So busy...

We have been so busy lately with my sister Megan here, Jethro's family coming, and then me packing and getting ready to go to Portland. This is the first time that I have ever really had a busy, busy summer. I guess that's what happens when you have kids. Here are a few pictures to play catch up on what we've been doing.

Katya and Amy swimming on Friday. She loves the water.

After swimming on Saturday. She was so exhausted.

Nya teaching Katya how to drink from a cup.

Jack with Katya on Thursday. He was so good with her.

Lily loved to hold Katya and to play peek-a-boo.

We went bowling with all the kids after swimming. Katya
hadn't had a nap and didn't want to take one. She was snuggling
with everyone though.

Katya sleeping Sunday night. She was so tired from a busy weekend.

Katya again on Sunday night. She often does the funniest
things in her sleep and rolls all over the entire crib before morning.

Whatcha been doing?

It's been awhile since I've posted pics of Katya and such. My sister Megan has been here for the last couple of weeks and we have been busy going to the zoo, doing much needed yard work, and just hanging out and having fun. Katya has really enjoyed Megan sleeping in her room and has learned to wave at Aunt Megan with prompting. It's been great having Megan here and I'm going to miss her when she leaves tomorrow.

Here are some pics of the things we have been up too.

June 14th at Hogle Zoo with Megan

Finally, something that is too small for me. June 17th

Hogle Zoo on June 19th with Megan and Mom.

Stylin'. June 20th

At the park with Megan and Mom. June 20th

Zoo with Mom. June 14th

Yummy ice cream at the zoo. June 19th

I am so stinkin' cute. June 20th

Having lots of fun with Megan. June 20th

Daddy joined us for lunch at the park. June 20th

Jethro is a....

I'm a Ferrari 360 Modena!

You've got it all. Power, passion, precision, and style. You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental. Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

What kind of sports car am I?

I'm a Ford Mustang!

You're an American classic -- fast, strong, and bold. You're not snobby or pretentious, but you have what it takes to give anyone a run for their money.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

To the World's Best Husband and Father...

What more could I ask for in life-- I already have you.

Jethro is such an amazing husband and father and I just want to take this special day to tell him that. Jethro is so wonderful at taking care of me and doing whatever I ask, even if I do nag sometimes. He often does stuff before I ask which makes me so happy to know that he is so attentive and caring. He loves me unconditionally no matter how emotional or crazy I am being. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

October 2004

Jethro is also the best father. When we first had Katya, he could change her diapers better than I could, and still can. He has always wanted to be a father and has really embraced fatherhood. Jethro and Katya have such a special bond and I love to see her eyes light up and the big smile on her face when she sees Jethro. She loves spending time with her dad whether it's while playing on the Wii, reading stories, wrestling, or snuggling. I just love to see them together. It makes me so happy. Katya's first word was da-da so I know that she will definitely be a daddy's girl. I don't mind. I can't wait to see Jethro with our other kids in the future and the special bond that they will have with their dad.

April 2007

I love you Jethro and appreciate all that you do for Katya and I. You are the greatest and I really admire and respect you. I love you.

Happy Father's Day!

Here's to wishing all the dad's out there a Happy Father's Day, especially our dads, Ralph Hawks and Reuel Jones.

My dad, Ralph with Katya in May. Happy Father's Day, Dad.
I love you.


Jethro's dad, Reuel with Katya the day after she was born.
Happy Father's Day Reuel!

Goodnight Kisses: The Movie

The other day Staci posted about the kisses that Katya gives us after we pray. Today, we thought we would record it. So after Katya kissed us, Nya said she wanted to do it. She was a little more hesitant. It was still cute though. I would like to state for the record that school is finally out. Yesterday I checked out and this morning I went to meet with my department chair for next year at my new school! I am very excited, and I will post more on that later... Here's the video:

Goodnight Kisses

Katya loves getting a goodnight kiss, but it has to be done at a certain time in a certain way. Every night we say prayers with Katya before putting her in her crib. During that time Jethro always holds her. After we say Amen, Jethro and I always kiss. Katya has grown from not caring that we kiss to laughing with joy to now having to be in on it. As soon as we say Amen and lean in to kiss, she leans in to get a kiss too. She is so funny about it and always smiles after she gets her kiss and sometimes will even laugh. Well, last night she was really excited. Jethro finished praying and said Amen. Before we could even lean in to kiss Katya had already leaned way in so that her head was between ours. She totally "jumped the gun." She thought it was pretty funny though and laughed. I wish I would have been able to film it or something because it was hilarious and we were dying with laughter. What a little cutie!

Stawberries

I just love fresh fruit and vegetables and am very grateful that the house we live at has a huge, huge garden with lots of fruits and vegetables. Since it is still pretty early, most of the fruits and vegetables haven't come in, but the strawberries have. I picked the first batch yesterday and there was way more than I expected. I tried one to see if they were ripe before I picked a bunch, and lets just say that they melted in my mouth. I have never had a strawberry that was that good. I just wanted to eat every single one of them, except for the fact that I'd get a major stomach ache. When Jethro came home, he ate so many of them. Katya even had some for dinner and absolutely loved them. Can you just say yum!


This was all that was left this morning. I'll probably have to go out and pick more today. I am so excited for all the fresh fruit and vegetables that this garden will bring.

SPT (Self-Portrait Tuesday)

Ok, so I'm a little behind. I had every intention of doing last Tuesday's but was at my parents house and just didn't have the time to do it. Sad I know. I just thought that I'd catch up and do last weeks this week with today's. I really hate being behind and I really don't want to miss one since I just started.

This week's challenge is "the colors of my world". I thought this is such a fun and creative idea. I always liked blue from the time I was little, but now am discovering so many more colors that I like.

I never liked pink growing up because that was way too girly and I was definitely not girly, or so I thought. Now that I have a little girl, I love the color pink. There are so many cute shades and patterns that I fell in love with it. So much in love that I bought a pink Razr phone, which I can't get a new one of for 2 years. I must really like pink.

Just a few of my many, many pink items. I just love all the different shades!

Another color that I have grown to really like is red, but it has to be rich. I have seen quite a few read things lately that I absolutely love, including a way cute red and white outfit of Katya's. I was never a fan of it, but am really growing to like it and would like to do my kitchen in red accents.

Katya's red outfit and a red place mat for our table. I just love how
deep and rich the color is.

Another great color is a combination of two. Some people don't consider them colors, but I do. They are black and white. I love the combination and I think that they look great together. I am so drawn to them that the majority of my dressy clothes and black and white, including my summer ones. I just think that there is something so classic about it that lasts through time. This means that I can keep my wardrobe for a couple of years without feeling the need to update because I hate having to buy clothes so often.

My Easter dress. I just love the color combo.

Brown- pretty plain but I love it. It is one of those timeless colors that I really love. As I grow older and have kids, I like things that last and are versatile. I don't like having to change things often and can't afford to. I love the brown shade, khaki. I think it is one of the best colors. I especially love it in pants and shorts- a perfect color for the summer. I just found this really cute pair of shorts at Old Navy that I absolutely love. They were a little pricey, but I hate shopping for shorts because I can't find any that fit right so when I do find a pair that I really like and will definitely wear, I don't mind splurging a bit. I also have these amazing brown flip flops and a pair of brown capris that I just love. I can't get enough of brown.

My new brown shorts from Old Navy, so comfortable and lightweight.


My favorite capris and flip flops.

Just so you don't think that I don't like color at all, I am a fan of bright colors, just not in my clothing. I like things that I can easily spot and that attract attention. For this reason, I bought Katya's diaper bag and consequently has a stroller of the same color. (Megan, you'd be so proud of me for this color!)

Katya's diaper bag. Her stroller is the same color.

There are a million other colors that I am discovering my love for, but these will have to do for now.

Last week's was all about what's in your purse. Because Katya is still so little and needs a diaper bag, that is often my purse. Because it is, I just have my wallet so that I don't lose everything and my mind. I did buy a purse that I really like a couple months ago. On the rare occasion when I don't take Katya with me, I take the purse. I got it from TJMaxx for $10. It was worth it. Here is what is in my purse when I do happen to take it with me.

Trip to St. George

This past weekend we took a little trip to St. George to hang out with some friends. We went down Friday afternoon and came back on Sunday afternoon. We wish that we could have stayed for longer, but it was still a really nice trip. There were four kids total and Katya loved playing with the three other kids. We pretty much hung out and swam. It was really nice to just hang out and relax. We haven't had a chance to do that lately so it was great.

Katya and Jethro swimming. They are just so cute.

I can't believe how cute she is!

Katya playing with her friend Truman. They really like playing together.

The Rest of the Oklahoma Trip

The remainder of our trip in Oklahoma was great. Katya loved being around everyone. She loved all the attention. I think her favorite part of the trip was seeing Jethro when he surprised us by getting someone to cover his class and pick us up from the airport. She was just so excited to see him. She sure loved and missed her dad.

Total Cuteness!

She loves the zoo!

Being goofy

Katya loves it when Megan reads to her.