in need of a better view

Troy's view from his hotel room in Salt Lake City.



My view this morning:

Piles of dirty laundry:

Messy Kitchen:


CAN WE TRADE FOR JUST ONE DAY?

Slip 'n Slide and SHREK!

Yesterday we celebrated Elia's first birthday with Joe and Melissa and many other friends. Melissa very wisely decided to rent a giant blow up slip n slide for the "big" kids to play on. It was a blast. I couldn't get Rett off it even when I tempted him with pizza. He did give in when it was time to sing happy birthday and eat cake (afterwards he said, "okay, now it's time to sing happy birthday to me."!

Rett, Kate and Hudson:

Trying to jump...but it was really slippery!


Ellie was content staying dry and playing in Kate and Elia's playroom:



Later we met up with our cousins to watch SHREK in the movie theatre. This was Rett's first trip to the movies. To make sure we were fully prepared we stopped by Walgreens to grab a snack (raisinettes) and bought popcorn from the concession stand to share. Once inside we found our seats and sat down (the theatre even had a special booster chair for little ones that prop them up so they can see better). Before Shrek actually started Rett kept saying: "Wow!, that's a big TV". Once the lights dimmed and the movie started he watched 90% of the movie. We took a quick potty break about 45mins in and the last 15 mins of the movie he stood up and leaned on the chair in front of him and watched the ending. I am so impressed that I think we will go see Toy Story 3 this summer too! I didn't take my camera in...so the pictures are with my phone...but you get the idea of how awe-struck he was.



Hangin' out after the movie:

back from vacation

Our sweet calico kitty, Beverly, took a vacation this week. She decided that a 3 night/4 day siesta would do her good. She didn't tell us she was leaving, or where she was going, all we knew was that she was gone. Not knowing she was planning on coming home we searched high and low, driving through alleys calling her, knocking on neighbors doors, calling local vet clinics and shelters to see if she had been turned in. Then, as if she had never left, she was on the deck this morning. By the looks of it (a scratch on her face and a tender front paw) she had not been relaxing at a kitty spa but rather traversing our neighborhoods more rugged landscape. We are just glad that her inner GPS is in good working order and she was able to navigate home. She must be jet-lagged because she has been snoozing the day away inside. Rett was elated to see her!

Rett

Rambunctious
Eager
Talented
Ticklish

Summer Fun

Last night we ate pizza and went swimming at my sister-in-laws house. Between the two of us we have five kids all 6yrs old and younger. Rett LOVES playing with his cousins. It's always loud and energetic and fun! Last night the kids had alot of fun playing with goggles in the pool.

Shhhh, babies sleeping

Every mom knows that there are some days when it seems like from the moment you wake up you start counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds till bedtime. Well, today was one of those days.

The kids are now asleep and I am free to do whatever I please...update my blog, catch up on some DVR'ed shows, or nothing at all. You can tell just by the way they are sleeping we had a big day: Jazzercise, playgroup, swim lessons, (home for lunch and naps), swimming at the KC pool, Chick Fil A for dinner(spent an hour playing in the playplace) and then riding bikes outside after dinner. Can you also tell by our day that daddy is out of town?

Living Room Before and After

Here are a few pics of our living room before and after. Most of the updates were cosmetic...new carpet and paint (Sherwin Williams Killiam Beige @150%), a new ceiling fan, and all new furniture! Granted, we still have a few things left on our punch list for this room: New fireplace screen (it's really hard to find these in the middle of June), decorative accents above the couch, and knick-knacks. It is 95% finished. So here are the pics:

View from the kitchen:




View from far corner of room:




Fireplace:




The new ceiling fan Troy and his dad installed...well mostly his dad with a little help from Troy on his lunch break. :)

View as you enter the room from the front door:

Swim Lessons

Today Rett started swim lessons at the YMCA. His class will meet daily M-Th. for 30 mins each day for 2 weeks. This is probably surprising to anyone that knows Rett...but he is fairly apprehensive of water so I was a little nervous about how he would react to swim "lessons". He did great great today. He's in a small class (3 students, 2 instructors). After the teacher (Miss Caroline, a cute, energetic high school student) introduced herself he took her hand and followed her to the other end of the pool. I had Ellie in the stroller and was sitting on the side watching. Today most of their lesson involved kicking in the water, holding onto something (or someone) and being pulled from one end of the pool to the other. On the way home in the car he said: "I like swimming mama! Can I go swimming again?"

Papparazzi

I can't wait to tell you this! I got a new (well, new to me) camera..and not just any old point and shoot....a really great camera. I am SOOOOO excited. My friend Melissa (whom I frequently give photo credits to) got a new one for her birthday so I swooped in and made it known I would love to buy her old one. She gave me a great deal.
I think I am going to take a photography class at the community college down the street to learn the in and out's of it.

We went to the lake on Saturday evening to relax and visit with my parents, sister and brother and Lauren(my brother's girlfriend). Naturally I took my camera and "practiced" taking some pics. I took so many by the end of the day they were all calling me paparazzi!

I still have alot to learn...but here are a few from the weekend that I liked.

Ellie splahing in the baby pool


Rett floatin' in his boat:


R&T


Everytime SarahLyn see's Ellie she says: "I'm so happy you had a girl!"


A little hard to see, but Rett and SLC swinging from the rope swing:



A mini Ellie Photo-shoot: