Abby turns 2

Abby's birthday is actually tomorrow, but we celebrated yesterday because my parents were in town to see our primary program. We also had Great Grandma Bev come over for cake, and she ended up writing a darling poem about our celebration. How lucky we are that she's close and could just hop on over. Abby didn't really get what we were celebrating, but she enjoyed seeing her barn/animal cake, having Kason help her open presents, and playing with the balloons.

I just couldn't decide on what cake to make. Nothing seemed right for Abby's personality. But the other day I was making cookies from a cake mix, and the cake box said "for birthday cake ideas, go to bettycrocker.com/birthdays. So I checked it out, and found this barn and farm animal cake. I knew this was the cake for Abby as she is starting to talk more and more and likes to make animal sounds. So here are her "oink oink" "baa "baa" and "cheep cheep" animals. Tige & Kason decorated all the cupcakes and were a huge help. Cut the 4 hour and 45 minute prep time down to about 2 hours.

We lit 2 candles for her, but she cried. Didn't like the fire. So Kason blew them out for her.

She chose a yummy pig cupcake with lots of pink frosting. I think it's still in her hair . . .

She doesn't like getting her hands dirty. When she did get frosting in them, she tried to wipe it in her hair.

Opening her bumble bee dolly from G&G Hazleton. They also gave her 2 outfits.

My parents gave her a Sunday dress, a new peek-a-boo book and 2 balls.

Grandma Bev crocheted her an ear warmer headband with an angel clip.

We gave her a dress, new pj's, and a princess dress-up set.

The princess dress-up set. Kason tried it on, but Tige said I couldn't post the picture because his friends will get a hold of it when he's older and he'll hate me. So I didn't.

Abby loves to try on shoes. She's always dragging our shoes everywhere. The dress-up set had these little heels in them. She had them on for about 10 seconds before the heart jewel came off. It had a wand, tiara, ring, earrings, necklace, that also all lasted about 10 seconds before they broke. Dang cheap junk. I got it at TJ Maxx. I don't know why people love that place so much as everything I get there is junk.

Abby & Kason loved swatting at the balloons and throwing balls at them. Hours of fun.

Getting birthday kisses from Toffee. How gross is that?

The little purple ball my mom got her. She played with it for hours. We all clapped when she managed to put her hands together and catch it. She already has quite an arm for throwing. Aren't the $1 gifts always the ones most played with?

Grandma Bev reading the new book. We're so glad she came.

Can't believe my girl is 2!

Cedar Half

This past weekend Tige ran the Cedar City Half Marathon as part of his training for the St. George Marathon in 2 weeks. We stayed with my parents, and my mom was sweet enough to come with me to the race to see Tige run by. It's a LOT of work to take 3 kids to a race to see him pass by for about 4 seconds. We went and got Burger King breakfast and ate it at the park the runners were passing through at about mile 11. My kids were a great cheering section for all the runners. Tige's claim to fame on this race was that not a single person passed him the entire race long. Wow!The cheering section!My mom holding sleeping Taylor.

Tige coming into the park.

He exited the sidewalk and gave Kason & hug and Kason ran with him for a minute.

and Miss Abby got a kiss!

After the finish.

They were just launching hot hair balloons as we were driving down the freeway to the race. There were about 10 in the sky together. Abby & Kason loved seeing them as we drove by.

Growing Fast

I took these pictures of couple of weeks ago, but hadn't posted them yet, so I wanted to get them on here. I can't believe how fast my kids are growing. Abby just loves the baby. I mean LOVES. She wants to hold him and hug him and kiss him. If I don't watch her, she'll sit on him or lay on him. But he's our "big, big boy" and I have no doubt he will soon learn to take care of himself. Look at those rolls on his legs!

Taylor 9 weeks, Abby 23 months (in this picture)

Abby is getting into "art." By that I mean writing on everything. The other day she was sitting on my lap drawing on a paper while I was on the computer. I set her down on the floor and went potty for about 90 seconds. When I returned, she had done this to her feet with ballpoint pen. Urgh. She's also written all the way up the wall on the stairs (but with pencil so we could erase it easily). She takes advantage of the time when I'm nursing the baby and can't always see her. I need to lock down my permanent markers or my next post might be more of her "art."

Labor Day Farewell

Tige's little sister is going on a mission to Ohio in a few weeks, so we went to Monticello for Labor Day weekend so we could spend some time with her and say goodbye. It was great to visit and play games. Taylor started sleeping through the night while we were there. Yippee!! He's done 11-12 hour stretches since Friday night when we arrived in Monticello.

We went to Tige's brother's house and the kids enjoyed running around while we made delicious smores. It's been quite awhile since I've done smores. We'll miss Aunt Teina, but we are so, so proud of her for being the first missionary our kids know personally.

Swing set fun

Tige's family

I say "smile" and this is what I get. Cousin Evie & Kason

Hugs & kisses good-bye

How cute is that smile!!! (Taylor 11 weeks). He'll be all grown up when she's back.

We love you Teina.