Our Summer

I think these two pictures sum up our summer nicely:

No How's That for a Coincedence?

Look what showed up outside our house this morning!!!

For a second I thought they were coming to our house to check why our fire alarms went off so many times last night. When I realized they were only checking the fire hydrant, I could breathe again.

Plus, how would they know if our fire alarm went off?

Would they????

Fire Safety

Tonight for Family Night we learned about Fire Safety. Or at least our basic version of Fire Safety. We learned 4 things:

1.) What we do if there is a fire in our house
Get out of the house and meet at our designated meeting spot (aka: the light pole at the end of our driveway)

2.) What we do if there is a fire on us
Stop, Drop, and Roll of course!

3.) How many fire alarms are in our house
5 - it was fun letting the girls find them and count them

4.) What the fire alarms sound like
I could've done without this one, but it was a must

I can't even tell you how much fun we had!

We would practice going to our meeting place by each hiding in a different room. We would take turns being the person who would yell "FIRE!!!" and then everyone would get out of the house as fast as they could and meet at the meeting place. The girls got a kick out of it. McKenna would even yell "Fire! Fire!" the whole time until she reached the light post.

Then we practiced our Stop, Drop, and Rolls out on the grass. Katie was a little Ms. Smarty as usual. When I asked her what she thought we should do if there was a fire on us, she gave me LOTS of logical answers like "Put water on it!" or "Blow it out!" or even "Take off your clothes!" (She thinks like her dad - always can think of many logical answers on her own) Finally she did think that the Stop, Drop, and Roll was the most fun answer because her and McKenna could practice over and over again.

Our Fire Safety: Lesson 1 has been completed.
And quite successfully I might add!

Brookie

Mostly for Grandmas and other family members that haven't met our little Brookie yet, but also for those of you who just love babies! Here is a short video of her doing what she does best - just hanging out in her swing and be as sweet as can be. Maybe she will be a singer like her sisters?

Oh I just love this baby!

4th of July

We had a GREAT 4th of July this year!
We started the morning watching the hot air balloons fly over Provo!
It was so much fun! We really wanted to be there to watch them all take off but we didn't quite wake up early enough. But we had a wonderful view of all of the balloons from the Smith's parking lot and had a lot of fun watching them. There is a pink piggy bank hot air balloon that we look for every year, and sure enough - it was there!

After watching the balloons, we headed over to the parade. This was the first year that we have gone to the parade and we had a blast! It definitely helped that our good friends invited us to share their spot. People go a little crazy around here and spend the night on the parade route just to get a good spot. Maybe that's why I've never really wanted to go. I just assumed we wouldn't get a good spot and I definitely wasn't willing to spend the night sleeping on the sidewalk just for a parade.

But we sure did have fun - thanks Browns!
Here are some shots from the parade:

McKenna was a little afraid of this one ("Doff Bader")- being the first character in the parade I was afraid we weren't going to make in when she was already asking to go home...

This is Katie motioning and saying "Don't Shoot!" to the Minute Men firing their muskets.

And I enjoyed lots of Mom & Kid time sitting, waiting for, and watching the parade.

That's my kind of holiday...

No parade is complete without a Captain America!

Or a tank

Or a pirate :)

When we got home from the parade, we all passed out - ALL of us - and napped until lately afternoon. Again, my kind of holiday...

Later that evening we had some friends & neighbors over for a BBQ and fireworks.

We busted out the pool and I am happy to report that McKenna is not as afraid of the blow up whale pool as she was of the pool at Gearhart. Phew!

And we had these YUMMY kabobs (our new favorite grill item) and hot dogs, plus all sorts of yummy BBQ sides, including homemade ice cream. Yum.

Sweet Brookie enjoying the summer evening

And nothing cures a fear of loud fireworks quite like a Daddy hug...

The evening was completed with a latenight movie on Mom & Dad's bed while Mom & Dad cleaned up.

I Know I Know I Know...

I know I have a lot of catching up to do, and I PROMISE it is coming...
I'm just not sure when.
Perhaps this weekend...

Just know that we are happy, healthy, and having a fabulous summer.

Never Too Big

It is quiet time now, and even though Katie doesn't really take naps anymore, she still has quiet time. Especially today because I have lots to get done before our roadtrip tomorrow and I just need the break.

Anyway...
Katie just snuck out of the playroom (where she has quiet time), tiptoed over to me, slid her hands around my waist (she can barely reach all the way around me) and said, in her sweetest voice:

"You're never too big for a hug, Mom."

Thanks?

Kiddie Kandid: Faces Collection

Katie 4

McKenna 2

Brooke 3 mo.

I love how they all have the right cheek dimple :)

I can't wait to get these framed and on the wall.

Happy Summer!

Special Daddy

McKenna and I came home from church today after Sacrament Meeting because she has a nasty cough, is losing her voice, and we just didn't feel like "spreading the love" today in nursery. So, we came home. She just helped me put all the ingredients in the crockpot for dinner (creamy crockpot chicken is on the menu - yum!) and she kept saying:

"Mmmm! I'm making this dinner for my special daddy!"

Conversation Between Sisters

Yesterday Katie motioned McKenna into the playroom and said:

Katie: McKenna, we need to talk.

McKenna: Taco?! Oh! Great!

Katie: No McKenna, not a taco, we need to TAAAALK

McKenna: Taco?

Katie: No, TALK

McKenna: Taco Bell?

Katie: NO! WE NEED TO TALK!

McKenna: Oh, ok Katie, let's talk.

McKenna Date

A little while ago...wow, actually about a month ago...McKenna and I went on our first official McKenna Date. She was so excited to get in the car by herself.

She had started noticing when we would go on Katie Dates and started asking to go on McKenna Dates (is a 2 year old supposed to be able to make that connection?) So, we scheduled one and put it on the calendar. To avoid tears and tantrums at Girl Date time, we have decided to trade off months and put it on the calendar so they can "see" when it's their turn and prepare themselves when it's not. Hopefully it works.

For McKenna's first date we went to the mall. There is a Disney Store where we needed to pick up a birthday present for Katie, and also a fun indoor play space (that isn't connected to a fast food place, which is nice). McKenna was so good in the Disney Store. She walked around, looked and everything, and kept saying "Look Mama!" at all the characters she recognized. She was just excited to be there and didn't ask for one thing! I am not used to that :) After purchasing the giant coloring book for Katie (for only $4.99!!!) we headed over to the place space.

She had fun in the tree house,

climbing up to look over the side and yell "Look at me Mama!"
sliding down the slide,
playing on the new dinosaur bones,

and playing with the big ball water fountain thing (like the one they have at the Hogle Zoo).
On our way out we found a mini-carousel in the arcade - the perfect size for McKenna. She LOVED that the most, and held on for her dear life :)

We had a blast. Girl Dates are a great thing. I love being able to connect with each of them on their own (a thing I rarely get to do in our daily routine of craziness), and to be able to really get to know them. I really love it and feel lucky to be able to go out with each one of them alone.

Happy Birthday Spencer & Lucy!!!

Meet George

Katie came to me the other day with Dave's scriptures in her hand and said "I'm going on vacation, Mom."

The conversation continued as follows:

Katie: I'm going on vacation, Mom

Me: Where are you going?

Katie: To visit my husband.

Me: Oh! What is your husband's name?

Katie: Um...I don't know. I haven't named him yet.

Me: How about George?

Katie: Um....(looking up out of the corner of her eye in thought)...ya. His name is George.

Me: What does George look like?

Katie: I don't know.

Me: Is he tall?

Katie: No.

Me: Is he short?

Katie: No, he's just like me. He takes two vitamins. Ok Mom, I'll see ya later!

Me: Where are you going?

Katie: To George's house.

Me: Where does he live?

Katie: In the playhouse.

(after going in the backyard with her scriptures - which I'm assuming was her suitcase - she returns with a bouqet of dandelions.)

Katie: These are my flowers, Mom, for when me and George get married. Take a picture.

Me: Don't you want George in the picture?

Katie: Oh! Yes! (runs to the back door, opens it, motions for George to come inside)

Me: Say cheese!

**see above picture of Katie & George on their wedding day :)

Mothers' Day Tradition

When I was growing up, we had the tradition of going to Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Watertown, MA every Mothers' Day. The cemetery is huge, and full of beautiful landscaping, fountains, statues, and architecture. The blossoms were always at the peak of their bloom on Mothers' Day. We would always go right after church, in our Sunday clothes, spend the afternoon walking through the cemetery, wading in the fountains, and paying our respects to all the dead Moms (and celebrating our own mother too, of course!) She loves the beauty of nature, which made this tradition very fitting for Mothers' Day.

Last year, I requested to start our own tradition of visiting the dead Moms out here in Utah on Mothers' Day. I, like my mother, also love being outside and enjoying a beautiful, relaxing, spring afternoon in the sun. I can't think of a better way to spend and afternoon with my family. And since I get my way on Mothers' Day, to the cemetery we go. My Grandma Hopkin is buried in Orem, so of course we visit her, bring her flowers, and spend some time there. This year was extra special because my parents, brother Brian, and Aunt & Uncle joined us.

And of course, each year we will take a picture of the three Bonitas.

(my middle name is after my Grandma Hopkin's first name, which is also McKenna's middle name - in case you needed clarification)

Katie's 4th Birthday

Of course, the Birthday Fairy came and left fun things for the girls to find in the morning.

cute dresses (SO easy to make - just sew one seam!) and sand toys to play in the "sandbox" (volleyball court) at the park.

Katie was so lucky to have BOTH sets of Grandparents here for her birthday (and Brooke's blessing).

Katie LOVES the Glitter Lava and other fun things from Gran and Gramps.

She especially loves the glitter crayons - THANK YOU!

the girls blowing out Katie's candles on her birthday cupcake.

Katie and her Birthday Pillowcase!

her first big girl bike!

All day Katie kept reminding us that she was now four which meant she was grown up and could lots of things she couldn't do when she was three. For example...

"It's not good to pick your nose. I shouldn't pick my nose anymore because I'm four now."

"I can listen so good because I'm four."

"I'll flush the toilet, because I'm four now."

"I'll eat four bites because I'm four!"

"I can ride a bike because I'm four."

(LOL!!!)

The day after her birthday she had her friend party.

A PINKALICIOUS party, of course :)

She was so happy

we had these cute cupcakes - some with white frosting and pink flowers, others with pink frosting and white flowers (the flower petals are just marshmallows cut with scissors. SO CUTE and SO EASY!)

Katie loves her friends!

group picture.

Katie has the cutest, sweetest, nicest friends. That makes for a very happy mama :)

Party Activities:

- decorate paper cupcakes (see picture above)

- cupcake walk

- read "Pinkalicious"

- treasure hunt for goodie bag prizes

- freeze dance (of course!)

Oh, and this one too

Can you see the smile behind that binkie?

(Brooke turned 2 months on May 11th)