Is There a Doctor in the House?

You can all officially address Mike as Dr. Courtright. That's right, open wide people- Mike is officially a dentist. I'm so proud of him!!! He worked really hard and has excelled in dental school. We had so much fun celebrating his graduation with family and friends. Mike's parents, my dad, my sister Tiffany, and my niece Giada were able to come out and see him graduate! These pics are from Graduation and the awards ceremony!

Future College Graduate!

He did it!!!! He graduated for the first time since high school!!!

The dental school wives - some of the best gals I've ever met!

The guys

The couples

Graduation Pics

More Grad Pics

Click on the collage to see the pictures up close.

Road Trip

So just a random side bit, before I get into this post. When I was younger, I absolutely hated road trips. I liked traveling, just not the getting there part. Why you may ask? I am one of those cursed people who has extreme motion sickness. Not so much now (just never ask me to go on the Teacup ride at Disneyland), but when I was younger, I could guarantee you a barf session on every road trip. No joke.

Now I actually really enjoy road trips because I am not sick and Mike and I sit and chat about everything in the book. We even have the atlas game we play every road trip. So we took another road trip to see our newest little niece Ivy. She is beautiful! Look at that hair!

This is Ivy in her blessing dress. What a perfect angel!

Kira was very soft with her. Do you think she's ready for a siblet?

We also stopped by Nauvoo on our way. We loved it. There is such a special feeling there. Kira loved the statues. She kept wanting them to pick her up. She smiled and talked to them.

The tulips in the gardens were so gorgeous!!!! I tried to get Kira to sit on the bench. She wasn't havin' any of it.

Kira was obsessed with this little wooden sheep. It was just her size. Then she started trying to eat the wool. Yes, she is still obsessed with hair. Whoever met a kid that loves to eat hair?

Okay, I just thought they looked so adorable! Melt my heart.

Mike was showing Kira how to smell the flowers. Well, she thought he kissed them. So she ended up kissing all the tulips.

We also caught a tour at Carthage. It was so great to go again. It is also such a special place.

Vegas Vacation

About a month ago, I was able to go visit my parents and most of my sibs in Vegas. As many of you know, my mom has had some serious health problems so I wanted to go and make a surprise visit. Only one of my sisters knew about it so she could come and pick me up from the airport. It was so much fun to surprise everyone with the visit. Of course, whenever I visit famliy fun times are had so here's a few pics.

Here's my brother Brett. He is a sushi addict. The boy knows more about good and bad sushi than anyone I know. He literally craves sushi. So of course, we had to go out for sushi. I have to admit, he picked out some good stuff. I don't even like cooked fish, but I thought the sushi was pretty good.

Kira loved being the center of attention and being spoiled by all her aunts, uncles, cousins, and abuelos.

Here we are at the sushi place.

Kira also loved playing with Giada's hamster. Kira is an animal lover. What am I going to do? I know she is going to be that kid that wants to bring home every animal possible. Is it bad if I say no to ALL animals?

The trip wouldn't be complete without having fun as a trio of sisters.

So while I was growing up in Vegas, we would always sit out on the lawn on Sunday afternoons and talk, play, relax, whatever. It was so much fun to do it again with all the fam. My mom was even able to come out and enjoy the outdoors with us.

And of course, Kira loved playing with new and improved toys!

Grandpa and Kira hanging out on the lawn. Oh the Vegas sun rays!

Better Late, Than Never...

Yeah, I'm about a week late posting Easter. Kira went on her first Easter egg hunt at this Baptist church by our house. I was curious as to whether she would know what to do. She picked right up on it though and had a little collection of eggs in her Kroger bag when it was all done.

Her findings. So many eggs, only two hands.

She knew just what to do.


Is she stinkin' cute or what?

This is Kira and one of her best buds Parker.

The glory is in the hunt!

Happy Birthday Mikey!!!

Look at my hot hubbie!

Mike's birthday cake this year. Ghetto fabulous!

Mikey is officially 28!!! Happy Birthday! Okay, so these are the reasons I know Mike is getting older in random order.

1. He likes to listen to Talk Radio.
2. He is addicted to looking at websites that show him how to invest money. (Maybe I should tell him we don't have any.)
3. He knows every single song on the soft rock station at the dental school.
4. I have to repeat things to him about 3 or more times before he hears/understands me.
5. Less hair is on the head, more hair is on the body. Those scouts brought in the troops!
6. He watches Fox News now. (Well, maybe that's cause this is the first year we actually have cable. I'll give him that one. Plus, I watch it too, but heck, I'm almost 30!)
7. He is extra sassy. (Okay, I admit, I like a little sassiness in life.)
8. He is graduating from dental school. So he is really mature now!

9. People can officially call him "Doctor Courtright." ( in 4 weeks)

I love the boy more each day!!! He is a great husband and daddy. Mikey is really loving and super spunky. I always love to be with him and am so grateful to have him in my life.

We met Mike at the dental school to have lunch for his birthday!

I took him to the Louisville Slugger Museum so we could check it out before we leave Kentucky.

Then I threw Mike a surprise birthday party. Here's a pic from it. I have never thrown a surprise party, and I was super nervous about getting Mike there on time. Plus, I was hoping he hadn't figured it out. But it all worked out according to plan...

Here's the game we played asking questions about Mike. Everyone was particularly interested in the body category. Hey, I can't help if Mike knows how to work it.

Happy 28th Birthday Mikey!

Florida

Our spring break trip to Florida - good weather, good friends, good pools, good food, good game nights, good times!

Here's Kira puckerin' up and lookin' like a little island princess while waiting for me to get ready to go to the pool.

Mike and Kira going into the kiddy pool.

Enjoying the Florida sun.

Kim, Kira, and Krista catchin' some hot Florida rays.

Mike and I are floating down the lazy river. Yep, that's right, the resort had a lazy river. The place had like a million pools. Okay, maybe not a million, but it had a lot of them.

Daddy and Kira cuddlin'.

So we took Kira to Sea World because she loves animals. Her favorite thing at Sea World happened to be a squirrel. We could have stayed in Kentucky and looked out our back window for this action. The squirrel was eating teddy grahams out of Mike's hand, and it sniffed Kira's foot, so I guess we payed money for a tame rodent.


Here we are at the Stingray encounter. Kira obviously doesn't know what to think about it.

Here we are at the Clyde and Seymour show at Sea World. Kira looks so sweet. It was naptime.



Daddy and Kira playing in the fountains.

Our resort

Getting a game on with the Christensen's and our homemade Margaritas.

Kira got her first experience mini golfing at Congo Golf in Florida. Probably the coolest mini golf I've ever been to. It has little rivers that take your ball into the water and then shoot it out by the hole. You can't get that action in Kentucky, eh?

Excited!!!

Exciting things!

1. Kira has officially started walking. She's been taking steps here and there for a while, but she is now walking 10 and more steps all over the place. Here's a short clip of one of her first jaunts around the apartment. She looks so adorable walking, and we couldn't be more excited for her.

2. Okay, so I first saw these at Wal-Mart for $12, and I was like, "What the...no way am I paying $12 for these especially when she'll grow out of them in like 4 months." But of course I started thinking about them and how cute they would look on her with her outfits. Anywho, I heard about this consignment sale, so I went to look for them, hoping on the off chance that they would be there for cheap. And lo and behold, to my delight they were there in Kira's size for $3 lookin' practically new. Yeah baby! You know I got them. I call them Pink Splendor!

3. So I've also been wanting to buy Kira a little chair for her to sit in, but I've held off trying to find a sale. At that same consignment sale, I found this for $3. I admit, I find great satisfaction in getting a great bargain!

Kira loves the chair. This is her lounging in it on a Sunday morning. Isn't she looking taller?

4. And yes, now I will blog about corn bread. Okay people, I love corn bread. Love, love, love it. I've been looking for a delicious sweet corn bread recipe, and I finally found one. It was an exciting day. Yes, I enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Food is one of those pleasures. Check my recipe blog for the recipe.

5. Lastly, I am super excited about going to Florida for spring break. My happy place is on a beach, soaking in the rays, with a fruit smoothie, shaded by an umbrella, taking an occasional dip in the ocean. I can also intermix the beach for a pool and be just as happy. So I'm super excited to go to Florida to remember what warm feels like!

6. Okay, so Mike wanted me to make sure I mention him in my exciting blog page. Actually, he wanted me to mention his body, but I will spare you all. So I'll sum it in a nutshell. With Mike, life is always exciting, fun, and enjoyable!