4th of July Weekend

Greg and I decided that since we are staying home for the summer and being pretty low key that we would splurge and buy tickets to see Stadium of Fire which had David Archuleta (kinda had a crush on him when he was on Idol) and Brad Paisley.  We made a weekend out of it and went and stayed with Auntie Helen and Uncle Doug.  On Friday when we got to Spanish Fork we stopped by this new sprinkler park they have.  It was blazing hot so the water was so refreshing for the girls.  We didn't bother with swim suits and just had a great time.

Then we went to Auntie Helens.  The girls had a lot of fun and Brailie worked on her stair climbing.  One of their favorite things was picking the peas.  We have peas at our house but I guess it was more exciting at someone else's house.

This is Allie having a conversation with Uncle Doug.

On Saturday morning we just relaxed around the house.  Uncle Doug showed Allie his huge lollipop flowers.  The girls thought those were awesome.

The girls were playing in the backyard.  Allie found this little hoe that was just her size and said she needed to do some work.  She even asked if we could buy one of those for her.

Here are the girls doing more work.

On Saturday evening after we had gone shopping, had a picnic and some super great naps that afternoon we went to Stadium of Fire.  Let me just say that parents going to Stadium of Fire with kids should get a free ice cream or something.  You have to park blocks away.  We had to carry both of our kids most of the walk to the stadium.  It was soooooo hot.  Then once we got in we had to walk around half the stadium and then up a what felt like never ending ramp.  We stopped for a huge snowcone on the way up and man did we need it.  Good thing I hadn't spent much time on makeup or doing my hair before hand because I was a sweaty mess when we finally got to our seats.

As you can see from where we were sitting the stage was pretty teeny but the sound was still good.  It was really fun.  I was afraid the girls would not last but they had a great time.  The people above us spilled their popcorn at the start so the girls helped with the clean up.  Brailie was so interested in the fireworks taking place outside of the stadium she could have cared less about what was happening.  Allie didn't like the loud fireworks but otherwise she loved the music.  Her current favorite song is "Baby You're a Firework" and she knows most of the chorus.

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.