Sunny Days

Sean and Jeff with babies Daisy and Tes.

We have had some gorgeous days this past week. The fog has been burning off and the sun shining through. When this happens we have to take advantage of it and head to the beach.

On your mark, get set, jump into the hole!

Lily and her pal Cal.Chasing her buddies Cal and Owen with a bucket of water. They were pretty scared. Daisy loves the feel of sand on her toes. Here she is just soakin' in the shade (smothered in sunscreen of course).

On another day Sean didn't have to go to work until noon so we spent the morning at Lover's Point.

A purple ochre star washed up. We threw him back in, maybe he has a chance. Building castles with Daddy. If you look close you can see the army man standing guard in front of the yellow bucket.

As fun as castles and sea stars are, Sean and I wished we would have gotten a babysitter so we could go diving. Look how calm the water was!!

Mom by Day, Tahitian Dancer by Night

OK, maybe it was just one night. I only wish I was THAT mysterious! I have been taking hula lessons the past two months or so. We performed August 12 for...get this...all of the Relief Society! (the ladies organization of my church) Ya, I know...autographs later please. :) It was really hard for me to stop laughing, as you can see. Our first number was the traditional hula to "Tiny Bubbles."

I love the fog rolling in on the left.

Our second number was the Tahini, a little faster dance.

Lastly, a Tahitian number called Bora Bora (the cute pregnant girls in our class opted out of this one due to the onset of contractions.) Ya, be impressed, it was that fast.

We pulled it off, not exactly sure how. It ended up being tons of fun. Now if only we had the palm tree's, sea turtle's, and matsumoda's shaved ice instead of the 58 degree weather and fog.

The Hula Girls. Sarah G., Naoko, Sarah T., Rowena, Me, and Danica. (Not pictured, our incredible teacher Sami Kesi)

Fulfilling Her Role

"Where's my jelly bean?"

The day Daisy was born we had to bribe Lily with jelly beans to take pictures with her new sister. I was concerned about the transition, as I'm sure most mom's are, from one to two kids. Would she be jealous of the new addition? She really had no interest in Daisy at first and then slowly realized this new presence was not going anywhere. So, after a million reminders to be gentle, Lily has formed an unconditional love that only a big sister can. I love the way she looks at Daisy and giggles at her, wants to make Daisy laugh, says so matter of fact "Daisy's a spitting up, slobbering, pooping machine, huh mom?!", takes dirty diapers to the trash, reads her books, and wants to always hold her and all WITHOUT getting a jelly bean. She has come so far! :)

Adoring looks from Lily.

Goats Say Moo?

My friend Sarah called me last week and said "You have got to get over here, there are like 100 goats in my back yard!" So of course I loaded the kids up and went to go check out the commotion. Before Sarah saw the goats her son Cal insisted that there were cows in their yard. She laughed thinking he saw some deer which is common around here. He insisted "NO mom I heard it Moo." Curious, Sarah went out and glanced around, just then she heard a Nnnnnn and lo and behold a herd of goats just beyond their fence.

It turns out that people "hire" these goats to eat the debris and grass around their homes as a fire precaution. Fun for us!

Lily w/ her friends Meg, and Cal

Just Like You Mom

Lily got out of the tub a few nights ago and wanted her hair up in a towel "just like you mom". She wanted to paint her toe nails next and then put powder on her nose, "just like you mom". Now, I have never been a "girly, girl" by any means. In fact there was quite a bit of hesitation just letting Lily get into all the princess and dress up stuff. However, I can honestly say that having daughters' is so much fun! I get to teach and share the joys of being a girl! Lily Ann is one of the spunkiest, observant, sarcastic 3 year old's I know. I have a feeling we are in for a lot of drama in the future but I am trying to soak in the moments when she wants to be "just like you mom" because I know they won't last long.

OK, here's the skinney, my friend Stephanie threw a surprise 70's party for her husband last weekend that was SO groovin' baby! I found this fab dress for $1.00...that's right folks, these funkadelic, flower power threads were a buck! It was one far out thrift store! Can ya dig it?! Thanks Adrienne for most of these pics! Enjoy some psychadelic-move-over-John Travolta- photos.

Home at Last!

I just got back from the longest, shortest trip ever! (If that even makes sense.) We, after deciding not to go, felt impressed last minute that we needed to be at the Robison Family Reunion. (Sean's moms side) This year it was held at a pheasant farm in Gunnison, Utah. So, we drove approximately a 28 hour round trip (give a few for all of Lily's potty breaks and Daisy's feedings) and only stayed at our destination for 2 nights! The actual reunion was a blast. I love going to these because a)I hear stories about Sean's grandparents whom I never got to meet, b)there is always a fun theme, great food, and a new location, and c)they are all just down to earth, wonderful, funny people that we enjoy catching up with. I am grateful we did it and I am also grateful to be home, especially after a flat tire in HOT Vegas and Lily tangling herself in her seat belt so badly we had to cut it with scissors to get her out. (That is another story. I wonder how much a severed seat belt is to replace?) Daisy did pretty awesome in the car and usually only cried when hungry. I really can't complain about her, but now that I think about it, Lily had one too many starburst's and fruit roll-ups. Maybe that is why she was so hyper. Needless to say we will not be making another long family road trip anytime soon. Here are a few highlights.

Aunt Gloria and Aunt Cindy with Daisy. These are the amazing ladies(plus Aunt Jill) that put all of this together.

Sean with cousins Rhett, Dallas, and Cade. That is the cabin we stayed in behind them. Paintball anyone?

My bro-in-law Kelly let me play with his Ruger Mark III pistol. This was after the skeet shooting tournament. So fun.

The kids had a dress up party and then a fashion show. Lily picked out her own outfit.

The babies that were born this year. Millie, Andrew, Clay, and Daisy.

Millie, Clay and Daisy. I love that they are all looking at the camera.

Things I have learned from this trip:
1.)Take more healthy and filling snacks.
2.)Novels on CD are amazing ways to pass the time when the kids are distracted and can't interrupt.
3.)Don't allow free reign of a sharpened pencil to a 3 year old for too long.
4.)Always, always keep wet wipes accessible.
5.)I am a bit rusty with my skeet shooting.
6.)I am a better pool player than I thought.
7.)My bro-in-law Kelly has developed some sweet shootin' skills.
8.)Wal-Mart Tire and Lube is open on Sundays.
9.)Holiday Inn Express has a killer complimentary breakfast.
10.)St. George, Utah has a Cafe Rio. (We stopped both ways...YUM!)
11.)My 8 year old niece Taryn can kick A on Guitar Hero.
12.)Paint balls can draw blood. (luckily not on me.)
13.)Don't give a joker away in a game of Rummy.
14.)The only place to find caffeine-free Dr. Pepper is in Utah. (We stocked up)
15.)Hearing stories about ancestors you have never met allows you to develop a connection and appreciation for those that have gone before.