Thursday, August 6, 2009

July in a Nutshell

Well, now that the summer is winding to a close (how fast did THAT go!!) I need to summarize our fun filled month of July. We spent lots of time at Seven Peaks and Katie has gotten so brave! She loves the "big" slides as much as we do and in the kiddie pools and slides is quite independent. She usually goes without a life jacket.

We had our first experience of the Provo Freedom Festival. Katie loved the Tony the Tiger Hot Air Balloon at the sunrise balloon launch. She also went on her first carnival ride. We loved the Colonial Days downtown too.
Katie turned 3 Years old!! And wow! How much life has changed in those 3 years! She is so independent and smart! She talks constantly! She is a beautiful girl who loves her sister and loves action! She is mastering her new bike--two wheels with training wheels. She continues to amaze me with all that she grasps and all that she can and wants to do. I love her so!

Katie loves to watch for and count all the temples we pass on our way to and from Ogden and Salt Lake. For her birthday, we took her to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. It was beautiful! And although her attention span was a bit shorter than the tour, I think she really loved it. She talked about the lights (chandeliers), the pictures of Jesus and especially the baptistry and Jesus got baptized.

Katie also had her first tumbling class and she loves it. She seems to love the bar and the trampoline the most. I think it's just that she loves to run around and do all kinds of flips and rolls with her body!Amanda has mastered crawling and seems content to stay that way. She loves to walk along furniture but anytime we try to get her to stand holding our hands, she thinks it's just a jumping game (she does love to jump). She loves her sister. She loves to push around cars and play with piles and pails full of Little People. She loves to go outside and if you get close to the door and don't go outside when others do, she cries. She loves peas and bananas,, ice cream, feeding herself, and whatever food is on our plate. And she loves her Lamby most of all. (Thanks Aaron and Jenny!) She says a few "words"--Mama, Dada, Up, Uh-oh. She has the cutest "Mhhhm" when she wants to eat what you have! She gives huge open mouth kisses and loves to snuggle people (even the nurse who poked her!) She is so happy and social! She smiles and reaches out (literally) to everyone who will look at her! She is a sweetheart and we love her!!

I'm still eternally behind on scrapbooking. It wouldn't be so heartbreaking except I have the cutest pictures of these darling girls!! Perhaps someday I'll be able to somewhat catchup. I'm getting a bit more stressed about school starting. Who really wants to big farewell to their spouse for 9 months? Well, not me at least. I'm excited for Law Partners activities---the first of which will be my big shindig--I'm in charge of the opening social. It will either be a great hit, or it will swallow me whole! I'll let you know in a month!!


Brett has had time off for the first time in probably a decade! He's been moving mountains. Or just piles of rocks---but still. The rock pathway out back will hopefully be "paved" in the next month or so and he's prepping the area. It has been SUCH a fun summer to have our whole family together to work and play. Why didn't we ever do this before? :) We've gone to outdoor movies, hikes up to Bridal Veil Falls, BBQ's, walks to the park and the Creamery, boating, shoppping, etc. I don't think Brett and I have spent this much time together since 2004! So I guess it's due time.

Anyway, so much more, but there's the nutshell!

Guess who likes fish?

Grandpa and Grandma Greer took us fishing again last weekend at Deer Creek. It was much warmer than last time we went but before the Nichols melted off the boat, Grandma helped Katie catch another fish. Katie was pretty excited! We grilled fish two nights ago (Dad had steak of course). Guess who loved the fish? AMANDA! Even to the point of spitting out her banana (a favorite) to get some more of Mom's fish! Awesome! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Katie's Third Birthday!

"I'm Three!" (Count the Fingers).

Dad made us green Mickey Mouse pancakes with three candles for breakfast!


We all enjoyed celebrating Katie's third birthday on Tuesday. She loves to see the temples as we drive from Ogden or Salt Lake to home in Provo. We ride bikes and take drives to the Provo temple all the time. She always always asks us if we can drive out to see the "little tiny temples" which are Oquirrh Mountain and Jordan River--tiny from the view of the freeway). Usually the answer is no, we're on our way home. So for Katie's birthday, we took her to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. It was a gorgeous temple. I think she liked the Baptismal Font the most. She talked about how Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist for days afterward. She had lunch at McDonald's and got to play on their toy much longer than usual! After a nap, we went to Archibald's for dinner with Grandma Great Nichols, Papa Jack, and Steve and Melissa. What fun! The party will be another post, coming soon!!


Thursday, July 2, 2009

Splish Splash Picnic

Yesterday I went to Ogden for a picnic with some of my dearest high school friends. I wish more could have come but I loved seeing Lindsay, Brooke and Jana again. We also got to meet some new babies---Lindsay has Myleigh, Katelyn and Braelyn. Brooke has her Ben and Jana has Hannah, Jake and Ethan. My sister Robin came with her family, Caleb, Charlotte, and Levi (and of course I brought Katie and Amanda). It was so fun to hang out and talk with the girls again. I loved watching our kids play and - who knows--maybe the next generation will hit it off as well as their mommies did! Katie and Ben were nearly unseperatable. If they got seperated, Ben would come tug on my pant leg and ask where "Dadie" went! It was adorable! So fun and I hope to do it again soon!!!
Back row: Lindsay O., Katelyn O., Wendy N., Amanda N., Brooke M., Jana A., Ethan A.
Front row: Ben M., Katie N., Myleigh O., Abby, Charlotte C., Levi C., Hannah A., Jake A.
Ben and Katie
Levi and Amanda
Katie and Ben working on some cherries.
Katie and Ben--taking turns being the boss!

Hannah, Jake, Katie, Ben found some shade.
Sure had fun! Let's do it again soon!!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Sleep Reprise



Remember my post a while ago on my kids sleep habits? Well, it's been topped! Katie fell asleep sitting up in her chair! After about 10 minutes she changes positions and as she relaxed, she slumped down further and further. I knew once I tried to move her, she'd wake up, so I left her for probably 20 minutes but worried she'd fall. Of course she woke up, but what fun to watch her!! It was hilarious and cute! I love that girl!!

Chicken Coop



Papa Jack (Nichols) had 8 baby chicks this spring and was busy building them a Chicken Coop to stay dry and roost. Brett went in one afternoon to get Katie up from her nap. She'd been busy--but not busy napping. She had changed her clothes to build something. What is that? "It's my chicken coop!" Made out of a library book and cardboard! Ingenious!

Create by Pres. Uchtdorf


I saw this on a friends blog and loved it so I thought I'd share it on mine. All I can say is "Amen".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k