Paysli Turns Two

It must be time to have another baby... my baby just turned two! We hardly give her credit for being a toddler, as she is still pretty spoiled and gets away with everything. Paysli is a super satisfying child. I love the way she talks and she is learning to say everything. She loved her birthday and jumped up and down for hours saying, "Happy Payzi". She loves to snuggle and get right into your face to tell you things. She kisses like crazy and makes me feel so loved. She has mostly grown out of her huge mess-making days and I'm super grateful (not that she doesn't make messes anymore). She thinks she is a super big girl and she gets her feelings really hurt when the big girls don't play with her. She loves her sisters and they fight over her attention and take great care of her. She is awesome at jumping on the tramp and it's one of her favorite things. She loves attention and always has to make sure someone is watching. All day long she says, "Watch me, mommy", or "Play me, mommy". She is super fun to have as a daughter and I couldn't possibly love her any more than I do.

Summer

We live in St. George. That means that our summers are pretty much spent in swimming suits. If we aren't swimming, or at a splash pad, or running through the sprinklers, we are inside in the A/C watching a movie.
This is Shaersti showing off her swimming skills in Grandpa Scott's pool. Relaxing for a movie after the splash pad with their cousin Baylie.
We have had a great summer being on a little bit of a structured schedule. Each day of the week calls for a different activity and it has worked well for us. Our days are: Swimming/Splash pad, Cleaning, "Friend" Day, Service, and Education. Our favorite has been the friend day because we plan a fun activity in advance and the girls get to choose who they invite and what they are doing. It's the only time during the week they get to play with friends and we make a big deal out of it. These are pics from one of their "friend" days.

Grandma Van Turns 95!!!

We got to go to Grandma Van's little 95th birthday party. Isn't she such a cutie? She is still getting around pretty well for being 95!

Lake Powell

We were invited to go with our awesome friends, the Richins, to Lake Powell again. We left Paysli home with grandpa and grandma (thanks a ton to both of you) and we had a riot. I'm getting pretty pregnant so I had a super relaxing trip, while Scott tore it up! The girls played and played and loved every second of it. A huge thanks to the Richins for another awesome trip!

This is the first time I've seen the dam, and it was super massive and cool!Yes... we all fit on a wave runner- sort of. We did almost sink it once and it had to go into the Terry and Mo repair shop!
Scott fished... and fished... and fished... and fished. His goal? Stripers just like this one.
Although the water was pretty darn cold, it was rare for the kids to get out of it.
These big surf boards were "the thing" to do. They were a ton of fun.
When the sun got the best of everyone, this was the next best hang out.
The little girls could be found in mine or Heather's rooms playing for hours on end. It meant they didn't have to wear a life jacket!

Yes, even I attempted the surf boards. It was about the most daring thing I could do. Don't you love how well my life jacket fits my belly?
All in all... an awesome trip!