Fireworks!!!!

If you know me at all, then you would know I LOVE fireworks. I am hoping that my fondness of them will rub off on Leili. I think that we are already off to a great start. We took her to her first show at the end of July. We went to Taylorsville Dayzz and it was a great show! Probably one of the best ones I've seen. Breanna and her friend Spencer joined us and even though it was way past Leili's bedtime right from the beginning she did great. She fell asleep through the firework show which I would rather have than her screaming.

Happy even though its about 9:50pm.

Our next firework show was the Liberty Park show on July 24th. This happens to be one of my most favorite holidays and always a good firework show. I thought Taylorsville Dayzz was amazing but this year Liberty Park did a pretty amazing one as well. The finale was long and full of fireworks. They did a bunch of red ones, then white, and then blue. It was so good! Leili actually stayed awake for this show. She liked them and even when her earplugs fell out she did just fine. 

Chillaxin' on her daddy during the show.

We had a great firework season and can't wait till next year. 

Fathers Day

"Anyone can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad."

When I was growing up my dad always told me how amazing I was and how I was dang near perfect. He told me how beautiful I was and how he could get a tooth ache just by looking at me.  I once remember my grandma telling me, "you will never find a man like your dad." I always thought it was funny for her to say that, but she was right. He is one of a kind and I can't imagine my life without my dad. 

The next main man in my life is of course my Shawn-a-thon. He is my total opposite. He is my greatest supporter (close tie with my parents) and my shoulder to cry or laugh on. He completes me and lifts me up when I'm feeling a little down. He truly is amazing and I know if Leili could talk she would tell you the same thing. He is a perfect big goofball that she needs and that she will enjoy as she grows up. 

For Fathers Day this year we spent the little bit of time in the morning with just our little family. Leili and I played while daddy slept in (a little bit) and then we gave him his gift. I made a basket for him that contained a big beach towel, a special mug for him from Leili, a book called 'I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home', a picture of Leili and I for his desk at work, a new tie, and some treats (bottle caps, gum, and m&ms). 

After our nice morning together we headed over to Shawn's Dad's place to go to church with him and to visit. It was an interesting sacrament since it was in the nursing home but it was a nice meeting. We hung out for a little bit and I managed to finally get a generation picture on Shawn's side. Don't think Vati really wanted his picture taken but I'm glad he humored me a little bit.

At night we went to my parents to have dinner with my dad. It was such a great day and I am so honored to have such amazing men in my life.

Chalk Art Festival

Every year there is an amazing display of art downtown at the Gateway. But not just paintings and drawings on canvases, but people who can create works of art out of sidewalk and chalk. It truly is amazing how talented people are. Shawn and I have been twice to the festival and it is so fun.

Back to the Future...for my parents. 

Rango

by far my favorite, 3D art

MINIONS!!!!

This one was amazing! She did such a
great job. 

Dirty Dashing

I don't know about anyone else, but running through mud doesn't seem like the best idea to me. Shawn and Jesse thought it would be a blast though and now I agree with them. I went and watched them run and might consider doing it next year. It was enjoyable watching people finish the race. The finish line came right after a couple of mud pits. People were doing cannon balls into it and swimming in it. It was definitely entertaining. Here are a couple of pictures I took. Shawn is the guy in the white headband. I gave him tons of crap for being so clean when everyone else came out muddy from head to toe. 

Haha totally looks like Sasquatch 

The Dirty Dashers....way to go!

Leili laughing

I have to share this video of Leili laughing. Sometimes it takes a lot to make her laugh and sometime (like this) it takes really nothing at all.

When a sister comes to town...

....we play and play and play.

Lynsday came into town and that means I am never home but always (if I can) at my moms. We had so much fun and did a lot while she was here with the boys.

We went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point as our first adventure. It was kind of a "spur of the moment what to do on a rainy day" kind of thing. The boys loved it and I enjoyed spending time with them and Lyns.

Haha Leili's chunky arm! 

Our next adventure was to the Zoo. We had been planning to go for weeks before Lyns even came to town. I was so excited to go since I have wanted to go for awhile but Shawn said its a waste when you don't have a kid and then also a waste if the kid is too young to know what is going on. (This is coming from the guy who told me we had to get Leili Christmas presents even if she was too young to know what is going on. Kind of ironic huh?)

When we first got to the zoo it was rainy and cold. I was wearing capris and flip flops not really thinking it would be cold. It warmed up a little for us but not as much as we would have wanted. I was also upset when I realized I had forgotten to pack a lunch. I was so worried about being on time, thus forgetting to pack me a lunch. I ended up paying $7 for a hamburger, which actually was pretty decent (a lot better than fast food hamburgers).

Minus the cold and expensive lunch we had a lot of fun. We pretty much spent all day there and we were all exhausted. It will be fun when Leili is a little bit older and enjoys it more.

Passed out at the elephant show

The rest of the time Lyns was here we pretty much just hung out at my moms. The kids had a lot of fun in the back yard with the trees, tramp and kiddy pool. So here are the rest of the pictures I have.

We are sad they had to go home, but look forward to the next time we see them. 

Until next time...

St. George Road Trip

Back in the middle of March we went down to St George with Shawn's cousins and siblings. It was so much fun! We stayed in a house that was owned by his uncle's business partner's son (follow that?) and it was nice! We loved how tall the ceiling and doorways were.

We drove down there on my birthday at about 9 pm and got there around 1 am. Shawn wanted to go down while Leili was sleeping and even though it made us exhausted, I'd say it was a good idea. On the ride home we went in the middle of the day and Leili pretty much fussed and screamed for the last two hours of the drive. It was horrible.

The trip was full of fun and silliness. We went for a nature walk, ate at places I have never been to before, spent a good hour or so at Wal-Mart with Dan, went swimming and go-karting and all around just had a lot of fun.

Shawn's Aunt Rose and Uncle Jon were amazing. They pretty much put the whole weekend together and spoiled us by taking us out to eat and to Fiesta Fun. They are awesome and I'm so glad that I got to spend the weekend with them and get to know them more. Amazing and loving people.

Well here are some pictures from the trip, including Leili's first time swimming.

Zonked out after all the fun.

This is a prego suit...doesn't work well
when you aren't prego anymore :)

Our view from the house's deck...gorgeous 

Nature walk our first morning there, Leili was freezing. 

Taken at Fiesta Fun by Kim (Shawn's
cousin).