My "first" 29th

My "first" 29th Birthday was Friday. :)

Michael made me wear this birthday pin ALL DAY.  I had to send him mid-day proof, which apparently is the only picture taken that day :(

 My only birthday request was to not cook dinner (and therefore not clean up after dinner).  Michael obliged (and much more).  We tried to go to one of my favorite Greek restaurants but unfortunately they had an emergency close and we had to come up with plan B.

Afterwards we headed home (which I was a little surprised, and possibly slightly annoyed at since early in the week he mentioned he had made 'plans' Friday night).  When we got home our friends the Zuehl's were waiting for us with key lime cake and ice cream (the cake was especially scrumptious) and they decorated the house all birthday-like.  It was a fun surprise!  Amung other items Michael gave me a bunch of Dora toys, which Rylee immediately claimed for herself. ;)

Then on Saturday we packed a picnic dinner and headed to Guadalupe River State Park for the afternoon.  The kids loved running (in Kelsey's case rolling)-a-muk. 

Kelsey practiced proper crawling stance,

 and some yoga.

 then we swam.

 The water is pretty low this year making it nice and shallow for the kids to play and the water was rather warm (a little too warm for Michael's but the girls were in heaven).

I'd say it was a birthday weekend success!

Sittin' up

About a month ago Kelsey started showing off her new found ability to sit up on her own.

 She had to take a few breaks here and there.

 "uh, Mom, I think I may need some help here"

 uh, Mom?

 "MOM?!"

 I swear every day she got more and more strong and what do you know a few weeks later she's basically a pro.

Some of the benefits of being able to sit up is stroller graduation/innitiation.

(we were in Houston and it was nice to not have to pack the 'big stroller' - which btw Kelsey riding in the stroller has been the hardest thing for Rylee to deal with as of yet)

 And grocery shopping just got A LOT easier :)

The annoying milestone

Its true.  I dislike starting solids.

Its messy, gross, and time consuming.  And it means my sweet little baby girl is growing up.

I put it off really as long as I could (I wasn't going to pack all that crap to UT if I could help it) but she's been ready for a while now and been waking up before the sun again hungry so it was time to add to her diet.  call me selfish.

 here she is super excited that that one of those "spoon-things" was coming her way.

 yea, not quite what she was expecting.

 and "get that crap away from me"

 Oh, we're done? awesome.

For a good 7-10 days she would open her mouth for a spoonful and not close it, giving me these funny looks.  So her cereal just sat on her tounge until most of it fell out of her mouth.  Once she finally swallowed she refused to open her mouth again. silly girl. I've since found she'll eat a lot better if she gets her cereal and veggies before milk.

Utah {the rest}

I've had two children since our last family picture was taken, so I was happy we took time one evening to update.  (though I haven't seen said pictures yet)  We took a little drive to a nearby ski resort after the 'big' photo-session we decided to drive around the bend to the 'top' and check out the view. It was WELL worth the extra 100 yards :) I love the mountains!!

 Rylee REALLY doesn't like being forced to hold her sister, even after she received a sucker for her (previous) good behavior (you know, for a 2yo).

 see? not holding her sister = happiER face.

 Our room had a pull out bed where Rylee slept.  She took full advantage of a queen bed all to herself.

Rylee had a lot of swim time (with her "soup on") and enjoyed it all but when I made her go down the slide and mis-read where she'd land in the water and had to swim after her to save her. oops. Rylee attended several 'girl parties' and has a new appreciation for music/dancing.  She also now calls any group of people "cousins".  Michael golfed a total of 54 holes and we never get enough game playing in.

The girls really did great (after the first night that is) - of course we all had our moments, but I was surprised by how OK Rylee was with all the 'strange faces' and Kelsey hasn't reached her 'freak-out-when-anyone-but-Mom-looks-at-me' stage and was pretty much ok with anybody holding her too.

We did spend some time with whom of Michael's family is still in Utah (grandparents, aunts, uncles and a couple brothers) But I failed to take any pictures :(

Saying good bye is always hard for me. I feel somewhat like a broken record. We love living in Texas, but I do wish it was a little bit closer to family. You do what you gotta do.

4th

We started off our 4th of July celebration EARLY.  Most of the family signed up for a race - we had the option of 1mile, 5k, or 10k.  I've ran 2 5k's in my life.  Shorly after each (we're talking within a week) I found out I was pregnant with each of my girls.  I wasn't taking ANY chances and I signed up for the 1 mile :)  Michael has no fear of becoming pregnant and so he ran the 5k

 Yea, that's a 3rd place medal around my neck. That pretty much means there were only 3 in my age bracket running but hey I wore it with pride :) (My Mom also got 3rd place)

 After the race we attended a city-wide breakfast, carnival booths and waited for the parade to start.  We went to nearby Hunstville where a parade entry made the state/local news for a contorvercial entry.  I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but whatever.

I couldn't resist dressing up the girls in their most patriotic outfits:

 That night we hung out and danced to music waiting for fireworks to start.  Kelsey enjoyed her glowstick (and promptly tried to eat it)

 Rylee showed off her best dance moves:

I literally had to lay down to see the fireworks, as they were right above us!  As long as Michael had a firm grip covering Rylee's ears she didn't cry and Kelsey slept snuggled on my chest until the finale.

Oh what a great country we live in!!

Wolf Creek - Pineview Res.

The majority of our time in UT was spent in Wolf Creek up Ogden Canyon.  We tried out the Condo route this time and it worked out well.  We were close to Pineview Reservoir and so my bil brought up a boat for us to play.

The second Rylee saw it she said "Ride it?? Ride it??!!" She may or may not have monopolized a seat on the boat.  She even took naps while on the boat - I'm sure she knew if she didn't then she'd have to to get off :)

 We knee -boarded (a first for me, it was easier than I thought it would be - Michael and I even went out together, though this is NOT us :) ),

 wake-boarded (this IS me)

 and tubbed.

 oh how I love a good tube ride :) nothing like fearing for your life as you go outside the wake or ending up with a fat lip from being smashed. 

I was a bit disappointed I lost my toe ring that I've worn for 12ish years in the lake. :( sad day.

Rylee even came out into the water for a little swim.

 Kelsey seemed to be napping whenever the boat passengers swapped so she chilled on the beach slobbering on anything and everything within reach- mmm plastic crayon....

 It was a sandy good time.

I will say living in Texas has made a sissy out of me.  I've become accustomed to a certain temperature of swimming water.  I did get it, it just took most of the day :)

the pre-party party

Thanks to pinterest and a good friend we had several options for entertainment during the trip.  One of the favorites was using an old cookie sheet as a drawing board - that way, when the markers or crayons were dropped, only half fell to the floor where the other half stayed on the tray trapped by the lip.  Also this sheet was magnetized adding additional fun :)

 My family had this "reunion" planned for several years. We knew it would be a long trip and planned to head up a couple days early.  We wanted to be sure to have some time to see Michael's family, swim at the lindon pool and my sister had planned a doll party.

Unfamiliar with the term?

Well, let me explain.  Its a themed party for girls and their dolls.  Everything was scaled down to the 'proper' child/doll size.  Ours was a 4th of July theme equipped with float making, a carnival, story time, a picnic lunch, and the main event: a PARADE!  My little ladies are still a bit too young so they ran amuck and had bonding time with their aunts while I made their float.

Even little Kelsey got her face painted

 story time:

 waiting for the parade to start.

 Rylee brought her baby, and Kelsey was represented by her chicken.

 I helped my sister make party favors - play food! A sack lunch for the girl AND her doll.  They turned out pretty cute if I can say so myself. The lunch includes a sandwich (meat cheese and lettuce), chips, drink, strawberry and a cookie. yummy!