Catch up!

Wow, I think this experience of downloading over 50 pictures at once will teach me to blog as I go instead of doing nothing for two months and then trying to catch up.

TRIP TO PARK CITY
In June the girls and I decided to head to Park City for the weekend because Brad was invited to go on a rafting trip and we didn't feel like being left behind. I was worried about the drive by myself but they were all very good in the car both ways. We had a really great time. Thanks Mom and Dad.

One of the days we went to This is the Place Heritage Park which is always fun. The girls loved the crafts, the barn with animals and the train ride.

Mom, Alex and Ayden on the little train ride. Alex loved it until they went through the little tunnel.

One of the girls favorite things to do is swing with Grandpa pushing them. He always makes it so much fun.

They also had fun playing and exploring in their yard. They found this nest with baby birds in them.

BOATING
The girls and Brad have had a bunch of fun days boating. It is a little hard with Laela but I have gotten to go twice. We all love it and we really appreciate great friends who are always happy to have us tag along.

I love tubing.

Ayden loves surfing with her dad. It has been really nice this summer that she wants to go. It shows that if you force them to do something enough they will eventually learn to love it.

Doesn't she look so uncomfortable? I am actually amazed at how well she does. I just have to make sure she stays cool by keeping a wet blanket on her, stays hydrated which can be a bit tricky on a boat and that she doesn't get any sun on her which of course is hard. The best place for a baby on the boat is under the drivers feet. There is a nice flat spot and the hum of the motor calms them and helps them sleep.We have also been having fun with the sprinkler and trampoline. It has been so hot lately so it is nice to cool off.

ALTURAS LAKE
We have a great tradition of going to Stanley, Idaho every year with some of our best friends the Pillings. This year our great friends the Lindbergs got to come along too. We all had a blast. It seems every year part of the fun is going up and trying to find a camping spot which is certainly not easy in that area without a previous reservation. We got up there late on a Thursday night and tried hunting down a spot right when the sun was setting. We found a site and had to set everything up in the dark. Always an adventure. It was fun despite the cold nights (32-36 degrees) and an unbeliveable amount of mosquitoes.

Laela hanging out in the inflatable Kayak.

Beautiful Alex on the beach. I really don't think she enjoys anything more. You hardly hear a thing out of her.

Hanging out while we are making breakfast.

Ayden and Maia hanging out by the fire.

Nikki and Ayden making Elizabeth and I a suprise.

Laela was still is the bundle me phase. We have just barely gotten out of it. Now she is satisfied as long as she is holding a blanket. At least is was still cool enough she didn't totally overheat.

Alex and Whitney, best of friends and yet worst of friends. They usually play really well together expecially if they are both kept busy doing something they enjoy but if these two get a little bored, oh boy.

Brad got Ayden a little fishing pole and she really had fun with it.

mmmm...nothing like camp food. I love breakfast while camping the best.

So peaceful sleeping.

Cute Laeal in my sleeping bag

This is kind of a funny picture. There is a funny story to go with it too. First of all this is Alex in Brad's sleeping bag. Those are brads arms around her face and his head is hidden in the sleeping bag. Around 5 in the morning Alex crawled in with Brad. Shortly after I took this picture they both woke up and Brad noticed that everything was wet. Alex had peed her pants in the sleeping bag all over herself and brad. Haha At least it was the last night we were there.

Some fun in the Kayak.

Ayden fishing

This is my all time favorite picture of the two of them.

All the kiddos.

Danielle, me, Elizabeth

The fam

PICTURES BY KIM-
Laela's blessing dress, Ayden 5yr. Alex 3yr.

GOLF OUTING
One Sunday Ayden told Brad that she thought tomorrow would be a great golfing day. He agreed and told her he would take her when he got home from work. Well, how it usually happens Brad got home just and I was putting the girls to bed. He told her that they would maybe go the next day. That didn't happen either. So Wednesday morning as we were eating breakfast Ayden said "Dad, you keep getting home after I go to bed even though you said you would take me golfing. How about we just go now since you are home now." That broke Brads heart so he made sure he would be home early to take her golfing. They had a really fun time. Brad took a cute video of Ayden driving the cart, maybe I will add it on the blog.

I think Ayden did a nice job getting this action shot.

Ayden is always making faces to the camera.

Ayden's action shot.

SEVEN SILLY EATERS CAKE-
Our favorite book is called The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman. It was given to us when Laela was born and is about a family with seven kids who are all picky eaters and the mom has to make a different food for each kid every day. When the moms birthday comes around all the kids decide as a gift they will make her their favorite foods. But when they are all in the kitchen making their foods (eggs, applesauce, lemonade, milk, oatmeal, bread) it turns into a mess and they all get dumped into the same pot and then they hide the pot in the oven and by accident make her a yummy birthday cake. One night when I was reading the book to them I thought that it would be fun to find a cake recipe that had all of the ingredients in it and then bake the cake. Well I found the authors website and she had already come up with a recipe. We made the cake as we read the book one Sunday afternoon and the girls had a blast. We are always trying to keep ourselves busy on Sundays because we are out of church at 11:30 so it can be a long day.

Squeezing the lemon

Cracking the egg

The end result. I think it did turn out really yummy. We decided to make another one and bring it to the family who gave us the book for family home evening.

LAELA-
Laela is such a cutie. She is so happy and smiley. Ayden can get her to smile and giggle the most (i may post a video of that later too). She loves to play with toys, she is getting better at falling asleep on her own without vibration, being rocked or in the bouncer. She loves Brad to hold her out in his hands. But she mostly loves her Mom. She is already getting separation anxiety and sometimes has a hard time when other people hold her. Even though we have kept her fingers away from her for four months she has found them again (she was sucking them when she was born) and doesn't want much to do with her pacifier anymore. It looks like we have another finger sucker on our hands. She likes to suck her left hand and hold a blanket or something else soft up to her face with her right hand. When she is sleeping in her crib she holds a blanket and completely covers her face with it.
She had her 4 months appointment today and weighs 13 lb. 15 oz. (60%) and is 23.25" long (25%). Dr. Alli said she is doing perfect.

I saw her sleeping one day and wondered for a second why her ear was sticking out but then figured out she was holding on to it.

We sure love Laela.