Moments...

There were so many fun "moments" in this trip-- here are just a few that I captured- Uncle Justy and Ellie Belly Boo Boo.
I asked Ems to make a surprised face-- and then a happy one- love it!
Elles got lots of fun imprinting time with Grammy.
It is potty training time for just about all of the older cousins-- so it was a family affair.
Sleepy heads.
Emmy and her best friend KK- twinners!
Grammy catching and throwing all of the grandkids-- let's just say that her arms didn't need a workout for that day!
We went to Del Taco and played and played-- Jordy loved his glasses- I loved his smile ;)

Cousins!

All in all the trip was AMAZING because we got to spend time with these little cuties~Elles didn't make it into the group-- but at Christmas she'll be there!
Why couldn't Emmy be Mrs. Smiley pants when she was with her Borchardt cousins?!

UT post~the Borchardts!

Today we drove by a Ryan's Steakhouse and I said "Oh- a Ryan's!" and Emmy got soooo excited and said- "Ryan! I LOVE Ryan! I want to go to his house- I love Titan too." Therefore- I decided to a Borchardt Utah post... When we were in St. George we got to spend a ton of time with the Borchardts and it was a BLAST!

This is Elle Belle meeting Uncle Dan for the first time-- I have to say that my girls really really love their Uncle Dan- as you can see.

I have to say that one of the highlights of our trip were these little babies- wow Star- that's all I can say ;) oh wait- where is the recipe?

The girlies got to play with Aunt Stari-- basically the best time ever.

we tried to get a pic of all of my mom's grandbabies-- these are the VERY best attempts... boo.

The cousins got to play whoot whoot!

Ellie loved meeting her cousins- Ryan was her BFF and Titan was food supply-- we found him feeding her mangos- french fries and potato chips-- she loves him!

and last but not least- we got to meet Dan and Star's new pet-- yep- this bad boy lives in their light. the end. ** Mother Desiree- please know that my goal is to post the Nerwinski/Frederick Utah posts tomorrow- but it is a lot and So You Think You Can Dance is calling to me ;) love you!

and you thought I forgot all about Weirdy Wednesday~

I find all kinds of things buckled into Elle Belle's car seat... today it was paint-
There are so many aspects that make this pic a WW winner-- the obvious fact that Emmy is doing a trick with her cabbage patch-- but then there are those subtle things~ like the one sock, the fact that she took his clothes off so that they could be "twinners" (as she says), that that she is wearing a cars pull up instead of a princess one--
What would I do without this little weirdy in my life?! I'm happy to announce that Ellie will soon be joining in on WW as she is growling and starting to do some other weird things- hooray!

Father's Day

This Father's day was a fun one- first, because I got to be with MY father AND the father of my children--
The man who started it all - we were budget confined on our father's day gifts this year- and so Dad got a large Dark chocolate fish-- he might have picked that anyways though... I am blessed to have the world's most amazing father- he is tied with Jason- which is really saying something- I honestly am who I am because of my parents- I love my Dad with all of my heart and am so grateful to him for all of the lessons taught, stories told, love shared, time given and fun that we've had through the years.

And then HaPPY FaThEr'S day to Jason- truly the world's best father- I couldn't have chosen a better man to be Emmy and Ellie's Daddy; he is amazing in every way- a righteous father, a great teacher, a fun tickle monster, a silly game player and a loving cuddler-he really is the best. We only got him candy and hair stuff (so sad) but someday I will get him what he deserves~like a trip to Italy or a car for Father's Day- at least, that's what I say to make myself feel better right now as we sink further into debt.

Universal with Auntie Amber!

This was SUCH a fun day- another post will be coming as soon as I get the rest of the pics from Amber's fb- but here is my camera's worth~ the highlight of the day was... you guessed it- the BARNEY show- yes- we got to see his show and then get a great big hug and a kiss from me to you afterwards- Emmy thought she was in heaven ;)
There were a ton of fun water parky spots that I didn't know about (so I didn't bring a suit) but the day was HOT so here is Ems enjoying the fun-
There was Curious George's ball factory- by far Jason's favorite spot- I could just imagine him as a kind in there...
and of course we had to say hello to the characters... I have to say that I enjoy Disney's 1000 more- but Emmy didn't seem to mind.

Amber was sooo excited to have a kid to ride this ride with- Emmy as delighted to get to go twice.
It poured on us- so here we are waiting for the Jaws ride to start again- it never did- but seeing as how it is weirdy Wednesday- I thought I would include that Emmy STILL just lays down on her lovey just about anywhere- love that girl! The day was fabulous and we could not have had more fun~ THANK YOU Auntie Amber for making it possible and for spending such a fun day with us :)

the 4th of July!

What would the Fourth be without a firework burn?- she survived though!
This was Emmy's first REAL 4th of July~
In that, she was in the USA and was old enough to enjoy in the festivities anyways~ we didn't have a TV set up yet- so sadly I missed The Capital Fourth- this is something that I even watched in Dominica- so I really was sad- but- we got to play with fireworks as a family instead--it reminded me of my childhood at the cottage with my grandfather lighting firecrackers over the lake--- ahh those were the good old days.

this time was not quite as charming as my childhood memories of the cottage- as we were in a little bit ghetto of an apartment complex parking lot-- but it was so fun because it was in South Carolina- our temporary home and we were together- and in America- who cares that it was drizzling?
Here are the pyros-- please note that Jason's face is by FAR the most excited- he was delighted about the fireworks laws here in SC- and said that 1/2 of the ones we lit were illegal in Cali. We had a few scares like when J forget that Roman Candles do indeed shoot out and far (not a great plan to angle towards the trees) but it was a VERY fun time- the girls loved it, J loved it and as anyone who is reading this blog knows- I LOVE AMERICA and feel so blessed to be here-God bless it!

Bumbo Baby Girl

I know that I have 1 million posts to catch up on-- but instead I have to gush about this baby!
This face... ah!
When I make dinner Elle Belle helps out...
I like to cook anyways~
but when THIS is what I get to enjoy while cooking- life couldn't be better. She is quite literally the cutest little thing alive and I adore her. She makes my life happy.

An ODE to Grandpa Larry and Grandma Diana.

Ellie Dell got to meet her Grandpa Larry and Grandma Diana- she adored both of them from the start.

It was such a blessing to be able to spend time together.

So cute. Our time with Grandpa was a blast- we all are so excited to be closer and hope to be able to make it up to them more often now that we will be only hours away by car!

Somehow- in all of my picture taking (and I took a LOT of pictures) this is the only picture I got of Diana- I am LIVID right now- but all I can say is that there could not have been a more gracious host, better cook, or kinder Grandmother. We all had the time of our lives and felt very very loved. THANK YOU to our California family for making our trip such a special time! Here are about 10000 posts of what we did in Cali- enjoy!

the Prophet said to plant a garden~

So that's what they did! It now is producing and Jason is VERY proud of that fact.