Halloween 2012

For Halloween this year, we decided to dress up as Islanders.  Thanks to Aunt Tori, Elise already had her costume and thanks to some friends of mine, I was able to put together mine and Tyson's costumes.  I love Halloween when it's on a cheap budget!!

Shockingly, the weather on Halloween was beautiful and clear.  I'm not sure I've ever gone trick-or-treating when it wasn't cold out, especially growing up in New York. But here in Utah, it was perfect outside. 

These are Clare's beautiful girls.  We all went trick-or-treating on Main Street with some other friends of mine.  Anna is a fairy and Misha is Snow White.

This is SO NOT a flattering picture of me on the right but I feel it represents one of my favorite aspects of Halloween: eating the chocolate!

Walker Family Photos

This summer, the Walker extended family had a photo shoot. There are a lot of people and a lot of grandkids, so it took quite a while.  By the time our photographer was able to take Elise's individual shots, her hair was messy, her clothes were dirty, and she was definitely tired and hungry . . . .

 . . . . as demonstrated in this "Grandkid picture":

But in spite of all of that, I think I like how these individual pictures turned out.  Elise's personality seems to be captured, and let's be honest, in every day life, Elise's hair and clothes are usually messy, and she is frequently tired and hungry.

Oh how I love this little girl.

Visiting "D"

This past summer, I was so lucky to get to visit my parents in New York.  Elise loved my parents and called both of them "D", as if they were a unit in one.  Both Elise and I were spoiled while we were there.  

Elise LOVED this rocker from the moment she saw it- it was her perfect size. 

I was also doubly lucky because I also got to then visit my sister, Debbie, in West Virginia.  Again Elise and I got so spoiled.  Debbie's children, Alex and Jospeh were so sweet and cute with Elise.  I loved watching the tenderness of these two boys with her.  Elise and I soaked up every minute of our trip back east. 

Joseph (8), Alex (12), Elise (1)

The dress Elise is wearing in these pictures was given to Elise by them- it is from Guatemala, where Debbie's husband, Otto, and his family grew up.  

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July with Tyson's family in Willard, Utah.  I LOVED every minute of this day- from going to Willard Bay to swim and hang out on the beach, to the candy drop from airplanes overhead, finally to the fireworks and festivities in the evening.

But, I think what hit me the most on this day was my gratitude for our country.  We have a lot of issues and problems in the USA, but it really is a privilege to live in the"land of the free".

A quote that was read over the speaker system just prior to the fireworks show in Willard stood out to me:
"It isn't the poet that gave us the right to free speech; it isn't the politician who gave us the right to vote; rather, it is the solider who gave us these freedoms, and the solider to whom we owe our thanks."

Thank you to all of you brave, sacrificing veterans! We owe you so much.

Elise with her cousin Emmett- playing in the dirt/sand.

My sister-in-law,Tori, and her roommate, Lindsay

Oh, and right after this family picture was taken of us, Elise's messy diaper leaked all over her . . . and me.  We BOTH needed to change our clothes.  Lovely.

Relaxing

I found Elise lounging on my bed in this pose . . . all on her own! I had to grab my camera and snap a shot before she moved.  

Yellow Stone National Park

We had the chance last month to visit Yellow Stone National Park and stay at a cabin with some cousins, (the Hills).  It was such a fun weekend trip for us and so generous of them to make space for us in their cabin.  Here are a few highlights:

Elise with Michael Hill-- he is 3 weeks YOUNGER than her.  Elise is almost 1 and is weighing in at 16 pounds.  

 Even though we went at the end of May, it was very cold in Montana- it actually snowed while we were up there.

We saw a TON of buffalo, a couple got within a few feet from our car.  I wish I had taken a picture when the buffalo were that close to us.  

We borrowed this backpack to use with Elise.  She loved it.  

Yeah--- it was pretty cold out.  

This is the steam rising from all the mud pots.  The cold weather really made the steam stand out.  

Elise's signature scoot!

Elise has developed her own signature scoot!  Here's a video clip of her in action.

Yesterday a woman saw Elise scooting, and told me that she was the same way as a baby.  She then added that because she never crawled, her peripheral vision never fully developed.  Sigh.  I hope that's not really true.  I've already been told multiple times that Elise's reading abilities might be hindered too.

Thankfully, my pediatrician laughed and said that all of those notions I've been hearing are old wives tales.  He explained to me that there are many ways for a child to develop and grow perfectly WITHOUT ever crawling.  

My other comfort is that my nephew never crawled and is a 4.0 student as well as a star athlete . . . let's hope that runs in the genes!

Another Video of Elise's Signature Scoot

Never a dull moment . . . .

Elise's Easter Dress from Grandma Walker.

Elise has decided it is a game to fling her body backward on the bed. Don't you love babies' laughs? 

 

Yeah . . . she's learned that it's not nearly as much fun when she's on the kitchen floor . . .  :0(

Getting Elise dressed, and doing her hair--- it's way cooler than any of my Barbie Dolls ever were.  

Another attack on my camera . . . .

Even getting a diaper change is exciting . . . when you have an opportunity to knock over a lamp!


And yes, Elise managed to do this when I was looking for the diaper cream recently.  While I searched for the cream, I kept one hand on Elise, not thinking I also needed to keep a hand on the lamp.  I have since learned better.

Taking Pictures

Getting Elise to look at, and even smile, for a picture is pretty easy. 

(I was experimenting with a different lens for this shot directly above. That is why the lighting and color are a little different in that picture . . . still debating if I like using that lens or not.) 

Getting her to stay away from the camera . . . now that is the real challenge!

Uh oh, she's coming for it!

Too late.  

I can't tell you how many times I've had to wipe tiny fingerprints off of my camera lense after one of our "photo shoots".  

Friends for Life

I've been given the opportunity to know amazing women, women whom I call my dear friends.   Two of these women are Angie and Clare; they are former BYU roommates and are still cherished blessings in my life.  They strengthen me in ways that only women can.  I only hope Elise grows up and is blessed with similar friends in her life.  The three of us were able to have a mini reunion last month.  It went by all too fast.  Here are some pictures of their visit.

Clare with her baby boy, Daniel and Angie with Elise

This was taken moments before Elise broke my only pair of sunglasses

Clare's 5 year old daughter, Meesha

Angie with Elise.  (Angie gave Elise the yellow dress she is wearing in these pictures.)

Clare with Daniel (5 months old)

Angie's son, Danny (7 years old)

Meesha

Meesha, Caleb, Danny, Anna

Angie's sons: Danny and Caleb

Anna (Clare's 3 year old)

Caleb, (Angie's 4 year old)