More Fun at Nonna's

Makeover

The blog needed a fresh look... although there are still some small kinks to be worked out. Like how for some reason the sidebar text/links WONT change color! Driving me nuts. Hope you don't hate the change... let me know if you do.

Playing Outside!

First, I found this piece of a toy and thought it was neat.

But then I saw something that really sparked my interest...

Swings!!

Weeeeee!

But then I started slipping out the front.

So I called for Daddy to come and swing with me!

Then he tried to teach me how to use the monkey bars... but I noticed some really interesting metal toys up there.

So much to see in the backyard. This has been a fun day, until...

Dad flips me upside down for no reason!! (this picture breaks my heart! She was so scared!)

But I still love him the most!

But wait... I also love the cherry scented ball! (Weirdest thing. Don't you love her little trail!)

I'm getting tired... is someone going to pick me up now??

Where's my family?

Oh, there you are! My goofy parents! (this was attempt ONE at getting a family picture)

And number TWO. Oh well...

(sorry, that was a super long post about pretty much nothing :)

Funny Faces of Layla

"GRRRRRRRRRR!! I attack people for their cameras!"

"Uh, hi. I'm Layla Steveson. hee hee hee ::snort, snort::" 

"Uh, Mom... you kinda look like a nerd wearing those glasses."

This is the Magic Baby! All you have to do, is kiss her cheek and BAM she'll transform into your favorite iconic entertainer!

"Hey pretty momma" (Layla as Elvis)

Crazy Animal

Layla is turning into a monster, getting herself into trouble all day long! I love her cheesy grin here, so chubilicious! 

Her hair is SO straight! This is the BEFORE hair....

("I don't wanna get my hair done.")

.... and the AFTER! I love spiking those little wispies. I can't wait till it's long enough for a pony tail!

Such a pretty girl

Fruit Pizza

Last week I made two fruit pizzas for our Relief Society picnic. One for the ladies and one to stay home. I think they turned out quite nicely! The first one is prettier, I think.

As a kid, I would always ask for fruit pizza instead of Birthday Cake for my birthday. The tradition still stands.

I Survived!

Even though this little blog isn't as impressive as my friend Michelle's and how she just finished a half marathon, I feel like I accomplished something similar! I just babysat a family of 5 super active kids plus Layla for 5 days!! And we survived! This family is in our stake and has known Tanner's family for a long time. I was a bit apprehensive when they asked me to watch their kids for a week, while they went out of state, but I ended up accepting the challenge. It seriously was one of the craziest weeks of my life!

Here are a few highlights: 

(I really wish I had pictures!)

• I get back from playing at the park with the girls and find the kitchen covered in raspberry jam. Globs of jam were dripping down counters, covering the floor, splashed through the refrigerator, and all over the kitchen rug. Their 10 yr. old son was frantically mopping it up with every dish towel he could find! 
• I arrived at their home the first day at 7:30am. Planning on getting everyone ready for school and out the door on time. I am greeted at the door, first thing, by their 8yr. old saying, "Gum. It's everywhere!" What do you mean, gum? She lifts her shirt and shows me her arms, which are all covered in messy, sticky gum. "oh yeah," she says, "It's in my sheets too."
• The kids weren't too pick with meals, which made things a bit easier. Cereal was a common breakfast, but don't ask any of the kids to open any container by themselves... it's a dangerous thing. We were out of milk, so I went out to the fridge and brought in a new jug. This plastic carton had a foil cover that needed to be removed before you could pour any out. Their 8yr. old proudly exclaims, "Oh, let me!" (Okay, no big deal. I'll let her open it and feel like she's helping out) Next thing I know, she's got a HUGE knife in hand, stabbing the top as if trying to murder the thing! 
  
• I've learned that if you don't have any drums handy to go with your drumsticks, walls work quite nicely. But you must pound loudly! This game is especially nice if there is a baby sleeping somewhere nearby.
• Their 5 yr. old was great at remembering to wipe all the remains of butter from the butter knife onto the the counter. I don't know how many stains my shirts accquired from the counters over there.
• Shoes, I've learned are optional in all outdoor activities. And should NEVER be worn while playing in dirt or mud. 

Really though, these kids were really sweet and kind. They all did their best to help out with Layla and be good for Tanner and I. They had us cracking up many times and Layla absolutely adored the girls. It was a great learning experience. I hold a lot of respect and admiration for their parents. Now I know that I could manage if we added a few more kids into the mix. This has also really made me appreciate where I'm at right now and what I'm doing with my life. I love my little family right now though and I want to savor every moment that we have together as "us".

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

First off I have to say that Layla has the greatest Dad in the entire world. He is always helping me out and never EVER complaining. He loves to do anything and everything with her. He's a pro at changing diapers, cleaning up spit up, giving baths, and singing lullabys. I love how he can make Layla laugh so hard and isn't afraid to go to great lengths to do so. Her favorite spot is on his shoulders and loves wrestling on the floor (has him in headlocks all the time). She is so lucky to have someone who loves her so unconditionally. She will always be his Pumpkin Muffin.

(an old pic... but a fav. of Tanner's)

Big Girl

My baby is quickly growing into such a big girl! I can't believe that I have witnessed her change and develop as much as she has. I really don't have a teeny tiny baby anymore, she's a big, chubby, cuddly cute girl! I love her so much. She definitely adds some fun spice to my life!

Toothy

Bad picture, but here is her pretty tooth and her new one slowly coming down.

Cheese!

Cute

Climbing the stairs

Such a serious look on her face.

Ruston Way

I put my sunglasses on and turned around... Layla didn't recognize me at first.

Cute toes, with a little fuzz.

My loves on the dock

Tanner's face! Layla loved watching the seagulls fly around and splash in the water. I seriously think she was trying to imitate their squaking. 

Steveson Update

Well, it's been about two months since we left Rexburg. Washington has been nice... well not really the weather, but the company! Our friends Tiffany and Jason and their baby Gunner were up here for a while. We had a lot of fun with them, getting all of our friends together again. We've had a handful of sunny days, but the overcast/cloudy/wet weather has taken over once again. Tanner and I have been able to go out on a few dates since being here too! We went and saw Iron Man on Memorial Day and LOVED it. I thought it was pretty predictable, yet very entertaining. 

Tanner has a new job now with a new company. Today is actually his first day, so hopefully he's liking it. I love him so much and am so proud of everything he's doing. I've got the hardest working, sweetest, funniest husband ever! He'll come home and have Layla and I cracking up within minutes. 

Layla is growing so quickly! She's decided that crawling is not her thing and that walking is in! Well she doesn't walk on her own yet, but she wants help walking everywhere! I think that her little hands are permanently attached to mine as she directs me where she wants to go. She actually took a few steps on her own yesterday from one plastic bin to another. Such a proud parent moment. Here are some of her other accomplishments:

• Waves to people when she enters and exits a room and occasionally says, "Buh buh".
• She flips through books and lifts flaps on her own babbling to the pictures. She especially loves books with babies in them.
• She still loves to roll her fists when she gets excited.
• Says: Dada, Momma, buh buh, with an occasional "ah dun" (all done), "beh beh" (baby), and sometimes even "up up" when she's tired of being on the floor.
• Loves looking in the mirror and dancing to entertain herself. 
• Eats more solid foods and is getting better with feeding herself. She'll actually take the spoon and guide it to her mouth. You just never know how much food she's actually eating. What a messy girl!
• She now has her two bottom and top teeth. Except the the top right one still hasn't moved down enough to truly see it yet. So for the moment, she is quite the snaggle tooth.

Well that's all I can think of at the moment... I hope everyone is happy and healthy and getting better weather than WA!