Ally's First Lost Tooth

Ally lost her first tooth!!

It has been a little loose for a while so she was wiggling and wiggling it every day. She came home from school and showed me how loose it was now. She kept playing with it all night and finally let me use a tissue and get it out. She was so excited she ran and grabbed a plastic bag and stuck it under her pillow right away for the tooth fairy. It's so fun when each of my kids reach these milestones in life. Although, it does remind me how much older they are getting and how quickly the time goes.

Cousin Visit

Dorothy and Cameron came over for dinner and to play Hand and Foot. We always love getting together with them for a fun night of cards although Dorothy and I always seem to lose lately. It was time for the babies to eat as soon as they got here so I volunteered to feed Paisley. Ally really wanted to feed Paisley so I let her start thinking she'd be tired of it before the bottle was gone.

Nice thought but it didn't happen. Ally fed her the entire bottle and wanted to keep holding her. It was super cute but made me sad 'cause I didn't get to hold her. Vanessa saw what Ally was doing and started to cry for someone to hold and feed her. Andrew was more than willing to oblige.

I love watching my kids interact with these babies. They are so cute and good to them. We had a really fun night. Yes, Dorothy and I lost again. We need a new strategy.

Hiking the Grotto

For those of you who don't know what the Grotto is, don't feel bad. I have lived in Utah my entire life and had never heard of it before last year. I guess I was raised a Provo Canyon snob so we didn't venture up Payson Canyon. I have to say, it's absolutely beautiful and well worth the less than 1/2 mile hike to get to it.

My sweet neighbors must have known I'd have a hard time with Andrew and Ally's first day of school and invited me to hike the Grotto with them and their kids who don't start school quite yet. I was a little worried since I've never been there whether or not Vanessa would make it but we went anyways.

It's really not a bad hike. In fact, Vanessa started off hiking by herself.

After a little bit she got tired or bored so I ended up carrying her the rest the way but like I said, it's a pretty easy hike so it wasn't bad. I was surprised when we got to the top.

I really don't know what I expected but isn't that beautiful?? I was in awe! Vanessa was a little scared of the noise the waterfall made but once the other kids joined us she had fun following them, playing in the water and throwing rocks.

After hiking we sat at the bottom of the trail for a picnic lunch. It was a lot of fun! It was great to get out of the house with great friends!

First Day of School

I really can't believe I am actually blogging about the first day of school. What happened to summer? Where did it go? I felt like we had such a busy, go-go-go summer but other than going to the swimming pool, we really didn't do any of the many things I wanted us to do. Next year I'm going to do a 'summer fun list' or something like it so I will see and remember what I want us to do for fun and hopefully be motivated to go and do it with my kids.

The kids, like me, are having mixed feelings about the first day of school. They are not ready for summer to be over but are anxious to see their friends and are excited for the new adventures that await them in fourth and first grades. Ally is excited for her new teacher and to learn to read chapter books, which is what she thinks first grade is all about. Andrew is really happy to have a man teacher and is excited because his classroom is in the junior high so he thinks he's really cool.

We all had a late night the night before school started so we woke up a little tired but that didn't show with all the excitement of the first day. Even though they have to wear uniforms there is still something exciting about new clothes on the first day of school. Ally had to wear her new boots even though it was going to be 95 degrees on the first day. I have to say, she did look pretty darn cute in her new dress and boots.

Vanessa had to jump in as soon as she saw pictures being taken.

I can't think of two cuter kids on their first day of school. All right, all right, I am biased and yes, there are super cute kids out there but these are my kids so I have every right to believe they are the cutest in the world!

Come on, you have to admit it, they are super cute!

Last Day at the Pool

I promised the kids we would go to the pool one last time before school starts again but when none of our friends could go I started thinking we shouldn't go. My kids were really insistent on going so we went, just us. It was a lot of fun! I am so glad we went! It was so much fun watching my kids play with each other even if it was just because they had to. They had a lot of fun with each other. Ally even went down the big slides a few times, a first for her.

It was a really fun day. I'm so glad we got one last pool day in before school starts!

You Would Think I'd Learn

After my moisturizer experience, you'd think I'd know to not leave things within Vanessa's reach but no, once again she got a hold of something that is not so cheap. She got my brand spankin new Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow. Luckily I caught her before too much damage was done, but she did get some pretty makeup done before I flipped out, I mean stopped her.

Yep, once again she is extremely proud of herself! I have a feeling she is going to cost us lots and LOTS of money!! Good thing we love her!

Vanessa's Birthday Dinner with Davis'

My parents didn't feel a funeral was the best way to celebrate Vanessa's birthday so they came over the Sunday after her birthday for dinner, more presents and some cake and ice cream. It's always fun to have them over especially to celebrate a special occasion. Kelly and her kids came over too. Vanessa was impatient and wouldn't wait to open her presents so we let her open them before dinner.

She loved getting her own lunchbox so she can be a big kid like her brother and sister.

She also got some really cute books

and some more of her very own Pet Shops

It was pretty neat because one of the songs Andrew is learning on the piano right now is Happy Birthday to You so he wanted to play it to Vanessa.

He did such an amazing job! Then it was time for cake and ice cream which Vanessa loved!

It was a really fun night spoiling, I mean loving Vanessa.

BYU Football Scrimmage

To say that Jim is excited for football season, especially BYU football would be such an understatement! He went to two practices already and then woke up bright and early to mow the lawn (sorry to all our neighbors since it was before 8 a.m.) so he could go to the annual practice scrimmage. He was going to take Andrew but was nice and invited me and the girls to tag along. I was very surprised and impressed how many fans were there for just a practice, it was game atmosphere.

The kids really enjoyed the frozen lemonade (it was a very hot day!).

After the scrimmage we went to JayDawgs for lunch. It was a fun filled family day. I'm really glad that this is something our entire family enjoys (Vanessa sat better than Ally who got hot and bored after about 10 minutes) and that we get to spend some quality time together.

Vanessa's 2nd Birthday

Wow! She's actually two! Where does the time go?? I really can't believe it's already been two years since Vanessa joined our family! She is such an amazing little girl. She's extremely busy and curious, as many of you who read this blog on a regular basis now know but that's what makes her, her. She is three feet tall and 36 inches long. She is growing and developing as she is supposed to. Some of her favorite things right now are...her bottle - I think she'll be the only kid in Kindergarten with one, her brother and sister, pulling hair, biting other kids, Dixie, and torturing (I mean loving) Rocky, giving Mom and Dad kisses, puzzles, Pet Shops, coloring and reading books. She loves her mom so much she feels she has to still get up in the middle of the night to just get more time with her, some nights two, three or five times a night.

We celebrated her birthday by first going to the funeral and cemetery. We then went to lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Davis. The best part to V was of course the ice cream cone.

Doesn't that smile say it all??

We went and played at Granpa and Grandma's house for a bit and then headed home for dinner, presents,

backyard play,

and cupcakes.

We then went to our park and let the kids play for a bit before coming in to bed.

Vanessa also had to get in some 'computer time' before going to bed.

I think she had a great day! We are so grateful she is a part of our family and feel extremely blessed to get to enjoy her each and every day!

A Tribute to an Amazing Man & A Shift In Perspective

The kids and I were able to attend the funeral services of a wonderful family friend who was taken from this Earth far to early. I know he is in a much better place. I know he is no longer suffering the terrible effects of the cancer that attacked his body. I know he is happy and surrounded by loved ones. I know he and his family will be together forever. Even with all this knowledge, I had a hard time sitting at the funeral watching his 31 year old son and other loved ones talk about this 59 year old man whose time came to an end. It made me reevaluate my perspective and what is important in this life.

I remembered that it's not the new cars, most fashionable clothes that change every season, biggest diamond, latest and greatest cell phone or I-pad, biggest and best decorated (and cleanest) home or anything I can buy with money. It's my husband and my kids and making the most of the time I get to spend with them. It's living in the moment and not worrying about the things I could/should be doing instead of enjoying them. It's taking care of myself, exercising and eating healthy so I can and will be healthy to take care of them and be with them for many, MANY years. It's using my Eternal eyes and not my temporal eyes when viewing my life. It's remembering what I am working for while being here on this earth...to return to live with my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ and my family for Eternity! I know most of you are always thinking of these things and making them priorities but I lost my perspective lately and am sad it took this loss to make me get it back.

After the funeral we went to the cemetery where I once again had to remind myself to just enjoy the moment and not stress too much about the fact that Vanessa was jumping on headstones (I REALLY tried to keep her off).

Or that she was trying to drink out of the hose spicket

because the drinking fountain was not working, not even for Andrew

despite the fact that I brought a bottle of water for them.

And I just had to laugh when we were walking back to the car and she turned back around to the people still at the cemetery and yelled 'bye' like they were all there for her and she needed to say proper goodbyes.

I'm grateful for this change in perspective and for Jim Peterson and the marvelous life he lived and what a wonderful example he was to me and everyone who was lucky to know him.

She's Lucky I Have to Love Her

The other day I couldn't find Vanessa anywhere. I knew she had to be somewhere in the house, I just wasn't sure where. After I yelled her name a few times she finally came wandering into the kitchen like this

Yes she is covered in lotion and not that's not just any lotion. That's my not-so-cheap moisturizer that I had just opened and used twice. After she got through with it, there is only 1/4 of the bottle left. I guess she's getting an early start on taking good care of her skin.

Fun at the Pool

Something the kids and I love to do in the summer is go to the pool. We always have a great time relaxing and playing in the sun and water. Vanessa decided this last time we went she wanted/needed to use a floaty in the pool. She didn't wear it the conventional way.

We just sat and laughed as she kept jumping in the pool with the floaty around her neck. It was especially funny because most times the floaty would bounce off her head and land in the pool next to her.

She wore herself out jumping so many times and had to come relax at the towels with us.

She's quite the bathing beauty!

Ally's Arm Update

After a week Ally's arm is still causing her quite a bit of pain. She also has a bump at her collar bone and some bruising around it so I decided to take her to our regular pediatrician. After more x-rays the doctor confirmed that she indeed did break her collar bone. I was extremely frustrated, to say the least. When I asked the doctor how Instacare could have missed the break he said that since it was a perfect and clean break it is hard to see until it starts to heal. Thankfully the bones are lined up and healing properly. The bump is a calcium deposit there to heal the bones. We are supposed to keep doing what we are doing and try to keep her somewhat calm for 6-8 weeks.

Piano Fun

Andrew is taking piano lessons from Grandma Marks. It's so fun for him not only because his grandma is teaching him her talent but they also get to play duets together.

I love hearing them play together. Andrew is loving piano and is really learning quickly. Ally and Vanessa sometimes get bored during his lessons so they find ways to entertain themselves. On this particular day Ally was entertaining herself by taking pictures with my phone. Vanessa was enjoying the giant Care Bear she found downstairs.

I really feel bad 'cause we are supposed to be there for piano lessons and my kids always act like it's always another visit at Grandma's house. They always have fun while visiting Grandpa and Grandma Marks even when it's for piano lessons.