Here is a picture of Jamie, on Lauren's birthday, demonstrating some of the trouble he likes to get into! He thinks it is hillarious to turn the lights on and off. Can we call it the "terrible two's" even though he doesn't turn 2 for another month!?
Here is my little girl on the morning of her birthday, before her pictures. I just can't believe my little girl is 5 and will be starting Kindergarten this summer! Don't grow up too much faster baby girl!
Here are the Kiddie Kandids pictures, taken on her actual birthday: 
I love going there and they always seem to do a good job for us. Lauren is such a poser and loved getting all the attention!
Cheese!
I loved the little froggy (notice their hands posed alike!)
Miss Lauren SuzAnne!
Later on that night, Lauren had her big friend party at Chuck E. Cheese. Everyone who was invited (minus one) came, so we had a brood of 13! Call me crazy! But it was fun! Here is my niece Isabella with Jamie:
Here are two of Lauren's buddies from her old daycare, Alexandra and Matt's cousin Chris' daughter Brooklyn:
I loved this shot! This is Lauren and one of our old neighbor's Lexee. Lexee's mom Mindee used to watch Lauren from age 18 months to 2 1/2 years. It is crazy to see them hanging out and all growed up!
Here is Jamie with Sammy (from Cheryl's daycare) and our old next door neighbor Stevie:
A bunch of the kids gathered around to meet and greet Chuck E.
Lauren had a blast! Matt kept telling me "whatever the stress, whatever the cost, it was worth it, Lauren is having so much fun". I certainly hope her first friend party is one that she will always remember!
The pizza was yummy! Alexandra and Matt's cousin Sherrell's daughter Olivia:
Jamie was not scared at all to meet Chuck!
My Sister-In-Law Alex is gonna kill me, but this shot made me laugh. It looks like Chuck is checking out her 8 month pregnant belly...but really my niece Isabella is behind her and he was trying to get her to come shake his hand!
Matt's cousin Nichole's son, Evan wanted Matt to take a picture of his cool stickers:
Even the adults had fun (I hope!)..here is Matt's sister Kristen, and Matt's cousin Sherell's husband Neil (I think he is imitating his daughter, Olivia's sketch):
Lauren had a birthday dance with Chuck:
Here is the party clan (from l to r) Alexandra, Olivia, Lauren, Brooklyn, (way in the back) Ellie, Sammy and Jaycee:
I don't think her grin could get any bigger! Presents, cake, friends, and games! What could be better?
Okay...a few days later, on Saturday, we met Matt's brother Greg and his wife Alex and my niece Bella for lunch and play at South Towne mall. Jamie wouldn't ride a horse, so we sat on a bench:
Lauren loved it, of course:
Bella and Alex had fun too!
We went to this playground inside the mall and let the kids run around a bit. Check out Lauren in mid-jump!
Jamie was not so thrilled when another kid jumped on the gator that he was on. I see this face a lot, but it is usually over something that Lauren has that he wants!
Bella was doing this really cute tickle thing:
Lauren is such a cheeser, and I love that little princess to pieces:
Jamie loved playing peek-a-boo through the Dinosaur bones:
We completed Lauren's birthday week by having the family come over for cake and ice-cream on Sunday, this was so the grandparents didn't have to hang out with Chuck! Here is Lauren's Strawberry Shortcake cake:
Here is Lauren with my clan...my mom, my sister Ashley and her boyfriend Victor, my sister Sarah, my dad..and a usual picture-hating Jamie:
Lauren and my darling niece Isabella: Cute cousins!
Jamie loves cake! Still weird to me that he feeds himself so well with utencils! My son is not a baby, he is a little boy now!
Okay, so these got out of order, here is Lauren blowing out her candles (and Jamie and me observing):
A side shot of the cake:
Lauren and me...
Lauren and her daddy....
Lauren and her grandparents, Leo and Tina:
Lauren and her Aunt Kristen and Uncle David:
Lauren and her Uncle Greg and Aunt Alex and cousin Bella:
Lauren loved it, of course:
Bella and Alex had fun too!
We went to this playground inside the mall and let the kids run around a bit. Check out Lauren in mid-jump!
Jamie was not so thrilled when another kid jumped on the gator that he was on. I see this face a lot, but it is usually over something that Lauren has that he wants!
Bella was doing this really cute tickle thing:
Lauren is such a cheeser, and I love that little princess to pieces:
Jamie loved playing peek-a-boo through the Dinosaur bones:
We completed Lauren's birthday week by having the family come over for cake and ice-cream on Sunday, this was so the grandparents didn't have to hang out with Chuck! Here is Lauren's Strawberry Shortcake cake:
Here is Lauren with my clan...my mom, my sister Ashley and her boyfriend Victor, my sister Sarah, my dad..and a usual picture-hating Jamie:
Lauren and my darling niece Isabella: Cute cousins!
Jamie loves cake! Still weird to me that he feeds himself so well with utencils! My son is not a baby, he is a little boy now!
Okay, so these got out of order, here is Lauren blowing out her candles (and Jamie and me observing):
A side shot of the cake:
Lauren and me...
Lauren and her daddy....
Lauren and her grandparents, Leo and Tina:
Lauren and her Aunt Kristen and Uncle David:
Lauren and her Uncle Greg and Aunt Alex and cousin Bella:
A week later, my friend Teri, from High School had a baby shower. Matt was helping my sister Ashley move...so I had to take the kids. I don't think Jamie had ever seen a cat before and he loved my friend Kelly's three cats..poor kitties, they are probably still recovering!
Here are my BF's from back in high school.."the high school six of 96" I call us.
Here are my BF's from back in high school.."the high school six of 96" I call us.Julie, Allison, Kelly, Teri, Me and Heather:
Here is Teri and her cute mom, Carol:
Jamie, Me, Teri and Lauren. I am so excited for Teri to have her baby, which they are affectionately calling "Terk" right now...(her hubby's name is Mark)... But after seeing how crazy my monkeys were..I wonder if she thinks she can handle it: (ps...man I am short!)
Lauren trying to act cool in front of all of the big girls:
Saturday was also Matt's mom's birthday. A bunch of the family met at her grave to give her a little party, which I know she would have loved. Here are the flowers we gave, her favorite color was yellow:
Lauren was thrilled to see her friend Brooklyn (Matt's cousin's daughter):
We let a bunch of balloons go for her:
Here is Suzanne's sisters Janet and Cheryl and their mom Arlene (Grandma Great as the kids calls her):
Her grave was surrounded by a lot of beautiful flowers. I love how the West Jordan Cemetary allows headstones, it is very meaningful to us:
We miss you Shu-Shu! It is so crazy to think that Jamie is almost a physical representation of how long Suzie has been gone, since she died a month after he was born. She has been gone for 22 months now, now my baby isn't a baby anymore....butI can still hear Suzie's voice as if she was only here yesterday....
Here is Teri and her cute mom, Carol:
Jamie, Me, Teri and Lauren. I am so excited for Teri to have her baby, which they are affectionately calling "Terk" right now...(her hubby's name is Mark)... But after seeing how crazy my monkeys were..I wonder if she thinks she can handle it: (ps...man I am short!)
Lauren trying to act cool in front of all of the big girls:
Saturday was also Matt's mom's birthday. A bunch of the family met at her grave to give her a little party, which I know she would have loved. Here are the flowers we gave, her favorite color was yellow:
Lauren was thrilled to see her friend Brooklyn (Matt's cousin's daughter):
We let a bunch of balloons go for her:
Here is Suzanne's sisters Janet and Cheryl and their mom Arlene (Grandma Great as the kids calls her):
Her grave was surrounded by a lot of beautiful flowers. I love how the West Jordan Cemetary allows headstones, it is very meaningful to us:
We miss you Shu-Shu! It is so crazy to think that Jamie is almost a physical representation of how long Suzie has been gone, since she died a month after he was born. She has been gone for 22 months now, now my baby isn't a baby anymore....butI can still hear Suzie's voice as if she was only here yesterday....
Here are a couple of shots of us just chillin' at home. I have been working split shifts since December, but as of April 1, I will go back to being nights. I will miss the time that I have been able to spend with the kids, but it will be great to start sleeping again. Here are some shots of our lazy afternoons.....here is our dog Pepper...turning 14 years old this year!
My best little buddy...Lars:
Look at these big brown eyes...how can you say no to them? Gee..when I go back to nights, I will just have to make the most of our time together....what a cute boy! I love him so!
I am already working on my next post, some have asked for some pics of the new house now that we live in it....so that is up next! I will TRY to not wait 3 weeks. Hopefully this post was worth the wait!
My best little buddy...Lars:
Look at these big brown eyes...how can you say no to them? Gee..when I go back to nights, I will just have to make the most of our time together....what a cute boy! I love him so!
I am already working on my next post, some have asked for some pics of the new house now that we live in it....so that is up next! I will TRY to not wait 3 weeks. Hopefully this post was worth the wait!
