A little girl and a little boy

I can't believe how big they're looking! PS...this is how we spent the long hour after dinner while dad was at cub scouts:

The expression game. Happy face!

Sad face:

Scared face!

 She goes from this...

...to this in about two seconds flat when I say we can't watch Clifford until tomorrow. Bedtimes (now that she enjoys spending naptime playing in her room instead of falling asleep) are a little wound-up and exhausting.

 Her face when she tells me a story

My baby boy! Seven months old and crawling like a speedster and pulling himself up on stuff - yikes! Notice how Claire can't keep her hands off Clark in almost every picture. One of the most common phrases around here? "Claire, leave him alone!"

Whoa!

And btw, Clark has a celebrity look-alike, Patrick Wilson:

(Thanks to my friend Kiana for pointing it out - ha!)

Aspen Grove and other Utah Details

I was getting nostalgic for Utah's cool summer evenings. The memories I have of running through cool, soft grass and eating watermelon in the refreshing Utah summer night are hard to recreate in the valley of AZ, so I was getting anxious for some family time up north. We took advantage of Christian's week break to travel, but first, my sister Kathryn made her first flight (that she can really remember) to spend a week with us and then drive back up to Utah after the week was over. My sister Kathryn (who graduated HS last spring and just started Snow College) is amazing in so many different ways and Claire and Clark had so much fun with Aunt Kippy. Not to mention, she entertained Claire most of the whole 11 hr drive to UT - easiest drive (for me) ever!

Once in Utah we spent lots of time on our alma mater's campus at BYU's Education Week. Christian's mom and brother Samuel was there for the week as well so we spent time with them and Richard. I loved spending so many days on that familiar campus. I love BYU muchisimo. I am totally going to be one of those those ladies in my tennis shoes and skirt, pulling a roller backpack in my senior years as I come back again and again. For someone who loves learning - that week for me is heaven.

I also am slightly obsessed with family history right now and so I got three hours to spend in the family history library in SLC, searcing over some fascinating endowment house records of my ancestors. They definitely rubbed shoulders with early prominent leaders of our church. Can't wait to meet Eliza Snow, Brigham, Joseph, etc. and break the ice with - I'm Alonzo Raleigh's or BF Johnson's gr-gr-gr-grandaughter!

Another highlight was a day at Aspen Grove with most of my family. My brother David is a counselor there this year and so we got a good deal and a great host :)

Aspen Grove's pioneer night:

Watermelon eating contest!

If you look closely, that is a knife in the air

Learning skills from her tennis (or in this case badminton)-playing grandma. I admire my mom for pursuing her athletic passion amid her busy life. You are awesome mom!

Creeping on Mitt Romney (or his twin, can't really tell)

                                 Playing Legoes with Uncle Dan (and his sweet action hair)

Uncle David! Love you!

 Stuart Falls:

 Time with Christian's sister Laura and her kids at their beautiful new renovated home in SLC!

Thanks to everyone who made our Utah trip so fun! Love you all!

Summer days in the life of Claire

Being two for Claire I think is pretty great.

Our independent girl feels even more grown-up now that she's made her way into and (almost) through potty training! Most days she is stellar and stays dry at night too. Way to go sister!

 She sure does love that Kindle or "tin-doe" though and will guiltily sneak away to a hiding spot to watch Netflix on it when she knows she's not supposed to.

 Summer days bring surprises like a cute froggie in our swimming pool!

 She also can't help but kiss and eat (and sometimes bite) her little brother's fingers. They're just so delicious and she loves that little boy up and down. Watch out though Claire, he's almost got teeth and I have a feeling retaliation with a "Charlie bit my finger" moment is just around the corner.

Dress up is fun, especially sticking magic wands up your nose and dancing to Mickey Mouse music on Pandora. Thanks Aunt Keri for the awesomest clothes and this beautiful costume (and future Haloween costume I'm pretty sure)

Free passes to the Zoo from the library are a fun way to spend a Saturday (but just make sure you get there by eight and leave by 11 or you will melt in heat (and humidity right now, yuck!) 

Swimming in our pool is so nice this time of year and Claire is getting braver about going under and floating on her back. We all love when dad gets home from school and we all get in the pool together (or he takes them in so I can make dinner! :)

We also love reading lots of books, blocks, play dough, and playing with baby brother. I feel like we've survived the summer relatively well and in a month or so we can go to the park, hike, and generally spend more time outdoors! Yay. 

We are so blessed by this bright girl. I love your "yub you mom" and your giggles and how snuggly and affectionate you are. You are a sweet sweet girl Claire!