it all started with polka dot balloons

First she saw these...



Then we made these...




And then we had a party...



A 4 year old friend/cousin party to be exact. (A first for her mom and dad...we might wait a few years before the next big bash...just kidding)

The kids had such a great time and Lyza was in heaven. Lyza is lucky to have such fun friends and cousins around her.

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

look mom i'm reading

Is this the moment that I have been waiting for? Is this her right of passage from being a toddler to becoming a child? It sure feels like everytime I turn around she is accomplishing something new for the first time, learning a new word (some I like, some I am not glad she now knows). She is defintely letting go of her need to be dependent on us for everything. And now she can READ? What is next? Will she stop wanting to hang out with us on Friday nights because her friends are doing something cooler? Do kids these days even use the word "cooler" anymore? Oh I am not sure I am ready.

How proud of her I am. She has a love of learning and I am amazed at 3 1/2 years old she is well versed in all of her take home books. I love that when I am reading a book to her and stumble on a word she tells me to "break the word up mom." Oh of course little one, thanks for the advice!

For now we are getting used to our new little reader, but I am really scared for the day she asks me to help with her Algebra or Geometry homework. How dissappointed she will be when she learns how little of that I remember. Don't worry we can always drive to her Aunts house!

She say's, "look mom i'm reading"

I hear, "look mom I am getting married and moving out. You are only going to see me once a week and on holiday's if you are lucky. I'll try to remember to call you and tell you about my life, but don't wait by the phone I'm pretty busy."

Seriously they are going to be grown and gone by tomorrow, I can feel it.

Spring Concerts

Spring is here, well kind of...in between all of the snow storms..., so that means that Spring Dance Concerts are here as well. In our house that means costumes, curling irons, and make up. It also means that mom and dad get to watch their little girl dance and enjoy herself. What parent wouldn't want to see that. Here is our first dance concert for The Dance Club that was at Timpview High School on April 10th. Lyza had such a fun time and always tells us that she loves everyone clapping for her. She did such a great job.



One week later we got to experience the Spring Dance Concert for Showcase Dance at Davis High School on April 18th. Lyza got to dance with her darling cousins and again had such a great time. She danced to "I won't grow up" (wish that was true) and "It's a Hard Knock Life." Again it was such a fun experience.

Thanks to everyone who helps teach Lyza, she is surrounded by such great teachers in her life.

Until next time...

i never had a chance

I always imagined that my children would love their mother the most. Not that I didn't want them to love their father, but I always imagined that the "mom" was the "favorite" and that the "dad" was there for discipline and the occasional daddy-daughter/son date. And why wouldn't you love the "mom" the most. I mean we made you in our bodies, we gave you life, we sit up nights worrying about your future.

In my little family, this idea and expectation is not true. Actually not even close to being true.

My theory is...that Steven secretly met with Lyza when we were all up in heaven together. I think they made a secret packed to love each other the most. (I am sure there were promises of candy and presents involved) They agreed that they would have "that" connection. Lyza promised she would light up anytime his name was mentioned, would open up and talk to him about things that she wouldn't talk to her mom about, and most importantly would give him that "look." This look would be the way she reminded him of their promise made up in heaven together. This look would say to her daddy..."Remember, I promised, you would be my favorite."



This is a picture I found of Lyza when she was 10 months old, it was at this moment I knew...

I NEVER HAD A CHANCE!

if only this picture had audio

Lyza 3 years old

When I look at this picture, not only do I see a cute little blonde haired beauty with her tutu on and her feet crossed at her ankles...but I hear something.

Do you hear it?

Shhhh, listen closely and you might be lucky enough?

If you were lucky enough to hear it...you have just taken part in the most glorious sound in the world.

What sound is this you ask?

Only the greatest sound of pure joy. An authentic belly laugh of this 3 year old child. This laugh can work magic. For that moment when you hear it you forget all of your problems, remember why life is important, and best of all thank the heavens above that the laugh will be in your life forever.

Shhh...listen again. Did you hear it?

just don't eat the yellow snow...

Ah, the good old days of playing in the snow. Remember how it took an hour to get all of the different layers of warm clothes on. And by the time you were all dressed you were so sweaty and miserable? Then you were finally ready to go outside and play in the snow for hours....or like twenty minutes before you were so cold that your face felt as numb as Novacaine at the dentist's office? Well the snow days are back...now it is just the second generation. (Oh, and my husband too...he is still a kid at heart.)

We had a fun snow play day at my mom and dad's house a few weeks ago. All of the cousins got their snow gear on and went out for the long haul. They had so much fun having snowball fights and building snowmen. Lyza and Halle loved being chased by the snow monster (a.k.a. Mr. Bull) and burying him in the snow.

Seriously I am so glad I am married to a man who loves to PLAY! No wonder Lyza loves him so much. He is always up for playing with the kids.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!...actually just for another month and then I am ready for the sun.

it's a pre-school christmas program...

Lyza has loved going to pre-school this year and she has two fantastic teachers at her school. Ms. Kelsey, who is actually in our ward, and Ms. Jennifer. The week before Christmas they put on a Christmas Program packed full of songs about snowflakes, reindeer, and snowmen. And we had a visit from the Jolly Man himself at the end. (Lyza still hasn't warmed up to him yet.)

calling heaven...

Teaching your 3 year old that she can talk to Heavenly Father and Jesus anytime she wants (in prayer) can sometimes back fire on you.


Lyza: Mom I am starving please feed me before you feed baby brother. (she was not starving 5 seconds ago until she saw that I was going to feed the baby)


Me: Lyza I will feed you as soon as I am done feeding your brother.


Lyza: (now whinnying) No you have to feed me now… (and laying on the ground in the midst of a great tantrum)


Me: Lyza, remember that we don’t talk like that and we need to be patient. Mom will get to you as soon as she can.


Lyza: Stands up and stomps her leg and says. “Fine then I’m not going to be your daughter anymore. I’m going to call Jesus and Heavenly Father and I’m going to live with them up in Heaven and you will never see me again.” Walks off to her room.


Oh, the teenage years should be so much fun!!

watch out michael phelps

Lyza was ready for her first year of swimming lessons. Correction...daddy was ready for Lyza to become the worlds best 3 year old swimmer! Mr. Bull grew up in Southern California with a pool in his back yard. He and his brothers were jumping off his parents roof into the pool by the time he was a young boy. So anything less then that for our daughter was going to be unacceptable. Except for the fact that our daughter screamed in horror in the bath tub anytime the water would get near her face.

Not a problem Mr. Bull decided. He would remedy this with a quick couple of swimming lessons and she would be on her way. Even though we found the most amazing swimming teacher, it turned out it was going to take much more then wishful hoping to make our little blonde beauty an Olympic swimmer. (a.k.a. even put so much as her chin in the water.)

We sat through a couple of rough lessons. And when I say rough I mean, rough for Miss Loni (a.k.a. the worlds best swimming teacher.) She was so patient with Lyza and just kept at it with her.

Along the road of those first few rough swimming lessons we did hear quite a few "classic" comments come out of Lyza's mouth. (see next picture)

Lyza: "Miss Loni I want to go back to the stairs...I've had a rough day."

Lyza: "Miss Loni, my swimming suit is all sweaty." (really just wet)

Lyza: "Miss Loni, if i jump in right hear I'm going to crack my head open."

And my all time favorite...

Lyza: "Miss Loni, if you let go of me...I'm going to FREAK OUT!" (who knows how she even knew that word???)

But somehow I think Lyza could feel her daddy's anxiety, she could feel him almost willing her to love to swim. Because all of the sudden during the 4th swimming lesson the light switch went on. Our little Michael Phelps was born. She couldn't get enough of the water. She was swimming with her face in, jumping off the side, and even jumping off the diving board. It was seriously the craziest thing to watch.

Miss Loni you are incredible! Oh, and you're pretty incredible too Ly Ly!

I posted 2 videos below...this is the swimming lesson that it all turned around. One moment she wouldn't have anything to do with the water and seriously the next she was doing this!

Lyza (age 3) first day of jumping at swimming lessons

Lyza's (age 3) first jump off the diving board

Olympics here we come!!!!

steven is in love!

If Steven didn't already love his daughter to death...Lyza has now sealed the deal completely. Lets back up a bit...

One of the things Steven loves is picking skin. He picks his arms, nails, heals, face,anything. If there is skin hanging off something, he wants to pick it. One of the things I despise is picking. I can't stand picking things off of other people. Even the sound of picking pretty much drives me crazy. I don't mind "peeling" skin after a sunburn but that is about as far as I go. Steven doesn't believe it, but I actually start feeling "car sick" or "motion sick" when I have to focus in and pick at something. Thus we have a problem in our relationship.

Fast Forward 3 years...PROBLEM IS SOLVED! Lyza not only is our first born and the apple of our eye, she has single handily solved our picking dilemma Lyza LOVES to pick. Today she sat and picked at Steven's feet for 20 minutes. (This is 19 minutes longer then I usually last picking at his feet) While it pretty much grossed me out and I told her she had to wash her hands 3 times after she was done, I am glad that she and her daddy have yet another activity that bonds them together.

HAPPY PICKING YOU TWO!!

priorities

This is so my Lyza. I turned around in the car the other day and found her fast asleep, however please notice the "purse" still attached. If you ever visit us or see Lyza, odds are in your favor that she will be holding one of her many "handbags." She is my own "Louis Vuitton" when it comes to purses. She can't have enough of them or have enough in them. I am glad to see in this picture that she has her priorities straight. Even in her sleep she is "clutching her clutch." Is there any question she is all girl?

beauty salon

If you know Lyza...you know her hair! She is 10% body and 90% hair. She just has this hair that looks like it should be on a teenager. It has been like that for her from the beginning. I actually have a entire post that I want to put together to document her amazing hair for posterity. Because I know that one day she will come home with it cut all the way off and dyed black!

But here was our fun evening out together at our good friend Lezlie's salon. We love Lez and she is a fabulous stylist.

Lyza did a pretty good job of sitting still for Lezlie during the hair cut. Please notice the "Steven Bull Fight Face" she is doing. This is a face we named after my husband. It is a look he does all of the time when he is concentrating. His eye brows are all tight and it looks like he wants to "fight you." Well don't worry it is the dominant gene in our family. Both Lyza and (don't worry) Seth have the look.

Tons of hair!

Great job Lez...we love ya!

just the two of them

There is no one who loves Seth more then his big sister Lyza. She can't wait to see him every morning and if he ever even makes the littlest noise she tells me "Go make sure baby is okay."

She has mastered the art of putting his binky back in his mouth (eek) and wants to be right next to him at all times.


And if mom and dad would allow it...she would have him sleep in her bed all night. But the best part of all, Lyza tells us at least 50 times a day how much she LOVES her little brother. What a great big sister she is!

lyza you make me laugh....

So I was changing Seth's diaper the other day and Lyza inquired about his brown umbilical cord that was still in his belly button.

Lyza: Mom, what is that?

Me: That is called an umbilical cord. It helped baby brother get food while he was in mommies tummy.

Lyza: Oh, why is it still in there?

Me: It will dry out and then it will fall off.

Lyza: So once it falls off...does that mean we get to keep him?

Me: (Laughing) Yes, Lyza it is kind of like a tag on a new shirt...once you take the tag off it is yours to keep.

I love how her mind works.

ballet in the dirt

Who says you can't help your dad put in the landscaping in a tutu?

Lyza thinks it is perfectly acceptable.

three years

My little one some how turned three years old today...I can't figure out how this has happened. Three years has flown by so fast. It has been the best three years of our lives. So what do you do when you turn three years old..you have 2 different birthday parties of course!

Here we are celebrating Lyza's birthday at Grandma Nae's and Papa Jer's house. We had a great dinner, pink cake, and presents!

Here Lyza is with her cousins Braden and Halle!

Here is birthday party #2...notice the color of choice. Lyza's only requests were that she had a pink cake, pink party hats, and "goodie bags." Let the pink festivities begin...

Lyza with her cousins Kelli and Sami.

Pink party hat and Pink shirt...can you guess our favorite color?

We gave Lyza a bike for her present...she was instantly in love.

Now we just need to learn how to steer and pedal.

Happy 3rd Birthday Ly Ly...You make us so proud!

perfect question

Every night before Lyza falls asleep we talk in the dark in her room. Tonight she asked me,

"Mom, how long are you my mom for?"

I looked at that cute little face and said,

"Luckily Lyza forever, and ever and ever."

mom...these are for licking

So I made the mistake of putting the beaters, I had used to mix cookie dough, in the sink after I was done mixing the dough. I left the kitchen for a minute and returned to find that Lyza had pushed a chair up to the sink and dug out the beaters. She looked and me and said, "Mom, these are for licking!"

From the picture above...she enjoyed every lick!

new babysitter...the ipod

So we figured out that an ipod with the movie "Enchanted" playing on it will keep our toddler occupied for an entire Jazz Game.

We didn't have anyone to watch Lyza for our last Jazz game, but not to worry our ipod is our new babysitter. Worked like a charm!

the sleeping one....

Why is it that when they are asleep you just can sit and stare at them for hours.
Why is it that when they are asleep you think to yourself..."I could have a dozen more just like this?" (You quickly take back this statement once they actually wake up and start acting like a 2 year old again.)
Why is it that when they are asleep you try to memorize their face at this young age so you can recall what it looked like when they are all grown up.
Why is it that when they are asleep you say a prayer in your heart thanking Heavenly Father for this choice experience of being a mother.