Eliza 13 month update

Happy 13 months Eliza!!!

Let's just say that Eliza wasn't as excited to get her picture taken usual. This photo shoot was a bit tough.
Eliza is really coming into her own. It is so much fun to see her personality grow and develop. She is such an easy going and very fun baby.

At 13 months Eliza is...
1. walking everywhere. She loves to toddle about and explore her environment. The other night she toddled out front door that was open while Eric was doing the laundry. We didn't realize she had wondered off until a neighbor knocked at our door to let us know. I guess she was standing out side of it crying. Poor kid. Now we have to be really aware when we open any door that she doesn't escape.
2. loves honey wheat pretzels and likes one in each hand. These are a new favorite of hers. She also likes anything that is a little bit salty.
3. will laugh at Gretta's jokes all of the time.
4. has a smile for everyone.
5. is just like a puppy dog. She follows me around and will come hold on to my legs when she wants to be picked up. Sometimes she follows me around the kitchen holding on to my legs until I pick her up.
6. loves to cuddle!!! I love that Eliza loves to cuddle. She is so snugly. It really makes a mother feel loved.
7. loves to tell you the whole story. I just wish I could understand her. She is going to be a talker too. What would you expect from my kids.
8. is about 24 pounds.
9. still has 8 teeth. Four on the top and four on the bottom. However, I think she is trying to get a few more. She loves anything cold in her mouth.
10. loves to "sing" along with the music and clap when ever anyone gives a good performance.
We love you Eliza!!! It is so much fun to see you and Gretta play together. She really loves you and is a good big sister.
Love,
Mom & Dad

Really? You are going to make me do this again?

Dad save me!!! Eric came home from work and saved the day. Eliza was happy once again even if she was upside down.

Gretta's Caterpillar

This is our new pet..."Caterpillar". Gretta isn't very good at giving things names, she usually just calls it what it is. So his name is Caterpiller. We got him at our PCC Parent Ed class for $1.50. He is a very good pet. He can eat, sleep and poop in his container. So he pretty much a very low-maintenance kind of pet. The perfect kind for a 3 year old. Gretta has loved showing everyone her caterpillar and even wanted to take him to preschool. He even got to sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's while we were out of town.

Here he is enjoying his home.

Here is caterpillar in his cocoon.

This is the lovely home Gretta help me make for him to open up into.
It worked great. The only problem is that we forgot to get a picture of the butterfly before it flew away. Oh well, next year.

Miss Henery really did a great job with the kids and teaching them all about what was going to happen. On multipule weeks they did different art projects all related to their caterpillar's.
Here are some of Gretta.

Her paper caterpillar

Her butterfly

Gretta really enjoyed the whole process.

Happy Birthday!!!

I had a great 32nd Birthday!!! I had to work which should have made it a bad day, but Hilary and Kay really spoiled me at work. They surprised me and decorated my desk in our work room. They also brought me a great chocolate cake. I am really so lucky to have such a great job and such wonderful people to work with. Hilary has been come such a dear friend. The funny thing about that is that her daughter, Heather, graduated from LaCanada High School with Eric.

Me with Hilary

Then I left work an hour early and Linda was kind enough to meet me at City of Hope with the girls. We drove down to Disneyland. They gave me a pin that said,"Happy Birthday" and tons of strangers wished me "Happy Birthday." That was fun. Plus Eric made reservations at Blue Bayou. I have always wanted to eat there. It was a memorial birthday. It is also so much fun to go to Disneyland.

Gretta watching the Pixar Parade in California Adventure.

The whole family

Eliza the movie star! She loves sun glasses.

Without using the flash it was kind of hard to get a good picture at dinner. Then when we went outside the camera crashed.
It was a great birthday! Thank you to everyone for your birthday cards, and wishes.

BYU here we come!!!

Welcome to the Wasatch!! This past weekend, Gretchen and I headed back up to Provo to scout out our living accommodations for the next two years. We have been deliberating back and forth between renting or owning. The crazy thing is that if we were to purchase a modest home (ball park $200k), our monthly payment would still be less than the highway robbery the mobsters charge us for our South Pas abode. Do we live in the Twilight Zone or what? So we went all over Provo and Orem and saw several houses, our favorite of which is below (they said they'd throw in the outhouse for only an extra $10k - what a steal).

We also got to go meet Eliza and Gretta's 2nd cousin, David Allan Fors, son of Jerry and Breanne while we were up there. He's a charmer and definitely has a good set of lungs!! We look forward to having play dates with David, Gretta and Eliza. I hope David likes hugs!!

We'll see you all in Provo this coming August 2009. And a SPECIAL thanks to Mom, Dad, Allison and Rod for babysitting our girls so we could head to Provo. We couldn't have done it without you. Gracias!!

Jerry and David

What do you think???

Fors Family Sunday Dinner

Here are some random pictures we have taken over the last few months at the Fors' house for Sunday dinner.
Uncle Raymond blowing out his birthday candles April 4, 2009 with Rodrigo in the picture too.

Issac Nef with Eliza at Dennis' Birthday Celebration on May 2, 2009

Eliza with Stephanie Fors Nef

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year. Eric helped Gretta make me breakfast in bed and then he gave me the Dr. Laura book, "In Praise of Stay at Home Moms". Gretta also made me some nice presents at preschool. Her card was the cutest. I love that she thinks I am 3 1/2 and that my favorite thing to do is play with her. I do love to play with her. She is such a good daughter. I am so grateful for both of my beautiful children, and so thankful that Heavenly Father sent them to me. They both have wonderful, fun personalities, and a joy to me.
We had a nice dinner with the Fors' in the evening. Linda, Gretta, Eliza and I all got matching aprons. It was a fun day.

Eliza's foot prints age 1

Gretta's hand prints
age 3

Eliza's hand print age 1

The magnet that Gretta made at preschool for me.

Her beautiful Mother's Day card

Chuck E Cheese with Aunt Allison and Uncle Rod

After Sunday dinner one week Gretta told me that, "Aunt Allison is going to take me to Chuck E Cheese tomorrow if I am good." I then called Allison to see if she was right. She actually had told Gretta she would take her to Chuck E Cheese, but not tomorrow. So Allison and Rod offered to babysit both Gretta and Eliza for the night and take them to Chuck E Cheese. Eliza had a little accident and cut her lip, so the night was cut a little short. Gretta was very sad we showed up at Chuck E Cheese. She wanted to have the whole night with Allie and Rod by herself! Oh well. It was still a fun night. Thanks so much Allison and Rod!!!