Ah- the sanctuary of sUmMeR!!!!

A few days ago, my friend Karen and I took our girls to Cedar's new Aquatic Center. The girls had so much fun and I hope to be able to go A LOT this summer!

Lainey wasn't quite sure what to think of the whole situation at first- however, after some coaxing, she warmed right up and had a blast!

(Lainey- Hayden- and some random little girl- he he)

Have I mentioned how much I am LOVING that summer is here! 

A little summer sun ray! I think the swimsuit is going to be a required uniform for the next three months! Maybe I should invest in another one because it seems that we will have a lot of pictures with this pink-black-white beauty! 

'Hey Dad- let me make a cute wet bum print on your lap! You know you'd like it'

Let us all drink up the fun of summer!! I really wish it would never end!

p.s. How do you like the new photo uploading! I love how big it makes them!

We enjoy the simple things 'round here!

We, including family and friends, have spent a lot of money on our little Hayden. I have gotten her the FUNNEST toys and other activities. However, she finds the most enjoyment out of the most RANDOM things including......

...being outside until the bitter end....

(i know its summer and we are still sporting the penguin winter jammies- it works for us!)

...amidst the bath toys- three washcloths and a cup are her favorite playthings..

...a hose that provides little drips of cool water...

...a pitcher used to water the tomatoes in the topsy turvy...

...sunburnt feet from a day outside with friends- and an old pedicure that I got with a friend....

(this is what i enjoy)

...a beautiful face....

If you look really closely at this next picture, you'll see that Millie is sitting on Charlie's ball. It is driving Charlie CRAZY and Millie is loving the attention from her!

She enjoys putting on my old headbands- she gets so excited when she can make it stay on her head.

...carrying around this roll of tape like a purse...

...and one of her most favorite things- her bottle just after she wakes up from her nap! She pretty much rips it out of my hands!

And what do mom and dad enjoy- a night away from our princess to celebrate 4 marvelous years together! We did sealings at the temple, went and got new phones (which was long overdue) and topped it off with dinner at Texas Roadhouse! Thanks mom for watching our munchkin for us!!

Yes.. around here we find enjoyment in the little things.....but life wouldn't be happy if we didn't enjoy the everyday basics. I am glad that my child will look for fun in unconventional ways! I hope to follow her innocent example!

14 months! (well almost)

I know it is still over a week away until she is officially 14 months old. However, I didn't do a 13 month post so I'll just hit this a little early!

At 14 months......

It has been so fun watching her master (almost) walking over the last two months!

She still isn't completely confident using her feet instead of her knees as her main mode of movement; but she gets better and better and more confident each and every day as she ventures more and more! Yesterday she tried walking down our front lawn (which has a pretty steep slope) and she turfed it on her nose and did kind of a slow motion tumble down the little hill! She was mildly stunned-

The two words that she uses appropriately are 'uh oh' and 'ball.' She will say mama and dada but it's definitely not in the appropriate context!

She is becoming quite the hugger! She was NOT a cuddly baby at all and she still doesn't cuddle much but she will give a great hug a few times a day! Her kisses are few and far between and they are on her terms, not ours!

This passed week we have been experiencing her first actual temper tantrums! She has always let us know when she doesn't feel good or is tired but these tantrums are definitely different and HILARIOUS!!! She flings herself around, won't let you hug her, and you can hear her screaming from the street! I'm sure our neighbors love it! We have always known that we have a very expressive one! I am wondering what raising this one has in store for us! Oh- but I wouldn't change having her for the whole entire world!

I love her beaming eyes and huge smile! She is so funny and laughs at herself, I love it! She loves to read (or try to read) her books! She points at the words and jabbers. Balls are her favorite toys. A dog can change her mood in an instant. She can be so cranky and the sight of a dog lights her up!

She is very determined- ie. she is certain she can get up on the big chairs that we have out on our patio and she tries and tries until she finally makes it. The picture below is her triumphant accomplishment- getting up on the chair.

cute feet....

I think it's absolutely adorable that amidst her playing outside she always takes a few seconds to come and sit on my lap!

Model shot....

Loving me a toothy gap...

Waiting, ever-so impatiently, for dinner. This kid is a BOTTOMLESS pit! She would constantly eat if I let her!

She loves to swing her little legs when I sit her in her chair! I love this chair because she is right up with us for dinner- being an active participant!

And Charlie is in the background scavenging for any small morsel that Hayden might drop down to her.

mmmm mmmmm mm!! Love corn on the cob!

We love our little squirt sooo much! She brings so much joy into our lives!

Silver Lining

This week I was so lucky to witness my cousin getting married!! At the luncheon, it was so sweet to hear her siblings talk so lovingly of her. One thing that rang true from all of them is how happy Dannielle always is! She finds the silver lining in all situations. It was such a good reminder for me to look for the best. Sometimes it is so hard to remember that REALLY we have it GOOD!!

For example- on our way home from Salt Lake- it was just me and Hayden for the last two hours and this poor kid had absolutely had it with traveling (Delta, Marbleton Wy, back to Delta, then Cedar, then back to Delta then Salt Lake then home- all in one week!) She really had done pretty good- but by the time we hit Parawan on our way home Wednesday night- she was DONE! Anybody who knows us knows that we have a very expressive little one! When she is happy- she is SSOOO happy; but when she is mad- WATCH OUT!!! My little Millie has the most piercing, shrill, scream I have ever heard. Well this was a time when she really let me know that she was NOT happy! I tried handing her teddy grahams- failed. I handed her books- failed- I handed her old fries from earlier- failed. Now, there are only so many things you can do for a kid while driving. Singing didn't work- pleading with her to just hang in there for a few more minutes didn't work. So- I cranked my right arm around to put my palm against her cheek. BINGO!!! The only problem with this scenario is that every time I would try to give my arm a break- she resumed her unhappy scream!! So- are ya ready for the silver lining?? How freaking awesome is it that this little human being loved me touching her cheek so much that nothing else would settle her! Over the next twenty minutes of the drive my arm went numb and I was sure that I was going to need my shoulder replaced but I could not have been happy. My baby loves me THAT much! I would have kept my arm there for DAYS if it would make her happy! In that moment I thought back about all the times that I have gotten so frustrated with her because it seems that everyone else's babies are content and happy when mine gets cranky so much. I had to tell myself- Megan, really, you do not have it THAT bad!! She is healthy, she is spunky and so full of life! How could I trade that for ANYTHING else in the whole entire world??!! I am so completely in love with my life- I love it when we have an extra $10- this spare tire around my waist drives me nuts- my front driver side fender is crunched in as a result of the last snow storm and an un-expecting reflector pole- we are so ready to be done with school- and life in general keeps us on our toes- however, we are so completely blessed to be where we are right now! We have a roof over our heads- a wonderful gospel to rely on- a bEaUtIfUl little girl and a love between husband and wife that can't be matched (at least in my eyes)- seriously- what can be better than that!???? The silver lining is beautiful- we just need to keeping looking for it!

Salt Lake Temple grounds

Playing with Grandma and Grandpa

This is for Cic- here are the curtains I made last weekend- picture via ipod so its not great quality!