Back to school

July 27, 2009 is the day Jill started Kindergarten. She and Sydney were VERY ready to go back to school. Sydney was completely ready to go by 6:45am. Jill slept in, of course, they only sleep in on the days I have to be up early. My last conversation with Jill before I left her at her desk coloring a picture of a lion went like this: MOM ""Bye, Jill. Have a great day" JILL "I will" MOM "Should I go now?" JILL "Yeah" MOM "OK, I'll see you after school" JILL " OK" (probably thinking to herself, "don't let the door hit you on the way out"). She seemed very nonplussed about the whole event--the event I have had anxiety over for the past year.

Before school starts

Jill, Kaelyn (our neighbor), and Sydney

Jil, outside her classroom, reaching for her star.

Jill, acting like she's been going to Kindergarten her entire life.

Wicked

For Sydney's eighth birthday, we took her to see the musical Wicked. She has been listening to the music for the past two years since Christian and I went to see it in LA . She enjoyed the story and she feels that now she can watch all of The Wizard of Oz , last time she watched it she got scared and had to finish half way through. She wants to be in musicals when she grows up, that must be the "Syphus" in her. Christian has been having the kids listen to the songs from Phantom of the Opera, his personal favorite, and now Sydney and Jill cant wait to see it.

Leah turns 2!!!

Leah turns 2!! She loved having a birthday party and opening all her presents.
She got a Snow White dress and loves being a princess.

She opened her presents, with a lot of help from her sisters and friends.

Mommy's little princess.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey was a big hit with Leah.

She wanted to play it again, and again, and again....

We got a pinata that you don't hit but instead pull strings until it opens up--it sounded fun, until one of the girls pulled all of the strings at once :(

Leah and her friend Brady.

Tour de Utah

Our trip to Utah was very nice. We loved seeing our family, we missed them! We first drove to St. George to stay with Christian's parents. We drove over the Hoover dam (it only took an hour and a half) which was really an amazing site. Then we drove to Heber City which is surrounded by beautiful hills/mountains. We stayed with Taylor and Sarah and their four boys. On the 4th of July, we got to see Ethan be baptized, which was a real treat for Sydney. We had a feast at Taylor's house, did a little shopping at the outlets in Park City (with the girls), and then enjoyed a neighborhood fireworks display. What a great place to live! The kids stayed up until almost midnight every night and, of course, never slept in. My girls loved seeing their cousins who all bonded as they made their own recipe of something they liked to call "Juice Punch" or "Jello Soda" and was made out of the left over soda from the party.

After Heber City, we went to stay with Kiffany and Josue in Saratoga Springs, another beautiful town but this time by the lake. Another amazing place to live! The girls had fun playing wii and video games. We went to temple square one day and met Gary and his two boys there. We got to drink Diet Coke at the Navoo Cafe which is right across from the temple and church-affiliated!! What a thrill! On another day, we went to Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove and hung out with all the cousins. I had fun talking to my sisters-in-law, I have the best ones in the world! Also, we got to see Uncle Brandt and Uncle Logan and their significant others.

From Saratoga Springs we went to Stansbury Park (another place right on a lake, really cool) for an overnighter at Gary and Emily's house. Jill and Josh got to stay up really late "reading" books to each other while Leah got to boss around Noah (1 year old).

Monticello was the last destination on our trip. Christian and I actually got some sleep-lots! Christian and my mom floated down the San Juan river with Sydney and Jill and two neighbor girls--a four hour journey! The river trip received mixed-reviews due to lightning storms and water spiders, but at least it will be an "unforgettable" experience for all who went. Jill got to ride on a horse (Leah got scared of the horse's teeth) and Sydney only wanted to ride a pony.
My favorite event in Monticello was watching "no. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series that my mom recorded from HBO, I really loved the books and the TV shows did not disappoint. We want to thank everyone who helped us have a great summer trip!

Syd and Jill with Poochie--their favorite dog.
Leah enjoyed putting all the dog food in to the water in the water bowl-hours of fun!

Grandma Liz and Jill

Our pseudo-cookout on the mountain in Monticello

Jill loved riding the horses.

Sydney, Noah, Josh, Leah, and Jill enjoy lollipops in Stanbury Park.

A teaching moment-we taught them all about outhouses.

Syd enjoys the pool in Emily's backyard.

Jill has discovered posing for pictures.

Michael, Jill, Bethany, Syd, Abbey, and Ethan in PG.

Christian holds Noah and Luke, and tries not to get his white shirt dirty!

Leah loves getting lost...

Temple Square

Bethany, Sydney, Abbey, and Matthew in PG

Josh & Jill at Temple Square.

Noah learning to drive.

Syd, Uncle Brandt, Leah, Owen, Matthew and Jill.

Noah liked taking care of the dolly.

He's going to be a good daddy.

At the children's museum, Sydney dressed up like Mary...

an angel.

Josue, Owen, Kiffany, Matthew, Syd, Jill, Candacy, Leah, and Christian.

Michael, Jill, and Christian - a love triangle.

Sydney and Ethan in Heber City.

Christian surprised Jill (and everyone else) with a private picnic on the front lawn. He got the blanket, bread, bratwurst, cheese, and an apple all by himself. He is quite the romancer--His parents better watch out!

I think Jill was afraid to sit on the blanket because of the possibility of bugs being down there.

Waking up in Heber City--its cold!

Jill goes straight

Jill got her first haircut... and then we straightened it. Now she wants it straight all the time.