You'll Always Be My Baby

Lyndsee is starting to talk a ton these days. Most of it I'm still trying to understand but here are some of the things she loves to say as of late. Thank you, night-night, Mama (finally!) Daddy, NO!, ya (yes), dink (drink), "I know..." which are the first words in a song she trys to sing ("I know you. I walked with you once upon a dream"). My sweetie baby thinks she should be a big girl like the rest of her siblings insisting lately to sit at the kitchen table. She runs around with them like she's part of their pack. What's next? Will we be saying good-bye to the crib soon too? Is it OK to hold her back a little? I'm not ready for her to be anything but my baby.

Fourth of July

Every year I see a flag cake featured in various magazines and think how I would like to make one. This year for the first time, I actually did it!

On the morning of the fourth, we joined with our ward for a pancake breakfast.

 Reagan and Taylor playing out on the field with the other kids after breakfast.

 Lyndsee in all her cuteness.

Big sister--little sister

That evening we enjoyed fireworks with friends in Boulder City for the 2nd year in a row. Lyndsee loved pointing up at the fireworks and making all kinds of what seemed like positive remarks.

Staying Cool on the Lake

Thanks to our friends and neighbors down the street, we were able to see Hoover Dam from the lake for the first time.

Mommy and Reagan welcomed a chance for a cool dip in the lake.

We were so surprised to see how brave Taylor was to get out on the blow up airplane that was being pulled by the boat.

It was really quite nice that Lyndsee still managed to nap despite the fact she wasn't at home in her crib.

I always love a sleeping baby! Her nap however wasn't more than a half an hour.

Before long, Reagan and Will were out on the raft as well.

Summer time is here again!

We usually go to Utah every 3-4 months but when we went for our visit a couple of weeks ago, it had been since Christmas time that we were last there. My kids were excited to get a chance to go and play with their cousins and I was anxious to meet 2 new nieces and a nephew. We broke up our trip to Salt Lake by staying a couple of days in St. George so that we could see "Little Mermaid" at Tuacahn Theater. My sister and 3 of her girls as well as my parents who had been down for the weekend to see Taylor baptized, made the stop in St. George with us. I really enjoyed this time with my sister and her girls as we haven't traveled much with her family in the last little while. She has a couple of sweet teenager girls who love to play with my kids making the trip even more fun (and easier for me!).

Nana playing with the kids in the pool at St. George.

Taylor and Anna (just one of my many beautiful nieces)

Hanging out in the condo in St. George

Papa, Eric and Lyndsee were back at the condo taking naps so all the girls (plus Will) went down for another swim in the afternoon.

Excited to see "Little Mermaid" - Reagan and Taylor

Love my parents! Love this outdoor theater!

Newest member of the family - Sweet Man Grant

Only four weeks old herself - Adorable Adi

and then we met Cutey Patutey Jocelyn

Lyndsee and Bailey catching up over hot dogs and chips.

It was a lot of fun to watch Megan discover what 

a riot it is to walk.

Lyndsee has lots of little cousins her age! Here she is hanging out with Spencer and Megan.

More pictures from Taylor's big week

Taylor had a fun birthday party where we made summer journals. The girls had fun designing the front of their journals with paper dolls doing a favorite summer time activity.

Daddy and Taylor before her baptism

Taylor with Nana and Papa after her baptism

 

There were a couple of occasions when Taylor matched her cousins by chance

. This is Olivia and Taylor.

This is Anna and Taylor at Ta Ta's where we ate the evening of Taylor's baptism.

I can never resist a picture of my children devouring their sushi.

Our First is Baptized

 On June 11, 2011, Taylor was baptized by her daddy at our stake center and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I prayed it would be a special day and it was. Taylor was able to sing during the program proceeding her baptism. I thought she would be nervous but she sang with confidence and wowed us all. After her baptism in the dressing room, she told me "I really do feel very clean". I thought it was so sweet and I felt the same Spirit I know she was feeling at those moments following her baptism. You couldn't have wiped the smile off her face. Uncle Ethan and Papa stood as witnesses to her baptism. Later when she was confirmed, Bishop Trout, Bro. Mike Anderson, Uncle Ethan, Papa, and of course her dad stood in the circle of priesthood brethren. I was so thankful to have family and many friends there to support Taylor in her decision to be baptized. It really was a wonderful day!

May Madness

Ready, set, go!

Lyndsee started nursery and did well to stay without tears.

                                                                               Will ended a great year with Let's Play Music in a recital.

Will graduated from Kindergarten! Here he is with one of his best friends Matthew.

Valley of Fire camping trip

Reagan cooking dinner for the family.

Will trying out his binoculars.                                                          Hiker Reagan

We enjoyed sharing the group camp site with lots of friends.

Some of Reagan's friends, Maliya and Jasper.

Reagan and Taylor had their end of the season dance review.

Memorial Day Weekend we decided to go out and play again. This time we took in a hike up at Mt. Charleston called Cathedral Rock. It involved more elevation gain than we are used to doing with our kids but we took it slow and the views made it well worth the climb. We hiked with 2 other families.

The snow added to the fun!

Hiking across a snow field.

We made it!

The kids ate lunch in the back of our friends truck when we got back down the mountain.It made for a great play pen.










The snow was melting so fast and we were lucky to see this waterfall on our hike.