Swimming!!!!

So I finally downloaded my camera and am going back looking at all my pictures. This was in July. We have a pool in our neighborhood and we spent the summer swimming almost daily. One day she wanted to go swimming and it was really nap time. She put on her little floatie all by herself and said she wanted to go swimming. She stood at the door throwing a fit trying to open it up.

BUG! BIG!

So Isabelle and I were at Wal-Mart on Monday. It was a normal shopping trip until the excitement at the check out stand. All of a sudden out of no where a HUGE praying mantis was on our cart. It was on the top outside of our basket a bit past the kid seat. I'm not scared of bugs (thanks to my great Texan upbringing) but it startled me. I mentioned it to the checker (who I really think was lacking some mental capacity) and he just said, "Yeah, they like the carts." Without even looking at me or offering to get rid of it. At this point Isabelle is yelling, "BUG!!! BIG!!!" over and over again. I told her to just watch it until we got outside to get rid of it. She turned in her little seat and watched the bug maneuver his way around to the back of the basket. He was right on top, front and center. She was going crazy! It was hilarious. We had gotten the oil changed in the truck, so it wasn't a quick exit, we had to make our way back through the store. The entire ride, Isabelle continued to yell, "BUG!!! BIG!!!" and started adding other words to the situation, "Cart!" "Shopping!" "Whoa!" while facing the wrong direction in the seat. We made it outside and flicked him off the cart and continued our day.

We got home and she was still so excited about the bug we called grandma. I thought this would be the end of the experience minus some adventurous dinner conversation when Dad got home from work. HOWEVER......she still can't stop talking about the big bug shopping. Every time we drive by wal-mart she starts screaming again "SHOPPING!!! BIG BUG!!!!" Randomly she'll be playing with her dolls and start talking about the big bug shopping...it's so strange. We went back to wal-mart today and she kept looking for the bug. She was very disappointed when we didn't find one. "No big bug shopping." she said, very disappointed, as we got back in the car. Apparently she was quite moved by the praying mantis. Who'd have thought?

How many people does it take to change a light bulb?

3! Well, one adult, one toddler, and a dog. I was making breakfast and looked over and saw this. I tought it was cute. She dragged her little chair over and stood just like dad. So helpful. And yes, jammies and shoes again.





Isabelle's new favorite phrase is "I help." or "I do it." I never thought so few words could irritate me quite so much. I love that she's learning new things, but I have very little patience pregnant. I often feel bad I get so impatient with her and can't wait to be my old mostly patient self again in a few short months. LOTS of deep breaths later, she has learned to get dressed and undressed a little bit by her self. She brushes her teeth, washes her hands, sits on the potty, soaps herself in the shower/bath, gets in and out of her high chair, eats cereal in a bowl with milk, opens doors, blows her nose, makes her bed and mine, helps with the laundry, buckles herself in her car seat....the list goes on and on. Granted most of these things she does still need a little bit of help with, but she's on her way to being a fully functioning, independent kid. I can't believe it! She is such a happy kid and so forgiving to her poor mother. On my rough days, she so sweetly gives me lots of hugs and kisses, pats me on the back and says, "I sorry, Mommy." I'm such a lucky mom!

Classic

Now who doesn't have a "drinking out of the garden hose in a diaper" picture? Mike goes out every evening to water our couple of dead spots on our lawn. Isabelle loves to follow and play in the water and get soaked. Then we sit and enjoy our back porch and watch the kid and dog play. Such a relaxing way to spend a summer evening.

Damping!

This is how Isabelle says "Camping." We've enjoyed the great outdoors this summer. She asks to go camping and hiking all the time.


This was a camping trip with some friends. Isabelle and Tyler had fun playing with the toys.


Don't ask me...I'm sure Mike had something to do with this.


She's so cute in her little toddler camping chair!

The Bird Reunion

Mike's mom's family does a great family reunion every year. This year it was up at Powder Mountain in Ogden Canyon. Mike and I had lots of fun with the yummy food, games, and hanging out with his cousins. There are a bunch of little girls Isabelle's age and she had a blast.

This is Raylee and Isabelle playing with the dolls and doll stroller. She was in the condo next door to us and they got to play a bunch.


Of course there was lots and lots of swimming. Isabelle is a little fish and would swim all day if you let her.


We went on a little hike to a beautiful lake. Isabelle was a little tired but enjoyed the ride.


At the lake there was a rope swing. Mike actually took Isabelle on a ride. It wasn't until after he realized she wasn't buckled in. No worries, she didn't fall out in the lake, but she was TERRIFIED!


It was a gorgeous view. In the background you can see Madison on the rope swing.

On the way back you could see for miles into the valley. The sunset was really pretty too.


Thanks for all the hard work everyone put in to make it so much fun and delicious! (There is always plenty of YUMMY food at Bird parties!) We had a great time. It's always fun to get together.

Happy Un-Birthday

Back in June....I'm finally blogging! This summer Mike's sister from San Antonio, Jeannie, and her family was moving to Ohio and spent a few weeks here in between homes. It was so much fun having her here. We did lots of fun stuff and all the cousins had a blast together. One thing we did was have an un-birthday party for some of the summer birthdays. Isabelle got included even though her birthday isn't until late fall. For the oldest grandkid in each family for their 2nd birthday, they get a wagon from Mike's parents. Since Isabelle wasn't going to get to use her wagon much she got her wagon this summer to enjoy early.

She couldn't wait for the wagon to get put together. Everyone was jumping in while Mike and his dad got it put together. Here she is with David and Chase and Collin looking on.


We sang and had "cake." We made clown faces using a doughnut, scoop of ice cream, and an ice cream cone. The kids loved the mess!


The wagon finally put together sitting by mom.


She had to take her babies on a ride in her new wagon.


Then she wanted a ride from daddy.


David took Isabelle and Annabelle on a wagon ride. He took it down the hill in Mike's parent's back yard. You can guess how that was going to end. I know, I'm a great mom standing on the deck with the camera instead of stopping the madness. It was just grass and no one got hurt. It was hilarious to watch. Unfortunately the picture is a little blurred, but too good to leave out!

It was such a fun evening, chinese take-out, presents for little ones, lots of sugar for everyone and great time together as a family. Isabelle asks to go on wagon rides almost daily and often more than once a day. It's been a great toy for this summer.

Jill's Wedding

At the beginning of July, my little sister got married! All 6 of us are now married. As I looked through my pictures, I realized I did a stinky job capturing much of anything. But here's a few things.

Here's the happy couple. I didn't get a single good shot of them. I'm really bummed!


My mom's parent's.



My dad's parents. They turn 90 this year and they're still pluggin' away!


This is setting up for the reception the night before. Isabelle really loved her cousin Nick. She kept trying to pick him up.


Isabelle and cousin Sydney playing on the little kid bench.


Sydney, Isabelle and cousin Jane playing on the bench.


After everything was set up, Melanie and I took our kids to a park to feed the ducks and let the kids go wild!


Here's all my siblings with my mom. I'm not sure why we didn't have Dad IN the picture instead of taking the picture. There were plenty of people even standing around to take it. Silly us!


At the temple staying cool in the shade. Isabelle with cousins, Samuel, Nathan and Jane


How do you get 8 small hungry children to sit still at the end of a long hot morning for pictures? Fruit snacks! Each kid had a pack of fruit snacks and no one moved for just enough pictures. Jill was such a great sport to let them have fruit snacks in her wedding pictures. She's the best aunt!


We had so much fun spending time with all the family. The wedding was perfect, although you can't tell from any of my pictures. Tommy's a great addition to our family. Isabelle had a great time with her cousins on my side. It was a great couple of days of wedding festivities!

Partners in Crime

This was actually a few months ago and I just downloaded the camera. Grandma got new carpet. Along with the new carpet came a new rule...no food in the living room. Isabelle and Sarah apparently didn't like this rule. They were the first to eat on Grandma's new carpet. You can't be mad at those two cute innocent faces.

Lots going on and some news....

Over the last 3 weeks, we've had lots of family in town, family reunions, and my little sister got married. I have tons to post about but in the mean time we got some good news too....We're having a boy! Mike guessed right. He's 2 for 2. I'm curious to see if he'll be right on all our kids. The baby looked great and he's measuring just right. It's always nice to see them and know everything's ok...for now. Hopefully when I get around to downloading my camera, I'll get some posts up, but until then, a pictureless post.