Dakotas First Christmas!

Christmas or actually the whole month of December was busy for us we had so much fun hanging out with family and friends.  I was in charge of our ward dinner this year and we also had my dad come as Santa and everyone loved him.  I love my parents they are so great to help with everything I do and they support me all the time. I am lucky to have them for my parents.

Santa and Dakota.

 He had so much fun and wasn't scared at all.  Look at that smile!

Our family with Santa:)

On of our good friends Nicole and her husband had us over for their ugly sweater party so we all dressed up and had lots of fun playing games and eating! Thanks Nicole:)

Every holiday Grandma Carol takes pictures with Dakota and has so much fun sending them out to her family and friends this is from his Christmas session with grandma I love my little Santa's helper!

Hanging out watching dad ride his horse at the Golden Spike.  I was so cold that night so we got to snuggle and I loved every minute of it!

Daniel and his horse Trigger

Santa coming to meet all my nieces and nephews on Christmas Eve.  Notice the fun red and white golf cart he rode up on because of the lack of snow.  Such a cute Santa!

Dakota at grandma and grandpa Ivies enjoying the cute pajamas Santa brought him.

The nieces and nephews with Santa Christmas Eve

Every year since I can remember my family has had a tradition to go to hardware ranch to see the elk on Christmas eve.  This year was extra special because we started our little family with this same tradition and Dakota loved it!

Dakota watching the Elk

Our Christmas pajamas! Daniel picked out Dakotas pj's and I love them!

Christmas morning at our house, look how excited Dakota is!

Daddy and Dakota Christmas morning.  I love my boys!

Mom and Dakota opening his first barn yard set Santa brought him.

Aunt Randi and Dakota opening presents!  We were so happy to have Adam and Randi for Christmas we miss having them around all the time but we sure loved hanging out the time they spent here in Utah and Dakota loves them!

Grandma helping Dakota open his presents that Santa left at grandmas house.  Grandma Carol always spoils Dakota and she loves spending time with him.  I love seeing how much Dakota impacts every ones life for the better.  He brings so much love to our family.

Dakota with Aunt Randi and Uncle Adam the day they left.  We were sad to see them go but can't wait to go out to Kansas to visit them this spring/summer. We love you two!!

End of 2011

Dakota has had such a big year in 2011 he has grown so big and I love every minute of it!! He was 22 pounds at 6 months and is in the 95th percentile for everything.  We have found out many things since Dakota has been growing.  He loves people food and HATES baby food.  I have tried many times to get him to eat the baby food and he will not eat it at all he will spit it out every time so I wait a couple days and try it again and the same thing happens.  Dakota loves to sleep which makes it nice for mom and dad:)  He loves to play with everyone and makes everyone smile.  He seriously is the happiest boy in the world.  Everyone always says how happy he is and I have to agree. He always makes Daniel and I smile and laugh all day long.  He truly is the light of our life!  I was so blessed to become is mom.  He hates socks or anything on his feet I have tried to put shoes and socks on his feet and 5 seconds later they are pulled off.  He loves to try and play with his older cousins and they love him.  He loves to make noises and blow bubbles, he talks all the time.  He can roll everywhere and is on his way to crawling which I think will be so fun.  He loves to hold your hand but you can't hold his which is so funny.  He loves beans, bread, yogurt bites, water from a straw and of course any of the sweets his aunts and uncles try to feed him:) I love Dakota and Daniel so much and don't know where I would be without them!

Dakota loves hanging out with grandpa just watching the t.v.

I love this picture of Dakotas bath time in the sink (he loves bubbles!)

Dinner time with Grandma Carol and Dennis

They love him so much, and he loves them!!

Dakota and Daddy both getting ready for their naps!!

Kota bear at the doctors at 6 months isn't he so chubby and cute.

Look how happy they are together it makes me so happy!!

Dakota the baby bat at Halloween.  Cutest bat I've ever seen

Daddy and son birthday lunch for Daniel.

Dakota loves his daddy!

Ready to go out for  a walk.  Dakota wants to be just like his dad!

I love watching our family grow and can't wait for our future together.

Family Trip to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole

August 7-11, 2011

This year instead of our family going to the usual Uintahs camping trip we all decided to go to Yellowstone as our family.  It was so fun and I think we might make it a annual thing:)  We all left Sunday and just relaxed when we made it to the condos in West Yellowstone.  We then on Monday went into the Park and went to Old Faithful and all the little pots along the road.  We then drove the lower loop and enjoyed pulling over every few minutes because we saw different animals. One our first day through the park we saw 3 grizzly bears and, 50ish bison, birds, 25ish elk, and a couple deer so it wasn't bad we were really excited for the bear but they were really far away so it was hard to see.  Then Tuesday we went into the grizzly and wolf center and the little kids were able to feed the bears by hiding the food in the exhibit while the bears were behind a wall then the kids all hid the food under wood, in the water and around the rocks it was so fun to watch them hide it and then when the bears came out the kids were excited to see them eat the food they hid. Then we went to the IMAX theater and watched the movie on Yellowstone so this day was a lot more relaxed and we ended the day with swimming.... Then Wednesday my dad and Daniel had been talking around and found out where the bears and wolves are in the park and decided that we could see them early in the morning so those brave enough to lose sleep woke up at 4:30am to leave to the park by 5am so Daniel, Dakota and myself decided we were in and man was it worth it as we drove up to Lamar Valley we saw the sun rise over Yellowstone as steam rose from the rivers below... It was so pretty!! This time we probably saw 100 elk, at least 200 bison, 3 more bears and 3 wolves! It was crazy we had a black bear cross the street and basically rub up on the back of our car that is how close it was it was moving so fast I only got a picture of its butt next to our car.. Then when we made it to the valley we saw a grizzly bear on the river laying on top of a elk carcass guarding the meat from the 3 wolves surrounding the bear waiting for the right time to get the left over meat it was amazing to see all these animals we then saw around 30+ big horn sheep above the same valley... We stayed there in the valley all day... Then the next day we then on the last day(Thursday) we started off with my dad wanting to take all the grand kids swimming it was so cute to see him do this and hang out with all the kids I know that they will always remember these fun activities spent with grandpa then we headed down to Jackson Hole did a little shopping and hanging around town then we headed home. It was a blast and I was so excited to spend the week with Daniel and having this be our first family trip together... I can't wait for the next trip now!! Thanks everyone for such a great family vacation I loved every minute!!

Callee's Wedding cake!

My Cute little sister Callee got married on July 9, 2011 she looked so pretty and it was a fun day.  She married her best friend Alex Blazzard and he is such a great addition to our family! We love them both... When callee got married she had me do her wedding cake it was so fun and I loved it when it was all done it is definately one of my favorite cakes so far!! Thanks callee for having me do your cake it was fun, I love you so much!!!!

Kota Bear up until today (8-13 weeks or 3 months old)

Dakota and Great Grandma Chase

Look at his cute little smile everytime I see his smile it makes my heart melt....

Aunt Lindsay... He loves when she comes over to play and cuddle with him

This is one spoiled boy his aunt randi and uncle adam love him so much they are leaving to Kansas next week for 3 years and so I think we might have a few road trips so they don't miss kota growing up.

South Ogden Fireworks

Dakotas first Fireworks at South Ogden Days 10 weeks old

Jesse loves playing with Dakota and goofying around with him...

Ready to go on a walk with mommy!!

Look at my little stud He is so cute.... How can you help but love this little man:)

Dakotas first swimming adventure at Aunt Malenas Birthday Party

Dakotas Blessing Day

Dakotas Blessing was such a great experience to see his dad bless him... I have such a great husband that supports me and our family... Thanks for all you do babe I love you so much!!

Kaysville Parade

Just hanging out with mom

This is Dakota on Aunt Callees wedding day! Isn't he so cute... It was such a fun wedding we love you callee

Every week my sisters and their kids get to go to the movies at the theater for a kids movie summer... It is so fun we watch all the fun kid movies and I have someone to go with me...

Daddy and his little buddy aren't they so cute!!!

Horse and Hitch parade for the Pioneer Days

I could just eat him up!!

Our little Redneck family ready for the rodeo... We had so much fun at the Rodeo it was one of the best rodeos I've been to at the Ogden Pioneer Rodeo

Todays picture of Dakota sleeping while I post all of these updates.  Look at how he sleeps with his arms up.  He hated being swaddled because he couldn't have his arms up like this... It is so cute how he looks so comfortable....