Doing Makeup

I am doing a countdown to Halloween with the girls (they open a new box every day that has an activity for us to do or a treat in it).  This day was to play with moms makeup (I called it doing "scary" makeup).  They loved it and this was a first for Brailie so she was on top of the world.  I was looking at them still into the late hours of the day and noticing make up all over their faces so they really caked it on.

She does the craziest faces.

That's better.

Then Allie had to do crazy faces too.

Scripture Study and Brailie's Haircut

Greg found the girls like this one morning.  They had both requested a set of scriptures.  Super cute!!

 And you have to look close for this one, but at the age of almost 2 Brailie finally had enough hair to cut a bit of it off.  It was becoming too much of a mullet so I did a little trim off the back.  She was really excited about the sucker she got and the haircut.

Hunting with Daddy

I think my big hunter is getting softer all the time.  I think that as much as he loves hunting big bucks, he loves hunting with his daughter/

Allie's Elk Bugle

This is the sound a bugling elk makes (for any non hunting friends out there).

Typical Brailie

She is always on the lookout for either the moon or an airlplane and man does she ever have good eyes.  She is usually quite put out when the moon is not there for her to see.

Ashlee and Lily

My dear friend Ashlee came to visit in Utah a few weeks ago from Connecticut and brought her sweet 8 month old baby Lily along.  Allie was so excited all morning for them to come.  She loves babies right now.  Brailie too.  The girls took to Lily as if she was their sister.  Allie and Brailie were finding her all kinds of toys, the were hugging her and holding her and it was pretty much the sweetest thing ever.  This picture is Lily's first glimpse of TV.  She was enamored with Backyardagains to say the least.  When they left and for the next few days Allie kept asking when they would be back and I tried to explain that they lived far away but she just kept saying that they would be back.  I sure hope they will be too.  Ashlee and I go back to Ricks college-1999.  She was my first roommate.  My first memory of Ashlee was that she was taking the earliest possible class on campus and she was so afraid that she would be the only one in the class and she had an alarm clock with the most blood curdling alarm.  The first time it went off I think I nearly wet the bed it startled me so bad.  I woke up at the crack of dawn with her every day that first summer term.  After Ricks college we were roommates at BYU and had the best of times together.  We laughed and cried and dealt with crazy roommates.  We played pranks on neighbors and tried to understand boys.  Ashlee's visit was like a huge dose of therapy for me.  We just chatted about old times and new.  She is the type of person that makes you feel so good about yourself.  She is so kind.  My mom always told me in High School that you make your greatest friends in college and that is certainly true because most of my best friends are from college.  I needed a visit from Ashlee in the worst way.  I wish she lived next door-though I would probably never get anything done.

Melon Days Review

It's about time I got these Melon Days pictures posted.

For the Love of Melons was the theme.  Ironically we never even had one bite all day.

Thank heavens for this golf cart.  Our kids are all still too young to take off by themselves around the park so this keeps them entertained. 

Everyone wants to drive and be the passenger and ride in the basket at the back.  I don't think we would survive without the golf cart.

Greg taking all the kids for a walk around the park.  What a good Uncle.

Waiting for the parade to start.

This is what I got when I said, "Brai smile and show me your shirt."

A siren was 5 blocks away.  I am telling you what she is so sensitive.

Candy and Popsicles and more candy.  A great parade.  This parade is super long too.

Forget jump houses and train rides.  The kids love taking a spin with Grandma on the golf cart.

This is what tired looks like on Melon Days

Sweet Sydnee

Cute Chole having a snack with Grandpa.

Our Yard

I have been meaning to get pictures of this all year.  Our yard is so pretty this year.  I planted Zinneas in every available spot-including all along and around our garden.  I love the color and cheerfulness they add and they are the easiest flower in the world to plant, grow and take care of.  Goal for next year-double the number of Zinneas. (p.s.-anyone want some seeds-I have buckets full right now and will have even more in a month).

Kids Fishing Day

A few weeks ago they had kids fishing day at the golf course.  We took the girls down to try and catch a fish.  May I mention that this is the 3rd fishing attempt with Allie.  I thought I would go to take pictures.  I should have just stayed home.  The girls would have been fine with daddy, and I wouldn't have had to be stressed about them falling in the pond.  Brailie thought that you were supposed to throw everything in the pond and nearly threw her pole in 3 too many times.  And in the end we didn't even catch a single thing.  I remember the first time my dad took me fishing.  It was in our old wooden boat with our super old life jackets.  I believe my friend Brandy came along.  He must have prayed something terrible that it would be a success because we caught fish after fish and I fell in love with the sport and went many times over the remaining years of my time at home.  I loved fishing.  I am thankful that Allie has not given up even though she doesn't know what it feels like to catch a fish.  I can't wait until the day she does.

She has good form.

Brai's first time holding a pole on her own.

 Lucky for us the unsuccessfulness of fishing was erased with a free doughnut.

Who even remembers that we didn't have a nibble?

Another video for Grammy to appreciate

This was at Melon Days during the parade.  I just love how Allie just has to move to that beat.