Amaya's 4th Birthday part 2

Okay, so this post will be quick and sweet.  Today marks Amaya's 4th Birthday, and since we just moved to Vegas 3 weeks ago, and are having a bigger party in Cali in 1.5 weeks we weren't sure what we were going to do on her actual birthdate.  But we decided to at least do the best we can, and try to make it as fun, but simple, as possible.  So we decorated her room with balloons after she went to sleep, so she would wake up to them, and also decorated her door with streamers.  We also put balloons on her chair, just to make sure she knew it was her birthday....lol.  She was super excited, and we basically played volleyball with her balloons on and off all day today.  We also went swimming because it hit triple digits again.  A great way to get outside and cool off in Vegas!  Wahoo!

Lastly, we spent our night at Chuck E. Cheese to finish off Amaya's birthday.  We invited my cousin Shaquitha aka Pooh, and my old friend Sarah and her husband Chad and young son Gianni.  We were very grateful they could make it, considering this was all last minute.  We just did not want Amaya to spend her actual birthdate with just us.  She had been anxiously awaiting this birthday, so we figured the more the merrier.  And what a great occasion to get together with family and friends!

So, here are some pictures from our night at Chuck E Cheese, celebrating Amaya's 4th birthday.  To sum up the night, it was small, simple, yet fun for all.  We all played games, Eric beat me in a basketball shooting competition...wow!  and Pooh got down on some Skee ball, and gave Amaya all of her winnings.  lol.  Gianni was super excited when the mechanical Chuck E started singing and dancing.  It was way too cute.  So check out the pictures.

Amaya and her new scooter.  Too bad she is limited to about 20 -30 minutes outside at a time with these triple digit temps.  But she'll love it and have lots of fun, and can use it year-round.  so that's great!

This was Amaya before everyone got there, and before the food was done.  We were starving, and of course she fell asleep on the way their.  So, yeah, she felt like this for a hot second.  But quickly jumped up when she was able to go play the games.  

Um, this is Amaya's "please stop taking pictures, and let me play" face.  Geez, just trying to capture life's moments.  lolol 

Eric had to relight the candle, because Amaya is quick at pulling the trigger.  Watch out everyone.  lol 

The Capones!  Gianni is just as cute as he wants to be. :)

Daddy helping Amaya play a game, as he did the whole night.  Thank you!  

Very cute Daddy and daughter picture before the festivities began!  Eric will be as tan as amaya before we know it lmao.  

Eric looking good.  

Gianni and his cute self

Group Picture!!!  

Eric, Amaya, Pooh, and myself

Last but not least, the three of us! 

Happy 4th Birthday Amaya!

So we have been in Vegas all of 3 weeks and we are loving it.  We live in Summerlin, and it is such a nice neighborhood.  There is a community pool in the condos where we live, and let me just say it is a necessity to be within feet of a pool.  It's been so nice having direct access to a pool, Amaya is enjoying and somewhat learning how to swim.

So, just a recap, I got 4 's and 1 B in spring semester of graduate classes.  My family and I moved to Las Vegas the second week of May, Amaya will have a Carnival themed birthday party in Patterson, California at my parent's house on June 7th.  I can't wait to see all of my family, family friends, and old friends to celebrate Amaya's birthday in a big way.

What's new:  It's quickly heating up in Vegas. 3 digit temps are happening as I write, but nothing we can't handle.  I mean, we moved from one of the coldest states, North Dakota, so I have no worries that we will get quickly acclimated to Vegas weather.

Also, we have been touring preschools, which has been eye-opening, yet fun.  Thankfully I have this summer to make a good decision.

Overall, the three of us are adjusting well to live in Vegas.  The views are amazingly pretty, and the people are really nice.

Lastly and MOST IMPORTANTLY, today is Amaya's 4th birthday.  She was born May 27th, 2010 at 9:47 p.m. at Naval Hospital Bremerton.  I remember waking up around 2 a.m. on May 27th and my water broke, and I was just taken a back for a hot second.  Then Eric and I went to the hospital, I got induced, went through about 18-19 hours of labor, and finally gave birth to my precious baby girl.  of course, i think she was the most beautiful baby on earth.  But, from that moment I laid eyes on her I knew was true love really was.  Happy Birthday my honey bunny, daddy's sweet pea.  We love you!

She was so excited for her puppy guitar toy made by B.toys (target).  She saw this toy at the store about 2-3 weeks ago, and literally asks about it every other day.  So, of course we had to get it for her, and the look on her face was priceless.  She was truly excited!!

Amaya and her new puppy guitar.  :)

Now, just some random photos since our move to Vegas

At the park.  She loves that there are always kids at the park.  She has a lot of fun playing with other kids.

I wrapped her up, and of course she thought it was fun.  

April/May 2014....Easter and Bismarck!

April has been a very long month.  From finishing up with my last semester of classes (before beginning my MSW internship) and preparing to move to Las Vegas, and working...it has been one heck of a month.  Although it's been exhausting, it's been fun!

Amaya has mastered bike riding, which I think is pretty good considering she could only ride it during summer months (may-september) due to North Dakota's crazy cold winters.

Amaya will be 4 in about 30 days or so.  Woah!  I can't believe she will be yet another year older.  But just more motivation for me to be DONE with school and receiving a steady income (so she can get and be involved in any and everything she wants.  December here I come wa-hoo!

So Easter came and left.  We spent half the day with Eric's Parents, Patty and Greg.  Food was delicious.  Then we made a surprise visit to, the always lovely, Alma and Maya.  And we ate even more food.  But all delicious.

Then just a week later we drove to Bismarck so Amaya could spend some QT with her other cousins, Kendall and Jaxon.  They couldn't make it Easter weekend because Kendall was very sick, but we were glad and thankful we made the trip that way since we are moving.  As always, Amaya had so much fun with Kendall and Jaxon.  They all get along....in different ways.  They mesh perfectly.  Kendall is the girly girl, Jaxon is a true boy, and Amaya is in between.  Amaya likes to dress up, wear her lil click-clackers, and get her hair done, but she also loves superheroes, and to jump on couches, and doesn't mind if she "gets her hair messed up".  So both sides of her mesh perfectly with Kendall and Jaxon, and they're the perfect ages.

Okay, so some of these pictures are out of order, and i am too lazy to put them in order.  But most of these pictures are from Bismarck, the week after Easter, and the pictures with deja are from our last night in Grand Forks before we moved to Vegas.

They are way too funny, and too cute!  Will miss Deja so much

Love the look on Deja's face.  lmbo!

Jaxon the photo bomber! lmao.  Kendall and amaya before Kendall's dance recital

one of my absolute favorite in-the-moment pictures of Amaya to date!  I just love this picture :)

Amaya riding on Kendall's bike!  

Love the look on Jaxon's face

Jaxon hunting for eggs

Jaxon and Amaya playing on the swingset

Jaxon is such an active boy

Love this picture of Tara and Jaxon

Amaya and Kendall enjoying the nice weather in Bismarck

Kendall was serious about wearing her Hello Kitty nails for her dance recital.  Luckily, one made it through the entire recital :)

Kendall and Grandpa on our way back from the park

Our last night in Grand Forks before Amaya and I flew to Las Vegas!  Out to dinner with Jaci and Deja.  They will be missed, but a disneyland trip is in the works!