my amazing brother!

below is a link to a story that Channel 2 News in Utah did on my older brother Jason.

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3 years ago Jason went in for a 'routine' surgery and barely lived through a mistake on the operating table. His life changed so dramatically in every way, but he has managed to have this AMAZING attitude and looks at this nightmare as a chance to help others, touch others lives and be an example of finding the good in things!

http://www.kutv.com/content/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=984FBD47-F74B-4596-A5C9-B2716C6237D4&gsa=true

It is a miracle that Jason is still here and doing as well as he is - relatively speaking. I feel so lucky to be his sister and to have been touched by his humor, attitude and outlook!

baby jacob

we were SO HAPPY that we got to spend a little time with the Keisel's while they were in Utah! Teag was so sad he couldn't be there and we missed him, but had so much fun hanging out with our little ones.

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little, er BIG baby Jacob is too cute! Brett and Sarah are such great new parents!

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We couldn't wait to introduce Dallas and Jacob!

new best friends and fellow ranch-hands, they will be sure to have some good times together over the years!

If their friendship is anything like their dads, what are Sarah and I in for?!?!

cutest Keisel family
Sarah and her sweetest baby Jacob
Brett and his baby boy - he is quite the proud daddy!
Dallas with Brett and Jacob - just a little tired!
the babes!

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we miss you guys and can't wait to see you in about a month :)

fun with the FrAnCiS bOyS

Kim and Steve were out of town last week so Dallas and I went to Utah to watch the Francis boys. They are such good kids and were so good to Dallas! We had so much fun - thanks guys!

playing on the bed
my sweet friends Erinn and Tangee came over to see Dallas, hang out and watch the Jazz game.
thanks for coming girls - we love you!
Dallas with our cute Grandma Whiting
Dallas driving the car at Fat Cats!oooh...boys will be boys!

we love Walnut Creek

2 weeks ago dallas and I took a little trip to one of my favorite places - Walnut Creek - to see my BF and college room mate Kelley and her cute family.

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Kelley and I met on a study abroad to London in college and instantly clicked because she said she was from Walnut Creek, CA and I told her I wanted to live there some day because I loved it so much!

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Kelley and Ryan have two kids: Mason (2 1/2) and Emily (10 days older than Dal). Dallas LOVED playing with them and we had so much fun!

dallas and emily playing in the kitchen drawer...so fun!
the kiddos playing in the balls at 'the jungle'
Dallas was a LITTLE excited about the balls!
cute kids!
just playing around!

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between 3 nap schedules, well sort of, we were able to hang out, eat out, shop and even see a movie! Thanks for such a fun week and for having us! I am already excited about our next get together - girls trip somewhere fun?!

playing with daddy!

this is Dallie's favorite new thing to do...

play ball with dada!

several times throughout the day I hear "dada, dada, dada!"

then if we see a ball its "bah. dada"
he throws it like a champ
...and loves to bounce it and roll it...
and sometimes, just hold it!

fun in UTAH

Dallas and I spent a little extra time in Utah after the party.

we had fun, as always, eating CAFE RIO, RED MANGO and SPOON ME!

I can't believe Dallas is old enough to ride this little roller coaster at my mom's! He is so BIG, silly, fun and entertaining these days. It just keeps getting better and better!

my mom, grandma, Dallas and I went down to Thanksgiving Point to see the tulip festival. The tulips weren't all out, but it was just fun to be together!

some of the tulips

going to visit uncle j, aunt steph and junior

but.....he couldn't wait to get home!

pUpPy PaRtY!

I am a little late on pictures, but we had Dallas' birthday party while we were in Utah. It was a 'puppy party' and he was happy to have family there to celebrate!

this is one of the few shots of Dallie with his face painted - turns out one-yr-olds seem to just make a mess! we couldn't get him to wear his puppy ears either!

Dallas with all his puppy cousins!

treats in dog bowls and my favorite - his CAKE!

not only was it ADORABLE but it tasted SO good!

the puppies before the 'dog show'

Dallas doing his 'forward roll' for his trick!

and time for cake...

he wasn't totally feeling the cake thing until Hailey put frosting and ice cream on his binky!

...and finally onto presents...

not suprisingly, Dallas was far more interested in the boxes than the actual toys!

Dallas was lucky enough to have his grandma reynolds come up to spend his birthday with him! she wanted to do things that he would like so we took him to Cheesecake Factory for lunch (he likes getting his own plate with banana's and brown bread), went to the Disney Store at the mall, and hit a pet store too!

then it was back home for a nap and to wait for daddy so we could have cupcakes!
the kids is OBSESSED with Cheerios so I thought I would throw some on a few of the cupcakes to get his attention...

but he wasn't too interested. he just likes to poke his finger in the frosting and lick it off
with daddy
with mommy

with grandma

our little fam
getting presents

SLAM DUNK!

dallas LOVES basketball and spent the rest of the night trying to put all his different toys through the hoop

and of course, some quality box time!

Teag brought home a big cardboard box and cut holes in it - this by far beat any toy we gave him for his birthday!

look who's 1

today is Dallas' 1st birthday!

we love our little buddy more than we could have ever imagined!

I never knew life could be so great!