Lizzie you are two!!!

So dear Lizzie had her two-year birthday on Saturday, March 23.  I can't believe we have a two year old.  She had a fun-filled day, I'll tell ya, what, lil apple of our eye.  We started off the day by walking into her room with a banana bread muffin with candles on it. She ate that up and then we celebrated with her over breakfast and had her open her presents.  She got a cute dolly and doggie from her Mami Vicki and Opi and some Mr. Potato Head stuff from us and we got her an awesome little kiddie picnic table and a whole kitchen which we showed her and placed in the basement for her to play with.  She loved that and giggled with delight over it! 

I took her to her swimming class a little later on, which she loves and then took her home for lunch and a nap.  After her nap, I took her down to Salt Lake where we met up with all of her cousins and family there to tour the Living Planet Aquarium which she loved.  She was mesmerized by all the fishies in the glass aquariums and really loved that.  I liked that it was the perfect size, not too terribly large. Then, we took her to her grandma Irene's home and had pizza and cake and sang to her.  She loved all the love and attention she got there and more presents.  She got a dolly from Tiffany's family, a Mrs. Potato Head from Martha's family and some darling British clothes from her British cousins.  Then, we drove home and put her to bed.  She had a lovely day and seemed very happy.  

A few days later, I took her in for her two-year check up.  She has a perfect bill of health and guess what??  She measured 35.5 inches which means that she will grow to be 5'11"!!  You go girl.  I see a volleyball player in the future but also I don't want to hinder you by only pushing sports.  You pursue whatever talents you'd like, my darling, as long as you are pursuing something good and noble.  I look forward to my tall, lanky lady.  

Also, Lizzie has never been sweeter in her life.  Every day she says something smart or cute like today she picked out the word "o" for "Opi" in the word "mommy."  And to think I wasn't sure if she was really picking that up!  She also turned to a little girl behind her in the library today and said to her "my mommy, no mine!"  The little girl just looked at her confused.  So funny.  Everything is "no mine" but at the same time she is so sweet and giggly.  I just wanna eat her up.  Well, here are a few pics of her special day for your viewing pleasure.

The new kitchen

With all her prezzies

I am obsessed with looking at her when she is asleep

She and Bethany are such great buddies

She was a little scared of the huge catfish

With her sweet cousins

I love this pic!

Her special Winne the Pooh cake

She loved the frosting!

Wearing her cute new little British outfit

Spiritual Sunday

It's been too long since I did one of these but it's also been in the back of my mind and I have something to share this week.  LDS Living came out with a best pieces of advice column and a lot of people contributed.  I love getting nuggets of wisdom this way and there were a lot of gems but my favorite was a poem that Elaine Dalton, young women general president, shared.

You don't have to tell how you live each day
You don't have to tell if you work or play
A tried and true barometer stands in its place
You don't have to tell, it will show in your face
If you live close to God and His infinite grace
You won't have to tell, it will show in your face

Wow.  Ever since I read that last night, I can't stop thinking about it.

It will show in your face...

It takes me back to Alma 5 which talks about having His image in our countenance.  I need to remember this more.  In fact, I am going to make it a goal to focus on this during sacrament.  Does it show in my face?  Maybe if I think of this every Sunday, it'll stay with me all week.  That's the hard part for me, remembering to keep up with my goals all week.

Paul shared something really neat too which I've been trying to focus on.  He said that during his mission he spent every sacrament thinking only of others and how he could serve them.  I tried to do that this Sunday.  It was helpful.

I was trying to think about the best advice I've ever received.  I think something that our friends the Shamo's told us the other day was one of the best.  They said:

Treat everyone like they are truly a Child of God from the people in your family to the person whom you can barely look at between their tattoos and piercings.  They are all children of God.

Anyway, that's what I've got today.

Have I told you about my little girl?

She is as sweet as can be
Her spirit comes straight from heaven
Her kisses make my whole world come alive
Her eyes are so bright and full of life and love

Have I told you about my little girl?
I love her more each day
Her breath is so sweet
Her toes are so perfect
And when she hugs me, I feel complete

I miss her when she's sleeping
I dream of her at night
I love to watch her run and dance and jump
She does it all so right

Have I told you about my little girl
I will love her forever