Happy Birthday Stockton

Stockton's turned one a couple of weeks ago, and boy did we party!

Stockton loves trucks, so we went with a construction truck theme. I found this poster online at Oriental Trading. It was perfect. It says "I Dig Being 1". Then they customized it with Stockton's name.

I made Stockton's cake complete with "dirt" (crushed up cookies) and his toy trucks.

All the kids got a hard hat instead of a party hat.

Emily and Ashley sportin' their stylin' hard hats.

The Birthday Boy woke up right in time for his party.

He didn't know what to think when everyone started singing to him. He just looked around, so confused.

But, he wasn't shy with his cake. He ate it for a few minutes before he decided he didn't like the feeling of the frosting on his fingers.

Stockton got so many fun gifts!

He got tons of new trucks and he had a blast with them! He and Grandpa Orgill are playing trucks.

He loved pushing his new Teddy Bear from Poppa and Teenser around in his dump truck from the Donahues.

All his trucks! He got one of every size! What a fun Birthday! Happy Birthday Stockton! We love you!

Easter Fun

Easter was so much fun with a little one this year.

First we colored eggs on Saturday night with Brady's family.

We did some with mission themes - the flags of the countries we served in. Italy (for my brother-in-law, Josh), Peru, and England (Where Brady's brother Jrodan is now.)

Here's Elder Haider's pic with his Great Britain flag I colored for him.

Of course we had to get basketball and the Jazz in the mix.

The Easter Bunny left a basket for Stockton with an outfit and a Bob the Builder DVD. He also left an outfit for Brady and some Mini Eggs for me!

This is how the Easter Bunny started the day - coming to snuggle with Mommy and Daddy.

I don't know if kids come programmed or what. Stockton knew exactly what to do: 1. Find the eggs.

2. Open them.

3. Eat the treat inside and 4. Find more eggs and repeat

We ended up putting cheetos and cheerios in the eggs, since Stockton's not quite old enough to eat candy. But, he LOVED it!

After morning session of Conference, it was off to Grandma Haiders for another egg hunt. Stockton found some good ones... like this one in the puppets mouth.

Stockton helping put all the hard boiled eggs in the carton after we found them.

The easter bunny left some great stuff for Stockton! A cute little chair, a book, an outfit and toy missionaries.


Stockton loved easter with his little cousin, Anellina. (Gotta love Aunt Holly crashed on the couch in the background.)

Then it was off to Grandma Orgill's house for yet another Easter Egg Hunt!

There were only a handful of the grandkids, so it wasn't as rowdy, but it was still a blast!

But, as fun as it was, it was really special to listen to Conference and hear all the wonderful testimonies of Jesus Christ and really remember the reason for the holiday: to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. I am so grateful for Him and that He died for me, but more importantly that He lives for me.

Couple of Stink Bugs

Stockton sleeps in the funniest positions, but the one that always had me laughing was what we lovingly call "The Stink Bug."

With his little bum up in the air. When I took this picture I asked Brady, "How in the world does he sleep like that??" I just could not fathom sleeping in this position.

Well... the next night I went into bed early. About 1/2 later Brady came in and found this...

He whispered, "Rach... are you still praying?" No response.... He gave me a little shake... no response. He got nervous and leaned down to see if I was still breathing. I was. So he thought it was pretty funny that I had indeed fallen asleep in a very similar "Stink Bug" position while I was praying. So he snapped this picture... still no response. He climbed into bed and FINALLY I moved onto my back. He said, "Rach you fell asleep praying." I was in complete denial, until he showed me this picture and then the tingles started. My left leg was so asleep it hurt so bad!

But, I guess it is possible to sleep like a sting bug. Although I do not recommend it.

SomeBUNNY Loves You!

Brady's sister, Holly is quite the character. Literally... she's worked at Disney World as different Disney characters. She has been "friends with" Winnie the Pooh, Chip and Dale, Turk (from Tarzan), and a bunch of others. She does such a good job and loves it. At Christmas time she was one of Santa's helpers at South Towne mall. Well she was so good with the kids that they called her back to work for them again....

As the Easter Bunny!

So we had to go see her. I was nervous that Stockton would be scared, but he wasn't at all. As soon as he got on her lap he pointed up at the nose, because I've been teaching him where his nose is.

The guy taking photos was not allowed to take a photo for me with my camera, so I did my best to do it myself. It was hard fitting all three of our heads in the shot!

Stockton got to take home some cute bunny ears. He wouldn't keep them on very long, but he thought it was hilarious when I wore them.

Holly was just doing this on weekends and she's not working on Easter weekend, so if you wanted to go see her, you've missed it. But, the Easter Bunny is still there, it's just not her wearing the costume, and her boss said she was the best one! But, it's free. They want you to spend an arm and a leg for some of their photos, but they won't force you.

We Gotta Walker!

Stockton took his first steps last week. He's slowly but surely gotten better. Well this weekend he just took right off. I've posted a few of my favorite videos.

He's been chatting like crazy. Mostly it consists of two words. Da and Da. EVERYTHING is Da Da. Da Da is Da Da, Ma Ma is Da Da, Stockton is Da Da. Pictures are Da Da. The only thing that isn't Da Da is Truck and Truck is "Vrrrrr" (a truck noise.) Even though Stockton says Da Da most of the time, he understands when we say ball, ba ba, blankie, binkie, truck, come here, let me see it, and stand up.

Please enjoy the videos!

This was Stockton walking last week. He'd go just a few steps and fall, but he would always get right back up again.

Stockton playing with his truck and making the truck noise.

This was Sunday evening and by then he was a walking pro!

40 Years Down, 1 Eternity to Go

On March 6th my wonderful parents celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary. They have been through thick and thin together and have really come out on top. They have survived 7 rowdy kids, 24 grandkids, 4 missionaries, running a business or two, stressful work schedules, time-consuming church callings, surgeries, joint replacements, retirement, and an ever growing number of vacations! And they've done it with smiles on their faces! All they have gone through has made them the wonderful people they are today. I love you mom and dad! You are irreplacable and I'm so grateful for the wonderful examples you have set for me and your endless support and love.

Here's a little look back at Ef -n- Loie through the years.

To celebrate the 40 years of bliss, we threw a little party for Ef and Loie at Noah's. It was a blast! We rented the theater room and the racquet ball room. We watched old home videos, listened to our parents' favorite music, and had the Ef-n-Loie Awards, which was awesome! Especially when Ef broke into "River Dance!" So much fun!

Teething, etc.

So this past couple of weeks the life of this little 11 month old has been full of getting new pearly whites! Yay! Yup... teething, one of the great adventures of motherhood. Some of the exciting parts include: Chewing on anything he can get his hands on!
More chewing... and lots of drooling! (That is a magnet from the fridge that he has in his mouth... well it was at one point, the flower on the front is pretty much unrecognizable now with all the drool damage and teeth marks.)

Of course now we have to keep those little teeth clean, and Stockton has no problem with it. He loves to brush his teeth, he'd do it all day long if I let him. Must be his mother's child.

Lots of pain and crying... poor kidlet. Thank goodness for teething tablets, Baby Orajel, and gripe water.

But, fortunately there are plenty of smiles and giggles to show off those new teef.

I love this picture... I can get Stockton to make this face on cue all I have to do is ribbit like a frog. He thinks it's hilarious.

Here are some other things Stockton's been up to lately.

Listenin' to some tunes.

Becoming a sippy cup pro.

Helping Mommy clean!

Getting into some tight spots!