Facial Hair

 Ever since seminary ended, Joel has been growing his facial hair. Yuck!!! He appreciates skipping the shaving routine in the morning. But I hate facial hair. So, despite the fact that the baby was the only one he got a proper kiss from all summer (to this point), he didn't shave till today. And he let the little girls start off the process for him.

Anarya's 2nd Birthday

Aunt Britnee had a doughnut "cake" for her birthday so we did one for Anayra too.

 After her first two attempts at blowing out the candles, Joel helped her out. 

You can see how grateful she was.

 I didn't wrap the stroller we gave her so we set up the presents in the living room and brought her in there to open them. She LOVES her stroller!

 I'm not sure why, but when Anarya grabbed the first present that was wrapped in paper, she tried using her teeth to get it off. ?! (The stuffed Chameleon came with an Eric Carle book)

Movie Time

FHE at Hill's

The Hills let us use their pool anytime we want during the summer. We didn't use it much this year, but if Dan came home while we were there, he would throw the little girls in. This year, the first time he did this, Anarya watched intently. She eventually got out of the pool and walked over to him holding out her arms. He threw her in a few times while I stayed in the pool to be near.

The very next time that we went, Anarya decided she could jump off the edge of the pool all by herself. And anytime Dan shows up, she walks over to have herself thrown in.

 They invited us to come a couple of times for FHE. This particular day, Mardi was the oldest one that actually got in. You can see how thrilled she was to be in charge of the baby the whole time.

Shinara's 9th Birthday

 

The Wilson's are never in Shinara's birthday pictures because they go to Oregon for the month of July. We miss Braeden's birthday each year for the same reason. 

Shinara has been putting blankets up around the opening to her bed (which is under Keddi's loft bed.) So we bought her a shelter that we thought would work on her bed and she wouldn't have to keep getting blankets out. It didn't work out, but she was sure excited when she opened it.

Rain

 We LOVE the rain. How could you not when you live in the desert? For us, it's not enough to have the rain, listen to it or watch it, we like to interact with it. This is Anarya's first play in the rain. 

She loves it too.

4th of July 2012

 We usually spend the 4th with the Wilsons. But while we were at reunion, the stomach flu hit on the last day we were there. Joel was sick and then the next day Mardi got sick. Luckily no one was vomiting during our long drives. We didn't want to expose the Wilsons and their other guests so we decided to stay home. Then we got a call to join the Robinettes, Brewers and Schotts at the Hills. So we did that. 

 We sure enjoyed our completely cloudy day. It sprinkled too but since there was no lightning, we just stayed.  We decided against going to Boulder for fireworks that night. The little girls and I enjoyed the displays we could see at the end of our street and the Brewers took Mardi to Boulder with them.

 Anarya loves Jackson Schott. He is the only male whose name she knows. "Jacksie". He comes over to see her any time our two families are in the same place. 

Our grilling crew. Nice Doug! 

(He's the bouncer for the group.)