Niki's words

Niki has really started to talk this week. She has also found a new form of entertainment: books! She has a few of the basics down great: dad, ma(mom), no, up, grandpa, cookie, duck (specifically poop-duck), cup, clock. Now that she can say a few words, she of course thinks she can talk and rattles off long phrases that kind of sound like something you'd say, but really have no distinguishable meaning. She will also respond to "Can you say ______ " with her best efforts, but she only gets 1 sylable right at a time. For example, apple comes out "abbb" "mmmple" but not "a - ple". Is she really this old already?

Family In Town

YEA!!! Thanks for visiting us. For being sick, we sure had fun. We miss you.

Park Break

We got out of the house and took a tour of Post housing Parks. We found a very cool climbing wall. Niki is quite the climber - like father like daughter.

Easter

We actually did a lot to teach the girls about Christ, his resurrection, and his atonement this year, but those things are hard to take pictues of. Easter egg hunts however, are easy, so here they are.

We had a ward easter egg hunt and b-fast, we decorated eggs with our neighbors who came over last minute, and we hid all the candy again for the girls to discover in our backyard. It's so easy to have fun with our girls.

Niki Playing

Niki's playing is becoming much more advanced these days. Unfortunatly, I rarely get a chance to really notice. I did get a few pictures of these moments this week.

Niki likes to play with her doll. She's learning how to care for it instead of just carying it around. I found her changing her diaper and trying to get her dressed this week. She like to put her in the doll carrier/car seat and tote her around the house. One day, Tyler told the girls to get in the car. Niki came running, doll carrier in hand out to her car seat. When Tyler tried to get Niki to let it go so he could do up her car seat, Niki had a huge melt-down of dissapointment, most likely because she thought that the doll wouldn't get to come with her.

Niki loves to cuddle with blankets. She grabs one corner and rolls on the floor 'till they wrap around her.

Niki is even trying to talk now with parts of words like "cu u u" for cuddle or "u u u" for up. The hardest one she has attempted is "du" and "k" for poop-duck, but she never could get them together at the same time.

Niki is so much fun!

Swimming

That's right, all you freezing snowed on Utahns. It was so hot we got out the pool this week.

Camping and WWII

We wanted to go to Fredericksberg and the National Pacific WWII Museum. It was a long drive (a couple of hours is long with 2 kids) so we broke it up by camping down there Friday night. We love camping.

Biking and Children's Museum

After all, Austin is only and hour away from Killeen, right?

So we took a day trip and our bikes down to the city. It was fun to just spend the day together. We also checked out the Children's Museum. Their golf ball physics exhibit was great and the girls just played and played.

PS-Our biking gear is getting tight in the trunk space, does anyone have a recommendation for a good back-of-the-van rack?

We're so glad when DADDY COMES HOME

After a week in AL, Tyler has returned again. YEA!!! I'm sleeping better. He of course remembered presents (that I actually bought at WalMart and had wrapped and waiting for him) but the thought was his. Lily loved her princess magnet dolls. And Niki was just thrilled that she got to open something (a princess book). Needless to say, we did not go to bed early that night due to the overjoy and excitement.

Monkey and A Tail

Niki's latest climbing trick is getting onto the couch by herself. She's so short, but she's clever. She figured out that she can drag her chair over to the couch and use it to climb over the arm-rest. She was very proud of herself.

For her birthday we ordered a "Monkey Tail" leash for Niki. It finally came and she spent the entire evening getting me to walk her around with it. She LOVES her monkey (little does she know it was soon to be used against her, ha ha ha).

Back Blogging

For those of you who really follow every detail of our blog, you've noticed a lot of our Utah trip has finally been posted. Well, I have big news, I'm FINISHED! Fianlly. Up-to-date.

New Year, New Powder, and New Shirts

Tyler and I went on a much needed ski date for New Year's. The snow was great and we had a blast together. I miss living in Utah.

For Christmas, Diane gave us all blank T-shirts and a tie dye kit. They turned out lighter than anticipated, but we sure had fun.

Conference Kids Crafts

I was a little dissapointed about it being General Conference (see mormon.org) weekend just as Tyler left for a week TDY. Well, it wasn't the same without him, but we found some ways to make it fun. Cookie-cutter pancakes, a conference map (thanks to the Friend magazine), and time to work on projects together (if you want the full flower pattern, just ask).  What a fun day.

Family Pictures

In honor of Tyler's upcoming deployment, we had family pictures taken yesterday. The girls are growing and changing so fast! We ordered the last 2 poses.

Happy Birthday to You!!!

We had quite the birthday party for Niki. She loved getting the presents in the mail as they arrived over the week, the last of which finally arrived today ("That's Not My Dragon" - a great board book!). What a fun day.



Niki,
You're One Year Old...
You're so Expressive and Photogenic.
You're such a MONKEY! Climbing, running, jumping, rolling. Keeping up with your sister.
Opinionated and Vocal.
You're never quiet.
Curious and into everything.

You love...
going outside, putting on shoes (because it means going outside), pushing your doll in the stroller, playing with waterbottles, doing whatever Lily is doing, swinging, JUMPING ON THE BED and playing ALLIGATOR, listening as airplanes and helecopters fly by, your lovey, DAD and grandpas (and any really nice old guys),being chased and tickled, Goodnight Moon and That's Not My Dragon, pickles/olives/manarin oranges and CANDY.

You sign milk, more, done, and please like a pro. You've even managed to form a distinguishable word now and then. You definantely understand what we are talking about.

I love how cute and little you are. You have so much personallity in your tiny frame. You always make me laugh and I love playing with you. I wish I had more energy to keep up, but you make up for it with your kisses and tickles. I can't wait for all of the adventures we will have, one day at a time.
...Love,
Your Mom