We Love Kai--Happy 1st Birthday!

It is so weird to think that a year ago today contractions were starting and I was in denial that I was actually going into labor. Thanks to the help of Melissa and my mom, I heeded their advice and went to the doctor to check things out. Kai was relatively easy to bring into the world, however, once he was here, he wasn't the easiest baby right off the bat. But over time we got his reflux figured out, and the Kai we all know and love came through, a sweet, fun-loving, loves to eat a ton, and little baby boy who knows what he wants and when he wants it :). It has been a lot of fun getting to know him over this last year, and we can't believe how much he has grown up. We love you, Kai, and are glad to have you part of our family.
Here he is less than a week old.
And now here he is, grown up a little more, and able to feed himself, kinda. We celebrated his birthday while at my parents (with his cousin Payton who is just 3 weeks older than him), and will celebrate it again tomorrow (a day delayed), but here he is discovering his first cake. It didn't take him long to discover that eating his first cake would be a lot of fun.
I love Kai's personality...we didn't even have to encourage him, he went all in...so typical of this guy.
He seriously ate almost his entire cake. A few pieces were slung through the air, where my parents dog was anxiously waiting. Samson knows to hang out where Kai is eating, Kai is pretty good about sharing his meals and his treats. Happy Birthday Kai, we love you and are anxious to celebrate your birthday again tomorrow.

Adam's Wedding & Our Visit to El Dorado Hills

It is crazy to think that my little brother Adam is a married man now, and that I have a new sister named Cortnie, but I am happy for the two of them, and excited for us to have an even bigger family now. Adam and Cortnie got married on a golf course outside of the San Francisco area on Feb. 28th, and thankfully the weather cooperated and it was really nice. My parents were nice enough to fly me, Chase and Kai down for it, as well as Kelli and her three kids. It was soooo much fun being all together as a family (minus Nathan and Kelli's husband, Todd). The wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun, and I am glad that we were able to be there.

Here's the newly married couple.

The reception afterwards was a lot of fun as well, and Chase was up to his antics in putting on a show. He loved to go out on the dance floor while everyone was still eating, and start dancing to get the wedding party to laugh at him. He especially liked flirting with a lot of the women there. Chase can be really shy, but when he is tired he typically turns into a little ham. I thought this picture was cute of the grandkids that were old enough to dance.

I know that none of us girls like this picture, but it is decent of the three of us, and we had a great time hanging out at my parents' house the rest of our visit. It was nice having our kids all together because for the most part they played with each other and left us alone to visit.

Here is the whole gang of grandkids on the Stoker family side. There is one on the way, so that will make four boys and four girls...crazy to think how many we have already!

My Cute Boys

So I tried taking a cute picture of Kai, but he keeps making all these faces and I can't get the "perfect" one. I remember when Chase was little he would smile for the camera so nicely, but Kai, nope, he is too animated. So, here are some pictures of my funny little boy.


Here is the latest picture of Chase and his cousin Joseph making cookies together. Nicole has the yummiest cookie recipe so we all love it when she is in the mood to bake (which is fairly often :D). Chase was quite the good helper, and especially loved eating the cookie dough.

Thanks for the Compliments

Per some of your requests, here are the originals that I used to draw the drawings I showed below in my previous posting. I don't have the cropped picture of Chase and Kai to show you, but this is where it came from, and you will notice that I chose not to draw Chase sucking on his finger since I thought his plain smile would look better :).

Anyway, I just wanted to write back and thank you to all of you who stroked my ego :). Seriously, though, thank you for all of you who had such nice things to say. I thought it was funny that a few of you thought I was holding out on you and not telling you that I could draw. Honestly, I have always loved drawing, mostly just fun little characters, but I never have taken the time to really draw anything. Until after I took that class at BYU, and then drew that picture of Nathan and myself after our wedding, I didn't really know that I could draw very well. Plus, drawing that picture for Christmas was so many years after that first drawing, and even though the picture of Chase and Kai definitely has its flaws, I can tell that drawing is coming more easily now, and the drawings are looking better as I go. So I am currently working on one for a friend, and I hope that will turn out even better than the others.

In response to a lot of your questions as to how much I charge, I did some research and determined that I would charge $99 for a 4"x6" drawing, matted to the person's color of choice to make it overall either 5"x7" or 8"x10", (I can make much larger drawings as well, they just take longer and cost a little bit more). That is what I charged the woman that I drew her baby for her, and I think it was the right price. With the overall time it takes me to draw something and mat it, it ends up not being the best hourly wage, but hopefully with time I will improve and get faster. It is a lot of fun though, and I love being able to do something for someone else that they will be able to enjoy for a long time. So I am working on a few right now, but if any of you, no matter where you live, (since all I need is for you to email me a picture), would like me to draw a picture of your kids or family, or anything, email it to me (mimi.crisenberry@gmail.com) and I will get back to you as to when I can mail it back to you finished.

I am amazed at all of the talents that each of you guys have--crafts, kid teaching ideas, sewing, cooking, etc., and it is fun to be able to have blogs and be able to see each of them exhibited every now and then :).

Drawing

For Christmas, I think I mentioned on a previous blog entry, that I drew Nathan a picture of our two boys. This is the picture I drew without the frame, and although the quality of this picture is kind of blurry, and unclear/dark, since it is from me taking a picture of it, it is pretty close to what it looks like. Well Nathan brought it to work to put on his desk, and one of the ladies that worked there asked if I would draw her a picture of her newborn daughter. Of course Nathan said yes, he is always happy for an extra buck or two, so he had her email him a picture and then I got back with her about how much it would cost. I was a little unsure of what to charge, since I don't know if they are worth much, etc., but I told her what different sizes would cost and she asked for a 4"x6". Below is how it turned out. I am a little anxious to give it to her next week, but I am hopeful she will like it. Now I have another picture I will be working on for some friends of ours, and I know Nathan is going to try and get more business for me :). It is kind of fun though, I am able to listen to music or watch movies while I do it, so hey, why not?
This is a picture I drew for Nathan for our first Valentine's Day after we were married. I thought I might as well post it on here too, even though the timeline of drawings is out of order.
This is the picture of the little baby named London. I am pleased with how it turned out, and I hope the lady feels the same. If any of you would like me to draw a picture of your family or children, or anything, let me know (mimi.crisenberry@gmail.com)! I swear, they look better in person :)

Finally, a Highchair!

Kai just turned 10 months today, and just recently started eating in a high chair. Since we are a packed house, the space that a high chair takes up is highly coveted :). However, with some rearranging, we were able to manage giving up the space to allow Kai his own chair to eat in, (well he does share it with his cousin, Jacob too). He is loving it, and I am loving that I can just give him some food and leave him alone with it while he feeds himself. He has also recently started waving, and his wave somewhat resembles the "Heil Hitler" wave the Nazis used to do, not something we taught him :). He is such a fun little guy, and we love seeing his good-natured personality coming out even more.

Christmas

Both boys got new PJs Christmas Eve, and here they are showing off their cute little skinny bodies. Doesn't Kai look a little scary smiling here?
I thought this was a cute picture since all of the boys seem so interested in one of the toys that Kai got from his grandma :).
I just liked this one of Kai feeling so proud that he was standing up by himself. He isn't pulling himself up on things quite yet, so he shouldn't feel too proud that he had my help to stand there.
Chase got a tricycle from Santa, and that "green hill" to the left of him. With money being very tight this year with all of our recent changes, I shopped at DI for both boys. I got the bike for $5 as well as that cool car ramp/hill for $5. With the boys having no clue that they weren't brand new, I am sold on D.I. and all of the amazing deals I have been finding lately.

This picture was too cute not to post.

Christmas was a lot of fun this year with Chase believing in Santa, and Kai getting excited to open presents. The morning didn't start out too well with me waking up at 5:00 only to throw up, but thankfully my prayers were answered and I was feeling well within a few hours and able to have a fairly normal day.
Nathan and I set a pretty tight budget for each other this year and only allowed each other to spend $15 on each other's presents. It was supposed to be tricky to encourage creativity, and Nathan did a great job. He made me a CD of songs that I have been wanting, a tape recording of him telling me what he loves about me and our life together (my favorite gift), a really good-smelling body spray he got for $2 with a coupon from Victoria Secrets, and some chocolate. For him I got him a tortilla warmer he has been wanting for years it seems, some wooden suit hangers that were on sale at Linen's and Things, and I drew him a picture of Kai and Chase and framed it. Nothing big, but it is all about the thought that counts, and what was neat is that each of the presents were well thought out.
I am grateful for my little family, and for their spirits, and the fun that we have together. Having to live more simply has made me realize how much I really do have, and how much family and friends really mean to me. I am so grateful that we were able to celebrate our Savior's birth, and am so grateful for the sacrifices he made for each of us. It was great to celebrate Christmas with most of Nathan's family, and now we have 2009 to look forward to. I wonder what 2009 will bring? :)