Fashionista

Rebecca has become quite the outfit creator as she discovers her inner diva. I am usually able to help guide her to match, but not always. I am pretty sure her favorite part of our new house is the mirrored door to her bedroom closet--she is constantly staring at herself, watching herself dance, and practicing pretty poses. The really nice thing is that her new found desire for all things pretty is making her let me actually do her hair. Rebecca loves when we go to Grandma's house and pull out the dress-up necklaces, also when we go to Karlie and Eliza's house and they share their pretty dress-up things. She is such a girl! I love it!

Getting Wayyyyy Too Old Wayyyyy Too Fast

Steven is in preschool! Ahhh, he is so old! I am already starting to stress about him starting Kindergarten. :( Of course, Steven LOVES school. The best part about it is that he gets to go with his cousin Thomas (they have matching Lightning McQueen lunch boxes) and Aunt Cheralyn is the teacher! Every week he comes home with an amazing painting project which we always hang up right when we get home and he shows to anyone who comes in our house. He also loves getting HUGE bunches of grapes from Aunt Cheralyn's backyard. I am so impressed with the things Steven is learning and so proud of him and his desire to know more.

Cousin Visits

We recently bought our first home! We have been loving having our own place, decorating it the way we want, etc. A few weeks ago we had our first overnight guests--my cousin Sara and her cute family. All the kids loved playing together, and my kids are still talking about Christopher and Baby Brooklyn. Thanks so much for coming and being so fun! Please come again soon!

A little while later Ben and Will came with Grammy for the afternoon. We made good use of finally having a backyard and had all the kids jump on the tramp while I sprayed them all with the hose. They loved the homemade water park! We love those cute boys!!!

Fun at the Aquarium

Adam and the kids LOVE fish! Of course, I do too; but they really, REALLY do. I have never been one to be lucky and win stuff, but I actually won some tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium, so we got to go! The kids loved watching the sharks eat, and they even got to touch some fish and manta rays.

Summer Travels, Part 4 of 4

Our last stop this summer was to Idaho to see our Hall grandparents. Grandmother and Grandfather have an amazing produce garden, and the kids were loving eating everything from the strawberries to the green peas. We enjoyed taking pretty walks, saying hello to horses (Rebecca now calls them neighs), and just being being together.

We loved getting to visit all the family we have up there. We are so glad we took advantage of being so close to them during all our Utah travels. It is such a blessing for us and our children to have such wonderful relatives.

Summer Travels, Part 3 of 4

Our next stop during our summer travels was to Park City. My family has been going there every summer (with the exception of our cruise year) since I was 12, and I hope we never stop. This year was just as fun as the rest! The only bummer was that Adam was only there for the last 2 nights, due to being at a new job. We made the most of the time we had all together, though! Thanks again for a truly AMAZING trip, Mom and Dad! The most fun part was that EVERYONE was there!!!

The week in a nutshell (in corresponding order with the pictures):

• Steven is truly in LOVE with Danya
• We loved visiting an awesome sound garden only a few walking minutes away
• Of course, cousins always have to have at least one matching outfit during each trip
• I am a sucker for the quarter rides at store (there were a TON at the outlets)
• My amazing sleepers had a hard time going to bed, but loved it when they could be together
• We had lots of good helpers who made our food look really pretty
• Everyone had a blast fishing (and Steven was VERY proud of his catch)
• We love all animals (fake, dead, and alive)--and Rebecca got more brave around them
• Treats, treats, treats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, though, what vacation would be complete without them?