Church Basketball Shiner

 Ben loves to play church basketball and I love that he plays BUT every year he hurts himself.  The first year we were married her sprained his ankle REALLY bad and after that always managed to twist it.  The last two years I have been making him wear a brace and this year he got new shoes (actual basketball shoes) so that his ankles are supported.  This year they are having practices on Tuesday nights (the games are Saturday mornings) and he is enjoying it. There are more people on his team- so he doesn't feel quite so dead after every game.  

Last week Ben came home from Practice  a little early sporting an already blue and swollen black eye.  He had got elbowed in the face (by one of his teammates- oops).  It stayed swollen for a couple days and was really bad. 

Day Two (2/5/2014)- the color isn't too bad but the swelling is there!!

Day 3 (2/6/2014)- The swelling is gone but the color is strong.

Day 5 (2/9/2014)- how he wore it to church....

 By Sunday the black/blue-ness was turning green/yellow and his eye was the big talk at church (he also went up to sing in the Ward Choir so EVERYONE got a good look).  It is starting to look a lot better now but he will always remember his church ball shiner!!

Pizza Taste Test!!

Elizabeth has been sick and under the weather for a couple weeks (she is now on antibiotics for a sinus infection and is feeling much better) but, as usual, I caught it and have been sick this past week.  We had signed up to feed the missionaries on Thursday but I wasn't feeling great so we decided that I shouldn't cook; instead we did a Pizza Taste Test!  

 The Elders, Elder Stoddard and Elder Sewell, got here before Ben got back from work so they had to stand on the front porch (poor boys, at least it was warm-ish) but I told them what we were going to do for dinner and they talked excitedly about what they thought our taste test would reveal (it was fun having them so excited- thanks Elders).  We ended up getting a medium pepperoni pizza from Little Ceasars, Blackjack and Dominos.  I put small slices on numbered plates and Ben and the Elder's had to taste them and rate them (not knowing which was which).  We rated them on the sauce, crust and overall (looking back we decided we should have also included cheese in our rating system).  They got really into the ratings and it was SILENT as they all sampled the pieces, took sips of water in between, and carefully selected their ratings. Once everyone was done, I tallied the ratings (I don't have the final numbers- sorry) and we had our results. 

In the end the clear winner was.... DOMINOS!!  I know I am shocked- that is now what I would have guessed.  Dominos had a slightly sweeter sauce and a good crust (not too crispy and not too soft).  Black jack was in second place but the crust was too soft and Little Ceasars crust was too thin and crunchy and their sauce was more spicy (which I kind of like).  It was also interesting to note that Dominos was the most expensive (maybe price does make it better?) BUT their slices were cut very crooked (not a deal breaker but annoying)! 

Ben made the Elder's eat till they were sick (seriously those poor guys) and we almost finished all pizza.  We introduced the Elder's to the joys of honey on pizza crust (it's like dessert at the end of each slice) and Elizabeth LOVED the pizza (she probably ate two pieces on her own).  It was great having the Elder's over and fun to have our Pizza Taste Test!!

With the WINNER!!!

Elizabeth's 1st Birthday!!!

Our baby is ONE!! 

When did this happen? Where has the time gone? 

ONE YEAR- February 9, 2014

One Month- March 9, 2013

All week we have been talking about our lives a year ago; baby two weeks overdue, cancelled induction, grumpy pregnancy, induction and labor and then the NICU and post labor.  It feels like it all happened so long ago and yet at the same time, it feels like it was yesterday!  

 I am so grateful for Elizabeth in our lives and the little miracle that she is.  She has grown and developed so much and added so much love to our lives. 

The day before Elizabeth's birthday we went to the Stones' house for dinner and presents with Grandma Baker, Nana and Grandpa.  She got lots of music/noise toys from Mom and Dad (I could see the mischievousness in their grins, it said, "I get to give her these joyous toys but YOU have to live with them!") and she loves them. Grandma Baker knitted her some cloths for a cute stuffed monkey and she carried it around making monkey noises (which kind of sounds like a high pitched laugh).  It was fun to see them and for her to spend that time with them.  

She opened her presents little piece by little piece and handed Nana each piece... at least she cleaned up!

 

Elizabeth's birthday was on a Sunday so we went to the Newson's for her birthday dinner/dessert.  I have been singing Happy Birthday to her all week to get her excited and happy and it worked because once everyone started to sing her smile was huge- she is definitely a fan of the spot light!!

I tried to make dog cupcakes (she loves looking at dogs- doesn't so much like them up close) but the brown frosting (for fur) ended up pink and the dogs looked like weasels- so we called them fox cupcakes and wrote her name in the rest of them to spare me from having to make more weasles.  She liked the frosting (not so much the cupcake) but didn't get as messy as I had hoped- our delicate little thing- but she did throw it all on the floor to show that she was done (oh goodness- we are working on that)!  

Getting Daddy dirty!!

She got some fun toys (egg puzzle thing that squeaks and finger puppets) and Nedra made her an adorable doll.  She is spoiled and is loving it!!! We are so happy to have her in our family and have decided to keep her... at least for another year!!! ;)

CU vs Utah Basketball Game

For Christmas Elizabeth got Ben some tickets to see the CU vs Utah Basketball Game (Feb 1) with our friends the Larsen's.  Ben loves CU and it was fun to go to one of their games.  The game was great; Utah was up at the half and we were always really close.  We ended in a tie and then CU won in overtime- YAHOO!!

The last big sporting event we took Elizabeth to she was only 5 months and cried through most of the noise but this time she loved it! Every time people would cheer, so would she.  She loved the constant music that allowed for her constant dancing.  And she always loves the attention of being adorable in public.  She wore herself out (so much so that she put her head on my shoulder in the last 5 minutes and fell asleep).  

It was so much fun to all go to the game and to spend that family time together!!

**The next day was the Superbowl and the Denver Broncos were playing the Seattle Seahawks.  Although we did not really watch the game- Elizabeth still showed her support through her cloths! (Sadly the Broncos were trampled.)

 

More January

The weather this year has been a little strange; below zero temperatures and snow that stays (it's like we are back in Idaho).  It has been fun to take Elizabeth out in it and although she is still not old enough to truly enjoy she is old enough to look cute in a snow suit!!  Then a week later it will be warm and sunny- we have already got some good use out of the park (this summer will be fun being so close).

Elizabeth has started playing with things differently; she likes to explore (up, under and around furniture) and loves to sit between the couch and chair to read (we made her a little nook), she takes her 'baby' with her everywhere and has started playing with stuffed animals more!  She also loves a PBS TV Show called "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" (an animated Mr Rogers Neighborhood) and will bring us the remote and ask, "Daniel?" (well it's more like, "Da...l?" but we get it).

 More Elizabeth January development is that she is now a FULL fledge walker and got her first three teeth.  Getting the teeth was a slow and painful process but she made it through and she looks adorable!! 

We have just enjoyed having Elizabeth around us and seeing her grow and develop!! Our year has started out good!!