I remember as a kids summer being so long and wonderous. Okay, i think the wonderous part came after i said i was bored a million times and my mom threw us out of the house to do "something" .... well the something is what was wonderous... the things that happened when i used my imagination to fill the time... i love that about the summer.

Well, life is a little different now for Abby then for me growing up. She's the oldest... i was one of the little kids in my family... and she has a pool at the apartment and i had a big backyard full of things to climb on. So i wasn't a good swimmer until later on in life, but Abby's a little fish. We've been taking advantage of the hot weather (since the pool isn't heated) and go swimming once a day. we love this part of our summer days.





Abby's imagination earned her some points the other night(and has kept her out of time out) She came up with a seat belt for the dining room chair. She was always getting in trouble for not staying in her seat during her meals. This cracked me up when she used it the first time... so it would keep her in her seat... she said. i guess she got tired of me yelling at her, too. = )



Lanie doesn't sit still for very long... she was caught red handed... okay.. it was oatmeal she was tearing into... she goes into this cabinet and opens everything she can get her hands on .... she does this a few times a day...you would think we would baby proof that cabinet by now

fun times in the summer

We had some fun with our friends, the Smith family, from Oklahoma. We really love them and miss them a lot. Too bad Oklahoma isn't right next to CA. We had fun with them while they were here. (too bad it wasn't more time - sorry Angie for the mix up = ) Before they left they hooked us up with tickets to the big D. Abby's been dying to get a pass to Disneyland, but we said we'd have to work it into our budget. This made it affordable and Abby actually used some of her recycling money towards the ticket. Thanks Trent & Angie!!! We went a few times last week for a few hrs each time before we were blackedout for a month or so. Abby was in heaven. She thinks all the princesses are her best friends.

Playing around
Robert and Abby are always like this.... check out Abby's princess pjs she's sporting... it's her new obsession. She wears them all day...with everyting. = )

sing.. sing a song

Last night was one of those great moments ...I was putting the girls to bed and Robert got home early from work, so he took Lanie for me. Robert works evenings so i don't usually get to spend alone time with Abby getting her down for the night. Usually it's sing a couple songs fast before Lanie starts screaming. i sing two songs... one real one, and another real song but with the second verse made up with Abby in it. Abby loves this, and actually i love it, too. i really love when, as i'm walking away to turn off the lights, she starts making up a verse about me.

Well, Abby was ULTRA tired since we were out too late. i knew she'd have a hard time settling down to sleep. Since Robert had Lanie, i decided to sing her to sleep. I sat next to her bed, rubbing her back, and just kept singing and singing and singing. i stopped when i thought she was asleep enough, but then i heard a little whispered voice say.. "sing one more, mom. Please." How could i resist.... so i sang three more.

I'm #1

Alana turned 1 on Sunday.... she was asleep on the couch with me and woke up with joy as she noticed the decorations we'd put up all over the kitchen for her... it was really fun to see the look on her face .... she had roseola last week and had a high fever for a few days....then got red bumps all over her little body... not so much fun for her... most of the week she didn't sleep more than a few hrs at a time.. and then she wanted to be held while she slept, too... so we were on the couch most of the week. i wasn't sure how she was going to feel on her bday but she seemed to be finally over it to enjoy her day
Lanie ran into the corner of the wall and got her first shiner

All the kids love uncle Tim.... he looks like a mountain man, and loves it, and loves the kids.... Alana was loving him at her party.... it was a tiny little dinner for her at my sister, mary's house. Thanks mary!


Abby and Sarah were having a BARBIE party at mary's
....can you see the floor covered with barbies....


Alana loved her presents....mainly she loved the bags... but this little lawn mower she was into... can you see her pushing her cousin, Sarah away with her hand on her head.... don't even think about it! This toy's mine.


May, our neighbor made this incredible... totally from scratch... and fresh berrie pie for Alana... and us = ) and brought over some beautiful lavender flowers. We really love May and Andy


Alana is soooo blessed to have so many people around her that love her... this is Robert's sister, Alicia...she's Lanie's NINA...or godmother...she and Abuela (Robert's mom, Daisy and Melissa - cousins) came over tonight to celebrate her bday with her.



Happy birthday sweet girl!

some fun

I love ya, Aly... i love how much you love Abby... i love that my girls get to hang out with their cousins... that's what i really love the most. Aly made it through her freshman year at BYU and is home for the summer. Abby couldn't wait for you to come home.

i love black/white photos.... Abby, Lanie & i had a tea time in our play tent... a girls gotta have tea time ... i know the pic is off but i love it


Lanie's been walking.... okay no, she doesn't really walk.. she runs everywhere mostly... and she loves to carry purses and gift bags around... am i in trouble with this girl? I thinks she's got a thing for purses already...


i love Robert... he cracks me up.. this looks like such a loving pic... Robert and his girls... ahhh... well the real reason they're walking around is cause he's walking Lanie to sleep... funny... she was fussy and wouldn't sleep so he made her walk and walk and walk so she would be so tired all she wanted to do was sleep.....smart guy actually. They had fun greeting all the neighbors as they went round an round... and yes, Abby is in her dress up clothes... that day she was Joan of Arc



We have a tent in our apartment.... Abby was in heaven... she thought her play tent was cool... but this....wow..
Robert was convinced it would fit in our living room... he was almost right if we took out all the furniture. It was pretty fun having it stretched across the length of our living room. We are getting ready for a camping trip later in the summer... i like it... i think we'll keep it. i was even more impressed when he was able to put it back in the box...