Great Grandma turns 80.

Dear kids,

You are very, very special.  You have a great relationship with your Great'Grandma Norton.  Her real name is Marilyn, but you probably don't even know that.  It sounds a lot like Karalynn, doesn't it? 

She lives with Grandma and Grampa so we're able to see her a lot.  Kariah,  you love to visit with her in her room, look at her dolls, and sometimes even have a tea party with Grandma's tupperware dishes and Great'Grandma's mini card table. 

Great'Grandma's favorite story to tell about Kariah:  One day while Kariah was visiting, she pointed to Great'Grandma's donut cushion and declared "When I get old, I want one of those!"

Great'Grandma is a pretty great person to have in our lives.  She's genuinely interested in our day to day going ons, she doubly understands the pressure of motherhood, as she had ten kids, don't you forget.  And she is a wonderful example of honesty and lack of pretense.  When I grow up, I hope I can tell it like it is, just like Great'Grandma.

I was absolutely honored that she asked me to take some birthday pictures for her.  I immediately thought of the Temple as a great location.  I remember that shortly after Grampa Norton passed away, Grandma was going to the Las Vegas Temple so frequently that people thought she worked there!  What an awesome example for us!

We love you Great'Grandma.  We truly do.

Karalynn turns 1.

Dear Kari,

As much as I tried to slow time, July 12th rolled around and you, my darling, turned 1.  Unfortunately, you are a my daughter which means you have at least a 50% chance of being sick on your birthday.  Just ask Marcus, he's running a high percentage so far, I think.

You had a fever and more importantly, a very grumpy demeanor.  You hauled out a smile or two during presents.  And for your cake we caught a glimpse of a grin.  But most of the time, you were pretty much miserable.  So I'm adding a few super-cute photos we had taken a few days before. 

You are completely obsessed with watermelon and believe that chewing is optional.  It's pretty much hysterical to see and now it's documented.  You love watermelon!!

And I love you.

Jonah had a Birthday!!

Dear Jo-Bear,

You turned nine.  You had an awesome Lego party.  You picked great guests, you played some super fun games and your Daddy made  you a yummy cake.  Really, does it get any better?



I'm so proud of you, my nine year old boy.  You are smart, funny, happy, and so much fun to be around.  What more could a mom want?  I love you!

The Party.

Is it time?! Is it time?!

Dear Riah~

Oh what a party for you! Really I should say, oh what a cake for you!! Your Daddy, who insists that all first birthday cakes must be chocolate, with chocolate icing, even though you are a girl and girls like pink not brown, but no. Chocolate. Luckily girls like chocolate too.

Girls like you REALLY REALLY like chocolate. You out-ate all of us with your 3, yes, 3 pieces of cake. The boys loved helping you blow out the candle, Nana and Frank were there, and even Grandma and Great-Grandma Norton.

You were showered with presents, stuffed animals which you absolutely adore, a Minnie Mouse in preparation for your first trip to Disneyland, and the absolutely cutest outfit from Auntie Noel, who was celebrating her birthday on a beach in CA. I foresee the two of you having many beach birthday moments together, once you are travelable.

Incidentally, during your celebration Mommy was doing tons of laundry, in preparation for our next-day trip to Disneyland. During the spin cycle we heard loud scary banging. I tried to play it off like nothing was wrong but it got worse and worse. The grandparents started teasing me mercilessly. Needless to say, when we got back from our trip I bought my first washing machine (that didn't come with the house). It was intimidating.

Thanks for turning one Kariah. It was a great party!