Halloween 2009

So yes; we moved, had a beautiful baby named Anabella Daisi Gibbons, and had our big girl, Lili, start Kindergarten. Not the most appropriate way to start a Halloween blog, but since I haven't blogged about it yet, I figured I would include that (just in case any of you weren't aware :)
Halloween lasted quite a while at our house (mainly since I decorated in September. I figure that the holiday comes and goes so fast..why not enjoy it as long as you possibly can?) We did some of the usual activities...like...
carving pumpkins



and lots of other fun activities like..
making caramel apples




going to Hee Haws..



..where we also went on a hay ride. The kids had to yell "Hee Haw" to get the candy...


making Halloween cookies



and of course, dressing up and trick or treating. We took Lili to the mall, both grandparents' house, and then some "rich" houses. She got hooked up.





And no, Stephen is not a "pig fairy." He's actually the "swine flu." He's adorable!
We ended our Halloween holiday with "the Nightmare Before Christmas" and our yummy caramel apples.

It was probably my favorite Halloween yet!

Zoo Day

So Stephen and I finally had a day off at the same time (this is a RARE thing), so we decided to go to Hogle Zoo. It was really crowded and pretty hot, but still tons of fun. Lili's favorite parts: Kristy (the elephant) and her tricks, the giraffes, and the penguins. After, we stopped at the "This is the Place Monument" but were too tired to walk around, so we ditched it and went to Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon. It turned out to be a fun day off...at least until we got home and had to get back to packing :(

Preparing for big sisterhood...

Lili is so excited to be a big sister. She loves taking care of babies (Lili calls any kid her age or younger a "cute little baby"). She has practiced with dolls for years and now she is moving on to the real "babies." She will be such a big help with her little sister who should be here within weeks!!

My Birthday Dinner Selection

So Stephen asks me where I want to go eat dinner on my birthday; I could choose anywhere. My decision: the Mayan. I know what most people think about their food: that it's not very good or that it "sucks" and I probably agree a little, but I love the place and the atmosphere. I love the sound of the water, the artifacts and explorer-type atmostphere when you come in, the trees and jungle-ish feeling inside, and the dim lighting. Lili also is a huge fan (as probably all kids are).

Easter 2009

Lili didn't have one easter egg hunt this year...or even two...she had three egg hunts plus her basket hunt..yes, she is a bit spoiled (but she's so cute she deserves it). In the morning, Stephen hid some eggs outside his parent's back yard, and Lili had fun having her very own hunt. After opening her eggs and gathering the candy, she then got to hunt for her easter basket. In her basket was tons MORE candy and goodies. That afternoon, we went to Stephen's parent's house for the April b-day dinner, afterwhich the kids got together for Lili's second hunt. Next, we went to my parent's house, where Lili got to have her 3rd hunt. My parent's had a cute idea: they had specialized hunts: one for Lili, one for baby Jade (which consisted of a few eggs and fruit snacks thrown on the grass where she could reach them), and even one for the adults. So Lili got MORE candy and goodies.

We decided to make rice krispie chocolate eggs. Lili's favorite part: the chocolate.



Stephen led me on my own hunt for my easter basket. In it was lots of ring pops and other goodies and a card telling me that proposing (which he did last year on Easter Sunday) was the best decision he ever made. Really???

Beautiful baby Jade

Sweet 11-day old Maya

Cute Chunky Cameron

Lili and her basket: before the multiple egg hunts

Lili and her goods after the multiple egg hunts

My not so litte Lili face...

My little Lili face is not so little anymore. I had the chance to make her a photo book of her first four years and I was reminded of just how amazing and unique she is. She has been through my side through good and bad, and has taught me many lessons. She is growing into a beautiful little girl (no more baby...at least for a few months until the baby comes :) She's always liked looking cute, but lately, she's REALLY been into dressing up. She has a funny style though: She dresses up any outfit: her casual clothes, her church clothes, her pajamas; she just adds a tiara, jewelry, high-heeled shoes, and a mound of lip gloss. She is such a little model!

Lili's B-day Party- Jan 2009

So we figured that this would be Lili's last birthday party as an only child and decided to let her choose her destination and theme. Of course, she chose a care bear party at Jump On It. She had her strawberry-short-cake-themed party there last year and absolutely loved it. She couldn't have had more fun. Thanks to everyone who came!!
With nails painted pink, a brand new outfit, and hair curled and full of glitter; an excited Lili heads to her party.

We got the beach room...didn't really go with the Care Bear theme, but it was cute.

Lili, Jayci, & Bianca jumping....actually, sitting.

Lili, Caleb, Chloe, and Cassie taking a pizza break.


Lili and Talon.

My mom made the cake and it was amazing: homemade white cake with dulce de leche and homemade whipped cream...Argentina-style!

Tiago, Lili, and Tiffany. Lili calls them her "Seven Peaks friends".

Cecilia and I with her adorable kids.