Surprise

While I was in Utah my family threw my Grandma a surprise 80th Birthday Party. After months of planning and making sure everyone could be there the big day arrived. My cousin Elisha and I picked her up at 11am and took her to our cousin Jess who does hair. We had 2 hours of pampering planned for her.

The Before Picture

We talked her into letting Jess dye her hair, wax & dye her eyebrows, wax her face, cut her hair, and give her a pedicure and manicure.

Since we only had 2 hours I was in charge of the pedicure and manicure.

Elisha was in charge of babysitting Alex :)

I wanted Jess to style my hair so Elisha washed my hair. It was pretty ridiculous because water was EVERYWHERE....lol

oh and Jess did her makeup. We wanted to make sure she looked fabulous for her Big Birthday Bash, which she just thought we were going out to dinner.

The After Picture

We took her to our favorite Thai restaurant for lunch, MeKong Cafe.....so yummy

We dropped her off at 3pm and then went to my Aunt Liz's to finish the final touches for her party. My mom picked her up at 6pm and here is everyone waiting for the BIG SURPRISE.

The door opens

and success she was surprised

All her cute friends she used to work with at BYU came. Does this picture not remind you of the Golden Girls? Love it

Elisha, Jess, and Me

Alex & Blake

Our Yummy dinner

Everyone watching the DVD I made for her birthday, so fun.

The big group picture. It was great because her brother from Colorado and all his kids came and so did her sister Sue from Illinois. Best surprise ever.

You only turn 80 once so I made sure she had 80 candles to blow out.

It got a little smokey, but she did it.

I'm so glad Alex and I could be there to celebrate. Who doesn't love a good surprise party!!

Mary, Martha, Catherine

When Al and I got married and moved to Vegas it took me about a year to realize that hiking is pretty cool. Every time I'm in Utah and have extra time I try to go on one. This time I chose Lake Mary, Martha, and Catherine at Brighton. I hadn't been on this since Beehive camp in 1995? I thought I would have no problem carrying Alex in the Bjorn, but about 5 minutes into it I was like uhhhh this isn't going to work out. Ryan stepped in and carried him the entire time, so great.

Look at that BLUE sky...so amazing.

Ryan is stronger than he looks....haha

Yay we made it to Lake Mary

My mom and Ryan stayed back because there was so much snow on the way to Martha, but Sarah and I hiked up to it. We didn't make it to Catherine because of all the snow, but maybe next time :)

Lake Mary from the other side

There was one point in the hike where I looked up and saw a nice Asian man walk by me with a mask on his face. Pretty sure Swine Flu was over 2 years ago? It was a perfect day with great company and I'm so glad we got to go on it. Thanks for carrying Alex Ry:)

Four Months

Ready to get his shots and he didn't even flinch this time

4 Month Stats

Weight 15 lbs 14 oz 75th percentile

Height 26 inches long 95th percentile

Head 42 cm 50-75th percentile

At 4 months Alex is.....

Getting 2 teeth on the bottom and 2 on the top

Finally Eats every 3 hours, but still won't take a bottle even with breast milk

His eyes follow everything you do especially when you're eating or walking out of the room

At 14 weeks he learned to grab toys on his play gym

At 17 weeks he learned to hold things in his hands

Discovered his tongue and played with it for a week straight

Loves playing with his blankets and will stick anything in his mouth

Loves to chew on your fingers more than teething toys

Laughs when you undress him

Is ticklish under his neck, arm pits, and sometimes his tummy

Rolled from his back to tummy on July 5th and rolls all over the place now, I have a feeling he might be an early crawler

Always has his hands clasped together or in his mouth

Sucked his thumb for about a week

Hasn't pooped in the tub for weeks!!

Starting to make screeching noises

Looooves to be outside just like his Dad

Happy to sad in a matter of seconds

SLC

I went to Utah for a week while Al was in Tennessee for work. It was so much fun to see friends and family, eat at all my favorite restaurants, go shopping, not have any traffic to drive in, and of course play with Alex. I love Utah summers and I can't believe how blue the sky is....we only see blue sky in L.A. like 2 days a year. Lunch with Ash, Tonya, and cute Camden.

Camden telling Alex how life is as a 1 year old

An afternoon by the pool or more like 1 hour.

He didn't cry this time....it's all about temperature for him.

Nordstrom Sale with Ash.

Lunch with My Cousin In Laws

Alex & Kynlie with his Great Grandma Jan & Great Great Grandma Alice.

Alex is still HUGE compared to Kynlie.

Only 2 weeks apart.

Alex's first trip to the zoo with my Mom and Ryan. I was disappointed that we didn't get to see any of the Bears since that part was under construction.

My favorite Indian restaurant, Bombay House. Nothing compares to it, plus the waiters wearing Turbans add to the experience.

Quality Time with Great Grandma Ranes

We took Grandma to get a Sno Cone. I miss Sno Cone Shacks....it must be a Utah thing because I never saw them in Vegas and I've never seen any in L.A.

Dinner with the Kappa Girls at Five Guys.

Lunch with High school friends. Our babies are so close in age....if only we lived close so we could have play dates.

Ryan teaching Alex about Frisbee Golf.

GRANDMA RANES

Lunch with some old work friends.

Mother-Son Time

Alex meeting Great Aunt Sue for the first time.

Dinner with Great Aunt Sue at Cafe Rio. It was her first time and she loved it just like everyone always does!! It was so much fun to be there and visit family. As busy as we were we did miss Al. When he came and got us from the airport Alex started swinging his arms, he definitely knows who his Daddy is.

Carmegeddon 2011

I couldn't help, but post about the 405 being closed this weekend because it's so ridiculous. I've seen signs about it all over LA for the last 2 months. Supposedly the 405 carry's 300,000 cars a day and it is closing for 2 days, yikes.

There are apps you can buy, count down clocks on the news, freeways, and internet. Jet Blue had some special where you could fly from Burbank to LA for $4 each way. I'm just thankful I'm leaving for Utah tomorrow and won't be here for this momentous occasion.

Random

Just some random pictures I thought I would post. I made shish kabobs with Alex last week in the Bjorn. I want all our kids to learn how to cook, so why not start them young :)

Cutting was a little more difficult.

Anytime I take anything out of the dryer and it's still warm I put it on Alex and he loves it.

Isn't he the cutest?

Al has started training for triathlons again. This time he bought a trainer for his new bike and decided our living room would the perfect place for it. What I would give for another bedroom or garage!!

I finally have everything done in Alex's nursery.

and my picture selection for the frames that have been empty the last 5 months.