UP, UP, AND AWAY!

So, today marks the first time Kenya has ever flown in an airplane. It also marks the first time Lois and I have flown as parents! (I will say it is very strange to think of it that way, but really cool! However, we still can’t believe she’s our little girl. It’ s like we are babysitting for an extended period. One thing that helps us know Kenya is our daughter is that she calls us “Mommy” and “Daddy”. )

Here are a couple of pictures of Kenya and her first time in an airport. We didn’t get many, but they are good for the memories.

This girl was so amazing at the airport, she never had any meltdowns, which is amazing because we were keeping her awake so she could sleep on the plane and be pleasant…and boy did she! We were in the air for less than 5 minutes and she was out! After our 3-hour travel from Libby to Spokane she was chomping at the bit to get on the ground and run around! She was so well behaved at the airport! And of course heads were turning as if she was a bloody celebrity! There was this shop next to a bar and there was a rack that had a bunch of goofy-looking stuffed animals and she stood there for about 3-4 minutes laughing at them! She would point and would say a few words in her language and laugh! That of course was enough to melt the hearts of anyone within a 20-foot radius. I mentioned the bar because there was this guy who just sat there leaning on the counter holding up his head just admiring her and laughing with her! He guessed her age on the money and just sat there admiring her and smiling as if she made his day!

Here's some pics of Kenya getting on the plane.

I had to resist all temptation to get the camera out and record while we were taking off because Kenya was so excited about us taxiing down the runway! It was priceless! I was so close, but then was reminded by the stewardess that all electronic devices were to be shut off during take off! I guess it wasn’t that hard of a decision to make between recording Kenya for the first time or possibly the last time. (If you know what I mean ;)...but here are some pictures when we were allowed to use electronics.

Here are some cool, in the air pictures. Lois sat by the window and took these pics.

Chatty Cathy.

That is what my mom use to call me. She use to tell me should should have named me Cathy because there was a doll at one time that could talk and her name was Chatty Cathy.
Well, Kenya enjoys talking too! She is using new words on almost a daily basis. She is really amazing at this talking thing. She has even begun to put 2 or 3 words together. Her newest words:
outside: ou ide
drink: dink
treat: treat
Mirmo: Mirmo (cousins Mikhail's nick name)
water: wa wa
dish: dish
meow: maaw (she has said this before, but uses it all the time now)
I can teach her new tricks rather easy too! It just took me about 2 days to train her to place her cups on the table when she is done drinking them and then she goes and gets it when she wants more. She taught herself to unlock and open the front door (the knob on it is lower than the rest of the knobs in the house.) The other day she began to count. Now, it was not with the same numbers you and I are use to, but she would point at objects and then say something. She had on a shirt that had a bunch of hearts on it and when we read a book I count all the hearts. She was sitting on my lap and pointing at one heart and then move to the one next to it and so on. So, thought there was something on her shirt, but then realized what she was doing and began to count with her. She repeated 3, 6 and 10. She usually says 10 when I counted before, but never really initiated it herself. It blew my mind when I understood what she was doing.
What can I say... Yeah she is amazing!

Really?

I did the meter again with our most recent spring pictures and this is what I got. Hmmmm...
I think it might be because her eyes are closed and she does have her daddy's eyes!

Where did Kenya come from?

Well, Kenya does not really look like either Robert or I. We cannot even find features of either one if us. SO, I saw this on a friends blog and thought I would give it a try. Tell us what you think.

Draper Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Free family tree - Family tree search

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!)