One year old

She is ONE!!!

I can't believe it.  That first year went so fast.  I need to keep reminding myself to treasure ever moment because before I know it she is going to be married and gone. :(

She loves balloons

She love her new birthday stool.

Grandma Paxton

Her giant cupcake.  It didn't really look as good as I hoped, but it sure did taste good.  

I made the frosting out of her most favorite fruit; fresh strawberries.  

When we gave her the cake, that is what the first thing she went for, the big strawberry right on top.   

So excited. 

 She didn't know what to do with it, at first, but her cousins helped her dig right in. 

Grandpa Paxton was making the kids balloon animals. 

Aunt Amy and cousin Emma

Uncle Mike

Birthday Girl and Mama

Uncle Aaron, Great Grandma Barbara, and Grandma Paxton

Cousin Brody and Aunt Megan

Grandpa Paxton and Kasen

Thanks everyone for making Samantha's first birthday so fun.

We've seen better days...

This morning at 6:30 AM we drove all the way down to Riverton and Sammy got tubes in her ears.  

She did so good and is now feeling great. 

She looks so cute in her hospital outfit.  

I am hoping that this is the last time I have to see her in one of these. 

She loved this bubble light machine.

After surgery, she was still drugged up and not sure how she felt about it. 

With a couple of tubes, a few hour nap and some pain killers she is feeling fabulous.

What a roller-coaster of a day.

The State Fair

The Utah State Fair has been a fun tradition that we have done every year since we have been married.  Now that we have Sammy it's even more fun.  I can't until she gets older.

She wasn't really sure about all the animals.  When they would come up to her she would start shaking and then start to cry.  It was cute but sad. 

You've got to love all the carnival games. 

And of course you can't go to the fair with out going down the big yellow slide.  

If you look on the right, behind the guy in the yellow you will see Colby and Sammy walking up the steps to go down the slide.

How I Did It...

You ask how I did this...

I would like to take all of the credit and say I figured it all out on my own but I didn't.  I found this really fun blog of a lady that is a designer, but likes to do everything for a good deal.  She had recently re-done her kitchen and I loved it.  I really wanted to do it the same color as hers but I thought it would be to washed out because we have so many light colors with the walls, counters and back splash.  That is way I went with black, which I think turned out great.  I will be honest I was a little nervous at first.  But it worked out in the end because I love it.

She can tell you how to do it WAY better then I could.  Her blog is http://sassystyleredesign.blogspot.com.

The following link will take you right to her post on re-doing her cabinets. 

http://sassystyleredesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/kitchen-101-how-to-paint-your-ugly.html

 Enjoy!!!

Labor Day

Normally Labor Day is a day of rest from labor.  Not at our house.  I put us to work.  

I have been wanting to give our kitchen a facelift but there is no money to do anything major.  So, I decided to go out and get a can of paint and get to work.

I am really happy with the results. What do you think?

Before

After

Before

After

Eleven Months

It is getting a lot more difficult to take pictures of Samantha by her doll.  She wont sit still.

This is as good as it gets. 

Our cute Utah baby.

Father like Daughter

Playin with friends

Cohen, Kenzley, Samantha, Melia, and Jayne

Sammy didn't like the pony ride very much.  She had to get off half way through because she was screaming.