NEW GEAR!

Greg is like a little boy at Christmas!  He bought himself new ski's, bindings, boots, snow pants, and coat!  LUCKY BOY!  Can you feel his excitement?  He had to get all dressed up for me.  The boots aren't in the picture cause they weren't bought yet.  I'll have to put another picture in here soon:)

MONTEREY CALIFORNIA

This was one quick trip!  Jayne and Chris planned the trip and we were just along for the ride!  Thanks for planning everything!  We were only gone for 4 days.  That's a lot of driving, but it was fun!

Before we left we made a thank you not for Uncle mark with the kids' hand prints.  That's Cannon getting his hand painted green!  I also made a trip to Dollar Tree to get a few car prizes to keep the girls occupied.  That's Kasidy kissing her Hello Kitty Pez.  The Pez candy was a huge hit!  I hope I remember that next time we take a long drive.  I also made a pillow for McKinley.  McKinley's car seat isn't as luxurious as Kasidy's, and she often pulls the head bob and doesn't sleep well so I made a pillow to keep her head steady.  We slept a lot in the car and I am SO glad we had that pillow!!!  After all that we were ready for our journey.

Greg and I packed up the girls bright and early (4:50 am) Thursday, September 8th for a long trip in the car! 

 We didn't make a ton of stops, which is great, and made it to Reno by 3 pm!  Amazing!  What's even more amazing than that?  We only watched one signing time!  The girls loved their activities and it kept them busy for a long time!  Good job girls!

We originally planned to stay the night in Reno, but Greg thought it would be fun to spend the night in Tahoe.  I am so glad we did!  That's were Greg and I went on our honey moon seven years ago!  It was so fun to reminisce.  We swam in Lake Tahoe, went window shopping, and ate ice cream.  Our hotel was the biggest hit of all...It had an atrium/fish pond in the lobby.  The girls had to stop and see the fish every time we passed it.  They also liked the elevator rides.  It was just one big window on the side and they pressed their faces against the glass while going up and down.  It was funny!  I wish I would have  taken a picture of it.

Here we are at the lake.  It was fun so beautiful there!  The girls loved swimming in the lake.  Kaysen didn't bring his suit to the lake, but loved swimming in his shorts, then diaper, then nothings:)  So funny!

 The next day was Friday the 9th.  We took our time getting out...no one wanted to get in the car:)  We made our way to Uncle Marks house.  The drive wasn't as successful as the day before.  The girls were a little more restless, but we made it through and got to Uncle Marks and Lezli's around 3.  We took a tour of their home and yard.  I had no idea that he was such a farmer.  He has sheep, geese, and a duck.  It was fun to see where they live.  Then we drove over to the beach house were we were staying and unpacked all our stuff.  Then...we got in the car again!  I know, I know, what were we thinking, but it's such a quick trip we had to get everything in! 

We drove down Highway 1 to Big Sur.  We stopped at Julia Phipher State Park and saw a gorgeous waterfall!  We hiked down the path and the view was amazing!  Turns out the place where you see the falls used to be someones back yard!  Who'd a thought it!  The people who used to live there would climb into a coal cart and ride a track down the cliff to their house!  CRAZY!  But once you are there...I might do it to for a view like that.  They have since torn down the house, but the place you stand was their patio!  So cool! 

After, we walked to our cars and had dinner.  While we were eating we enjoyed the wildlife/crazy birds that were terrifying the children.  Seriously they would swoop so close trying to get the food it was a little unnerving.  We obviously survived, but it was a little creepy:) 

Also while we were driving McKinley said she wasn't feeling well.  GREAT...I told her to just relax and try not to think about it.  A little minute later she announced..."I am going to throw up."  I grabbed the only thing available (A teeny tiny bowl, why we had it, I'm not sure) and I caught the spew!  Only problem...the spew wouldn't stop! 

Now you have to picture the pandemonium that is happening!  There is nowhere to pull over, McKinley is sitting directly behind me so I have to reach clear around my seat to make the bowl reach, our kid is throwing up, and I am asking Greg to open the window so I can dump spew to catch more!  Poor Greg is trying to drive, watch what's happening, and roll down a window!  Anyway he gets the window down so I can dump the waste.  Just as I dump it, I barely make it in time to catch another upchuck! 

By this time we have found a place to pull over and Greg races over to McKinley's side of the car, opens the door and takes over.  He dumps the bowl 3 times!  Ya that's a total of 4 dumps we had to throw out!  There is throw-up all over the car, inside and out (the road was twisty and the bowl was full:) from when I dumped it, there are bits and pieces on McKinley and we are worried that she is supper sick!  Great we are on this trip and now we are going to have to deal with a sick little girl. Poor thing!

After we cleaned her up she looked at us like, "What's the big deal" and says..."K lets go, I feel better!"  Greg and I look at each other and laugh!  Okay McKinley let's go!  We have decided that she gets car sick. This isn't the first time she's thrown up in the car for random reasons, and felt better after she throws up.  We just have to be more prepared with a bigger bowl:)  We are also relieved that she isn't sick!  That would've put a damper on the trip!:) 

So here we are at the amazingly beautiful waterfall!  McKinley feels great!  We are a happy family!

The next day September 10 we were all excited to spend the day OUT OF THE CAR!!!  HOORAY!!!  We went to a darling little seaside restaurant for breakfast and then headed to the Monterey Aquarium.  On the walk there we experienced Cherri Jubilee Days, a very popular car show.  We lucked out and got to see some very amazing looking cars!  It was so fun!  The atmosphere was amazing!  I love seeing other places and feeling the differences. 

When we got to the giant fish tank the kids were mesmerized!  They would press their faces to the glass and just stare!  It was a lot of fun to see them full of wonder!

 The aquarium also hosted a fun little kid yard.  McKinley loved dressing up, and they all loved the slide.  Even though Kasidy doesn't look excited...don't even think of taking her off that fish:)

 The touch pools there were amazing!  McKinley didn't like it at first, she has issues with getting wet, but after she warmed up to the idea we couldn't keep her out!  McKinley loved the sea horses the best, but really wanted to see a dolphin.  They didn't have any dolphins so she settled for the fake ones.  After the aquarium we loaded the girls in the strollers.  After being there all day it took only 5 min for both of them to be out!   It was a great busy day!

 Later that evening after dinner we headed to the beach!  It was fun to see how much McKinley loved it!  From the picture below you can see that she was singing the whole time!  Just making up random songs, like she does, about the ocean.  She'd run and chase the waves, then run away when the waves chased her!  It was also fun for her to imagine all the fish we saw at the aquarium in the ocean!  A world of discovery for little people:)  Kasidy also loved the ocean, but preferred to play in the sand and stay out of the freezing water:)

I wish we could have spend more time at the beach, but I am just glad we got to fit it in at all!  I love the ocean!

 The next day September 11th we got in the car at 4:40 am and started the long non-stop drive home!  We made it home safe at 7 p.m.  Not bad time if you ask me:)  The girls did pretty good on the way home!  and I finished my granny square blankets!  What a fun trip!  Thanks Uncle Mark and Lezli for the free place to stay!

I do recommend that if you are ever going on a long car ride...plan it out to have more than one day out of the car:) 

SHELVES

I needed book shelves for our books desperately!  From the before picture you can see that the books lived in those two purple bins.  I was stuck reading the same books over and over and over and over and...you get the idea.  I read the same books because those were the ones on top.

My sister-in-law build the cutest shelves for her son, and I wanted some too!  She gave me the blog tutorial and the rest is history! 

Last night we got the shelves hung and the girls LOVED IT!  I think they loved it more than me, which is saying a lot, because I LOVED IT TOO!  I love how the landing feels more like a room now instead of empty space!  I love that we won't be reading the same books over and over.  The girls were excited to see so many options!  McKinley kept saying, "Oh and this one too!"  It was a success!  I liked how they helped put the books on the shelves.  It made it a family project and got them excited too!

Thank you Sam for helping Greg hang them on the walls!  And Thanks Em for the idea! 

Problem solved! 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

LABOR DAY

Over Labor Day, Greg and I took the girls to Bear Lake!  It was fun, as usual, and had a great time boating, visiting, and playing on the beach!
 

 While I wouldn't touch the water for fear of instant frost bite, I sent my 3yr old to brave it out:) She was not pleased to get into that ice cold water. Greg wanted to see if he could get up with McKinley on his shoulders. While they were waiting to get the rope straighted out McKinley announced that she needed to go potty! Greg just rolled his eyes when I told her, "just go. It'll make daddy warm:)"

The Shoulders didn't work but they got up quick the other way!  Go McKinley! Then we got a little tubing in and driving with grandpa!  What a fun weekend!

MY GROWN UP GIRL

It can't be true, but it is.  It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.  McKinley has officially started preschool!  Her first day was September 6, 2011.  She goes every Tuesday and Thursday for three hours.  That's 6hrs a week away from me!  I can't stand it!:)  Her teachers are Miss Denise (Tiner), and Miss Angela (Miller).  They are darling and McKinley already adores them!

It was such a weird feeling not having her home for 3 hours!  It was really quiet, to say the least, with just Kasidy and I.  I had forgotten what it was like with just one around. 

My favorite part of the day was picking her up!  They came around the back of the house and I looked and looked for her and there she was!  We locked eyes and she ran right up to me and couldn't stop talking about her wonderful day!  The quiet was gone, but I was happy to have her back home:)

I love to feel the excitement that she carried with her all day!  She felt so grown up and she is.  She is so talented in many ways, and I know she will continue to grow from these wonderful teachers.

I am so proud of you darling girl!  I am glad you love school.  You are a wonderful little person and I am so grateful to you for your example to me.  I can't express to you enough how much you mean to me in my life!

It's hard for me to see you get bigger, but at the same time I love to see you grow!  I am a silly mom, but I love you!

I also loved all the posing you did for your school pictures!  I can't believe I am so lucky!  I get to be your mom! 

Have fun in school this year!

WHEELER FARM

OH THE MEMORIES!!!  I LOVE WHEELER FARM! 

The girls and I were sick and tired of being inside, so we took a vote and headed out the door!  I just started driving south not sure what we were going to do...when it hit me...WHEELER FARM! 

I have so many memories of that wonderful place!  We went there a few times last year, in the winter, when we lived at our SLC apartment, but this was way better!  It wasn't freezing, in fact it was a little on the too warm side! 

Anyway, when we walked up the walkway the first thing we did was run to the chicken coop tree house!  That's when it was a little weird for me...I can vividly remember playing in that same tree house as a kid!  It was crazy to watch my little girl doing the same thing!  How the time just flies! 

We had a great time!  We saw all sorts of animals and had to talk about each one!  McKinely asked so many questions, and Kasidy was making the animal sounds!  What fun girls! 

The pigs were my favorite!  They had three little baby piglets in the pen and they were so cute!  We also got to milk a cow!  McKinley didn't want to, so I took Kasidy up there so I could do it!  I can't remember milking a cow so I wanted this in the books for me:)  I MILKED A COW!  It was just what I was expecting but a little tougher than I thought:)  Poor cows!  I know how they feel:)

McKinley loved the horses!  We got to see the workers call them in to eat.  McKinley loved watching them run toward us, but loved that we were 'safe behind the fence, huh mom'

Kasidy loved it all!  I couldn't tell what her favorite thing was, but that's ok.  I knew she was having a great time!

After that we went on a tractor/hay ride and saw the rest of the farm! 

It was a great day!  I am so glad we voted to get out of the house!  I love you girls!  Thanks for taking adventures with me.

When we got home dad was there with two huge cookies waiting for his girls. 

Put this one down in the books as a wonderful, amazing, so good, very great day!

OUR SUMMER!

Well good grief!  I can't believe the summer is G O N E!

Here are the highlights of our warm weather season!

DRAGON ATTACK

In the middle of July my brother Sam and his wife Cyleste just stopped by for a visit.

While they were here a huge swarm of dragon flies filled the sky!  It was really weird.

We'd never seen anything like it, but the girls went crazy with their nets!  They caught all sorts of bugs!

It was a fun night!  And I am sure Kasidy will thank me later for her diaper pics.

JULY 21 - 24  GRANDMA SUE'S REUNION

Two years ago my mom started her own family reunions. 

The first one we went to Yellowstone, and this year we went to Bear Lake! 

The Daly's were so generous and let my family celebrate at their cabin! 

Thanks Jim and Candace!!!

We had a great time!  We did skits, played games, and of course boating!

The water was so high it was crazy finding a spot on the beach,

but we made it just in time to get water front tent room! 

Thanks mom for all the great memories, and bringing our family together!

(Kasidy loved cheese covered crackers)

JULY 29- AUG 5  LAKE POWELL

What a great week!  This is Greg's favorite place on earth and we were able to spend the whole time there!

The water couldn't have been more perfect!!!  I love warm air and warm water.  Let's face it, I just love being warm!  It's not hard getting behind the boat to go water skiing when the water's like the bathtub!

We brought both our girls and they did GREAT!!! 

 Nap times were just taken on the boat rides and they played so hard during the day that they slept great at night!  Even in the sweltering heat they did amazing!  What troopers!!!

 McKinley loved water skiing with dad!  She didn't like the water at first, but learned how to swim all by herself with a life jacket while we were there.  Kind of a necessity if you ask me!  Kasidy was also a fish, and loved to be in the water with everyone else!

 My cute girls in their life vests!!!  We love boating!!!

  Playing in the water around the house boat! 

 Greg had a great idea to go on a hike.  We were all in, but once we got there our hike turned into a nature extravaganza!!!  There were tadpoles EVERYWHERE!!! 

We had to stop and look at all the frogs, lizards, and bugs along the path to the narrows! 

 It's kids that keep us down to earth and focused on the good stuff!!! 

Landon and Amy even adopted a little frog in their old water bottle...it died.  Poor little frog:)

We made it to the start of the Narrows hike!  It was fun to see the kids reactions of the rocks!  It was a whole new world to them!

 On the way it back it got really hot. (It was hot the whole time, but we'd been away from water way too long)  McKinley wore my hat and it made for a cute picture!  Thanks for the idea Em.  It was a fun hike!  Good idea Greg!

 Just a good old water ski trip! 

 Decorating Grandpa!  That's entertainment!

 I loved this tube ride!  The pictures of the adults are so funny! 

Check out Landon and Grandpa!  I got a good laugh out of them. 

The last picture is of the kids being confined the bedroom while we cleaned up!  Cute cousins!

We loved our Lake Powell trip!

SLEEPING BABY KASIDY!

There is something about a sleeping baby that I just love!  They are so peaceful and seem closer to our Father in Heaven.  I want to step into their dreams.  Love you Kasidy! 

PEACH MANIA

Greg was so excited that our peaches looked ready to pick that we picked them all...None of them were ripe!  Maybe next time we'll check ONE first then pick the rest! 

The girls had fun picking them, and it was 'A good activity':)

We are grateful to the previous home owners for making our yard so abundant in fruit!  We also have strawberry and blackberry plants!  So awesome! 

We also are so grateful to Grams and Papa for the 3 peach trees they gave us when we moved in! 

They are looking great and we can't wait for the fruit next year!

 HAIR?

Kasidy finally has some hair!!!  From the front she looks like Alfala!  I think it is darling!  And from the back...pig tails?  I can't do just one pony tail or it just looks, I will say bad for the lack of a better word:)  But my girls are so cute!  This was during a much needed story time break!

 TOO HOT?

You tell me.  We left McKinley's shoe outside.  The next day it looked like this! 

 DAVIS COUNTY FAIR

What a fun evening!  We spent the night with Landon, Amy, Kevin and his kids!  We had fun shooting hoops, petting the animals, getting flower balloons, and of course, going on a boat ride! 

 Thanks for the reminder Amy!  Glad we could come!

AUG 20 HORSES!!!

Jayne and Chris invited us to go riding!  It was such an adventure, and well worth the 2hr car ride! 

We rode all day!  McKinley loved it and kept calling out..."Go Bullseye!"

Thank you for inviting us up for so much fun!

Before we left I found my old cowGIRL hat that fits Kinners.  I also found my old red cowGIRL boots. 

 The boots are still too big, but she had fun wearing them in the car:) 

 It was crazy to see my old stuff on my little girl!  Time flies!

AROUND THE HOUSE

We have been going non-stop so it was nice when we were home.  We haven't accomplished much (yard work) that we've wanted to, but that's okay, the trips are way more fun:)  These are a few of the things we've done when we've been home...Play dress up, hang pictures, make trains with chairs, play hair dresser, and smell the flowers!  The trips are always wonderful, but there's something about coming home and just being around the house!  What a wonderful summer and so many great memories!  

I can't wait to see what fall will bring!