Happy 2nd Birthday to Eliza!

I hate to brag...but I will anyway... and say that I think I have the BEST 2 year old little girl EVER! Here are just a few reasons why...

1. She is sooo HAPPY! She gallops and hops everywhere she goes. Her positive energy is contagious!!

2. Very adaptable-and goes with whatever we are doing.

3.  She is polite and says (or signs) please and thank you constantly.

4. She loves to go to bed! Eliza begs to take naps and to go to bed at night. She still sleeps in her sleep sack, rubs her tags on her blankies, and has her binky.

5.She would let me read to her ALL day if I would. She loves books-especially "Blue's Clues" right now.

6. She will sit and watch a show so I can shower or get something else done. Her favorites are still "Signing Time", "Blue's Clues", and "Thomas the Train" books.

7.  She loves to be with me, but is also easy to leave with a babysitter, at nursery, or at the gym daycare.

8. She is SUPER social. Her favorite friend is Charlie Beardsley and someday they WILL get married.

9.  Eliza is a GREAT eater. She has started to get a bit more picky after watching her older siblings, but is generally pretty easy to please at mealtime.

10.  She loves to say her prayers. Because of her we pray A LOT! She reminds us to pray at mealtimes, before her naps, and before bed.

11. Just like Connor, she has a special preference for her Grandpa Mark. She would choose him over me any day! (In fact, it is amazing how similar Connor and Eliza are...(both looks and personality).

She certainly has her stubborn moments, but I can count on one hand how many tantrums she has thrown. How thankful we are to have this little girl in our family!!! We love her so much.

Here are some pictures of her birthday party. We waited to celebrate with cousins. 

I love this one!!

She plugged her ears when we sang...and I don't even think we were trying to sing "Westover" style.

Our family!

Trying out one of her birthday presents with Dad. She also got some Thomas trains, and some books. 

Bubbles in her face!

I think she liked the mac and cheese more than her cake!

Part Two: Adair Summer Visit

After a successful family reunion on the Olympic penninsula, the Adair's returned to our house for a few days. We were so happy to have them. Unfortunately, Emily and Tom were both plagued with a nasty virus so we didn't get to do quite as much as we wanted to, but I think the kids had a good time anyway. Here are a few things we did...

Watershed Park Hike

Playing with goop or gak...(not sure what its called but a cornstarch and water mixture-pretty fun and messy!)

Whipped Cream Fight!

Farmer's Market

Finding Starfish on the Sound

Bubbles in the backyard.

Tolmie State Park-These boys probably dug up 40 crabs! 

Cute Kiddos-Sad to say goodbye, but they were probably ready to get home after and LONG trip and being sick. Sure wish we lived closer to cousins.

Adair Cousin Visit August 2012

We literally waited half a year for the Adair cousins to come visit. Tom's family had a reunion here in Washington, so it was a good excuse to spend 2 weekends with us. Sadie asked me for months if it was "summer" yet and then had to wait until August. It was worth the wait.  Here are a few pictures from the first few days they were at our house...

Picnic at the park.

Cute girl cousins.

Handsome boys.

Playing in the river.

Lucy's "owie"

Ashley, Em, and I had a little pampering at the nail spa.

The finished product.

Pool in the backyard.

Donuts and fritters at Lattin's.  

We spent one afternoon at the pool since we had someone come look at our house. It was a bit inconvenient, but a fun day anyway!

More Summer Activities 2012

Just a few pictures of some happy things we did this summer. 

Dad and the girls at the Valley outdoor swimming pool.

Sadie did gymnastics classes.

She also did swim lessons.

Connor and Henry at Scout Camp!

Ensign Ranch Camping 2012

We got together with several families to go camping at Ensign Ranch again this year. This time Eliza got to come (she stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa last year). Ryan took Friday off and we were able to set up camp this year before it got too late. The kids, of course, loved running around in the dark with their friends, eating junk, and staying up late. Eliza spent a good portion of here night watching Thomas the Tank Engine in the tent.  After a typical terrible nights sleep, we had a good day on the giant slip and slide, horse back rides, and playing with friends. I decided that we camp for kids. They LOVE it! I think it is a lot of work and dirty.  Good thing I like them.

Ragnar 2012

Ryan decided to stay home with the kids this year while I went with my girlfriends (and Spenser :) to do the overnight Ragnar relay again. We were the "Motley Crue" and we all dressed up as different hair bands. I had WAY more fun this year because we got to shower and sleep in a clean hotel room for a few hours... Made SUCH a difference!  I also lucked out with great weather for my runs. The course is so beautiful and the friends were even better. Can't wait to do it again!