Sleepy

This is what happens on Sunday at 6:30 when we have no nap.

Because church is from 1:30 to 4:30.

What we do.

A lot of our pictures are in the water.  This is how we entertain ourselves.  Especially now.

Seriously!

Whose idea was it to have a week or more high of 103 degrees with a low of 70 degrees!!!

I live in Idaho.  NOT Vegas or Southern Texas or where ever else is used to that kind of weather.

Ewe.

Not a fan.

Anyway...I love Cooper's "cheese" face.  It makes me smile.

Anyone notice Maycee's Ariel underwear?  We started on Tuesday and it has been a dream. Apparently try number 3,792 was the lucky number.  She is doing awesome!  Yeah for not having three kids in diapers in October!

Maycee is very articulate when she speaks.  It is normally very easy to know what she is saying.  I came across a word that stumped me.  I swear she is saying burritos.  After a few weeks, and a Father's Day gift for Stephen from my mom, I learned what 'burrito'  in "Maycee tongue" means.

Oreos.

Yeah, I never would have figured it out.  Maycee loves them.  Cooper does as well, but hey, who wouldn't like Oreos?

Maycee loves to get on the back of the scooter with Cooper.  I really love watching them play together.  When they play nice...

New kiddie pool!

Here is my new favorite Cooper shirt. $2.  Even better.

One down, one to go

This has taken me 5 years to get this finished.

It is one of two planter shelves at the entry way of my house.

Slowly, but surely.

The 30th Year of my Birth

Monday was my 30th birthday.

I don't feel any different.

According to my brother, I am ancient.

Whatever.

Stephen made me breakfast!  I got blueberry pancakes.  With real blueberries.  I don't think he left for work until 7:45.  He normally leaves around 6ish, so I was super excited to have him around so long in the morning.

The morning started off with me washing the car.  Our car was dirty.  We'd been to the farm twice in the last week and a half and the color was no longer red.  More of a 'dirt' color.  The kids really enjoyed the activity.

They started off in the car until they found the horn.

Maycee and Cooper were soaked very quickly.

 

This cracks me up....

That evening Stephen made me my requested dinner.  Taco Salad.  Mmmm.  Refreshing summer food.

Stephen pulled out 2 wrapped boxes and said, "This is your birthday present.  You can only have one, so you have to choose."

He let me open them before I chose.

He gave me the option of a sewing desk and storage or a new kitchen sink and faucet.  I chose the kitchen.  Stephen gave me such good options!

I'm so excited!

Surprise!

This weekend we drove to the farm for my cousin, Calvin's wedding.  While at my parents' house Stephen threw me a surprise party!  I had no idea!  Normally I have an inkling when he is up to something, but I didn't have a clue.

Thanks Kory & Charisse & Boston for driving 2 hours only to stay for an evening.  It was really good to see you!

Thanks Bruce & Connie & girls for making the effort to come to my surprise!

Thanks for taking pictures, Karli!

Yesterday

Yesterday we had a crazy, but short, rain storm.  Maycee and Cooper were enjoying it from the window seat in their bedroom.

Maycee said, "Mom, can we go for a walk?"

...

It was pouring.

"Sorry, May, I'm not that cool yet."

She persisted, "Can we go play in the rain, Mom?"

Same answer.

I was walking around the house cleaning and Maycee yelled from the window seat, "Mom!  Come look at the rainbow I painted!"

She was taking full credit for the beautiful, bright rainbow that had coalesced from the rain storm.

Yesterday I also took down the crib and switched it out for the toddler bed.  Cooper loves his new-found freedom.  Both kids were asleep in their own beds, on their own volition at 10pm.

Stephen considered this a success.

Also considering that their bedtime was 8pm, I'm not so sure that was successful.

Stephen's Big 30

I love Stephen's birthday.

I think we can officially call it a tradition.  This is 3 years in a row.  On Stephen's birthday we go have a picnic at the park.  It is a lot of fun!

I like to drag things out and keep Stephen guessing, so I only brought one of his presents to the picnic.  The t-shirt.  Don't worry, you'll see it shortly.  It's the coolest thing ever.  I got one for Stephen and for Cooper.  They match.

 

When Stephen got home from work I gave him his second gift, Scrabble.  He changed into his t-shirt and we headed to his dinner restaurant of choice.

 

Awesome food.

When we came home from dinner, Stephen's final gift was sitting wrapped on the floor.

Huge box.

It was a hiking backpack.

Since this is the big 3-0, I have planned something huge for Stephen.

However.

Stephen won't find out for another 3 weeks.

He's a little miffed about that.

Father's Day

We left Spanish Fork late Saturday night and headed to the farm.

I woke up early Sunday morning with my mom and made breakfast for Stephen and my dad.  Stephen has been wanted french toast with Texas Toast.  My dad hates french toast.  (He calls it bread dunked in mucus.)  Because of this conundrum, we made a TON of food.  We had french toast, hash browns, bacon, fried eggs, and fruit.

Mmmmmm.  Good breakfast.

Thank you, Stephen, for being the most amazing husband in the world.  I feel so blessed to have been given to you.  I love you!

Thank you, Dad, for being such an awesome example and for raising me the way you did.  Happy Father's Day!  I hope you enjoy your cowboy cookies!

I had my Dad find a good leatherman, so I could give it to Stephen for Father's Day.  Dad couldn't find a good case for him, so he gave Stephen one of his extras.  I had Maycee take it out to Stephen and she said, "Daddy!  It's your birthday cake!  I bought it for you!"

She's so cute.

My mom also got Stephen two packages of Oreos.

...

He's spoiled.

Thanks Mom for all your help!

The Other Posts

This past weekend we went to visit Brandon and Mitzi and their girls in Spanish Fork.  We haven't seen them in about a year!  We had a blast together.  We really need to see each other more often than once a year...

Kenna and Marc and their little one also joined the fun.

The instant we walked into the door, toys were scattered everywhere.  Sorry Mitzi!  You were sure a good sport about it!

Cooper is getting to be quite the little ham.  He loves to have his picture taken.  As soon as I took the picture of the girls, Cooper jumped in front of them and said, "CHEEEE!"  That's how he says Cheese.

Avery loved to sit in the box of toys.  That was her favorite spot.

Brandon and Mitzi have been raving about this sushi place in Provo.  For all you can eat sushi rolls it was only $12!  Lunch menu, but still, that is super cheap!  The catch is, that if you don't finish the sushi rolls that you order, you have to pay full price for them.  By the end of the meal, everyone was rolling.  I didn't want the risk of the raw fish, so I stuck with Chinese food.  Next time, I am all over the sushi.

Apparently the "3" came when the eyes were closed.

This was a super "accident" picture, but I think it captured Stephen's true feelings as he was stuffing some of his final rolls into his gullet.

We all went over and enjoyed the local splash pad.  It wasn't really that warm, but the kids didn't seem to mind.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Avery was all over the place at this splash pad.  The water didn't even make her flinch.  She was soaked by the end of our adventure.

 
Check out my cuties.

I think Maycee is in the 'I'm not looking at the camera phase'.  It's getting really hard to get her to smile again.

After the splash pad we meandered over to the park.

Maycee climbed up this rock all by herself.  She is getting to be quite a little dare devil.

 

On Saturday, Maycee and I helped Mitzi, Sam, and Beth plant their flowers.  By help, I mean I sat and talked the entire time and Maycee ran up and down the mountain side.

Sam forgot to water her flowers the day before and this was the result.

Alex really wanted to come and join us.

After some water, Sam's flowers perked up!

Bethy and Maycee were playing dress up.  While waiting to take pictures, Cooper walked up to me and stood there saying "CHEEE".  We took a lot of pictures of the Coop.

He's so cute.

 

 And finally the dress up picture.

Maycee was in hog heaven with Sam and Beth.  Her and Beth were almost inseparable.  It was really sweet.

Cooper is one month older than Alex.  Alex is a good three inches taller than him and about 5 lbs heavier.  Hilarious.  They "played" together quite well.  By 'together,' I mean they sat next to each other and played with their own toys.

We really had a blast this weekend.  Thank you Brandon and Mitzi for letting us invade your home!