The Front Porch

Before the weather turned into a smothering hot, wet blanket, we loved playing outside everyday with our cute neighbor Paisley!
Most days we are in the backyard, but this particular day we played on the front porch.
(Which has pretty good lighting I might add)
It was a fun morning, and Laurel and I both got in some good practice with our cameras.
I got some goodies of Paisley.
It's nice to have a new subject to photograph. Not that I don't think my kids are adorable - because they are... they just start pulling the same old faces. And they are sick of me taking their picture too. I assume that because Brinkley has started turning her head away when I pull out the camera. The stinker.

Poor Brinkley

My poor daughter can't stay bruise/scrape free this summer.
Here's the scoop on her sad little face:
She was going down the neighbor's slide. She somehow ended up going face first into the cement, giving her that scrape on her upper cheek.
The very next day, she was {naughtily} climbing on top of a picnic table at the park. And again, somehow, ended up face first on the cement.
She got two new scrapes, one on her hairline and another on her forehead. She also re-scraped her cheek.
I never quite catch how these things happen. I only see the face-plant and then the tears.
They have healed up nicely. Just so you know.

I Vant to Suck Your Blood...

Darcy grew fangs.
I'm just sorry I couldn't get a better picture of them.
It is too stinking funny.

Cheese Please.

Choking children freak me out.

Therefore, I am always pretty careful about making sure I cut my babies food into teeny tiny pieces.
So much for that.
After meticulously cutting some cheese into little Darcy-sized pieces, apparently I left the block of cheese within reaching distance.
I turned around to see Darcy gnawing on the cheese like nobody's business.
On the bright side, at least she's not a picky eater.
Been there. Going through that.
{Brinkley. Ahem.}

Makeup

I was making dinner for the missionaries. Darcy was napping and Brinkley was peacefully playing.
Maybe a little too peacefully.
Mommy beware when the children are quiet.
She came into the kitchen looking like she had leprosy.
She's all, "Mommy look. Makeup messy."
Ya think?
I tried to wipe it off. It kind of just smeared around and left a magical trail of glitter on her forehead.
That glittery goop made its way straight into the garbage can.

Columbus, Ohio

Every other month or so, we pack up the car and head to Columbus for a little temple trip.
It always seems to rain like crazy whenever we drive there. Kind of scary. But I figure we will be kept safe since we are going to the temple. Right? :)


Josh works in the temple for about 4 hours while we are there, which gives me and the girls a little time to kill.
This past time, we decided to have ourselves a little picnic under a quaint grove of trees by our hotel. Darcy napped (miraculously) while Brinks and I ate our yummy picnic lunch.
The weather was perfect... until it started to rain. So we spent some time in Petsmart too.
What. The animals and dog toys keep my kids entertained okay?

After that we walked around the temple grounds... until it started to rain on us. Again.
So, w e just camped out under the gazebo. I attempted to get pictures of the splattering rain. Not too easy with a squirmy Darcy in my arms.

It was a good afternoon. Especially since the kiddos slept most of the way home.

three.

So, you turned three.
If I had to sum you up in one word it would be... fun.
However, I am not limited to one word, so let me go on.

You are a bright ray of sunshine in our home. You wake up happy everyday.
You are so smart, and you learn so much everyday.
You adore books.
I often find you reading in your room all alone, but you also love to be read to.
You are constantly asking "what you doin' mom?" when I answer you always reply "oh."
You are so sweet to always be concerned when something goes wrong.
You can be a little crazy person running around the house.
You love anything princess.
You scream and squeal, really loud... in a fun way.
You love to paint. You paint about 20 pictures a week!
You love to be outside. You love to pick dandelions and are afraid of bugs.
You love your friends.
You are really good at saying prayers now. You remind us at meals that it is "prayers time."
You are a show off, and it's cute.
You make your baby sister laugh.
You wear dresses everyday and refuse to wear pants.
You love to be tickled.
You are still attached to your lion.

Happy birthday girlie. We love you.

So, we were trying to teach Brinkley to tell people she is three when they ask how old she is.
So, we would practice.
"Brinkley, how old are you?"

Her answer?
"Eighteen."

Love this girl.