What Happened to Summer???

Well, apparently I blog about the same way I write in a journal - I do really good for a while, then I get busy, then I get so far behind the thought of catching up is utterly depressing until I finally buckle down, get it done and vow to never do this myself again....

Until the next time...

In any case, here's the summer recap, if for nothing else to PROVE that we have been busy - not just (completely) slacking! :)

Pioneer Day
Typically, Pioneer Day isn’t a huge event among my family. But since the kids got such a kick out the 4th of July parade, we thought we’d give it a Round 2! Plus, we needed another excuse to pull out the old Red White & Blue outfits again!

We pulled into Logan just in time for the little kiddie parade. Lance saved us great seats in the shade except this DUMB family came and STOOD right in front of us for the ENTIRE parade! Can you believe that!?! We didn’t say anything, but between that and the stupid big kids crowding us out on the other side it was kind of irritating.

(I love how Lily is waving in this picture - just like the princesses!)

It wasn't the best parade I have ever been to, but seeing Ella out there waving her heart out made it all worthwhile!

We went to Hyrum Dam for a little while and played in the water...

(That's Wow on the tube, and Dave driving the wave runner!)

Oquirrh Mountain Temple
Our family had the opportunity to visit the Oquirrh Mountain Temple before it was dedicated. It was so beautiful. Although it took a lot longer than anyone expected, and there were a few minor meltdowns, the spirit and beauty of the temple is something that is incomparable. Lily loved seeing all the pictures of Jesus. It truly is one of the most breathtaking temples I have seen.

Birthdays
Within about 6 weeks during the summer, my family has no less than 7 birthdays. Needless to say we party party party all summer long! We did a big combo-birthday party for me, Mom, Sarah and Granny at a local park. I’m telling you, parks are the way to go! The kiddos can go nuts (and eat all the watermelon they want without Mommy freaking out!) and clean-up is a BREEZE!

For each of my sisters, I have given them “Sisters” bracelets on their birthdays, and this year, Sarah gave one to me, and I got one for my mom this year that says “Mother.”

Phoebe's Blessing
Sweet little Phoebe was blessed on August 2. This baby is just a doll! She is so smiley and so happy (unless she’s hungry, then watch out!) I loved her SUPER frilly dress and her pearls. She looked like a little grandma to me! Lily loves little Phoebes. Dave gave a beautiful blessing to his daughter. We did a delicious roast dinner at our house afterwards. Lexy’s family came too! It was a houseful, but so fun to celebrate this precious girl!

Sabrina

Sweet little Sabrina Anne was born on Sunday, August 23. She is Rebecca and Lance’s third daughter, and such a little sweetheart! She was 7 pounds 5 ounces and 19 inches long. Such a little love!

Bear Lake
For the last few years, our family has made an annual excursion to Bear Lake for a day of fun in the sun! We had to postpone our outing because there was NO SUN on the weekend we had planned, so we rescheduled later on. Unfortunately Seuao had to work all weekend, but I ventured up with the girls anyway.

We had a picnic lunch and a quasi-surprise party for Dave’s birthday.

Someone LOVES cake!

Although it was kind of overcast and not super warm when we got there, as soon as we finished lunch, the skies parted and the sun started shining and we were ready for the water!

I hung out on the beach with my girls, and helped watch some of the others whose mommies were incapacitated…

Of course, Tessa had to eat the sand, but still both she and Lily had so much fun!

Sarah took Lily out on the boat - I think the pictures speak for themselves...

When we got to the car after we were done at the lake, Lily wanted “chicken and an ice cream cone” but fell asleep about one minute after the car started moving! We stopped for chicken and ice cream cones when we got back to Logan – these girls definitely enjoy their ice cream cones!

We played outside until it was time for baths and bed, and let me tell you the concoction of sand, ice cream, peanut butter sandwiches, watermelon and stinky diapers was enough to convince anyone these girls need a bath – no doubt about it! But a fun, stinky, sticky end to an awesome day.

Possessed

I'm telling you, my internet is POSSESSED!!!! It knows EXACTLY when I have a minute or two to sit down at the computer, and decides that it isn't going to work!

What the heck!!!

So, that's my latest excuse for not blogging - stupid internet...

4th of July

When we headed to Logan for the 4th of July weekend, I had an AGENDA! I had a whole list of things I wanted to do, and we did them - and then some!!! Since pictures definitely speak louder than words, I'll let them do (most of) the talking...

When we got to Logan on Friday afternoon, it was warm and sunny, so we decided to have a little pool party in the backyard. Unfortunately Tessa was happier out of the pool, and Lily preferred watching from the sidelines.

Eventually we did get Lily to dip her toes in. Such a princess...


We had a fun dinner outside that night, where Lily ate probably at least a quarter of a watermelon. She was in heaven!


After the kiddos were in bed that night, we ventured out to find a good spot to watch the fireworks. I'd say we found a winner!


We started the festivities on the 4th bright and early at the annual boyscout breakfast.

(Yeah, that's Becca looking super fabulous in the back - it's ok to hate her....)

Here is evidence of the CLEAN SPARKLING red white and blue outfits - yeah - that didn't last long...

After breakfast we dropped Seuao off in Hyrum to save a spot for us to watch the parade later on. The girls and I headed back to the Farmer's Market.


They weren't super impressed with the market, and we were beginning to tread onto naptime! Bad combo! There was a fun travelling band the paraded through though. So great!


We then headed out to Hyrum for a picnic lunch and to watch the parade.


It was a typical small-town parade with homemade "floats"...


princesses...


marching bands...


lots and lots of candy...


oh, and Irish dancers!


The best part about the parade? (Not even 5 minutes after we were loaded up... SWEET!)



After naps, Papa took us to go see:


It was the first movie Lily went to (to watch), and she loved it!!! She did really really good! Papa might just have a new movie buddy!

When Wow and Tessa picked us up, we had to stop for ice cream...


When we got home, we played in the sprinklers...


with bubbles...


wagon rides...


and we even made sure that on our American Independence Day, we still represent Samoa (note the swiping of Ella's flip-flops...)


We enjoyed another front-yard dinner, where we discovered little Tessa LOVES corn on the cob!


Yeah, don't try to take that away from her!

We had fun with sparklers (with just one minor burn incident...)



When it finally got dark, Seuao and Allen put on a fireworks show for us!


I got to top off the weekend by playing with the USU Alumni Band on Sunday night. That's us standing during The Stars and Stripes Forever.


The fam came to watch too...



What a jam-packed weekend! Seriously, two weeks later I still don't feel recovered, and we're gearing up for it all over again with Pioneer Day just around the corner!

I love summer!

Photos

Here are some of my favorites from the latest photos we had taken:

Tessa Grace - 9 months

Lily Alaimalo - 2 years

********************

My Bug

(Let’s just pretend I’m totally organized and on top of things and this was posted approximately TWO weeks ago on or around my baby’s birthday… Ok?)

My baby girl is TWO!

I know you hear so much about Lily Bug, but how can I let her birthday pass (oops, I did) without telling you some of the things I LOVE about this girl!

Lily is a girly girl. She loves watching me put on makeup, and carrying around purses and bags. She can’t get enough of babies – she loves seeing new babies and giving them kisses. She notices things that are “pretty” and loves to play house – cooking, cleaning, talking on the phone (or any minuscule object that will stick to her face and becomes her "phone") and of course taking care of babies.

I love hearing this girl talk. Even my Granny (who said my mom could talk an ear off a deaf mule) claims that Lily out talks just about everyone! (Good thing there aren’t any deaf mules around!) She will tell me about her day when I pick her up after work. She doesn't say yeah or uh-huh, it's YES! I love how whenever we ask her to say "thank you," she says "wu'come" and we're already getting the oh so annoyed "Mooooommmm" and "Okaaaaaaay." She cracks me up!

The other day we were in the car driving, and she held out her hand, opening and closing her fist and said "Mom, give me the keys!" I just looked back at her, and she kept motioning for me to give her the keys "Come on, Mom! Give me the keys!" I asked her why she needed the keys. "I'm going to drive."

I wish I was kidding....

Lily has always loved books and reading. She has to sleep with her minimum of 3 books and the “light off” – which really means the light ON. When we sneak back in there to turn the light off a tiny voice usually beckons “Turn off the light!” I’ll admit, there have been a few nights that light has stayed “off” all night!

Lily adores her cousins. Especially “Moah” When she sees him, she shrieks and squeals and jumps up and down. She loves playing with other kids, but doesn’t quite have the sharing thing down yet. Most everything is “Lily’s turn!”

How can I forget “Kickey Mouse”? Each night when we get home, we have a routine of putting on a cartoon (or two… or three) while I try to get dinner made and stuff going. It’s ALWAYS Kickey Mouse, Barney and Handy Manny. We will fill up sippy cups, have a little snack, and she’s good to go! This girl loves her routines. She loves knowing what to look forward to, and anticipating what will be next.

Unfortunately I think Lily has inherited my lack of coordination. She is so clumsy! She gets her little feet running so fast, they constantly slip out from under her! Her legs are all kinds of banged up, but one thing’s for sure, she knows how to play!

I love this girl’s spirit. She is feisty and mouthy sometimes, but she lives life to its fullest! She is determined and knows what she wants, but still will usually (sometimes after threats and coaxing) respect the rules. She is caring and loving but can turn on a dime and start screaming for who knows what reason. And man, does that girl have a set of lungs. If you live within a 20 mile radius, I'm pretty sure you've heard her.

Good thing she is discovering that those lungs don't have to ALWAYS be used for evil! We knew we had a singer on our hands when she was watching American Idol, found a toy that became her “microphone” and started singing herself! She is even starting to get that her voice can match pitches and is making up her own little songs. I LOVE it!!!!! She will ask for a song on a CD again and again until she can sing along with it. Most recently it was "The Friendly Beasts" (Yes, Wee Sing for Christmas is still in my cd player in the car...). She has quite the repertoire: ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam, I am a Child of God, Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Barney song - I Love You, which always turns out to be "You love me!" She always wants to hold hands when she sings that song - I love it!

Lily loves her family. She is always watching out for Tessa, making sure Tessa gets everything she has (hmmm – maybe that’s so she won’t have to share….) and will give her lots of kisses and hugs. Oh, they have their not-so-sweet moments, but she definitely does love her sister.

Lily is always asking for her Daddy. It’s a bummer that Seuao has to work such long hours and some days doesn’t even get to see the girls, but Lily soaks up as much time as she can with him when he’s home. She loves to “shoot hoops” with him and he’s the only person she’ll lay down with to sleep.

The other night Lily came up to me, gave me a huge squeeze and said “I wub you mom!” then ran off to do her thing. A few minutes later, she came back and did it again… and again… and again. It was the sweetest thing ever! Those are the moments that moms live for.

I love you too, angel. I love you too.

Mean Old Mom

I just put the girls to bed - they haven't been feeling good. They went to bed fine, and for the first time in days my internet was up, so I tried to hop online for a few minutes.

"Mommy?"

I stop clicking and typing - don't want her to know I'm within earshot...

"Mommy?"

"Mommy? Juice! Mommy! Juice! Mommy! Juice!"

Seeing how this isn't going to just go away, and not wanting Tess to wake up, I go into Lily's room.

"Mommy! Juice!"
"Lily, you know we don't have sippy cups in bed. No juice sweetie. Heady down, let's go to sleep."
"Mooooom"
"Heady down, Lily."

She lays back down, I cover her with her blanket and slip out.

Now, back at the computer, I feel terrible! This poor girl who doesn't feel well, her throat is scratchy, her nose has been running all week, and her mean old mom, not wanting to start a nightly beverage ritual doesn't even give her a sip of juice!

Mean old mom! :(