End of Summer... BUMMER!

Wow, summer has just flown by.  We have done so many fun things with the girls, here are a few things worth mentioning.  We went to Preston to see Tavie in the parade.  Rick and Cathy had us over for dinner.  It was a really fun night and what a cute little rodeo princess.

 

Of course we went to the Cruise In, I remember it being a lot more fun prior to having kids.  I shouldn't say that, but Dustin drove his Dad's car in the parade and oh my, I can't believe people used to get around with 6 and 2 year olds without seat belts.  

We went to the Splash Pad with the Shockey's.  Lunnie was scared of the water so she just wanted to swing.  She's such a silly girl, the funniest things scare her (like the sound of someone popping their gum) she says, "I scared"  yet she's such a little dare devil sometimes (like when I turn around and see that she has climbed to the top of the ladder).

The girls have had fun with their friends this summer.  I thought this picture was cute, "Where's London?"  These girls had so much fun playing together.

Swimming lessons... I feel like we are finally starting to get somewhere.  By that I mean we didn't have a screaming fit this year.  Lun loved playing while all of the other kids had their lessons.  Big thanks to my sister for getting them to and from every day.  

The girls sharing some cotton candy at the Cache County Fair.

Enjoying some produce from the garden

Fireworks at Grandma Cazier's

typical London

This picture of London made me smile when Dustin sent it to me.  He was mowing and came around back to see that Lun made it to the top of the tramp by herself.  "I jumping"

Lots of park time.

Yes London does have a binky in nearly all of these pictures.  Don't worry, it's gone now.  Don't judge me.  I'm a good mom in other ways.

 

And house projects galore.  Beautiful walnut floor... check.  Baseboards and casings in the living room... check.  

No Summer, please don't go.  It's so hard to say goodbye.   

 

I may not have been a good at blogging (journaling) this summer, but I will forever cherish the memories I made with these sweet girls of mine. 



Lunnie Starts Gymnastics

Poor girl had 4 shots that day.  It didn't stop her from jumping though.  The trampoline was her favorite.  She doesn't like the listen to her coach, she just likes to do her own things, but I don't really mind.  I pretty much just let her do what she wants.  As long as she gets some of her energy out, I'm good.

I look at them and think,

'They couldn't possibly get any more beautiful'

... and then they do.

 

You Know...

Just enjoying some icecream at Grandma's
(I love the look on London's face, totally obliviouse to the "real" reason Dustin took this picture).

Camping With Girls

We intended to camp in Logan Canyon, near Bear Lake, but couldn't find a spot where we wanted so we ended up in one of our favorite spots... Emigration.  When I came across this picture on my computer it just made me grin.  Love these sweet girls so much!

I suppose camping with girls is a bit different than camping with boys???  Brinley and London do a great job at making sure our camping spot is pretty.  Brinley and I picked a couple of big, beautiful, wild flower bouquets.

And only 20 minutes into being there, London had already gone through 3 outfits.  Oh, and just a little Londonisim, she always walks around with her hand in the back of her pants, not her diaper, just her pants, see?  And sometimes she even stores her binky there.  Not sure why she does this, she just does.  

And we spent a day at Bear Lake, so fun!

Heritage Days

Heritage Days is really fun for the kids!  The Shockeys came out to watch the parade with us.

 This patriotic picture melts my heart a bit.

 The girls had a blast seeing the animals, playing games, eating junk food, face painting, bounce houses and Brinley even made her own rocket.  Obviously it went way high.

I love watching my kids just be kids.  

And She's Six

Can't believe our Brinley is six years old and in a few short weeks she will spend the majority of her day in the influence of the world.  I can't help but wonder if I have taught her enough.  If I'm being totally honest, I'm really quite sad about it.  I'm worried I will never see her, she'll spend the majority of the day at school and our nights will disappear with reading, homework, dinner, dishes and bed time.  With that being said, I'm really proud of this girl!  I think she's mature well beyond her years.  She's a good girl, I trust her and in her I see complete honesty and total desire to do good.  I guess she's ready to step out on her own?  Afterall, it's about time the world sees what this girl has to offer.

Brinley's first friend party was a hit!  The kids had a blast!  

 Dustin was an excellent sport and totally fit the part of a carni... "Step right up and claim your prize"

 We had games, a puppet show, carnival food,

 And Dustin and I have been itching to buy the girls a little bounce house... perfect timing!

Some of our family was there to help her celebrate and of course she had supporters from afar.  Troy, Sabra, Curtis and Whit were so great to remember her on her special day.  

Shots of Summer

I vowed not to do unproductive things while my children are awake, particularly on the internet.  L is asleep and B and I had plans to make a healthy treat, but she opted to play in her room first.  The laundry is done and I chose to ignore the dishes for now so blogging it is on this hot July day.  We have had a great summer!  A few things we have captured via my cell phone...

We run and/or ride the Logan River trail at least once a week as a family.  Often times we ride to the Farmer's Market to get our CSA share.  One week we rode all the way from our house, rather than driving to the trail head, it had to be a good 6 mile or so bike ride, that's quite a bit for a 6 year old, but Brinley did amazing.  She's one tough cookie. 

And this girl likes to help me garden, AKA play in the mud.

 We have made quite a few trips to the park

 Guess who had more fun on the teeter totter?  Mom and Dad or the girlies?  If you guessed the girlies you are sadly mistaken.  Dustin and I had a blast.

Just a picture of a cute girl and her Dad on their way home from church

We've spent a few afternoons basking in the sun at the pool

And this girl has been such a great help to me lately!  (Notice the white cabinets?  Yep, that means we are getting somewhere)

We took Lun to her first big move "Despicable Me 2"

And I've been on some spectacular dates with the guy that I love.  It's pretty great when you lay on the couch together and discuss how you have never been happier...ever. Hard work pays off and fortunately that's something we are both very good at... hard work! Marriage and relationships are not exempt from needing a little TLC.  So lucky he's mine.  

Nighttime Sky

We love to sit on the front porch and watch the sunset.  Sometimes I wonder if it looks this amazing everywhere or if there something special about our little spot on earth.

A Few Things About Our Lunnie (L-uh-nee, not L-oo-nee)

I just LOVE London at this age!  She is SO MUCH FUN!  she's so sweet and says and does the cutest things right now.  Just a few things I want to remember about London at this stage:

*Her favorite foods are "sicles" (popsicles), toast, "mannas" (bananas) and cheese

*She's a Mommy's girl!  This includes both of her Mom's because often times she calls my sister Amanda Mommy and she's just as attached to her as she is to me

*She's perfectly content to sit outside in a diaper and ride her bike

*She's friendly to everyone, always smiling, waving and saying, "HI!"

*She's little miss independent!

*She doesn't sit still for two seconds!  Honestly she doesn't.  She won't sit to watch a movie or read a book yet.  The only time I can sneak reading to her in is at the dinner table when she's still buckled into her highchair

*She loves babies, love love loves babies

*She says and does everything her big sister does

*She's a huge animal lover!  Horses and Puppies are her favorite!

*Thanks to Dustin, every time we walk into Sam's Club she says, "em sample, em sample!"  It's so ridiculous!  But on the other hand, if we can't get her to eat her dinner we often ask her if she want's a "sample" and generally it works.