Happy 27th Birthday Kirk!

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That's code for Happy Birthday Daddy from Audrey!

Today Kirk turns 27. It's his golden birthday (and he rolls his eyes every time I tell someone that). I am so very grateful for my handsome husband. He is very patient, kind, and loving towards me and balances me out perfectly. He is a terrific father to our princess's. Over the past year I made a list of my 26 favorite memories of Kirk during the year he was 26:

1. We were driving home from Logan and had stopped at Nephi for lunch and to let the girls play at the park. As we were loading back into the car Kirk noticed a couple kids trying to get their ball out of the tree. He went over and asked them if they needed help and they readily accepted. The first big branch was 15 ft up. Too high for even Kirk to jump up and pull himself up. After surveying the situation he found a twig (seriously 1 1/2 inches around) and shimmied his way up the twig to the branch where he pulled himself up and rescued not only the kids' ball but 4 of their shoes as well. Kirsten and I were cheering him on from the car and to say we were all impressed is an understatement!
2. The multiple times Kirk and has stopped and helped random people push their car out of the road or helped people with car trouble.
3. One night I went out with friends and Kirk cleaned the house while I was gone, even though he was exhausted from a busy day and had to wake up early and fly out the next morning.
4. Kirk passed up a promotion that he really really really wanted because he knew it wouldn't be what was best for our family.
5. The website he made me for our 5th wedding anniversary.
6. The multiple nights he has spent building forts out of pillows and blankets for the girls to destroy,
7. He took time off of work to be there for Kirsten's first day of school. I'll never forget how sweet it was that he held her hand all the way into her classroom.
8. One night last summer he took the girls out to Payless and bought them each a pair of shoes.
9. The girls and I returned to Vegas from a trip to Utah last summer and Kirk had made chocolate chip cookies for us and included his special ingredients (almond flavoring and cocoa) they were really yummy!
10. Working on the patio in the dark and coming in smelling of hunky, sweaty, dirty man! Also all the home projects he has done this past year painting 3 rooms, installing our patio, planting a garden, putting in a sprinkler system, removing a wall, building a entertainment center, etc, etc.
11. The night I was apparently sleeping walking and went into Audreys room and woke her up. Kirk got up with her and soothed her back to sleep or so I heard the next morning! He is always taking care of my mistakes!
12. Watching him and Kirsten play princess memory together (she legitimately beat him but you didn't hear that part from me).
13. He has given me multiple priesthood blessing this past year. I am so grateful he is worthy to give them and for the spiritual experiences we have had because of them.
14. He was so great to put up with Chelsey and me last summer. The the chick flicks he had to suffer through and having his wife act like an 18 year old again.
15. I will never forget the smile Kirk had on his face when he crossed the finish line for the half marathon he ran.
16. I am so grateful that he put for the effort, money, and time into being their for Chelsey's endowment. He had to fly home the next day to work that week then flew back up to Salt Lake to be there for her wedding. He only had a motorcycle as transportation and had to fit all of his clothing into a backpack. He also had to ride the car rental shuttle from and to the airport and walk to his motorcycle parked at his work.
17. Night after night after night and night Kirk has put the girls to bed. I love to hear him read or tell them stories, make them giggle, and sing to them. It's one of my favorite parts of the day.
18. One morning when I was running home and Kirk had to leave for work he passed me on his motorcycle. He slowed down and reached out and gave me a high five while I was still running and then drove off, it was hot.
19. He told his boss not to send him out of town so he wouldn't miss Audrey's first birthday.
20. Every morning when he leaves for work he goes around and kisses each of his girls (usually multiple times, we just can't get enough!)
21. I loves when we planted our garden together late at night in the dark. Also laying in the backyard talking with each other looking at the 27 stars Vegas has to offer.
22. He spent half an hour being patient with Kirsten while she changed her mind 9 times about what pajama's she wanted to wear that night. Also he has figured out how to patiently restrain Audrey and help her make a decision she can be happy with.
23. Kirk is always playing with the girls. One afternoon I couldn't find him and Kirsten anywhere. I finally found them hiding under a blanket giggling in our guest bedroom.
24. Not to long ago I was up with a very sick Audrey all night long. Kirk woke up early the next morning and cleaned the house because he knew it would be a hard day for me and wanted to make it a little easier.
25. Everyday last summer he woke up with the girls at 5 am and took them running.
26. The other night when I was feeling so frustrated and he held me and reminded me of the awesome marriage we have, how we are meant for each other, and how blessed we are.

Happy Birthday Kirk! We Love You soo much!

Pictures taken this morning with the birthday boy!

Life at our house lately according to my phone

We moved the computer desk upstairs and finally decided to build an entertainment center

Kirk built the entire thing with his own two hands. It looks awesome. I am so impressed with that boy!

Audrey likes to cause havoc by throwing rocks from high places. She hasn't hit anyone...yet.

This could be the beginning of something beautiful and I may never have to change a diaper again!

Adam came and played with us one day. Audrey was very happy!

I cut Kirsten some bangs.

And now she looks like Madison!

We are always playing dress up in this house. Notice the 3 hats.

Audrey and Kirk have both been really sick with high fevers. Everyone is better now, yay!

Always playing dress up!

She put this apron on and than called herself Cinderella!

Kirk removed (destroyed, took apart) our weird half wall. Such a handy man to have around!

We love how removing it opened up our house. We hope to have the tile down soon.

She found herself a small remote that she has dubbed her cell phone and won't put down.

Found a huge cockroach but didn't know how to kill it

So we trapped it until Kirk could come home and take care of the job (he said it was already dead, ha ha)

Two Alike

I was ecstatic when I found out Audrey was a girl. I was thrilled at the thoughts of two sisters so close in age. I just knew they would be the very best friends. I knew our house was destined to be adorned in Princess paraphalina, dresses, tea parties, and nail polish. And boy is it ever. I love how much fun the girls have playing with each other. They pick out dresses for each other and love to play in the toy kitchen and with their babies together. They both love cocoa, Rugrats "babies", mom's high heels, playing in water, going to the park, doing each others hair, and dancing. But they are complete opposites in so many different ways that I decided to make a list.

Want to hear it? I thought so!

Audrey loves loves loves bubbles in her bath

Kirsten refuses to take a bath if their are bubbles in it.

Audrey's weird item of choice to eat is a rock

(I catch her eating them at least once every day)

Kirsten's weird item of choice to eat is paper

(including toilet paper)

Audrey refuses to wear anything in her hair but a headband

Kirsten likes her hair pulled back in an elastic

Audrey's clothing of choice is her coat

Kirsten's clothing of choice is a skirt and high heels

(and nothing else)

8 out of 10 times Audrey prefers me over Kirk

8 out of 10 times Kirsten prefers Kirk over me

To fall asleep Audrey rubs her belly button

Kirsten likes to fall asleep twirling her hair

Audrey only eats corn dogs

Kirsten only eats hot dogs

Audrey mostly likes to play with others

Kirsten is quite happy doing her own thing and playing by herself

Audrey is a mini me in the way she looks, acts, and her emotions

Kirsten is a mini Kirk with the way she walks, looks, and acts.

We are having such a blast raising these fabulous girls! Kirk and I are so lucky

Tea Party with Grandma

About once each year my mom holds a tea party with her daughters and granddaughters Everyone dresses up and she has fun finger foods for us to enjoy. I had never been in town to attend one of her fun parties and so when we were in town last September she had a party for my girls and I to attend. We had a blast spending time with some of the girls in the family. During the party my mom had the granddaughters do the makeup of her daughters and vice versa. Kirsten put my lipstick on so carefully, it was adorable. We had a fabulous time and my mom sent us these pictures a month or so later. I just found them cleaning the guest room and had to post them on the blog so we could remember the fun time we had.

Miss Audrey

 

 

 

Waiting for the doctor is not boring when you do it with Audrey. 

Isn't she so beautiful? 

She makes me so happy!

I love mothers day!

I love that there is a day dedicated to mothers. A chance for us to honor, cherish, and offer gratitude to the woman who loves us unconditionally. I love the kind things people say about their mothers. I love the wonderful things said about mothers in general. It reminds me that being a mother is a divine work, how sacred and beautiful it is to be a mother. Mothers day makes me want to be a better mother.
Ohhhhhh and I love being a mother. It's challenging, exhausting, frustrating, and beautiful. Being a mother is twice as hard as I thought it would be, three times more delightful, and four times more rewarding. Being a mother is not for whimps, but it is an amazing experience that I am excited to dedicate my life to.

Napping with Kirsten

Enjoying one on one time with Audrey at the doctor

 My life as a mother is summed up perfectly in this picture. Kirsten and I were enjoying some down time while Audrey took a nap. I had Kirsten settled on the couch with the ipad watching Pocoyo and I told her I was going to the bathroom and would be right back. I was in the bathroom for 30 seconds when Kirsten came in and plopped down on the rug with her movie, at least I am never lonely! 

I am so grateful for my own mother. My sister Chelsey wrote a beautiful post about her here. I say AMEN to everything she said. Since I was young I have aspired to be like my mother. I loved being the middle child of nine just like she was. I adored babies just like her. I love books, gardening, mountains, beaches, family gatherings, cooking, sewing, and pictures/journaling just like her. My earliest memories include holding the dust pan for her while she swept the floor and handing her wet clothes to hang on the clothes line. When I was a senior in high school her and I were rowing a boat on Matt Warner lake together. We were both sitting at the back of the boat with the nose of the boat high in the air. We were rowing ourselves in circles and laughing until our stomaches ached. And then we started singing together, silly songs at the top of our lungs. Thinking of it makes me smile even now.
Another of my favorite memories was the day she took my bridal pictures.We were both living in Vernal and drove out to Provo to take the pictures. We stopped at the Vernal Wal-mart and to buy some film (I swear it was only 6 years ago) and grapes. Emotions were high (we were planning a wedding after all) and we were both feeling frustrated, I was in tears before long and told her that we should just forget the whole thing and go home. But she reminded me that this was a day that she had dedicated to me and wanted to make special and then left the decision up to me whether I wanted to go and have a special day or call it quits. We left our emotions and frustrations in Vernal and had a wonderful day together. She helped me get ready and into my dress. Then we walked around beautiful gardens taking pictures and she made me feel like the most beautiful bride ever. We had so much fun together and it ended up being such a special day. I wish I had a picture of her and I together that day but as you can tell she is a very talented photographer. I am one lucky daughter.

 I had a fabulous mothers day and was catered to by Kirk. My favorite gift was the flower and card Kirsten brought home from preschool. She was so very very proud of the flower and card. She has carried both around for 4 days now, we are lucky the flower is still alive. 

I am so grateful for my mother. 

And for the chance I have to be a mother. 

And for mothers day!

Boy cousins are great!

This weekend our cousins came to town to play, we had a blast! They are a family of three boys so combined with our two girls it was a party for sure. To say Kirk was happy to have the ratio of boys to girls evened out is an understatement. He jumped on the chance to dust off his wii and play with these boys. Kirk, Isaac, and Eli were cuddled up on a couch playing Mario for hours. Jo and Audrey were instant buds. He was so sweet with her and put up with all her teasing, dancing, and hugging. Please come visit again Amy!