For You, Aunt Michelle! (and everyone else who wants to take a look)

Easter at Gma and Gpa Evans!


Gpa took Kenya outside and I followed less than 5 minutes later and Gpa already had Kenya saying "broc broc" and "chic chic".
Finding the golden egg at the end of her 10 egg Easter egg hunt!
What a good Easter Bunny (daddy), right where she could reach it.
Basket, what basket?
Look Gma, more eggs for my basket. It was super cute as Kenya led Gma around finding the eggs.


Here are some preEaster photos. We thought some nice spring pictures would be nice. Kenya was just so cute in her Easter dress!

Failure.

So, I tried potty training and I was not ready. Kenya was a trooper and did well the first two days, but I thinking I was trying to do too many things at once. Changing naps, weaning and potty training seemed too much for me. Also, it was getting too expensive because I was using about twice as many diapers than I was before. So, I am going to try and get the other things under control and then maybe she will be big enough for underwear.
Easter was fun. We ended up taking a day trip for Easter dinner in Libby with my parents. Over all a wonderful day! I will try to post pictures soon.

Here we go!

I have been putting this off. But I am going to do it now! Starting tomorrow I am going to potty train. I have been toying with the idea for about 5 weeks or so seriously, but never had the guts to start. I am afraid of starting and failing. Not that Kenya will fail, but that I will. So, I am officially declaring it, so now I have to start!
I kept tell myself that because they do not make underwear small enough I had to wait to order it online. So, I looked it up and was ready to order it tonight, $35 for 6 pairs. This included shipping and was the only site I could find that has small enough undies. Sorry, kid I would not even pay that much for my own underwear. I am going to try to just use diapers and see how that goes. If not I will just run to the store and get some that are too big or something.
I did a test run a couple times this week and that was because Kenya saw the potty and asked for it. She actually went 3 times in one day on the potty.
Kenya, drink up! You will have more water and drinks than you know what to do with in the next few days. Enjoy.
So, wish me luck and hopefully I will have a mostly potty trained 13 month old in just a few days!
Any suggestions are welcome.

This was awesome. It started out that This was meowing at the door to go outside. Right away Kenya went to the door to let her out. We really hadn't let This out a lot, so we weren't sure how Kenya knew how to do let her out or how she knew it was outside that This wanted. The video was take at the beginning of March.

Kenya cannot wait to go outside EVERY day now. I am glad I have a little girl who enjoys being outside. I can't wait until summer comes and we will be at the park or walking outside all day!

I started my garden in cups in doors. I am so excited to have a little garden of my own. Right now I have 4 sprouted cucumber plants and 2 zucchini plants. YEAH!

Just Some Random Photos

These are Kenya and her cousin Mikhail.

What 1 year old does this?

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Just minutes ago Kenya found her way to the diapers & had me pull out a clean one. She then took it from me, sat down on the floor and proceed to open it as if to change herself. She was having some difficulty in opening it, due to her ninja grip she was in risk of tearing it, so i got it from her to help her out. Lois was in the bathroom when this was taking place. Lois came out and I explained what was going. Well, Kenya then took the diaper back and began the process again trying to open it. I took it back and she laid herself on the floor and lifted her legs, ready for that dirty diaper to be changed! Does anyone else sense self-potty training? Anyway, I had to blog this one immediately, because I just find it so weird for Kenya to go from hating to have her diaper changed to volunteering and attempting to change her own diaper! Simply shocking! And this just in from Lois, after her bath Kenya just zipped up her own pajamas for the first time! What is going on? Who said she could grow up so fast? She never ceases to amaze us!

Our 6 year wedding anniversary.

Today Robert and I have been married for 6 years! Really? Yep! We had a great breakfast with Chris and Christine at Cislo’s and my dad made my favorite meal, BBQ steak and potatoes with corn. Robert and I came down to Libby to visit my parents. For our anniversary Robert took me to the jeweler yesterday and is having my wedding band fixed. When we first had it made the jeweler made it turn out wrong. It looked good, but the stones kept falling out. They are going to fix it and make it all better. YEAH! What a great husband.

So, over all not an eventful day, but exactly what I need and want. Great food, family, and nothing pressing to do makes a perfect anniversary. Robert I love you and I am looking forward to many great years in the future!

Kenya to Canada

So, the day before Kenya turned 1 year old we took a trip to Cardston, Alberta. We are going to make her a world traveler, if we can! We went up to the temple there and Robert got to help with the ward youth trip. He is now serving in the Young Men organization. Grandma came with us to babysit so that when Robert was done he and I could go through. But, he finished about 5 minutes after the last session that day. BUMMER! Grandma went through the temple when Robert was helping with the youth. It was still nice to be on temple grounds and feel the wonderful spirit that is at the House of the Lord. Kenya LOVED it! We spent most of the 2 hours outside walking the grounds and playing with other children who were there waiting for their parents. The trip was well worth it and everyone enjoyed it!

Kenya is growing up so fast. She is saying a few new words almost daily. Here are some of the words that she has said in the last week, at least some of the ones I remember.
star
stairs
okay
Kenya
nose
yes
one
kisses

Birthday Videos

I was wanting to make sure that I got something posted about Kenya's birthday so, I left the videos off of the last post. But it looks like the internet is working fine still so here are a couple. Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENYA!!

This was the best birthday ever! I think we were successful in making Kenya’s birthday exactly what she wanted.

Her birthday was a balloon, Cheeto, dance party. That is right, she got balloons to play with from the time she woke up, had Cheetos for lunch and even some after dinner, and got to dance at her party. What a life for a 1 year old.

At church today she was quite the ball of energy. She would not sit still or even play with her quite toys. All she wanted to do was climb the stairs to the pulpit run in the aisle, or cry and whine. What a day. I am sure she knew there was something special about today and that she could push us just a little bit more than normal. And the fact that all she had was a less than 30-minute nap.

After church we had a family party. We had a wonderful dinner (ham, potato salad, corn, and homemade rolls) with Grandma and Grandpa Evans, Elcia, and Great Grandpa Stevens. I think Kenya ate at least 1 full adult serving of ham. SHE LOVED IT! Who know? I had made the potato salad thinking that is what she would eat the most of, but she only ate 1 bite. She loaded up on corn and ham. After dinner we turned on the music and danced and opened gifts

Kenya got a little stuffed dog for her birthday from Robert and I. As soon as she got that she fell in love! Really, it was adorable! We also got her a large bouncing ball. She got 4 pairs of shoes (can you believe it!) and some super cute clothes from friends and family.

We then had cake and ice cream. I made her a balloon cake. I think the idea was cute, but it was poorly executed. It had a larger balloon in the middle to write “Happy 1^st Birthday Kenya” on and then cupcakes all around it to make it look like a bouquet of balloons. I like it and everyone else said it was good too. We let Kenya have an entire cupcake to her, but she was really not interested. I put a little bit of ice cream on her tray too. That is what she loved! She ate it fast and got an ice cream headache and the spit out some of the ice cream. Too cute!

Then to end the day she had a bath and off to bed.

She had everything, that I consider her favorite!

Balloons, Ball, Dog, Cheetos, Dancing, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Helped with Laundry, Bath, and Kitty!

Kenya we love you so much! Happy Birthday.

Wow, now that happened fast!

It seems that it was a long time coming, but that is just because we waited just under 5 years for her. Kenya is almost one year old! I cannot believe it! She hasn't seemed like a baby for awhile now. Ever since she started walking at 10 months old she has seemed like a toddler. I thought that you got to have a baby for at least a year.
No, really she is amazing. These are just some random thoughts of things that she is doing and most of them she has been doing for quite sometime, but I only have a few chances to use the internet now. So, here we go:
Kenya helps me get her dressed. She puts her arms in when putting it on and lifts them up to take her clothes off.
She has rediscovered the bath in the last month or so. She hated it before and so we started to shower her and she was happier with that. So, we decided to try it again this last month and she loves it! It has a lot to do with a toy she got at Christmas (thanks Chris') she loves it!
She loves her kitty! Her favorite thing to do is follow This around and when This lays down she puts her head on her and loves her. It truly is darling. She also plays fetch as well as This. We throw the hair tie for This and about 90% of the time Kenya is the one that brings it back.
She now asks to clean her own face and hands after meals.
She sometimes asks to sit on her potty. (Potty training is going to beginning VERY soon, if I can work up the commitment.)
She sleeps in her own room.
She is learning new words almost daily.
She loves dogs!
She like to "get" mommy or daddy. And she like to be "gotten"
She climbs!!
In playing patty cake she can now "roll it" in fact I think that she likes to "roll it" more than anything.
She discovered her nostril. Yes, I have a 1 year old who puts her finger in her nose.
If you ask her how old she is, she will show you! She hold up 1 finger.
She can identify a few body parts, like nose, mouth, toes and sometimes eyes and ears.
I am sure there are a lot more. I am just amazed at the things she can pick up on. WOW! that is all I can say. Is this normal to have a 1 year old who can do all of this? (I am sure it is, but it amazes me as I already said. I just think about the new skills that I have learned in the last year and compare them to what she has learned and how much Kenya has grown. Man, I am a slacker!)

Animal Sounds

Kenya can say a few animal sounds.

Cow... mmm (she leaves of the oo)
Doggy... woof woof
Sheep... baa
Kitty... mmow (she rarely does this one)

She is able to point out animals in her books too! What a fast learner!
Now I need to get the shapes, colors, numbers, and letters down. So much to learn, but it is all great fun!

Kenya is a Dancing Queen

Kenya loves to dance! She has for quite sometime now, but lately she really loves to dance and ask to dance often.

Last week we were watching the Olympic figure skating on TV and Kenya began to imitate their skating by twirling around and dancing. It was so cute! We caught it on video on Sunday. Wow, has she grown. She imitates all kinds of things now. I should be doing a better job of watching what I do and say.

On Saturday night we had a family dance party and for over an hour listen to music and danced. It was a blast.

On Sunday we Robert was downloading some music on to is PS3 and Kenya was very insistent about dancing because she heard the music. She lives to dance by herself as shown in the video, but also she like to dance with me or Robert or Grandma (I bet really she would dance with just about anyone who would let her.)

Here are some other videos of our almost 1 year old. She loves to play! We take more videos of Kenya than pictures because she is so active that we want to catch what she is doing as well as how cute see is. Sorry if it gets old to watch videos. I will try to take more pictures!

One last thing… Kenya had become quite social. When she walks in a room, or anywhere really she puts on her amazing smile and waves at anyone and anything. I think it is a game she plays that goes something like this… “I bet I can get that person to smile and wave… yep I knew it would work. I have got them all figured out!”

Could this be an update?

It sure is folks! After being hounded for an update and we've finally delivered!
So these first 4 pictures began as a joke. Lois put the bow in her hair to be humorous, but after seeing it in her hair we couldn't decide if she was ridiculously cute or just ridiculous...so tell us what YOU think! Please select one answer on the poll and answer honestly. We won't take offense!






These next 4 are of Kenya at dinner time one night. She was hammin' up the camera that night!




She is practically posing for a photo shoot in these next 2 pics!

It kinda looks like she got a hold of the camera and took a picture of herself!

Here is a video of Kenya feeding herself...well with a little help.




Here's a video that shows a little of how she walks and tries to run! She never really practiced walking. Just one day she decided that crawling wasn't fast enough and just stood up and walked! Even though we have been watching her walk since January 5, we still are absolutely amazed every time we see her walk!





We can't leave This out! Here she is playing with her oh-so-addicting hair tie! She still plays fetch too!

We have a walker everyone!

Today is the day Kenya decided that she was going to walk. It started a while ago really. She has been getting braver and braver each day. A few times in the last two weeks or so she would take a step or two away from or to someone, but that was all. Last night she stood up and walked on her own and it was quite a few steps. I knew it was all over! Today she did the same thing at least 10 times. She just stands up and walks. She is still crawling about 75% of the time, but I am sure it wont be long now. What a girl.
So these videos are of her over the last few days. The first one is her using the walker that Amy got her for Christmas. She got comfortable with it quick. This is only the first day she used it.



Next is of her using the walker Grandma and Grandpa Draper got her. She plays with it all the time. (We left one walker at Grandma and Grandpa's house and brought the other one into Kalispell, told you we got spoiled!) She loves the music and the walker.


The last one is of her today walking. This was unprovoked and typical of what I saw randomly through out the day. I guess I am off to get her some shoes tomorrow.