August 2013 Part One- Denver

I took the girls to Denver for a few weeks at the beginning of August.  We had a fun time there! (And I took a lot of pictures.)

 Probably my favorite thing we did was drive up into the mountains to Jefferson Lake.  It was a bit of a drive but we had cooler weather up there and BEAUTIFUL scenery. 

Sophia and Audrey (especially Sophia) loved throwing rocks into the water.  There were plenty of rocks to choose from.

I guess my mom took this one of me.

This girl loves bare feet.

I love how happy Sophia looks here.  And that it was cool enough to wear jackets (in the mountains) in August!

We had a picnic lunch.  I wish I could remember why they were so serious!

Look at that background!!!  There is something wonderful about being in the mountains! It's so peaceful.  We saw chipmunks up here and I think this is when Audrey started pretending that she has a baby chipmunk in her hand.  She pretends that about once a week if not more (currently, in February).

On the way home we stopped to check out some beaver dams.

This girl kills me.

All set for the ride home and hopefully a nap with her blanky wrapped around her head!

Another day we went to Belleview Park which has a petting zoo, train ride, play ground and stream to play in.

The water was pretty cold! 

A few other water activities.  We went to Chatfield Lake one day.  The girls went out in the water and liked playing in the sand.  I lost the will to get in the water after my mom told me that they occasionally close the lake to public swimming because of bacteria levels.  Gross.

And a trip up Waterton Canyon! That was a hot day and not the most relaxing time in a canyon I have ever experienced.

Sophia wearing Nana's glasses.  She looks so studious!

Audrey eating a marshmallow dipped in chocolate and crushed graham cracker.  We can always count on Jodi to make some new treat for us!

And last, but not least, we went back to the Butterfly Pavilion.  This is one of our favorites.  We love to hold Rosy, the tarantula.  (We found out they have about 40 Rosy's so that each one only has to work a half day shift and then get rested up for their next turn).  We also love to see all the butterflies!  And we waited for Jodi to come into town so she could have the experience of holding a tarantula.  I have to admit, I didn't know if she would have the guts to do it!  

Sophia definitely did!

  

Audrey was too young to hold Rosy but very interested.

She did it!

You would never guess that I am such a wimp when there is a spider in my house!  Or back yard!  Or anywhere except at the Butterfly Pavilion... Rosy loved my mom's and my warm hands and wanted to just snuggle up with us.

And if all of those pictures are not enough, here is a video with clips from all of August. My favorite part was when Sophia says, "biggest rock, biggest splash" while looking for the perfect rock to throw into the lake. You can't hear her but I repeat her.  She cracks me up!

July 2013

Some happenings from July:

We went to the Aviary.  It was our second or third time going this summer.  The girls like it and it's something we can do in an hour or two.

Swam at the pool!  This is the only pic I took of them in the water.  They are with Jodi and a friend of hers. As you can see, our pool wasn't too busy!

Painting with the girls.  Audrey got upset about something and her hands were covered in paint.

Before:

After:

The girls at church.  I never take pictures of them at church, but did.  We are still having firsts!

 We love to have smoothies at lunch.  Audrey had a really cute mustache (fu manchu) one day.

Audrey loves to help me with chores.  She will unload the silverware for me if I get her a stool.  I put the sharp knives away first.  She also likes to help me put the laundry in the dryer, or get the dry laundry out.

At the Thanksgiving Point farm with cousins.  These girls love to feed the goats.

What a good looking bunch of kids!

A few clips from July.  Sophia took gymnastics lessons in June and July.  At the end is a clip of her in her lessons.  I had to crop it quite for Sophia to be noticeable.  She is wearing a blue and white striped shirt.

June 2013

(Oops- this is out of order!)

Here are some events from June:

The girls love playing in "boats" on laundry day.  You can see that Sophia got some animals to join her in her boat. They have even been known to go in my closet and empty out the laundry baskets to reclaim their boats.

Sophia drawing an outline of Braden on our patio:

In June, we started going to our pool.  We spent A LOT of time at the pool this summer.  It was down the street (a block away).  We loved to go after naps when it was hot but not a big sunburn risk.  These girls are great swimmers.  Audrey is in the stroller, ready to go home after some time in the pool.

We went to Tara and Ryan's house for a party and the girls loved being doggies in Mav's kennel.  Who knew we should have bought a cage for them?

In June, we had a family get together in Ogden for my grandparents 65th wedding anniversary.  My brother, Matt, took pics.  He's quite the photog.

Ryan and Tara playing with Sophia on the swings.

 Audrey loved the tall, steep slide and made me nervous!

The girls did a little swimming that day.  Love this pic of Audrey's blue eyes.

Grandpa with his great-granddaughters.

Sophia holding her 2nd cousin.  She loves babies! 

Sophia on the teeter-totter.  This is her favorite shirt.  She wore it most days this summer and last summer.  I had to hide it at times because she would wear it every single day if I let her and wanted to wear it into the fall when it was too cold.  And, she just now walked up to me while I was typing and said, "I look happy in that shirt, huh?".  

(Most of) the family on my mom's side

And a short video of the girls in the bath.  Audrey singing and Sophia laughing at her.  Also, a short part of them running around the first floor with their backpacks on.  That part is not exciting but mostly for my own memory of their usual activities.