yummmm...

I have a huge spot in my heart for both my grandmas, so when the fruit in the orchard is ready for pickin', memories come flooding in! My dad let me and my two besties pick the peaches this year and take most of them for ourselves(love him!). As I stood and peeled them I thought: wow this is hard work! wow I'm really bad at just peeling off the skin! and boy do I wish I could be doing this with my grandmas! I peeled a bunch and did my version of canning. After I was finished, I made a little peach treat with the help of my little princess.

My kitchen was a mess!! Peach guts were EVERYWHERE!
Modern day canning
Aniston helping with the whippy stuff for the peach desert. That sweet bruise on her chin came from nursery, thank goodness she'll be in primary soon(they're more reverent).

stuff about our sweetie

:Aniston was messing around and knocked over my folded clothes. I made her refold them, and I wish I could have taken pictures of her folding job, but I didn't(not appropriate to show off my garments!). :Chris and Aniston watched my least favorite movie, Nacho, one night when I was at work. They like to quote one of the lines when I'm around to bug me... Aniston's version: "I wanna ween, I wanna see what it tastes like-o". :Aniston will add "sweetie" to the end of a few phrases she says, too cute! :She is constantly saying that she has to go to work. You ask her what she does and her reply is..."take care of the babies". :She uses the word but A LOT in her sentences, beginning, middle, and even at the end. :Anytime she is asked how she is doing, or sometimes what she is doing, she'll say..."I'm doin' great!!". :She likes it when we exercise! She will do it along with us, sit and watch us, and she is always asking us if we're wet(sweating) and need a towel. She will ask if she can touch our face or back to see if we are wet, kind of disgusting I know! She gets really excited when she sees me in my "exercise clothes" because she knows Megan is usually on her way over to join the fun! She notices when I don't work out, and it's good for me because I know someone is keeping track! :My bad habit of Diet Coke drinking has rubbed off a bit on Aniston. She is always asking to have some of mine, and my favorite part is how she says it..."I need some Dina Coke!" :Naps are getting to be rare with her. But one Saturday while I was at work, Chris noticed she was really quiet so he went to check on her. She was in bed, covers up, and when he asked what she was doing she said..."I'm tired.", and she went down for a nap all by herself! :She learned a new song in Nursery, and she was always asking us to sing it to her. We had no clue what song the "turtle song" was, so she would get really upset at us for not singing it. After church last Sunday, she came home singing it all by herself.....

3 years old!

Aniston is 3, and there is no question about it! At her 3 year check-up Dr. Ferierra said she was as healthy as they come! She is 40 pounds(96th percentile) and 41.5 inches tall(100th percentile). Not to shocking, we expect that!

Meal time isn't her favorite, or ours either! She likes to tell us "I already did sweetheart" when we tell her it's time to eat. She thinks that because she already ate the previous meal, she's good to go!

Aniston loves it when Daddy gets home, and she lets out a few barks to say hi, still!At night, her and I like to sit on the couch and talk to Daddy. He's busy with homework, so that's how we squeeze in some time with him.

We went to the fair last week. All she wanted to do was go on the pony ride and ride the "caroself". She wasn't real thrilled with the animals, and she didn't want to touch them because she said they were yucky(wonder where she gets that?!). I thought after she went on both she would stop asking to go on things and just sit back and enjoy the fair, but after both she continued to ask to go on the rides. She liked watching the rodeo events and she thought the deep fried Oreos were pretty tasty too! Her favorite treat was the Cotton Candy Chylie shared with her, she's still talking about how yummy it was!
Her smiles for the camera make me laugh! She definitely kept her distance from the animals.
Not getting to close, just in case.
Jess finally got Aniston to pet a goat!
Pony ride! She LOVED this.
First taste of Cotton Candy. She wasn't very sure of it the first nibble, so she asked for the pink instead of blue. Pink was delicious, and she could have eaten the entire bag!
Me and my big girl!
The big girls, minus Jess. We had so much fun, like we always do!

things she eats these days: fruit, milk, and more fruit
Humpty "Dumpy" is her favorite nursery rhyme
Cinderella is the princess she adores
she tells me her favorite animal is a horse
she paints with very few colors; pink at our house, blue at Grammy and Papa's
she asks almost every day this question: "so whad ya do today?"
her toy of choice these days is her new Cinderella doll
a hug and kiss before someone leaves or she leaves is mandatory, and so is both at bedtime
she's been pretending she is a dog lately, getting pretty sick of the barking!
we "make" her hair everyday(it's about time she start getting used to this!)
she really does not like "putting my head back"(washing her hair)
Aniston likes playing with my hair and gets it out of my face for me too


I was bossing Aniston one day and she threw up her hands and said
"So you think you're a Princess?"
We pop the breaker in the kitchen often, and when it happens Aniston will say
"ahh seriously!!"
"I'm sorry you got mad at me Mommy" I guess is her way of saying she is sorry?
"I'm being a good girl"(when we tell her she's being naughty) and "I'm not crying"(while she's crying) are her attempts of getting out of going to time-out.
Aniston was teaching me how to say words the other day, it was so cute to hear her talk to me like we have talked to her when we've taught her how to say things.
I took her to the temple and she absolutely loved it! We walked around and played in all the water, and then I took her inside to see the Christis and to cool off. When she saw the statue she said "look Mama Jesus wants to hold me!" and she also noticed that we had the same Jesus in our house(smaller of coarse). I showed her that Jesus had marks in his hands, and I tried to explain them as simply as possible. We went back down to look at more pictures and stopped to talk to the sister missionaries. Aniston told them we had just seen the Jesus statue and that she saw the marks in his hands. We then went over to the pictures and she said "Mama there's Mary with Jesus." It really surprised me, even though it shouldn't, that she knew that. She remembers and knows more than I think. She listens when she is taught, and so I knew then just how important it is that we take the opportunity to talk to her and teach her about Jesus and the gospel.
She's getting smarter, taller, sweeter, sassier, more stubborn, more limber, and more observant every day and I absolutely LOVE her! We missed her 3 year check-up the other day, which she was very upset about, but it's next week and I can't wait to see where she's at!

way to fast

This past week flew by, I knew it would. I also knew there were big changes in the future, but I chose to ignore them and pretend they would NEVER happen. I don't like change, but as I have grown up I have learned to deal with it. Chris and I have made many changes, and one that I have not regretted was moving to Salt Lake. I have had my family so close to me and I have loved it.
The chances I have had to be in familiar places with dear people that I love have made all the changes easier. But I ran into the wall of reality, and have learned for the umpteenth time that I take things for granted, when my sister and her husband decided to make the move to Chicago so he could advance in the company he works for. I was super excited for them, but super sad knowing what comes with change. They bought the house I grew up in from my parents when my parents moved into the house my dad grew up in to help take care of his parents before they passed away. When Chris and I moved to Salt Lake, we first lived with my sister and her husband. I loved it! I loved being with my sister, loved being in my favorite home, and loved that my daughter was around 2 people that I truly love and think the world of. I felt like I was living in a dream because it felt like we had our best friends around ALL the time, and it was a blast!
When Shelbi told our family about the possibility of Scott getting a job in Chicago, I was really excited for them, but at the same time I was devastated. I didn't want them to be far away, I didn't want Aniston apart from them because she absolutely adores both of them, and I knew that also meant the house that held so many of my memories from growing up would have to be sold.
This past week I have cried a river, literally. I have tried to be with my sister as much as possible, and I have tried a bit unwillingly(only because I don't want them gone) to help with the packing and loading. I have thought of all the things I should have said, things I should have done, and ways I could have been there for those 2 and haven't. I have thought of all the fun things we have done together, the memories I have in that home, and how it will never be the same. Chicago is far away, my best friend and sister won't be just a 20 minute drive away, my daughter's aunt and uncle that lights up her face when they walk through the door will now light up her face on the phone and on occasionally visits here or there. I've already started the countdown for their arrival in Salt Lake for Stefen's wedding(thanks buddy for getting married!!), only 39 days!!
I have yet to accept this change, but maybe I will in the future and maybe I won't. They left this morning, just the 2 of them, to transport their lives to a new spot. I truly from the bottom of my heart want the best for them. They are 2 great people, and great people deserve great things and I wish them nothing but greatness. I love them and I already miss them.
Monday August 23, 2010
Aniston wearing Shelbi's beautiful shoes chillin' with our favorite kitty, Tiger. We helped Shelbi pack a bit, but we mostly played and got ready for the shower Shelbi and I did for Bri.
Shelbi with our 2 cousins, Shelley and Brandi.
This is how mature my sister and I are, she has a picture of me doing the very same thing.
Wednesday August 25, 2010
Tuesday I stayed home and put my house back together.
Wednesday we decided to pack in the morning, get some lunch together, and then go swimming. It took 3 attempts to find an open pool.
Aniston and I chatting about what we are going to do without Aunt Shelbi...
Swimmin' with her favorite aunt!!
Wednesday night Shelbi, Mom and I went to Eat, Pray, Love together. This is one things that I will really miss because those 2 are my movie buddies! The movie was great, but being with them was better!!
Thursday and Friday we packed things up. Shelbi and I, mainly I, consumed way more caffeine than recommended to keep us going. We both commented on our attention spans; they were missing those 2 days for sure!
Saturday we went to Lagoon with Scott's family, Scott and Shelbi, and the 3 of us. It was really fun, and I hope we still see his family whenever we can, because I enjoy them! His mom was so good to make sure all the kids were always accounted for, now that's my kind of woman!!
Sunday, we partied. No pictures, just lots of great food and company! It was good to see some of the people I wouldn't get to see otherwise.
The day I dreaded all last week: Monday August 30, 2010


This is the girl that makes me laugh, cries with me, loves me regardless, loves my daughter, is strong, sweet, etc etc etc.......
I love you sister, best wishes to you and your sweet hubby! I miss you already and I can't hardly wait 39 days until you're back for a short visit.
xoxo

parties

We got together a few days before Aniston's Birthday to celebrate with Aunt Shelbi. Shelbi brought Aniston a cake with butterflies on it(it was delish!) and a cute Birthday shirt. This year, the candles have scared Aniston?!




We had to squeeze in one more party for Aniston so that family and friends in St. George could celebrate too. We had a party for her Saturday night. She seemed overwhelmed with all the commotion and with all the Birthday stuff(3 parties was to much!), but she was excited to hang out in the swimming pool with friends and family! Everyone was so good to her and she was so excited about everything she was given. I love how easy she is to please and that she likes everything! Thanks everyone and Miss Rae I love you so much and can't believe you're 3!!
Aniston and Rob
Birthday girl...I love my sweet girl and her darling smile!

The sweets...



Extras...
Ali and Aniston at the Washington County parade Saturday morning.
Cute girls! Aunt Jocelyn is in the St. George City royalty, so we went and watched her perform with the other girls Saturday afternoon.

5 years

my 5 favorite moments of the last 5 years...
01: Our wedding day. Everything was perfect. Chris looked extremely handsome, and I was and still am totally and completely in love with him!
02: Our 1st anniversary. Chris got us tickets to some of the X Games events and we went to the beach too!
03: The night we found out we were going to have a baby. I will never forget the way Chris reacted to my reaction, poor kid!
04: The day Aniston was born. Chris was so sweet and so good to both her and I.
05: There has been many of these moments, but they are some of my favorites: I love the time we have just the 2 of us, especially when we can just chat about nothing and anything!
love you handsome
xoxo