My Birthday

I had an awesome birthday with lots of calls, texts, emails, blog posts and facebook comments! Thank you to all of my friends, family, and wonderful husband and daughter for making it such a special day.

I have the sweetest husband! He came home from work with Hibatchi Chicken and my FAVORITE cake! (Publix chocolate and vanilla cake with whipped icing)
Tyler and Annagrace sang Happy Birthday to me.

I had to work the night before, so while I was asleep Grandmother took Annagrace here . . .

Disney on Ice!! Annagrace had a blast!

Michael Scott Birthday?

Highlighs from Annagrace's birthday along with her own office moment.



Annagrace 2nd Birthday from Tyler Welch on Vimeo.

Sometimes . . .

Being a secretary does have its perks!Yesterday was "Administrative Assistant Day." When I walked into work last night these were sitting on the desk for me!

How sweet!

Thanks Reese

These socks were in her birthday present from Reese, Kim, and Todd. She saw them and had to put them on immediately! She didn't take them off until the next day when I pried them off of her feet to take a bath!

2nd Birthday Photoshoot

To view the photos larger - Double click on the slideshow and go to the Web Album.

Cupcake

Our little Cupcake enjoyed her 2nd birthday in her new bounce house, stick the candle on the cupcake,
and a pinata!!

We followed up with cupcakes and presents. We had a lot of fun with our friends and family and I know Annagrace thoroughly enjoyed it. The bounce house turned out to be a HUGE hit and well worth the money. We hadn't planned on buying it, we had only thought about renting one. But, we found we could buy one for the price of renting it twice. So, it became her big birthday present.

Cheese

For her actual BirthDAY we went to Chuck-E-Cheese. And it was Annagrace's first time EVER!

When we walked in she looked over and saw all of the characters on stage and just started screaming, jazz hands excited screaming! We played lots of fun games and I was really impressed with the cleanliness of the building and the price. I remember as a kid not being able to do some of the games because they took too many tokens, I had to budget them out to play more stuff. Now every thing only takes ONE token!! Her favorite game/ride was the hydraulic monster truck. She is very serious in this photo - she was driving!

Too cute!

And today, she finally discovered that she likes cake! I had to convince her that the icing was chocolate like the chocolate kisses. She took one lick and her face lit up - she ate her WHOLE piece of cake.

Birthday Morning!

We woke her up by singing Happy Birthday. She rolled over and just smiled her biggest smile.She ran to the living room to find all of her presents spread out. She was so excited she didn't know what to play with first.In the box were her new skates. She has been trying to use her Little People Bus and SUV as skates so we figured it was time for some real ones.

wow . . . 2

I can't believe my baby is already two years old. I guess she's not really a baby anymore. She sleeps in a big girl bed, refuses to ride in a stroller or shopping cart, has full conversations with me, sings rock songs word for word, and ALWAYS makes sure she gives me a hug and kiss before I leave for work. She is my little girl - curly haired, blue eyed, hair bow wearing, purse toting, baby doll loving, organized little me! And to top it off - she is all SOUTHERN!!

She is also the sweetest most outgoing child I have ever seen. She never meets a stranger and is sure to put a smile on their face before they pass her by.

She is amazing and I love every little thing about this tiny little person. I have loved every minute of every stage of her life and can't wait to see the child, teenager, and woman she becomes.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Easter

We had a fun Easter Day. The Easter Bunny brought a great basket with Play-Dough, M&Ms, Books, and her new favorite - Bolt. We celebrated with my family at the park with a potluck lunch and an Easter Egg hunt. Annagrace really got into the Easter Hunt this year.

Showing off her loot.Googly eyed over her chocolate bunny from Grandmother.

Egg Coloring Fun

I love that she is old enough to get so involved. She loved dropping them into the dye, coloring on them, and especially the reveal - when they were pulled out of the dye. She did a lot of OOOOOHH faces.

Ward Easter Dinner

Our Ward had a different Easter celebration this year. We did a spiritual dinner, a "Reflection Dinner." Four Apostles reflected on their memories of the events that surrounded the Resurrection. They were followed by a musical number I Believe in Christ performed by four CSU music students.

Story Time - Easter Style

We went to Hamilton on Wednesday for another fun story time. We danced.
We found Easter Eggs (2 - there were big kids there that took them all!).
We decorated foam Easter Bunnies.
And had some cake with a friend, Abby Ricker.

Playdate Easter Egg Hunt

Yesterday, we all gathered at our normal play date playground to hunt Easter Eggs! The kids had a blast and so did the parents! Annagrace found a basket full of eggs but at one point I heard her crying. I turned around and she was running to me. "Caden stole my eggs!" I don't know what happened. She probably just stood there and let him take them out of her basket, one-by-one, assuming he was going to put them back. When he didn't, she got upset. I told her: "It's okay, we'll steal them back later."

A: "It's okay, I have some more."

They just keep coming . . .

out of her mouth:
Annagrace went to grab something from her bedroom the other night and came running back to me in the livingroom and said
A: Mommy, I scared.
C: Why?
A: I'm scared of the scratching in my room. There's a monster.
THANKS CAILOU! There was an episode about him being scared to sleep in his room at night. She didn't even know what a monster was or is. But, now she is scared to go into her room alone at night. NO MORE Cailou for us!

Last night she was trying to get my Mom's attention
A: Betty, Betty, BETTY
G: What's my name? (wanting and expecting her to say Grandmother)
A: Betty Todd
I don't know how she know my Mom's full name ????

Can you believe???

It's been eight years! Eight years since I stepped into my white gown. Eight years since I knelt down across from him. Eight years since we were joined for time and all eternity.
It's been eight years of better and worse, sickness and health, richer and POORER, love and anger, and it has all been a JOY!
I love Tyler more than ever and couldn't have asked for a better man, a better friend, a better husband . . . a better father!
Happy Anniversary! I love you!

I'm tickled pink!!

Look at what my amazing, extremely talented, strong, wonderful husband just finished.

Tyler has moved these granite tiles at least 12 times. This weekend was the LAST time! They look amazing and Tyler went above and beyond. He bevel cut each edge tile and sanded them smooth. I love it and can't wait to get cooking in this new kitchen. He also ripped up the old floor and laid new ceramic tile. But I do need help from all y'all in blog world. With these new surfaces I'm not loving the green walls. What color should I go with? Also, the cabinets are getting painted this week. Should I just do a deeper cream or be bold and go all the way with an ebony?? When I picked out the floor tiles I was thinking the counters had a lot more cream flakes in them, but from this picture they look really gray. But the sink, stove top, and microwave/vent are all cream. So . . . I need input!!

I love you Tyler! Thank you for all of your hard work!

Rounding Out March

We attended a friends wedding. Annagrace was a little too noisy at the ceremony and the wedding planner lady actually came up and asked us to take her out. I wasn't embarrassed, I was up set at the lady. Annagrace was not that loud and we were on the very last row in the church, I know the wedding couple could not hear her. Anyway, the reception was fun.

Annagrace danced the night away. At one point we tried to leave, she broke away from us and took off running back into the room, stepped foot on the dance floor and immediately started dancing. I guess she wasn't finished dancing yet. Grandmother took Annagrace to story time at the Hamilton Library. And I have to say, their story time is 100 times better than the one in Columbus. Last time they each cracked an egg, the lady cooked them and they all ate eggs and toast! This time they all painted. Her first painting EVER.
It was so cute, I will keep it forever!
She also had a chance to play with Triston and do yard work. My mom is determined to make her an outside girl. She didn't succeed with me, but I think it's working on Annagrace.Playing Hopscotch! She tries so hard to hop, hop, hop.
She is just growing up so fast! I call her my baby and have to correct myself, she's my little girl.

Some things she has been saying lately:

C: Alright it's time to go

A: No, I don't want to.

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C: Tomorrow we are going to church and you get to go to Nursery again!

A: No, not nursery. Mommy I cry in nursery.

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C: Annagrace look who's coming!

A: It's Baby Will and Angie! Aww, he's so cute!

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C: What are you having for breakfast?
A: Eggs and toast and butter. It's delicious!

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I hear this one almost everyday . . .

A: Mommy, Grandma Betty has a swimming pool and an ocean and a beach. I want to go to Grandma Betty's house. Com'on let's go!

C: Me TOO sweetie, me too! We will go in one month!

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She is starting to match things. Like, she will notice that her green shirt matches her green crayon, while Mommy's white shirt matches the white fireplace. She is starting to sing more and more. She used to just dance along or do the hand motions, but now she actually sings the words too. And she watched Nemo for the first time the other day and 10 min after the shark screen, she asked me "where did his Mommy go?" Seriously what other 23 month old realizes the Mommy is gone and actually worries about it? She just shocks me everyday!

I survived!!

I survived the layoffs at work. I'm so excited. I thought, being the last one hired, I would be the first one leaving. But, they based it off of job performance instead of seniority. They ended up letting 90, of our staff of 320, go. It's been a strange couple of days, a lot of guessing, worrying, and waiting. They still haven't told us everything and how everyone is going to be rearranged. All I know is that I am very blessed and excited to have MY job!