Birthdays

My birthday all began with dinner in Sparks with my peeps. I know that it is highly uncharacteristic of me to not take a picture, but alas, I managed to leave Genghis Grill without a single photo. Fortunately, before I left I took a picture because I got my hair did. I know, that is also uncharacteristic of me, but Brian so kindly got me an appointment with his sister-in-law to get highlights and a cut. She is fantastic! Anyway, these pre-dinner photos will have to be proof that I did, in fact, have a birthday dinner in Sparks. It was delicious!
Doesn't my hair look fabulous? And isn't it funny how you are allowed to brag about your appearance when someone else is responsible for it? If I did my own hair, it would be totally inappropriate for me to ask that question. Okay, so as usual I digress.
On my actual birthday we flew in to Vegas and we were only delayed about an hour. That is a miracle considering the fact that there was a major wind and snow storm the entire day. As I was teaching and listening to the wind whistle outside the window, I had flashbacks of my childhood and began to remember why I had always hated having a November birthday. I suddenly remembered missed parties, cancelled plans, and snow obstructions to my good times. This might explain a lot about the way that I am...
Wendy flew Danny out for my party and boy was I surprised!!! It took me completely off guard and was so thoughtful of them both.
Man I miss my friends. I wish that you could all just pick up and move to Reno and be in my ward!

Brian braved the crowds and accompanied me to my party. There were a lot of people there... a lot! He managed to meet some important peeps to me. It means so much... All my friends in Vegas were extraordinarily influential on me and my re-activity in the church and the birth/life of my child. I really wanted them to meet the love of my life and vice versa... so thanks!
Delicious cream cheese costco cake that I ate for the rest of the week! All the food was extraordinary compliments to my old personal chef!
Xiana was thrilled to see her friends too! It was pretty much mass chaos... just like I like it!
And then the after party.... :)

Ode to 30

Oh 30, how I embrace thee,
For I know the joys that 30's can bring,
No longer an age where you are cast aside,
But rather a time for a roller coaster ride.
Some find you daunting and severe,
I welcome your presence and do not fear.
Alive and alert, vibrant and young,
You're not even close to 41!
So farewell to my twenties,
An age of the past,
Hello to my thirties,
How I hope you will last.
No limit to the excitement we'll share,
My enthusiasm cannot be compared.

No doubt there'll be heartaches,
Though I wish it not so,
But with struggles comes strength,
So I'm certain I'll grow.

For the next 10 years, you'll be by my side,
Rooting me on when disappointments reside.
I'm grateful to you and the time that you give,
Because one thing is for certain......
It sure beats the alternative!

Temple

Tonight for family home evening my parents and Brian and I took Xiana to the temple. While en route my dad asked Xiana who's house the temple was. Without hesitation she responded, "Jesus." She is so remarkable. She understands and recognizes so much. It was heart-warming!

Really tired

Yesterday on our way home from church it had gotten really quiet in the backseat. I turned around to find this:
That's beef jerky in her mouth if you couldn't tell. :)

Fall is here!

Xiana has officially been initiated into the world of fall. She raked the leaves...
Threw the leaves....
jumped in the leaves...
And fell down in the leaves.
Later she discovered that it sometimes rains leaves.
She had so much fun playing and is really starting to get her colors down thanks to the changing leaves!

Funny Xiana-isms

• One morning I asked Xiana if she wanted oatmeal, cereal, or eggs for breakfast. She promptly replied, "ice cream."
• Last Sunday I wore a belt (not for functionality, but for appearance) She said, "mommy what's that? You buckled?"
• Lately everything is "I do it myself" particularly getting in and out of her car seat which is somewhat frustrating, but she's gotta assert her independence right?
• One night while she was praying before bed: "thank you for soft hair." Where does she come up with these?!
• Because we went trick-or-treating for several days in a row, it was a real challenge to convince her that we couldn't just run out for candy every time it got dark. At dinner she was asking to go and I was again explaining that Halloween only happens once a year. My dad said, "yeah, that's the rules," and she yelled, "no grandpa, no rules!"
• My dad was teasing about something or other and said that Dr. Frey's recommendation was... to which she responded, "hey, you no doctor!"
• When Bobby was over for dinner I asked if she was pooping and she said, "no mommy, I just farting."
• She insists on telling everyone, very specifically, "you sit right here." She dictates all day long who sits where.
• Roughly 50 times one night she threw her fork behind the corner and said, "where fork go?" After retrieving it she said, "here it is, right here." She later hid herself behind the corner and asked, "where nana go?" She is getting to be quite the little hide-and-seeker, particularly since she can now count to 20.
• She loves Sesame Street and Elmo's world and often throughout the day can be heard singing, "la la la la la la la la Elmo's world." My mom says on the days she watches her, the first thing she says is "Elmo?"
  
• We went to Kacie's for dinner and when we got out of the car the street lights were on. She pointed up at them and said, "Kacie turn light on for me."
• She has been particularly tender with her babies lately making them beds, changing their diapers, hushing everyone around because "baby's sleeping." For some reason she really loves to use cloths and wipes as little blankets and pillows. She will carry her dolls from one room to the next making them beds everywhere she goes. She gives them showers and baths and reads them books and sings them songs. She is so gentle and kind and it is so wonderful to see because it reassures me that she is modeling my own tenderness towards her. I know that I'm not perfect and I lose my temper way too often, but I am grateful to see that she is becoming a sensitive and nurturing little girl.
• On the opposite spectrum, one day she threw her mouse in time out yelling, "time out mouse!" Kacie asked, "is that how mommy does it?" and she said, "yes." disclaimer: I'm positive that I have NEVER thrown her in time out :)
• One day I was watching So You Think You Can Dance while she played. Note-to-self: do not watch this or any show while Xiana is in the room. At first it was quite cute when she looked up as they were spinning in circles and said, "hey, I can do that too," as she spun around the room. Later it was not so cute when she said, "she's naked!" I told her that she was right and that girl should put some clothes on. Then I turned on Sesame Street. Modesty is tricky enough without parading dancers in front of her. She is extraordinarily sensitive to TV and movies anyway. I rarely (like once a month maybe) watch anything when she is in the room because she is so perceptive to what is taking place. I think it's because she's so social and she is personally invested in discovering the emotions of everyone around her. Months ago Garrett and I were watching a movie and she came in from playing outside with grandpa just as there was a shooting scene. She jumped on my lap crying, "mean! guys mean!" The other night I was telling my friend that very story while Xiana played with her daughter. Grey's Anatomy was on and as I was relating this incident, one of the characters flat lined and they tried to resuscitate her. Xiana again jumped on my lap and began crying saying, "what happened girl? why crying?" So we turned it off. She is a good influence on me:)
  
• At nursery today one of her friends was fighting with a boy over a toy and the boy was able to get the toy from her friend so Xiana went straight over to him and pulled his hair. Now, I am not condoning bad behavior, but she has to get some credit for sticking up for her friend and defending the underdog. There is something of me in that spirit. I remember as a child being outraged when injustices occured. My mom always tells a story of how my neighbor stole my big wheel so I dragged a baseball bat that was bigger than me down the street to recover it. Also, I remember giving one of my older brother's friends a bloody nose for making fun of my bro at his birthday party. Like Xiana, I noticed all the people around me, and I always wanted things to be fair. At a young age I had an acute awareness of the inequities in life. I vivdly remember seeing an old homeless man walking down the street with a shopping cart. I couldn't have been more than five, but I remember feeling such compassion for him. I wanted to rush out and scream at the world to stop and look and see that this man was suffering. I didn't understand why he was walking by himself when he was so old and frail. It's interesting to think about that now because as we get older we get so desensitized to those around us. I'm thankful that Xiana is able to help remind me to be compassionate, and sensitive, and aware.
  
• She plays with her kitchen and her dishes a lot since her birthday and is constantly making food for everyone to eat and cooking things that come out "hot" so we have to blow on them. Make believe cooking is alive and well in her. The other day she emerged from grandma and grandpa's room with a bowl full of leaves from their plant. She got a spoon and mixed it explaining to us that she was "making mine salad." She later cooked her salad and dispersed it onto separate plates for everyone.
• When we were shopping with my shopaholic friend Kacie I told her that she was rubbing off on me as I was spending a fortune. "Usually I'm so good," I said, "but lately I've been a sucker." Xiana quickly stated, "I a sucker too mommy."
  

Disney on Ice

If you ever have the opportunity to go to Disney on Ice, take it! It is a spectacular show with amazing stages, props, costumes, and skating. It is incredibly interactive and fun for literally all ages. Here is Aladdin and Abu when he is an elephant.
The magic carpet which genuinely flew around the ice rink.
The three fairies from Sleeping Beauty
The underwater world from The Little Mermaid
Ursula.... there were actually two different Ursulas. The first was much smaller. Her second entrance is way scarier and more dramatic.
The seven dwarfs were adorable and perfect!
The resolution of the first 4 fairy tales
Beauty and the Beast--Belle came to the library and read for story time. My mom took Xiana while I was a school and it was a zoo. My mom got separated from Xiana and watched as she climbed onto a woman's lap. She was a complete stranger, but Xiana just made herself at home. It was a good thing too because it was a while before my mom could get back to her. Xiana is certainly not shy. The poor woman probably thought she was abandoned :)
Xiana screamed and clapped and yelled for Mickey and Minnie... she definitely knew who they were.
The Tolmans--this was Kate's idea and I'm so glad she included us in it because it was wonderful!
Xiana got (had) to dress up as a princess. She talked about it all day. When I put on her pants and shirt in the morning she threw a fit insisting that she wear a "princess dress." It took some persuasion to convince her that we would put it on before we went to the show.
The girls looked so cute and had such a fabulous time.
The evil stepmother and stepsisters
The mice from Cinderella. For some reason Cinderella was the featured act. The entire second half of the production was solely Cinderella. This got me thinking about whether that was because it was a fan favorite or if it was the easiest to stage or what. I feel like kids like Ariel and Belle the best these days, but I don't know. I know this was the first time Xiana had seen Cinderella and today when I put a pull up on her with princesses she pointed at it and said, "Cinderella." And she was right. We sure do start these little sponges young.


The grand finale had the best costumes of all with every couple adorned in their intricate ball gowns. It was breathtaking. It made me want to grow up to be a princess.
After the show the kids danced around for a while. It was darling. I'm pretty sure we were the very last people to leave Lawler and it was way past bedtime, but they were having too much fun to break up.
Kate asked Charlie if he was going to marry Xiana and he said yes... so it's settled.
They really do love each other. He is so kind to always look out for her and make sure that she's taken care of. She asks for Charlie every day.

MO's Shower

So my good friend Morre is having a baby and I was talking with Nixie on the phone regarding the planning, location, etc for her shower. I said, "why not have it at my parent's house?" This without first okaying it with my parents. But they're good sports and they agreed. So... all I had to do was clean the house. Stacie and Nixie came in like a whirlwind of blue decorating, cooking, and setting up the place. It was really a fun shower. There is such a difference between a nonmember shower verses member showers (and I'm not just talking about the coffee that they had to go on a run for because we *gasp* don't have a coffee maker). When non member's throw showers they go all out. Babies are not a regular, everyday occurrence. Instead, this is a once in a lifetime (and I do mean once) opportunity. Most of the people in attendance are only children and most, likewise, only plan on having one baby. This is a stark contrast to the herds of kids Mormons intend to have, and do have on a regular basis. As a result, I think Mormon moms sometimes get the short end of the stick where showers are concerned. Disclaimer--this is a generalization and in no way meant to step on any toes of Mormon baby shower planners... I know there are great ones out there! At any rate, the party went off without a hitch and Morre was blessed with ALL kinds of crazy contraptions and gifts. Additionally it was WONDERFUL to see my old friend whom I "haven't seen since Vietnam." Nixie brought all kinds of pictures from the past and we laughed until we cried as we rehashed old war stories and watched as our daughters played with each other. I miss her. She is such a huge part of me. We were best friends and roommates for 7 very formative years. Sometimes it's hard to grow up and move away from all of our old friends, but I am thankful to live in a world where travel is still relatively easy and I get to see my peeps from time to time. Xiana fit right in with her blue shirt!
There was something of a cake fiasco at the very last minute so this nothing bundt cake was a party saver. Plus, it was scrumptious!
Morre is such a stylish little mommy-to-be and honored her little boy by wearing blue.
All grown up..... sort of :)
Meka and Xiana had a blast playing together. The line of the night was this: Nixie: "Meka, stop jumping around the baby. You're a tree and she's a plant!" Gotta love Nixie! Mind you, there is only one year age difference between the two!