Wow, what a summer!

Ha Ha, had you all fooled! Bet you thought I was really going to blog! Not tonight. I need to get a whole camera full of pictures uploaded. Right now, however, I am going to go to bed, even though it is the only time I have to work on my blogs. I hate to do it while Abbi is awake, I just don't like to neglect her any more than I have to, especially when that neglect usually leads to mischief. For example, bubbles solution being poured in various spots of her bedroom. So I will work on the pictures soon, and then the blogs will come. We have a new laptop, so once I download the software for our cameras, I can just work on the laptop. That will hopefully result in less mischief. So, please, don't lose faith in me. I will be back in the blogging world soon.

The blogging loser,
Monica

Goodwood & Good Times!

Abbi & Tre' dining together at Goodwood Barbecue.

Having nightcaps afterward.

We got the privilege of going out for dinner with our friends Paul & Jene', and their cute boy Tre'.

Abbi and Tre' didn't get much eating done, as they continually flirted through dinner. They were so cute together, hugging and even a few kisses! We don't get to do it enough, but thanks guys for a nice night out. We will have to do it again! (Pictures: courtesy of Jene')

Party, Like a One Year Old!

The Spread

Princess Pinata


Pretty in Pink

Birthday Princess

Jumbo Birthday Cupcake

Delicious!

Happy Birthday to our little Princess! Thank you, to all of our guests, for making Abbi's first birthday party so special! We had alot of fun eating, playing and opening presents! I hope everyone had as good of time as we did! I have been so excited to throw this party! Abbi made it through the first year of life! Now, that's an accomplishment!

Happy 1st Birthday Abbi!

I am reflecting on the day that I gave birth to the most precious being. It chokes me up to think of all that we went through to get that sweet girl here. I just can't believe it has been a year!! I remember her being born like it was yesterday. I can almost remember the feeling of labor. Luckily, that isn't enough to scare me away from trying again! In fact, I am excited to do the whole pregnancy thing again! I just want to enjoy my baby girl a little bit longer, before we jump in. Anyway, I can't begin to explain the gifts that she has given me, patience being one of them. But, also, the most powerful feeling of love that can never be explained, only experienced. She has made my life more rich than I had ever wished for, and had only fantasized about, until she arrived. I knew I was supposed to be a mother, and I know I will never be perfect enough, but love gives me strengths that I never knew I had. So, Happy Birthday to my little Abbigail! I am so proud of her, and I look forward to learning more and watching her do the same!

The Big 5K in St. George!

Kriste and me after the Finish Line. I clocked in at 31:11.

My nieces, Preslie (left) and Mayci (right).

My cute family!

So over the long weekend, Craig, Abbi, and I met up with Brandt and Kriste (and their kids) in sunny St. George! Kriste and I had been training for the 27th annual Painters 5K and ran it on January 17th, 2009. It was Kriste's 4th one, I think, and my 1st! I had no idea that I could run it as fast as I did! My goal was to run it in under 40 minutes, but I totally surprised myself and ran it in 31 minutes and 11 seconds! It is so strange how your adrenaline kicks in and you can do things you never imagined possible. However, in all my training, I never got sore-but, I did this time! I don't know if it was the cold morning (around 36 degrees), or not warming up as much as usual, or perhaps it was just running faster than I ever have!! My muscles started tightening up soon after, though! I felt better a couple days after, but I was disappointed that I got sore in the first place. After that, we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and 60 degree weather. We took nice walks and let the kids play outside. We also enjoyed eating at the new "Pirate Island." It was a cute kids place with a fun pirate theme. Thank you so much for having us at your wonderful St. George home Brandt and Kriste! We always have a good time with you and your family!

Tah Dah!! Christmas post! ( What? It's only been, like, 2 weeks!)

Christmas morning! So many presents to open!!

Wrapping paper & tissue are more fun!

Our little Christmas bunny's bum!


My new iPod nano! We laid my poor iPod mini to rest recently : (

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To sum up Christmas day...... SNOW!!!! We got the vengeance of winter on Christmas day. Craig spent all morning trying to dig us out! We didn't know if we would get to go anywhere that day! Grandma Carla came over to bring Abbi gifts, despite the storm. So I made a yummy coffee cake to warm our bellies. Craig then continued his battle with the heavy snow (sorry, no pics, I was warm and cozy in my PJs). After a few calls, we decided that we would try to get to my Grandma Burdette's party, and then decide, later, if we could make it to Grandma & Grandpa Labrum's. But, strange as it seemed, the weather got better as we ventured North & East! Who would have thought that Riverton would have got all of the snow that day? We got up to Cottonwood Heights, and to our amazement, it was raining and the snow was actually melting! Here is my sad excuse for not having pics at Grandma's, I had packed the camera so carefully in it's bag, but when we got to our destinations, we realized the camera was nowhere to be found. We both searched the car, no camera. I was totally bummed, I had such good intentions! We got home that night (after driving into and through another snow storm on the west side!) and wouldn't you guess? There was my camera, sitting so organized on the bench!! Seriously. So we have like 15 pictures of Abbi's first Christmas. We really suck! Hope you all did better than us!

Resolution

Okay, for all of you are wondering if I have been kidnapped or on some fantastic, month long, vacation. I am not. Unfortunately, I have no excuse for not posting anything in the last month. I promise, I do have some pictures of Christmas, and I am going to post those...... sometime. I seriously don't know how people do it. I feel like I am chasing or feeding Abbi 100% of the time that she is awake, and when she naps (like an hour or two out of the day), I am training for the big 5K, or cleaning, or catching up on my shows. Does that even fit into 2 hours? I don't know. I guess I need time management lessons. Anyway, I will update, sometime. I hope everyone had wonderful holidays and I wish you all the best in 2009!!! Can anyone guess what my new years resolution is ?!!?