2nd Annual Girls Gift Exchange

Last year we started this fun tradition for Christmas, seeing how some of my closest friends had baby girls, all within the same year. We thought a little party for them would be fun and will only get better, as the years pass. The mommies get time together and the girls exchange presents. This year was my turn to host the party and we decided to do a white elephant type exchange-one gift to buy, while drawing names the day of for the exchange. It was a lot of fun and Jayla scored some new PJ's and slippers from her best friend, Lola.

The mommies and the girls

Mama, Candis and Camden (soon-to-be mama of two!!)

I think we are going to have to add Kyan and new baby Creel to the mix next year?!
Mama, Camille and Avery

Me and Jay

Mama, Jenni and Lola

The girls enjoying some grapes.

Not only did Jayla pull Lola's name for a present,but she got a bonus present (on the side) from Lola. These two are closest in age (the EXACT same age) and see each other often. They share a special little bond. Lola got Jayla this adorable My Little Pony, baby doll that comes with a pacifier and bottle. Jayla decided she was going to keep the paci for herself. This was funny to see because she has not used a paci since she was 10 months old. Silly girl!!

My BEAUTY!

The girls

Jayla, Lola, Camden, and Avery

I love Camden's face here, she is so CUTE!

Pretty Lola, look at those lashes!

Adorable Avery

Jay-Lo

Jayla usually yells around the house (when she knows Lola is coming over) "No Lola chair", but she didn't mind sharing her chair today. They were checking out the pony baby.

~Thank you ladies for a fun morning and for keeping the tradition alive. Jayla and I loved having you over and look forward to next year at Jenni's. XO~

Thanksgiving Weekend at the Dunes

Thanksgiving weekend has been long gone, but I haven't found the time to post about it. So here it is. Again I went picture crazy, but my parents appreciate it, since they live so far away :(.

We headed to the Dunes on Thanksgiving morning. I really didn't feel up to going, not because I don't like it, but because school has kept me very busy this semester. So I loaded down my backpack, with all my school stuff, and tried to have some fun with my family. Jearel makes comments to me like "lets just sell our quads and my jeep, since we never get to use them". I've been feeling pretty bad for him, because this is the love of his life, (camping and riding) and we can never find the time to go.

My brother, Adam, and his two oldest boys made the trip as well. Adam bought A.J. and Cameron there very own quads (an early Christmas present). And of course my brother had all the time in the world to ride my quad, since I would be studying, duh!! But I did get to ride for a few hours. I don't ride like the big dawgs, and would much prefer flat dirt trails, over big hills of sand, so I headed out on my own. I think I might need more than a helmet to protect myself-HA!

This was Jayla playing so well, in the garage, while daddy loaded down the trailer before we headed out.

She entertained her cousin, A.J., while singing songs and dancing.
Finally we made it to the dunes. We found this sign at a camp site near us. Perfect for kiddos around. Jayla liked crawling through the turtles legs, getting oh so dirty for mama!

Jayla and her friend, the turtle.

Jayla playing in her never-ending sand box.

I bet you can guess what Santa Grandma and Grandpa Riley got Jayla for Christmas?!

Jayla found a new friend to play with the entire weekend, Mattie. They were so cute together!

Jayla went on a few rides, with daddy, around the camp site!

Playing with cousin A.J.

Cousin Cameron reading Jayla some books.

Another ride telling daddy where to go :)

Going for a ride in Grandma and Grandpa Riley's Rhino. I think this was the most fun for A.J. and Cameron, they even got to drive it!!

Jayla in her very own riding goggles. We bought her these last dune season, but she has yet to keep them on. Poor girl kept getting sand in her eyes. One day she will learn.

Jayla held down our fort with her stick. Don't mess with her!!

Playing a little T-Ball.

She didn't want to give anyone else a turn, imagine that!!

My dirty girl :)

Jearel calls this picture a "Jenni shot" minus the D90. Hey she has some great moves!!!

Jayla being silly, making weird noises. Such a goof ball!

Jayla is my little beauty queen, I know I keep saying this, but how did Jearel and I get so lucky ;)

I am starting to think Jayla loves camping just as much as daddy, overall she was in a great mood the entire trip. Might just be because she loves to be outside?!

Sisco bisco. How cute is he?!

(Random order of pictures, sorry)

Jayla happy as can be!

Making silly faces!!

Hanging by the campfire with daddy.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE, might just be because I am obsessed with her feet, but look how cute that is. She is growing up way too fast!

Drawing pictures with her cousins. They are so good to her!

These pictures are priceless. Look at the love just pouring out of Jayla. (Our camera got sand stuck in the shutter of the lense, which is why it is half open here)

TOO CUTE!!!

More riding with daddy!

This is the only picture taken of me :(. I hopped on my nephew's new quad to take it for a ride and then it broke. Sorry Cameron, it will be in tip top shape for your next ride. He was so sad, and kept saying, "daddy would have yelled at him if I broke it". This is true, but I didn't mean to break it, it just happened to break while I was riding it, thank god for that so poor Cameron didn't get in trouble.

~Thanks again to Jearel's mom and step dad for letting us crash in their toyhauler and for all the yummy food. You guys are too good to us!~

~Also thank you to our neighbor and friend, Chris, for watching our dogs and cat while we were away.~

"BEEG Poop"

That's right Jayla went poop (it was BIG) on the potty last Tuesday night (12/8/09). She was getting done with her bath when she proceeded to tell daddy that she needed to go poop. She does this all the time but of course nothing comes out when we sit her on the potty. Not this time! So typical of Jay to do everything backwards. Most babies go pee first, but I'm not complaining. I'll take a pee diaper over messy poo any day. Then this morning Jayla went pee two times on her potty.

This was Jayla pooping on her potty. Jayla's quote to her accomplishment, "Beeg Poop an Faush it". We let her flush her poop down the big potty. She has been talking about it all week.

We did capture a picture of her actual poop, but I will spare all of you (we are gross, I know). Some of you were lucky enough to get the picture sent to your phone, via proud daddy. Sorry friends :).

~Good Job Jayla, mommy and daddy are so proud of our big girl!!~

Our Little Goofball

These video's were taken about a month ago and I have been begging Jearel to unpload them to the computer from his iphone. FINALLY he decided it was time to share ;)

Jayla is such a little goofball, even though she is quite the handful, she keeps us entertained with her silly personality. More often than not, she is very shy around new people, but with her family she is quite the chatterbox and always on the move. Videos are the only proof we have to how silly she is.

We were out at one of our favorite restaurants, right by our house, which we go to quite often. Jearel knows the manager and he likes to take care of us (this is always a plus). This time he bought Jayla a special desert. You had to have been there to get the full effect, but it was the cutest thing to see. Now keep in mind that Jayla knows how to feed her self with utensils, but when it comes to messy stuff, such as ice cream, mama usually handles that, but this time Jayla took all control.... Just watch!! I was in the middle of trying to feed her until she reached across the table and grabbed her own spoon. Apparently I wasn't moving fast enough for her!!

~Please remember to pause the music player at the bottom of the page~

Now this video was when we were leaving, sugar+hyper active child= never leaving the restaurant and pure entertainment. I think she danced outside for 30 minutes. Jayla greeted everyone that walked in and out, making them stop to check out her dance moves (totally not Jayla with strangers)

ENJOY!