Snowbird with Sarah

Bart's sister Sarah and her husband Joe were staying at a Condo at Snowbird and invited us up for a night. We had a great time swimming in the pool, soaking in the hot tub on the deck, playing on Sarah's Iphone and mostly just having fun with Jane's favorite person Sarah. Thanks Sarah!!

Just like her grandma

There are many times I'll be up at my in-laws and my mother in law suddenly disappears. When I inquire where she went the usual response is something like "Oh she just took dinner, cinnamon rolls etc.. to a neighbor in need."
Last night I was so proud when I saw a little of Nona in Emily. After dinner Emily looked out the window and wondered if our little raspberry bush had fruit on it yet. I told her to go check. She ran out the door only to emerge a moment later excitingly exclaiming Oh yeah it's loaded. So she grabbed a plastic bowl and ran back out and spent the better part of an hour picking raspberries. When she came back in the house she said "I'd like to give these to our neighbors". So she put them in a few zip lock bags told Jane to come along then told me they could do it alone and delivered her raspberries to the neighbors.

A Herd of Cows

On a couple of money saving blogs they posted that if you come to Chick-Fil-A if dressed up like a cow you get a free meal. I knew we were going to be in the area that day and since my girls have a cow and a cat (that could easily convert into a cow) costume I joked to Bart that we could dress them up and get a couple kids meals for free. When my girls caught wind of the idea they wanted all of us to dress up. Because Bart and I (mostly Bart) are suckers to our girls request we decided to all dress up. So I rounded up a graduation gown and put spots on it for Bart and then I pathetically put on the closest black and white thing I owned with a white knitted baby cap (thanks Mary) and we were off. I'd say it was the easiest but most embarrassing (I still happy we didn't see anybody we knew) free meal I ever earned.

2 parades, a horse ride, a fashion show, a slip and slide, a few 4 wheeler rides, roasting smores, fireworks and a whole lot of hamburgers.........

pretty much sums up our 4th of July activities. My girls had so much fun spending the weekend in Teasdale with all their cousins. They were so great to share the scooters, swings, and bikes, especially with Raquel's cute kids Dayson and Dylan. During the parade Jane was on a personal mission to make sure every single piece of candy was picked up off the road. Emily had a blast with Bentley. They play so well together. They compliment each other well. For instance Emily was not about to get on that horse by herself until she saw Bentley jump up on it first then Emily had no fear. After Grandma Becky got out a box of clothes she bought for the girls at a garage sale Emily immediately wanted to do a fashion show and Bentley was all for it. So the three girls took the clothes and put on a fabulous show. At church one of the primary teachers asked Bentley if she was with her cousin and she said "No I'm with my sister" Emily agreed. Always a good time in Teasdale!!

Time to read

Cousin Max came for a play date. After some time playing in the kiddie pool and running through the sprinkler it was time for Jane to go down for a nap. I told Jane to get me a book to read her and Max confidently yet so politely said "I know how to read" I asked him if he'd like to read Jane her nap time book. So the three of them crowded in the pink chair while Max read "Dick and Jane" it was the cutest thing ever. Max so smoothly read "Look Duck, Look, See Jane. Jane loved Max reading to her. He's such a sweetheart!

Super Sized Bathroom

The bathroom is complete. I love how open and clean it feels. Bart loves the raised shower head and extra long tub with specialty jets for a real deep massage. Here's the finished results.

Sisters vacation

My mom, all five of her girls, and my niece Belle, who was invited because she doesn't wine when she's had enough shopping and can take herself to the bathroom, went to visit my sister Allyson in California for a long weekend. So what did we do in California with 7 girls all crammed into a mini van? Shop of course! Well at least for one day we did. But first Ally, Sarah and I went to the Newport Beach temple. Then we all headed up to the Camarillo outlets which is close to Ventura. We literally shopped until we all dropped. My mom was so proud she could still out shop all of us.



The next day we spent most of the day at Ventura. Ally, Belle and I, the early risers, hit a farmers market where we bought "picked this morning strawberries". Yummy! We then gathered the troops and rented us 5 and 2 man "curry" bikes and made our way up the beach for a couple of hours. This young boy pegged it right when we passed him and he said Wow I didn't know a bike could hold that many people. I'm sure we looked like a site but it was all a good time.

After the bike ride my mom treated us to lunch at a restaurant on the pier. There's nothing like fresh clam chowder. We then headed back to Seal beach. Most of the gang went and got pedicures then a quick stop by Marshals, yes I know more shopping, and then we ended the day at yogurt land. Like my new purse? I was debated between this one and another one. What sold me was this guy walked by as I was comparing the two and said "Wow that color makes your eyes POP" and walked on. I'm not sure I've ever noticed the color of a purse matching someones eyes but I was sold.

Sunday was nice. We all went to church and then hung out making dinner, bickering a little, and laughing a lot at Allyson's place.

I'm hoping, hint hint, that we can make this an annual occurrence. I love spending time with my sisters and my mom.