July 30 - Pretty Girls

Nora found a new favorite toy - Roman's car.  And she totally owned it.  She got in, packed her milk in the back, and squealed and scowled every time anyone even thought about taking her out.  Girl knows what she wants.  AND how to keep it.  

Pretty Andlie came upstairs after tuck-in tonight.  We couldn't help but notice how grown up and beautiful she is - inside and out.

July 29 - Pierced

Cute little Nora.  She's such a happy little sweetheart.  It's fun to watch her learn & grow & discover.  But it's also a tiny bit sad to watch her turn into a toddler and not be my tiny baby any more.  I love and treasure baby stage.  It fills our home with a unique and happy spirit.

See?  She's huge.  She found Andlie's sunglasses, claimed them as her own, popped them on her head, and went for a ride on her "hoe-see."

This afternoon, Hazey requested to make brownies.  So we did.  And we both enjoyed a couple finger-fulls of batter.

Nora is really loving coloring lately.  She can say, "pay-pa," and, "coul," (color) and she loves to sit by Haze and do whatever he's doing.  Always.  They had fun coloring together for several minutes this afternoon before nap time.

And, drumroll please........  Andlie got her ears pierced tonight!

I asked if she wanted them pierced while we were at the mall picking school clothes earlier and she said yes and was totally ready to get in the chair & go for it, but I didn't have my ID with me and it was needed.  So we waited for Daddy to come home & went back.  She was so brave!  Marched right up to the chair & took a seat.  When the first ear got pierced, she flinched a little bit and almost cried, but she didn't!  She chose the rainbow flower earrings and they look so cute!  She is beautiful.  Congrats, Andlie!

Before:

After:

Then we had to go to Target to get Hazey a new toy.  We're all about equality in this house.  Nora was totally fine with playing with one of her faves: the buckle.  She loves them.  She notices them everywhere: shopping carts, mall rides, swings, you name it.  She'll find a "ba-cul" anywhere.  And she can totally buckle it all by herself.  Because our kids are all geniuses.  You're welcome, kids.

July 28 - Artworks

We stopped at Daddy's work for a quick visit this morning.  Andlie & Haze were amazed by his cool headphones.  And of course, we had admire his SUU corner/toys.

This afternoon, Haze wrote his name in sidewalk chalk.  And then he drew "hair" on the top of each of the letters.  "Mom, look!  My letters have hair!"

Meanwhile, Andlie was downstairs using her seashells from Bear Lake to craft with.  She made "an old Grandpa seashell man."

Tonight we went to the splash pad!  Nora was laughing so hard at herself!  She would walk right up to a stream of water and poke her little head in it, get soaked, come laughing over to show us, point at her head, & say, "Pitty!"

Andlie & Haze had fun too.  Andlie told me I got "a good shot of her action."

After we put the kids to bed tonight, Andlie came upstairs.  It was about 10:30 and she could not stop giggling.  Like to the point of snorting.  She couldn't even talk.  She was giggling so hard.  It reminded me of when I was a little girl.  I told Bryan that we're in for much, much, MUCH more of this giggling.  And it made me giggle.

July 27 - Goggies

Hazey & Nora are buddies.  His is the first name she says when she wakes up.  She is always looking for her "Hay-see."  This morning, they watched cartoons together/played out the couch and giggled together.  And it was adorable.

During her nap, Haze played with his second BFF - Roman.  Roman is only two, but he & Haze have their own secret language and they plot together a lot.  They are always so happy to see each other and they have fun giggling together outside.  Today, their activity of choice was smooshing themselves in to the car together.

When Nora woke up, we did some "bubbas" at her request.  She thinks she's big and can blow bubbles just like the grown ups.  First she dips the stick carefully in and then yanks it out and flings it around in the air what making a "chhh, chhh" noise.

And she gets SUPER proud when something actually comes from it.

Hazey blew bubbles with us too!  He's so good at it and he blows bubbles for Nora and Roman often.

When we came inside for dinner, Hazer got sad because "he wanted to take just one picture with my phone" and I wouldn't let him.  (Don't worry, that super sad face worked on me and he ended up taking two pictures - one of the toilet and one of Nora's diapers - and then came back belly laughing at what was in store for me when I looked.)

Meanwhile, Nora was happy as could be chowing down on her corn.  In the second picture, I told her to look at me.  Once she saw that I had my phone pointed at her, she automatically when for a "smile."

Now here's where you're in for a real treat on the blog today.  After dinner we went outside and Nora decided she wanted to tryo on the "goggies."  So I put them on her.  And had a real good laugh while she paraded around giggling and lacking in the depth perception department.  Just like a tiny little human with beer goggles on in our very own back yard.

Nora went to bed and then we lit fireworks with the Millers!  And then I put Andlie's hair in a popper (as I call it) so she could sleep without her hair all over and making her hot.  She looks so grown up!  She was pretty excited about such a fancy hairdo for bed.

July 26 - Water Balloon Fun

July 25 - Boondock's

Today Bryan's work had Employee Appreciation Day at Boondock's!  We got there around noon and stayed until 6:30!  Andlie played laser tag twice!  Once with Mommy & once with Daddy!  (Daddy got a score of 48,000 and was sure to let Mommy know.)  Both Andlie and Haze rode the go-carts - Andlie with Mommy & Haze with Daddy.  Mommy rode the bumper boats with Andlie & Hazey.  And we all played a round of mini golf!  And, the kids got to spend 40 tokens on arcade games & win tickets!  Seeing the kids so happy made it even more fun for us!  Andlie told me "I LOVE Boondock's!"  And tonight during bedtime tuck-in, Haze said, "Can we go to Boondock's tomorrow?"  I'd say it was a successful day.  Even Nora had fun running around & eating fishie crackers (until she realized she missed her nap...).

But I think the best part of the day for me was listening to everyone rave about Bryan.  Many of his co-workers expressed how wonderful and fun Bryan is.  And the Vice President of the Business Unit at his company pulled me aside and told me that "Bryan is a valuable employee and I don't say that about everyone.  He does such a good job and we're lucky to have him."  And lots more stuff.  Made me a pretty proud wife, but I'm not surprised at all.  We are so thankful for Bryan and the many hours & much dedication that he puts in at work for our family!  He is a driven man.  And we're so thankful and blessed because of it!

July 24 - Pioneer Day Family Fun

We started our day by watching the parade on TV which was extra fun this year because we saw all of the floats up close on Tuesday night.  We had fun pointing out which floats we saw!  The float that Andlie voted for won "Children's Choice!"  So that was extra fun.

Daddy went & got us donuts to eat while we finished watching the parade.  Nora stole Mommy's donut and ate it without flinching.

Next, we headed to Seven Peaks!  We spent three hours there!  We had a great time splashing & sliding!  Daddy even went down one of the big slides with Andlie and then again with Hazey!

After Seven Peaks, we came home & ate pizza (Andlie's choice).  Then we just hung out and took naps for a while.  Someone was extra happy after filling her tummy with "peetsy."

After naps, we ate a quick dinner at home and then headed to the baseball game!  We met a couple of our neighbors there (Simisters and Millers) along with the rest of the county.  Bryan also got to catch up with a mission companion - Jake Rasmussen!  He hadn't seen him since the mission, so it was fun to see him!

"Why do you always have to take a picture, Mom?"

I asked her to come a little bit closer and this is what I got.  I'm not sure where her sassiness comes from.  Probably her Dad.

The baseball game ended and we watched fireworks from the ball field!

When we got home, we took Andlie's hair out and she said, "My hair looks like Anna's 'Coronation Day' hair on 'Frozen!'"  Indeed it did!

 

We had such a fun day as a family celebrating Pioneer Day!  It was so nice to just be together having fun.  And boy, oh boy, did we pack a lot of fun in today!

July 23 - Firework Blankie Picnic

Today we went swimming at the outdoor pool.  When we got done, we were tired and hangry!  So, we stopped and got some fast food on the way home and then had a picnic on our special new firework blankie that Grama made just for us!  We sure love Grama.  We're lucky that she's ours.

July 22 - Around the House

I never did see a cuter dish washer.

Or a sweeter little profile.  Those lashes!  That blonde hair!  Sweetheart.

Nora put a magnet on Liam's picture and then said, "bink."  Thanks, Nora.

We scored a new slide tonight!  For FREE!  (Thank you, Dorothy!)

And Nora is the cutest bather.  Well it's a tie between her and Andlie and Hazey.  But look at her wet eyes & eyebrows.  And notice she has her "hat" on her head.  It's the first thing she does when she gets in the bath.  Slaps that rag on her head & says, "Hat!"