A Day o' Cuteness

Jenna started her morning out with a yogurt bath. It's very good for your skin, and she really wanted to have that nice glow about her. 

 The after Ms. Independent put her own seatbelt on, we headed out to pick up Uncle Bretty from his job and take him home. However, we had to make a quick stop at Costco since it's right next to Brett's work. The two of them were frozen and equally excited by Toy Story playing in the entrance of Costco. They were so funny. I just adore these two. 

A Day With Uncle Matthew

My brother in law babysat Jenna for us and took her out to Tuacahn where they spent the morning. She was quite enamored with the giant poster for Aladdin. She got the change to play on the large stage and...wait for it...ride a camel! She had a complete blast. They're pretty cute together, Jenna and her Uncle Matthew. 

August Photo-A-Day

The monsoon season is making for some amazing clouds these days!

Seriously cannot get enough of the #olympics and the US v Spain beach volleyball match watch awesome! #teamusa

Spent the morning with the Kearls and Talbots working off the kids excess energy! Thanks Ryan Williams Talbotand Heather Anne Carleson Kearl for getting us out of the house!

On our way! Excited to see you Audrey Hatch. Hoping you can join us Emily Crowton. 

Ice cream sundaes on a Sunday evening with my Motherhead @chrisrchambers 

This is what happens when Jenna's sick, Casey is on the other side of the country, and has meetings all day. #goodtimes

Picked up some new sunglasses the other day because Jenna has either list or broken all of my other ones. 

The best part of this is when I handed Jenna a wipe and told her to clean up her chair before she got in she replied, "Oh, thank you!" and went right to work. I love that she still thinks cleaning is cool just because Mom does it. 

The wedding band I wear today is not the same one as when I got married. I didn't like how much of a gap there was between my engagement ring and the wrap. So when we had been married about 5 years I had it redesigned into one band. The center stone is the same though. There's a little Katie trivia for you. 

Jenna (and her purple pants) were having a great time at the fair until the tried to make her hold a baby chick.

Alright people, I'm about to let some of my crazy show through... Can any one else see the gray shirt in between the yellow and the red section where it shouldn't be?! Life would be much simpler if Casey would just put his shirts back in the rainbow color order my brain requires. #neurotic

One of my favorite things about living here are all the left turn yields. It's pretty rare to have an actual left turn arrow only. I love the left turn yield! 

Getting ready our long weekend with my family in Big Bear! So excited. @squarders @jen310 

Lunch at Cravings with the Freis! Yeah. 

Some of my favorite faces ever!

After getting their fill of dancing in the rain, the party moved inside to the sauna. Which didn't last long because Grandma Holly said it smelled like other people's sweat. #goodtimes

Today was a photo editing, nap taking, cuddling on the couch, recovery kind of a day! #lovemyfamily 

I seriously have the coolest kid. Even when she's asleep, she's too cool.

Though grateful for the rain, it's causing havoc in our homes. We've had constant gutter cleaning needed at one home. And TWO leaks in the roof in our rental property. Havoc!!! #grownupproblems

Spent the afternoon with the sweet pair. @chrisrchambers & Steve-O! Love them. 

Can you see the path in the chaos that is the movie in the park?

Got a fresh coat of primer and paint on the doors and drawer fronts for the pantry. #progress 

Building our dream home one day at a time...on Pinterest. 

Yeah...I'd tap that...

Searching for their reflections. #bestfriends 

Play date with Lexie

Aren't they two of the cutest little friends you've ever seen? 

A Movie in the Park: The Disaster

What an unmitigated disaster the movie in the park was last night! We arrived at 740 for the 800 showing of Goonies. An hour and one wet, the water fountains were too alluring child later, the city started 15 minutes of advertising. And finally the movie...Night at the Museum. What?! I have had Goonies calendared for MONTHS! So it was, that two minutes in we packed up and brought our tired girl home. May I just say to you, organizers of St. George City, you failed me! You failed my two year old! Night at the Museum will never be Goonies!!!

Big Bear, Baby!

We headed to down to Big Bear, CA last weekend for our annual vacation with my family. It was a fun  activity filled couple of days. We all arrived late Thursday night, so things didn't really get started until Friday morning. We kicked things off with a quad lift ride up to the top of Snow Summit ski resort and a picnic on to of the mountain. It was so beautiful up there and we could not have asked for better weather! The cousins had a great time running around and exploring. 

After lunch, we divided up. The Quarders and the Malans rode the lift back to the bottom, while Grandma and Grandpa, Megan and Kylie and us hiked down. My stupid, arthritic knees lasted about about 200 yards down the hill before they were screaming in protest, not good when the trail is 1 1/2 miles long. So frustrating, and though I'm glad I did it, I have no interest in going through that again! Kylie and Jenna had to much fun, and Jenna was a champ! I was crazy impressed with how well my Dad did with his back injury and all. He even gave up his hiking poles about half way down so that I could use them. We were also joined by two random dogs who Kylie and Jenna fell head over heals for. They were much better at listening to Ky then they were Jenna, who spent the rest of the hike calling to them. It was really quite stunning up there and it was great to get a little time in nature. 

The kids put on a kazoo/noise maker parade with Grandma and Grandpa. (They were in heaven!)

 There was lots of Buzz Lightyear, giant cowboy hats, playing in cupboards, spinning wheels, and mud! All the very best stuff for kids of all ages. 

 There was dancing in the rain and huddling up in the sauna. There were too many kids in the tub and great family meals around the giant dining room table. 

 There was a ton of crafting; alphabet stickers on construction paper, tie dying shirts, bead & pipe cleaner jewelry, and sticker stories.  There was bocce ball, left, right, center, and an attempt at Settlers of Catan (which was a giant fail).

 I took family pictures of my brother, Scoot's family and my sister, Sara's family. I think I'm getting a little better. Still have a lot to learn, but I learn a little something else each time it seems like.  

 We had a fabulous talent show, spurred on by Ms. Kylie Mae and her excellent gymnastics. 

On the last day, Jenna got her second ever hair cut. Thanks again, Aunt Jen! 

 And then we all headed to the Big Bear Reserve/Zoo. Jenna loved seeing the big bad wolf and birds. 

 Then we headed to the park for a picnic, playing, and finally our good-byes. Yet another fun weekend. I am so grateful for the efforts my whole family goes through to get here and allow us all to get time together. So often if feels as though our time together is rushed when I am in town and these trips allow for much calmer time together. I think it is especially wonderful for the cousins to solidify relationships with both each other and with their aunts and uncles. Love you all and can't wait to do it all over again next year!