2. Little Einsteins
3. Mickey Mouse Club House
(What can I say? These are the TV shows I watch =)
4. The Office
5. So You Think You Can Dance?
6. Dancing With the Stars
7. Home Cooking with Paula Dean
8. Good Eats, and America's Test Kitchen

8 Things I did Yesterday:

1. Drove the girls to school. (we missed the bus!)
2. Watched my friend's little girls.
3. Went visiting teaching
4. Went to Walmart
5. Went to Shoppers (the local grocery store)
6. Picked the girls up from school
7. Taught piano lessons
8. Made dinner

8 Things I look forward to:

1. The weekends
2. Warm weather
3. Not having two kids in diapers
4. My trip to Utah in May
5. Dessert! =)
6. Serving a mission
7. Getting my degree
8. Moving into my new house!!!

8 Places I like to eat:

1. Chick-fil-a
2. Panera
3. Chipotle
4. Five Guys
5. Tony's Pizza
6. Red Hot and Blue
7. Akasaka
8. Home (when Joe Grills Steaks!)

8 Things I wish for:

1. To be more organized!
2. A Baby Grand Piano
3. To be 15lbs. lighter
4. To raise kids who know who they are, know they are loved, and choose the right.
5. To be a dancer ( I know it's a little late for this one. However, I took lessons on and off while I was growing up and loved it. I always regret not going further with it. Oh well, maybe in the next life! =)
6. Tour Europe
7. A Motorhome (yes I'm a hick... and proud of it!)
8. A ski boat

December... in a nutshell...

Well, I almost went through the whole month of December without posting anything so I thought I'd catch everyone up by going back and mentioning a few highlights of the last four weeks.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts our family had the amazing opportunity to participate in our stake's production of "Savior of the World." What an unforgettable experience! I had no idea there were so many wonderful, talented people in our stake. We had the chance to meet and get to know so many amazing people! We performed the show the first two weekends of this month. We had some incredible missionary experiences inviting non-members to the show. The whole process was such a testimony building experience for me. The Spirit was always there during rehearsals and performances and it was such a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season. Our family was blessed in so many ways through participating in the program.
The first weekend of performances my parents and 2 sisters came to see us in the show and do a little sight seeing. We had a great visit with them.

The second week of the month I spent most of my extra time in the kitchen. I participated in a cookie exchange with some friends where we all made 18 dozen cookies to share! (6 doz. of three different kinds of cookies!) I have never made that many cookies at one time! It was fun though and after the exchange I had 18 different kinds of cookies to show for it. My intention was to give most of them away but unfortunately I ate more than I gave away! =)

I was not as on-the-ball this year about getting my Christmas shopping done early, so I spent the third week of Dec. sprinting from store to store (with four kids) trying to finish holiday shopping!

We attended the annual "Beatty Bundt Cake Party." Joe and the other husbands had to make a bundt cake from scratch to be judged by the wives. I have to say I was impressed with Joe's baking skills! He even won the award for best tasting cake!

The girls had a great time over Christmas break. They had almost two weeks off of school! We had a fun time just "hangin' out."


It was a busy month, but we made some great memories and had a great holiday season.
Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!!

We had an awesome Christmas this year.
After Becky's Party Joe made us a delicious Christmas Eve Prime-Rib dinner! YUM!
Next we read the Nativity Story. (Thanks to being in "Savior of the World" we had the best costumes ever!)
Then the kids got to open their pajamas and put together a yummy plate of cookies for Santa. And Finally.... off to bed!

Our cute little "Polar Bear" Shepherd























JJ was Mary this year























Becky was our beautiful Angel























Joe was" double-cast" as the Donkey and Joseph


















Everyone in their new pajamas! (Please don't laugh at the picture. It was bed time and this was the best picture I could get!)


















Christmas Morning was so fun! Everyone got what they asked Santa for.
(Dallin was more excited about the boxes and paper than anything else.)
We had a great time opening presents. Then we got dressed up in our new clothes and went to IHOP for breakfast. We came home, played with toys for a while then headed over to Padilla's for Christmas dinner.


Our front room after the " Christmas Tornado."





































Much to his Dad's dismay Dallin totally ignored all the balls and trucks
he got for Christmas and instead spent the whole morning playing with a
light-up ring Emily got from JJ... oh well...























What a great day!
"Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BECKY!!!

Today is Becky's birthday! I can't believe it!
She's nine... going on 25:)
She really is such a blessing to our family. She is so good at taking care of her little brother and sisters. She is a stellar student, a talented little singer-dancer-piano player, and she LOVES doing all kinds of art projects.
She got to start her day by opening her present from Grammy Walker... A gift card to "Build-a-Bear." So we ventured out to Potomac Mills Mall and Becky got to make her very own bear. Then we came home, opened all of her other presents and ate cake!
It was a fun way to spend Christmas Eve morning.
We love her sooooo much.
She was definitely the BEST Christmas present ever!
Happy Birthday Rebecca Lynn!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love this time of year. I have so many "warm fuzzy" memories of Thanksgiving Holidays spent with lots of family around and lots of good food! I truly have been blessed all my life!
However, as I reflect back on this year I have to say I am overwhelmed at the number of blessings that have been poured out upon us. "My cup runneth over."

We started off the year with the addition of our little "man-cub."
Dallin (or "Tank" as Uncle Tony likes to call him) has wrapped us all around his chubby little finger!
Joe finished law school and successfully passed the bar.
We enjoyed several fun vacations this summer.
Joe started work at a great Law firm in D.C.
We started construction on our first home. (YAY!)
We have had the testimony building experience of being able to participate in our Stake production of "Savior of the World."
And some how we have found a way to balance church callings, work, school, piano teaching, home teaching, visiting teaching, rehearsals, joy school, homework, youth activities, dance lessons, family home evening, and all those other things that seem fill our time.
We've also had those moments of stress, disappointment, and doubt. But as I look back I see the growth our family experienced through those times. And I am so grateful for the opportunities we've had to lean on each other as a family, for the service that was so generously given to us by extended family and friends.
And most of all I am grateful for the chance to better my relationship with my Savior.

For Family home evening this week we played a game where we all sat on the floor in a circle and took turns rolling a ball to each other while naming things we were thankful for.
I won't name the entire list we made on Monday but I do want to name the most important ones: (In no particular order)
I am thankful for my sweet husband!!!
I am thankful for my four beautiful children.
I am thankful for My parents and for our extended family and friends.
I am thankful for the chance to try to do and be a little better each day.
I am thankful to live in this great country.
I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
And I am thankful for the knowledge that I am a daughter of God, that Jesus Christ is my brother and Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blondes...Brunettes...Who has more fun?

When I was born I had black curly hair. But from the time I was a toddler until now I have been a blonde. I have always admired those with dark hair. You know... the Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Zeta-Jones type.
I have always wanted to see how I would look with dark hair but when it came down to coloring my hair I've never been adventurous enough to do more than add a few blonde highlights. Well, I decided to venture out side of my comfort zone and try being a brunette!

BEFORE:



AFTER:

What do you think?