Before I forget...

Cecily turned 4 on July 16, and I never posted about her birthday. She decided weeks before that she wanted to have a ballerina birthday party, so we really got into it this year!

My friend, Jenn, put this birthday invitation together for me. Didn't it turn out cute? She has started a little business doing things like this, so if you are ever in need, visit her blog.

A couple of weeks before Cecily's birthday, we took the girls over to the amphitheater by the Mt. Timpanogos temple and took some photos. The girls were being so cute, so I had fun playing around with my camera. (By the way, does anyone know of some good photography classes in the area? I'd love to learn to take better photos).

I love this photo below. Whenever Cecily points to something, she winks her eye. But if you try to get her to wink and any other time, she just doesn't get it!

She was pretending that her prince had to rescue her on this "balcony." Derrick had to go save her several times!

Wow, what a princess. Picking her nose and everything!

Cecily got a fun new jeep from Grandma and Papa. She ABSOLUTELY loves it!!

She also got a big-girl bike.

On her actual birthday, we went to the Steel Days Carnival. Cec had a blast on all of the rides.

She got a supergirl cape from Grandma Thomas, which she loves.

These 2 photos are a little out of order. But this is the cake from Cecily's birthday party. Yep, another one of my cake adventures. But I have to say, it turned out better than my last cake, the fairy cake, and WAY BETTER than the transvestite Cinderella cake!

Ainsley enjoying her licorice.

For the birthday party, Cecily invited a few of her little girlfriends over. When they came over, they each got magic ballerina glitter dust stars put on them and a new tutu. I was so excited about these tutus. My sister told me about haloheaven.com, where I got the tutus for $2. Then I hot-glued a flower on each of them. It didn't take much time, and I didn't have to pay a fortune. I was also able to get a bunch of stuff for the goody bags from the same website, such as butterfly tattoos, feather boas, and wands. I didn't get a photo of the bags, but I just took white gift bags and hot glued pink tulle to the inside and added a flower to the outside. I thought they turned out cute, and kept with the ballerina theme.

I had ballerina music playing and the girls danced and twirled while we waited for Miss Ashley, our "real" ballerina to come and teach the kids some ballerina steps and a little dance. I had contacted BYU's dance department to see if they knew of a ballerina who wanted some teaching experience with little kids, and they connected me with Ashley.

The kids were IN LOVE with Miss Ashley!

Here the kids are, eyes glued to Miss Ashley, as she performed a dance for them.

I have to say, the party was a success (although our air conditioner broke that day, and it was SO HOT)! Cecily still talks about Miss Ashley. She also prays every day that she will grow up to be a big ballerina.

I can't believe my little baby is already 4! I love this girl so much! She is honestly one of the sweetest little girls. She is such a good helper, and loves her little sister so much. She is so good to share her toys with Ainsley, and always tries to keep Ainsley happy. Cecily is very enthusiastic, and cannot hide her excitement when she is enjoying things. She will often stop what she is doing to come and tell me she loves me, or to give some kind of compliment. As her vocabulary grows, it is so fun to listen to her use it in her kind ways. She loves preschool, dancing, gymnastics and swimming. She loves to learn how to do things by herself, and is always wanting me to teach her how to do things from making lunch to cutting coupons. I am so lucky to have been able to get to know and be the mommy of this precious girl!

The Fisherwoman

We went to Derrick's parent's brand new cabin this weekend. It is at Scofield Reservoir, and we had such a nice time. Derrick left on Friday afternoon and took the girls with him. I met them there on Saturday afternoon. It was very relaxing, and the weather was so great. Cecily decided she was going to get serious about this fishing business (we bought her a purple and pink fishing pole a few weeks back when we were at Scofield for the 4th of July). Anyway, here are the results of her fishing endeavors:

Saturday night, Cecily getting a little help from Daddy.

A few nibbles, but no fish tonight!

Then on Sunday morning, Grandma Shonnie and Ainsley came along.

They must have been the luck Cecily needed, because she got 2 fish!!

I wish I had it on video. Only those who know Cecily can imagine how ecstatic she was! It was really sweet!

Our Ainsley

My friend, Hailey, took these photos of Ainsley while we were at her home one evening a few weeks ago.... and all I can say is, these are as "Ainsley" as it gets! She was definitely in her element!

Yeah, that was a load of photos to post. But I'm a doting mother.

At seventeen months, little Ains is still a little monster. She is as stubborn as they come, but so, so sweet! When I say she is in her element in these photos, it's because the kid LOVES water! I have to keep my bedroom door closed, or she darts right back to the bathtub and turns on the water. I can't tell you how many times I have caught her in there absolutely drenched. She will sit on the sprinkler if the kids are out running through the sprinkler. She is taking swimming lessons right now, and I can't believe how awesome she is doing. It is the cutest thing to see her floating on her back! I'll have to post a video of it sometime.

Anyway, she is learning new words all the time. Among her favorites: "no-no," "thank you," "no-no," "DADDY!!!!," "no-no," "hello," "I love you," and "no-no!" She also likes to neigh like a horse, bark like a dog, and meow like a cat. She wakes up with a huge grin every morning, and waves and blows kisses to random strangers wherever we go.

I LOVE THIS KID!!!

4th of July

We went down to Scofield for the 4th of July weekend.  It was a busy weekend, but we had a good time.  I forgot to take my camera, but here are a few shots from the parade.  Cecily and Derrick rode in the fire engine and had a ton of fun throwing candy at people.  

Derrick's parents are almost finished with the little place they are building in Scofield, and it will be nice to be able to visit there more often.  It is so beautiful there.  We slept in tents on their deck.  We were trying to make it a nice little camping trip for Cecily.  She came home from preschool one day after talking about the subject, and she said, "Mom, I want to go fishing at the lake and sleep in a tent.  And we have to buy 3 things at the store.  Chocolate, Marshmallows and Graham Crackers.  No, we need to buy 4 things at the store.  Chocolate, Marshmallows, Graham Crackers and FIRE!"  So we made s'mores, which she LOVED.  As far as fishing goes, we bought her a pink and purple fishing pole.  But since neither Derrick nor I have ever gone fishing, we just took her down to the water and let her pretend to fish.  Personally, I think Derrick had more fun with that.  He pretty much stole Cecily's fishing pole and played around with it himself!  I guess I need to get him to start a new fishing hobby!

The girls really enjoyed the firework show over the lake.  But my favorite thing was spending 45 minutes trying to get a bee out of our tent!  

Yes, we are still here.

I know, it IS about time I write a new post.  This is what we've been up to in the last few months:

Ainsley is totally growing up.  She finally started walking in May, at fourteen and a half months old.   She is getting taller, but still looks too small to be walking around.  I don't know if I have mentioned before, but this girl has got attitude.  She is a feisty little thing.  But funny.  "No, No!" is one of her favorite phrases, but she is really good about saying, "Thank you."

Cecily and Ainsley still get along very well.  They are always giving each other kisses and hugs, and Ainsley tries to imitate everything Cec says and does.  Here they are just chilling on the deck.  We are finally working on getting our landscaping done.  Hopefully, by the end of the week, we will be done with this phase and I will post some photos of the yard.

Ainsley isn't exactly the clean eater that Cecily was at her age.

I think Dad looks pretty proud.

We spent a week in Vegas over Mother's Day.  I am so happy to be the mommy of these little girls!

Cecily graduated from her first few months at gymnastics/preschool. 

We took a quick trip to Lake Powell with the Allen's last weekend.  It was a great little getaway.

Here's Nate Allan showing off his wake surfing moves.

This is his wife, Shar.  

Here's Ainsley trying to grab the camera.

Yep, Derrick can wake surf, too.

Oh, and I got up on the surfboard too.  But you'll just have to believe it from this cropped picture.  I promise, I am doing you a favor by not posting the lower half of my hot bod.

The girls had a great time hanging out on the boat and swimming in the lake.  Cecily took a ride on the tube, which she thought was really fun.

We stopped for a walk and view of the dam on the way home.

Happy Father's Day to the best daddy!!

Cecily just started taking a dance class.  I know it doesn't look like it from these photos, but she REALLY loves it!  Cecily really does not enjoy posing for pictures.

Well, that's about it.  Now that I have FINALLY written a post, I can promise that I will not wait so long until the next one!