Looking Back-Baylee's 8th birthday and baptism.

Baylee had her baptism/birthday party at my mom's house in August. We seriously had a full day's worth of fun! Her baptism was at 10:00 and we had a party afterward. I am so proud of Baylee, she was so excited to get baptized and made the decision to do so all on her own. She was a little nervous, B sometimes doesn't like to be the center of attention. However, she was such a cute girl and a gracious host as well...grin. I just want to tell Bay that I just love her soooooo much. She is an incredible daughter any mother could ask for. I don't know what I would do without her. When B is at our house, she is my very best helper and loves her little sisters so much. Nathan and I know that Baylee is one of our biggest blessings in our lives and without her, our family would not be complete. Here are my top 10 Baylee-isms that some of you may not know:

1. I can pretty much aske her to do anything and she'll totally do it without griping...most of the time...grin
2. Even though she has her drama mama moments, Bay is one of THE most easy-going people I know (wonder who she gets that from...grin)
3. B is super smart and does an amazing job in school even though she is one of the youngest in her class.
4. B loves to draw and is quite good at it.
5. Baylee has the cutest giggle and I just can't get enough of it when she laughs.
6. When she gives kissies to her sisters she does this pucker with her lips (you have to see it) and just gives the sweetest kisses.
7. Baylee is a "daddy's girl" through and through. There is no one she would rather spend time with than with Nathan
8. B is a total girlly-girl, loves make-up, jewelry and all that fun stuff. However, she can tom-boy it out too with sports and yard and house work.
9. For an 8-year-old, she is more mature than some people my age. For example, when you say a word she doesn't know, she will say," I don't know what that means, tell me". most wouldn't really care.
10. Baylee has such a big heart. She loves her family, which is ginormous by the way, and will easily give hugs and kisses, especially to her sisters. I am so lucky to have a part in her life story

So....the party at my parents was super fun...I didn't get to eat at all because I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Most of you mom's know what I'm talking about when I say that when you host a party, the mom is doing EVERYTHING and making sure that EVERYTHING is running smoothly. But is was a blast none the less. Bay got a bazillion presents and was so sweet to give lots of love to the gift givers and was oh-so-patient with her cute cousins that wanted to "help" open her presents. B has always been fabulous with little kids, so patient, kind and really easy going. She is an amazing "big sis" to Jersey and Ava, they just love her to pieces and bits.
Well, we got a ton of pics of who all came to our shin dig and I know it's a little late, but I just wanted to say "thanks" again for all the peeps that came and helped with the food and the clean-up. I love you all and would have gone to the nut-house without ya.
Bay and her cousin Jada.
Nathan, Bay and I.
My mom, "Granny" and Baylee.
My mother-in-law, "nana" and B.
Nathan's dad, "Papa-Kelly" and Linda and Baylee.
Baylee blowing out her fairy cake.
Baylee opening up her presents...rock-on man.
Baylee with her cousins Indy and Iris.
Baylee with her aunt Kelsey, uncle Karl and Grandma and Grandpa.
Baylee with her great-granny (my mom's mom).
Baylee with her great grandma and grandpa.
My sister Lindsey and Kelly and thier crazy hoodlem kids.
Nathan and Bay before the big moment.

I LOVE STEPHENIE MEYER

OH MY FRICKIN-FRACKIN-FREAKIN HECK!!!! I just finished the last novel in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn and let me tell you that it is amazing!!! I was so deliciously happy with the way that it ended that I actually cried. Stephenie Meyers has a fabulous talent for writing that can't help but leave you wanting more. When I got the book on Friday at midnight, i couldn't help but stay up until 6:30 in the morning reading and that was after I had to force myself to put the book down and get a little shut eye, I mean, i have two babies, gotta have a little bit of energy. That is how awesome this book is. I was a little worried in the beginning that she wouldn't be able to finish all that needed to be finished by the time the book ended. Of course, i should have known not to worry because in the end, Meyers knows what she is doing. AAAAHHHHHH, it was so fantastic. That is all I am going to say about the book for now because I don't want to spoil anything out there for anyone who still has not finished the book.
Now I was able to read this book in about 36 hours, which I was a little sad about because I wanted to read it all after midnight when I got the book on Friday...grin. I of course went to the Breakin Dawn party at Barnes and Nobles so i could get my copy right at midnight. I went with my fabulous friend Ally and my sister Kelly and mom. We met up later with my Aunt April and cousins Veronica and jessica. I had so much fun I think there was a perma-smile on my face all night long. That also might be due to the fact that this is one of my first breaks since having my precious Ava. Now i love my girls, but come on, every mom needs a break, and this one couldn't have been better. We started out the night going to Costa Vida (I had never been there before) and let me tell you that their pork salad is phenomenal. Then at 9, we went to the party....pure bliss.You will see in the pictures that we did all sorts of fun, Twilighty things...
Ally, Kelly and I at the fancy-shmancy cake.

Their were little stations all around the store where you could make and do cool Twilight stuff. We all made really rad bracelets...I know, sounds kinds dorky but you couldn't help but get caught up in the spirit of the moment...grin. If you look really close, you can see that mine says "Bite Me"...appropriate eh'?

We got some seriously cool puncture tats (not cheesy looking at all huh...grin)



The last hour was a little rough waiting in anticipation so we passed the time by re-reading some of the series. You can tell we are really into them...grin.


Passing the time with a little bit of photo fun.


I love my cousin Veronica, she is so hilarious and totally gets into things like me. As you can see, she also got swept up in the moment with her ultra chic mask. You don't understand, this girl is my Twilight Hero because 1)She had read all of the other books days before the fourth one came out, so she was all too ready for the trivia game they had there and kicked booty at it and 2)Ron also had her own trivia from online that we did while we were waiting and 3) She is so flipin funny...period.
My Auntie April and mummzy were total troopers. My mom cracks me up, while we were there she was checkin out the serial killer book club and totally wants to be a member, go figure. She loves murder mysteries and pretty much anything by Stephen King, need I say more.

I know. I am pretty silly. But these are precious moments in time that I do not want to forget...grin. i love that the check-out lady posed and smiled with the book with out me having to ask.


Could I be any happier?????


Finally, we waited for 3 1/2 hours and here we all are with our prize possessions.

Mixed Feelings...

My little sweet angel-face one year old just took off for her first trip without mommy and daddy and I am just not sure how I feel. Now granted, Jersey went with my mom, her "Granny", and with some of her other cousins, so I know she is in excellent hands. However, I totally got teary-eyed when she drove off smiling, waving and saying "BYE". My little Jersey-Bers couldn't have cared less that she was leaving me, while my heart, on the other hand, broke just a little. She will be gone for 3 and a half days which leaves me some free time to do...well, whatever it is that people do when they only have one kid, who is super good I might add. SO...on one hand I am really sad that my lil' princess is gone, but at the same time, I might actually get out of the house and do something fun for myself. I can't believe I thought that one kid was hard. Only having one to take care of seems like a piece of cake after having two. It helps when the one that is gone is the crazier one of the two...grin. So you all can see how I have some mixed emotions here. I think I might try to scrapbook or maybe Nathan and I could actually go out on a date (who knew...grin) or exercise some of that baby fat off. Gosh, the possibilities are endless...

Photo Shoot

Before Ava was born, I had my friend Keira take one-year old pictures of Jersey and she also wanted to take some maternity shots of me as well. I wasn't too sure about the prego. pics. but after seeing what a fabulous job she did, I didn't think I looked too chunky monkey-ish:). Seriously though, Keira Poulsen is SO flippin amazing...I was deliciously happy with how the pictures of Jersey came out. Keira totally gets in the moment and gets some fantastical photos. Personally that is what I think makes her such an amazing photographer. I couldn't be happier with the results. She also got a few good shots of Baylee too. You ALL NEED to check out her blog it's: www.klp-photography.blogspot.com/

INTODUCING AVA ASHLIE LEAVITT

I know, i know...I'm slacker-late as usual. However, now I actually have a valid excuse because now, I have two babies...grin. Well, Ava was born on May 31st, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. She weighed in at a whopping 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long. My delivery with Ava was nothing like my delivery with Jersey. I went in to the hospital at around noon and was dialated to a 10 at like 4:15, then I started pushing at around 5:15 and lo and behold, less than 20 minutes later, out came Ava. I pushed for 2 hours and was in labor for 17 hours with Jersey!!! Pretty dang crazy if you ask me. Nathan was the sweetest guy ever, living up to his usual standards. Seriously, he is one of the most attentive dads I have ever seen. He just adores all of his girls.
So, some of you may know that we were planning on naming her Asia or Savannah....but the weekend before we started thinking about other names like Ava, Riley...etc. Now, when she came out we just weren't sure what she looked like. So she pretty much went nameless for about two days (crazy I know) and I was getting very frustrated. Everyone in the hospital was calling her "Baby Girl Leavitt", sad but true. Finally, Nathan was just all, "Ash...she will look like whatever name we decide, we just need to pick a name". Since I had chosen the name for Jersey, I knew Nathan was rooting for Ava, so that's what we started calling her. Can I just say that she totally looks like and Ava....grin. Of course I was selfish and named her middle name after myself...grin. But come on now, how cute does Ava Ashlie Leavitt sound?
We were surrounded by friends and family for the couple of days that we were there which was nice. It feels good to be loved. Ava is my angel baby...she loves to sleep and eat. She is getting so chubby, we call her Ava the Hut, get it...like Jaba the Hut. Ha, I kill myself. Welp, I am going to try to start posting more, I am home all the time, so i should be able to post at least once a week. However, we will have to see if I actually do it. Can't wait to catch up on all your blogs.

My little baby is all grown up!! She had her 1st birthday on April 14th...I seriously can not believe that she is ONE!! We had such a fun day. I documented her whole birthday with pictures that I will upload in a few days. Jersey of course had no idea why we had such a fun day, but for the most part, she enjoyed the "royal" treatment.

An Unexpected Suprise

Welp...I'm pregnant...again...for the second Christmas in a row....and we are TOTALLY excited...nervous but excited. Wow...that was a run-on sentence! I am about 4 months and I get to find our what I am having on the 2nd of January. I know I have been out of the "Blogging World" for a few months and now you can see why:). Obviously this was a bit unexpected, but we want more kids so, yea. My due date is May 27th, so Jersey and Baby Leavitt will be about 13-14 months apart. So Brooke...I'm gonna need some advice:). So much has been going on these last few months so get ready for some major blogging from the Leavitts.

If Hillary and Allysa read this I need your e-mails, you both went private and I had no idea. I need to see you and your cute kids.

Oh My Pampered Chef Retreat

I love Pampered Chef!! About a week ago, I went on a Retreat with some of my team members up at our cabin and let me tell you it was PHENOMENAL!! My Director Kelly Church (also my adoringly beautiful sister:)) put it all together. Basically what it was, was a training for a few days about different things concerning our Pampered Chef Business's. I could seriously have listened to Kell all weekend long, she is such a motivating person and could easily be a motivational speaker. We went for one night and two days and I seriously have not learned so much or laughed so hard in my whole entire life! The group that went was seriously freakin' funnier than funny. It was my first night away from little Jersey, and I did shed a few tears but I got to sleep in the next morning till 9:30 and let me tell you, it was glorious. I basically had the best break in about 6 mos. :) and I am so super happy that I went.

This is a pic. (above) of the everyone that came to the Pampered Chef Retreat. Todd (the funniest man alive) me, Lindsey (funniest girl alive), Edith (she knows EVERYTHING about anything) and Kelly (our fabulous director and the most motivating person I know.

We took a break and walked to the famous "Country Store"




As you can see we got a little "picture happy" and we just couldn't help ourselves in takin some fun , funky pictures!

Bay Turns Lucky #7

Miss B's birthday was actually August 20th but because I am a slacker-face I didn't get the pic's off my camera until now. Welp, our oldest is now numero 7! Can you believe it? I remember when she was 3 and so little and tiny and so very mature for her age. Seriously, time flies when you are livin life. For her b-day we had a small, intimate little gathering of me, Nathan and Jersey. We do parties on the even years when they start gettin a little older and on the odd years we do a little party with just our little fam. But little-miss-bay has so many people that just can't get enough of her that she wound up going out to eat like 4 times with all of her many grandparents! She ate twice at Texas Roadhouse...does this girl have good taste or what! Anyway, we love our Baylee-Boo and I can honestly say that my life would be boring without her. She is the best big sister and can't wait for us to have more kids:).