Easter 2014

We celebrated Easter with some new friends in our ward. The Escalantes hosted and we had a good time. Jenna found a lot of eggs. Then she unpacked them and repacked them. Of course she got to eat a few!

Unpacking the first one. A full basket!

Opening her eggs - too excited to sit!

Getting ready to re-pack her eggs.

Then we had Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Hamm's house.

Finding the first egg.



Gathering more... 

Eating chocolate!

My only regret with Easter this year was that we didn't focus more on the true meaning of Easter. We were so worn out after the Fresno reception, recovering from our trip to Utah, feeding the missionaries, having friends (old Deloitte co-workers) to dinner and Stake Conference. Next year...

Aunt Lizzy & Uncle Nate's Wedding

The second week of April we took a long road trip (12 hours!) to Utah to see Beth and Nate get hitched in the Salt Lake Temple. We had so much fun! We stayed with family one night, friends another night and new extended family the night after. Each experience was unique and we were grateful for all of the hospitality we received. By the time we got home Saturday night, we had driven for at least 31 hours. Jenna was a dream. And she even slept!

From SLC to Boise

Of course we prepared for our trip. Here is Jenna trying on her dress. She would not let me get a picture of the back.

From the left: Great Uncle Larry, Jenna, Olivia, Uncle Andy carrying baby Jack (from Jenna's perspective). People often thought Olivia and Jenna were sisters, which is so funny because none of us are related by blood.

The Hamm clan.

A little tired.

Talking with Aunt Lizzy.

Jenna got scared!

Congrats Beth and Nate! We wish you the best for your first year together!

January 2014

We sold our house on Cedar in December and the day after Christmas we moved in with my in-laws. They were so good to have us! As of today (February 12), we are still here, but hope to move out by the weekend. This weekend would be a good time to move because it is a three day weekend.

So we have lived in limbo a little bit. I have recently started crafting and will try to remember to take pictures and post what I have done.

But that doesn't mean we haven't had fun! In the last 6 weeks we have:

--Celebrated Steve's birthday (Dec 24), Suzanne's birthday (Jan 30) and our anniversary (Dec 29).

--Officially found out that we are having another girl in June (I am currently about 21 weeks):

--We went on a few play dates. Jenna really liked going to the park and feeding the ducks as well as going to the fish hatchery and feeding the fish. ("Jump, fish!")

--On January 25 we went to the Santa Anita racetrack and watched the horse races. Steve's boss breeds racehorses (among other things) and they had nice area reserved with a catered lunch that was accessible to the racetrack. It was fun to watch the horses run. And now whenever Jenna sees a horse (or a picture of one) she says: "Running horses, zoom!". Someone even placed a bet for us! (We didn't ask her, and no, we didn't win anything.)

--On February 11 Jenna got her first haircut! (I have cut her bangs, but I am not counting that.) She did a good job, though I am certain the Mickey show helped.

Coming up soon is Valentine's Day and moving. I am a little anxious to get things set up and comfortable in our new place. Then in March is Steve's little sister's endowment and bridal shower, April is going to her wedding and seeing "Wicked", May we will go to Texas to see his twin brother and his wife and in June (I am putting my money on early July), we will add to the family. Yikes! No wonder I haven't been sleeping. This year is already packed and it isn't even the middle of February!

Jenna sayings at two

Some silly things that Jenna says at 2:

bee bee = bee ("share beebee")
lum = some
used to say: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10!, can now count to 14 with help, 10 without help
you = me
gogo = turtle
lala = song/music ("no lala, mommy!)
pacer = pacifier
yet
"-ing"
almost
there
this
"brush teeth Jenna" when she want me to brush her teeth.
num num = watermelon
juice = anything not milk or water

"yawwhh" with eyes and mouth held wide open, meaning "very yes"

"biiiiig" = something that is very big

"oink, oink here, oink, oink here"for the Old MacDonald song

When did she get to be such a big girl???

Jenna Turns Two

So I am really behind in my blogging...

Jenna turned 2 on November 8th, and we had a party for her on the 9th. We invited some of her friends from church and had cupcakes, toddler snacks and pizza. We had something for them to color, an easy beanbag toss (which I made myself - huzzah!) and balls for them to kick around. Theme was zoo animals.

Of course I agonized over how I wanted to do the party. I wanted Jenna to have fun, but I also wanted to invite a lot of people and all of the websites said to keep the invitees to a small number. But I think it turned out okay.

At 2 she likes:
--Her animals! Especially her crib animals: Pig (two), Bear, Coon, Go-Go and Doll.
--Sweeping and using the dust pan.
--Going on the slide and the swings at the park.
--Drawing animals with a pen. She sees us do any kind of writing and says: "sssss"
--Drawing with chalk.
--Feeding the neighbor dogs leaves.
--Going to the library.
--Reading books.
--Watching Winnie-the-Pooh and the Simpsons.
--Approaching animals, but not too close to touch.

At 2 she can:
--Can run and walk like a pro!
--Likes to climb onto chairs and couches. She likes to climb on the back of the couch and scare Mommy!
--Likes playing hide and seek.
--Likes to sneak.
--Says a lot of words! She is very good at parroting words she has never heard before.
--Has a few tantrums but not too bad. Only when really tired.
--Sings ABCs.
--Likes taking baths with jet bubbles with Daddy.
--Plays "sleep" for up to 5 seconds at a time.

More Jenna

I need to have more kids so Jenna doesn't get so many posts dedicated to her...

"Yeah, I'm drinking juice. Jealous?"

.

The belt makes the basket easier to pull.

"Let's see if this fits."

"Hello, can I have cheese?"

"Grandma reads stories the best."

"Daddy helping to wash my hands."

The Underground Gardens

In the early 1900s, a guy named Baldassare Forestiere came to the United States from Italy.  He came to Fresno and partly because it was so hot in the summer, he decided to build an underground living area, with the intent of eventually turning it into a hotel. He had his work cut out for him since the soil was actually hardpan, but he created something beautiful. He didn't have any blueprints or plans. 

Jenna did a good job staying with the group. She is getting too heavy to carry but luckily she is usually obedient. 

There were many trees like this.

Jenna was such a good girl

A walkway - I want!

Amazing shelf

Looking from a reflecting pool into a living area.

Of course Jenna chose to stand in the middle of the chapel.

You slide into the seat and the table slides out.

The summer room. The window in the left looks out to the reflecting pool.