The last of California

As I have mentioned before, I am super behind on my blogging. Here are a few pictures from our last little week or so in California and most of them are of my cute little Henry :)

Henry is always chewing on his fingers like this and I love it!

I love that he fell asleep like this

This is my precious little niece, Lilian.

Halloween

Kenzie, Henry and I were actually in Rexburg with my sister, Katie, for Halloween but I haven't figured out how to get those pictures out of RAW format yet, so I will just post what I have right now since I have already procrastinated this long.

We live really close to Hogle Zoo (seriously like one minute away) and we love to go any time we possibly can. They have a special trick-or-treat event every year before Halloween so we took our children to it. We were advised to go first thing in the morning, before the zoo became overly packed with candy-crazed children and it was COLD! Apparently I am not yet re-accustomed to "cold" weather because, according to true Utahn's, "it was actually a pretty nice morning and was NOTHING compared to last year as far as the cold goes." I have a bit of adjusting to do still. Anyways, here are some pictures of MY adorable little animals.

I loved this family's costume theme so much I just HAD to ask to take a picture of them. I especially admire that big gruffy husband for dressing up as a care bear for his wife. What a great guy!

Isn't he just the cutest cow you've ever seen?!

Utah

My brother, Zachary, got married to a wonderful girl named Rachel the day after we moved to Utah. Luckily, the Salt Lake Temple (where they were married) is only about a fifteen minute drive from our new home. Here are some links to my sister Katie's blog where she has posted pictures of the actual wedding:
http://sugarspicebaby.blogspot.com/2013/07/there-was-wedding.html
http://sugarspicebaby.blogspot.com/2013/08/more-of-fosterhowe-wedding.html
The pictures here are just some that were taken with the family afterwards.

My family stayed at the Mariott Hotel while they were here so we took advantage of the Hotel's great pool.

Kenzie and Mallory chowing out on a bag of candy that Grandpa Christensen gave to the kids.

Grandpa Howe and Henry.

A bunch of the Howe family got together at our cousin's, Geoffrey and Joni's, house to eat yummy food and ice cream.

And on Sunday, we went to Music and the Spoken Word at the Tabernacle to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing. It was a beautiful program! This fountain is right outside the tabernacle at Temple Square.

Grandpa splashing Kenzie's feet in the water.

July

Yes, I know July was three months ago now but I am WAY behind on blogging. For those of you who don't know, Shane and I moved at the end of July to Salt Lake City, Utah where Shane is attending law school at the University of Utah and things have just been so busy ever since. I am hoping to get all caught up in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!
Anyway, we went to my parents for the 4th of July in Independence, California. I already posted several pictures from all the Independence Day festivities, but here are a few more from the other days we were there that week.

This is my sister , Emma, trying to catch her lamb for Kenzie and I to pet. This is her second year raising a lamb for FFA. 

We told Makenzie to pet the lamb, so she stuck out one finger and gently stroked the lambs ear.

It didn't take long fr her to warm up to it though. Here she is giving it kisses.

My beautiful Emmy girl!

BTW, Emma is one of Makezies favorite people. She asks to see "Emmy" and to call her and to go on a walk to her house all the time. Emma is such a great aunt. All of her niece's just love her!

Henry sleeps with his hands so sweetly placed like this all the time.

Isn't it just adorable?!

We visited the sheep again and even got to feed it the second time.

Sleeping Grandpa and Henry.

Yes, it's True! My Little Girl is Two!

   Makenzie turned two years old more than a month ago no on September 18. Though the occasion is joyous, I can't help but feel a little sad... My baby is not so much a baby anymore. Each stage she goes through is so fun and exciting yet I can't help but mourn for the time that she so quickly leaves behind her. But I really do love every moment with both of my children and as long as I am soaking up every moment, then I have no reason to mourn, right? How I love Makenzie! And how she loves me! and Daddy! and Henry too!
 
Here are some things about Makenzie:
  She loves her little brother and calls him "Howey." She is such a little mother all ready. Every time Henry cries she says "it's otay (okay) Howey!" While patting his belly and trying to get his binky back into his mouth.
  Whenever she says goodbye this is usually what she says "Bye, bye! See-ya! Nice day! Good luck! I love you!" then she blows a kiss and says "Maaaa!" I NEVER get tired of it!
  Makenzie is really good about going to bed. I hold her, sing a song and put her down in her crib where she tells me "a night, Mommy. I loveeee tho mutth." She just melts my heart!
  Kenzie loves water, or "walo," as she calls it. She loves to splash in it, touch it, swim in it, or even just look at it. She also loves to take baths and loves to have "bubbleth" in her bath.
  Kenzie LOVES to sing! She sings all the time! She sings the lullaby's Shane and I sing to her, ring-around-the-rosie, the theme song from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Winnie the Pooh and so many others. Her very favorite song is Old McDonald which she calls "eee-iii." My favorite song that she sings is a very simple song that sings "rock, rock, baby." She will often substitute words and still sing the same tune. Some examples are "rock, rock, Howey," "yum, yum, Mommy," "walk, walk, Daddy" She will find words to put in there for just about any situation.
  Kenzie calls her dad "Babe." I think it is so funny every time.
  Kenzie loves to dance. Whenever she hears music she just can't contain herself. And she has the greatest moves too!
  Whenever it is time to eat, Kenzie says "food time!" or "Rice time!" or whatever it is we're eating with "time!" after it. She also says things like "Dipey time!" "Walk time!" and "Show time!"
  Kenzie gets really excited about the simplest things and (several times a day) will say "Hoooway! (Hooray) This is fun!!!"
  There is so much more I could write about this little girl but these are a few of my favorites. Makenzie has brought more joy to my life than I ever could have imagined possible. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent her to me!

We went to Hogle Zoo for Kenzie's birthday. The polar bear is our favorite!

This little boy loves to be in his baby carrier snuggled right up to his mommy.

Kenzie also LOVES the carousel. Her favorite animals to ride are the lion and the zebra. 

She is the cutest birthday girl I have ever seen!

Putting on all the bracelets Grandma Klenk and Aunt Carolyn sent in an awesome birthday package.

Look at all those goodies!

How I love my little princess girl! 

Just Us

I have been really busy lately with moving, weddings, unpacking and getting organized so I haven't done a post in a while. Here are just some random pictures of my little family that I have been meaning to post. Hopefully, more post will be coming very soon!

Visiting with Grandma

Henry LOVED having his dad's head on his belly. Every time Henry cried, Shane would put the full weight of his head on Henry, just like this, and Henry would stop crying. It was pretty funny :)

Sometimes when Henry is being fussy, Kenzie will climb up to where ever he is and let him suck on her hand or arm to help calm him. I think it is so sweet. 

Our Aunt Carolyn sent some great clothes for Henry when he was born and sent them in all sizes too. Some of them even fit Kenzie so she has been testing out some of Henry's PJ's for him. I loved that they were both wearing froggy jammies with froggy feet this night.

Our cousin Nicole gave Kenzie a big slice of her cake. Kenzie was in heaven!

Daddy took Kenzie out to play with bubbles. We had so much fun!