Friends

I have become very close to two girls in my neighborhood who have kids the same age as mine. Our kids are all close in age and they really do get along great, despite the normal sharing issues, but that's normal for 2 and 3 year olds, right?

Today we decided to go to Doug's parent's house to play in the water in their backyard. They were so good and had SO much fun with one another. These boys are really so close and always ask about one another when they are not together. It is such a sweet little friendship and I just love watching them play together. Oh...to be a kid again!

We are making sure that we let these boys play together as much as possible within the next month because Rocco and his family are moving {sniff, sniff}. I just keep telling myself that just because they're moving doesn't mean we won't see them. I will make sure that we still see each other often.

The Three Amigos...Kaden, Rocco, and Noah
Drying out after playing in the water. Oh, and that's my cute little niece, Maren, in the back. She's a cutie!
Noah was a pro when it came to laying out. He loves soaking up the sun :).

Maya is a "little Mommy" to Leah whenever they are together.

Leah would have played in the kiddie pool all day...she really does love the water that much!

And it's even more fun when you have a cool new toy to play with!

We LOVE to Swim!

Summer = Swimming

{and a lot of it!}

I have always loved swimming...LOVED it! So, on a day where we have nothing planned...I pack up everything and off to the pool we go! I am thankful that Noah and Leah enjoy it just as much as I do. I am also thankful that I put Noah in swimming lessons this summer...boy was that a good investment! If you ask me, there is no better way to spend a nice summer day than at the pool...we love it that much! I don't want summer for this reason alone.

When the Kelly family was here, we spent a lot of time at the pool. I love this picture of Leah cuddling with Suzi. Precious!

Noah got really attached to Sam and wanted to be by his side whenever we were together. Sam was so nice to take Noah down the slide over and over again! I love the look on Noah's face!

Oh boy...

Hannah was SO good with Leah while they were here! I'm glad that I got a picture of them together :).

Noah had a tight grip on Sam....sorry Sam. Seriously...Noah was everywhere Sam was when they were here.

A few weeks ago we decided to go to the waterpark with the kids. Noah had a BLAST going down the slides with Doug.

Leah had a blast going on the Lazy River with me, eating cookies, and being the cute girl that she is. The kiddie pool was closed when we went...just our luck!

There is a brand spankin' new pool where we live, and we LOVE it! We have gone there 3 times since last Wednesday. It's that much fun! It has a HUGE lazy river and the kids loving going around, and around, and around... The kiddie pool is great too.

Leah loves putting her toes over the water that is shooting up and screaming at the top of her lungs {surprise, surprise}. I think she likes how it tickles her toes.

AND...to add even MORE variety to our swimming obsession, there is a brand spankin' new SPLASH PAD a few miles from where we live! AND it's FREE!! It is awesome and the kids can't get enough of it.

Leah could run through the water all day if she could. She loves it.

So, there you have it...our swimming adventures for this summer thus far. I swear to you, we'll be going to the pool until the weather pushes us away. But, lets not talk about that...

Heritage Park

We went to This Is The Place Heritage Park today with Aunt Annie and Connor. Oh boy...did we have fun! What's not to like...animals, train rides, arts and crafts, candy... The boys had such a wonderful time, and so did I for that matter! I had never been there and I was so impressed with how everything was put together. There was a candy store too {did I already mention that?}...we love candy, especially when it makes the kids even more excited to be there :). We had an absolutely wonderful time with Annie and Connor! Next time we think we'll take the husbands...I think they'll be good...we'll give them candy if they're not {wink, wink}.


These boys really are so cute!
I mean, look at them! They were wearing the same hat, so cute, PLUS they held hands! I just love that Noah has cousins so close in age! They are going to be great friends :).

Petting the baby goat...

...and rabbit.

Connor riding the pony with Annie.

Noah riding his pony, Honey, and not wanting to smile for the camera {shocker!}.

Riding the train.

Decorating leather...Noah made a nice little creation. He has kept it in his pocket all day and keeps showing it to me and telling me that he had made it. He was so proud of himself, and I think that is a good thing :).

Quiet

I LOVE it when Noah and Leah fall asleep in the car. THIS does not happen often enough. Leah is not the best passenger...she screams...a lot...enough said. That alone makes driving around an adventure. So, today, when we were driving home, I suddenly noticed how quiet it was. I look back and they were both out cold. I just enjoyed the drive home with the complete peace and quiet. It was nice :).

What did you say?

That's what I said to Noah today when we were at the playground and he said "Mom, take my picture!". What?!?! Noah usually runs from the camera when I pull it out, so I was more than willing to snap some pictures of my little man, at his request :). I just love this little boy!

Napping

Noah LOVES his naps. As soon as we are done with lunch, he will tell me that he's tired, and then it's off to his bed {or mine :)} for his nap. He falls asleep within 5 minutes and will sleep for two to three hours! No joke...he sometimes takes longer naps than Leah! He must be growing, right? Here he is during his nap today...he looks so peaceful.

Leah's First Pigtails

I LOVE playing with hair, and I am so excited that Leah's hair is getting long enough so that I can do fun stuff with it! Look at her first set of pigtails! So cute ;).

Little Fish

Noah completed his last swimming lesson on Tuesday. Boy, oh boy, I cannot begin to tell you how proud Doug and I are of him! He was such a good little student and he listened so well during all of his lessons so that he could get the most out of what he was being taught. It was amazing for me to watch him progress from one lesson to the next...amazing, I tell you! During the last lesson, I was able to get in the water with him and be taught how to help him as he continues to practice the techniques that he was taught. I look forward to going to the pool with Noah and working on his swimming skills...and what good skills they are :). Again...we are just so proud of him and this great accomplishment!

Noah swimming to his teacher, Brooke.

Noah showing off his muscles before he jumps in the pool.

Floating all by himself.

Noah received a medal for completing his lessons, but he wasn't too keen on keeping it around his neck. He's three...what do you expect? At least I got this picture to document the moment.

Noah and Brooke...we are so thankful for her and how great of a teacher she was to Noah! We will never forget you!!!

The 4th of July

We hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. We had a wonderful day with the Smith family. We were even were able to squeeze in a little nap! How nice is that!?!?

Noah devouring some watermelon...yum!
We went to Brick Oven, as we do every year. Here are some of the girl cousins {Leah, Hannah, Maya, and Georgia}. Cute girls!

The Smith Family
Our Family

Ryan had a blast playing with the hose. I don't blame him...it was a warm evening!

Leah loved playing in the bucket of ice water...again, I don't blame her :).

We ended the evening by watching the local fireworks. They weren't the best, but they were perfect for Noah. He was ready to go home and go to bed by the time they were done...and so were we!

28

We celebrated my birthday on Friday. I love, love, love having my birthday during July...it really is the best! I had a wonderful day with family and I am really so grateful to have such a wonderful family that made this day so special for me! Thank you! I love you all so much!

After going to breakfast at Kneaders {yum!} with Doug's family, we went home for a little R&R, then it was off to SLC to spend some time with my mom and dad. Here are some pictures from our day...

I have been wanting to go to Pat's BBQ, so we decided to go there. It was SO good! I definitely recommend it!

Noah's such a little stud! Love that boy!
Leah thought that she could have Sprite for dinner...and that's it! She really does love the bubbles in soda!

Family Picture!

After dinner, we went to my parent's house to play outside. My dad had just got a badminton set, so we played that for a bit. Even Leah wanted to play!

The we opened some presents and had some cake...good times!

Then it was off to play with sparklers and let off some fireworks. We had fun getting creative with the sparklers and the camera. The pictures turned out pretty good :).

It is supposed to say "Noah"....

Leah's name turned out a little better.

I really did have a wonderful birthday. Until next year...