Millie!

Guess who's two! Oh- that's right!

I loved my party. I HAD to dance.

These are the only two presents I cared about. Butterfly wings and my own telephone.
And here are some pictures from the past year.

Oops. Umm....mom?


I can be really goofy. My mom finally gave in and put this on me after I turned on the whine. I thought I looked pretty cool and admired myself for quite awhile.


I loved helping my brothers harvest the garden.

Mr. Potato Head glasses are where it's at. I love these things. I wear them everywhere. And a girl can't have too many purses.



I am crazy for water. Anytime my mom turns on a sprinkler, I pull off my clothes and head on over. Sometimes I even forget to take off my clothes.


I like to try things on. Shoes are usually my favorite.
Harvesting oranges last December.
I love my Daddy so much, and I'm pretty sure he's crazy about me, too!

And the biggest change of all in the past year.....I GOT HAIR!

We love you little lady, and can't imagine life without you!

Wednesday Buffet

Here are a few little things that were running through my mind as I laid the floor singing to my boys tonight....

I read a fascinating article in the New York Times today entitled "Are your friends making you fat?" So interesting. Obesity was not the focus, nor was avoiding fat people so you don't end up that way....but social mannerism movement studies that were intriguing, and also made me excited to continue making happy, healthy choices with the realization of the great effect it can have on those around me. Can't wait to discuss it with Mike tonight.

When I got home from mutual (church youth group that I help lead) I went upstairs to check on the boys and Jake was engrossed in Aesop's fables, and Andrew was settling in to bed wearing....blue gardening gloves. "They help keep my hands soft, Mom." (whatever, honey. Will they help you fall asleep faster?)

Just two weeks ago I was sad, realizing that our dress up stuff doesn't get used near as much as it used to, and then today.....

some adorable little girl decided she knew how to undress and dress herself and enjoyed herself very much. She was a clone trooper, then robin hood, then this. Looks like we may need to add a few female characters to the basket.

And we had fun making and eating peanut butter chocolate cookies. (After Jacob consumed too much dough he informed me that he "maybe isn't such a fan of peanut products after all.")

This is not to say we didn't have two very difficult hours trying to get homework done, or craziness at the dinnertime hour, or crankiness from the two year old when told she had to eat something this week besides cheese, but I just had to chuckle tonight at all the funny, sometimes odd, and varied things that can happen in the home in a typical day.

The Heavens Have Opened!

We have had a terrible drought this summer. One of those where we are filled with hope every time we see a grey cloud float into view, and then kind of get this ache when it blows away again. It's been in the hundreds since the beginning of June. It's now September.

Well, the stakes in the Austin area had a day dedicated to fasting and praying for rain last week. (along with fervent prayers from those of many other faiths, I'm sure.)

IT HAS BEEN RAINING WITHOUT STOPPING FOR ALMOST TWO DAYS.

CE........LEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON!!

I swear you can hear the grass, trees, and all living things gulping. Ahhhh....Makes me want to cry.

First Triathlon

What a fun day we had today! Up early for Mike's first triathlon. He smoked 'em in the water. Nice form, Mr. Michael.

Then he was off on his bike. The kids and I had a ton of fun moving all around to different locations to cheer him on. The boys shouted out "Clone helmet!" every time they saw someone ride past wearing one of those funky looking sideways-teardrop-shaped helmets. Reminded me of shouting "Slug bug!" when I was younger. Pardon the half captured image. It was always interesting to all of a sudden spot him and then frantically turn on the camera and shoot as fast as I could. I actually erased a number of pictures that were of total strangers.

Workin' it.

He finished!
700 meter swim
27 km (btwn 16 and 17 mile) bike ride
5k run
1 hour and 47 minutes
Not too shabby for his first time!

Afterwards we enjoyed some ice cream, while Mike enjoyed the free massages offered. Ahhh....

While waiting for Mike to be able to get his bike, the kids found their own entertainment. Climbing large dirt hills and camping out under a few giant toadstools.
Andrew is showing you the crystal he found, and yes, I make Amelia's hair cute in the morning, but it has a mind of it's own.

Then we threw in some delicious burgers and a 50 cent movie at a newly discovered discount theatre to make for the perfect day. We finally got to see the movie UP! and we LOVED it!

Happy Labor Day and gooooOOOOOOO MIKE!

**oops! I forgot that Mike also did a triathlon at both Utah State and BYU. But they were much shorter. So let's say this is his first Bigger Triathlon. (: