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Category Archives: Family & Friends

Aspen’s Birthday Party

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Friday was my sweet niece Aspen’s second birthday. Yesterday, she had a party at her house. My brother grilled burgers and dogs. They had their inflatable pool set up for all the kiddos to play in. Everyone had a great time.

The Birthday Girl

Trevor, Cameron and Jessica Playing in the Pool

Jessica and Trevor

I didn’t take very many pictures of adults, but I did get this great shot of the proud parents.

Proud Parents, Julia and Jason

Aspen was not sure about what she was supposed to do with the candle sitting atop her brownie. Julia and Jason tried to explain that you blow on it like it is hot.

"What am I supposed to do here?"

But alas, Aspen still just kinda looked at it weird. Jason ended up “helping” her blow it out.

"I still don't get it"

Dessert consisted of peanut butter chip brownies, homemade vanilla ice cream and an assortment of ice cream toppings. I think Jessica was more excited about the toppings she picked out (marshmallows, sprinkles and Oreos) than she was about the ice cream, but I thought it was delicious.

Jennifer and Jessica

Afterward, a number of the kiddos hopped back in the pool. I think Jessica spent more time in the pool than anyone. She really enjoyed herself.

Trevor Excited About a Big Ball

Aspen Lounging on the Side of the Pool

I think Jessica was a little confused about why Aspen’s bathtime doll was “peeing” in the pool.

Jessica Inspecting Aspen's Doll

Apparently, it is now uncouth to open gifts at the actual party. I find this sad, but I guess I will need to keep this in mind for Jessica’s party. So the party crowd had thinned to just family by the time Aspen started opening her gifts. We had a really hard time preventing Jessica from helping Aspen open her gifts. She really wanted to pull out tissue paper and tear wrapping paper.

Jessica Helping Aspen Open Presents

Cameron provided some ambiance music.

Cameron Beating a Drum

We got Aspen a portable/collapsible crib for her dolls, some doll clothes and a book. As much as she loves her dolls, I’m sure she she will enjoy putting her dolls in the crib for a nap.

Aspen Opening the Present From Us

Twirling and Counting

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This is a really cute little video of Jessica and her friend Millie at our neighborhood pool (yes, the kiddie pool does have a sunshade). They are twirling and then you can hear Jessica start counting 1, 2, 1, 2 and I think that might be Millie chiming in with 3.

21 Months Old

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It’s been about a week, but Jessica is now 21 months old. We’re getting closer to her 2nd birthday. I’ve already started on the birthday party plans. We’re going to do a Curious George theme, since she absolutely adores George.

What Jessica is Up To

Jessica is a busy little girl. She enjoys playing with her toys, but

Giving a Teddy Bear a Ride in Her Princess Carriage, 6/30/11

her favorite toys of all are her books. She is definitely her mother’s daughter in that regard.

Reading, 6/16/11

Reading, 6/17/11

Reading, 6/19/11

I put together her toddler bed about a week before she started sleeping in it. She started getting used to it by taking books and sitting on the bed to read.

Reading in Bed, 6/18/11

The biggest milestone of the month was the transition to a big girl bed. It started off a little rough as she would cry when I would first lay her down, but she wouldn’t get up out of bed. Now, she knows just what to do and will even tell you good night. And in the morning, when we go in to get her (we keep the door to her room closed when she’s sleeping), she’ll wave and say hi.

Napping in her Big Girl Bed, 6/21/11

We had our new washing machine and dryer delivered and she thinks it is so neat to watch it spin (having a drum light is so cool). I now have to keep the laundry door room closed, otherwise she wants to push the button and make it sing.

Watching the Washing Machine Spin, 7/11/11

Jessica loves the water. She will run to the back door when I put her swim suit on.

Playing with the Water Hose, 7/3/11

Playing in the Backyard Pool, 7/3/11

Her friend Millie has even come over to swim and they have great fun.

Millie Controlling the Water Hose, 7/14/11

Jessica Attempting to Pour Water on Millie's Head, 7/14/11

We started swim lessons with Aqua Tots and at first she wasn’t a big fan, but is doing great now. One thing I really like about Aqua Tots is the class size. They limit it to four kids and her class is actually only her and one other little boy.

What Jessica is Saying

Single Words: cheese, juice, up, out, mama, da, poopy, ball, wow, whoa, whee, uh-oh, hello, hi, bye, bye-bye, book, more, fish, George, birds, mouse, chips, blackberries, flower, bubbles, balloons, da-ddy, see, milk, shoes (which she uses for socks too), door, Elmo, sit, grapes, cookie (for cookies and Cookie Monster), baby, pease (please), tree, popcorn, sheep, train and I’m sure there’s a few more I’m forgetting

Counting: she will count 1, 2, 3, but she likes to go 1, 2, 1, 2…

Phrases: oh no, tank you, bless you

Animal Noises: gobble-gobble, meow, cock-a-doodle-do, caw, moo, quack

What Jessica is Eating

Jessica is still not the greatest eater, but here’s some cute photos of her eating. I think she will be right-handed, since she is very comfortable using the spoon with her right hand and doesn’t really use the spoon in her left hand.

Eating Pudding, 6/16/11

Eating Cherries, 6/20/11

Keller Crawfish Krawl

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Back in April, we traveled to Keller for my nephew Cameron’s 3rd birthday. I never got around to blogging about his birthday party or the trip the Keller Crawfish Krawl that evening, but here’s four scrappy layouts about the Keller Crawfish Krawl for your enjoyment.

Train Ride Layout 1

Train Ride Layout 2

Digikits Used: Chugga Choo Choo – Connie Prince

This next layout was made using the Scrapbookbytes.com July Sketch. I flipped the sketch.

Scrapbookbytes.com July Sketch Challenge

Ice Cream Treats Layout

Digikits Used: Backyard BBQ  – Connie Prince; Backyard BBQ Alpha Freebie – Designs by Shari; All Seasons Summer (ESS) – Starry Eyed Designs

The last layout was made using the Scrapbookbytes.com July Topsy Turvy Template. Basically, this means you have to use all the given components (in this case 6 circles, etc.), but you can move and resize plus add additional components. I’ve never done a challenge like this before, but it was a lot of fun.

Topsy Turvy Template Challenge

Turtle Layout

Digikits Used: Cherry Lemonade – Ali Sarah digiscraps (ribbon); Cherry Lemonade – Charm City Scraps (black button); Cherry Lemonade – Teri’s Thing-O-My-Jigs (rect. frame); March of the Animals – B2N2 Scraps (black paper); All Seasons-Summer (ESS) – Circle of Life (red paper); All Seasons-Summer (ESS) – Missy’s Bits (blue paper)

Don’t forget, you can click on the photos to view the layouts bigger.

And the great thing about digital scrapbooking? I can make one time, but print out twice so my sister can have a copy for her scrapbook.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day.

Patriotic Beauty

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Jessica had some portraits taken at JC Penney the Friday, July 2nd and I decided to go patriotic.

She started off the photo shoot being very serious.

P3

P7

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This next one is my favorite photo. To get her to smile, I blew on her belly.

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Since I ordered the CD, the photographer let me play around a little bit to add stuff to the CD even though I didn’t order any of them. I actually only ordered 1 8×10 and 4 5×7, with the 5x7s actually being free. But with the CD I can reorder wherever and whenever I want.

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