august photos

August started with Brian deep in preparation for his epic trip to Alaska with his dad and brothers.  More on that later, but I will say that getting all his gear out and packing it just so brings this man a lot of joy.  It's actually kind of fun to witness.

Just my shopping buddy.  

McKay picked out some indoor soccer shoes for school this year.  Yes, this is him sleeping with them.  He kind of likes them.  

Elle trying the new curlers we got.  She was a trooper to sleep in those.  I remember being so uncomfortable sleeping in foam curlers when I was little.  I don't know if these are better or worse, but she didn't complain much.  We think she looks like one of Layla's lalaloopsey dolls.

We took the Beehives to the Ogden Temple open house.  I heard a lot more about 8th grade boys at PG Jr. than I cared to.  

Late in the spring we planted wild flower seed.  This is a spot where we removed an Aspen and Brian did his Edward Scissor hands thing with the existing ground cover and bushes.  So we saw the seeds at Home Depot and decided to give it a try, since we had an empty space.  We really don't know what we're doing when it comes to planting things.  We're good at ripping things out.  But our wild flowers grew and grew and have been SO fun to have.  The girls love to go out and pick bouquets, and these maintenance free flowers are so pretty.   

This was the first morning that Layla and I were alone- with McKay and Ellery being in school all day now.  It was rainy, and the kids had collected a bunch of snails before school.  I sat on the rocking chair behind Layla, watching her as she lined up the snails in different ways, and tears came to my eyes.  Change is hard.  School has started.  They are one year older.

On a much happier note, Ellery started dance at Dance Showcase.  After class on her first day, the teacher pulled me aside and said that because of too many dancers in the current class, she was looking for a student to move up to the older class.  She said she was watching for the best dancer, and Ellery was it!  So we moved her to the second grade class.  She is amazing.  I marvel at her natural abilities when it comes to dance.  She can do splits every which way, even standing up.  She has graceful kicks and leaps and learns really fast.  She does not get this talent from me.

My friend (and old Beaverton neighbor) Cathy and her little girl Rilynne, came to visit us.  It was so fun to see them and spend the afternoon talking and catching up.  

Early this summer I removed all the buds from our peach tree when they were tiny little balls, but somehow I missed one.  I didn't notice it until it had grown a little bit, and I decided to let it grow.  So our baby peach tree had one baby peach.  Except it was a big, beautiful peach!  I was so proud and happy about this peach and so paranoid that Layla was going to pick it prematurely and take one bite, and my precious peach would be tossed on the ground to spoil.  Luckily, that didn't happen, and by mid August she was ready.  I washed that beautiful peach, sliced it and placed it in a sunburst pattern on a plate- it was the highlight of our dinner and we all got two slices.  It was delicious!  I can't wait for more peaches.

One morning Layla accidently stepped on the hot flat iron.  All plans had to be cancelled because she could not go two minutes without her foot being submerged in water.  It wasn't a terrible burn, but you know how much even little ones can hurt.  I actually did have to go to the store to get a birthday gift for Ellery's friend and she cried the entire time...even with an ice pack on her toes.  It was terrible for her.

This year we were all set to make salsa all on our own...but then Adele had nothing going on and she came over to help us.  I am so glad she did!  It was much better with an expert in the kitchen.  We made two batches and are all set for winter.

We went to the land.  It's obvious that McKay was excited about this.

This picture is pretty much a favorite right now.

While at the land we all went on a long ride.

Brian got called in to work the night before Layla's birthday.  I guess you could say I was lonely and didn't want to decorate her cake by myself, so I got these two out of bed to help me (they weren't asleep).  They loved sneaking out of bed to do something so fun.  And I actually needed their help to search high and low for all the Frozen characters scattered around the house.  The cake turned out great, thanks to my little helpers.

I took Layla to the new Children's museum at Thanksgiving Point on her birthday.  We went with Jana and her kids.  It was really fun- she loved it.  We didn't even get close to exploring all there was to see and do.  

My girls in their homemade nightgowns from Grandma.  

july photos

Layla's typical summer outfit- a swimsuit.  She's still as much of a water baby as ever.  Except now I guess she's a water girl.  This year her swimsuits range from size 2T to 5T.  She's three.  It somehow all works out.  

McKay and Brian go to a lot of sports events together.  Dates, if you will.  It's harder for me and Elle to go to things...I think mostly because whatever I take her to do, McKay and/or Layla would enjoy it too.  When I needed to go to a wedding reception (we hardly ever go to any) I knew it would be the perfect date for my Elle.  McKay actually did really want to go.  But this was just for me and my girl.  She loved it- wanted me to take lot of pictures of the bride. 

Second trip to day camp for this cub scout!  Look at those socks!

Crazy group.

He had a blast!  I was so glad his scout leader sent these pictures to us.  I've never been to day camp before so it was fun to see what it's like.  

This makes me think of his awesome leaders.  He's been lucky enough to be with Sister Argyle as a wolf and she is so awesome.  She puts so much into teaching them and truly loves and cares about them and what they learn.  She's a good example of magnifying any calling.  She's kind of like the cub scout guru around here too- she kind of knows everything!

In August he will be with Melanie McBee who is another super organized, creative, fun leader.  I know he'll have a great time in her den also, as a bear.  Grateful for these awesome ladies and that they are helping to make my boy a better person.

Look at Ellery.  Lately she has become such a great "big cousin".  She loves the babies and toddlers and is so good with them.  Also, look how cute baby James is.

These two troublemakers at the aquarium.  They are quite terrible together.  Best friends and super annoying enemies.  It's very hot and cold, off and on with these two.  They sure are cute though.   

Water girl at her finest.

Brian, Darrell and Alex hiked Timp- mostly as training for their Alaska hike.  Darrell wanted to add some weight to his backpack and pulled that baby out at the top!  I love this picture so much because maybe he's the only person to ever carry a watermelon to the top of Timp and cut it up.  Brian said he was very popular up there.  

We had a fun visit from Buffy and her friend Jody.  Can you tell how in love Layla was with her?  I really love this friend of mine and we had so much fun while they were with us.  

We took them for a walk up to the crystal pit and who knew that Jody is a rock fanatic?!  She was SO into searching for cool rocks and crystals with my kids- Buffy and I were amazed.

Two cute buddies.

Layla's best next door neighbor buddy Nick moved to Arizona.  We miss the Kerby family a lot.  We will miss those three boys (Nick and the twins, Chase and Chandler) coming over at all hours of the day to play with Layla.  She had quite a fan club in those three.  They were fun neighbors and I'm so glad we got to know them....but I WILL NOT miss their dog Mika.  We are all very glad she moved to Arizona.  Now McKay isn't nervous to go out the front door, which is always nice.

One thing on our summer bucket list was to go to the Peppermint Place candy factory.  I gave each kid three dollars to spend and they had quite the time figuring out what to get and how much it would cost.  

McKay threw and impromptu water party.  I think at one point there were nine boys in this pool.  They splashed, jumped, played with water guns and ended the party by wrestling in the pool.  And by wrestling, I mean wrestling each other until one could throw the other one out of the pool and onto the grass.  He came inside with scratches all over his stomach from his match.  Wow.  Boys?

We spent Pioneer Day boating with the Allreds and my parents.  We actually got my parents out on the actual boat!  I had to make sure dad was dressed appropriately, as he was about to go out in jeans.  The kids loved this little pool by the marina where the natural hot spring fed into.  It was quite warm and cozy.  

We had so much fun tubing on the boat.  I went out with Brian and haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  The water was choppy and it wasn't the best day for boating, but it was still fun.

After boating, we had a quick dip in the pool, then went to Grammy's for a bbq.

Me and my sweet Elle.  

When my girls are getting along (and they usually do) they like to call each other "best sisters".  But they say it in this sing-songy voice.  I know I say this all the time but I love that they have each other.  

And lets not forget this handsome man!  He is getting so old.  I have been noticing him interacting with adults lately.  He is so polite and trying hard to pull his weight in conversation.  This makes me happy- that he has good social skills and is polite.  He's growing up every second.

Ah, the PG pool.  We have spent at least two days a week here (sometimes three) all summer.  This picture was taken on a stormy day, that cleared up, and there were about twenty people there.  It was crazy- because usually it seems like there's probably hundreds.  That's Layla int eh pink floaties, playing with some of my beehives.  

I loved that we got a pass this year.  It was so worth it.  Ellery improved in her swimming so much this summer- she is great!  She also conquered her fear of the water slide after avoiding it the first few times.  McKay mostly loved playing pass with whoever he could find to play with him.  He was always easy to spot- I'd just look for a ball going back and forth.  And Layla?  Well, she was so happy any time we were at the pool.  She loved to practice swimming with me.  We'd take off her floaties and she would swim from me to the side and back and forth, over and over.  She has no fear of the water and thinks she's a much better swimmer than she is.  We sing "dead man, dead man, come alive...." as she does a back float....and she can do a mean back float all on her own, let me tell you.  

His heaven.

june photos

Even though we had put the girls to bed we kept hearing the occasional giggle coming from their room.  After awhile of that, it was wailing that came from their room, followed quickly by Ellery running downstairs telling us that Layla had gotten really, really hurt!  We went up there to find that Layla had been climbing on her nightstand, talking to Ellery, and had fallen and hit her chin on "something metal"- that was the report we got, anyway.  She had quite a good cut slashed on the bottom of her chin.  It was a Sunday night.  I took her to Instacare and they glued it as best they could.  She was brave and didn't cry much.  I think she kind of loved going to the doctor, where people thought she was cute, instead of being in bed at home.  The glue lasted less than 24 hours before she pulled it off.

Mack went to BYU soccer camp in June.  He loved it!  I was so glad we signed him up.  He loved playing soccer every morning for four days, but also loved being at BYU (you know, he claims to feel very comfortable in Provo) and loved being coached by BYU soccer players.  It was really fun for him.

Orem Summerfest:

While we waited for dad to park the car, McKay hopped on this crazy-spinning ride.  This was big because rides have been a hard thing for him to want to do in the past.  He was brave and tried it...and loved it.  While we were waiting for him, the girls and I asked the guy running the ride if people threw up a lot on this one.  He said yes.  

This was right up the girls alley.  The slow-motion boat ride!

The parade this year...we wore sweatshirts.  

Strawberry Days Rodeo:

Strawberries and cream at the PG rodeo!  The kids loved it...although it was a bit exhausting to keep Layla entertained (without dropping everything we brought through the bleachers) I think she even had fun.  

A highlight was when McKay joined a hundred other kids to try and grab some cash off two calves.  He didn't get any, but he had fun trying.

I bought this pool at the beginning of the summer.  It was $25.  It has been worth every penny.  All three have enjoyed it many times this summer.  

McKay doesn't really know what to do if he is not doing one of three things.  1. Playing the computer/ipad  2.  Watching t.v.  3. Playing soccer outside
That's it.  If he's not doing one of those then he's bored and following me around.  And I don't let him watch much tv and his time on electronics is limited...so this is hard for us.
Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit...but he would play soccer in the backyard with anyone, anytime.

Another frequent scene outside.  Girls in swimsuits with a few Kerby boys hanging around.

I don't know... I just like it.

McKay bored while I check out a garage sale.  My kids are so patient with me carting them around.  I love it so much though.

Brian's Birthday:

For Brian's birthday I planned a family picnic up at Silverlake.  It is one of my favorite places to go- so, so beautiful!  Many of his family were able to join us.  The kids had a ton of fun throwing rocks into the water, looking at bugs, fish and ducks, and blowing bubbles.  

Alex, Tyler and little Mack were super brave and went for a swim.  It was cold, but they assured us it was refreshing!

We had coconut cupcakes to celebrate Brian turning 33!

Cute cousins!

Some of the party.  Look at that background...

My cute little family.  I am so grateful for them.