Happy Birthday To Me

I had a great birthday.  I used to hate my birthday but birthday's are so much better when you are married and when you have kids that you can hear down the hall saying, "is mama coming, is mama coming."  And who tell you they have a surprise for you but you have to close your eyes first.  The girls decorated cute cards and were so excited to give me my gifts.  I got drawers for my craft room, lotion, new pj's, a super cute summer basket, and a gift certificate to Deseret Book (plus my mom sent money and there are two more gifts on the way-one from Steve and one more from Greg).  While I was at work Greg took the girls to Grandma's to bake me cupcakes.  We fed the girls lunch and then had Ray's burgers for our lunch (that was purposely planned so we wouldn't have to share).  I got to sew for the afternoon and after super the girls took me to the Chow Hound for an ice cream (only I drove).  It was a wonderful day-oh ya and Greg watched the food revolution with me in the evening.  Thanks to my sweet family for a great day.

Fathers Day

After getting home late from our cousins weekend I had to get ready for "Daddy's Special Day" which Allie was so excited about all week as I had her help me hide presents under the bed.  I made Greg a Father's Day book, ordered a canvas print of he and the girls, made him this apron, made German apple pancakes for breakfast, barbeque cupcakes for dessert and ribeye steaks for supper.  It was a busy but fantastic day.  I think he would agree.

Cousins Get Together

I hope this becomes a family tradition because my girls and Greg and I had a blast.  We all got together to celebrate cousins birthdays (since we can't all make it to everyones).  Our Family and Ryan and Tristen's Family and Kalen and Mandy's family all met Friday night at Ryan's house and had a barbeque and the kids played.  They had a blast together.  Then on Sat we all went swimming.  The day started out cold and Allie's teeth were chattering so hard (poor girl) but by the afternoon it was hot and perfect.  My girls love the water and just wanted to splash.  The kids all had fun together and I really enjoyed visiting.  It was low key and fun.  Let's keep that up family!!

Splashing with a friend

After we had set up our new pool Allie was really excited to have a friend come over to swim.  I called our neighbors to see if their daughter Katelin would like to come over.  She is one year older than Allie (and Allie wears all of her hand me downs which she LOVES) but they are cute little friends.  They had a blast in the pool.

Brailie acted slightly perturbed that someone else had come over to play with her sister and she wanted to have nothing to do with it. 

Sprinklers at the park.

I want to spend the summer doing fun and simple things, making memories and being with my family.  We took the girls down to the park on June 11th to play in the sprinkles.  Oh they had a blast.  They both don't actually want to get under them but they love running through them and splashing in the water.  When one goes off Brailie repeats "nother one" until you press the button again.  It was a fun little outing.

Around the island

This game just never gets old.

Simple Pleasures

When we got home from our anniversary getaway we went in the backyard to play.  We had brought the girls a push lawn mower and a push vacuum to play with  (from DI-$3.00 well spent I might add).  I watered the flowers and the girls played in the drips then tested out their new toys (which they are thrilled with).

Simple evening with simple pleasures-I pledge to have more of these this summer.

Swimming

The weather was in the upper 80's which is actually cooler than it normally is this time of year and we were dying to try out our new pool.  I found this in Canada-strange that a place that has highs in the 80's and 90's for the summer would have the best selection of outdoor pools I have ever seen.  Anyway we set it up and filled it in the morning so we could swim in the afternoon.  It was chilly but the girls didn't seem to mind.  The new pool is great because it has a deep end and a shallow end, it has a basketball hoop, a baseball hitting thing (technical terms I know), and even has a volleyball net.  It is perfect for splashing, stomping and playing.

Bring on the heat-we are ready!!!

Our Anniversary

4 years-it's been 4 years.  This year we decided to get brave and leave the girls with Grandma and go away overnight.  The girls were really excited to sleep over at Grandma's house so we weren't nervous to leave them at all.  In fact I was so excited we might as well have been going to Hawwai (which I ask Greg to do nearly once a week-one day he says we will).  Anyway we went to Manti and did sealings at the temple, went bowling, ate out, watched a movie, sat in the hot tub, slept in, did a temple session, went shopping (Greg even went to the craft stores with me) and ate some more.  It was so fantastic.  Everything about the little trip reminded us of our wedding and honeymoon and how in love we were then and we still are.  Thanks for 4 great years babe.

Brailies Dance

Allie is not the only one with rhythm, Brailie is really getting into dancing too. 

The Garden

One afternoon the girls had incredible naps giving Greg and I time to tackle our garden.  Greg retilled the furrows, I pulled weeds, we raked, chopped, pruned and dug and in the end we had a spectacular looking garden.  Now if only it would stay that way.  I took pictures because I knew weeds would be growing again by the next day but it looked so fantastic for one afternoon.

Our tomatoes which now have blossoms.

We have tomatoes, peppers, onions, peas, beans, carrots, beets, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers and zucchini.

The spring has been rather cool so the cabbages and broccoli are extra beautiful.

Just another angle.

Backpacks

We are really into backpacks in our house lately and thankfully there are many people in Green River and Price who are not into backpacks and donate them to the local thrift stores so I can keep us in stock.  I found this little one here in town and it is perfect for Brailie.  She always wants to put it on just like her big sis.

Brailie Reading

I realized the other day that I hardly have any video's of Brailie as a toddler and she does so many cute things.  So I am trying to catch her cuteness.  Here she is reading.  On this morning I was coming out of my room after praying and reading scriptures and found her by herself in her room, in the rocking chair reading her favorite books.  Warmed my heart.  Here she is showing all the animals she knows.

All grown up and ready for church

 When I was home in Canada I noticed that my mom still had this scripture bag that she made for me as a kid.  It was very first one.  I snatched it up and brought it home for Allie and figured I would give it to her someday.  Sometimes she is excited about stuff like that and sometimes she could care less.  On this Sunday (May 28th) she just seemed so big and grown up and looked so cute so I asked if she wanted it and she was thrilled. 

I love this picture-with her arm around Brailie.  They are becoming such good friends.  I am happy to report there is more playing than fighting going on in our house generally.

At the Ballpark

Sorry-this is a picture heavy post.  We went down to the little league game the other night and the lighting was magnificent and I just couldn't stop snapping pictures (this may be becoming and addiction-sometimes Allie says, "are you done taking pictures yet?" NEVER!!!!)  There is no real significance in any of these pictures-just wanted to show off my cute kids.

Allie rode her bike all the way there.  She is getting so good at riding (she kinda gets distracted sometimes and goes all over and she hasn't figured out how to plug her ears so she doesn't have to hear the dogs and steer at the same time)

One of her classic "weird" faces.

It's time to get Allie a new bike with training wheels and let Brai start riding this one.  She always says, "bike" when we go outside.

Getting sissy under the blanket.

"Wait for me"