I-N-T-E-R-N-E-T . . . an amazing discovery!

Well, after 7 1/2 years of being married, Ben and I have finally buckled down and purchased the Internet for our own personal use. What?! Can you believe that?! Yep, we were living in a cave isolated from the whole world until Saturday morning when the Cox angels came and wired our home. Hence, the lack of blogging for the past four months. I always used my work laptop to update photos but since being laid off, I haven't had the same luxury.

Oh, so I guess that should be catch up post #1. Big news! I'm an official stay at home mom and I'm loving every minute of it. I didn't realize just how ghetto fabulous our school was until I no longer have to go there everyday. I love my own little bubble! The lay off truly was a blessing in disguise and I cherish being able to be closer to Braelyn and teach her about the world around her.

She is so smart! That little jabber mouth is talking up a storm and is so aware of her surroundings. Not to mention, she is a social butterfly! She says "hi" to total strangers wherever we go. Someday we'll have a long hard talk about stranger danger. Well, without further ado, here are pics from the past four months including Christmas, Braelyn's first birthday (woot woot!), trip to San Diego, trip to Las Vegas, and visiting our parents in Utah. Enjoy!

We went to As You Wish to paint a piggy bank for Braelyn's first birthday before we headed off to Utah for the holidays. We met up with Jana and had a blast. I'm not too sure if Braelyn enjoyed it. In fact, she screamed when we attempted to get her hand print on the pig. Needless to say, the hand print looks more like a blob.

Once we got to Utah, we made a special trip to see Santa Claus. Well obviously she hated him. And yes, I realize that "hate" is a strong word.

She also hated being in the snow or simply being in snow clothes for that matter. It didn't matter whether she was sledding with Grandma Goggins or with daddy, she wanted nothing to do with it.

But as long as she wasn't forced to play in the snow, she loved it! Especially when the snowflakes fell on her cute little tongue.

Great Grandpa Dale and Braelyn enjoyed cruising around the mall side by side doing a little Christmas shopping. Those two kept holding hands as we pushed them through the stores.

Braelyn was spoiled with all kinds of presents from both sets of grandparents! Mommy and daddy planned accordingly and all we bought her was a $5 pair of pink slippers from Walmart. Way to go! 

Then came two days worth of birthday celebrations after which I think she was tapped out! How many birthday cupcakes can one little one year old eat?!

Shortly after returning to the warmth of Phoenix, Grandma and Grandpa Goggins came to visit for the weekend. We couldn't help but go to the park and ride on the train!

After the grandparents left, Braelyn had her first encounter at the zoo. Hmmm, she was intrigued by the goats until one decided to plop right down next to her. We had a little freak out session after that. All was good again once we found the play area with her cute buddy Josiah.

Our next adventure was the Phoenix Children's Museum. Her favorite attractions were the flying scarfs that shot out of little tubes, the noodle forest that was made up of noodle floaties, playing in the big flower pot with her friend Niyah, and most of all SHOPPING! Let me just say that I never showed her what to do with the shopping carts. The next thing I know, she has gone over and grabbed a shopping cart and is cruising down the aisles filling it with food. Once it was full she would grab another cart and start all over. It was hilarious!

Next up was San Diego where we met my brother Taylor and his wife Diane along with my aunt and uncle Cameron and Courtney. We had a blast going to the aircraft carrier, playing along the pier, and exploring the tide pools. Braelyn LOVED the sea lions, especially because they barked like dogs.

The weekend after San Diego we drove out to Vegas for a short vacation with Ben's parents and sister. Grandma Kaye, Braelyn, and Ben all got their game on and Braelyn wanted to be a human ski ball.

After Vegas Braelyn and I caught a shuttle to St. George and rode the rest of the way to Salt Lake with my grandparents and the party continued. We went to the aquarium with Grandma Kaye, at dinner with Great Grandpa Dale at his rest home, cruised around in Grandma Goggins' totally cool Power Wheels, and played with Grandma Kaye's never ending bag of instruments.

And now we're back in Phoenix enjoying day to day life that consists of being obsessed with ducks (whether in the tub or at the park), getting ready for Easter, and taste testing mommy's delicious homemade cupcakes! Life couldn't be better.