For Tina and Fred

My cousin Tina recently posted about how her youngest being at that point where she wants to feed her self. I have been dreading that day- but I guess it is here.

Ella didn't want me to feed her yogurt this morning. and oh what a mess it was. The banana mushed everywhere didn't help either.
Sadly- we can't compete with Fred- He seems to be King of Messes- Maybe Ella could be his Queen.

Darren's 32nd Birthday.

I posted the pictures backwards so I guess you will have to see the day backwards. We celebrated Saturday and Sunday. Sunday night we had ice cream pie with family and Kyle.

We hiked to Lake Mary up at Brighton Ski Resort- This is actually Dog Lake behind us.

Tyler is hiking a lot this summer. The wildflowers are in full bloom and it just feels wonderful be up in the mnts.
Darren started his weekend with a bike race. I had the camera all ready - right settings, good lighting and picked up Ella to put her in the stroller to wheel us over to the finish line- and ... stinky diaper... the quick contemplation of change it or take Darren's picture as he goes over the finish line. Silly me- I thought I could change it quick- I looked up from changing her diaper as he wizzed across the finish line. so this is our finish line picture.
This was us waiting for Dad at the top. It was very cold and I didn't bring a jacket so we were staying warm (from the wind) in our car.
Happy Birthday Darren- we love you!

The secret map

We followed a map (drawn by Darren's coworker) to a secret place where they keep the Savage Trains. Oh boy, we had one excited three year old.

Don't worry Grandpa Balls - Tyler says he will take you back to see them again. In fact he asked if you could come drive down today so HE could go see them again TODAY!

This is my daugther

Earlier I posted a picture of Tyler stuffing his face with green salad. Clearly not my child.

This though- Proves Ella is my child! Shoving hot bread, lathered with butter on it... right into her mouth. LOVE IT!

side note- these pictures make her look like she has red hair - she doesn't - blond as can be.

Ogden with the Texans

I only have one brother and he married a great wife- I got to hang out with her this week in Ogden. The Treehouse museum is great. Our kids are of an age where Jeana and I can actually talk for a few minutes and not just run around like crazy chasing kids. It was a nice day.

We stopped over at the Solomon Center for pizza and games. Funny thing is these four kids didn't need any tokens for their favorite games. They just sat and pretended to play and didn't know any different. Ella and Sophie just ran around. Seth- not pictures- used all the free tokens I had and then bought the kids all some treats at the end.
The other favorite ride- This one only cost one token- If only kids entertainment levels would stay this cheap their whole lives!
Here is a picture of our future doctors. Besides the trains and firetrucks this was their favorite place. Seth is looking in a microscope, and Spencer and Tyler were trying to assemble the body behind them.

June

I just downloaded our camera and had pictures from May on there- BOTHER!!!

My sis Candy says I don't post enough of Ella. She is such a hoot. She does the funniest things and laughs all the time. She only slows down and cuddles with you if your lucky!

Cousin Issac came to stay for a week. We made brownies and two kids needed to lick the batter.
My mom always said I was going to be her concert pianist. In that I failed but maybe my kids will be.

Happy 4th of July

We had a great weekend with just our little family. It is nice to just slow down and not go everywhere and do everything. Tyler and Ella both had balloons at the Sandy Fireworks show. Tyler has a sword - Ella had a dog.

Ella has been battling a fever for 3 days- but today is on the mend.

It's about time... I know

I have thought of all the things I should post about, but never taken the time to do it. Life just never slows down - does it?

My four pictures tell a story about the last couple of weeks. Tyler has been earning money so he could buy a garbage truck. His two friends Stephen and Wesley have one so he wanted one too. Thanks to our great friend Tammy, she got it for us half off- $8.50 is a lot of money for a three year old. (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Balls he earned two dollars really easy) We got the truck from Tammy and he still had to earn 7 dimes. He didn't leave my side on Monday until he had earned all of them. WOW! He loves his garbage truck!

This is my typical husband. (not the socks but I thought it was funny) Sadly, I never thought I would have married a computer nerd but those iPhones are too much. He cant leave it alone- EVER! - notice the iphone in one hand and the laptop in the other-
I just had eye surgery- It is a procedure like Lasik but not Lasik. It is called PRK- It means my vision wont really be clear for two weeks- I can drive ... now... but things are just a bit blurry still. I have awesome sunglasses to wear to keep all wind and dirt out of my eyes- Ella loves them. She stole Aunt Renee's for this picture.
Two things to this picture- we were a one car family for a week and a half. Someone hit our truck and took forever to fix. Also, we have had my sister Jenny from Spokane here for a week. Party time with Isaac her son. Tyler and him spent tons and TONS of hours together. In this picture Tyler is waiting for Isaac to show up. So he scooted the piano bench over so he could see him when he drove up.
Darren has a conference in Odgen for all managers and spouses in his company. I am looking forward to being pampered, fed, catered too, sleeping in, exercising, and reading. Thanks Pat and Seth for taking the kids- If we haven't shown up by Sunday- you better just keep them!

because I want to remember this...some days I forget

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing, and so you are not surprised. But presently, He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of — throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace.”       -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity