Wigglers

This is Sabrina with two of my friend Amy Hibbert's kids, Sammy and Conner. These three had a good time together. I am glad they are friends. The older one, Conner, especially had fun trying to make Sabrina laugh.

I took four shots of this picture, and this was the best I came up with. Sure am glad I don't photograph children for a living!

Burger Bar

Darren and I occasionally watch a show on the Food Network called Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. We were excited when Guy Fieri highlighted a burger place in Utah, Roy to be exact. Roy is about an hour north of where we live in Orem, so I didn't think we would ever make it up there, at least not anytime soon. But then one of my best friends, Amy Hibbert, moved to Layton. Sabrina and I went to visit her and her family overnight last weekend, and when I found out that Roy was only five minutes away, I knew we had to go to the Burger Bar for lunch. And boy am I glad we did. They have awesome hamburgers, onion rings, and the best strawberry shake I have ever had.

Here is Amy and me. We've been posing for pictures for 12 years now, since our days as dorm mates at Stover Hall in Helaman Halls at BYU!!

Baby in the 'Hood

I just love Sabrina in a hoodie!

Playing Pretend

Here is Sabrina in my car with my friend Amy Hibbert's son, Sammy.

Sabrina helping Amy push her baby, Mikey. This is one of Sabrina's favorite things to do these days. She usually just pushes her own empty stroller!

Ut Oh!

Ut oh! has become one of Sabrina's favorite phrases.

Learning to be a Lady

Isn't that funny how early a little girl knows she is female?! She is a little sponge, copying me all the time.

Check out those leopard print pajama pants! I don't own anything leopard print. I guess I am a little timid when it comes to my fashion statements.

Sabrina also loves her boomering link "necklace." For the last little while, she has put this on as soon as she gets up and keeps it on most of the morning! What a cute little lady!

31st Birthday

Even though I am now in my "early thirties" I am so grateful to be alive to see another birthday. I am grateful for my age, because it means 31 years of having wonderful experiences, eating glorious food, making new friends, and creating and strengthening family relationships.

My mother in law Elaine made my birthday cake. My request is always her carrot cake, the BEST that I have EVER tasted. Honestly, I don't even order carrot cake at restaurants or even at bakeries anymore! My in-laws birthday gift to their children and daughters-in-law each year is a special request birthday dinner. I requested steak, potatoes, salad, sauteed mushrooms, and the amazing cake. YUM!

Making a wish!

My birthday was on a Sunday this year, so my sweet friend Jan Taylor decorated our door and left a sweet card. She also took me out to dinner on Tuesday at Las Tarascas, a popular Mexican restaurant in Provo, and invited several of my friends from church to join us. We had a great time. Darren took me to Pizzeria 712 in Orem the day after my birthday for a four course dinner and I got to meet local celebrity chef Kelsey Nixon (fan favorite from the most recent Next Food Network Star) who was sitting at the table right next to ours! She and her husband live in Provo.

I have two friends that I went to Chili's with for dinner earlier this week to celebrate our 31st birthdays. It was our 2nd annual birthday dinner. When we found out last year (when we were all still in the same ward) that we were each celebrating our 30th birthdays within 3 weeks of each other, we knew we had to do something special to celebrate, so we went out to dinner at Red Lobster. (It is crazy how much we have in common. Cara, Michelle, and I are all the oldest children, we each have one child so far, we married guys 3 years younger than us, and we both got married and had a baby around the same time. In other words, we are late bloomers loving life.) My friend Amy and her husband took me to lunch at the Burger Bar. And finally, my friends Raya and Esther are taking me out to breakfast on Monday. So it has turned into a birthday month! I have a wonderful family and friends.

Holy Guacamole!

Sabrina's newest thing is eating the condiment/sauce, not the food. She used the chip only to spoon guacamole into her mouth. She just eats ketchup and not the fries, tartar sauce and not the fish sticks, barbecue sauce and not the pork chops...you get the picture!

Twinners

This picture was taken on a Sunday two weeks ago, which also happened to be my birthday.

Wish I Was a Little Bit Taller

Sabrina loves to stand on things so she can reach the off limits stuff.

Up to Something

Sabrina is at that age where she doesn't slow down or stop unless she is sleeping. And she gets into everything! This picture of her pointing to herself makes me think she is thinking, "Who me? Couldn't be!" The only other culprit would be our cat Mickey, but he has mellowed out as he has gotten older and is pretty good most of the time.

To be One

Even though Sabrina was being a little "naughty" I couldn't help myself--I had to take these pictures. It was another lovely Thursday morning at playgroup, inside Erin May's warm and spacious home. Sabrina was much more interested in playing the piano than in playing with the other kids. Every time I would pick her up and set her down on the ground, I would go back to sitting on the couch and in no time she was back on that bench making her music. I just love the pure joy and happiness on her face. Not a worry in her pretty little head. I hope she can stay this pure and innocent for a long, long time. I joke that until she turns 8, she is on celestial warranty. She has truly been an angel of joy for Darren and I in her almost 16 months of life. Such a short time but what a difference it has made in our lives.

Finally someone suggested that I move the bench or put the cover over the keys. Now why didn't I think of that?

Fifteen Months Old!

I love Sabrina in her jammies.

Lunch: Bread with Nutella + Applesauce=the proof is in the picture

Daddy thought that since Sabrina won't eat the bread with her sandwich filling, he would spice up the filling: NUTELLA! I have to admit, I think it is the first time she actually finished the sandwich, bread included.

COOKIE!

The next Fisher Price model? I think she'll just keep her day job...posing for Mama's blog!