18 Months

My baby is somehow 18 months old!

It honestly doesn't seem possible...

I know parents always say that...

but it is so true...they grow so fast!

Aiden knows most of her body parts now...

I think she gets a little annoyed that I am always asking her...

where is your elbow...or your cheeks...etc!

But I think it is so cute!

I was making a list of all the words that she says now...

not just repeating what we say...

and there are over 50 words now!

Although she still won't say yes or no...

she just shakes her head!

She won't say bye either...she just waves...but Hi is a favorite!

She now makes the sounds of a sheep, a cow, a dog, a kitty,

a duck & a lion without me having to tell her what they say first...

I realize most of you don't really care...and none of this is really out of the ordinary...

so sorry!

Today was Aiden's first day in the Nursery at church!

It was a much harder day for me than it was for her....

she LOVED it!

We opened the door and she ran right in...

she loves other kids...

and they have some pretty cool toys in there!

I didn't stay in there with her...I left after just a minute...

she really didn't seem to notice.

All during my classes anytime I heard the doors open, or the little girls in the back

or something I was turning around to see if it was for me!

I probably made the people behind me uncomfortable!

Hahaha...oh well...

It just seemed so strange not having to entertain her

and attempt to keep her quiet!

Aiden wasn't even done by the time I went in to pick her up.

They sang and had snacks and she colored a picture (and her dress a little)

I am so proud of her!

It was a great day!

On A Happier Note...

This is just a silly video that I shot while at the park...

don't mind the crazy music in the background...

some weird men singing karaoke to a small crowd at the pavilion!

We had fun anyway!

One Year Older...

Sunday was Mother's Day...

and it was also my birthday this year...

It has been a long few weeks...

so all I wanted was to hang out with my husband and my beautiful daughter...

it was a good day!

Trenton bought me a cake on Saturday...it was fantastic!

My mom & dad sent me flowers!

We went for a drive up A.F. canyon...the loop was closed...but it was still fun!

After our drive we took Aiden to a little park in town!

There were a couple of guys there singing...weird!

But Aiden didn't seem to mind...and at first there was no one else on the toys!

She was terrified of these things in the beginning...

but she got used to them!

Playing with dad!

He was great...we made dinner together...

and then he gave Aiden her bath & everything so I could read & relax.

I love it!

I hope everyone else had a great Mother's Day too!

Goodbye Dear Friend

Jennifer Smith Walters

Yesterday May 4, 2009
At 28 Jen lost her 3 year battle with brain cancer...
My heart aches for the loss of my friend...
for all of her family...especially her husband & son
I know she is in a better place...and no longer suffering
I know this is not the end for Jen & her family
And they are all in my thoughts & prayers

This is the only picture I have of Jen holding Aiden...

in January 2008...at our house after Aiden was blessed...

Ryan her husband is behind her holding their son Noah!

Jen had such a fun, vibrant personality...

she could always make me laugh!

She loved her family & friends

Jen taught me a lot...especially about myself...
even in her moments of doubt...
I have never met anyone that knew themselves as well as Jen

I met Jen in August of 2000...she was my roommate at Utah State
the first one I met
I was terrified as I watched my family drive away...
and she came & asked me to go to dinner!
I knew I would love her!

She was the life of the party!
No matter what we were doing!
Whether we were working out to her Cindy Crawford video,
hanging out waiting for our laundry to be done
or just watching Pride & Prejudice...

We had a dance for Valentine's day...
after we watched a movie at our apartment...
this was Jen & her date...

Here we are with Nikki...getting ready to go clubbing!

Just hanging out at Tiff, Wendy & Kelly's apartment!

at that Valentine's dance...

I remember a lot of things about Jen...
she loved to play her guitar & write songs...
she loved music in general!
Every Thursday we used to eat at Old Grist Mill (still a favorite)
and then go home & watch Friends...

She loved Diet Coke...and midnight pie runs to Denny's!

This was Christmas time


(Sorry some of the photos are kind of blurry...
these are from back in the good ole' days...
before digital cameras!)

This was my 2nd year at Utah State...hanging out in our apartment!

Halloween 2000

She was playing my leg like a guitar...

I don't really remember why...?

For Spring Break 2001 we went to San Diego...

we had so much fun!!!

Shopping & eating & watching movies...going to the beach & playing skip-bo!

Getting ready for the Colors concert...

Me, Kelly & Jen...Wendy was taking the picture

In San Diego...

Jen, Me & Kelly

Jen standing next to Sarah...then me & Nikki...

I don't even remember whose birthday it was!

One day for one of her classes...Jen brought home some "drunk goggles"

Oh my goodness!

You couldn't even stand up straight!

So much fun!

We were just hanging out at Kelly & Wendy's house...

not sure why Jen felt the urge to attack Wendy!

Aren't we cute?!?!

It was so late at night!

We were of course playing skip-bo...

we played a lot...

we used to get very competitive!!!

I loved it!

I miss those days!

I could talk to her about anything...

Just Jen!

Here we all were...

Jen, Wendy, Me & Kelly...

looking like we needed to get some sleep!

Jen & I used to go for drives...to get out...get away...

after a hard day...or a bad guy!!!

We went to Idaho a lot...music blaring...

and usually on the way back we would feel better enough to talk about it!

This time though we went to Bear Lake...we wanted a raspberry shake...

but they weren't open yet!!!

We were so bummed!
Not me as much...I had never had one before!

I will miss you Jen...I love you!

I am so glad that I got to be a part of your life...

and that I had the privilege of calling you my friend...

I will miss your laugh...I hope I never forget it!

Just thinking of it makes me smile!

I will miss you making fun of my "Indiana accent"

I will miss you saying things like "fetch" when you're upset

or "beesh" when you're cold!

I am so glad that we have the gospel in our lives...

glad for the knowledge that we have

I know this is not goodbye forever...

just Till We Meet Again...

More Aiden!

We went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point a few weeks ago

with my sister Christy & the kids...

she sent me some pictures...

because I didn't have my camera...

so...

Digging for dino bones!

Close call!

Attempting to get them all together!

Hahaha...

Admiring a skeleton...

Aiden & Daddy

Random photo of Aiden squeezed in between the steps & the safe...?

Playing in her drawer...

It has all the safe utensils & lids to the tupperware...

Making herself comfortable...

She is a hoot...

And randomly trying on a pair of my jeans...

she was helping with the laundry!