Da Royal ONE

March 1st this boy turned one. He's meaty. 97th percentile for height and 83rd for weight. His head continues to grow because he's constantly getting complimented. For now he's happy just the same and we couldn't be more thrilled than to be parents of our REY REY.


I love the blurred hand here. Action shot. That's seriously how fast he was shoveling cake into his mouth.

Chase and his amazingness strikes again. Girl Scout Cookie (limited edition) ice cream cake.

New Toy

He's so proud.

Christmas Surprises

A bookbook shelf. Chase is so clever. He got this idea from an art gallery, but did figure out on his own how to make a bookbook shelf. We love it, especially since the books say, YOUNG Folks Library.
This was my amazing Christmas gift from Chase. My Grandma pasteled the Chinese boy for me years ago when I got back from Taiwan and it has remained one of my treasures, but Chase somewhere secretly had been working on this Asian looking frame for it. He has a way of making my treasures all the more treasurable. (I do realize that was a cheesy line.)

Rey's first Christmas. What a thrill. He actually didn't care a winkie twinkie. BUT he sure got some fun toys, including gifts from people who said, "He's just so cute Jenny, I feel like I have to buy him things." Ohh this kid.

Matchy Matchy

This was so not my idea. Chase has been begging me to make he and Royal matching bowties. It's true. My mom made us five girls wear matching clothes for special occasions until I was at least 12. I fight against it and have vowed my children would never. Then into my life pops Chase. . . .some Sundays I'll be dressed for church and he'll go change his entire outfit so that we match. Serious. I can't tell if he loves it or does it to get my goat.

Angels We Have Heard

My old and most extraordinary pal Alene planned her first Christmas party this year. She invited just our small group of old roommates. When we lived together we were called the "Angels" because there was a group of girls that lived across this little lake already dubbed as the "Hoochie House". We weren't exactly angels, I'll tell you that right now, nor were they exactly hoochies because they were still active LDS girls, but somehow the personalities of the houses presented a nice contrast. Boys stopped in at our house often for warm homecooked meals and then would cross the lake to the hoochie house for loudness and destruction (they sometimes played football with their living room furniture). This was the first time the angels had been together in at least four years because Brandi has been living in Germany. Alene plans parties to perfection. Her only Christmas wish was that we'd make gingerbread houses and sing carols by the piano.

Royal meets Santa

To my dying day, hearing babies and children giggle will be my number one favorite sound.

Christmas Reasons

I know this video
has been getting passed around lately, but I just love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vStl9PXWtiw