The Party

Macey invited all of the kids from church over for a cake and homemade ice cream party. We used the O'Dell's back yard which was a lifesaver! Two year olds and cake make a mess! Here are a few of the cute kids enjoying the swing.

Macey blowing out the candles.
Jonas enjoying a little cake. I'm not sure how much he actually ate...
Ring-around-the-Rosy aftermath.
I think that Macey had a pretty good time and Thomas and I liked talking to the parents we don't get to see often enough!

Pioneer Day Weekend

Utah has a lovely holiday every 24th of July that is celebrated much like the 4th of July. It is called Pioneer Day. Orderville is full of pioneer heritage and they love the holiday almost as much as the 4th. The town has a parade that lasts about 10 minutes. The neat part is that the police close off Highway 89 for the parade route.

This train once lived at Clear Creek Ranch (where I worked for the summer when I met Thomas). It was used daily as a kids activity. The owner has since sold the ranch and lives in town, but the train did no get sold with the land! He gives free rides to the locals every Wednesday morning and is always included in the parade. He has the cutest conductor outfit... I sure love this man and all the memories this train brings with it.

Perk of a small town parade... they still throw candy (and water balloons, watch out!)
After the parade there are games and a picnic in the park. For dinner the town provides a free meal for everyone who wants to come... dutch oven cooking at its finest. Macey needed a little convincing to go down the huge slip n' slide, but it only took once to get her hooked!
Dad helping her out!
After a good dinner and more birthday cake for little Miss 2, we did fireworks with the family! She loved the sparklers...
Other highlights included Macey going Birthday shopping in Cedar City with Grandma Lucy. After picking out new toys and 2 new dresses, she even got to go out to lunch. We went swimming with Sally and her cute girls, and Macey loved playing with cousins Lena, Kylee, and Shanell on the tire swing and teeter toter. She keeps asking to go to "granma's house, please", because saying "please" gets you what you want! Right?

We are so grateful for family close by. It makes us miss the rest of our family too though.

Birthday Breakfast

Macey officially graduated from babyhood to toddlerdom today. She is 2 years old. We are heading south to see Grandma Lucy this afternoon so we had a little birthday breakfast to start the day off right.

I got things ready and then Thomas brought her in. I think she liked it...

Dad helping blow out the "Happy Birthday to you, cannels", as she calls them.
She got a book about Birthdays and her favorite Skittles for a little gift.

We are planning a fun weekend in Orderville and then her "friends" party is early next week! So many more birthday pictures to come.

Macey

I love this little girl.

*Picture taken by/courtesy of Rivka from our Northwest trip. Thank you!

Super Saturday

Our Stake had an activity at Trafalga in Orem! It's a putt-putt, go-kart, batting cages type of place. We got lots of free tokens for the arcade games, unlimited use of all the activities, and free dippin' dots! What a fun way to spend the morning! Macey is going to be a gamer after all of her arcade experience - put in a token (she's really good at this from putting quarters in the washing machine for me!), press a button, out pops tickets. Childhood dreams are fulfilled at this place. With all 450 tickets that we won she was able to redeem them for one tiny can of Play-dough

Thomas, Bishop Hunt, and Macey
Macey's first 4-D movie.

Trying to decide if she likes it.

Later that afternoon I got to be a part of a SURPRISE baby shower for my lovely Chrissi. She had no idea! It was "Indiana" girls mostly, we like to eat if you can't tell :)

Taylor, Chrissi (mother to be), Meg (also expecting), Kaley, and Me (also expecting). Jasmine was also there and is due any day! There were lots of pregnant ladies running around!

All in all I had a great Saturday full of good times and good friends. Thomas is amazing and watched Macey the entire day, even taking her to a baptism by himself. What would I do without that man?

Kittie Rescue and more!

Macey is a good little helper. She loves to direct the direction of the wheelbarrow for example. She's very good at her "dis way" and "dat way, daddy" complete with finger pointing.
Our garden is in full swing! We picked our first tomatoes this week and ate them like old people - sliced, salted and peppered, with a fork.

Macey and I have been trying to figure out what to do with some kitties that a momma abandoned a few days ago. They have been surviving on hot dogs... Our good friend Chrissi was over this morning and offered to take them and find them homes. She is even taking them to the vet today to make sure they are OK. Thanks Chrissi! Tell your hubby we are sorry:)

Macey and the kitty look a lot alike don't they? I thoughts so...

Summer heat

Recipe for Beating the Heat:

• 2 abandoned bikes
• 3 old blankets
• lots of Popsicles
• kiddie pool
• bathing suits
• your best friend Moriah

Mix most things together, avoid mixing the blankets and the pool. Cover thoroughly with sunscreen before baking in preheated parking lot.
Sit in the shade and enjoy.

The Bump

We drove up to Cascade Springs on the 4th of July and then continued on the narrow road to Heber. It was beautiful and Macey loved all of the water. If you live in Utah Valley and have not gone, this is an inexpensive must!

24 weeks along and feeling well! I also got my hair cut yesterday... yea!

I'm told I need to eat more protein... blech! Thomas is super excited though (he'll get to eat some more meat). I need your best fish recipes since that is my favorite protein at the moment.

Balloons!

Provo is known for its Independence Day festivities! Our favorite is the hot air balloons. This is the third year we've gone. We woke up at 6am to make it to the field while they were still filling. It's a sight which pictures can't capture... very magical. Macey caught the magic. If you notice she isn't look at me in one picture; she was too busy looking at everything around her.

This was the very first picture of the day. She is enthralled if you can't tell! Thomas and I have decided that if we move anywhere else in the state we will come back to Provo for the balloons every year. A tradition if you will...

Tried and True

He may be gone but he's still got it. Here's the proof.