Ava turns 1

Ava turned one on August 24. I can't believe my baby has been here for a whole year! For the last few months she has enjoyed the show Blue's Clues, so we gave her a Blue birthday. She had a paw print cake, and got one of the toe cupcakes to herself. I was looking forward to several minutes of delightful sugary mess. However, after just a couple of bites she started choking on her cake and that was the end of that. She did, however, very much enjoy her presents and running around with cousins for a while after the cake fiasco.

Here are some of the cute things that Ava currently does:

NEW TODAY: She made her first sign! Blue's Clues has a sign (flash both hands from fist to open fingers) and she made it today while I was putting the show on for her. And she did it a few times later in the day, so I really think that's what she was doing.

She loves to play patty-cake. I will do it a couple of times with her and then put my hands down. She isn't finished, though, so she will pick up my hands and make me clap them together. She can play this game at least 10 times in a row.

She plays "I'm gonna get you" with Noelle. Noelle gets on her hands and knees and starts crawling toward Ava, saying "I'm gonna get you!" Ava has determined that I am a safe spot, as well as any couch or chair. So she runs. Yes, runs, away from Noelle, shrieking in delight, towards the closest safe spot. Again, and and again, and again.

She likes to play peek-a-boo. She will use a book, a scarf, a piece of paper or anything else handy and pull it up high in front of her face (sometimes above her head so she can still see) while I say "Where's the baby?" And then she pulls it down and waits for me to say "There she is!" She can do this also again and again.

She claps when we say "Yay!" She puts both arms straight up when we say "Gooooooal!" She puts her head on my shoulder when I say "sleep".

She likes to rip things magazines to shreds, empty cupboards, empty boxes of toys, anything she can destroy and move on to the next.

She likes to watch Blue's Clues, Signing Time (both DVD and You Tube), anything disney princess singing on Melissa's I-Pod, sometimes Winnie the Pooh and Backyardigans.

She does not like church.

Her favorite foods are bananas for breakfast, frozen peas for lunch, and pretty much anything we are having for dinner. She also knows when you are eating a dessert. She pants when she wants something really bad. She recently discovered how to suck on a sippy cup that has a straw in it. She likes water. But what she really likes is letting half of every mouthful spit down her front.

She likes books. She will read them to herself and say "laddle-laddle-laddle".

She loves bath time. She doesn't care how much water she gets in her face. Never had a kid like that before!

She is a good sleeper. She used to only sleep while attached to me. But now I can give her some love, sing her a song and put her in her bed. Sometimes she might cry for a few minutes, but often not. She will pull her stuffed bunny or Pooh Bear close to her, sometimes under her, and get herself to sleep. Ahh, blessed sleep.

She no longer hates the car. For many months every time she was in her car seat she would scream and screech so loudly we couldn't talk to each other. Now she likes to play peekaboo with Noelle in the back seat, play with toys, eat crackers and look out the window. If she is really tired or hungry she still gives us a bit of noise, but usually it doesn't last the whole ride home like it used to.

She likes to play on my bed. Noelle will crouch down and hide, then pop out and flop on the bed in front of her. She goes crazy for this, and does a bunch of flopping around herself.

She loves her family. She's still pretty much a Mama's girl, but she has fun playing with everyone. I love my girl!

Ava gets a haircut

So this isn't actually Ava's first haircut. The first time I cut her hair I just snipped off a couple of long straggly pieces. Then I held them for a few minutes and was sad. I thought about keeping them, but to be honest I think that's kind of gross. So I tossed them.

This time, a day before her first birthday and upcoming photo shoot, I decided for something better than anything I can do. So we went to Cookie Cutters. She got strapped in a little toy car, got to watch TV, and didn't complain a bit! By the end she was getting a little sick of it, but then she got a balloon and that made everything better. When the haircut was over, she had two little pink twisties in her hair, banana-scented mousse and sparkly hair spray. SO cute!

back to blogging. again.

Wow. It's been a year. I could try to fill you in, but that would take too long. Or I could pretty much just sum it up with one word: BABY. More on that later.

Here's my baby and her big sister visiting a splash pad in North Salt Lake a couple of days ago. Ava had so much fun! She just talked and walked and fell and got a face full of water and kept right on going--again and again and again.

Noelle had fun playing with some her new friends from homeschool co-op. She took a face full of water a couple of times too.

back to blogging

So I'm getting tired of trying to be insightful and funny on my personal blog. Also I am proud of the fact that I haven't blogged in months and I don't feel guilty about it. So, here's some updates on the family, because that's easier to blog about.

Melissa turns 16 (June 5, 2010)

We enjoyed a 5 day relax-and-do-nothing vacation in St. George over Melissa's birthday. I love it when I can get teenagers to wear party hats.

Melissa and Spencer go on Pioneer Trek (June 9-12, 2010)

Thanks to a handy neighbor, I didn't have to make Melissa's dress. And thanks to the D.I., Spencer got what he needed for about $30.

End of 2009-2010 school year

Erick finished his first year at Snow College. I haven't seen his grades, but he says he's doing well. He is currently living in an old house with some roommates and working some summer jobs to save for next year.

Melissa finished 10th grade at West Jordan High School and also passed Driver's Ed. She's currently logging driving hours so she can get her license. She worked really hard all year and did well. Even in honors English.

Spencer finished 8th grade at West Jordan Middle School. He completed his 2nd year of playing the oboe in the band with awesome teacher Mrs. Flygare. He even had a solo part in the end of year concert. He got great grades overall, in spite of the many days he missed due to some health problems.

Shannen finished 7th grade at Hawthorn Academy. She enjoyed her drama class and after school choir and art. She did not enjoy Spanish. She made some new friends, dealt with Junior High issues like sticking lockers and trying to manage 7 different teachers. She did great.

I only have a picture of Noelle at her end of year program for 1st grade at Hawthorn Academy. Noelle is one of the best readers in her class. Her teacher, Mrs. Steffensen, was the best 1st grade teacher any of my kids have ever had. I was room mom this year and spent time every week volunteering in the classroom. We both loved her and will miss her terribly. We are, however, very much looking forward to a summer full of no homework.

My sister Annie gets married to Curtis (May 7, 2010)

"Annie is music to me"

awwww.

3 Girlies Expecting Babies (due August, September and October, 2010)
The results are in:

I'm having a girl in August, Jessica is having a boy in September (or August, since she's usually early), and Katie is having a boy in October. 3 new babies for the Rasmussen Clan.

Shannen turns 12 (January 27, 2010)

Shannen had been looking forward to this day for a very long time. Finally, she gets to join her older siblings on youth nights at church. She's out of primary and never has to sing in another primary program again. Hooray!

And then there's the home addition. Ick. We are currently living in the addition and enjoying it. We still have not passed the final inspection, but that's coming soon. Pictures to come later, because it's just all too much.

Photos from the Pumpkin Patch

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Back to School

I love back to school time. I loved it as a kid, when I got to put together my new folders and school bag. I loved shopping for my "trapper keeper" folders, new pencils and paper. I loved back to school clothes shopping with my mom. I loved the change in the weather and the excitement of starting something new.

This year, my children and I were excited to be a part of the newest charter school in West Jordan: Hawthorn Academy. Shannen is in the 7th grade and Noelle in the 1st. I like that it is a smaller community with very involved parents, school uniforms, the IB program of study, and an incredibly better environment for the middle school than what I have found at our local public school. Noelle was a little nervous, but relatively happy to start a new school.

And then school actually started. The first day was horrible for Noelle, as it took an hour for me to pick up the girls after school and she was afraid I wouldn't come. The charter school has no buses, 700 children and lots of cars during pick up time. She cried a lot the first week of school. We prayed for help. We talked, loved and reassured. After going to school now for a few weeks, things are slowly getting better for her as she has had time to adjust to getting up earlier, making new friends, having homework and trusting that mom will always pick her up after school (which happens faster now, because I refuse to get in that pick-up line. I walk a block from my parked car to be there when the bell rings).

For Shannen, struggles have included P.E., occasional fights with her locker, and having to take her own boring lunch every day. But I love that there are no swear words in the halls, the classes are all close together and the halls not too crowded, she gets to learn Spanish, and she is making new friends. It seems to be a good fit for her. Middle school was such a horrifying experience for me, and I am glad I have an alternative to public school for her.

So far, so good. We have parent teacher conferences this week. Here's hoping for happy kids and good grades.

Noelle loses her first tooth

Notice the small gap in the bottom row of teeth, the gift from the tooth fairy, and the fabulous morning bed head.