Big Boy Birthday!

Cannon had his very first birthday party on Saturday. All has been crazy since the move. Everyone fought with sickness, location changes, moving, and exhaustion in order to give my son a special day. I can't believe how fast time flies! It seems like it was just yesterday that I could fall asleep with him swaddled in my arms. Now he is running everywhere and opening every drawer and pushing every button in the house. We have even baby proofed this house soo good, Brian has a hard time getting into things. Back to the party though....

My wonderful parents came up to help us with the move. They have been very helpful to me. Its not easy packing up and moving while planning a birthday party with a crazy 1 year old constantly at my feet. The party was a baseball theme and it was supposed to be at the park (Brian was nervous about having kids with cupcakes in our new house). The weather was almost perfect, but there was a little bit of a chilly wind. We moved it to the house and tried our best to decorate and give Cannon a good little first birthday. We had a really good turn out between family and friends. My mom pretty much prepared all of the food, because the rest of us were sick for a few days before (thanks mom, you're the best!). Cannon had a baseball smasher cake! Yum! It took him a second, but he dove right into that bad boy.

We had a great time sharing in this special day with everyone. We are so thankful to have the best family and the most amazing friends on earth. I am glad that almost everyone was able to make it. Thank you again!

All moved!

We finally packed up that last box and we are all moved in! Our cleaning check at our apartment was the hardest cleaning check I had ever done! I worked on my hands and knees for almost 9 hours (which is crazy for a small 2 bedroom apartment). We had a great Easter in our new home. I can't wait to get more settled! Cannon has so much free space to roam. He had a ton of fun picking up Easter eggs. My parents are in town for his first birthday, and they helped us get settled this week. It has been a crazy few weeks! I am such a slacker on my posting and commenting. Hopefully we will get back on routine real soon! Here are some pictures from our little Easter. We love you all!

Mother Nature at it's finest....

So yesterday I was chasing Cannon around taking cute pics of him in sunglasses. He was having so much fun! I got a lot of really good pictures of him too! We went outside to greet daddy on his way home from work. We thought that dad would get a HUGE crack up of these little aviator sunglasses.

While we were standing outside, I noticed darling little feathers floating everywhere. I figured that it was a nest of baby birds starting to shed some of their feathers to grow new ones. It almost seemed magical. I looked up at our roof, expecting to see a darling little nest of birds for spring. To my surprise, I got quick reality check. On my roof was a rather LARGE Peregrine Falcon mauling a bird. I realized that the feathers floating all around was not a serene site, but more of the aftermath of a vicious attack. I felt sick to my stomach. I can't believe I witnessed a murder, let alone it took place on the roof of my apartment! I feel bad for the next couple that rents my apartment, because there is a partially eaten bird on the roof still.

California!

After having many bad dreams about lawn ornaments and crazy Gnomes (if you wonder why, see my previous post from yesterday), its a bummer to wake up and have to pack. Today is my last day in WARM and SUNNY California :( Cannon has enjoyed this weather so much! We have been going to the park daily, go out to fun restaurants, & playing in the backyard. Its kinda hard to leave my little vacation to come home to a small apartment that I have to pack and move out of in the next week. Here is some quick highlights and pics from our fun little trip.

(Cannon has a new hobby of opening and slamming every door and drawer in the house, about 100 x's each. He doesn't care if you tell him no or pull him away. It only makes it more of a challenge to him.)

-We flew in Friday. We went to my sisters house on Saturday to stay the night. We had the most amazing rib dinner and cake on earth. I have the secret recipe for my sisters ribs, maybe I will be nice enough to share on the recipe blog one of these days :) It was so much fun to stay with family and see my cute niece and nephew.

(pic 1- with cousins Emme and Nixon, pic 2- the BEST TOY EVER! (inside joke)

-Sunday we went shopping and to dinner for my moms 50th birthday. We met up with my brother and sister in law, and their ADORABLE son Logan (he is my only brown-eyed nephew). Maureen and Jim also joined us for the occasion. Dinner was a blast. The kids were great! They even got to go on the Merry-Go-Round after. Cannon enjoyed the first few times around, but then he was quickly bored. haha.

-Tuesday we went to dinner at this amazing restaurant called the Ranch House for my 25th birthday. We met my grandparents Larry and Gail there. Its a cute little hideaway in Ojai. The restaurant had the most amazing surroundings. You eat outside on their patios. The patios were covered with greenery and hanging white lights. The ground had bamboo, ponds, waterfalls, old statues, an herb garden, hidden tables and benches. Here are some pics. I recommend eating there if you haven't. It is really small and intimate, and some of the best food that Ive ever had. Gail and Larry bought me the recipe book from there, I am in HEAVEN!

(My family at the Ranch House, minus my cute husband Brian. He was working extra hard in Utah all week)


(one of the many cool walkways at the Ranch House, this place was so beautiful, pictures don't do it justice)


(Cannon with my mom at the Ranch House, he was AMAZING- we were nervous bringing him because it was a 5-star returant)

Cannon has been a trooper all week. I am so lucky that I have been able to travel with him as much as I have. He has been on 15 flights now, and he is a seasoned pro. He has yet to cry on a flight . He usually sleeps for an hour or so, and just plays and chats the rest. I have been so fortunate. I have also been blessed to have such supportive and helpful family. I don't think Cannon wants to go home! He has been playing with my mom and dad so much. He even called my mom "da-ma" which I think is grandma. He is just so blessed to have so many people who love him. I think that is part of what has made him such a good little baby.

(with da-ma Watson)

Next week is an exciting week for us. We are going to close on our home, pack, and move! I am excited about our new adventure, but nervous about all of the packing and unpacking. Wish us luck! We will need it with an active 11-month old running around :)

(Cannon being held by my mom's friend Carin at lunch- this is his CHEESY smile!)

ps- I am still waiting on some pics from my moms birthday dinner with his cousin Logan- hopefully we will get those posted soon!

Gnome??

This is just weird..... watch the video. Its hard to understand what the kids are talking about. This was filmed with a camera phone, so it is a little shaky at first. The creature doesn't appear until the last 10 seconds of the video.....

What do you think? Real or a hoax? I think it looks kinda real, but I have no clue.....

ps- take note: if this is a person, this person is about a foot tall....

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article902014.ece (the video is attached to the article)

Over the Hill- sorta.....

This is a shameless self-plug, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!! I turned the BIG 25 today! I am currently in California for my moms 50th birthday (which was March 9th- Happy Birthday mom), and my birthday just so happens to fall 2 days later. Who flies out to California for just 2 days? Not me! I am here until Thursday. Then we have to fly home and pack because we are moving next week. I am a little sad that I did not get to spend the day with my wonderful husband, but this just gives him a few more days to clean the house (hint hint) as a birthday surprise!

I will be doing a California pic post in a few days, so here is 1 Cannon pic to help you survive the next few days ; )

Mommy Tag (I am a sucker for tags!)

1. Typically what time do you wake up? Cannon has me awake between 6:30 and 7 am.
2. On a good night what time are your kids in bed? He goes to bed around 7:30-8 pm (without crying! I love sleep training)

3. How long have you been a mommy? 11 months

4. How old were you when you became a mommy? 24

5. What is your favorite kids tv show? I like Little Einsteins and the Backyardagins. I will let Cannon watch The Wiggles, but only because I have the hots for the blue one (Anthony)

6. What is your least favorite kids tv show? Pretty much everything else. Brian doesn't like Cannon watching kids shows. He wants him to watch football, baseball and SportsCenter

7. What is your favorite chore? who says I have a favorite chore? Is eating a chore? I will say cooking....

8. What is your favorite meal to cook? I love cooking pretty much everything.

9. What is the meal you cook most often? Brian is obsessed with Pork and Pea pasta :) I make that quite a bit.

10. What is your kids favorite meal? Cannon loves yogurt, Progresso soup, and Mac and Cheese!

11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids? I love it when Brian and Cannon snuggle together.....its precious

12. What are 5 things that make you smile when you're being a mom?

1. I love when Cannon is sooo happy to see me. 2. When he studies his toys and books, and just looks like he is putting a lot of thought into everything. 3. When he says mama and dada 4. When he is sleeping, he is such a cute little sleeper 5. When he gives BIG open mouth kisses.

13. If you could take your kids anywhere where would it be? I don't care, as long as he is with me- its paradise (so cheesy, but its true) (don't get me wrong, I love the occasional dates without him-lol)

14. When was the last time you went out without your kids? 6 weeks ago, I don't even remember what we did.

15. What is your favorite past time/activity to do with your kids? I love taking him swimming or to the park. I just love seeing the enjoyment in his face.

16. Name 1 thing you said you'd never do as a mom: feed my kid "convenient foods" sometimes its all he will eat though....

17. Name 1 thing you do that your own mom did: Worry :) Just joking mom. There are tons of things. I would probably say butterfly kisses.

18. What is your favorite quality that your mom has? She is a giver. She is always giving and is very selfless about it. I hope that I can always give everything to my kids.

19. What is your favorite kids book? Where the Sidewalk Ends...

20. What is your advice for new moms? Be prepared for little sleep, if you cant breastfeed- its not the end of the world, play groups and hanging out with mommies is a must. Its hard to talk to just a baby all day- lol.

21. What is the scariest or most heartbreaking moment as a mom? When Cannon was just days old and he would not stop crying. I took him to the ER at 3 am. Turns out it was just bad gas. They had to draw his blood and give him an IV though, I was terrified.

22. What is your most joyful moment of being a mom? just seeing Cannon grow and develop. He is so happy and smart, you can really tell you are doing a good job.

23. When was the last time you were told 'I Love You' by one of your kids? his eyes let me know that he loves me, and again- those open mouth kisses show it.

24. When was the last time you told one of your kids 'I Love You'? About every 15 seconds!

We're Moving!

After over 3 wonderful years, 1 baby, and a new job- we finally are finally kissing our little humble abode good-bye! We are really going to miss our little neighborhood that we have called home for sooo long. We have so many memories here. It was a prime location for us, because it was smack in the middle between BYU and UVSC, so it catered to both mine and Brian's education. We have made many friends here and have really enjoyed our fun little ward. It is hard to move, because we have grown so attached! We are just so thankful to finally start a new chapter in our lives as a little family of 3. I am just soooo excited! We have picked out a darling house that fits our personality. We were able to pick a lot of the essentials in the home (carpet, counter tops, lighting.....) so we feel that the home really fits our personalities. We are headed out of Utah County in about 2-3 weeks!

(ps- If you haven't noticed, I have made my blog private, so I feel safe posting pictures of my house to family and close friends)

(pss-Just in case, I used paintbrush and deleted our address off of the house ;) You can never be too careful! )