We Went to the Mountain

The mountain is such a pretty place this time of year! We decided to take a quick trip up with Mand while Daddy was on a motorcycle ride with Grandpa.

We went on walks.

We smelled the "Caco Shells" as Mandy called them.

We threw rocks into the pond.

Andlie pointed at something very important across the lake. (Me & Mandy never figured out what it was. Unless she was very interested in meeting the strangers across the lake.)

We played with sticks in the water, but we were very careful not to get mud on our hands. (That freaks Andlie out. She hates dirty hands. Dorito orange fuzz, milk, juice, mud - doesn't matter. It needs to come off immediately.)

And we smiled for a picture with mud on our clothes, shoes, and faces!

What a fun trip! Yay for living so close to something so beautiful and peaceful! (Minus Mandy smacking her legs and arms every ten seconds due to her thinking there were bugs on her.)

Look What I Did!

Step 1: Outgrow the bow holder you made before your daughter was born.

Step 2: Cut wood to the correct size.

Step 3: Put wood together in the shape of a frame.

Step 4: Paint!

Step 5: Get chicken wire from your farm and staple to the back of the frame. (Maybe it wasn't my farm, but thanks to the Benson fam!)

Step 6: Trim the excess wire.

Step 7: Add picture hanger mounter things.

Step 8: Sand the edges so it looks cute.

Step 9: Transfer bows!

Step 10: Take cheesy pic with finished project!

Thanks to Bryan for performing steps 2-3 & 5-7. I'm so happy with how it turned out! I love it! Bryan says he's surprised it wasn't in our bed with us last night. I might have stared at it for a good while and bragged about how great of a job we did last night.

Someone Got a Pool

And she loved it before we even went outside.

Andlie was so excited!

And she LOVED every second. She was going crazy jumping into the pool and plopping down and spinning around on her bum and "eating" the water and sliding off the chair and giggling.

This pool was a good purchase. Worth every one of the 700 pennies. And we love summer.

"Smile!"

This is what Andlie does when you ask her to smile.

She's so cute.

Allen Sibling Night

We played Settlers of Cattan. Fun game. I messed it all up when we were done. I couldn't help it.

Tony's organized mind didn't like that.

Yay for game night!

Us girls are the most mature of everyone.

What a fun night! Horray for all of the Allen sibs being together!

Paul & Jenny Got Married!

Congratulations, Paul & Jenny! We love you both!

Smartest Baby in the World

Have you ever wondered who is the smartest baby in the world?

Words Andlie Can Say
Dada
Mama (She's only said this a few times. Most of the time, when we ask her to say Mama, she says, "Dada!" Rebel.)
Santa (Tata)
HoHoHo
Dog (Da)
Woe
Elmo (Momo)
Cookie
Cracker (Cracka)
Rocka Rocka (She says this when she's in her rocking chair.)
Happy
Hi
Eyes
Cinderella (Sada-ella)
Where did it go? (Da da a go?) (She puts her arms in the air in an "I don't know" manner and shrugs her shoulders and gets a very concerned look on her face.)
Work (Wok)
Jump (Bump)
Grandpa (Papa)
Go
Yep
Poop (Pop)
Ball
Thank You (Ta Too)
Uh Oh (Oh Oh)
Milk (Ilk)
Juice (Ju)
Okay (Ka Kay)
Yucky (Ucky)
Stinky (Inky)
Tire (Tar)
Book (Ook)
Two (Doo)
Cheese (Teez)
Shoes (Tooz)
Eyes
Teeth (Teef)
Anything else we tell her to say. She's pretty good a repeating what we say.

Body Parts That Andlie Knows
Hair
Eyes (She usually just looks at us and squints in a "it kinda hurts to touch them" manner when we ask where her eyes are.)
Ears
Nose
Teeth
Hands
Toes
Tummy (She pats her tummy with both hands when we ask where it is.)
Belly Button
Bum
Tongue (She sticks her tongue out like "Kiss" and giggles when we ask where the tongue is.)

Sounds That Andlie Knows
Bunny: Bounce, Bounce, Bounce (Ba, ba, ba) (She also hops up and down when we ask her what the bunny says.)
Lammy: Baaaa
Kitty: Meow (Bow)
Doggie: Woof (Oof)
Chicken: Cluck, Cluck, Cluck (Cuk, Cuk, Cuk)
Tractor: Brrrrrrrr
Bug: Bzzzzzzz
Elephant: Bbbbbbb
Monkey: Ee, Oo, Ee (E, E, E)
Fishie: Open & Close Mouth
Bear/Lion/Dinosaur: Roar (GRRROO) (This one gets very loud and intense sometimes.)

Well, now you know. Andlie is the smartest baby in the world.

Sisters

Mand got some more pics back and I love this one.

So thankful she's my sister. I love her.

Mother's Day

"Let every mother realize that she has no greater blessing than the children which have come to her as a gift from the Almighty; that she has no greater mission than to rear them in light and truth, and understanding and love; that she will have no greater happiness than to see them grow into young men and women who respect principles of virtue, who walk free from the stain of immorality and from the shame of delinquency. . . . I remind mothers everywhere of the sanctity of your calling. No other can adequately take your place. No responsibility is greater, no obligation more binding than that you rear in love and peace and integrity those whom you have brought into the world."

– President Gordon B. Hinckley

I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year, but I slacked in the camera department [gasp] so no pictures. I got spoiled! Bryan gave me a picture of Jesus that I've wanted for forever, a gift certificate for a half hour massage, and the book, "The Beautiful Soul of a Woman!" My favorite gifts though, were the cards from both Andlie & Bryan. What sweet messages.

Being a Mommy is one of the most fun and happy and wonderful things in the entire world! I love being Andlie's Momma. I love that she points at the computer until I put her on my lap while I work. I love watching her learn. I love teaching her things. I love being home with her all day. I love that she puts her little foot on the porch step to lock the door just because I do it. I love her kisses. I love her expressions. I still love her button nose. I love her teeth. I love that she is the smartest girl that walked the Earth. I love her personality. I love every single teeny tiny thing about her and being her Mommy. Sometimes, when I put her to bed, I sing her this song that I made up. (Sung to "Love is Spoken Here.")

I love your little toesies,

And your little nosie too!

I think you're oh, so pretty,

And I love every inch of you!

I'm very, very thankful

That you have come to Earth.

And I am grateful

You were sent to us!

Mom - Thank you for the wonderful example you set of sacrifice and love! You truly are an angel to many. You always put others first, especially your family. You are my hero. I love you and I hope that when I grow up, I'm just like you.

Venice - I couldn't ask for a better Mother-In-Law! Your genuine kindness and love is apparent in everything you do. Thank you for treating me as your own daughter. I love you.

I love being a Mommy. And I love Andlie.

Brian Regan is Hilarious

We went on a date to Tuacahn for a hot date last Friday! We ate pizza and salad. We went and saw Brian Regan live. And then we laughed. For two hours straight.

We were even excited in the car when we pulled up!

We put our "excited faces" on!

Here is a taste of how funny he really is.


Here we are during intermission. Notice how we look a little weak. It's from laughing and wiping makeup off and clearing our throats and slapping our knees. And flat out cackeling.

We had such a great time. We love Brian Regan. We're definitely going again next time he's close. Horray for laughter! And hot dates with hot husbands.