Audrey's Lip Buzz

I have always buzzed my lips to get Audrey's attention or to calm her down.  Singers use it all the time as a warm up exercise so I guess that's why I started doing it the first place.  It calms me down when I'm getting ready to perform because it evens out my air flow.  I was surprised when I heard Audrey do it for the first time at around 8 months because I know some adults who can't even do it. I think it's the funniest when she does it and she's mad.  She expects me to take her seriously but I just end up laughing because it's so funny.    

Grandma and Grandpa

These are my Dads parents, and my Mom. We had a family get together and I got to see them one last time before I left.  We lived a street away practically all my life and I never really took full advantage of that time I had to be close.  Now I will miss those moments.  Spending time with them always helps me focus on what is truly important.  Theirs is the fairy tale I hope someday to have.  Grandpa had a stroke a little while back and lost his words.  I know he has a lot he would like to say but he can't always say it in the way he would like.  Now I hang onto every word he speaks and treasure them because his stroke made me realize exactly how mortal we are.
A few nights before we left we walked by his house on Audrey's nightly walk just as he was coming out of the backyard.  We stopped for a minute and exchanged a few words and as we left Audrey waved goodbye.  I think it might have been a coincident because she's only done it an handful of times but Grandpa gave her a big smile and waved back.   
Audrey Lyle is named after my Grandma Lyle.  I told Grandma once that I was thinking about naming one of my daughters after her and she told me to let the name die.  I thought it would be a beautiful middle name for Audrey and I hope someday that it will remind her what it means to be a righteous daughter of our Heavenly Father.  I had to get a picture of the two of them together before I left but Audrey would cry every time I gave her to Grandma.  So we got a four generation picture while we had the chance.  Aren't we cute?

 Here are a few extra pictures for your viewing pleasure.
My gorgeous little sisters

 My older gorgeous sister and her boyfriend

 My Dad and Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Kent

 Audrey and me, and Audrey eating me...this happens on a regular basis.

Audrey's cousin L

 Audrey getting to know her Great Grandpa

 I couldn't leave this one out...Tam.  What can I say more.  I'm jealous of your beauty!

I love you all and miss your guts!

Audrey Woah!

We were on the way home today and Audrey was in the back seat saying Woah! Woah! Woah!  We tried to get on video when we got home and this is what we got.  Enjoy.  Yes, she is wearing the same shirt as the last video…call me a bad mom!

Nine Months and a New High Chair

House confusion, people confusion, bed confusion, climate confusion... Audrey's life has been turned upside down and ours has followed.  When we arrived here in Texas our plans fell through.  We expected people to be begging us to take their apartments.  We were wrong.  Paul and I have never actually looked for availability during the summer months.  Apparently it's their busiest time...quite different from where we come from. There was only one apartment complex fairly close to Paul's work that had a "few" availabilities.  We lucked out but the apartment wasn't going to be available until Friday.
We planned to stay in a hotel....but a couple in our last ward here offered to take us in. We have adopted them as Audrey's Texas grandparents.  It's means so much to me to have them when I'm so far away from family.  Thank you Merian and Mike.  We love you!  We finally emptied all the boxes today and I'm starting to feel like I'm at home.  We are so happy with this apartment.
Today we bought Audrey a much needed high chair.  She screamed for joy and so did I because there will be no more little fingers attacking my food...now I can share from a distance!
Kimberly this video and picture is for you.  Thank you for being patient.  For the next week I may be blogging backwards because I skipped so many things but I couldn't resist sharing this.

1st Family Reunion

Meet my family.  I seriously lucked out when I met Paul, I couldn't have better in-laws.  They are pretty awesome.  Last week we all spent a few days together in a cabin up the canyon.  I tried to capture all of the best moments but I wasn't super successful.  The highlights....James making us breakfast every morning, talking and playing games that don't require a lot of brain function,watching Jane and Audrey play together, Mom conversations with Jenny, watching part of Galaxy Quest, and taking lots of pictures.  And I won't forget watching Paul hangout with his brothers, being surprised every time Karl was able to fall asleep in the next random place, playing foos ball (is that how you spell it) with Grant and accidentally breaking one of the little mans legs off.  I felt bad about breaking one of the foos ball dudes, but was secretly proud of this new found strength.  

Audrey got to meet her Texas cousins for the first time.  I think they really liked each other and I have a feeling that they are going to be pretty good friends considering how close we will be living.  I'm glad Jane and Audrey are so close in age so that we can have princess tea parties, and sleep overs.

My Happy Place

St. George is my happy place. I was just there a couple of weeks ago and I'm already missing lazy mornings with waffles, good conversation, ice cream, swimming with my nieces,  photo shoots, hair cuts, planting flowers...or rather watching my sister plant flowers, shopping, Super Mario, movies, and the Sun. 

Michelle shared a few of her photography tips and a few of her kids.  I miss them!  

Tess doing Popcorn Popping with her Mom.

 Audrey's first dip in the pool.  She will be doing a lot more of this when we move.  I hope she gets used to it.  She wasn't sure about the vast amount of water.  Nothing like the small amount of water in our tub at home. 

 Loving my new sunglasses!  St. George Ross...yes please!  Next destination on the map, Colorado.

Family Sundays

Isn't she beautiful?  I love this little girl!  A couple of weeks ago my sister came into town with her kids.  They were very nice to let me practice on them.  My first couple shots in Manual!  

This is Audrey's 7 Month old shot.  There were others but my computer is being difficult so this is the only one I was able to post.  She's always making this face lately...especially when she's trying to hide a smile

I won't fool you.  My sister took the rest of these photos.  She is amazing with a camera.

You may or may not remember my post about Audrey's baby blessing when I posted a picture of these three.  Here they are several months later.  I love it when we can get all three of them together.  It's so fun to watch how excited they get when they see each other.  

A Sunday with the family.  I don't have very many of these left before I move away so I'm trying to absorb these moments.