Our Little Ballerina

Call me crazy, but ever since I can remember I've dreamed of having a little girl who would take ballet.  Maybe it's because I wanted to live vicariously through them.  So when I realized that Kayla likes to move around a lot and dance, I jumped at the chance to sign her up for a class.  It's not professional by any means (how much can you really teach a group of 3-5 year olds?), but it was fun for her and we both made some new friends in the process.  The last day of class the teacher invited parents and family members to come watch one of their classes, so we made sure to take as many pictures and video as we could.  The second video is kind of long and it's not very ballet-like.  I guess at the end of each class the teacher would do a more creative dance type thing where they just do all sorts of types of movement.  Still cute though.

8 and 9 months

It's been a crazy couple of months, hence the reason I'm behind on my updates of Sarah.  So here we go:

Sarah at 8 and 9 months:
She has 4 teeth now, 2 on top, 2 on bottom
She has started eating some solid foods.  Her favorites include bananas, cooked peas, cooked rice, some types of bread, and puffy rice cereal
She can get herself from a lying down position to a sitting up position
She pays avid attention to anyone who is singing.  It's almost as if she's trying to memorize the song
She is our worst teether.  The other two seemed to get 3 or 4 teeth at a time, without being sick or cranky.  Sarah gets a runny nose and a slight fever, she always wants to be held, and she has started waking up 2 or 3 times a night again.
She still has the most hair of any other baby her age I've ever seen.  It sticks straight up after she takes a bath, and I still haven't figured out what to do with it.
She has the most beautiful smile and charms everyone she meets, especially her mommy.

Will Birthday

For Will's birthday this year he decided that he wanted to go bowling.  So we invited a few friends, bowled for a while, had cake and ice cream, and had a great time.

Special Day

This past Saturday was a wonderful day for our family.  Will was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It was a day of small miracles, tender mercies, family, and so many other things.  I could say so much about the day, but here are some of the highlights:

Seeing Will and Bill together, dressed in white.  Not only am I grateful that Will made the decision to be baptized, but I am grateful that Bill is a worthy priesthood holder and was able to perform that ordinance.  Will definitely has a wonderful example to look up to.

This is kind of a random picture, but I wanted to mention the fact that so many of our friends from various wards came to support Will.  We are blessed to have a great ward and stake family, which really helps when we are so far away from our actual families.  One of the couples that was there even postponed their temple trip in order to come, which really touched me.

Another wonderful thing about the day was getting to spend so much time with these amazing people.  My cousin and her family moved from Arizona to Chicago just a few weeks ago.  She and I have grown up together, and I would consider her one of my very best friends.  She and I got to sing together during the baptism, then we all went out to celebrate afterwards.  We figured out that the last time we were all together was about 6 years ago, when we each only had one child.  Now we have 7 children between us, and it was so much fun to see everyone get along so well.

And of course, the star of the day.  I think I have dreamed of his baptism day since he was a baby, and I can't believe it finally happened.  He is such a unique little boy with an energetic personality, but he is also serious, thoughtful, and kind.  He bore his testimony during sacrament meeting on Sunday for the first time, and it made me so proud to see his knowledge of the gospel.

I have to mention one of the tender mercies that happened that day.  These wonderful pictures on this post would not have been possible if it weren't for some divine inspiration.  When we were getting ready to head over to the baptism, we were trying to find our camera.  We couldn't find the one we usually use so we just grabbed an old one and some batteries.  Unfortunately the camera didn't work, so that was a little frustrating.  When we got to the church, some of our friends were pulling up next to us.  So we got out and asked them if they had an Iphone or a camera phone or something.  They didn't have a phone, but then the wife holds up a camera bag.  She used to be a professional photographer, and that morning she just "happened" to grab her nice, professional camera and bring it with her.  We are sure that Heavenly Father was looking out for us that day and making sure we could capture the special moments we wanted to remember. 

Here are a few more of the wonderful pictures from the morning.  It was a fabulous day and something I hope none of us forget.

 

7 months

Sarah at 7 months

-Has an adorable little growl
-Puts EVERYTHING in her mouth
-Is really close to crawling.  Right now she scoots around on her tummy
-Makes sounds that sound suspiciously like Dada and Hi
-Is not afraid of anyone and lets everybody hold her
-Is ticklish on her tummy, feet and upper legs

6 Months

It's hard to believe half a year has gone by since Sarah joined our family.  She is such a wonderful baby and we are so lucky she is ours. 

Sarah at 6 months:

-After being told by the doctor 2 months ago that her first teeth would probably come in a month or two, one finally decided to show up this last week.
-She loves being in her walker and cruising around the house.  Who knew when we bought the thing 8 years ago that it would get so much use from all 3 kids!
-Can sit up by herself for at least a minute before toppling over.
-Cries and screams when she's by herself or wants something, then gives the biggest smile the minute she sees someone.
-:Loves to babble.  We think her first word will be Dada because she already sounds like she's saying it.
-EVERYONE she meets says that she looks like a little pixie and comments on all her hair.  We think she's one of the most adorable, beautiful babies ever.

Westward Ho!

About a month ago our family got the opportunity to go back West to visit family (and Bill went to Portland for a conference for work).  We spent a week each in Idaho and Utah and had a fabulous time.  Some of the highlights - in my opinion - included:

-Celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary in the same city we were married in.  It was so wonderful to do sealings at the Idaho Falls temple and then have lunch at Johnny Carino's, where we had our wedding luncheon. 
-Seeing TONS of family members, most of whom had not met yet. 
-Going to Yellowstone National Park for a day, which is one of the places we went on our honeymoon.
-Spending quality time with my younger sister watching movies, taking the kids on excursions, and eating more than I should have.
-Laughing and reminiscing with old friends.
-Laughing with Bill as we searched for a specific store in Idaho that sells square ice cream that we were determined to try.
-Unexpectedly making friends with fellow tourists at Old Faithful while Kayla throws a tantrum and attempts to escape.
-Spending an hour alone driving in the car with Bill after picking him up from his conference.

We did tons of other fun things that would take me forever to list.  Needless to say it was a wonderful vacation, despite the long drive and occasionally cranky children (and parents sometimes).  A big thank you to Bill's parents and my mom and sister for letting us stay with them, to grandparents and great-grandparents for babysitting our children numerous times, and all the other wonderful people who made our trip memorable.  We hope to be back soon!

Now for the picture overload :)

Will and Kayla at the beginning of our 2 day car ride

Kids on the observation deck of a fossil museum.  Rest stops were frequent on this trip.

Bill was very happy to be home

Square ice cream.  So good!

Yellowstone pictures

Where Mommy and Sarah spent the majority of the trip.

FINALLY learning to ride a two-wheeler.  He picked it up super fast.

Kayla and Aunt Jill

The lighting is horrible on this, but if you can see on his tie, Bill earned the recent Thomas S. Monson scouting award while we were visiting his parents.

July 10, 2013 - Happy Anniversary Honey!

Grandma Melodie reading a bedtime story

Hanging out at Grandma Melodie's house

Sisters

Will, Kayla and Ella enjoying at picnic at Grandma Phyllis's house

Hogle Zoo pictures

 Hanging out at the splash pad with Auntie Erika

 

Five Months

*We are on vacation in Utah right now, hence the reason this post has no pictures and why it's almost a week late.  We're having too much fun!  Typical vacation post to follow soon.

Sarah at 5 months:
Her new trick: rolling over from her back to her stomach (and vice versa (sp?), although not as much)
Laughs hysterically when you tickle her legs and stomach (video down below.  Ignore my ugly laughing and the stuff at the end)
Is so close to being able to sit up on her own
Smiles widely and sweetly when I walk through the door after being gone, even if it's just for a couple of minutes. Makes my day every time.
Took her first road trip.  She's now been in Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah.  Has done great so far beyond a couple of incidents.
Her new nickname is "Little Piglet".  I don't know if it's a growth spurt or what, but it seems like she's eating twice as much these days.  Yet she's still pretty scrawny.  Guess she inherited the Evans metabolism like Will did.

4 months

Sarah at 4 months:
Out of all our children she is the only thumb sucker
Likes the song "Hush Little Baby", especially when Will sings it
Has started laughing a little
Loves being given attention and cries when people ignore her for too long
The kids swear that she is actually saying certain words.  Whether she is or not, the sounds she makes are adorable.
Chews on her bottom lip and smacks her lips together
Can kind of hold a bottle by herself
Is very intrigued by her hands and sits staring at them for a long time
Has earned the nickname "Snugglebug" for obvious reasons