Nature

(pictures taken end of July)

I love photography.  I love capturing the moments, big and small.  I love being a "fly on the wall" with my camera when it comes to my kids.  I'm always trying to get better and improve so much about my pictures, but at the end of the day, I'm just so thankful for all the memories that I have captured on my camera over the years.  It's sad, but so many memories are forgotten, and so many more would be forgotten if I didn't have the pictures to look back on.  Photographs are such a blessing.  My kids are such a blessing.  I want to remember every little detail of them!!

books.

After bathtime I realized it was extremely quiet in the kids' rooms. Usually they have the music blaring in Ella's room while they dance and play.  I walked down the hall to see Easton's door closed and as I hesitantly opened the door, I came upon this scene...one that always makes me smile.  It's like he knew what I was thinking because he immediately looked up at me and said 

"Mommy, we're just reading books.  I really really love this one!" 

Turn up the volume!!

Cause we're having a DANCE PARTY!  

To get a deeper look into our dance parties, and to check out Easton's stellar moves, click this link for a fun video!  

Scenes from our weekend, part II

1. Thank you to Uncle Lanyon who purchased and set up a new deer feeder for us since Michael is working so much and can't make it a priority...we have LOVED watching the deer morning and night and noticing the "regulars" who come often, including 4 bucks and lots of doe.
2. I really enjoy early mornings outside with all four of us.
3. I love Easton's new boxers and its an added bonus that they have little black labs all over them!
4. Ella can't get enough of her 4-wheeler, and Hutson showed her where the "bumps" are.
5. Easton has officially taken over the balance bike and we really need to buy him his own helmet.
6. Daddy was home on Sunday!!
7. The kids LOVE riding the "big 4-wheeler" that Uncle Lanyon and Mason are currently storing at our house.
8. My kids fall for the trick "don't smile, don't look at my camera!" every. single. time.  I just need to remember to use it more often!
9. Boys and mud...
10. Our first monopoly, jr. game with Ella...it only took us 2 days to finish.  I forgot how long that game is but we both loved it!

Scenes from our weekend, part 1

1. We loved being home this weekend...ALL weekend!

2. Ella loves to make her bed.  She asks me to help her with the sheets and blanket but her favorite part is placing the pillows, animals, babies and folding her little blankets

3. We loved Legoland and bought one toy while we were there.  Ella was great at following the directions and building her toy using little legos for the first time ever.

4. She loves her new 4 wheeler and Easton is jealous!

5. So thankful for a sister and nephew who came to visit while Michael was working all day.

Ella's new toy!

Friday night the kids and I were outside hanging out, playing basketball when we got a fun surprise visit!  

Aunt Kim, McKenna, and Mason came by to bring Ella's belated birthday gift!!  Before she even knew what it was, Easton hopped on and took off!  It was hilarious!  He has never even driven a car with a foot pedal but he somehow knew exactly what to do.

Soon, he gave it back to Ella and she was so excited but yet so shy that she wouldn't even ride it that evening.  She was a little scared too that it would go too fast after having seen Easton take off on it.  It has 2 speeds so it does go faster then anything they are used to.  

I loved how Easton brought his 4-wheeler right next to it.  Easton wanted so badly to ride Ella's again, but he respected that it was her new toy!

The next day, I laughed when she asked Easton to drive it down the hill for her.  She was still scared it would go too fast.  He got it on level ground for her and then she rode it and hasn't looked back since!  She is in LOVE and rides it all the time!

So thank you to Aunt Kim, Uncle Lanyon, Mckenna, Mason, Aunt Keri, Uncle Lawrence, Payton, Preston, Granny and Grandpa for both of my kids' 4-wheelers!  They LOVE them so much and they provide hours of entertainment in our driveway!