Our Long Gone Summer

We sure are missing summer around here. I have such a hard time letting go of warm nights with sunlight that goes on and on! Cold air and darkness aren't my thing. Since summer flew by without me doing any blogging, I thought I should at least put up some pics to remind me of the good times.

I was sick from this pregnancy the entire summer, but it didn't stop us from having fun! I guess that's one of the ways that fall has has blessed my life with- I feel great and am in the enjoyable part of pregnancy! I do love a crisp fall day, and wish it would last a long time because I dread winter!

We got to go swimming in my aunt's beautiful pool a lot! It is such a perfect pool- warm, not crowded! We loved it!

We went to Lagoon once a week. Ruby was scared the first couple of times, but was a pro by the end! Nothing better than spending a summer evening having a blast with cousins!

We took a fun overnighter to Park City. We swam, shopped, ate, and went to the Alpine Slide.

We hit up the Weber County Fair and ended the summer (before we left for Disneyland) with a night at the State Fair. Our girls are both pretty obsessed with horses so they loved their pony rides!

We've had a tradition of going to the Horse n Hitch Parade for the past few years.

 I always wish summer would hang around a while longer. It goes by way too fast. Before we knew it, it was time for Isabelle's second year of preschool to start! I can't believe how big my girls are getting! Isabelle has a very busy schedule with school three days a week and dance and gymnastics too. Plus, she likes to fit in lots of playdates each week.

 Now, just because, some other of my fave pics of the summer...

Picture overload! It's how I'll remember the beautiful summer with my beautiful family!

Baby #3!

We are so excited that a new little one will be joining our family in February! I'm about 16 weeks along now and finally getting back a little energy. I was basically sick the entire summer so I am ready to feel better. We aren't finding out what the baby is again. We like a good surprise! The girls are excited- well at least Isabelle is. I don't think Ruby has a clue what's coming, although she does associate my stomach with a baby. We feel very blessed and excited!

Hopefully I'll start working on a post about our summer. It's obviously long overdue!

T-Ball

Isabelle played t-ball this year and it was so cute! She had mixed feelings about it- she loved batting but wasn't so thrilled about playing in the field. She would tell us, "it takes FOREVER!" True, there's not much excitement in the field unless you're playing pitcher or first base, since that's where 99% of the hits land. She spent a lot of time visiting with her teammates and running back and forth to our blanket for drinks.


The kids were hilarious to watch- even up to the last game some still forgot to run after they hit the ball, or ran the wrong direction, or took their bat with them to first. Some kids wouldn't even try to get the ball, and one kid on her team would actually tackle his own teammates to get the ball. He'd be in the outfield and run all the way to the pitcher's position and jump on a kid trying to get the ball. It got to where the coach would grab him and hold onto him to stop him. He really bugged Isabelle! Isabelle had a fantastic coach who was so patient and sweet!

Overall, I think Isabelle had fun! She hung in 'til the end and got a trophy that she is very proud of! She sure did look cute playing!

Ruby at 18 Months

My Rubycakes turned a year and a half old on the 7th. My how time flies! Poor baby's been sick all week. It's just been one ear infection after another for her.

Ruby has turned into a little person recently. She's gotten a little feisty attitude! She is still a sweetheart and I have enjoyed the sick days we've spent cuddling. She loves her sissy and wants to do everything she does and is always hugging and kissing her. She loves to be  outside. She takes your hand and says "walk" quite often because she loves to go on walks. She tells us "outside slide," "outside jump," and "outside swing." She loves to push her babies in strollers along the sidewalk. She hates when it's time to come inside.

Ruby loves to read. She'll let me read to her for 45 minutes. She likes to help me clean. She loves to have a wipe in hand and be cleaning something. She loves shoes, but she has the most ticklish feet ever. It is a big deal to trim her toenails because they're so ticklish. We finally got her toenails painted while I distracted her with a book and James painted as fast as he could!

Ruby is a true girl (my girl for sure).  She tries almost every morning to get me to give her Pepsi and chocolate as soon as she wakes up! She likes her sweets but is a very picky eater when it comes to real food. She does love Italian though, just like her dad and sis. 

She is quite a talker. She'll say anything you ask her to. Isabelle has her repeat stuff constantly. She sings "hush a bye, don't you cry" over and over and it is SO cute. She has really developed a liking already for the word no, go figure. She puts lots of emphasis on the "N." It's so fun to hear her say new words each day. It's been so cute this week because she's had almost no voice, so when she talks it's so squeaky.

Ruby brings so much happiness to our home. She is such a fun little lady and we love her so much! I hate to see her getting so big, but I do love watching her learn and grow!

Living Through Our Kids

A couple of months back James and I took the girls to Toys R Us and surprised them by actually buying the Barbie Mustang they love to sit and play in! Here's the thing- both James and I desperately wanted Hot Wheels cars when we were kids. Getting one for our girls is the next best thing to having our own- actually it's way more fun and exciting to watch them in the car!

Ruby only started riding in the car this past week. Usually she just likes to be pushed behind it in a stroller. Can't say I blame her. Her sister is a pretty scary driver (she is getting better though). I'm hoping the girls will have tons of fun in their sweet ride this summer! They sure are fun to watch in it!

This is where Isabelle always stops to get gas.

Interview With a Four Year Old

On Mother's Day Isabelle's Primary teacher asked the kids questions about their moms to go with a picture they made. It was my favorite Mother's Day gift ever! I just love the hilarious things Isabelle says each day. She's so clever and witty. I really loved the answers she gave for this.

My mom is 20 years old. (Thank you Isabelle! This got crossed off when I happened to walk by in
the hall and Isabelle asked me "how old are you again Mom?" I should've stuck with 20.)
My mom's favorite thing to do is snuggle.
My mom's favorite movie is Toy Story.
My mom has green eyes. (Yep.)
My mom weighs 1460 lbs. (Feels like it some days!)
My mom's birthday is on spring.
My mom's favorite food is chicken and rice. (Actually her favorite.)
My mom's favorite treat is peanuts. (Wonder if she was thinking about cashews.)
My mom likes to help me write.
My mom is happy when I don't break stuff.
My Mom is the best at cooking.

A couple of days earlier James and I asked Isabelle some fun questions while we were driving. I'm quoting exactly what her answers were.

These are her favorites.
Colors: purple, pink, and red
Day: warm, when we can go swimming at Margo's
Games to play: horses and at Margo's with friends
Food: rice and chicken and except of course I love hot dogs! Booya!
Vacation: Disneyland
Restaurant: Red Robin
Book: my horse book with the necklace
Thing to do with Daddy: snuggle
Thing to do with Mommy: have a date
Part of preschool: playtime; I get to have recess when I'm big!
When she grows up she wants to be a horse rider.
Her best friends are B-Relle and Ike and Sarah and Mom
She wants to get married "where Mommy and Daddy did and have 5 kids. No actually six and then seven kids!" 

Isabelle is such a funny little girl and such a blessing! She says the darndest things! She finished her first year of preschool last week. I can't believe she's that big already. It's so much fun to watch her learn and grow- she's changed so much since the first of the school year! I wish I could slow the time down and keep her my baby, but as she always tells me, "you have to turn different numbers Mom!"

My Lover Boy

My man and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary on the 22nd! We went out to our favorite restaurant (PF Chang's) and shopping at Trolley Square the day after.

I can't believe how quickly it's gone by! It seems like just yesterday we were just 19 and 21 year old kids in love. Now we're just 27 and 29 year old kids in love! I am SO in love with James. He is the greatest and makes the girls and me so happy. He is very patient with three hormonal girls (and that's only going to get worse as the girls get older of course!) He is such an awesome husband and daddy. His girls just love him to pieces and are always so happy to see him. I love chatting and laughing with him! James loves to spend time with us and always tries to make special time for each one of us. He always tries to make me happy. I love my man! He gets better and better every year! So glad we got hitched!

Isabelle took this picture of us at Temple Square! Love the little head poking up in the corner!