I just loooooove her curly hair, pouty lips, sparkly eyes.....and happy smile. She is getting quite good at 'cruising' around the furniture, but has not even attempted to walk. Though she has mastered leaping to me when I try to let go for her to balance, and climbing the stairs. She giggles the whole way up.....and luckily hasn't needed to come up with a sound effect for coming down. She has been lucky.

I turned the big 32 this past weekend. I am exactly where I imagine myself being at this age and could not be more grateful. I'm surrounded by "old" and "new" friends. And have a great relationship with my husband - who, along with some great friends took me to Grand Lux for my birthday.

Best of all, I have 3 beautiful and very funny children - if only I could figure out a way to convince Todd into adding more to our clan.

Maybe my "birthday wish" will come true?

Happy Birthday to Shawni!!

Her big sister "helped" me make some cupcakes and a birthday cake.

How did she go from this...... ....to this so quickly??

To continue our tradition, we placed her birthday cake on top of a sheet and let her have fun. We didn't celebrate with any cousins this year. Tyson is 6 days older than my nephew and Jaisa is 6 days older than my other nephew, so my kids have always gotten to "share" their parties. It was just us this year.....with some great friends that helped us celebrate!

But, she still had fun!

Some of my favorite things about this girl!

Smiles ALL THE TIME. When we pick her up out of her crib after a nap - she is smiling. Whenever she makes eye contact with anyone - she smiles. When she sees the older kids for the first time in the mornings, she crawls to them and "paws" them out of excitement.

And of course when Todd gets home from work, she crawls as fast as she can....racing the other kids.....grunting until she gets picked up in his arms. Then, she lays her head on his shoulder with a HUGE smile.

* 8 teeth

* Much smaller than my other babies, but still at the top of the charts (especially for height)

* Rarely gets called Shawni. It is always : Shawni bons, Bonzie, Bon bons or Spongebob (cuz of her teeth)

* Rarely cries

*Loves to wrestle. If you are anywhere near the ground, she will crawl to you and climb on you knocking you over. She will then sit on you or roll on you until she is done.

*Loves to bite. She will grab our hands and put them in her mouth playfully, then chomp down. Though it hurts...it is hard to get mad because she does it all while smiling.

*Great sleeper and eater. ( just like my others)

* Great car traveler (unlike my other 2)

* Loooves to cuddle...with anyone..anytime.

Oh, I love this girl.....

We took off for Salt Lake after opening presents on Christmas morning. I didn't take many pictures because I was too busy with the video camera. But... it was fun! The kids were very excited and played with their new toys while Todd and I packed up the car.

We spent the first day after Christmas with my parents up at my aunts property in Kamas. We watched the huge buffalo eat - from a distance of course. Snow ball fights with Grandpa.

The kids had fun dancing to my Grandma playing "Jingle Bells" on her organ. Crazy how they even found a beat in that song at all.

Jaisa's obsession with the snow continued. Though she was very careful not to get her dress wet.

New years Eve we went to dinner with some of our best friends. The party continued while we got carazy with Rock Band. We are so thankful to Todd's parents who watched the kids on several occasions so we could go out and "party". We were like teenagers again - it was soo fun!

We were all so tired by the time we got home. Fun while it lasted, yet sooo nice to come home to our own house and schedule. Until next year........