The Holidays Have Arrived!

Okay, well, Thanksgiving has already passed... but there are still more to come!

The past two weeks have been pretty crazy, but fun! My cousins, Alicia and Caroline were in town, and due to their presence, Piper I got to do a bunch of fun stuff! We all saw "New Moon" (sans Piper on that one), went up the Space Needle, went to the Aquarium, toured Pike Place market, ate at the original Ivar's on the waterfront... okay I guess that's not a bunch of stuff. But it sure felt like a lot! Then Thanksgiving came around. My cousin Alicia had left to spend Thanksgiving with her family, but Caroline stayed, and my Sister Alyssa, her hubby Vincent, and my brother Derrek all came home! Unfortunately Piper got sick in the meantime. So Alyssa and Vincent, who only get to see Piper once a year, didn't get to meet the fun, care-free and calm little baby Piper. Instead, they got a runny nosed crank-oid baby Piper, which was sad. Especially when she was back to normal the day after they left.

First off - Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was a yearly tradition in my household growing up, and is one I'd like to continue... but I watched it alone this year. Peter was trying to figure out Turkey Bowl stuff and Piper was sleeping. But come on! Snippets of Broadway shows? "Shrek: The Musical" performed a number... which is, if you don't already know, my new favorite musical. I'm a self admitted theatre snob. And let me tell you, this musical after movie is GOOD! Not to mention Sutton Foster plays Fiona. :) And then the Rockettes! Who doesn't love them? And to top it all off, Seattle's (well, the Eastside's, really) own Cheyenne Jackson performed! (Issaquah Village Theatre Kid, gone Broadway, now new cast member of 30 Rock with Tina Fey). I love the parade. Can you tell?

We had Thanksgiving Dinner at my folks home this year, but of course, we always show up for the "Thankful Game" with Peter's family. Everyone writes down things they're thankful for, from family, the gospel, and having a job and modern medecine, to silly family things like, "YDMB" (you da man baby), "Gina B" (not exactly sure on this one... seems like it always changes), Peter's Pecs... etc. All of which were NOT mentioned this year. Did anybody else notice that? Anyway, everyone writes their "thankfuls" down, then we all put them in a bag, draw out a handful, and take turns reading them out loud. It's longer and more drawn out every year... but it's fun. And we wouldn't miss it

And then there was pie. Oh how I love pie.

But now it's time to get ready for Christmas. I am so excited. We recently bought new stockings, and I feel like I've been Christmas shopping for months. I've been super bargain hunting and am on a roll! Nothing I'll give but the candy is brand new... all have had former owners, but I think the pickled peppers are going to have a great time on Christmas morning. :)

After seeing "New Moon" - you can tell who the real Twilight "crazies" are from this photo. :)

Hanging out at Seattle Center

Before we went up the Space Needle

And up on the viewing deck

Seattle baby. Can you tell?

And she's already visited Santa! She really liked him. I'm not sure I'm going to get one of those horrified of Santa photos from this little girl unless we have Santa pinch her or something.

Hooray Men!

I love my husband, father, and father-in-law very much. Here's a shout out to the three wonderful men!

As I was driving to the "girls night" tonight, can you guess? You got it! My car died!!

My father drove all-in-all an hour or so to come get me and take me where I needed to be while my husband tried to coordinate with insurance and all that jazz. Meanwhile, my father-in-law is figuring out AAA stuff to see if we can have our car towed on his policy.

It's now almost midnight and my husband has been out on the side of the freeway in the dark, cold, and wet for about a half an hour waiting for the tow truck, while my fabulous father-in-law waits up at his house because he'll have to sign for the car once it arrives.

Just found out the tow truck people won't be able to get there until 12:45am...

I love you guys! And I'm sorry about all of this. Did I mention I'm cursed?

Thanks so much for taking care of me!

Excited!!

Okay. I am SOO excited about something. But I can't say what because I'm not allowed to yet. No I'm not pregnant. It's something I was starting to worry wasn't going to happen... but guess what?!? IT'S HAPPENING!!

Halloweekend 09!

Halloween was tons of fun this year - mainly because Peter got off work early and got to go

Trick-or-Treating with Piper and I!

Tuesday night, Piper and I went to our ward Halloween Party and Trunk-or-Treat. Piper couldn't really play any of the games or anything, but I wish she could have. It was really cool carnival style! But it was fun to see everyone dressed up and having a good time.

On Friday, Piper and I did all the festivities and Trick-or-Treated from office to office at my dad's work. We got out pictures taken, got to paint a pumpkin (for free!), dance, go through a "haunted maze", see a bunch of the employees perform "Thriller" and Piper got to go on her first bus/shuttle ride! When Trick-or-Treating, Piper got the hang of taking the candy and putting it in the bucket... the problem was which bucket. Half the time she gave the candy back as opposed to putting it in her little bucket. It was cute, though. And she especially loved the chocolate eyeballs...

On actual Halloween, Piper and I went to my parent's ward Trunk-or-Treat - talk about going ALL OUT on decorating your car! After we hit up all the cars for candy, we went to see Peter's parents and show off Pipey's costume where Peter showed up and surprised us. Then we Trick-or-Treated around Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood... the best Trick-or-Treating neighborhood ever! We got way too many full sized candy bars. We even got a Capri Sun from one house! It was pretty great, and Piper loved it!... though she still had the giving candy back problem.

Piper was a ballerina of sorts. A rock ballerina, a Halloween ballerina... hallerina... Howlerina, whatever you'd like. I just made her a tutu and made everything match. Just go with it. :)

Our kinda lame door... no one trick or treated at our house. When we got home, there was a slug in with the candy. Sad.

With Uncle Dallen

With my dad at his work!

Tired after trick-or-treating

It's a little silly, but I love this photo.

A back shot of her tutu

With my mom at their ward Trunk-or-Treat

Happy Halloween!

Bullet Holes. Not Points.

-Peter is almost done filming and soon I will have my house back. James Bum and the Case of the Spoiled Soda will debut in full come December.

-I got into Oklahoma City University and am now freaking out about my dance audition in March.

-Piper loves her glasses.

-My show is over. It went well and was fun, but I'm glad it's done. Thanks to all who came to see me sing and dance... even though I didn't invite anyone.

-Now I start choreographing My Fair lady.

-Piper just started saying "Hi!" and it is consistently in a high pitched voice.

-My new ward is great - but tonight especially, I really miss our old ward.

-Peter continues to amass projects for which he has no time or computer space. Which keep him continually holed up in our garage with a space heater. Honestly, I don't know why he doesn't just come inside...

-Piper can play patty-cake all by herself. You say the words and she'll do the motions. I especially like her "marking it with a P".

-I'm starting up a little side business. By little, I mean little. And we'll see how it goes and won't be heart broken if it doesn't go far.

-Peter had a very, very drunk man collapse on him several times tonight while he was at work.

-I'm excited for the holidays. And not. They all involve such good food... and food is my biggest enemy right now. :'(

-Piper is an avid stair climber. Thank goodness for baby gates.

-Peter and Piper got to shake hands (or foot to hand, in Piper's case) with Dallin H. Oaks last Sunday.

-Part of me wonders if I had Swine Flu last week. But I'm over it now and there's really no way of knowing.

-Peter is "wrapping up" editing Greek Life. Let's hope Fremantle Media actually picks it up... and even if it does, none of you will watch it.

-I have zero energy and am going to bed. Goodnight!

After "Tribute to Broadway" with our new friend Briana

This is Piper's new face for whenever pictures are taken.

These were actually taken a couple months ago and I never posted them. But I love them. She was all mismatched in pink and has the most adorable hat!!

Glasses!!

Piper got her glasses yesterday! When we put them on her for the first time, she looked around for a few seconds and said, "oh...wow!" I think she recognizes a difference - She's only tried to take them off once!

She looks a little like her cousin Abby to me in this picture.

Happy Birthday, Baby!!

I can't believe it's been a year already!

On her birthday Piper had 4 teeth with two on their way in, still couldn't wear shoes because her feet are too chunky, couldn't walk, barely started pulling herself to standing, points to everything, and could tell you where your nose is with her eyes closed.

She can say: mama, dada, hi, oh wow, what's that? (whissat?), yeah and no (though not very often... yet.)

She signs: dada, more, dog, hi/bye, eat, and all done.

Piper had a family party, a "cast" party, and a friend party this year. All Ladybug themed!

The family party was first, just a few days before her birthday.

Isn't she so cute in her little ladybug shirt?

Eating her new favorite food: Dad's pasta.

These pictures are a little backwards. This is her when she's mostly done with her cupcakes and is pointing to her nose.

Uh, why not both?

Starting out with a chocolate cupcake. She didn't scarf the cupcakes nearly as fast or as messily as I thought she would. She was actually pretty slow and clean about it. We think she either ate too much pasta, or it was because her eyes were dialated. Or both.

Almost all 50 of the ladybug cupcakes. Fun to make, but time consuming.

Aren't they adorable? I was pretty proud of them. And had a fun time eating all of the ingredients. Needless to say, I was not carb free the week of her birthday. :)

Opening presents with help from dad and cousins!

On her actual birthday in her pretty birthday dress! I couldn't get her to look at the camera and smile. She's either smile until right before the flash and then crawl away, or she'd pull her dress over her face. I think I got a couple decent ones.

The best picture we could get of her in the dress while sitting still.

I love this picture and wish it wasn't so blown out!


Silly girl.


I had rehearsal the evening of her birthday and she had to come with me. So I made this big ladybug cake so that we could celebrate her birthday with the cast.

And finally, her friend party the day after her birthday. It was more our friends... but Lily, Benjamin and Joshua are her friends. Even if she doesn't really know it. :)


A little ladybug-ish decoration.


Again with the Ladybug cupcakes.

The look on her face while everyone is singing "Happy Birthday" to her.

This time she was waaay into the cupcakes. She scarfed two in less than ten minutes.






And gifts with mom this time.




Happy first birthday, little love!!