Heaven (she means 'Payson')

This girl literally thought we were going to "Heaven"...we tried to correct her...but she insisted!

This girl was wearing her HSM shirt while hiking & exploring...I think she was in heaven!

He's their hero.

best slide...EVER!

LOVING the waterfalls...
****

HATING the waterfalls...

Posing...I mean resting on the stairs.

***

My girls.

attempting a family pic (sorry B:)

Posing... I mean resting...on the rocks this time.

Not wanting this mini-vacation to end...

I think this is our new Labor Day tradition!

It Was 7 Years Ago...

on 9/6 that Brady and I were married.

It has been nothing like we expected and it's been great!

***

year 1- lots of vacations, work, and school

year 2- Emma

year 3- move, new job, expecting baby # 2

year 4- another move and birth of sweet Regan

year 5- another move, a college degree

year 6- loving where we are in life

year 7- new job, Brady back to school for his Masters, first kid in school

***

Here's to forever!

She's a PRO

Emma got her PRO at wii bowling a couple weeks ago and when I took the pic she said, "Mom, this is totally going on the blog!" So, here it is like I promised.

I sure am glad that the wii is at Grandma & Grandpa's house, because she'd spend all her time working on her PRO boxer!

(and yes, her name is 'giselle'- she was in a major "Enchanted" phase:)

They Liked It

Emma and Regan took advantage of the rain on Saturday and spent the morning playing in the mud!

(and I actually let it happen)

Women All Over the Country...

have lost their men for a duration of 4 months!

That's right, college football has begun.

It's not that I don't like the fact that

he was up (too excited to sleep any longer-and I am serious) with the girls @ 6:45am,

or that he was biting his nails all day,

or that he hurried to get all the household chores done and even shaved his face

so that he was ready to go an HOUR-AND-A-HALF early!

And who wouldn't love watching with die-hard (if you don't believe me, I dare you to join us) fans that scream SO loud and SO often that the babies in the room freak out and the little girls present stare in wonder at these guys questioning what could possibly be SO important.

I've really missed the pacing back-and-forth for the entire game. I have missed waking up on a peaceful Sunday morning to a husband that has totally lost his voice from Saturday's game. I'd forgotten about the constant critiquing of each play and every second of the game. I was even reminded that I am surprised by the amount of congratulations calls my guy gets after a "big win"...like he scored the winning goal...jk- he'd freak if he knew I wrote that...touchdown! And what fall Saturday would be complete without a little shopping trip that I nearly get forced on because he starts to feel guilt over his obsession!?!

I said it last year and I'll say it again...and it only happens once a year...

Go byu.

(to my in laws- seriously though, thanks for having us and thanks for feeding us! fun stuff!)

Happy Birthday...

to you, Brady!!

***

...30 things to love about you...

1. that smile

2. the way you'll always play with the girls

3. how much you love kids

4. how much you care about your sports teams (that one I might have had to "learn to love"!)

5. how "emotional" you got watching 'the notebook' (don't be mad @ me for saying so)

6. the way you are ALWAYS there to help with the girls

7. the way you proposed...best night. ever.

8. how you tell us you love us everyday

9. the way you still play tough, no matter what game it is... or how old your body is!

10. you make the best scrambled eggs

11. you love to help in the kitchen

12. staying up all night with me to watch 24 reruns

13. staying up late to watch whatever old movies are on Sunday nights

14. the way you love & care so much about your mom

15. the way you love your siblings

16. the way you love my parents & siblings

17. you always wake up with the girls so I can get extra sleep

18. the fact that you learned blow-dry Regan's hair & put Emma's in a ponytail when we are late!

19. the way you loved to hold our newborn babies

20. the way you stayed up ALL night with me all those nights Emma was struggling with reflux

21. you were the rock on 7/10/09 and it made it less painful for me.

22. the way you took a leap of faith (or you were young & crazy- I love both) and proposed after 11 days

23. the way you adore Emma and Regan

24. the way you take care of the dishes on the weekend

25. the way you tell the girls 'mission stories' @ bedtime

26. how much you care about providing for your family

27. you always want me to fold your shirts and pack them so they don't get wrinkled for vacations

28. how many times you have gone to the store in the middle of the night for diapers, meds, and ice cream

29. how hard you have worked to be someone that your girls are proud to call their dad (and they are so proud!)

30. your laugh.

Love, C

After a week full of new adventures and a busier schedule it was time for a much-needed break...

*

*

*

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for mom & dad!

We had a fun date night to celebrate Brady's birthday. (more on that later)

Thanks to aunt Alexa for coming to play with the girls!

Okay- I Figured it Out

Referring to my previous post about not knowing how they learned to act like that...

I am positive now that they were watching me in my childhood and making notes on all the ways they could make my life come full circle! Emma slams her door at times these days and I just want to call my mom and tell that that I am sorry and I was so ridiculously dramatic and ask how she put up with me...or ask how she kept a straight face when I would have a meltdown! Regan does something she knows she shouldn't and then uses her " I know you can't resist my smile so I'll use it against you" face to try to get out of it. I know that one well because I feel myself still using it when I don't want to do something and it still works- Brady can't resist. When I am trying to do Emma's hair the way SHE chose to wear it and she says it "doesn't look right- sorry mom" and wants me to "try again please" I want to call my mom and tell her she should have just made me go to school without my hair done at all for having such an attitude. Or when Regan hits Emma and immediately runs to me and hugs me and tells me "You're the best mom ever." ... and so it goes...

This is the circle of life. I have a feeling there are going to be many more "apology calls".

I am scared for when they are teenagers!

POSING for pictures

I have no idea where they learned how to pose like this. I just say "smile" and I end up with an over-the-shoulder cheesy grin or a hip popped and a pointed toe!

I mean I was never this diva-licious as a little girl!

(okay ~ I was, but they don't know that!)

Before We Know it She'll be Moving Out!

My first baby went to kindergarten today...

She was "nervous-excited"!

Regan wanted to wear her matching outfit and walk her to class...

but when we got there she realized she was going to miss her bff all day and the tears came.
We all had to smile and be brave!These kids (& their moms) help us stay brave.and then I cam home and stayed busy getting the traditional afternoon snack all ready!

FINALLY it was 3:30 and we got to go back to the school...

Emma loved every minute of her first day!

Regan is expected to make a full adjustment!

Emma's favorite part of the day? Lunch in the cafeteria and using scissors!