Heber Campout

I just realized that I never posted these pictures from our Heber Family Reunion Campout back on the 1st of August!  It turned out to be really fun!  Todd and I didn't stay the night because we had a wedding the next morning, but we enjoyed being there with everyone that evening and enjoyed (along with Cooper) sleeping really good in our own beds.

The campers by their cabin.  I think they LOVED the cabin though from what I heard, not a lot of sleeping took place

 Todd and Cooper exploring…but BEWARE OF BEARS!

 We were welcomed to the camp with a big lecture about the dangers of bears and how they might try to eat us if we see them and run.  Madeline and Quinn were particularly frightened.  Why he had to look at our littles kids and tell them a bear might try to eat them while we are there, I'll never know!  But we ended up having Todd say a prayer to help them feel safe and all was well.  NO bears made an appearance!

 Todd and Cooper enjoyed raspberries for dinner.  Cooper calls raspberries "dada mmmmms" because Todd likes them so much.

 Roasting marshmallows with all the cousins

 Cooper liked the graham crackers!

 My sister and her son Quinn

 All the kids love Mimi

What a fun way to spend the evening!  The next day, we missed a lot of fun hiking and playing by a lake.  They enjoyed canoes and paddle boats and many other fun activities.

My New Ring!

I know I said I was getting a platinum ring, but I totally changed my mind and went with 14k yellow gold and I'm SO happy I did.  I didn't think I'd like yellow gold, but turns out I really do!  I completely LOVE my new ring!  And the best part about it: I can wear it forever - no allergies!  And I feel happy that I get to keep my original diamond forever too.  I feel like one spoiled girl.  And yes, oh so happy!!

23 Months Old

This is the last time I have to keep track of how old Cooper is in months.  In one month from today, he'll be 2!!  I can hardly believe it.  I've had such a fun time doing his monthly photo shoots.  And I can't believe it's really been 23 months since Cooper came into my life.

Cooper still loves seeing BIIIIIIG trucks driving on the road.  Nothing is more exciting than driving by a big truck.  "WOAH!!!! BIIIIIIG CAR!!!!"  He shouts it as if there is nothing truly better in all the world (and he shouts that EVERY time we see a dump truck or semi or anything remotely big).  Nothing is better than that, except maybe garbage day.  And daddy coming home from work!

 My favorite things he says lately are plurals.  He is very deliberate with his "s"s.  He doesn't say, "balls" he says, "ball. . .ssss"  and "rock. . .ssss"  and "block. . .ssss".  It's very cute.  He talks so much now that often he is saying something that sounds familiar to me, but I can't remember what it means.  He gets really frustrated until I can pull it out of my memory.

 The cutest thing happened today while we were at the Mall play land.  He climbed up to the top of a slide where another little boy was sitting with no real intention to slide down.  Cooper thought for a moment and then climbed over the boy to put himself in front at the top of the slide.  Then, before sliding down, he looked at the boy and said, "thank you".  It made me giggle.

I love my Cooper.  I'm so glad he's my buddy all day.  This morning while I was taking these pictures, I said, "you look cute today" and he spent the rest of the time I was snapping photos saying, "cute today, cute today!"  He makes me happy every single day.

More Cousin Pics

All the kids looking sharp for my cousin's wedding luncheon.  The photos aren't quite as sharp however.  I should know by now that my phone indoors doesn't work very well with kids wiggling.  But they still are cute:

Random Pictures from July

My sweeping fire chief

 a fantastic concert

 His ship has a cup holder!

 My girl and me, waiting for my sister and cousins to arrive to Utah

 Awesome morning hair and his fat lip from falling onto the arm of the couch.  Poor little guy bled everywhere.  Everywhere.  He's all good now…and luckily so is my carpet and couch...

 Too cute

 just hanging out

 Super awesome Aunt Raelynn helping Madeline with her G page homework

 And me, saying goodbye to my beloved ring.  I fought the allergy for 5 years.  Totally went through all the stages of mourning…lol.  Seriously.  There will always be a little part of me that will miss it.

 But we were finally able to trade it in for a platinum ring, and now I have a gorgeous and very sparkly new ring that I can wear forever without getting a rash. (and when you see it, you might need to wear sunglasses!)  :)  It's amazing and I love it!

 You'll have to wait to see the new one though.  I haven't taken pictures of it.  I kept my same diamond thankfully, but was sad to see this unique and perfectly beautiful setting go.  From the moment Todd proposed 11 years ago, I was completely and totally in love with this ring.  Goodbye little beauty, you were the best.  Minus the itchy blistery skin rash you caused me…sniff

Cousin Fun

Cousin fun continues despite being in school.  We just can't get enough!  And since my sister is moving here, we won't have to!  Best. news. ever!

The boys drew pictures for each other.  Quinn drew Ethan a colorful blob of some sort…I love it!  And Ethan drew Quinn a T-rex.  Soon the girls joined in and eventually we had a good 100 pictures for an art gallery!

 A little fun in the sun

 Cooper enjoyed dumping dirt in his pool…why am I not surprised?!!

 And tradition call for a dress-up fashion show at Mimi's house:

 These kids love being together.  And it's fun to see how they play.  The girls play and the boys play and Ethan and Kate play while Madeline and Quinn play.  And they all play together too.  The only problem is there never are enough hours in the day!

So glad to have more cousins in Utah!

School

Last week was our first week of school for Ethan and Madeline.  They are both loving school so far and honestly I can't believe how fast time is flying.  Ethan is now is THIRD GRADE.  I totally remember third grade.  And third grade was my first year at Jordan Ridge where my kids attend school.  Kinda crazy!

First day pictures:

 Madeline got to meet her teacher for a short visit on Ethan's first day, and then the next day was her real first day of first grade.  I still can't believe she's old enough to be gone all day.  And I'm not used to her being gone during lunch.  I miss her in the afternoon.  And while she's loving school, she's still not happy about the lack of playing time in her life.  I wish they got home a couple hours sooner each day so they could have time to play.  They're kids!  Playing is what they should be doing!  But I'm really glad she's happy.

 Ethan's been taking good care of her.  He picks her up each day, and looks for her during lunch.  I felt like it was a blessing to find out that first and third grades happen to have their lunches overlap by 15 minutes so they see each other every day in the lunchroom!

 She was nervous and excited on her first day

 and she's growing up too fast...

 Madeline's second day, looking cute and waving bye to me as her line goes inside.  You know me, I'm a cryer.  I cried on her first and second days of school when I watched her walk away.  But I'm okay now.  :)

Back to Ethan's first day of school, with his best friend.  I probably shouldn't have made them smile into the sun...

 are you excited for school Ethan??

 My cute kids:

I'm so glad my kids love school!