All Caught Up

So, I haven't done any blogging in a while. I'm now up to date on what has been happening. Of course, with each new day, there are new pictures and events occurring, so I am only caught up for the moment. I am going to try to do better to post things as they happen. Since I have done so many posts in the last few days, there are new posts on the front page and more on the next page. All but 2 of the posts on the second page are new. I just thought I would mention that so you can see all the things we have been up to!!

Fun at the Stapley's

Kris' cousin, Braun Stapley, just got home from serving a mission in Sweden. We went to Flagstaff to listen to him report about his mission. What a strong and faithful young man he is. We sure miss being in Flagstaff and spending time with the Stapleys. They are wonderful people who we love. Below is a picture of Braun and Kris.


Kaylee was having so much fun at their house. She was into everything and wouldn't let us sit still. I'm not sure who was more worn out at the end of the day... us or Kaylee! She wasn't too sure of the teeter totter at first but then thought it was kind of fun.
In this picture, Kaylee is holding a "flower", better known as a weed, but she was smelling it. It was pretty cute. Her goose egg is pretty noticeable in some of these pictures. It happened that morning before we left for Flagstaff.
Kaylee loves animals even though we don't have any. Taylor is holding her up next to the horse. It is their grandma's horse. Kaylee had to check it out first... ... And then she decided that it would be okay to touch it.

Then, she decided it would be okay to sit on the horse. I'm surprised we were able to get the picture, because she didn't sit on it for very long. We even got her to sit on the horse a second time and wear Braun's cowboy hat. It's a pretty cute picture in my opinion!!
Neither one lasted very long though. Off came the hat and then Kaylee wanted down, too. I think she might have sat longer if someone else got on and held her and even walked the horse a little. This was her first experience with a horse, but probably won't be her last. She just loves animals. She can bark like a dog and moo like a cow. It's pretty cute.
We miss Flagstaff and the friends and family that we have there. It was good to go to our old ward and visit. We do like Payson but it has taken us a little bit to settle in and make friends. We like being close to my family and getting to spend time with them. We've been going to St. Johns quite a bit, too, to help on the remodel of Kris' parents' house and just to visit. Kaylee loves both sets of grandparents and know just how to get her way with each of them. She's a smart little girl!

Kaylee's Goose Egg

We were hurrying one Sunday morning to get things together to head to Flagstaff to a missionary "homecoming" talk. I left the pantry door open, which I never do, and Kaylee helped herself to whatever she could get ahold of. Unfortunately, she grabbed onto the step ladder and pulled it onto herself. Kris said she was sitting on the floor and was bent over with the step ladder on top of her. So, we're not sure if the step ladder hit her head or if she hit her head on the floor. Either way, it had to hurt. Then, when we were in Flagstaff at Lee and Julie Stapley's (Kris' aunt and uncles house), we were letting her go down some stairs by herself. She scooted to the edge of the top step and then stood up. She went to sit down on the next step and her rear end hit the top step... so she went head first down to the bottom of the stairs. Fortunately, it was only about 2 more steps. However, it was wooden steps outside followed by concrete. It is hard to tell from these pictures, but she got another goose egg by her hair line and a scratch below her nose. Poor girl!! She sure had a rough day! I took these pictures the day after it happened.

Kaylee and Hats

Kaylee loves wearing hats because she knows that it usually means that she can go outside. Kris had just finished helping someone from the ward move and Kaylee wanted his hat.


Then, about a week later, Kris got up and was working in the yard. Kaylee had just gotten up but wanted Kris' hat. She put it on and headed for the door. She didn't care that she was in her pajamas still. She wanted to go outside. She would live outside if we let her!!


I think this picture is my favorite. She has such animated expressions and is so much fun!

Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall

We went to Green Valley Park in Payson to see the Vietnam Memorial Wall. It is a replica of the one in Washington, DC. Of course, it is not full size, but it is still huge. I went to DC before my freshman year of high school. They were having a ceremony honoring those who fought and died for our country. We walked over to the park and planned on going back later when there weren't so many people there. However, as most Saturdays go, we got busy and didn't have a chance to go back. They also had a 9-11 memorial, which was new. I tried to take pictures in sections so you could tell just how big it is. I missed some sections and still took at least 5 pictures. It is a pretty neat thing to see. It makes you realize just how many people have fought and died for our country. This is just one war, too. I know I am grateful for those who have sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy all the freedoms that we have.

Kaylee was pushing her stroller around and let go and walked around. She sat down on the grass but then wanted help up. She can do it by herself, but for some reason, she doesn't like the way that the grass feels. She will sometimes try to hold her hands and feet up so they don't touch the grass at all. It's quite comical.

I ended up sitting on the grass with her and touched it and pulled some out. If you look closely, in her hand she is holding a few blades of grass. That is a big deal for her... since like I said before, she just doesn't like the way the grass feels.

During the little ceremony, Amazing Grace was being played on the bagpipes, and these 3 planes flew over. They flew really close to the ground. We had just turned the camera off so we didn't get as good as picture as we could have but oh well. It was a cool thing to see.

Where's Kaylee?

Kaylee went in her room one day and took the shelves out of this little cupboard and then climbed inside. She is such a busy girl! We love her to pieces though.

Kaylee's 1st Birthday

Kaylee turned 1 on May 24th. I just can't believe how fast it goes. It seems like we just brought her home from the hospital and the house was being packed and moved to Payson. She is so much fun!! Of course, now that she is one, everyone keeps saying, "Time for another one!" We'll just have to see about that. It seems like she is still just my baby but at other times I look at her and know that she's not a baby anymore.

Kaylee has loved swings from the day she was born. She used to sleep in it at night. When we were at my sister's house, she really liked their swing so we decided to get her one for her birthday. When we were at the store buying it, she sat in the swing in the back of the cart. I know we got a few funny looks, but oh well! She wanted to sit in it. When she saw it at her birthday, she went over and climbed in and didn't want out.

We moved into the living room to open presents and she still wanted to sit in her swing. She even opened a few presents while sitting in her swing. Kris was video taping Kaylee opening her presents so I guess I need to get some pictures from my mom.

Well, my first attempt at a birthday cake wasn't the best. I read the pan directions and it said only to put cake in the pan... no nuts or raisins... it didn't say anything about the little sprinkles, so I figured it would be fine. I pulled the cake out when it was done and flipped it over... the whole middle was raw!! So, my mom and I cut out the middle and filled it with pudding. It actually turned out to be tasty that way too.

I decorated the cake. I was trying to hurry since all our family was there. I am somewhat of a perfectionist and didn't get the desired look, but it was the first time I have really decorated a cake. I guess I'll get better with practice and not being so rushed next time.

We waited a little too long to give Kaylee her cake. By the time she was done opening presents, she was pretty tired. She dug in, but not as much as we thought she was going to.

She took the candle off the cake and used it to dig in.

Then Grandpa gave her a spoon. That's not how it was supposed to happen though so I took it away. She needed to use her fingers.

She wasn't sure what to do with it once she got it all over her hands though.

But soon figured out that it was yummy!!

She was trying to enjoy it and not fall asleep.

Later, we went to my parent's house and had a party for my niece Lauren. Kaylee wanted to help Lauren open her presents and be in on all the fun.

Kaylee had to try out Lauren's presents. (That's her with the white hat on.)

Since Kaylee practically fell asleep eating her cake at home, we decided to let her have another go at it. She still wasn't as interested as we thought she was going to be. She is a junk food kid though. We try not to give her too much of it, but who doesn't love sweets.

Well, it was a fun day. Kaylee didn't know what was going on, but I think she enjoyed all of the attention. I still can't believe that she is one though!

Lauren then had her cat birthday cake. Her birthday was on May 29th and she turned 3!

After Graduation and Promotion

After Promotion was over, we went to my parents house to hang out and take some pictures. Kaylee just had to get in the picture with Katelyn and Shauna.

My sisters and me- Brandalyn, Shauna, Brittany, Katelyn, and Adrianna

Sisters

Sisters- We were trying to get my niece, Lauren, who is 3 to take a picture. We are all looking different ways, but it's cute anyways,

The Family- (Back Row) Dad, Mom, Mike, Kris, Adrianna

(Front Row) Tori, Lauren, Brandalyn, Shauna, Brittany, Kaylee, Katelyn

Tori is my parent's foreign exchange student from Germany. She was here from August until June 24th. We will miss her.

Katelyn's 8th Grade Promotion

My youngest sister, Katelyn, had 8th Grade Promotion on May 23rd. I can't believe she is going to be in high school next year and the only kid left at home. She hopes to take over the role of "the favorite aunt" since everyone else will be off to school or living somewhere else. We'll just see. She loves sports and boys. Mom and Dad are in for some real adventures.

Katelyn