One Serious Challenge...

Just a few of our favorite pics from our little family photo shoot with Markham's dad. He was so great to snap a ton of pictures of us.  WOW, to say it is a challenge to get both kiddos to look AND smile at the camera at the same time is a major understatement! Out of a billion tries, it happened about 20 times! Hooray!

My dear little sis and her new baby, Lincoln. Two months old, so stinkin' cute and still so tiny...NB size still!!

..and a few of the best bloopers

Smile Makers

Ok, so today I just wanted to document some of the things that make me smile, I was inspired by a fellow blogger. Because really, I consider this blog a journal/scrapbook. I so don't have time to sit down for an hour or more to work out one scrapbook page with 3 pictures on it. My goal is to get all my posts printed in a hardbound book for a keepsake....maybe several.

Anyway so here it goes...in no particular order...

1. Jackson's warm, little chunky cheeks after a nap. They are slightly rosy and so fun to kiss.
2. My level, because I hate hate hate crooked pictures. I go through my house at least monthly to make sure everything is still exactly right, and amazingly, they are crooked....again
3. Summer evenings outside in the backyard with Markham and the kiddos. It is just perfect. Especially if Markham is working on a fresh batch of homemade ice cream.
4. Enjoying Raclette with friends and family, so so fun.
5. Hearing Kaitlyn say, " I love you a lot mommy"
6. Getting a kiss on the cheek every morning when Markham leaves for work, while I am half asleep in the bed with one or both kiddos.
7. Really crispy grapes, the kind that literally make a "pop" sound when you bite down
8.  Diet Coke
9. Being in Idaho with my family and being so so lazy that we end up watching an entire day of Cake Boss.
10. Hot chocolate when it's cold outside or cold inside because of a crazy high a/c.
11. Summer storms
12. Fall leaves
13. When Kaity and Jack play together
14. A great pair of jeans
15. Red Mango frozen yogurt. I could live on the stuff. Regular with Ghirardelli chips and raspberries.....serious yum. 
16. Camp fires, without the camping and without the after smell.
17. Waking up in the morning and finding Jackson peacefully sleeping between Markham and I....as long as it's not every morning.
18. Markham's sense of humor
19. A bubble bath and a great book
20. Handbags and shoes
21. A pedicure with one of my favorite girls
22. The living room, so that surprise guests don't see the embarrassing state of the rest of the house
23. An uninterrupted nap
24.  Bath & Body Works
25. Our pathetic little garden
26. Playing games and eating snacks
27. Hearing the garage open when Markham is home.
28. and last but certainly not least, going to Church on Sunday with Markham and the kiddos. I am so grateful for the gospel and the peace & comfort it brings to my life.

Jack's New Skill Set...

My little boy is a crawling and climbing machine! Yesterday I caught him hanging from the blinds!! Thank goodness they didn't rip out of the wall, I guess they are safe for 23+ lbs.

 He has been climbing the stairs at an alarming rate. I just fear that he will topple backward and bang his sweet little bald head all the way down. We have so many stairs in this house. It is serious stress! Just how many gates should I be expected to jump over all day?

This is the scary part. I mean shouldn't this view give him some pause?? Nope.... He was ready to launch right down.

I think if I manage to spare him from falling down the stairs I so deserve a Red Mango.

Holiday Highlights

We spent 4th of July in Logan....I love Logan. I miss it a lot more than I thought I would. I guess I have a ton of happy memories there.  Anyway we had a lot of fun watching fireworks. 

After the first firework, Kaity covered her ears and wanted to go home. She had way more fun before the show started.

Our little nephew Lincoln...absolutely and totally adorable.

My parents brought up this beast for the car show and "Cruise In." Markham was lucky enough to take it for a ride. I am pretty sure he had a good time. What is it with men and fast cars?!

Pretty Good Vitamins

We have recently acquired a very exciting item, one that Markham has wanted for some time....an ice cream maker. Kaitlyn is so excited to have homemade ice cream she can't see straight. She is her daddy's daughter. We are planning to make a batch, or two this weekend and she informed me she wanted vanilla frosting, vitamins and sprinkles on her ice cream....yum. Somehow I think my toppings will be different.