Eli, Mr. Chunk & Grunt

Somehow I've misplaced all the pictures I took at the hospital when Eli was born. I've searched my computer and camera like mad, and they are just plum gone! I'll keep looking though.

It's been wonderful watching Eli grow and learn. He's about 3 1/2 months right now, but wearing all of Miles' 9 month clothes. This baby is big!!! He's massive and a tank. He's so much more talkative than Miles was at his age too.

He loves looking at faces and he absolutely LOVES to smile! Here he is smiling at my mom:

This baby really likes watching TV. hmmmmm *concentrating very hard*

He can't sit up on his own so I made him a supportive "pouf" if you will. He seemed to like it :)

Nothing Better than a Thomas the Train marathon!

Here he is just a couple weeks old. Always looking around. Nothing is cuter than a baby's wrinkly forehead!

Chillin' on Rachel's lap on Christmas day. almost a month old here.

And here's Eli in real time. Just this week anyway. Cute!!!

24 is such a pointless age, wouldn't you say?

Alright, scratch the "daily post" idea. I pulled an all-nighter and did all the photos from my camera but the wedding ones. Next up, my 24th birthday!

If you look carefully at these pictures, you can see my highlights. Yup, one step closer in my goal to one day go completely blonde. Katy Leung did my hair at the hair academy she is attending and did a fabulous job at that! I love my hair and can't wait to go lighter once my roots grow in. I also gave myself more layers and a sweep to change things up a bit.


Oh, and there was cake to be had.


I told Miles that one of the bags that my gift came in, was a hat. So what do you do with a hat? put it on your head, naturally.


Michael is always imitating some weird character. He did several throughout the night, I can't remember which one this was.


Of course I had Steven with me. Isn't he handsome? :D In addition to the flowers and card Steven got me, he gave me Windows 7 as an early birthday gift. A LEGIT copy! No feds taking me to jail THIS year! (for an OS anyway......)


Um....I can't believe I'm posting this, but I thought I'd explain where I get the nickname "mantis". I'd say this picture explains:


Again, Michale doing another "character". Maybe he has multiple personalities and we just don't realize it?


Rachel wrapped all my gifts and had them all coordinate. They were gorgeous. Pink was the theme if you can't tell.


Ah, another picture needing explaining. NO, that's not a giant cigar that Randy is smoking, that is my new rolling pin that happens to look exactly LIKE a cigar. Rachel caught his expression perfectly, don't you think?


Don't worry, I didn't get a box of Chicken pot pies for my birthday, just the big container of oven roasted almonds. I actually asked for those. healthy snacking you know, you should try it sometime...


I thought this picture, despite being blurry, showed off my new cut & highlights.


Ok, enough pictures and talk about me. Once a year you get actual pictures of ME. So, until next year, these will have to last you :)

I had an absolutely GREAT birthday this year. I loved every minute of it. And surprisingly, I don't feel too old!

Becca

Christmas 2009

I didn't do very well this holiday season with taking my usual 2-3GB of pictures. too busy I guess. but at least I got some right?

Our tree in terrible lighting. It really did look good. I promise.


The sibling + pets lineup. Classic.


Randy Carter & Becky. Our living room is getting SO packed at holidays now! It was fun having them over on Christmas. Oh and Randy proposed to Becky later that night. She said yes, and they're getting married April 2nd. Wahoo, another sister! becky is awesome. She's like me, but cooler. We even have the same camera and get the same pants at Lane Bryant. Soul sisters.


Becky's gift to me. A "penguin books" version of pride & prejudice. The coolest book cover ever! I LOVE IT! She said she stalked my blog to find out what to get me. That's cool, because I blog stalk her too. Again, soul sisters.


Rachel is one for faces if you can't tell. The bow on her head was on the gift I gave her. She knows she loves it. Can't you see it in her face?


The necklace that Michelle made me and all the other girls in the family. She soldered these and made the chain herself. I can't imagine how long it took her to make these. i couldn't believe she made it herself, so cool!


Rachel's child. If you touch it, she WILL bite you.


The gift I was saving up for because I didn't think anyone was going to get it for me. My parents surprised me and got it. Have you guys seen "Julie & Julia" the movie? It's AMAZING and I want to be julia. I'm tall enough already, now I just need to brush up on my french cooking skills. Pastry city, here I come.


Miles was rubbing his belly for the longest time. Such a funny kid. Soothing I guess. We should all try it sometime.


Michael and his Victoria's Secret Gift. Actually it was a cat poop scented air freshener from Randy & Becky. Our cats have often dragged their bums across Michael's bed and no one elses in the family. Maybe they love him more?


Mom and the embroidery Rachel sewed for her. Rachel worked for months on it and has never done a cross stitch or embroidery before. She prety much taught herself how to do it with a little bit of coaching from me. Very impressive!

Swiss Days & Farmer's Market

I always forget to put pictures on here after I've posted them on facebook. I wish I could upload to both with the click of a button. But alas, no one has created such a convenient thing.

A couple weeks ago My mom, Michelle, Miles, Rachel and I went to the farmers market downtown. Miles got lots of exercise and we saw lots of cool things at each booth.



We stopped by Waffles & Frites, a belgium waffle & fries shop, and afterwards walked around downtown. Miles liked the pig :)



Tony Caputo's was conveniently across the street so we made a quick stop there as well. It's very similar to Granato's (our favorite italian sandwhich/deli shop) but on a larger (and more expensive) scale.



They had some interesting finds I thought worthy of posting.



Can you say aye carumba? Look at that price folks. Truffles better taste AMAZING for that price.



Later in the month we went to Swiss Days. We mostly go for the "craft" ideas, so I didn't take many pictures. On the drive home we spotted this house and stopped for a picture. It's nestled on a beautiful country road, out in the middle of nowhere. And check out the roof shingles!



I LOVED the gate in front. It was like a painting I tell you. I wish I knew a good mason who could build this for me. LOVE LOVE LVOE it. It would be perfect for my garden.



The one "idea" from swiss days I thought I'd post. So naughty, yet hilarious!



Toby exemplifying how I felt after both of these outings. This is one of his sleeping spots. Pillow and all. So spoiled.

Utah State Fair 2009

This year Mom, me, Rachel, Michelle & Miles went to the state fair together. It was a stinking hot day, but we enjoyed it anyway :)

The first attraction of the day welcomed us no later than the moment we parked the car. What kind of twisted person gives the handicapped people a giant puddle for their parking? Are they trying to make them MORE handicapped by having them slip and slide around in the mud? We just thought it was a funny.


Next stop, HORTICULTURE! My favorite! I love seeing the perfect flowers and vegetables.


Rachel and her cynical smile. This is what I get when I tell her to say cheese.


Dahlia's! So perfect!


A rose is a rose..


We saw the alligator show, if you can call it that. The handler did more moving around than the gator. Plus it was a dinky gator. Fight a full grown one, and I'll be impressed :)


"Mmm, I smell man flesh!!"


I call this one, "E.T. phone home"


We brought our lunch in with us, and this guy could smell it. Miles kept watch though.




And what trip to the fair would be complete without seeing the butter sculptures! mmm, butter....