Gigantic Update: Part 2

(I got pictures uploaded but obviously nothing written. So the update continues.)

Jeremy took his CHP exam in Salt Lake City at the end of June. The girls and I joined him after his test. We were able to take the girls to Temple Square.

(The Conference Center)

Isis was surprisingly willing hold our tour guide's hand. :)

Next up for us was a visit to Blackfoot, Idaho to visit family for the 4th of July.

bird watching with great-grandma

Jeremy received a hammock for his birthday 3 years ago but, since we live where there are no trees (at least no big ones... near each other), he has never used it. He was able to rectify that on this trip. Those Idaho days were perfect for just chillin' in a hammock. :)

some well-deserved rest

Jeremy wasn't the only one who enjoyed it. :)

Playing with Aunt Katherine

smelly pigs

"Come on little baby cow..."

Daddy and his girls

5 Generations!! (There are 99 years between Elise and Great-great-Grandpa Hatch!)

Catching the "firework" parachute guy

Wrapped up for firework watching.

My brothers and cousins put on a great show for everyone. Probably their best one yet.

Happy Birthday America!

Gigantic Update: Part 1

The last two months have been crazy busy and I have just now recovered enough to blog about them. (Truth be told, Isis is taking a nap for the first time since traveling so I have to upload and write as quick as I can.:) )

At the beginning of June the girls and I drove to Tucson to welcome my brother David home from his two-year mission in Mexico.

All six siblings together again!

Elder Willis showing off his trompo skills.
Feeding about 50-60 turtles!

Monkey girl.

A family futbol game.

Welcome Home Uncle David!

The Best Medicine

I've had to give Elise some medicine the last few days in attempts to control the snot so she can sleep at night. Isis insists that she needs some too, though she is perfectly fine. I've had to explain that we only take medicine when we are sick.
Well, I may have to take that back... Laughter, truly the very best medicine, should be taken daily. I think I get too wrapped up in the unimportant things too often and forget that rejuvenating remedy. So, here is your fill for the week.

*I came across these from a previous post. They still make me laugh.

*These next two gems came from my friend's daughter and made me laugh out loud.
"Today at lunch L said her own prayer over her food. Most of the time I can't understand
what she says because she whips through it so fast. But today I distinctly heard:
'Heavenly Father, please help Jesus turn me into a cat...'
What?! I couldn't help but start laughing! When she was done I had to ask...
'Do you really want to be a cat?'
And her reply...
'Geez Mom, it's just a joke... Jesus know I'm kidding.'
Well, at lest she and Jesus understand each other's sense of humor!"

"Conversation in the car today...
L: Hey that boy running out there isn't appropriate.
Mom: Why?
L: He's not wearing a shirt.
Mom: Oh well, sometimes that happens.
Brother: Which boy are you talking about, L?
L: Out there, that chocolate boy running down the street.
The Chocolate Boy....yeah... he was African American. Is a chocolate person deemed
politically correct?"

And for your overdose....
This lady's post (and the comments/additions that followed) had me laughing until I cried.

Hope these put as much of a chuckle in your day as they did in mine.
Here's to laughter!

Birthdays!

Isis turned 3 last month! She made all her birthday decisions (her 4 friends, activity, and dessert) and was pretty excited.... mostly for the pink cupcakes.

We had some dancing to get the party started.

A captivating game of drop-the-bears-in-the-basket.

Excited about the cupcake; not so sure about lighting it on fire.

Happy to open a present. Then everyone wanted to go swimming. We had to sit everyone back down to open the next one. Repeated 4 times.

We had set the pool up the day before to let the water heat up. It didn't. At the end of May it was only about 75 degrees! (Typically we're closer to the 100's by then.)
They were having fun, just not doing much swimming.

All in all a very happy 3 year old birthday princess.

My birthday was a week later. My angel, mind-reading mother drove up from Tucson just for the day to watch the girls so I could do whatever I wanted with Jeremy. Best birthday present EVER! :)
We "mudded" (applied joint compound to) the closet we're making under the stairs. Yes, I enjoyed doing this. We were able to just talk... and be uninterruptedly productive. (I like my made up words.)

We got cleaned up and were able to do a temple session. That's the first time I've been back since having Elise and it was wonderful. (Although it was a little awkward when I was putting on my dress and the zipper got stuck and I had to ask someone for help, and in very short order I had 4 little temple ladies trying to pull/hold/squeeze/jiggle the zipper and dress to try to get it together, and I wanted to say 'This really is the right size. I just had a baby. I promise I tried this on before I came and it fit.' Eventually they made it work and I was still breathing.)

After the temple it was off to dinner at Carrabba's. Mmmm. Just exactly as we got off on the exit the car died - completely. Luckily we were on a downhill exit and we rolled to the stop light and then Jeremy pushed it to the side of the road. Hooray for AAA. We had a tow truck in 10 minutes.

Bummer. But I was pretty carefree about it. I got more time with Jeremy and who wouldn't love that? :)

I did still want to go to dinner, though. And though it was only about 3 miles to the restaurant, walking in heels didn't seem like a fun idea. So, I asked our tow guy if he would drop us off. He did. :) Such service!

Who doesn't love a chauffeured tow truck birthday ride? :)

We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then (as if we were on our first date) Jeremy's brother came and picked us up to take us home. (Thanks Chris!)

Isis was still up when we got back because she wanted to give me the cheesecake cupcakes she made for me with Grandma. I had to blow out a candle too. :) I love my sweet girl.

It was indeed a very happy birthday.

5 Months??

Here is my Michelin baby in all her 5 month glory. :)

Yes, I know. She looks bigger than 5 months... so I've been told again, and again, and again.

You'd think I'd have some bulging biceps by now...

Caught being cute! (both of them)

Ah! I just want to squeeze her all the time!!!

Elise's little personality is evolving everyday. But she remains happy, pleasant, content, and very cuddly. Isis can get her giggling really well and she loves watching her older sister do anything. Elise is really good at grabbing things and even better at putting them into her mouth. Her separation anxiety has kicked into full force and cries as soon as I'm out of sight. I enjoy being loved so much but, man, that girl has some lungs! She doesn't like being left out of dinner time either so she is usually sitting on my or Jeremy's lap while we eat. But it is easy to be with her all the time because she is always such a happy baby.
We love this sweet girl!!

What else can you expect...

...with a title like that? :)

("Sweet Dream Pie")

She nearly nodded right off the couch while Jeremy was reading it to her. :)

4 Months

No baby should look like this on her 4 month birthday. :(
Elise came down with RSV and is on breathing treatments. Two days later we went to the ER because of a fever and found out she has two ear infections too! Pobrecita!

After a few days of medicine she was back to her happy (though raspy) self.

Check out those awesome arm rolls! But it's the cheeks I can't get enough of!

At 4 months she weighs 15 lbs 2 oz and is 24 inches long.

Now that she knows she can roll over she's...well, on a roll. Within seconds of putting her on her back she quickly gets to her tummy. :) She's going to be a mover.

Easter

shyly her egg hunting finds with Uncle Thomas

I LOVE THIS BABY!!

My Easter girls

Easter dresses

Elise is happy in her "baby princess dress." (Any guesses who told her that?)