Emma's 2nd Birthday

I made Emma a very simple birthday cake and all I had to decorate it was mini Marshmallows.


We didn't do a lot for Emma's 2nd birthday, but she really enjoyed it. We took her camping the night before and she loooooooved that. She giggled all night long inside the tent. She did not want to leave in the morning. She is still walking around saying "hiking" and "camping."





She loved her cake and all the little presents we got for her from the dollar store.


She did not want to wait for the cake or for daddy to come in to sing happy birthday. She just wanted to EAT IT!

Madison's First Day of Kindergarten & Back to School Haircut

Madison just had to have a back-to-school haircut. So, the night before school started Daddy took her to get it cut. I sent very specific instructions for the hairdresser. Can't trust daddy or Madison to tell them right.


It was getting way too long to deal with. She has a much easier time with shorter hair, but we both like her with long hair. She really likes this hair cut, though.





Madison posing for pictures on her first day of school. She had to wear the Tinkerbell shirt on the first day. She has this huge backpack that she loves because it has Hannah Montana on the front. She still hasn't quite figured out how to carry it over one shoulder and usually just ends up with it hanging from her neck.




I got to go with her the first day and help her find her table and name in her new classroom. Her teacher's name is Ms. Seiter and she has tons of friends in her class. Most of her soccer team is also in her class.



Emma couldn't wait to go pick her up after school. She waited for them to line up in the hallway and then make sure that they could see us waiting. Emma was very excited when she came out to meet us that first day.

Hill Aerospace Museum with Aunt Kathy

They have this cute little ride-on airplane that is only for the little ones. Emma thought it was pretty cool, but wasn't very happy that I stopped pushing her around to take a picture.


We went to the Ogden Hill Aerospace Museum with my sister and her Cub Scouts this summer. It was our second trip this summer, but the girls just love it. They have the coolest airplanes. We can't drive anywhere without Emma pointing out an "air-pane" at the top of her lungs and saying it over and over until we acknowledge her.

Jacob City Trail on a Sunday Afternoon

Just north of Tooele is a canyon that we wanted to explore on a sunday afternoon. Jacob City Trail gave us some gorgeous views of Tooele valley and also of where Nick works, at the Army Chemical Depot.


First, we hiked up to the top of this little hill and posed for pictures, of course. We can't go anywhere without posing for pictures, thanks to me. I insisted that I be in at least one of them.




This is a far off shot of the Army Chemical Depot. Nick works in the farthest set of buildings.






Don't ask. I have no idea what Emma is doing. Madison and her are always sticking that silly flower on their heads and then refusing to take it off. Oh, well. It makes for some comical shots.



And of course, we can't go anywhere (and I really mean it) without looking for some fossils. Madison made sure to grab Daddy's rock hammer before we hiked up the road.




Madison is at the funniest stage right now. She has these poses that she does for pictures. She can't just stand there and smile, she has to "pose." Silly girl.


Another picture of the valley around Nick's work. It is sooooo pretty.

Stake Children's Parade & Pioneer Picnic

Here's Emma patiently waiting for the parade to begin.


This is our wards float. Madison is on the back playing with the bubble machine, about to fall out.



After the parade, the kids from our ward got flavored ice and Madison and her friend Jamie are hamming-it-up for the camera.



Madison kept begging Emma to let her ride on the stroller so she didn't have to walk. Here is one brief moment that Emma wasn't screaming at her to get off and leave her alone. It's cute, though.



Our wards booth was face painting, so both girls got in line. Emma refused to stop touching it until it dried, so it was a little messy.



Both girls did the obstacle course and loved it. They had a separate course for the little ones and Emma went with a couple kids from her nursery class.





Madison took her turn at Gunny-sack races while Emma colored on the sidewalk with chalk. We had fun and, again, it was all FREE! Love it.