Ballard Beginnings

Boston Is One!

2009-03-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

Sunday March 1 was Boston's birthday. We celebrated the day before because we weren't sure of Blake's schedule and he had to be home for his little girls big day. She of course had no idea that it was her birthday. I made her a laddybug cake and also made a seperate cake for her to ruin. To my surprise she wanted a spoon and ate it with a spoon, staying pretty clean.
Carver kept saying that it was his birthday and we had to keep telling him that is was Boston's but that he could help her blow out the candles and open her presents. He was pretty good at letting her have the spotlight.
I can't believe that she is one. She walks all over the place, she eats almost eveything in sight (like her mom), she plays really good and thinks that she should be allowed to do everything and anything that Carver does. She is such a big girl!

Carver's Birthday

2009-02-23T13:15:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 22 was Carvers 3rd birthday. It was a pretty low key day. We kept asking him what he wanted to do for his birthday and the only thing that he would tell us is that he wanted to blow out candles. I asked him a few different times what kind of cake he wanted and it ranged from a Cars cake to a basketball to a golf course cake. Michaels did not have any of those cake pans so I bought the pirate ship cake and he was thrilled with that. Blake was able to be home and Carver had a lot of fun with family coming to visit him.
I can't belive that my little boy isn't such a little boy anymore. He is at a fun (but sassy) age. He is learning so many new and different things. He is a great older brother to Boston. He plays, helps and worries about her all the time. He is a wonderful little boy and I am so lucky to be his mom.
Of course I didn't have a working camera for the day. (Carver broke it a few weeks ago and I haven't got it fixed or gotten a new one yet). I did video tape him blowing out the candles on his cake and opening his presents, but I am not computer savvy enough ( or I don't have the patience) to put it on the computer.

My Christmas Survey, finally I'm doing it!

2008-12-17T08:52:00.000-08:00

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper

2. Real tree or Artificial?

Artificial with lights, I hate putting lights on trees.

3. When do you put up the tree?

I try to put it up on Thanksgiving day so that it is already for us when we come home from our Thanksgiving festivities.

4. When do you take the tree down?

December 26

5. Do you like eggnog?

Yes, I love it

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I can't remember one in particular, my parents always did a wonderful job.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

Mom and Tami

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Blake, I take good notes through out the year on what he wants, Carver and Boston

9. Do you have a nativity?

Yes, my mom made a really cute one out of blocks and the kids love to play with it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Neither, someday I will do a Christmas card.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

I don't think that I have ever had a worst gift.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

Any feel good Christmas movie and the comedies like Home Alone and Santa Clause

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Usually on Black Friday

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

I'm no telling

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

FOOD, TREATS, FOOD

16. Lights on Christmas tree?

Yes, white ones and colored on the outside of the house

17. Faovrite Christmas song?

O Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

We like to stay home and we are lucky that ours families are close so that we don't have to travel to far, although this year we are going to Bear Lake on Christmas night.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Yes

20. Favorite Christmas Memory?

I have lots, but one that I will always and never forget is the last one I had with my dad. It was a regular Christmas nothing to fancy but it was a memory of him, Carver and the rest of the family.

21. Open the presents Christmas eve or morning?

Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

The crowds

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

Reds, I am also particular about my wrapping paper matching and for this Tami makes fun of me

24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner?

It's a tradition in my family that for Christmas eve dinner we do prime rib and lobster. I LOVE IT!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I really don't need or want anything. It's so much easier when your a kid and you can pick out anything at the toy store.

"THANKSGIVING"

2008-12-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

I am very thankful for this holiday season. I am very thankful for my beautiful children and my wonderful husband, the home that we have to live in and our health. I am so thankful for my family and friends, for the freedoms that we enjoy and for the love that the savior has for us and I in turn have for him.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at my moms house this year and Blake was able to make it home on the morning of Thanksgiving. I always try to have all of my Christmas decorations up by Thanksgiving so that when we get home from dinner we are welcomed by the Christmas joy. Carver and Boston love the tree and lights. Carver makes sure that they are on all the time, all day long. Boston likes to look at the tree and I am very greatful that she doesn't care to much about touching it.

My Dad

2008-10-28T19:14:00.001-07:00

October 29 2007, it has been 1 year since my dad's passing. A few weeks before my dad died, I took Carver over to my parents house. While we were there my dad told me somethings that he wanted me to tell Carver when he was older and to let him know that it was from grandpa Kim. When he said that, the tears started to flow and all I could do was shake my head. I wanted so badly to ask him what he wanted me to know but like everyone else, I thought that I had at least a few months to ask him my question. I regret not being able to ask him and I am sure that Tami, Eddie, Andy and my Mom feel the same way. So I want them to know what I think dad would have said....

To Andy,

Tami said to me after the funeral that dad always thought that Tami was the mean one, I was the sweet one, Eddie the smart one, and yes you were the clumsy one. But no matter what it was that you did, you always made dad smile. He loves you for your personality, your ability to love and nurture anyone, how you always like to try knew things and your wiliness to help out at anytime or any place. He is proud of your accomplishments in graduating from college, the carer that you have chosen and your desire to build a home for your family. He is grateful for Mallory and Alli and for the man, husband and father that they have helped you become!

To Eddie,

You and dad always had a very special bond. You are very similar in a lot of different ways. He loves you for your desire to never give up and for your ability to solve the problem. He is grateful that you never back down from what you believe in and that you are always up for a good challenge. He is proud of you for fulfilling your dreams of becoming a dentist and for your ability to provide for your family. He is proud of the dad that you have become and the example that you are to Carson. He loves Michelle and is proud of the love that you share together!

To Tami,

Dad always used to say that it was going to be hard to give his daughters away when they decided to get married, but he said that you would be easy because you were such a pain in the butt. He is so proud of the woman that you have become. Dad loves you for your level head, your ability to think clear and to stay clam. He could trust you with anything. He loves that you will try new things and not give up until its done. He loves you for your ambition whether it be in school, work or at home. He loves that you made him a grandpa three times and for the family that you and Brent share!

To Mom,

You and dad are the example of true love. Dad loves you for your desires and ambitions. He loves you for your ability to start and accomplish your goals. He loves how sincere and loyal you are and how you will help anyone in need. He loves that you take great pride in who you are and what you stand for. He loves that you love and adore your grandchildren. He loves you for the mother that you are to us and for the wife that you have been to him for the last thirty years.

These are thoughts that I have had throughout the year and I think that dad would agree with me completely and I am sure that he would add a lot more to the question, "what do you want me to remember." Not a day, sometimes an hour, goes by that I don't think about dad. I am so grateful for dad. He is a great example to me and my family. I love him so much and I miss him terribly! I am so thankful for my family and friends, for their love and support throughout this last year and for the years to come!

Family Pictures

2008-10-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

While Eddie and his family were here about a month ago we had family pictures taken. I thought that sense my siblings had all posted their families, I better do the same.

Carver was trying very hard not to smile!

Boston was the best of all the kids. She just sat there and smiled for the camera.

Can you believe her "white" hair!

It's kind of a mischievous grin!

Grandma's greatest blessings!

Fall Leaves

2008-10-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

I told you that I wasn't very good at updating my blog.

With the leaves turning color we have trigs all along the back of our fence and I wanted to take some pictures because I think the color is so pretty.

I'm not the best picture taker but I thought they turned out good. I can't believe how big they are getting!

This past week we had to take Carver down to Primary Children's Hospital for and MRI. He has been complaining of headaches all summer long. We have taken him to the pediatrician and they thought he had a sinus infection. But when he was still complaining of them we took him to an ENT doctor (thanks Jackie!) He ordered the MRI to look at whats going on in Carvers head. The radiologist at PCMC said that his brain looks perfectly fine and that he is showing some sinus problems. So now we go from there.

He was such a tropper! I was so proud of how well he did. They had to completely sadate him which is extremely heartbreaking to watch as a parent. Blake and I are relieved that nothing major is wrong and hope that we can figure out something for him!

Oops!!

2008-09-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

If any of you are wondering why my blog looks different and where my first entry went, I deleted it. I am extremely computer illiterate and I was having a hard time publishing my last entry about the zoo with the pictures, so I gave up and started over!

ZOO

2008-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

All summer long we have been talking about going to the zoo. So on friday we decided that we better go before it is to late. Carver woke up that morning a little under the weather but we decided to go any way. He had a blast! He is still talking about it. Boston was so so good. She never made a sound. She just wanted to ride around in her stroller and look at everything.

We don't get to do a lot of family "vacations" because of Blake's work schedule, so this was something that easy and so much fun to do together!