"Love me, love my children...Grandma Peterson always used to say this. It's SO true! Aubry has done it again by highlighting my most favorite girl in the world. I feel so lucky to have a sister that is not only so talented, but is so generous with her time in shooting some very cool photos.
Time is going by so dang fast that these pictures are precious; she manages to capture every prized expression that I see every day.
Thank you Aubry. You make it painless and fun and I LOVE YOU.
I'm not patient enough to load all the pictures, but you can check out other pictures from this shoot and other family pictures she's done at startinphoto.blogspot.com.

Labor Day fun

Labor Day was awfully fun this year...here's some pics of the kids playing in the backyard. They're growing up so fast.

Who's ready for another?

There's been a whole lotta news between May 6th and now and I know I'll mess it up if I try to tell everything, so I'll just give the blogging world the real deal.

Presley is going to be a BIG sister.

Yep, and if you've seen her lately, you'd believe the big (it may be the only way she takes after her poor, unrepresented-in-the-genes-department mom). WAH! I miss the 6 mo. Presley but adore the 15 mo. Presley.

She did cut her first tooth though. She may even be walking before the new one arrives. :)

The amazing picture is compliments of Aubry and her endless obsession with being the best. Seriously, thank you to my sisters who take pictures of my nearest and dearest and don't post the narsty pictures of me with the awful angles and scary hi-res.

10 minutes to go

We've got countdown till morning nap and I couldn't resist taking a pic of the girl with the pigtails. She has enough hair and sat long enough for me to do it. The other pics are just more of the same.

Loving her hair, loving her little 'tude.

Okay, I know in my heart of hearts this is creepy and weird more than it is cute and funny. But Paul and I were laughing so hard when I put my hair over hers because it's so bizarre. It's like the SNL baby toupee.

Finally, the best shot of the last several weeks. Anyone that knows him could surmise that Paul would be a good dad, but sheesh, he's, like, so great.

Back to real life. I've got several clients that I'm looking for homes now! Thanks, Mom, for keeping me busy. You're a real champ. :)

Presley's first birthday...REMIX

Umm, when I posted last, like, yesterday! (that's two days in a row) I mentioned that it had been a slow news weeks...not so much true as a major mommy oversight in the blogging world. Usually, birthdays are documented and reported on immediately. We're a little slower here, partly because we had a big birthday party with the Petersen-side babies so Presley's official day was more of a little get together than shin-dig.

I'm remixing from last to first. YEAH, ON PURPOSE!!! Okay, not on purpose. I never upload my photos right. WAH. Anyway, sweetcheeks, here's to you!

Family of three, loving life.
(Why is my hand trying to sneak a morsel of cupcake? Seriously.)

Mama Lori and Papa Walt, lovin on my baby (she just looks a little washed out because she's lunging for the camera.)

LOVING the little stroller Mom and Dad got her. I think it's pretty appropriate to give her a stroller (re: walker) because she's been pretty content to crawl around instead of bi-pedding it. We're hopeful.

My favorite part of this present was watching Dad assemble it. He basically missed all the fun convos trying to rig it. Bless him.

We went the day before to get Sprinkles cupcakes. Yes, they are stupid expensive and yes, they are quite a treat. What better way to face these hard economic times than giving a 1 year old couldn't-care-less baby a $3.60 red vellllvet cupcake? We're all doing our part. Looking at the pic I realize you can't actually see the cupcake, only the $1.00 crown that's now covered in red vellllvet chunks. The crown lasted for about 10 seconds oh, but she looked every bit the Wal-Mart princess. Soooo elegant.

Presley and I drove downtown to meet Paul at Stickler's for lunch. HELLO. Can you say freakin yummiest sandwich ever? Called the train wreck. It's a masterpiece. This lunch was my favorite part of the day. It touched even my black heart to see proud Daddy Paul holding his little girl across the crosswalk in the big city. I remember not so long ago walking across the same street to get the same sandwich, but no Presley to hold. Glad for her and the Train Wreck, maybe equally.

Is anyone getting tired of this total novel?! Before we went to lunch, we met everyone at the park for a little duck feeding (Presley not interested and little afraid of the ducks) and playing. I think she likes Mama Lori.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORNING! Honestly, could she be any sweeter? My baby's One Year Old. Notice the crooked pictures above her crib. She plays with them when she wakes up. Maybe a sign to move the crib down. Or the fact that she is practically hanging over the side.

So we did lower the crib. No worries. If you've gotten this far, I hope you've read every word and not just skimmed through looking at the pictures. I've had a LOT to share. More than I thought. It was actually a really fun day.

Yeah, the zoo is SUCH a great idea.

So Aubry and I took the kids to the zoo the other day...actually it's been a while, but I had these pictures and laughed looking through them and it's been a slow week, so there you go. The zoo means hanging with the sis, good walking and even better intentions on being number one mom. Yeah, expand her horizons and learning. CRAP. She didn't really care and doesn't know any animals unless I make an idiot of myself with the sounds. Which, of course, I do.

Above was the first phase: vaguely happy to be out of the house. Below is the second phase: bored and tired...waaay too early in the excursion.

Third phase: screaming bloody murder, flapping her arms like it matters and kicking her stroller so hard I think she may pull a muscle, or at least a fat roll on her leg...seriously, why do I think it's so great to put her in booty shorts to see more of the chub?

Final phase, binkie in, stroller layed down, going out to the car. Notice there are no more pictures of me...sweaty hair, shiny face and Teddy Grahams in my teeth. I bring them for her and then end up emotionally eating them. It's quite a cycle.


So, moral of the story is that it's kind of lame to go to the zoo, even if I do feel great telling people I go all the time. And yet, I have the season pass, so I've been three times since...must make it a good value.

After all that we've been through...

I will make it up to you...I promise to. Okay, cheesy 80's songs aside, we've had an eventful past few weeks and here are just a few highlights, compliments of Nicole, whose ability as a photographer has really come in handy for me!


We were lucky enough to host Ryan and Nicole and kids at the house. They were the most enjoyable houseguests. REALLY loved having them. REALLY want them back. Loved getting the kids in their jammies, in part because they all look so fresh and cute and in part because that meant in a few precious minutes we were off mommy and daddy duty! (Paul always laughs whenever anyone says duty because he hears it like doody (like poop) Yeah, real mature and now he's got me at it.)

It wouldn't be a Wood reunion without pool fun. Ryan was so cute to my little Presley.


This could be one of my favorite pics from the weekend. Mom started reading Presley and Jenna a story and before long, all the kids that were hanging at my house wanted to be near her. We snapped the shot. Okay, Nicole did, but I HELPED!


There's really a lot more to say and post, but this will have to do. Can't believe some of you still bother to check this blog, but love it. Keep the faith.

Repeat after me: I am not a narcissist

Okay, I'm pretty sure it's unadulterated conceit to get such a kick out one's offspring. I mean, really, who am I kidding when I laugh harder at her than I do nearly anyone? That basically means I think I'm funnier than everyone by at least half. Right?
I'll qualify my admission with the fact that I don't actually think she's THAT funny or beautiful or precious or whatever until I go back through the candid shots that I take throughout our endless, one-running-into-the-other-but-in-a-good-kind-of-way day.
Maybe babies are kind of like husbands. They are most appreciated in pictures and while sleeping. :) Pithy right? I know. And not even that accurate...
Thought I'd throw it out there.

Okay, I did this braid in her hair and I LOVED it. I thought, great, I'll do this from now on. Um, yeah, haven't done it since. She's not so much inclined to sit patiently for me to do it. She's ungrateful like that.

Um, who told her she was allowed to grow up? WAH! Ryan and Nicole, is there shot from normal life where your gear is not featured? You no get to take your stuff back. We keep it forever.

Okay, this next series is what tickled my dumb funnybone. Who the heck came up with that phrase anyway. It doesn't sound right.

She's NOT loving life. HA HA!

Holding a grudge for a few minutes before Paul's half of personality kicks in and she's as happy as ever. Love that. I recommend actually clicking on this last pic to get the full effect of baby joy.

One quick observation...notice the industrial size can of Lysol on stage right. Ever since Presh began eating what Paul and I eat, her little droppings have been noxious fumage!!

Wood family unites!

Just a quick update to all those who still bother to keep up with my life via this blog. Austin and his family are coming to visit at the end of this month. So excited to meet Cohen, his youngest and spend time with his family.
Also, Ryan and his family have decided to come down to join the festivities and will be staying at our house! YAYAYAY!
There will be much snacking and game playing and kid-oriented-activity filled days and I can hardly wait.

AZ winters

And this is why we love living in Arizona. Talk to me in a few months and I'll let you know how we're feeling about it. :)

Thanks to Aubry for taking the shot and emailing it to me.

Dad turns 42!

Happy Birthday to Walter Benson Wood, my dad, on his 42 birthday! I won't steal Nicole's gift of posting a bazillion things great about the birthday guy, but I would love to take the opportunity to share with all of cyberspace how great I think my dad is.
My father seems to have ESPN (ha!) on how I'm doing, if everything is okay and makes it his business to know if I'm happy. He has made such a concerted effort, starting from when I was very young, to have a close personal relationship with me and I believe that has made all the difference. He inspires me to be better and to forgive myself when I'm less than.
I'm very proud to be his daughter and endlessly grateful that he's my father.



He also has a smokin' hot wife, shown below, who pretty much rocks in the mom department. Kinda want to be her...only married to Paul and not Walt...sorry Dad...

Cruise 2009

Okay, so here are just 4 of the cruise pics; Picasa will only let me do 4 at a time and it's the easiest way to post, so there you have it. Secret is out. I'm a lazy blogger.
It really was such a great time. Krystal (Paul's sister) watched Presley the whole week and was just awesome about it. She could be the most responsible 20 year old I've ever known and I felt great that Presley was in loving hands.

This shot is from Megan's Bay and was one of the funnest days. We asked the guys to do a flex pose and I'm proud to say that Paul must not pose in the mirror too often because his was the most...um...original. :) He looks so good and he knows I know it.


This one is from Tortula, where it rained as we got off the boat and we ran under this little post office thing until it let up, which was minutes later. I don't know why, but this is one of my favorite photos from the entire trip. Paul is number one funnest partner. I think I fell in love with him a lot a bit more on this trip. He treats my family like gold and I love him for it.

This silly one is from the Baths, one of the coolest places on earth. Love my sisters, but where in the heck is Nicole? Pictures of my sisters are NOT complete without her. It was SO FUN seeing her and Ryan. They're in Detroit right now and they are missed terribly.



This last one is from Nassau at Atlantis Resort. It was an adventure going through this resort, with it's amazing aquariums. Mom and Dad had seen it before so they bailed back to the boat. It's pretty amazing that my best friends happen to be my siblings and their spouses. Mom and Dad did something right. :)

All in all, it was the vacay of a lifetime, although I hope it happens again! Austin and Laura were missed more than I like to think about, but they're coming to AZ in March!

There are plans afoot to go on a cruise with Paul's family and I hope these pics fuel the fire! I know it's dorky, but I've come to terms with being a total cruiser. I love em. I love the food, I love the ports, I love the days at sea where you do nothing but soak up sun and go back for more soft serve!

Been a long time, shouldn'a left you

So it's been a while and I'm tired of seeing my own post of pioneer children singing.
I snapped a couple of pics of the Precious this morning, in clothes newly dug up from Nicole's stash. I think I asked permission...
Would you ask if the clothes were this cute?
Didn't think so.



She's getting so big. And SO much fun. Sometimes she and I get into fights, but they never last very long because I'm ALWAYS the one to apologize first.

I know I should post from our vacay to the Caribbean, but there's so many pictures and I look so good in all of them that it's just too hard to choose.
:)

Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked

And so do Presley and I! We walk nearly every day and I sing to her until I notice someone in our neighborhood outside and then I sheepishly stop until we're out of earshot. I would love to say that we go on walks to enhance her understanding of the world around her, but it's really just to kill time until her next nap. Umm, yeah. Real good mother.
We usually end up walking to Mom's and when we start up the path to her door, Presley starts banging her hands against the little stroller thing. I'm going to assume it's because she knows where we are and is excited to see Mama and Papa and not because she knows our walk is at least halfway over.



Happy New Year's everyone! We spent New Years Eve with Paul's family and it was really a lot of fun. Ann always throws on a huge spread and we eat until we're sick. Catchphrase was also particularly memorable this year...Ann never fails to give the best one liners!

Also, had a WONDERFUL time at Monica's shower. She was gracious enough to let me host and then we got to go through the temple with her the next day. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEDDING THIS WEEK! Love you Monica!