Pictures from today...I got lazy and made slideshows!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Father's Day Darren!

sweet. sweet. Daddy and Ayla reading "Pinkalicious" Darren,

For Father's Day this year, I wanted to be sure you knew exactly what you mean to me...to 'us'...to your family. The simple explanation would be "You're everything" but that's much too vague. I made a small list of just some of the wonderful things I appreciate about you.

You are smart, trustworthy, funny, honest, true, tolerant, kind, responsible, attractive, loving, sensitive, sweet, thoughtful, fair, giving, hard working, sincere and fun.

You are full of faith and a constant reminder to me, of how blessed we truly are.

You are a fantastic provider allowing for things I've never expected.

Today and every day, you are a father. A playful, loving, teaching, patient father. Watching you and Ayla on a daily basis makes me so proud to be your wife and the mother of your child. My hope for us is that we continue on this incredible journey we're on, because together...we're amazing. You truly are our world and we love you to the moon!

Happy Father's Day

Jamie

Art by..........

Okay moms and dads(babysitters, nannies anyone who cares for kids really)...have I got a summer fun idea for YOU!! Ayla and I have been looking for fun things to do outside. We blow bubbles, play with sidewalk chalk, go for wagon rides to the park, play in our sandbox and ride bikes every.single.day. We fill her small pool when it's warm enough and have pulled out the Mickey Mouse sprinkler a couple of times(we need warmer weather for that). It's fun, but our days become very repetative and we're both excited when we find something new to do.

I've considered sidewalk paint as she LOVES to paint and would paint 3 times a day if I let her. So to help foster her creativity and give us a new activity, we decided to give it a try. SO MUCH FUN!! We painted for an hour this morning and it was a great time. It's not nearly as messy as regular old indoor painting on paper and we love to be outside too. I bought a Crayola set with 3 bottles of paint, a paint tray, a brush and a spong eroller for $9.44. We also picked up some extra brushes for another $4.00. So, $15 later we have hours of fun....but that isn't even the best part!! I'm starting to sound like an infomercial, huh?? Haha. Anyway, you can actually MAKE sidewalk paint for next to nothing price-wise AND it is completely earth friendly and non toxic. I bought the start up kit only because I wanted the paint tray **blushing**.

So...making paint. One part cornstarch, one part water and a few drops of food coloring! How easy is that? It doesn't stain because the food coloring is so dilute and it couldn't be anymore "green" for our Mother Earth. I'm very excited, pathetic I know - but remember - It's me and a 2 year old for 12 hours a day...it doesn't take much.

Super fun...look at her go

She's making "paw prints"

Getting very serious now

Our first Monster-isms and an Ayla-ism

Monster-isms.....these are different than Ayla-isms because they are things Ayla DOES rather than what she says. Some are also fantastic combos. This child is spirited, smart, funny and way too verbal ;)

Yesterday when I was in the shower, Ayla was playing in her bedroom. I walked in there to see what she was doing when I finished my shower and she was sitting on her bed with Gracie(Our very sweet and very kid friendly 65lb dog). When Ayla saw me she jumped and said "Not put me in timeout" That would be because she took a 32 oz bottle of Baby Magic Soap and COVERED Gracie with it. Soooo, 30 minutes of rinsing later....I think we got half of the soap out of poor Gracie's hair!!

A few days before the soap incident, Ayla was walking around with a toothpick. As I was carrying laundry past the living room I saw her out of the corner of my eye standing near our other dog, Boston. Boston is the same size as Grace, somewhat tolerant of her but not nearly as kid friendly. He would never hurt her but gets annoyed with her fairly quickly. Anyway, he's standing there completely unaware of Ayla. Ayla is standing behind him with a toothpick about an inch away from his uh....rectum. I screech "AYLA STOP!!! We don't put toothpicks in butts!!" I have to say there was never a time in my life before that moment that I'd ever imagined those words would come out of my mouth. Her response? "Oh, okay Mommy" My mistake, I guess I should have told her that before!?

Ayla-ism - This morning I was getting her dressed. I put a flowy, white poplin shirt on her and she looked down and exclaimed(not stated, but exclaimed) "Oh Mommy, thank-you! Now I can get married today !!" I had no idea that she knew the word married. I asked who she was going to marry and she said "Ummmmm, I don't know yet." Wow. This evening when Darren asked her, she said "Uh, CALEB!" Duh Daddy, did you even have to ask?

This is sweet Gracie girl...she's getting old and it makes me so sad.

And here is Boston bad-boy, God love him

A taste of Omaha

On Saturday we ventured downtown for a Taste of Omaha. The weather was great and the kids had a good time. We went with my mom, Sue, Tom, Sabrina, Holly, Jeff and our kids. It was great entertainment for the kiddos who ran around the entire time.

Ayla got her face painted. She REALLY wanted to but I wasn't sure she'd actually let them do it. She did and sat as still as a statue Here's pink butterfly girl. She picked it out all by herself, she was very proud
Caleb and Ayla being silly....they were so sweaty from running
On the train

Riding a motorcycle

The Greatest Show on Earth!

We went to the circus on Friday and it was so much fun. Ayla was excited and mesmerized by all of the action. We were in the front row and in the "Circus Celebrity" section...too funny. Basically this meant that aside from having an amazing view, clowns and characters came to shake hands and say hello during the show. There was also a 20 minute period where we went out onto the arena floor and were guests to the action. It was fun. This is what our seat covers looked like...hahaha!! This is the fabulous $10 snocone....yep, ten big ones!
The Ringmaster saying hello and shaking Ayla's hand during the show

We were so close, we could almost touch the people as they walked by

End of the show...notice the VIP passes around our necks, too funny

I almost forgot....

While we were in Boise, Ayla had fun playing in a small plastic wading pool. It was in Lesley and Nathan's front yard. Weeeeeell, Ayla decided that as soon as her swimsuit got wet, she wanted it off. Every. Single. Time. This meant that she spent some naked time in the front yard. Here she is doing some sidewalk chalk in the driveway. Bwahahahah!!!!!