Abby is 1!!

Happy Birthday!! Today Abby turned 1 year old! I can't believe how fast this past year has flown by! She is such a fun, lively, outgoing baby! She dances, sings, loves chasing her big brother and watching Elmo. She walked early and her motor skills are so ahead of her age. It just amazes Isaac and I. Benjamin just adores her and they love playing together and making each other laugh. I love listening to her jabber away and how excited she gets when her Da da gets home! She is such a joy to have in our home and I just love having a little girl!

We celebrated on Saturday so most of the family could be there. It was a lot of fun. Here are the highlights.

First we had lunch. Yumm! The "theme" was Valentines with a little bit of Elmo. Abby's favorite!

Smile with your Cake Abby!

"I want my cake!"

Benjamin helped her to blow out her candle

"What? I can grab it??"

"Really?!"

"o.k. if you say so"

Mmmmmm

"I like how it squishes between my fingers..."

One more bite

"Oh no my hands are dirty! Help!"

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to....

The kids got to decorate cup cakes afterward

Benjamin couldn't believe we let him decorate his own cupcake!

But eating it was the best part!

Sporting the 1 year birthday hat

Time for presents, "what's in here?"

She got a lot of great clothes for summer and a few toys but this stroller has a little story. When Mom helped her to open it, Benjamin of course was close by and when he saw it he was so excited and let out a big "YES!" He loves strollers and his broke several months back. His reaction was so funny, But when everyone quickly said "no, this is for Abby." He quickly became very embarrassed and ran over to hide in his daddy's lap. The picture is below.

She also got this super cute tutoo that Kate made!

And she's off!

With Mom. I just love this little girl!

Lots of family joined us for the celebration. Here is cousin Aaron

2nd cousins Shay and Caydence

Cousin Marilyn. She was a little shy but we were thrilled that she came.

Uncle Allan and Aunt Lexi came. But baby cousin Lindy stayed with a sitter. Still to little for big crowds.

Grandma Rosa and Grampa Gary came too!

Aunt Arlen, Uncle Fred, and Whitney came too!

Of course, Nena, Tito, & Rosi were there. And other family was there too, but I didn't get pictures of everyone. Thanks to everyone who came. It was so fun celebrating her first Birthday with you all!

A picture with her big brother. She adores him!

Such a pretty girl!

Ready for this party to be over!

Too soon for a Cell phone?

Abby loves jabbering away on the cell phone. Thought I'd give you all a glimpse.

My little Dancers

Today the kids were in a dancing mood, which is not uncommon around here. But today I decided to video it. So on Sesame Street.org there is this great game where you can "create a dance" with Zoe. So Benjamin created the dance and then danced it with her. It was so funny. There are 6 different dance styles you will notice... First African, then Asian, then Ballet, then hip hop, then "silly", then some kind of jazz? Any way, Benjamin totally came up with his own dance moves. It's great!





Then after that, the kids danced to Salsa (big surprise) Abby starts out singing along. The song starts out with "oo ah, oo ah" If you listen she is totally singing along with the "Ah" part. Then she dances, but not for long. Then Benjamin takes the spotlight (big surprise). Enjoy!

A New Addition!

Yep, I'm an Aunt! Well, I first became an Aunt when my Step-sister had kids back when I was a teenager. Then when I married Isaac I inherited 24 nieces & nephews! But I am especially excited about this little one for two reasons. 1. This time I am fisically realated and 2. She and Abby are 11 months apart. We hope they will be the best of Friends!

Lindy Faith Ambrose was born on Jan. 18th at 4:06 pm, wieghing 7 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long! Mom and Baby are doing great and little Lindy was able to come home yesterday. So Mom and Dad are thrilled. I am so proud of Lexi and Allan, I know they will be great parents. Lindy is so cute! And I can't wait for my kids to meet her, when they finally get over their colds. ;) Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

(So a little side note... the reason it took me so long to post this, is because I was waiting to get some pictures from my brother, but I never got them, so I decided to just do it with what I had, and what I stole off of their facebook pages. ;) )

The kids had to wait in the lobby

Awe man! I want to meet my cuz!

Doesn't my brother make the cutest dad! I had to steal this pic!

Proud mama!

So cute!

I love her name! So fitting.

Hollywood Connection

On Christmas my Step-sister told us about this great place in West Valley called Hollywood Connection! And the best day to go is Monday's because it is way cheaper on Mondays. And Isaac had the Monday after New Years off, so we went! It is wonderful if you have younger kids! Benjamin had so much fun! For an all day wrist band you get to go on all the rides (kiddie rides), play miniature golf, and go roller skating! Because it is in West Valley we invited my Dad and Step-mom to join us. They really enjoyed the grand kids and Isaac and I were able to have a little fun too while they watched the kids. Anyway, I highly recommend this place, especially on Mondays! Oh, and the best part is.... It's all indoors! Great for winter! We had so much fun and can't wait to go again.

The Carousel

This is Abby letting out her excited squeal!

The Bus ride (Left Mom and Dad a little nauseous)

Hot air balloon ride (left mom and dad even more nauseous, but the kids loved it!)

Isaac and I loved the bumper cars! (or bumper tires, not sure what these are called, but is was fun and Benjamin cracked up every time Isaac and I crashed each other)

My Step-Mom holding Abby

And this was Benjamin's favorite ride, the Dragon roller coaster! Isaac took the picture through the glass that is why it is a little fuzzy

Benjamin's first time roller skating!

Afterward, Allan, Fred & their wives joined us and my dad treated us all the Dinner at Chile's because we weren't able to get together for Christmas with him. It was a lot of fun!

Snow Days!

Well over New Year's we finally got some good snow! And we took the kids sledding for the first time. These first pictures are from a couple of days before New Years and the last one's are from New Year's Day. It was so much fun. It has been years since I have been sledding but having kids means we get to be kids again. We had so much fun!

Abby enjoyed her first time out in the snow

Benjamin trying to smile but kept looking down because it was snowing. And yes we forgot his hat and gloves, so he is using Isaac's BYU benie and Abby's pink gloves. :P

Isaac got quite a workout hauling Benjamin up the hill. Benjamin, however, loved it because he got to ride downhill and up!

Mother and Daughter

She was tuckered out after today!


Then on Jan. 1st we went sledding in Spanish Fork with Benjamin & Abby's cousins.

Benjamin trying to hold on to Abby for a picture. I love how buried she is in her coat!

After going down with Benjamin, Dad went down with both of them. After this we put Benjamin first and Abby behind him and she giggled the whole way down because she could see her brother in front of her.

Towards the end, we got brave and let Benjamin's cousins Aaron & Diego go down with him. The 3 of them loved it.

One Happy Little Family

(FYI, that was the only little patch where there was no snow. It looks terrible, but there really was a ton of snow that day)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! Isaac and I are both very excited for 2010 and feel it is going to be a great year! We are very enthusiastic and hopeful. New Year's eve we went to another dance put on by our ward. The D.J. was not very good this time. But we still had fun and Benjamin loved it again. No video this time. We accidentally left our video camera at my mom's house. Anyway. We had a good time and Abby slept in her car seat in a side room in the church the entire time, so we really enjoyed ourselves and surprisingly, Benjamin stayed up to ring in the new year! So to start off the new year right, I have New Year's Resolutions. I have never done them in the past, because I always felt like a failure when I didn't do them. But this year I am determined to accomplish them. And to make it a little easier on myself. I only have 2.

1. Daily Scripture Study (I've been slacking and really want to get back into my old missionary habit of doing it daily)

2. Lose 20 lbs by June (I have already lost 15 since having Abby, but 20 more would put me right were I want to be)

2009 was wonderful and memorable, but we are ready for 2010!

Us at the Dance


Benjamin loved the party!