Fall Fun

This fall (at least I think you can call it that in Arizona) has been fun. Platte played in his final flag football season with his friends at law school. It was fun taking Belle to the games and hanging out with all the other wives! I'm sure we will miss this time of year when Platte finally graduates! Also, we've remained die-hard BYU football fans and have had a lot of fun watching the games with our fellow Cougars.

During Fall Break we took a short trip to Blanding. We got to go fishing, take a drive up the Blue Mountain road, play at the Albert R. Lyman Park (has the biggest slide ever), eat at Patio Drive-In, and spend a lot of time with family. It's nice that Blanding isn't that far away!

As for Belle, she is beginning to be quite the explorer! It's a good thing the weather is so pleasant now, because she insists that we play outside every day. Once outside, she does not want to come back in. We enjoy watching her grow up!

Belle LOVES leaves!

She thought it was SO funny when Platte would throw leaves all over her!

She still loves to play at the park!

She is so interested with the bark on the tree!

She loves to pick up rocks!

Off exploring with her rocks!

Belle in her BYU Rally Cap that my mom made for her! It's too bad she hasn't actually been able to wear it to a game!

She also likes to wear her Dad's BYU hat!

Fishing with Josh and the kids!

Skipping rocks!

Belle in the Jeep!

A Blondie at Applebee's for my 25th Birthday!!

Belle's Birthday

Belle turned one on Friday! We can't believe how fast this past year has gone. She is the sweetest thing to us! We had a nice little party with the three of us to celebrate. (My parents joined on videochat for presents and the eating of the cake!) Here is our birthday girl!

Belle waiting for her birthday dinner of Macaroni and Cheese.

The bib that Whitney made for Belle!

Belle with all her birthday presents: clothes, toys, balls, hair accessories, etc. Thank you everyone for being so kind!

She started out a little hesitant...

And then she surprised me and loved to stuff the cake in her face!

All done.

Still trying to eat some after we took her piece away!

Statistics of Belle Nielson at age 1:

Height: 28.5 inches
Weight: About 20 lbs
Hair Color: Strawberry Blonde
Eye Color: Bright Blue
Teeth: 2
Favorite Foods: Macaroni and Cheese, Watermelon, Strawberries
Favorite Outside Activity: Swimming
Favorite Inside Activity: Wrestling with Daddy
Favorite Position to be in: Snuggling up with Mommy
Favorite Animal: Dog
Favorite place to go: Grocery Shopping and to the Library

Belle loves to laugh and she smiles all the time.
She loves to play in the bathtub with her toys, but hates to get water on her face.
She hates when the vacuum is on, or when a loud mixer is on when I cook.
She sleeps like a champ, and always has.
She took her first steps when she was about 10 1/2 months.
She can walk by herself, but still prefers to walk holding my hand.
She claps her hands when we say "Good job."
She waves when we say "Hi."
She likes to growl.
She likes to fake laugh.

Favorite position to sleep in while in her crib

Favorite toy: Mom's wallet and the cards inside

She loves to take baths...she does not love to get out of the bath

Favorite remote--she loves to turn the tv on and off, and to change channels

Favorite place in the house: Next to the computer...and pressing all the keys


Video of when Belle really started to walk about a month ago.

Grand Canyon and Utah Trip

We finally visited the Grand Canyon! This was the first time either of us had been. Before going to the Grand Canyon we met up with Daniel and Andrea in Sedona, Arizona. Daniel had just finished taking the bar exam in California, so we all celebrated with an end of the summer trip. The Grand Canyon was beautiful!

Belle and I then drove up to Utah with Daniel and Andrea. We had so many fun times while there! We met my family in Cedar City for the Shakespeare Festival, had a Ricks Family Reunion in Ogden, made some fun crafts, and altogether had a great time!!

Livin' the "high" life.

 

We're on top of the world!

 

Fun family photo

 

In Sedona, with the beautiful red rock!

 

At the Shakespeare Festival...and yes we ate some of the yummy cream cheese tarts!

 

Kissing cousins!

 

A proud moment for this soccer mom!

 

Two peas in a pod.

 

Beautiful walk at the Ricks Reunion.
Many of the proud descendants of LeVere Ricks. (About half of them were able to come to the reunion.)
Painting Amanda's room hot pink with a black trim! So girly, I love it!
Eating peach rainbows at Pace's Dairy Ann!
Crocheting cute hats! (Yes, I realize this doesn't fit Belle...it was made for a newborn, and she is definitely not a newborn anymore!)
Just my cute sisters! And we are on a hill...I am at least two inches shorter than both of them!

Weekend Away

Here are some of the highlights from our weekend rendezvous in California. Thanks Blaine and Amy for inviting us to come and stay with you!
Classic Disneyland picture.
Belle seemed to like the carousel ride, but her favorite was It's a Small World.
Ethan, Abigail, and Belle were so tired by the end of the day!
This little seal swam up on shore at La Jolla beach. Blaine snapped a picture before a nearby seal advocate reprimanded us.
Perfect timing, wouldn't ya say?
Our first time at the San Diego temple. It really is so beautiful!
Belle's first time in the ocean. She cried for the first two minutes...then LOVED it!
Look at those cute chubby legs.
Nothin' like a day at the beach with no tan to show for it!
It was so fun watching the kids play together.
Belle venturing off.
Yep, still always trying to get the camera.
Belle's future beau?